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Part One from Graham's point of view

I was sitting in Mrs. Finnely's class staring at her desk. Buffy was late as always. I watched her come in late every day, talking about some man named Giles. Who the hell was Giles? Don't get me wrong, I am not jealous, but…who is he?

Today she came in late as usual, but something about her was different. I'm not sure what, but for some reason I got chills when she walked in. Maybe she really is made of ice. It could also be that cold, hard stare she is giving me right now.

Those eyes of hers were beautiful, especially when we were dancing in the rain. Now, all I can see in them is pure hatred for me. I didn't do a thing, but there is that icy glare again.

After our encounter in detention, I thought things were going to be smooth sailing from now on. Man, I was so wrong, but I know she felt something. I saw it in her eyes, and I know her eyes don't lie. She can tell me I mean nothing to her, but her eyes say something different.

I even heard her say she was melting, and I had actually believed her. The next day, though, she just hardened up again. Once again, she's my ice princess, even if she isn't mine.

I noticed the cut on Buffy's eyebrow after she sat down at her desk. It wasn't huge, but it was big enough. Where exactly did it come from? No matter how I feel about her, I don't want her hurt. Wait...how do I feel about her?

Man, she caught me staring at her. Oh, there's that look again. I didn't know that she could give it so damn often. She’s actually kinda cute when she's giving me that icy glare.

All week she had been mean to me, and I, in defense, started to call her ice princess on a regular basis. We can't even talk without fighting. I don't want to be Buffy's enemy , but she hasn't given me another choice. I just want her to crack a little, then I might have a small chance.

Mrs. Finnely interrupted my thoughts on Buffy, dismissing the class a few minutes early. At least I was going to get a chance to ask Buffy about her cut before her next class.

I took a deep breath before I left the classroom, and I stood outside waiting for her. Buffy saw me waiting, and I could tell by the look on her face that she wanted to run the other way. Instead, she walked toward me with a proud look on her face.

I should have taken my time, but being the idiot I am, I started to talk without thinking. "So, ice princess, why did the sparks fizzle out?"

Buffy just looked at me. I knew she couldn't believe what I had just said, but then again, neither could I. I could just imagine what she was thinking, probably that I am the biggest fool alive. Maybe I am. But I am a fool only around her. That has to mean I like her.

I can't believe I said that to her. Not only is she going to hate my guts but she's going to think I am crazy. Why does her opinion of me matter at all? She's just some stupid girl in one of my classes. Why does she drive me crazy?

"Graham, you must be losing it because I have never felt a spark for you. Never in a million years! Please, don't flatter yourself."

What I did next was probably stupid, but when Buffy's around I tend to do stupid things. I inched closer to her until I was almost standing on top of her.

I traced Buffy's cut with my finger, being extra careful to be gentle. I could feel her body quiver under my touch. And when I looked into her eyes, I saw desire. I knew her eyes didn't lie. And I knew at that moment that things were going to change between Buffy and me.

For me, at that moment, Buffy was the only other person in the universe. I could feel Xander's eyes on me. He seemed to be very protective of Buffy, but there was no way he was wrecking this.

Right now, I couldn’t imagine she would ever be more beautiful than she was in this moment. I wanted to tell her, but I just couldn't find the words. We stood there for an eternity. Of course, it was only a minute.

I didn't want to spoil things, but I just had to ask what had been on my mind. "Where did you get the cut?"

I could tell she didn't want to tell me. She just stared at me with those eyes, eyes that I seemed to be drowning in. Her eyes started to change and I could tell that the ice princess was back. " It's none of your business."

"That's where you're wrong. It is my business, ice princess. I'm making it my business." I was trying not to be forceful, but I don't do non-forceful very well. I could tell she was confused at what I had said.

"Graham, you're not my guardian." Clever girl.

"Maybe I am. Maybe you need someone to look out for you. Someone that can take away your pain. Someone that can kiss you all better and make you laugh and smile. Someone that will be your rock of strength when you are weak. Something tells me, and I know you feel it too, that I am that man. I want to be that man." I knew I was going way too far, but if I didn't do it now I was going to lose her to whatever she was hiding from.

"You don't even know me."

"Yes I do, ice princess. I know you, just like you know me." I felt like I was staring into her soul, and she was looking right back at mine. What I saw scared me. I knew that she was telling me the truth when she said I didn't know her. I could see it in her eyes.

In her eyes, I could see every emotion known to man and then some. At that moment, she didn't look like a normal seventeen year old girl. I could never describe exactly what I saw, but I know that's when I fell in love with her.

It was the first time I could see the real Buffy Summers, the side of her that most people don't see. A side that Giles, Xander and Willow could see, and now me. A side that was a hundred percent heart and compassion, stronger than anything in this world.

She seemed to be lost in her thoughts. The fact that I knew her so well scared her, and that was written on her face. She rested her arms on mine as if she needed me to be her strength right now. I could feel the electricity flow between us. It was pure magic.

I knew that the ice was melting, but I wasn't home-free yet. Buffy was a fragile creature that was stubborn and strong. It was going to take time, but I had to let her know that I wasn't going to wait forever. "I know that you can feel the magic between us, but you're scared. So am I. And I promise to keep you safe, but I can't wait for you forever. You have to be the one that comes to me, and I know you will, when you’re ready."

I could feel her eyes on my back as I walked away, but it was no longer a cold glare. I could feel it warming up.

I left her standing there. I walked away from my ice princess, and it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I just hope walking away from her wasn't the biggest mistake of my life.

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Part Two

From Buffy's point of View

The day that Graham Miller walked into my life was the day I started to live again. Angel left me to go hide the pieces of the Judge, and when he said good-bye I knew he wasn't coming back. Ever since then, I have been a hollow shell of a person. I patrol the night and go through the motions of the day. I haven't felt anything for anybody since then. I would have sworn that there were no emotions left in me.

Then Graham crashed into my life. And my emotions came back, but not in the happy fairy tale way. I can honestly say I hate Graham Miller with a passion, but there is more than hatred between the two of us. When he looks at me, I can tell what he's thinking, not everything, but just enough. Enough to know that he feels the same way about me.

Graham has to be the most spontaneous person I know, except for me, it only shows when I am fighting demons. He actually went and played in the rain. And I followed like a lost puppy dog. I can still feel the rain drops hitting my face. It was something you share with the love of your life, not with…whatever Graham was to me.

Then yesterday, Graham came up to me talking about my guardian. He honestly thinks that man is him. Let's just say that gave me a good laugh. How can the man I despise be that person to me? I thought Angel was it, but obviously I was wrong. Now, Graham thinks he's my guardian.

I think Graham thinks he's the man of my dreams. Just because Graham has made an appearance in my dreams, doesn't mean he's the man of my dreams. Right?

Anyway, isn't the love of your life supposed to make you happy? Well, I am everything but happy when Graham is near me. I will be the first to admit that he does raise my body temperature, but lust doesn't make a relationship. It probably breaks it.

When Graham gets within ten feet of me, I start to get angry and annoyed, and that's before he even starts to talk to me. After my encounter with him yesterday, I was feeling good. Why? Maybe I do like Graham, and I am just too chicken to admit. It's just…I don't want to be hurt again.

Then I saw him walking out of biology with Mary Beth Smith. I hate her even more than I hate him. And why would he be with her? She's nothing but a cheerleader anyway. She isn't out every night fighting the evil forces of Sunnydale. Maybe that's why she looks so pretty? I am not jealous of her. But why did Graham have to walk with Mary Beth?

I think Willow knew something was wrong with me, so that's why I am here watching ‘Say Anything’. I want someone like John Cusack to come into my life and sweep me off my feet, not knock me to the ground.

Willow is my best friend for a reason. She can often tell what's wrong with me before I know it. And I know she thinks that Graham would be good for me, and he might be. But I am Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, which translates to never having a normal date. Look at my previous relationships. One guy loved danger and excitement, and the other *was* danger and excitement.

The movie was ending and I knew Willow would want to talk, but I just wasn't ready to talk about Graham, not even to my best friend.

When Willow popped out the video, I saw a commercial for one of those stupid psychic friends network. That was the perfect distraction. Willow would love to try it, and we had the whole night ahead of us.

"Hey, Will, why don't we call that stupid psychic friends network." I could tell Willow wasn't about to say yes. "Please. It might just cheer me up."

"Okay, but I am warning you that it's nothing but junk." Willow didn't really believe in magic. She could believe in demons, but not magic.

I picked up the phone and started to dial the number. As soon a s I placed the receiver near my ear, I could hear a voice speak to me. "Don't be the ice princess or you'll lose your guardian forever. Don't deny your feelings because you just might never feel this way again. He's no angel, but he could be so much more."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing! I slammed down the phone. I know it was just a recording, right? It hit too close to home and that scared me. Angel, ice princess and guardian were just too familiar to me.

"Buffy, what's wrong?"

I could see the concern in Willow's eyes. I wanted to tell her so badly, but I just couldn't. At least not until I figured out what I was going to do about Graham. So I lied to my best friend.

"Nothing really. Just something about danger headed my way, as always. Nothing I can't handle." The problem was, what I told her was the truth, just not the kind of danger she thought I was talking about. Danger was headed my way, and I knew that I couldn't handle him.

Willow was still looking at me with those worried eyes.

"You were so right. It's nothing but junk. I don't really believe anything they said. When Giles tells me danger is headed my way, then I will believe it. Until then, we have nothing to worry about." But I did believe what had been said. Maybe Graham was something special.

"Okay, if you’re sure. Why don't we watch another movie?"

Maybe a movie would get my mind off Graham and what I had just heard. "Great idea , Willow."

Willow popped in The Princess Bride, which happens to be our favorite movie. I was actually able to watch the movie from beginning to end, but Willow fell asleep at some point. I got up to turn the television off, but a scene I had never seen before came on.

The Princess was standing and a man was on the ground kneeling in front of her. The man simply kissed her hand and looked up at her. I found myself staring at Graham's face on the television screen. Graham was the man kneeling. I could just barely hear him say “Goodnight , ice princess."

I quickly turned off the television and jumped into my sleeping bag. I was hiding under the covers from the television. I am losing it, and it's all Graham's fault. I used to be sane and rational. Now, I was seeing Graham's face on TV.

I knew that sleep was not going to come that night, but I tried. I really did. But all night long, all I could see was Graham's face. I tried closing my eyes, but I still saw his face. Nothing I did worked.

It seemed like I feel asleep for a few minutes, then Willow was waking me up. "Come on, sleepy head. We promised Xander we would meet him for ice cream."

"What time is it?" I didn't want to get up even for Xander, so I stayed where I was. I stretched out my legs, but I wasn't going anywhere.

"It's eleven o'clock. Come on, we said we would meet him at noon. If you don't come, I am going to tell everyone you snore." Willow could be very evil when she wanted to.

"I don't snore." I really don't. Willow was just trying to get me out of bed, and it was working. I slowly got up and went to the bathroom.

I could just barely hear Willow say, "I know that, but no one else does."

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As soon as Willow and I were ready, we took off for our favorite ice cream shop. When we got there Xander was waiting for us, but he wasn't alone. Graham was with him.

I couldn't believe Graham's nerve! He knew that Xander was my friend, and Graham was not about to take him away from me. Besides, shouldn't Graham be with Miss Mary Beth?

Willow walked over to the table where Graham and Xander were sitting, and I went to go get our ice cream. I thought that they were talking about me, but maybe I am just paranoid. Slaying does that to a person.

So, while I was getting two mint chocolate chip ice cream cones, my two best friend were plotting with my worst enemy. Things were not going good.

After getting the ice cream, I walked over to the table where my friends and Graham were sitting. I handed Willow her ice cream, and both Willow and Xander took off because I supposedly got the wrong kind. Now, I know Willow's favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip, so I figured Graham had something to do with their not so subtle desertion.

I sat there quietly, minding my own business, but he just had to speak to me. Didn't he? "It's melting."

What the heck was he saying? First the comment about sparks and now melting. He could tell I was confused. "Your ice cream. It's melting."

Oh, of course. "I knew that." The nerve of him. He's just so sure of himself.

What he did next was something I wasn't prepared for. He bent his head down and licked my ice cream cone. "I don't think it's dripping anymore."

Any normal girl would have hit him in the head, but I just liked him more. I guess I'm not so normal after all.

Then it occurred to me that this was the scene in the Princess Bride I had never seen. I just sat there, not knowing what to say. No one, not even Angel, could stun me into silence. That was a quality about Graham that I was beginning to like.

The silence continued to stretch between us until Willow and Xander decided to come back. I noticed that Willow still had the same ice cream. I didn't say anything, but I could tell she knew I knew.

Xander and Willow started talking about what Willow and I had done last night. I noticed she left out the part about the psychic friends network.

When the conversation turned to the Princess Bride, Graham confessed that he loved that movie. Of course I couldn't keep my big mouth shut. "I love it, too."

For the rest of the time we were at the ice cream shop, Graham and I seemed to be getting along. It was so strange not to fight with him, but it was also very nice. I think he could tell what I was feeling because when it was time to go, he leaned over very close and whispered in my ear. "Until next time, my ice princess."

His ice princess. I was beginning to like the sound of that.

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