PART FIVE
FADE TO
Next day (Friday), Sunnydale high library.
GILES is in front of the check-out counter, sorting books or the card catalogue or something. JENNY saunters in, wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him.
JENNY
(still wrapped around Giles)
Mm… I’m glad it’s Friday.
GILES
(completely forgetting whatever he was doing before)
Me too.
(he kisses her back)
JENNY
(smiling lazily)
I just had an idea: How about if we spend the weekend together? Say, at your place? I could just pick up some overnight things from my apartment and then join you there after school.
GILES
(returning the smile)
(a beat passes) I love you.
JENNY smiles more widely. They look like they’re about to kiss her again when BUFFY, XANDER, and WILLOW enter the library. The couple separates quickly. WILLOW smiles impishly. BUFFY doesn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary- in fact she seems to be in a daze.
XANDER
Can’t you two ever do anything else? Or do you need to have another talk with the principal about the meaning of “professional behaviour”?
GILES pointedly ignores Xander’s remarks. He is noticeably cool towards BUFFY.
JENNY
(to BUFFY)
(eagerly)
How’d things go last night? It felt like spell worked from here…
BUFFY
(nods)
It worked. Angel’s back. He’s still in shock, but… he’s back.
JENNY
(sigh of relief, wide grin)
I knew it! Well, I was still afraid that something went wrong, but you know… yay!
BUFFY forces a smile. Her eyes appear a bit misty.
JENNY
(off BUFFY’s apparent lack of excitement)
(drops the grin, more serious)
Of course, things are going to be hard for him. Even harder than the first time, probably…
BUFFY nods, with misty eyes.
JENNY
(Not wanting to emphasize the negative)
But then again, this time he has you… so, y’know…
BUFFY
(looks down, shuffles her feet)
Yeah.
JENNY
And if there’s anything I can do to help, anything, just let me know…
A beat.
BUFFY hugs
JENNY, much to the latter’s surprise. GILES is equally stunned. WILLOW
just smiles- Buffy has been talking things over with her. XANDER smiles
too, but is a little uncomfortable with the personal moment.
Buffy
releases Ms. Calendar, who is shocked but not displeased.
BUFFY
Thank you. For everything. (smiles for real) I… thank you. I’m just so happy. I know me and Angel will never be like we were before, but… It’s stupid, but I can’t help being happy.
JENNY
No it’s not.
BUFFY
And… (takes a deep breath) I’m sorry. For blaming you. You didn’t know-
JENNY
(overwhelmed)
Buffy, it’s okay-
BUFFY
No, it’s not. You were the convenient person to blame, and I made things so much harder then they needed to be.
JENNY
It’s okay, really. I mean, I should have-
BUFFY
Don’t. Please. (takes another deep breath). There was nothing you could have or should have done. (looking over Jenny’s shoulder to GILES who is still stunned at the scene) I know that now. (GILES looks down, moved and slightly embarrassed). I just want to thank you for giving Angel back to me.
JENNY
It…it was the least-
BUFFY
No it wasn’t. You didn’t have to do so much as stick around after Angel turned. (furrows her brow slightly, looks down) Of course I-I know you weren’t sticking around for my sake-
JENNY
Buffy, I don’t-
BUFFY
Just…(a beat) Thank you.
JENNY
(flustered)
But I - now let me finish-
BUFFY
Jenny.
Ms. Calendar is silenced by the student’s use of her first name.
BUFFY
Thank you.
A beat.
JENNY
I, uh… you’re-you’re welcome.
(she smiles softly, relieved)
The bell rings.
XANDER
(who was only hanging around because Buffy had asked him to before hand)
Hey, time for class.
JENNY
Yeah, if I’m late again I won’t hear the end of it.
(smiles ruefully at Giles, who smiles back)
BUFFY
I’ll see you guys there. I still hafta talk to Giles.
WILLOW
(who know what about)
Okey-doke.
WILLOW, XANDER and JENNY leave the library.
WILLOW
(on her way out)
Ms. Calendar?
JENNY
Yep?
WILLOW
I was wondering if you knew any other spells that are, y’know, useful, that someone like me could learn…(trails off)
After the three of them leave, Buffy turns to Giles, who starts talking before she can.
GILES
Buffy, I have to apologize, I was far too harsh-
BUFFY
No. I-I was kind of asking for it.
GILES
All the same I should never have lost my temper.
A beat
BUFFY
I was talking to Willow last night and…she- she helped me realize some stuff…. Can we talk in your office?
GILES
Of-of-of course…um…
They go into his office and GILES shuts the door.
BUFFY
(takes a breath)
Okay, uh… you were right. I just wanted someone to blame.
Giles looks down, embarrassed.
BUFFY (CONT.)
But it was more than- than that. When I… heard that you and Ms. Calendar were… alright, I… I guess I was kind of… having mixed feelings. Uh… you… uh… (takes a breath) This is hard. I’m just going to tell you what Willow said: She said that you’re this father figure to me, so even though I don’t want you to be- to be alone, I- I was still- jealous. In a way. Or- or more feeling abandoned. She said I lost Angel and then I felt like I was losing you. So I was trying to- to get you to say that you… that I mean more to you. Than her. And I know that is wrong in so many ways, but… I think Willow’s right. And I’m sorry. That’s what I wanted to say.
Buffy waits for Giles’ response. He seems lost in thought.
BUFFY
You don’t have to say anything. Just that you’re not mad at me anymore.
Giles is still silent, thoughtful. He looks like he’s thought of something disturbing. Buffy waits for his response.
BUFFY
You know, I should be getting to class. If I miss it again the teacher… won’t really notice. Which means I should be there more. I’ll see you-
GILES
(still staring into space, eyes cast down.)
(softly)
I would always choose you.
BUFFY
What?
GILES
If… I- I would always choose you.
BUFFY
Oh…
GILES
(half to himself, still not looking at Buffy)
I… I love her so much…. But I would…
BUFFY
Don’t think that way.
Giles just looks at her. His thoughts: I would always choose Buffy. Even if I wasn’t her Watcher. I think of her almost more as a daughter now… how could I let that happen? A Watcher should not form an emotional attachment to his Slayer, that’s what they say. The Council is witless, though. She’s not just THE Slayer, she’s mine. If anything ever happened… I don’t want to think what I’d do if I lost Jenny. God, I love her so much, how could I think about that? I’d die for her… but I wouldn’t… I would want to but I wouldn’t… because of Buffy. I would die for her but I would live for Buffy. If anything ever… I don’t want to think… she does mean more… for God’s sake, don’t think that…
GILES
Can we talk about something? Something else?
BUFFY
(noting his expression of fear, doubt, sadness)
Yeah. What about?
GILES
I don’t know, anything. Uh, school, television, I don’t care.
BUFFY
(laughs)
I somehow can’t see you having a conversation about “Friends”.
Giles smiles a bit.
BUFFY
Do you mind if I tell you what happened last night with Angel?
GILES
Go ahead.
BUFFY
Okay. And then you have to tell me about your fight with Angelus, cuz now that I know about it I’m curious.
GILES
(grimacing, embarassed)
Do I have to?
BUFFY
Of course. I want to hear all about your heroics. But me first.
Okay, so I was trailing Angelus, and he had these three vampires with him, I guess because he was getting nervous and he thought he needed the protection. But have you noticed how most vampires are really stupid? I guess that’s why they always find a leader… (trails off as screen fades to black).
Chapter
6