The Vampire Slayer Diaries

Tough Love

I stood in the magic shop digging into an ice chest and restocking the freezer and working the blood counter.

I made a big decision and decided to take time off from school, the council was very understanding. It was just for one year though so much has happened I needed time to think things through, plus Nick needed me and he was more important. Anyway to make extra money I worked the counter, I even recruited Nick and some of his friends to deliver the blood. When I'm not working I'm able to paint and draw again and just relax.

I was actually feeling happy and free, I know what my grandmother would say about how important education is, especially the fact I was in the medical program and it's not easy being accepted but things have been messy and I needed time to adjust. 

Customers were examining the merchandise. Anyway Anya was watching them, partly hidden behind a display case while Xander and Willow were nearby reading. I raised an eyebrow at Anya's behavior.

"Honey."

Anya whirled around to face Xander.

"Old saying." Xander told her. "A watched customer never buys."

"They would if they were patriotic." Anya told them.

Xander and Willow both put down what they were reading, looking over at me. I shrugged giving Xander a look basicaly it saying it was his woman, deal with it. 

"Okay I'm going in." Xander told us looking at Anya. "Patriotic."

"Yes. I've recently come to realize there's more to me than just being human." Anya said proudly. "I'm also an American."

Giles came out of his little room holding a cup of tea and caught on to Anya's sentence.

"Yes I suppose you are, in a manner of speaking. You were born here -- your mortal self" Giles said walking past her.

"Well that's right, foreigner." Anya retorted Giles gave her a look making me smirk. "So I've been reading a lot about the good ol' us of A embracing the extraordinarily precious ideology that's helped to shape and define it."

"Democracy?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Capitalism. The free market depends on the profitable exchange of goods for currency." Anya said.

Xander, Willow and I shared an amused look. I finished stocking and put the ice chest on the floor behind the freezer.

"It's a system of symbiotic beauty apparently lost on these old people. Look at 'em. Perusing the shelves. Undressing the merchandise with their eyeballs all ogle, no cash. It's not just annoying, it's unAmerican."

Giles walked up behind her and peered over her shoulder at the customers.

"Appalling." He said making me hold back a laugh. "Almost as if they no longer think money can buy happiness."

He walked away.

"Totally unAmerican. Oh, and you know what else is unAmerican? French people." Anya said making me look at her. 

"You don't say." Willow muttered.

"From what I hear, they don't tip. Now, French old people? That's really the bottom of the barrel, you know?"

"French people aren't that bad Anya." I said giving her a firm look. "France is one of my favorite trips, it's the city of love and romance, and getting to see parts of what's left of my grandfather's Gaul native roots is amazing so why don't we try being a bit less prejudiced and a more inclusive?"  

"Not us." Xander said backing me up, indicating to the three of us and pointed back at Anya. "Just you."

"Fine. I'm gonna make those fogeys buy things." Anya told us, turning and walked towards the poor people. Oh I feel for them today.