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Disclaimer: All the characters contained within are copywrighted by Joss Whedon. May he forgive me for any sins I commit in their names.
Willow stared across the library table. Discreetly, she hoped. Xander sat there, his head buried in his hands. His dark hair hid most of his fingers, but she saw just enough to fantasize how it would be to have her hands entangled in his.
"Willow? Have you found that information?"
She started at Giles’ voice. "Um. Yes. Werewolves. Myths. Absolutely." She looked back at the computer and the information.
"It’s imperative we do all we can for Oz."
"Yeah. That time of the month can be tough on a guy." Xander looked up from his history book smirking. "Really Will. I thought excessive body hair was so not your thing."
"It’s not Oz’s fault." She said quietly. She didn’t understand Xander. He hadn’t shown any romantic interest in her since he’d stolen her Barbie, yet he seemed annoyed anytime Oz was mentioned. She’d have to talk to Buffy. The intricacies of the male mind were foreign to her.
"Still, I think that it’s a tad dangerous, this life you gals are living. The slayer dates a vampire, you date a werewolf…"
"And you date Cordelia. You’re just as on the edge as we are." She hated the bitterness in her tone. Okay, she’d actually come to realize the "I Hate Cordelia" club was a little extreme, but their relationship still made no sense to her.
"Well, date would probably be too strong a word. Mostly it’s just…"
"Please Xander, spare us." Buffy walked in and sat on the edge of the table. "Lunch was bad enough. I don’t think I could stomach a play by play."
He simply nodded, too enthralled by her outfit to speak. She was wearing a little elf costume, which covered very little.
"What in heaven’s name are you wearing?" Giles looked up from his musty tome.
"Principal Snyder is humiliating me. It gets me out of undeserved detention, but also obliterates my self esteem. A fair trade in his tiny little mind." She stood and twirled. "What? You don’t think the vamps will quake in fear of Slayer elf?"
Willow looked down at her outfit which was…sensible. A word the fit her to a T. No wonder Xander spent his time looking at everyone else Especially her best friend.
"I’ve got to go." She stood quickly, nearly overturning her chair. "I’ve got a date. With Oz. Dating." She dashed out, her face burning.
"That was like Willow in overdrive." Xander stared at the still swinging library door. "I guess Oz gets her motor running."
Buffy slid into Willow’s vacated seat. "Why don’t you just admit you’re jealous?"
"Jealous?" Xander scoffed. "Will and I are friends. Good friends. I told you before, that’s all we’ll ever be. I can’t think of Willow that way."
Buffy’s eyes narrowed with a plan. Maybe the only way to resolve this whole thing was to prove Xander wrong. And she knew someone perfectly suited to doing just that.
Oz sat in the open side door of his van, watching Willow. She put her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun as she scanned the parking lot for him.
She was wearing his favorite outfit. A soft, short rust skirt, cream tights, a cream short sleeved shirt and the flannel shirt he’d let her borrow and "accidentally" forgotten to take back.
Willow. His Willow. She was extraordinary.
If only she could get over Xander.
Not that she was overt about it. And he understood the whole first love concept. But she was fast becoming his and a certain Mr. Harris was standing in the way of serious Willow kissage.
"Speaking of kissage," Oz thought as her face brightened when she saw him, "along with my favorite outfit, she’s wearing my favorite lips."
Buffy watched Willow walk to Oz’s van, smiling at their self conscious dance. She knew Willow was frustrated with the severe lack of smoochies, but unsure of how to proceed. So it was time to use her powers for good. Well, she always used them for good. But this time there would be no fangs, no dust. Just her pal Willow breaking some hearts.
"Hi."
"Again, it’s like you can read my mind." Oz took her books and patted the empty space next to him. "You look most smashing."
"Oh." Then she smiled. "Oh! Thank you."
"Are there plans for tonight?"
"Giles wants research, but if you know of other things…fun things. Well, I enjoy fun."
"As do I. There’s playing. In the band."
She seemed disappointed. "You’ll be on-stage all night."
"Afterwards I won’t. We could meet and greet."
She smiled shyly. "At the Bronze?"
"For starters."
Her soft eyes melted him. "Oz?"
He reached out to stroke her cheek, intent on tasting her sweetness.
"Oh look. A free peep show."
Cordelia and her minions laughed and Willow withdrew. He sensed her embarrassment. He was about to say something when Xander popped up next to her. "Hey Chumleys. Headed my way?"
Buffy dropped the duffel bag onto Willow’s bed. "All right Willow. The time has come."
"Time? What time?"
"You have to choose. Oz or Xander."
"Um, okay Buffy? Xander could be less interested in me only if you removed his brain. " Her voice was sad. And confused. "Besides there’s the unable to forget Cordelia."
"The problem you have with Xander is sight."
"Right. He sees things as though I am invisible. Or at least not of the female persuasion."
"He sees little Willow Rosenburg, his friend since the dawn of time and the need for help on homework assignments. The trick is to make him see you now."
"I’m still that same Willow Rosenburg."
"Remember Halloween?"
"No. Oh no! I can’t!"
"We won’t be so extreme." Buffy’s eyes pleaded with her. "Please Will?"
The Bronze was jumping. Signs everywhere advertised the upcoming Christmas party and all the traditional decorations were out. Dingoes Ate My Baby were on-stage and it seemed like everyone was dancing.
Everyone but him. Xander sat alone at a table. Cordelia was not seen with him in such a public place. And Buffy and Willow were apparently no-shows. He was about to give up and head home when a chill coursed down his spine. Great. Dead boy.
"Where are the girls? I sort of thought you were joined at the hip."
"How’s the new soul Angel? Comfy?" Xander was jealous. His two closest friends in the world, yet the both shared something intimate with this guy. He had Buffy’s love and a piece of Willow’s soul.
That knowledge burned Xander. As much as Angel had proven himself, he was still a vampire. He’d done horrible things. So why was the guy so damn lucky?
"Hey!" Buffy bounced up to the table, her eyes sparkling. "I am a good person."
"Oh? What girl-scouty deed have you performed?" Xander rested his hand on his chin, leaning in closer to her.
Buffy turned around and pulled someone forward. She had softly curled auburn hair, wide eyes and…Xander lost himself in the slight show of cleavage. "Hi. Xander. Er, I’m Xander."
Angel’s eyes widened. "Willow."
Xander looked around, nervous that Willow might catch him staring at yet another woman who was not her. Then he noticed the soft flush on the vision before him. He shook his head. This was Willow? His Willow?
"Hi." She smiled and she was there. Beneath the different hair and makeup and body. She was still there.
"You look beautiful." Angel smiled.
"Yeah. What he said." Xander was still wide-eyed. He openned his mouth to speak again, but she had turned away.
A guy. Some guy was asking her to dance. Slow dance. He swallowed hard as she mixed into the crowd.
"Xander? You’re drooling." Buffy couldn’t help but smile.
"Is it magic?"
"Nope. Just Willow. Intensified."
Oz watched from the stage, a slight frown on his face. He knew she was there, the werewolf senses could pick out her scent anywhere. She was there, but she wasn’t.
His Willow didn’t dress like that, look like that. Oh, she looked good. But the outfit hid her innocence and naivete. Her sweetness. He was sure she was the same, but confidence like this could change her.
He looked away from her and over toward Xander. He wouldn’t look away from her. Well. Maybe this was his answer.
Willow finished the dance. Heading back to the table, she sat next to Buffy. Next to Xander. "I feel like somebody else."
"You look like somebody else." Xander said. "I mean good. You have looks that are good."
Willow looked up at Oz. He was putting away his guitar. She hoped he’d come over and see her new look. Maybe this would overwhelm him into kissing her. Really kissing her. She was seriously looking forward to some toe curling.
He closed his case and strolled over to the table. He sat next to her, between her and Xander. "You came."
She smiled. "For starters."
Ah, still his Willow then. "You look…exotic."
"Buffy and I were playing dress-up."
"Why did they never invent dress down?" Xander couldn’t explain the feeling in his chest. Okay, so he'd freaked a lot when he thought she was dying. And, admittedly he’d never thought family dog here was good enough for his best friend, but he’d moved on. Muchly. So what was it?
"You look a little too fancy for what I had in mind." Oz’s voice was disappointed.
"It’s okay." Willow held up a backpack. "I brought my secret identity."
"Shall we then?"
Willow looked shyly at her friends. She was nervous. Angel’s vampire instinct could sense her sudden faster heartbeat. "I’m going to go. I’ll see you tomorrow." She took Oz’s hand and they walked away.
Xander looked from Buffy, smiling proudly and self-satisfied to Angel, who looked as though he had some hidden knowledge, to the retreating Willow, who was going out on a full-fledged, after dark, alone in the van kind of date.
"Shouldn’t we be concerned about this?"
"Why?"
"He could hurt her."
"He’s not a werewolf tonight Xander."
He watched his best friend leave the room, leave him behind. Somehow, when he wasn’t looking, his little Willow had grown up.
Angel almost laughed as he sensed Xander’s thoughts affecting his heart rate. He hoped Buffy know what she was doing, because Xander, whether he knew it or not, was jealous.
Willow changed hastily as Oz waited outside the van. Her heart was beating fast in her chest, from anticipation and a sense of power she’d never felt before. Was this how Buffy and Cordelia felt when boys fell at their feet?
She completed her transformation by pulling on her favorite rainbow sweater. Not exactly high fashion, but more her style.
Poking her head out the window, she smiled at Oz. "All clear."
He climbed into the driver’s seat. "You look nice."
"I look like me again."
"Perhaps you forget. I like you."
Trying to cover her blush, Willow looked out the window. "So, what’s our agenda?"
"Well, you mentioned helping Giles in the library…"
"No. Our fun agenda." She laughed. "Although, if you…" she caught his look and stopped. "Sorry. No bad guys tonight. Just a girl and a guy…"
Oz leaned over until he was a breath away. "Willow?"
His kiss was exactly what she hoped it would be. Her stomach tightened as his lips found hers. He slid his arm around her, his mind marveling at the beautiful, sweet girl finally in his arms.
At least until the pissed off vampire ripped the door of the hinges.
Willow shrieked and jumped into Oz’s lap. He didn’t even have time to enjoy the sensation before they were showered with dust. Oz smiled weakly at Buffy, her stake and Angel.
"Careful Oz," Angel smiled at the younger man’s obvious discomfort. "They can sense the…increased blood pressure."
Xander raised an eyebrow . "Raising his blood pressure, are you Will?"
She blushed. "Thanks Buffy."
Oz let her go. "Yes. Many thanks. Can we give you guys a lift?"
Before anyone else could respond, Xander flung open the side door. "Sure." He grabbed Cordelia’s hand as she walked by. "C’mon guys. Liftage."
"Xander Harris, what exactly is your mental defect." She brushed off his hand. "This is a brand new outfit."
"Come on Buffy. Angel." Willow moved over so they could climb in. "You came. You slayed. At least let us take you home."
Buffy sat on Willow’s bed watching her brush out her hair. "Was it fun?"
"What?"
"What?! The looks, the excitement, the kiss."
She giggled. "Oh Buffy! It was great!" She sat on the bed. "Exactly like I imagined, only I couldn’t imagine something like that!"
"Okay. That made no sense." Buffy smiled, glad to have time just to spend with her friend.
"It was great. Does that make sense?"
"Pulse pounding, oh my gosh great?"
"Yeah."
"And the other stuff?" Buffy watched her closely. "The Xander stuff?"
"Xander…" Willow paused. "All that changed about me was my appearance. Xander is just hormones."
"Maybe for now, but it could lead to something more. If that’s what you want."
"I don’t know. I used to dream that Xander would notice me. That he would just one day slap himself on the forehead and go Willow, I love you. But I resigned myself to the fact that he notices everyone who isn’t me." She stared into the mirror. "I gave up believing it could happen. With all the competition…"
Buffy flinched. She knew Willow was referring to Cordelia for the most part, but she wasn’t totally blameless.
"I can’t quite grasp it." She yawned widely.
"That’s my cue. I have patrol to do."
Willow blushed. "Will you come by tomorrow? Before school?"
Buffy grinned. "Sure."
Xander sat on the library stairs holding Cordelia’s hand. Since the incident with Kendra, she’d been more affectionate around their mutual friends, and sometime around her friends. He was apparently forgiven for last nights transgression against her outfit, as her tirade was aimed toward Giles.
"I’m just saying that having to be in this dusty library early in the morning is not good for my wardrobe or my skin the rest of the day. That’s all."
Giles’ eyes refocused as Buffy and Willow walked in. He jumped at the interruption, turning to face the slayer. "Good. Buffy. Ah…"
"Eloquently spoken."
"Oh my."
Cordelia, annoyed at the lack of attention, turned toward the doors. "My God."
"Willow?" Giles simply stared. "Willow Rosenburg?" Cordelia gaped.
She waved. "Hi."
"You look…stunning." Giles pushed up his glasses. "However, we have much to discuss before class."
Xander simply watched her. She sat at the table, behind the computer. She poised her hands over the keyboard and licked her lips unconsciously. "All set."
"When did Willow get taste?" Cordelia finally asked. She looked at Xander who was staring at his friend. "Excuse me Xander? Xander Harris?"
Xander was lost. The sight of her tongue darting out between her lips had set off a daydream he hadn’t thought himself capable of having. At least not with Willow in the starring role.
Buffy smiled to herself, then turned her attention to Giles. She even managed to keep a straight face when Cordelia stormed out of the room.
Willow frowned. She didn’t want this charade to hurt anybody. Even Cordelia. The bell rang and the three teenagers stood.
"Very well. I’ll see you all later. Willow, if you have a moment to research those artifact the museum is bringing in? If we’re to be surprised by curses, I’d like to know of them in advance."
"Thus eliminating the surprise."
"Exactly."
"Sure Giles. I’ll come back during study hall."
"Excellent."
The three left the library, Xander between the two girls. "Do you think you could help me with my history tonight Will? I’m confused with this whole past thing."
"Oh. Um. I have to help Oz. Tonight's the night before the full moon, and Giles can't watch over him."
"I see." Disapproval radiated off him. "So what? I can't even see you when he’s occupied with the werewolf thing?"
"That’s not fair Xander." Willow stopped walking. "Do I complain about the time you spend with Cordelia or Buffy or any of the other girls you’ve lusted after all our lives? No. I’ll help you with your history tomorrow. One more day of past won’t make that much difference."
Buffy and Xander stared as she stormed away. "What’s with the attitude Harris?"
"I just don’t think he’s the right guy for her."
"It’s her choice."
"I know but…"
"Don’t you want her to be happy?" Buffy stopped at the door to her class. "I’ll see you."
Xander sat diagonally across from Willow, thinking. Which, he was the first to admit, was normally what he tried to avoid at all costs. He prided himself on the fact that he was at least not thinking about the subject.
He was acting like a jerk. He liked Oz. He even thought he and Willow made a cute couple. But, after seeing her last night, he’d stopped thinking of her as the girl he’d grown up with.
He watched her hair fall forward across her face as she read. She looked even better today. He could see all the changes, but in the daylight, he could also see all the things that had stayed the same.
"Willow?" He whispered.
"What?"
"I’m sorry."
She turned just slightly so she could peer at him over her shoulder. "Really?"
Had her voice changed too? Or had he just not noticed she sounded so sexy? "Yeah. Me Xander. Big dumb jerk."
"Me Willow, history expert. Why don’t you come by the library? I can help you and Giles at the same time."
"Thanks Will."
She smiled and was Willow once more.
Cordelia cornered Buffy by her locker. "Okay Summers, what gives?"
"What?" She looked around. "School?"
"With Willow. Why does she suddenly look like she’s living in this fashion era?"
"I think she looks nice."
"Of course she does. I know the potential was always there. The question is, who messed with it?"
"I did."
"Why?"
"She wanted to impress Oz."
"Not Xander?" She watched Buffy closely. "I may not be the most sensitive person, but I know she’s been in love with him forever."
"As far as I know, it’s just for Oz."
"I know you don’t understand or think I’m good enough for Xander, but I care about him in my own way."
"I know Cordy."
"I don’t want to be alone again." She whispered.
"You’re our friend Cordelia. You won’t be alone again." Buffy smiled. "Your lackeys are coming. You’d better berate me."
She didn’t dare smile, but her eyes shone. "Your weird librarian friend wanted me to tell you you’ve got some book overdue. Back to those wild Saturday nights of your youth, huh?" She walked to join her clique of followers. "By the way, love the elf suit. Tell Santa I’ve been good."
Giles sat across from Willow, pretending not to stare. Willow sat across from him, pretending not to notice. Finally he spoke, "I can’t get over how much you’ve changed."
"It’s just hair, makeup and clothes." She felt strange talking about this with him.
"What? Oh no. I meant since Jenny’s death. You’ve become much more confident and sure of your abilities, not to mention you’ve adapted Jenny’s paganistic thought process more than once to excellent results."
"Oh. That." She bit her lip. "Thanks. It’s really interesting."
"Does it conflict at all with your Jewish background?"
"It’s just another thing. Like Christmas. It’s not what I was raised to believe in, but I can try to understand it and enjoy it. But I can’t tell my dad."
Giles nodded. "Yes. I imagine not. Well, I’ll let you get to work. I appreciate you watching over Oz tonight. I shouldn't have any problems the rest of the week. For now, I've just received a new shipment of books. I’ll be in my office should anything happen."
"Okey-dokey."
"But Willow?"
"Yes?"
"I meant what I said earlier today. You do look stunning."
"Thanks." She blushed. He left the room and she turned back to the computer. A shipment of Nordic treasures was arriving next week and Giles’ great fear was that Loki, the trickster, would think Sunnydale was a party kind of town. Well, that was more of a Xander explanation. Giles’ had contained mostly polysyllabic words.
"Hey Will. I’m here. Smarten me." Xander sat across the table from her. "I have a test tomorrow."
"Just sec." She typed a few keywords onto the screen and sent the message on its way. That done and searching, she turned back to Xander.
Who was suddenly sitting right next to her.
"Okay I don’t. Have a test. Well I do. Just not soon. Which isn’t that help isn’t good. I…" He sighed, unable to look away from her wide eyes.
She had landed hard on her bottom when Cordelia had pushed past her. He helped her up.
"I’m Xander. You’re Willow right? We live near each other. Wanna be friends?"
"Okay."
"You could be my girlfriend."
"Okay."
"We gotta kiss."
"Okay."
He’d pressed his lips to hers quickly before pulling away. "Okay. Now you’re my girlfriend."
She’d sighed happily. "Okay."
"Xander?" Her heart was beating as fast as it had so long ago. Like it had when he’d almost kissed her a year ago. Like it had when Oz kissed her. Oz. "I have a lot of work to do." She turned back to the computer. "I’ll still help you with your history if you want."
"Thanks Will. Maybe tomorrow."