Author's notes: I don't think anyone here is liking the story, but I'll update anyway... just in case someone does.

Beta'd by dawnofme and Mabel Marsters, the best betas ever!


Chapter 2


Buffy tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. The girl she was sharing the room with was snoring slightly, occasionally smacking her lips. The room was shrouded in pitch blackness, and she was so tired. Still, Buffy couldn’t rest. There was nothing she could do to stop the annoying rush of thoughts and homesickness. She missed her mother, her friends and the familiar scent of her bedroom. For a moment she wondered if Joyce missed her too.


'Probably not.'


The floor creaked as if someone stepped on it and Buffy’s heart pounded in her chest. She tried to tell herself it was just the old building making creepy noises. Trying to block out the unsettling feelings the school evoked in her, Buffy thought of the boy she’d met.


'Ran over is more like it.'


She smiled faintly then frowned. After he introduced himself, William had scrambled to pick up his books and practically fled from her. She wondered what that was all about. Surely someone would have told her if she was a social leper that nobody could stand to be around? Maybe he was just shy. If he was, Buffy could be the one to help him out of his shell and learn everything there was to know about William Pratt.


With that thought in mind, Buffy fell into a troubling sleep.


*******


History. Who needed the stupid subject anyway? Who cared what happened in the past? Buffy was all about living in the present. As long as it didn’t include homework.


“Why the long face, B?” asked her roommate.


“I told you not to call me B, Faith. It’s Buffy.”


“Chill out or you’ll never get rid of that stick up your ass.” Faith chuckled and slapped Buffy on the back, making her stumble.


Buffy just rolled her eyes. “You don’t even know me.”


“I think I’ve seen enough. Don’t worry. One month with me and you’re gonna be dancing on the table, drinking tequila from some dude’s rippling abs.”


“First of all, ew. Second, I don’t--”


Buffy stopped in her tracks as she spotted William talking to a girl. There were a few students trying to look inconspicuous as they stood around, obviously listening.


“Ah, poor guy. See the snotty bitch he’s talking to? That’s Cecily Underwood. Everyone knows little Willy’s got a yen for her. Didn’t know he’d have the balls to set himself up for a public brush off,” Faith said.


Buffy didn’t respond, just watched as William earnestly whispered something to Cecily who glanced around embarrassedly.


Faith dragged her closer and Buffy could hear what he was saying. She wished she’d never seen this. Still it was impossible to tear her eyes away.


“I k-know it’s… umm… unseemly a-and the poem is… not good. But I… I have feelings for you, Cecily. All that I ask you is that you give me a c-chance to--”


“Shut up! God, just leave me alone. You’re embarrassing me in front of the whole school.” Cecily hissed past her lips and yanked a slip of paper from William’s hand, tearing it into little pieces in front of the bystanders. “You could be the last man on this Earth, William, and I still wouldn’t even give you a glance. You’re beneath me.”


With that, Cecily turned on her heel and left the hall.


Buffy could see tears trailing down William’s cheeks as he bowed his head and rushed out. She was about to follow him when Faith grasped her forearm. “What are you doing, B?”


“I just… he looks like he needs a friend.”


“This is not the best moment, believe me. Let the guy lick his wounds in peace. I may be a bitch at times, but that was just cruel.” Faith shook her head and together they headed to the classroom.


Buffy couldn’t help but feel an unexplainable rush of protectiveness for the boy she’d met just once.


*********


Her first day at school was finally over. Buffy sighed in relief as she sneaked into an abandoned dark classroom, leaning her back on the wall. In comparison with this school, her old one could be considered a place of frolic and fun. No one dared to even whisper or turn in their seat. It was wiggy. Buffy knew math could be scary, but this was seriously wrong. The only person that dared to cause any kind of disturbance was her roommate Faith. She got sent to Miss Bennett’s office immediately. Faith had smirked, but there was a barely suppressed wince as she glanced at her palms. Buffy had an uncanny idea she knew what that was all about.


Something heavy crashed to the floor in the room Buffy was standing in. She jumped and fumbled for a switch. Her fingers found it and she flicked it on.


'Well, I certainly didn’t expect this.'


“H-hi. Umm… I apologize. I was trying to leave without you noticing. I s-stumbled and knocked down t-the chair,” William said from the other end of the class room, his head bowed as he righted the chair. “Always manage to mess everything up,” he whispered, probably thinking Buffy wouldn’t hear. She did. William turned to leave.


“Wait! Don’t go. I mean… I don’t mind you being here.”


“You don’t?” He sounded surprised.


“Why would I?” she asked, watching as he blushed and tried to come up with something to say.


“People don’t… they don’t usually talk to me.”


“I don’t see why. You’re the only nice person I’ve met since I came here.”


William’s eyes snapped to meet hers and he looked… grateful. It startled Buffy to think he obviously wasn’t used to hearing anything but insults. Then his eyes darkened slightly and she wondered what he was thinking. William Pratt fascinated her.


“Yes, well… being nice isn’t… I’m not comfortable talking about it.” He stood there stiffly, trying hard not to fidget.


“I understand,” Buffy said with a slight smile. “Why don’t you sit? You look uneasy.”


William hesitated then sat down, his back straight as a ruler. Buffy suppressed a giggle. He didn’t seem to know how to relax. Maybe it was because of her presence. Either way, she needed to get to know him. It called to her; something beyond her understanding, telling her there was so much more to him than what met the eye. Something deep and passionate.


Buffy took a step towards him, walking slowly until she stood beside him. “May I?” she asked, pointing at the chair opposite him. William glanced between her and the chair and nodded.


“I’m really sorry, you know,” she said.


“What? W-why?”


“For making you drop all those heavy books the other day. For invading your privacy right now. And for… earlier, I saw… I mean, I heard-”


William paled suddenly and glanced away from her. “You needn’t apologize and I… I’m sure the whole school witnessed that s-spectacle.” His voice wavered and Buffy had a terrifying suspicion he was fighting tears.


Buffy furrowed her brow and reached out her hand. Uncertain, she paused then gathered her courage and put her hand over his. William’s eyes widened as he turned to stare at her and Buffy had to fight the urge to flee. She could feel him do the same as his hand flexed beneath hers. But he didn’t stand up and leave. His gaze was fixed on hers, as if looking for a clue as to why was she doing this.


“Cecily doesn’t deserve someone like you,” she whispered and squeezed his hand. William gulped and nodded unconvincingly so she continued. “Obviously, I don’t really know you. But I’m rarely wrong about people and what I see in you is… She doesn’t deserve you. Cecily is a cruel bitch.”


William’s eyes widened and he ducked his head as the corners of his mouth lifted in a slightest hint of a smile. He glanced at her and his smile faded. “Maybe s-she was right. I’m not… I always embarrass myself. I’m n-not like others-- confident and talkative.”


“You’re talking to me right now, and believe me… it’s refreshing to meet someone who doesn’t whistle after a woman and call her a nice piece of ass.”


“I would never… I couldn’t.”


“Hence the refreshing. Besides, being confident, you can learn that. And the fact that you’re a bit shy--”


He withdrew his hand away and stood up, pacing. “They call me a bloody awful poet, you know. They ridicule me and pick on me and call me a coward when I let them.” He stared at her now, imploring her to stand up and go. To give up on him because he was a helpless case. Asking her with his eyes why she was wasting her time with someone like him. It made Buffy angry. Furious at the people that made him think less of himself.


“You’re not a coward, William. Would a coward confess his feelings, leave his heart open for being crushed? I don’t think I’d be able to do that.”


He stopped and gazed at her as if she was the only person to ever be kind to him. The only one that had listened and seen who he was. “Who are you, Buffy Summers?”


“I’ll let you know once I figure that one out.”


TBC