By Cricket
~~~~~~~~~~~~~part 11. The Beach Party.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Willow woke up lazily at the smell of Buffy cooking french toast. Oddly enough...she didn't have a bad dream like she was expecting. This time she didn't dream at all but in Willow's case it was at least a start. She felt good to. What time was it?
She reached across the dresser to see the clock reading 10 am. She smiled happily, thoughts of Kevin and Oz entering her mind. She got out of bed, and went through the normal everyday morning routine. Brushed her teeth and hair, showered, and dressed in some loose fitting cloths. Half an hour later Willow was skipping down the stairs to the kitchen in a good mood.
"Someone's a little more chipper than usual." Buffy acknowleged happily handing Willow a plate of french toast.
"I feel good. I didn't have any bad dreams like I usually do." Willow said sitting down on the couch and flipping on the TV to watch Thursday morning cartoons. Buffy nodded her head and proceeded to sit on the other side of the couch.
"Willow...uh.." Buffy started.
"Whats wrong Buffy?" Willow asked.
"Uh..I was just curious...I know I asked yesterday but I feel bad not being in the know. Don't be mad at me for asking, but what happened when you were 10?" Buffy asked. She noticed Willow train her face as to not let out unbidden emotions. She could tell that Willow knew that was what she was going to ask.
"I had an older sister when I was 10." Willow started.
"You did?" Buffy asked. Willow nodded her head and continued.
"She was 11 at the time, and we were vacationing with our parents at the Grand Canyon in Phoenix Arizona...and well..she decided to go into the gate the second day we were there. Apparently she wanted to see what the canyon looked like up close. So she went in, and she fell." Willow said a tear springing to her eyes. She looked up to Buffy to see a look of deep compassion for the other girl.
"I see." Buffy said nodding her head vacantly.
"The reason I had such bad nightmares about it was because...I was there when she fell and I couldn't prevent it. I jumped in when she slipped and she was holding on. I grabbed her hand, and by the time she was at least up by her waist she told me that she was okay and that she didn't need my help anymore. So I backed up towards the gate because I was so afraid of high places, and at my vantage point it was pretty high." Willow said starting to break down into tears. She grabbed a cleanex and cleared her nose. "Then...when she was finally up and on her feet...the rock in front of her broke off because of all the pressure and...she..fell...and she screamed. They found her the next day in the river. They say she died instantly because the fall was so far...but oh god...she, she..she was so stupid and I blamed myself forever. I kept thinking it was my fault and some times I still do. The day I had that fight with my parents, I think bringing up Rose was what set them off. I don't think they would have been so harsh on me if I hadn't of brought them up. Ever since I left I've had the thought, and I have nightmares about it constantly. Last night was the first night in ages that I actually fell asleep peacefully." Willow said smiling slightly.
She looked over at Buffy and noted that the other girl had tears in her eyes. Willow gathered her in a hug.
"Its okay Buffy. Don't cry for me." Willow said soothingly.
"It wasn't just you. Remember my cousin in the hospital that I told you about. I was so afraid the day you had Kevin that the same thing would happen to you. My cousin didn't die just from a fever. Something far worst attacked her. Something I couldn't fight. She screamed and screamed, and cried out my name but I didn't know how to help her....and then all the sudden she stopped breathing. An hour after she died I saw her body, and there were huge hand prints on her neck. Police kept on thinking that I saw someone kill her and that I was just going through denial but I never knew what touched her." Buffy said tears in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry." Willow said sniffeling.
"yaah..thankyou though. For telling me." Buffy said.
"Your welcome. I've been wanting to get it out forever." Willow said letting out a relieved sigh and then laughing out unsteadily when she saw Johnny Bravo get his ass kicked by one of the amizon women on the cartoon network. Buffy looked to see what held Willow's center of attention and then laughed her self and then alot of the tension was broken and both the girls resigned their selves into eating their french toast.
"Buffy? What time is everyone supposed to come over? You said they were coming over right?" Willow asked.
"Uh...I think they said something around 3. Don't worry we have time to get ready. I told them that they could eat lunch here and we'd bring food up to the beach." Buffy said.
"Oh thats right the beach." Willow said remembering. "What am I going to wear."
"Wear that. It looks comfortable." Buffy said gesturing to what Willow was already wearing. She had on a long white skirt, similar to the one she wore at dinner the other night, and a 3 quarter sleeved white shirt. A silver chain hung around her neck, which held on it at least one ring that she got from everyone of her friends. One from Samantha, Buffy, Xander, Cordelia, and Oz. She liked the one Buffy gave her the most. It was her claudaugh ring that Angel had given to her. After he left for LA Buffy finally found the courage to let go and move on. As a result, she found herself to be more happy and head over heals in love with Jesse Delso. Jesse in her opinion reminded her alot of Freddy Prince Junior, except his eyes were a real bright blue instead of brown, and he was probably about an inch smaller.
"Do you think Lisa will be coming over?" Willow asked.
"I don't think so. Oz called this morning. He said Lisa wasn't in a very happy mood so he would be coming over solo."
"He called?" Willow asked.
"Yaah. He was looking for you. Told him you were still asleep."
"What did you two talk about?" Willow asked.
"Oh...not much. About the beach party. I got him to comment further on your dress and he said that he honestly never thought he'd see anything more beautiful." Buffy said. Willow's smile flew to life in joy and hope.
"Really?" Willow asked pouncing on the couch and on to her knees as to hear more into the conversation. Buffy giggled at Willow's enthusiasm.
"Yes really." Buffy said.
"awesome." Willow said more happy and content. Buffy giggled some more. The girls continued to gossip about oncoming events and what was to be done. Buffy begged to hear about Kevin and how he was doing, and Willow filled her in on her thoughts and how Kevin was doing. By the time the two were finished it was rounding 3:30. The doorbell rang.
"ooh..they're here." Buffy said bouncing off of the couch and over to open the door. The gang walked in and Willow stood up out of manners and hugged Xander and Cordelia. For the first time ever she got a good look at Oz's friend Jesse Delso. Buffy was right when she said there was no other way to describe the guy other than good looking. The two shook hands and then Willow smiled warmly and hugged Oz.
"Buffy said you called." Willow said in to his ear Oz gave her a tight squeeze in response before releasing her and sitting next to her on the couch.
"Yaah. I wanted to see what time everyone should come over." Oz said smiling at Willow. She blushed and looked into her lap. She began playing with her hands as she listened to everyone elses conversations absently. Oz reached over and covered one of her hands with his and gently rubbed his thumb over Willow's porcelain hand, sending bolts of electricity through her body. She flinched inwardly but other wise didn't move an inch. She rather liked the closeness. Her attentions were then reverted to the other conversations at hand.
"Maybe Oz can play his guitar while we are up there." Jesse recommended.
"I might. What time does it start?" Oz asked.
"6:30." Cordelia said rubbing her hand over Xander's neck, making him squirm.
"That shouldn't be a problem. Any idea what time you were planning on ending it?" Oz asked.
"They will probably start packing everything up around 11:30." Xander said.
"Do you know if Giles Will be there?" Cordelia asked. "He never told me if he was coming or not."
"I don't see why he shouldn't come." Xander said.
"He's in England." Cordelia said.
"Oh. What the hell is he doing in England?" Xander asked.
"I don't know...spending time with the Watcher's Council." Willow suggested, leening back into the couch to rest her head. Instead her back met up with Oz's arm, and she nearly jumped at the sparks of electricity that went through her body with that one touch. Her head was swimming, and it felt good. She relaxed back against his arm again and closed her eyes. She could feel his eyes staring at her but she didn't have the nerve to open her own. She was so afraid of what she would see in there.
"Well I'm hungry." Xander said after about five minutes of silence. Everyone opened their eyes from the peaceful silence and stared at him. Everyone except Xander smiled widely, and then burst into a fit of giggles when they noticed Xander's complete bafflement. "Whats so funny?" Xander asked. Willow shook her head a few minutes before she could over come the laughter in the pit of her stomach and speak.
"Nothing." Willow said shaking her head. "Just glad to know that one of us is still the same." Willow said smiling.
"Hey man you got to admit. Food is a necessity of life." Jesse said nodding towards Xander.
"Not when Xander eats it." Buffy said smiling sweetly. "I wouldn't be surprised if he eats the ceramic off of the plates." Xander looked at her with puppy dog eyes, an overturned lip, and a wrinkled forhead as if what she said had hurt his feelings and put him in distress.
"Hey..." Jesse jumped in. "A man's got to do what a man's got to do." Everyone else smiled and stood up to head for the kitchen.
Continues
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