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The Difference a Day Makes -- by Echo
Rating: R
Description: The day after the dancing, sequel to Best Actress.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. Joss does.
Buffy and Tara sat on a bench in the middle of campus waiting for Willow. The three girls were meeting up with Riley. Then the group was heading back to the Summers' house to check on Spike and go back to sleep. They were all going to crash in Tara's dorm last night, but then Buffy remembered her mom was out of town buying pieces for the gallery. The five of them had decided to crash at the house for the night instead - more room, more food. Well, crashed after they sat up talking about what to do now that Riley, Tara, and Willow were officially involved in the game and laughing until the sun came up. The dancing had bonded them in a way they didn't understand. They were closer now. Even Spike. He was great when he wasn't trying to rip your throat out. He'd told story after story of Buffy beating down enemies - even him, throwing in so many words of praise about her slaying prowess Buffy felt dizzy. He'd had Willow laughing harder than Buffy had seen her laugh in a long time. He'd put the nervous Tara at ease within minutes. He'd even made nice with Riley, despite his dislike for the Initiative. He fit with them. It was strange.
And now Buffy and Tara waited. They were getting looks from several people. Buffy had on a pair of very dark sunglasses. Tara was hunched over, so her hair hung in her face. Buffy threw an arm over her face and groaned.
"Where are they already?"
"Well. well, if it isn't two of the dancing queens." Buffy lifted her arm to see Forrest and Graham glaring at her. Well, actually Forrest was glaring at her while Graham was staring at Tara's hunched form.
"I don't think you guys have met. Forrest, Graham, this is Tara. Tara, Riley's friends." She put her arm back over her eyes.
Tara knew he was staring at her. She'd felt his eyes last night. She just didn't understand it. He was far too manly to look at HER like that. She knew he'd watched her with Riley and the other guy a few days ago too, but this was different. He'd dismissed her that day. He wasn't today. His eyes were burning a hole in her today. She felt Buffy elbow her. She peered up at them through her hair. "H-h-hi."
Her face appeared through her hair, and she spoke. It was like she might fly apart at any minute she was so delicate. Graham started sweating. There was an earthiness to her, like she was in tune with her surroundings in a way most people weren't. And she was nervous as hell. It rolled off of her in waves. Graham just didn't understand it. She was not the kind of girl he went for. He might break her from his staring she seemed so fragile.
Buffy took her arm off her face. "What do you two want anyway? To stand there and stare at us? Cause I gotta tell you guys, I'm just tired after last night. Don't expect the 11 am show to be like the 9 pm show, K?"
"We were looking for Riley. He didn't come in last night. You wanna tell us where he was?"
"He's right here. Why don't you ask him?" Everyone turned to see Riley standing behind Buffy and Tara. Tara grinned.
"Good morning, Riley."
"You said that earlier in the bathroom." He smiled. She hadn't stuttered. Riley noticed she quit stuttering at him when she became comfortable around him.
"I can say it again, can't I?" She blushed and ducked her head.
She was flirting with him, and God help him, he was loving it. She was so cute. If he didn't love Buffy so much, he'd be really tempted. Riley was about to laugh when Graham punched him Riley went down hard. Graham's face was all contorted, and he appeared to be shaking in anger.
"RILEY!" Buffy was at his side in an instant.
Forrest stood with his mouth hanging open as Graham stormed off. Tara stood for a second looking at everyone. Then she took off after Graham. He was upset about something. He made her very nervous and unsure of herself, but she didn't like to see people in pain. And something was pulling her to him. Maybe she could help. She could try anyway.
Giles was about to walk out his door when the phone rang. "Oh bloody hell. " He picked it up. "Hello.... What....... No, Cordelia, slow down. I can't understand you...... What..... He what... Are you sure.... Are the two of you alright...... No don't..... What.... Oh God." He dropped the phone. He needed to find Buffy and Spike. He needed to find everyone. They were all in danger.
Tara was almost out of breath. He walked so fast! She reached out to grab his shoulder and ended up grabbing a handful of sweater instead. He kept walking. He was in a haze of anger and moving way to quickly for her. She screamed as she stumbled, but she didn't let go. He'd drug her about ten feet before he realized it. Graham stopped and turned. She was on her hands and knees, well one hand was twisted in his sweater, the other gripped her backpack. One of her shoes had come off. It was laying in the grass a few feet away. He was so angry he didn't realize who she was at first. He grabbed the hand holding his sweater and squeezed. She yelped and let go. He started walking off again, only to hear a whimper. He still had a hold of her wrist. She peered up at him through her hair again. There were tears of pain in her eyes. He dropped her hand like it burned him. She fell completely to the ground. He knew he'd hurt her. Graham swore silently. Several students were looking at them with interest. He scooped her up into his arms. Tara gasped. She couldn't even form words. He picked her up like she didn't weigh a thing. His touch almost sent her nerves over the edge. Several people he knew stared as he strode into Lowell House with a stunned blonde wearing one shoe in his arms.
Buffy, Willow and Riley stumbled in the door of Buffy's house. They were all giggling.
"I don't care what you say. We need to get some ice on that eye, mister."
"You should have seen it, Will. He went down like a tree. Bam. I should have screamed 'timber' or something. People could have been hurt." The girls giggled.
"Oh, ha ha. Thanks, honey."
"Anytime, sweetie."
They stopped when they saw Giles, Xander, Anya, and Spike on the Summers' couch. "Well, it's about time you three showed." Giles looked mad.
"Where's the blonde witch?" Spike sounded irritated.
Willow stuck her hands on her hips. "Her name's Tara, mister, and after having your hands so close to each other's hineys last night, I think you should be able to call her by her name."
Buffy giggled. "Then we need to find Graham." They'd heard all the gossip already. He'd carried her off to his room. She looked at Riley and giggled some more. He rolled his eyes.
"Will you three be serious, dammit!"
Buffy noticed his face for the first time. She looked at Spike. His was equally grim. She stilled instantly. "Giles, what is it?"
"Angelus."
He dumped her on what she was certain was his bed. He was pacing the room like a caged animal and glaring at her. Tara whimpered. He terrified her.
"What?!" He stopped and stared at her.
"Wh-wh-why? Why d-d-did you d-d-do th-that?" She was shaking.
"Do what?" He was so loud and angry. She looked down at her hands. Her right wrist was already starting to form bruises. She held it close to her. Her stomach was in knots. She was so nervous her heart was pounding. He could probably hear it. He yelled again. "I repeat, do what?"
She jumped when he spoke. "H-h-hit R-r-riley." She didn't look up.
"He pissed me off." Her head shot up. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"N-n-not very nice, y-y-you know."
He lost all ability to speak when she looked up at him. She was cradling her wrist to her. He sat down on the bed. She jumped. He tried to make his voice sound soothing. "Can I see?" She held out her hand. His fingers curled around hers lightly. He looked at her wrist, turning it delicately. It would have some nice bruising. She was breathing heavy. "Are you ok?"
The second he'd touched her hand her mind had shut down. His touch was light this time. Her heart was racing. Tara didn't know what was happening to her, but she sensed magick. Strong magick. Before she could stop herself, she leaned over and kissed him.
"Are they ok?" Buffy felt sick.
"Wesley's in the hospital. He stopped Angel from killing Cordelia, but then Angel almost killed him. Cordelia's on her way here to help."
Buffy blinked back the tears. She was so going to kill Drusilla for this. She looked at Spike. A broken sob escaped her. She turned and ran up the stairs. She couldn't do the whole Angelus thing all over again.
Riley started after her, but Willow stopped him. "This is of the big, Riley. Let her be alone for a few minutes."
Graham was frozen for about half a second after her lips touched his. Then he grabbed the back of her head and pulled her into his lap. He felt like he was drowning. No girl had ever gotten to him like this. Then everything went black. He started to see flashes in his brain. Buffy. She was struggling with a tall guy with dark hair. The guy vamped out.
Graham opened his eyes. He was laying on the floor on his back. He had no idea how he got there. He heard a gasp and looked next to him. Tara was beside him and her body was convulsing. He grabbed her arms and her eyes flew open. "Buffy."
Spike had seen it. The slayer was going to kill Dru for this one. He didn't blame her though. He just might kill Dru himself for this bit of business. Crazy. His dark goddess. She could never understand the world was better with no Angelus. She just had to bring him back. Her beloved daddy. He was thinking so hard he almost missed the uneasiness that crept into him. It was familiar. He jumped up. "BUFFY!" He took the stairs two at a time.
He burst into her room right as she screamed. Angelus smacked her across the face and she flew onto the bed. She kicked him in the face. He growled and yanked her to him. "Hello, Spike, my boy. I smell you've been playing with daddy's toys." He wasn't even looking at him. He was looking at Buffy with an evil gleam in his eyes. He leaned in and smelled her. "Mmmm, you're all over her. How far have you gotten, Spikey? Cause she's the sweetest here." Angelus brushed his hands across Buffy's crotch, and she whimpered in fear.
"Get your bloody hands off of her, mate."
"Not 'bloody' likely, 'mate'. She's mine remember?" He was still looking at her. Buffy was shaking. Spike wanted to rip his sire apart for scaring her.
The rest of the group spilled into the doorway. "Well, well. The gang's all here. Hello, Rupert. How's Jenny? Still dead?"
Giles lost it and rushed him. Angelus threw Buffy into the wall violently, knocking her out. He caught Giles by the throat with one hand and began squeezing. Riley rushed him. Angelus caught him in the jaw with his other fist, and Riley crumpled to the floor. Then Xander tried. He met Riley's fate. Giles passed out from lack of air. Angelus pitched him to the floor. "Who's next." He noticed Willow inching to the closet and grabbed her. She screamed. "Hello, sweet girl. "
"You let her alone." Angelus looked at Spike. The gleam in the younger vampire's eyes was deadly. Angelus laughed.
"So it's not the blonde. It's the redhead. " He jerked Willow up to him. She whimpered. "Oh you are sweet." He rubbed his hand over her ass. Willow whimpered again. Spike growled. "Come and get her, boy."
Anya grabbed Spike's arm. She was shaking and crying. Spike knew she wanted to see if Xander was ok. He could see the slayer was breathing. He wanted to rip that smug bastard apart. He just didn't want to get Willow's neck broken in the process. He knew Angelus could snap her neck before he would be able to get to her, and Spike couldn't let that happen. He didn't know what to do.
To be continued…
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