Chapter 3


Buffy sat on her bed, tub of first aid healing cream in her lap. “I still don’t see why you would provoke the teacher like that.”


Faith winced as Buffy dabbed the lashes on her hands with the ointment. “He was being a dick.”


After being particularly rude to their physics professor, Faith had been sent to the headmistress. Now Buffy was helping her reduce the sting.


“He really was, but I don’t think it was worth it. They can’t do this to students! You should report it.”


“Yeah, ‘cause they would listen to me. Nobody cares, B.”


“But you have proof! And I’m sure someone-”


“I don’t need anyone’s pity. I can take care of myself. Besides this place… it’s not what it seems.” Faith stood up and scowled at her.


“What do you mean?”


“Weird shit happens here, that’s all.”


“Like what?” Faith only shrugged.


“People tried, you know? Calling police, social services and such. They showed up, entered the school but nobody has ever seen them leave. Or so I’ve heard. The only person you can count on is yourself anyway.” Faith picked up her bag and headed out the room with a wave of her hand. “See you later, B.”


*********


Buffy was unable to stop thinking about what Faith had told her before she left for her classes, trying to shake off the feeling of being watched. Could it be that what Buffy felt, the goose bumps rising on her skin as she walked the corridors were not just her imagination? Was there something more… something evil?


You’ve watched one too many movies. There’s no such thing as ghosts or demons.


There had to be a reasonable explanation. Students were just probably thinking up the stories to scare the freshmen. But that didn’t explain why the school hadn’t been closed for the methods they used. Buffy was pretty sure caning was not a suitable educating technique in the twenty-first century. Was there some conspiracy? Did the local authorities ignore the illegal abuse of the students on purpose?


Or was it something else entirely?


********


Seeing William head into the library the next day, Buffy faltered in her step, contemplating going after him. It was either that or go to her room and listen to Faith brag about her sexual prowess. Or catch her demonstrating it. Buffy nervously patted her hair and the uniform skirt, frowning. Polyester was so not her fabric.


William already had his nose stuck in a book as she entered the library. The smell of old tomes assaulted her nostrils and Buffy breathed it in. She’d always liked the scent, even if she wasn’t that much into reading. William though, seemed way too absorbed in the book he was reading and didn’t even notice her approach the table he was sitting at.


With a creak of the chair, Buffy sat down and dropped her bag to the floor with a thud. William finally raised his eyes from the book, gazing at her with surprise.


“Hi,” she said and was it just her imagination or did her voice sound breathy?


“H-hi,” he replied, smiling shyly as he self-consciously ran his fingers through his untamed curls. She wanted to be the one doing that for William, but she didn’t think he’d take kindly to that. Then again, maybe he would.


The library was almost empty, just two or three other students milling around, but for Buffy there could have been a marching band going rampant around them and she wouldn’t have noticed. Not when her world was narrowed down to the stormy blue of William’s eyes, sucking her in and making the library around them fade away. Her fingers itched with the need to take off his glasses so she could see him unobstructed.


William shook his head, dazed with the feelings this girl was stirring in him. She had to think he was being completely inappropriate, staring at her like a complete berk. He cleared his throat and blushed.


“Umm… did you come here to… study?” he asked, desperate to cover his embarrassment at being the only one acting like a love struck fool. Why would she want to look at him anyway?


“I… was,” Buffy said with a smile that was far too bright. Luckily William didn’t know her well enough to realize she was lying through her teeth. “History. Yup. All those dates and stuff… very exciting.”


William smiled, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. “Personally, I think it’s rather boring.”


Buffy’s eyes widened. “You do? Thank God… I’d have no idea what to do if you started to talk about… the French Revolution or something.”


He chuckled and her heart swelled in her chest. She should make William do that more often. A girl studying at the nearby table hissed at them to ‘cut the chatter’ and Buffy grinned.


“We should probably leave before they burn us at the stake. Unless you were studying and I was just being rude and almost made them throw you out of the library. I’m sorry-”


“No. I wasn’t… I mean, it was recreational reading, not homework… I-I’d love to go with you,” he said, ducking his head as he gathered his things.


“Okay.”


Buffy smiled and sneaked a glance at him as they walked side by side down the hall, their steps echoing off the wooden floor.


“Would you like to talk… somewhere?” she asked, tucking a strand of blond hair behind her ear.


William’s heart fluttered at her close proximity and the urge to brush his fingers against hers was almost irresistible.


“Of course I would. Umm… I know of a place, I go there sometimes… to think. I’d like to show you if that’s alright.”


“You’re not going to take me into some super secret underground harem, are you?”


William’s eyes widened and he glanced at her. Seeing the corners of Buffy’s mouth lifted in a teasing smile, he relaxed and smiled in return. “Not at all. Just wait and see. I-I think you’ll like it.”


He led her up the stairs and through numerous corridors before he stopped in front of a door. The wood was worn and scraped by time, the hinges creaked loudly as William pushed it open.


Buffy entered and inspected the spacious room filled with various antiquities. It seemed to be storage of a sort. Brushing her hand across the frames of old paintings half-covered with sheets, she gazed at William’s anxious face.


“It’s beautiful,” she said, staring into his eyes.


The room breathed with forgotten memories, and Buffy blew off the dust covering the ancient books lying on the high wooden shelves. There were all kinds of broken trinkets reflecting the moonlight streaming in through the large windows. The wind wheedled its way past the old window frames and Buffy shivered as she neared the amazing view. She could see the tops of the trees swaying in the night, the lights from the distant houses.


They dropped their bags on the floor. Rubbing her arms, Buffy was startled when something heavy fell onto her shoulders. She turned to look at William whose face was so close to her own she could count his lashes. His hands were resting on her shoulders as he adjusted the jacket he had put on her.


“I could see you were cold,” he whispered to her unasked question, his voice deep and warmer than any jacket he could have given her.


“Thank you,” she said in a silent voice, hesitant to interrupt the magic between them. Her every cell was centered on the weight of his hands radiating heat through the layer of clothing and his eyes were dark with something she couldn’t name. The shadows accentuated his sharp cheekbones and Buffy longed to trace them with her fingertips.


“You’re welcome,” William said with a crooked smile and shifted his attention to his well-worn trainers. He’d never felt this way before. This breathless desire to be so close to someone he wanted to crawl under their skin. His palms tingled as he let his arms fall at his sides. This girl was making him feel as if he couldn’t breathe unless he gazed into her eyes. He burned with the need to touch her, to feel the silk of her cheeks under his hands, the softness of her lips under his own. He blushed and forced himself to take a step away. “I come up here to read, sitting here sometimes… when I’m… lonely.” He pointed to the rocking chair in front of the window.


Buffy gripped the lapels of the jacket, wrapping it tighter it around herself as she breathed in William’s scent. It reminded her of running barefoot on the beach, the ocean waves crashing at her feet as she inhaled the smell of freedom and spring.


Sadness overwhelmed her suddenly and she fought off the impulse to embrace him, just to make the loneliness go away. For both of them. “Do you come here often?”


“Yeah.”


Buffy stepped closer to him. “It means a lot that you showed it to me. It’s… magical.”


William struggled to breathe properly as she closed the distance he had created. Gazing into her eyes, he knew Buffy would make his world come undone. The power she held over him was terrifying. It was madness! This girl that he only met a couple of times was now essential to his life. She brought the light into his darkness, illuminating it with her radiant smile. He was unable to move as she stepped even closer, her breath barely brushing his lips. He was but a helpless moth, drawn to the flame that would burn him to ashes.


“May I?” She touched his glasses. As if he could deny her anything. William nodded, trembling when her fingertips brushed his temples as she took off his glasses. She made him feel alive, as if he was worth her time.


Buffy smiled and hesitantly brushed away the strand of hair that always fell to his forehead. His eyes fluttered shut for just a moment as he soaked up the comfort of her touch. It had been so long since anyone had touched him and he found himself starved for a human contact. His scalp tingled as she raked her fingers through his hair and he couldn’t help but lean into her touch, swaying slightly on his feet. Captivated.


His eyes opened and met hers. Her lashes were long and thick, so dark against her skin. There was such softness in her gaze, such understanding that William’s knees almost buckled. He wanted to fall to his knees and worship her. To beg her not to ever hurt him, give up on him. Instead, he reached out his trembling fingers and caressed the side of her face, watching her carefully for any sign of disgust. Buffy’s eyelashes fluttered, her free hand rising to hold his against her cheek.


Not in his nineteen years, William had never felt this kind of connection, this aching need to simply touch someone. Buffy’s skin was just as soft as he’d imagined it would be. He wondered what her lips would feel like.


Her hand fell away from his and found purchase on his collarbone, stroking it slightly. Making him shiver. The jacket fell from her shoulders, lying in a heap at her feet. Neither of them noticed. William’s hands dropped to her waist and she shuffled closer, the final inches between them disappearing as the length of their bodies met. His heart pounded so hard in his chest, he was sure Buffy had to feel it. He inadvertently licked his lips, sudden burst of passion rushing through his veins as Buffy parted her lips, her eyes trusting and intense, heavy with need William never thought he could inspire. His fingers flexed as he tightened his hold on her, pressing her even closer.


Buffy’s arms snaked around his neck, both of their eyes sliding shut as she rose slightly on her tiptoes. Was he dreaming? Did he merely fall asleep in the library, and all of this was just his wishful thinking? It couldn’t be. Not when his whole body thrummed with tension as she brushed her lips against his cheek, sliding with excruciating slowness towards his parted lips. His fingers stroked her spine and he wished he could freeze the moment.

This aching anticipation.


William could almost taste the ecstasy of Buffy’s lips brushing against his, as light as a flutter of butterfly wings. Her lips whispered against his.


On that cusp of a perfect moment, Buffy’s cell phone burst to life with a shrill ring, breaking them out of their reverie. Resisting the urge to bang his head against the nearest surface, William knew that the spell had been broken.


TBC


Author's note: Thought you'd get to see some smoochies, didn't you? :P