When Friendship Changes- Chapter One
Author's Note- This is set in the summer of 2002. Anya and Xander called off their wedding at the last minute and she has now left Sunnydale, selling up the magic shop. Buffy broke off her "relationship" with Spike and is coming to terms with being alive again. Willow is dealing with her magic addiction and her and Tara are off on a holiday to Europe to have some time together and pay a visit to Giles. Dawn is off on holiday with her friend Janine and her family.
Disclaimer- Of course I don't own these characters; they belong to the mighty Joss, however I did make up this story!!
Rating- PG, I think unless I decide to change it later!
Ok, think I'll get on with it now!!
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Chapter One-
Xander Harris stared at the boarded up shop for the millionth time since Anya had left. He felt a lump in his throat as he remembered yet again how many memories he had of the times they'd all spent in there... researching the latest big bads, helping Giles out when it got busy, training with Buffy, staying after hours with Anya, proposing to Anya…
Stop it. He told himself. It had been his decision not to go through with getting married, he had to stop obsessing about it. Anya had gone, she’d moved on, now he had to.
But it was so hard! His apartment reminded him of her, the Bronze reminded him of her, this shop reminded him of her! It wasn’t even so much that he missed her, because although he did in a way, for the most part he was glad they’d called the wedding off rather than realizing it was a mistake later on. What got him down was the insecurity of what was to come.
“It’s horrible isn’t it?” Xander nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the voice behind him.
She smiled, “Sorry.”
He grinned, he could never stay mad at Buffy for long, “Forgiven. And yeah, it is horrible.”
She looked at the shop, “It reminds me of how much I miss Giles, how much easier it was when he was here. I don’t think I ever appreciated him until he left.”
Xander nodded, “And Anya, it makes me feel so alone..”
Buffy sighed and looked up at him, “So are we gonna stay and mope some more or shall we go get coffee or something?”
“Fun as the moping is, I think I could really do with a coffee right now!” Xander told her with a weak smile. He was meant to be going back to work but a coffee with Buffy was a far more appealing prospect!
They both turned away from the shop and headed down the high street side by side.
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Half an hour later the two of them were sat in The Expresso Pump drinking their second coffee of the morning. Buffy was giggling at Xander’s impression of Giles, “Stop it, I’m going to spill coffee over myself if you don’t stop making me laugh!” She told him.
He laughed, “Alright, alright! I’ll behave myself.” He picked up his own coffee and took a long sip.
She smiled at him, “You know this is gonna sound corny but it’s been a long time since we’ve had fun like this. I missed it!”
“So did I Buff.” He said softly, “I miss those days when everything was about having fun with my friends, now-a-days its all about responsibility and growing up, we never just kick back and have fun!”
“You know where I haven’t been in ages? The Bronze!” She’d been avoiding it, it reminded her of Spike.
“We should go tonight.” Xander suggested.
Buffy nodded, it was time to forget all about Spike for good. “I think we deserve a good old night out.”
“Great it’s a date.” He said with a grin, then quickly adding, “I mean not a date date, ‘cos you know that’d be weird!”
Buffy laughed and punched him gently in the arm, “I know what you mean.”
Xander looked up at the clock that hung on the wall, he frowned and looked back at Buffy, “I should get back to work, I’ve been gone over an hour!”
“Meet ya at eight?”
“Sure thing.” He gave her a friendly peck on the check and headed off out of the coffee shop.
Buffy watched him leave a smile on her face. It was nice hanging out with Xander, it made her feel as though she was seventeen again. Back then sure she’d had problems, what with saving the world and all! But she’d still been happy.
And you’ll be happy again, she tried to convince herself. Since she’d come back every day had felt like a struggle. The only time she’d had any peace was when she turned to Spike. But that was wrong, she reminded herself with a frown.
She forced her smile back on to her face and gave herself a mental pep talk, you’re gonna go out tonight, dance, have a couple of drinks and some fun! She hadn’t had a date in ages, not that this was a proper date or anything….
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Xander strolled into The Bronze at five past eight. He spotted Buffy straight away. It would be hard not to notice her, she was easily the most beautiful woman in the room. Her soft blonde hair starting to grow long again, the beautiful black lace top that showed her perfect figure off, the short charcoal gray skirt that showed a lot of her to die for legs, the little smile on her face when she saw him….
Snap out of it Harris! He told himself, he was totally over his crush on Buffy, he had been a long time, he’d been in love with someone else. But Anya was gone now, the nagging voice in his head reminded him.
“Buffter!” He greeted her, tying to forget the thoughts he’d been having.
“Xander!” She grinned, “I got you a beer.” She said handing it over to him.
“Thanks.” As he took the cup his hand brushed against hers and he felt his cheeks heat up, this was going to be a long night!
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They danced, they chatted, they both had a couple too many drinks. Buffy couldn’t remember when she’d last had so much fun! But at the same time she was getting a weird vibe off of Xander, she couldn’t quite explain it, it was just… weird!
When they finally decided to leave he offered to walk her home, she’d protested of course that she should be the one walking him home but in the typical male fashion he’d insisted that he was the man and he’d walk her home even if she was the Slayer!
They walked together, not really talking much but when there was silence it was the comfortable kind, not that awkward sort there might have been if this was a real date with a real non-best friend guy!
When they reached her house Buffy felt a little twinge of disappointment, she didn’t want the night to be over and to have to go back to her lonely house.
She looked up into his eyes and suddenly felt oddly awkward. “So I guess this is my stop.” She said trying to sound casual.
“Yeah, and I should be going.” He said not moving.
“And I should go inside.” She said hoping by chattering the odd feeling in the pit of her stomach would go away.
“Yeah ‘cos it’s cold out here.”
“Totally.” She agreed but still she couldn’t bring herself to look away from him. She took a step closer towards him, they were so close she could feel the warmth of his breath on her face.
He leant down towards her, but paused as though unsure what to do.
She reached out and softly brushed her hand against his cheek, “Xander?”
“Yes…” He said sounding nervous.
“I… ummm… you…” She trailed off. He’d wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her closer to him.
Now his lips met hers in a perfect kiss.