Mothers (girlxgirl) (Book 3)

Stray Memories

Author's Note: Who sees the reference being made in this chapter?

Buffy's POV

I don't know what to do with myself. I'm sitting here at a table in the Bronze, waiting for Xander to come back from the bar with a pair of drinks and I don't know what to do with myself. He kinda insisted we come here tonight when I called him. I didn't really feel like objecting. It's the only place worth going in this town. We could go to the movies but all they ever play is sappy romance movies.

I can't stand those movies anymore. They're all about falling in love and happily ever after and all that. They don't show the ever after part where things take a bad turn and one of them dies or any of that stuff, except in tragic love stories, which they never play. This town has so much tragedy they only want to see happily ever after in their movies. So rather than sit through any of that we came here, which is only slightly better because I can get drunk.

I look over the crowd to see if he's coming back. I don't see him.

Not that Xander will let me get drunk. I think he still feels bad for the whole cave-slayer thing. Or maybe my mom told him not to let me. Either way he'd probably stop me if I went and ordered myself 5 or 6 drinks, or a pitcher of beer or something.

I lean back in my seat and watch the band.

They're not bad. We've been here a few minutes at least and I haven't heard a single love song. I was worried there'd be nothing but love songs and I'd have to start slaying the band. I like love songs about as much as romantic comedies.

Someone sets a drink down in front of me and I look up to see Xander over me before he sits down with me.

"Thanks."

"No problem Buff, I could buy a whole round for the house if I wanted."

A couple people from surrounding tables look at us.

"But I won't..."

The spectators go back to their own lives, some disappointed. I pick up the drink he got me and stare into the glass a bit.

"So things are still going well, with the construction stuff?"

"Yeah it is. I really think it's what I was meant to do. It just sorta seems to come naturally to me, like slaying does for you."

"That's great Xander, I'm happy for you. And things between you and Anya are still going strong?"

I take a sip of my drink.

"For the most part yeah, we have our rough spots from time to time because of the whole ex-demon thing, but it's not like it is with..."

I look at him as I'm about to take another sip.

"... um, other, people that I know..."

I take an extra big sip before responding.

"Mhmm..."

There's an uncomfortable silence between us, despite the music and dancing all around.

"What about you? How's your mom?"

"She's feeling a lot better, but the doctor says she should be getting better faster than she is. So now I'm even more worried about her then before."

"What does your mom say?"

I kinda laugh at the question.

"She says I should go out and enjoy my life."

He smiles sympathetically at me.