Paper Doll |BTVS| Book One ✔️

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

Sitting on top of a headstone I looked at the heart-shaped locket that Xander is dangling in front of my face, I sighed why did I let Buffy stay home and grovel now I have to talk with Xander about Valentine's Day.

"So, what do you think?" Xander asks me excitedly making me gulp "It's nice," I say indifferent "but do you think Cordelia will like it?".

I sighed quietly again "I don't know" I pulled it to me to take a closer look "Does she know what one of these is?" I ask with a wide grin, Xander yanks it out of my hand "Okay, big yuks. When are you guys gonna stop making fun of me for dating Cordelia?" he questions looking serious.

I looked down and pretended to think "I'm sorry but never" Xander nods smiling "I just think you could find somebody more... better" I tell him gently "Uh, parallel universe, maybe" he says before looking into my eyes "Here the only other people I'm interested in are, um... unavailable or/and uninterested.".

Xander coughs awkwardly "Besides, Cordy and I are really getting along. We're not fighting as much, and yesterday we just sat together, not even speakin'. You know, just, uh, enjoying the comfortable silence" Xander says as grins and laughs "Man, that was dull".

I give him a small smile "I'm glad that you guys are getting along..." Xander just looks at me seriously "Dude I'm trying" I tell him with a laugh "And don't stress over the gift".

Xander sighs "Well, this is new territory for me. I mean, my valentines are usually met with heartfelt restraining orders" I look at Xander with sympathy "She'll love it" I tell him confidently.

"I wish dating was like slaying you know, simple, direct, stake to the heart, no muss, no fuss" Xander says as a vampire rises from the fresh grave, Xander reacts quickly and jerks back as the newly risen demon comes for him, but he trips and falls backward onto his butt.

I hop off of the gravestone and grab the vampire from behind as he is about to grab Xander and throw him away from us. He hits the ground hard, his momentum carries him into a reverse somersault, and he rolls to his feet.

He starts to come at me, I leap at him and do a double kick to his chest with both feet in rapid succession and land on my feet as the vampire staggers back into the corner column of a small mausoleum.

I go to him, but he blocks my first two punches and ducks a third swing. My fourth and fifth punches land on his face, but he isn't fazed. He pushes me aside into the wall of the mausoleum, and after regaining his balance comes at me again.

I slide down the wall and kicks out with my leg, making him trip and spin down to the ground. As he gets up I leap at him with a high kick and knocks him back down again.

I reach into my jacket for a stake, and when the vampire stands back up again and tries to make a grab for me I plunge it into his chest as he immediately bursts into a cloud of ashes.

I yank the stake back and watch with satisfaction as the ash rains to the ground, I head back over to Xander and give him a hand back up to his feet "Sorry to say, Xand, slaying is a tad more perilous than dating".

"Well, you're obviously not dating Cordelia" Xander mutters making me laugh with a dark smirk "Guess I'm just lucky".

††††††

I shift in my seat uncomfortably as the bruises from my midnight slaying rubbed against my chair I was in no mood to pay attention to American Literature today, I sigh with relief as the bell rings.

"Papers on my desk. Anybody tries to leave without giving me a paper is looking at a failing grade" Ms. Beakman calls out to the class as we all get up to go "Ha, ha, ha. This time I'm ready for you. No 'F' for Xander today. No, this baby's my ticket to a sweet D-minus" Xander says shaking his paper happily.