Playing Catch Up
By Pamela
CONTENT: This is rated G! You knew *I* could do that stuff, right?
SUMMARY: Buffy catches her friends up on what’s going on.
FEEDBACK: Pamela loves feedback, and when she gets it, she feels very inclined to please whomever might send it!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
characters or situations (I will even give my story ideas to Joss in
exchange for a day on the set). I am borrowing them, without
permission, and I mean no harm to them. They all belong to Joss
Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox, and Warner Brothers. I wrote this purely
for entertainment and not at all for profit.
NOTE: Thanks Mel, for reading all this stuff, even when you open your mailbox and find Pamela has been inspired and you have 3 stories to beta!
"Buffy!" Willow exclaimed, running up and hugging her best friend in the crowded school hallway. "I missed you!"
Buffy hugged her back. "Missed you too!
Buffy soon found Xander hugging her as well. "We weren't sure you were here today, you weren't even at lunch!"
"I know, I'm not feeling well, but I know I have an exam in my lit class next Monday, so I thought I should at least show for that. I got here just in time for it, in 5th period."
"What's wrong?" Willow asked.
"Oh, I was just sick to my stomach, it's probably the flu."
"So why weren't you back at school yesterday? Your mom just said you guys had
something important to do." Asked Xander.Buffy opened her mouth to speak, when Cordelia walked up to them. "Hey Buffy."
"Hi Cordy, how's it going?"
Cordy sighed and looked over at Xander, then back at Buffy. "I'll tell you later."
Buffy smiled and nodded. The four of them started walking towards study hall together. As they sat down, Willow and Xander at the table behind Cordy and Buffy, Cordy noticed something on Buffy's finger. She gasped and grabbed Buffy's hand, pulling it to her face for a closer look. Xander and Willow looked alarmed, but Buffy just sat there with a small smile on her face.
"OH MY GOD!!! Is this what I think it is?"
"Well, what do you think it is?" Buffy asked with a sly smile.
Willow and Xander leaned over their table, trying to see what Cordelia was so excited about.
"An engagement?" Willow exclaimed. "Did Angel ask you to marry him?"
Buffy nodded, and giddily told them. "Yeah, he did it Sunday, and it was so romantic!"
Willow sighed and cocked her head to the side, a dreamy look on her face.
Cordelia raised an eyebrow and grinned. "We want details!"
Xander just sat there in shock. Buffy was *seventeen*! How could Willow and Cordy possibly think this was a good idea?!
Cordelia had Buffy's hand even closer to her eye. Buffy was surprised the brunette didn't whip out a jeweler's glass.
"It's one karat, right?" She asked.
"Yeah, that's what Angel said."
"Wow, it's a real diamond, not even cubic zirconia?" Willow asked.
Buffy nodded. "He bought it at Tiffany's, I assume it's real."
"It's real, I can tell." Cordelia answered with sureness.
Xander finally spoke up. "Is this why your mom had you stay home from school yesterday? She's not happy about this?"
"Actually, Mom's totally cool with this, she knew before I did. Angel had to be old fashioned and ask for my hand and stuff."
"Oh that's so sweet!" Willow said, adoring how romantic Angel could be. And she thought Oz was a sweetheart; Buffy was so lucky!
"Your mom thinks it's all right for you to get married when you aren't even a legal adult?" Xander asked, he couldn't believe this!
"Well Angel and I were talking, and we were thinking of having a June wedding."
"Oh that is *perfect*!" Cordelia gushed. "We better figure out a place now though because they have long waiting lists for June weddings!"
Buffy nodded, "I know. Mom and I are going to sit down next weekend. Do you
two want to have lunch with us? Because, you know, I really want you guys in
my wedding."
Willow and Cordy both giggled. All this giddiness was making Xander sick.
"So, why *did* your mom have you stay home yesterday?" Xander interrupted. He'd do anything he could think of to change the subject.
Buffy sighed. "That is another big bombshell."
The three pairs of eye stared at her expectantly.
"Mom got married."
Three jaws dropped.
"Again? You mean, your mom married someone other than your father. And recently?" Cordy asked her, in shock.
Buffy nodded.
"You have a new Daddy?" Willow asked.
Buffy closed her eyes and nodded again. "I guess I do. I am not calling him Dad, though."
"Do we know him?" Xander interrogated.
"Yup."
Just then, the teacher in charge of study hall for the day appeared. Mr. Giles, who had taken the previous day off, appeared slightly more nervous than usual.
"Our study hall teacher." Buffy replied.
Cordelia's jaw dropped even more, and for once in her life, she was speechless.
Willow proceeded to make several noises, then just asked. "Giles?"
Xander fell over in his chair, hitting the floor with great clamor.
Everyone turned around to see the source of the racket. When Giles saw it was
Xander, with Cordelia and Willow both in shock, and Buffy held an amused smirk on her face, he knew exactly what had happened. Well, at least he didn't have to worry about telling them. There was always a bright side.The End