Paper Doll |BTVS| Book One ✔️

Poor Schlubs

Sitting on a bench with Buffy and Willow we were playing Anywhere but here "I'm on a beach, but not one of those American beaches, one of those island beaches where the water's way too blue, and I'm laying on my towel, and it's just before sunset, and Gavin Rossdale's massaging my feet!" Buffy says with a wide smile as she laughs along with Willow and I.

"Oh, that's good! Uh, I'm in Florence, Italy, I've rented a scooter that's parked outside, and I'm in a little restaurant eating ziti, and there are no more tables left, so they have to seat this guy with me, and it's John Cusack!" I scrunch up my nose to my sisters and best friends choice of dream men.

"Ooo! Very impressive. You have such an eye for detail" Buffy says to Willow before turning to me with a urging look on her face making me realize it was my turn "What about you Nikki?" I rolled my eyes with a frown but played anyway "I'd be touring the world with my rock band where I'd be the lead singer, Sid Vicious would be alive and the sex pistols would be my friends so we could hang out".

I laughed when Buffy and Willow looked at each other before looking at me with half smiles, they were such girls wanting things like a foot rub or quaint little restaurants "Hey you asked, you the girl away from punk rock but you can't take punk rock away from the girl" I tell them knowingly as I picked at my chipped purple nail varnish.

"What are you three up to?" Xander asked walking up to us and sitting by me "Just having a quick game of 'Anywhere But Here'" I said laying my head on his shoulder as I sighed in happiness thinking about my choice. How cool would it be to be friends with the sex pistol and sing with their band?

"Ooohhh. Amy Yip at the water slide park" Xander said excitedly rubbing his hands together making us girls roll out eyes at his boyishness "You never come up with anything new" Willow said to Xander who waves her off "I'm just not fickle like you three, okay? I'm constant in my affections. Amy Yip at the water slide park!" I smirk and smack his arm jokingly as I continue to rest my head on his arm.

Willow turns to Buffy with a deep in thought look "Do you think Giles ever played 'Anywhere But Here' when he was in school?" I smirked thinking about what Giles would choose "Giles lived for school. He's actually still bitter that there are only twelve grades". Xander says tell us laughing to himself "There's only 11 grades in England, Xander" Xander turns to me with a shocked look "What?!".

I sigh and lift my head off his arm "yep they start at 5 and leave school at 16" I tell him watching as his face drops in disappointment before he looks back up at us "Imagine if we had all left school by now" he asks us bouncing a little.

I just laughed and shook my head "I think the world isn't ready for you yet Xander Harris" The girls giggled at my comment before Buffy goes back to our previous conversation about Giles "He probably sat in math class thinking, 'There should be more math. This could be mathier."

We all laughed at Buffy's impression of a young Giles "C'mon, you don't think he ever got restless as a kid?" Willow asked us seriously with a light smile on her face, all of us oblivious to any trouble in the world as we sit together just being teenagers, something we rarely got to do.

I turned to her wide eyed with a grin "Are you kidding? His diapers were tweed" I say as Xander chuckles in agreement, Buffy looks over my shoulder and I turn to see Giles about to walk by and call out to him "Giles!" he turns and see us and hurries his pace "Oh! There you are" he says looking at us all a bit disheveled.

I smile nicely up at Giles "Hey, morning. Say, is that tweed?" I ask looking at his jacket as Buffy, Willow and Xander smirk, Giles looks down at his jacket preoccupied "What? Oh, uh, yes. Um, now, uh, look, tonight is very important, um..."

Giles hurries inside and we all look at each other perplexed "Now, that's a surprise" Buffy says making me nod as we hurriedly follow Giles inside "So, what's on tap tonight that's so important? Uprising, prophesied ritual, preordained deathfest?" Buffy asks jokingly as we catch up to Giles who still held a look of disarray.

"Ah, the old standards!" Xander jokes as walk down the hall trying to keep our voices down "Um, a medical transport is delivering the monthly supply of blood to the hospital" Giles says but he looks pretty distracted like he had more going on than we knew..

"Mm. Vampire Meals-On-Wheels" I joke as we stop at Buffy's locker and she opens It looking for her books "Hopefully not. Uh, we'll meet outside the hospital at 8:30 sharp. I'll bring the weaponry" Giles says before looking at me and stuttering a little.

"Uh only one Slayer will suffice unless you're wanting to.. uh.. to go too?" I smiled grateful for the option but shook my head "Thanks for the offer but I'll just chill out at home" Buffy nods her head at me and smiles at Giles "I'll bring the party mix!".

Giles looks at Buffy pointedly "Just don't be late" Buffy looks at Giles with innocence "Have I ever let you down?" Giles took his glasses of an cleaned them before look back at Buffy "Do you want me to answer that, or shall I just glare?"

I snigger making Buffy elbow me playfully knowing she wasn't the one who was usually in trouble "Morning, England" Jenny greets smoothly as Giles flushes and begins to stutter "Oh, hello, Ms., uh, uh, tuh, Jenny" Willow smiles and leans into me "Feel the passion!" I smirked raising my eyebrows in jest "Mm-hm!".

"Willow..." Jenny reprimands before giving me the same look "Coughing, not speaking" Willow says with fake coughs making me laugh loudly "You still need to work on your lying Will" Willow flushes red but nods as everyone chuckles.

Jenny looks at Willow with a small soft smile like she was used to our antics now "We still on for tomorrow?" Willow smiles and nods excitedly almost bouncing at whatever was going on between them, Xander looks between Jenny and Willow confused "What's tomorrow?".

"I'm reviewing some computer basics for the couple of students who've fallen behind. Willow's helping out for extra credit" Jenny smiles at Willow proudly although we all know will would do that just for fun. I nod and push Willow softly proud of her sharing that geek knowledge of hers anyway she can.

"Those poor schlubs have to attend school on Saturday!" Xander smiles and chuckles making fun of the student who have to come into school on their weekend. Jenny looks at Xander with humor in her eye "9am okay with you, Xander?" Xander's smile fades and Willow bobs her head in amusement obviously knowing it was going to happen.

I leaned over to Xander and whispered in his ear "Got a bit of schlub on your shoe there" Xander glares at me as I move away putting my hands up in mock defense "Heh, heh" Jenny looks at her papers then back up at Xander who looks heartbroken "Well, Cordelia's gonna meet us" I pat Xander on the with a grimace actually feeling sorry for him now "Yay Cordelia" I cheer falsely knowing this was going to be hell for him.

"Ooo, gang, did ya hear that? A bonus day of class plus Cordelia! Mix in a little rectal surgery, and it's my best day ever!" Xander cheers sarcastically as we all smirk at him "Hey your the one who doesn't study" Willow reminds him as he sighs in defeat.

Jenny turns to Giles with a flirtatious smile "Walk me to class?" Giles smiles widely and nods "Pleasure" Jenny and Giles head for her class and we watch them go with smiles on our faces knowing how much Giles likes Jenny but won't say it out loud.

"Look at them" Buffy says crossing her arms, nodding in the direction of where Giles and Jenny were walking "A twosome of cuteness" Xander agreed as we all smile softly at the two who were obviously into each other, Willow sighed cheerfully "Can't you just imagine them getting together?" We all smiled again and nodded until we really thought about it and we all blanched "Gross".