Author's note: Beta'd by awesome dawnofme and Mabel Marsters.

I hope you enjoy, amazing and kind readers! ;)


Chapter 4


The offensive sound shattered the spell they’d been shrouded in. William dropped his arms, feeling almost tangible pangs in his heart, as Buffy stepped away and glanced at him with eyes full of regret. The lack of her nearness made him feel cold.


Picking up the fallen jacket, Buffy slid her arms into it and kneeled to rummage through her bag in the search of the cell phone. Angry with the person interrupting what Buffy was sure would have been the best kiss of her life, she flipped the phone open.


“What?” she asked rudely, rising to her feet. William disappeared somewhere between the shelves, obviously wanting to give her some semblance of privacy.


“Hey, B. How’s it going?”


Buffy suppressed a sigh. “I was fine until you called.”


“Interrupted something?” Faith asked with a sly tone.


“You can say that again.”


“You go, girl! Finally decided to unclench that uptight ass of yours? You can tell me the graphic details later. I sort of have a favour to ask you.”


“What is it?” Buffy didn’t even have the strength to argue with her roommate about her crass comments on Buffy’s virtue.


“I need a room for the night. Got a nice piece of ass waiting for me. Gonna take him for a ride if you know what I mean?” Faith chuckled and Buffy rolled her eyes.


“Where am I supposed to sleep?”


“Well, you can always camp at the guy’s you were molesting a minute ago, can’t you?”


“I wasn’t…” Buffy lowered her voice. “I can’t just ask him to let me sleep in his room. He’ll think I’m a slut.”


Faith just laughed. “You, a slut? Now that’s something I’d like to see. Well you can either stay with him or join the two of us.”


“Ew… no, thanks. You so owe me for this!”


“Thanks, B. Enjoy your night.”


Buffy could almost see the leer.


“Yeah, yeah. Bye.” She flicked the phone closed and slipped it into her bag.


Did Faith have to be such a ho? Now she would have to sleep in an empty class room somewhere. There was no way she could ask William to let her sleep in his room. He probably had a roommate too, and those beds were single, not double. She sighed, her shoulders slumping. She didn’t even have a place to sleep anymore. All of a sudden, Buffy felt miserable.


“Are you alright?” William asked from behind her, and she twirled on her feet. She hadn’t even heard him approach.


“I’m great!” Buffy said with a smile far too bright to be genuine. She couldn’t meet his eyes.


William fidgeted, not knowing if he should call her on it or let it go. Closing the distance between them, he put his hand on her shoulder, slightly squeezing. Buffy glanced up at him then, and William felt his heart painfully constrict in his chest at the sight of her teary eyes.


“Hey, what’s wrong?”


“I… I’m just being stupid.”


“I don’t mean to pry, but… I just… I want you to know that you can tell me anything.”


Suddenly Buffy was in his arms, hugging him with more power that he would have given her credit for. What else could he do but hug her back? Her hair tickled his nose, the scent of cinnamon and sunshine he would never forget enveloped him. It felt like silk beneath his fingertips. Her breath hitched in her throat as she silently cried against his neck, and William had no idea what to do. Her distress caused him almost physical pain, but he was just William. He never did anything right. So he just stood there and held her.


“I’m sorry,” she whispered against his skin. “I d-didn’t mean to get all weepy. You must think I’m crazy.”


“There’s nothing wrong with crying. I just wish… I wish I knew what to do to help you.”


“You’re doing just fine.” Buffy closed her eyes and breathed in his scent. It helped get a grip on her emotions. “I don’t know what came over me. It was just… everything suddenly dawned on me. I have no place to call home.”


“I know how you feel.”


“It was my roommate. The person who called me on the phone.” Would she really be that pathetic and ask him to help her? Could she? What would he think?


“Oh?” William wondered how that could get to her so much. “Is she giving you trouble?”


“Kinda. But it’s not her. Well it is, sort of. She just… she needs the room for the night and I…” She couldn’t go through with this. Not when he was gazing at her with such concern, and she knew he would say yes to anything she asked him. Leaving his warm embrace, Buffy wiped her tears away.


'Stupid pride.'


“She kicked you out of your room?” he asked, outraged at the nerve of the girl.


“It’s not a big deal. I’ll just figure something out.”


“You could… I mean I have… umm… don’t take this the wrong way, but you could stay in my room.”


“You’ve got a roommate, William.”


“Actually, no. I haven’t had one since I arrived six months ago. So I have a spare bed if you’d like to--”


“You wouldn’t mind? I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable or anything.” Maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to let him help her after all. It sounded much better than sleeping in an old creepy classroom. Maybe he could make the loneliness go away for a while.


“Not at all. Only if you want to, that is.” William busied himself with putting on his glasses and picking up his books.


“Thank you. I… I’d love to.”


*******


Buffy followed William into his room, hesitantly crossing the threshold as she glanced around.


“I-I apologize for the mess. Hadn’t expected someone would… make yourself at home.” William nervously rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced at the books that were randomly strewn all around the room. If his mother could see it, she’d have a fit. His shoulders slumped. She would never be able to see anything ever again.


“It’s really not a big deal. It’s super tidy compared to mine and Faith’s room. At least you don’t have any underwear lying around.” Buffy’s eyes widened as soon as she said it. TMI much? “Ehm… not mine… Faith’s underwear. I like to keep mine in the drawers… and I should probably stop talking.”


William smiled. “Please don’t. I find it rather… cute.”


Buffy blushed. “Thanks.”


“Ehm, do sit down. Can I fetch you anything? Water or tea?”


“I’m good, don’t worry. Umm… I feel kinda silly asking this but could you lend me something to sleep in? All my stuff is back at my room and--”


“Of course. No problem. I’ll just…” William walked to his dresser and rummaged through the drawers, pulling out a large dark blue t-shirt and handing it to Buffy. “Here. I…eh…I don’t have any pajama bottoms to give you--”


“You don’t?” Buffy asked, the corners of her mouth lifting at the sight of William’s ears turning pink.


“I sleep… umm… I’m afraid I don’t.” He might as well have told her he liked to sleep naked. She must have thought he was perverse now. William didn’t even know when this habit had started. One day he simply found out it was much more comfortable than having the waistband dig into his hips all night.


Buffy just grinned at him with a lifted eyebrow, obviously enjoying his discomfort, and made her way to the adjacent bathroom. William gulped audibly when she came out, the hem of the fabric brushing her upper thighs. He forced himself to look away, but the image of Buffy dressed in his t-shirt was burned into his brain. The thought of her wearing something that belonged to him, the fact that the t-shirt he’d worn was right now touching her skin stirred something primal within him. William stood up and rushed to the bathroom, ready to splash his burning face with cold water.


When William came out, dressed in a t-shirt and boxers, he came face to face with a frowning Buffy. He couldn’t help but notice how her hair shone in the moonlight.


“What’s wrong?” he asked.


“Nothing! I was just wondering if you had an extra comforter.” Buffy fidgeted with the hem of the t-shirt as she sat down on the bed.


“Oh. I didn’t think of that. You can take mine,” he said with a smile, gathering the comforter and the pillow in his arms and putting it next to Buffy.


“No…. it’s really not necessary. I already feel bad enough for imposing in on you like this--”


“You’re not!” William glanced at his feet. “It’s nice… having someone to talk to.”


“It is.” Buffy met his eyes, both of them smiling shyly. “But I insist, I can’t take your blanket. You’re going to get cold--”


“I’d rather be cold than think about you being uncomfortable all night. Please, take it. I mean it.”


“Okay. Thank you… you’re… I owe you.”


“Yeah well… you can make it up to me some day.” William grinned, surprised at his boldness as he lay down on his bed, covering himself with a thin sheet.


“I just might.” Buffy winked at him and snuggled under the covers that smelt like William. He turned off the light and she heard the bed squeak as he tossed around to find a comfortable position.


“Buffy?”


“Hmm?”


“Earlier… why did you… I mean did you mean to… kiss me?” His heart thudded so loudly he could feel it pounding in his ears. Would she deny it and laugh at his presumptuous thoughts? Perhaps send him a glare full of disgust? But she wouldn’t, would she? Not Buffy. She wasn’t Cecily, so cold and careless about other people’s feelings. No, Buffy was the only person that cared enough to listen to him.


“I did. Did you not want me to? I thought you did, but… Oh my God I haven’t forced myself on you, have I? I thought it was all consensual--”


“It was! I just… why? Why would you even… want to?”


“Why wouldn’t I?” Buffy was puzzled. Did William really have such a low opinion of himself? It hurt her to think about how truly alone he must have been until the day she’d found him in that empty classroom. He didn’t even have a roommate, and while Faith could be truly annoying, it was better than to be alone.


“I just don’t understand why you talk to me. Why you want to… touch me and listen to me. I’m not worth it.”


Buffy could see William’s profile as he lay on his back, the moonlight filtering through the blinds covering the window above his bed’s headboard. His eyes were squeezed shut.


“Who told you that? You are worth it, William. I haven’t known you that long but I… I care about you.”


“Nobody has ever… not in so long. I don’t deserve you.”


“Stop saying that! Please. Is it your parents? Are they--”


“I don’t have parents,” he whispered. “I live with my uncle, but he… he couldn’t care less if I live or die.”


“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to--”


“No, it’s alright. I mean… no, it’s not, but… I had a mum, you know. She was a nice lady. Gentle. She loved it when I would read her my poems; always listened to me. I-I loved her. Very much.”


Buffy could see a tear roll down his temple, and she had a fierce urge to take him into her arms. “What happened to her?”


“She had… lung cancer.”


Seeing him gripping the sheet tightly in his hand, Buffy didn’t think. She simply stood, picked up the comforter and pillow, and made her way to his bed. William opened his eyes to glance at her, the intense longing for comfort in his gaze dispelling her fears. She laid down next to him, covering them with the blanket as she brushed the tears away, her fingers lingering to stroke his cheeks. William turned on his side and let Buffy take him into her arms, burying his face against her throat.


“It’s going to be alright,” she whispered, pressing a kiss on the top of his head.


“It is… now that you’re here.”


Together, they fell into an exhausted slumber, not knowing how bad things were soon going to get.


TBC