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by Chris Kenworthy (scoobyhq@fcmail.com)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from the Buffy show, obviously. Did you really expect me to? I do own some other characters in this story, like Celia Johnson, Cole Palmer, and Leslie Decowski. Jonny Hardcastle was based on a friend, at his request. :-D
"Oh, just a little diversion to amuse us during pre-Holiday December," Buffy said. "Everyone dresses up as a character from a movie, and... and we spend the night in those costumes, partying at the Bronze. Nothing much to it. It probably wouldn't have survived if Partytown didn't throw a masquerade special for the costumes... they do a lot of business that night."
"Right," Faith agreed to nothing in particular of what Buffy had been saying.
"Of course, Giles made sure to point out that it's not properly a masquerade, since the costumes generally don't cover the face or conceal your identity. Oh, and there's one kinda silly 'tradition' that they started... if a guy and a girl dress up as characters from the same movie, they have to dance one dance before the night is over. Last year I went as princess Leia, and Xander found out ahead of time and got a Han Solo costume," Buffy's mouth quirked in an involuntary smile at the memory.
"So, costume and dance shenanigans," Faith summarized. "Actually, sounds like a laugh..." she broke off as the sound of a door closing echoed softly across the hallway. Without saying a word both Faith and Buffy turned to investigate.
By the time they had turned the corner, neither the door nor the hallway leading from it seemed amiss. If there were an intruder, he had...
"Hey, Faith!" a voice called from one of the classroom doorways as they passed by. As Buffy watched in surprise, a solid-looking young man with his dark blond hair impeccably styled, an agreeable face framed by old-fashioned but attractive sideburns, and a single earring. He wore a leather jacket, blue jeans, and a belt with knife scabbard. He clapped Faith roughly on the shoulder, with enough force that even the strong Slayer winced. "How's it been, babe?"
"Jonny??"
(Back in the library.)
"Hello?" Giles called out as he returned to the library. Given that his young friends had been present in force when he left to use the sanitary facilities, he was surprised to find the room completely deserted.
"Oh, well," he said, and continued on into his office. After nearly two years with Buffy and her friends in her life, he had learned not to fret about their comings and goings.
A few minutes later, the phone rang, startling him. He crossed over to it and picked up the receiver. "Sunnydale High Library," he answered.
"Rupert? I think you'd better sit down." The feminine voice seemed familiar, and obviously whoever it was knew him well, but Giles couldn't place her just then.
He looked around for a chair, but there was none near. "I'm afraid I can't do that and remain on the phone. Who is this, please?"
"Rupert!" she said, clearly irked at his bad memory. "It's Celia."
Now Giles did sit down, quite abruptly, as his knees lost the will to perform their intended task of supporting his body and sent him tumbling down quite ignominiously on his backside. "Oof!"
"Rupert? Are you all right??"
"Oh, yes, quite," Giles mumbled into the mouthpiece as he indelicately picked himself up. "So," he asked his ex-fiancee with every attempt at casualness he could muster, which wasn't much. "What are you calling about, Celia?"
"Um..." she hesitated, clearly made nervous by what she had heard of his stumble. "It's rather complicated, and better not discussed on the telephone, I suppose. May I meet you somewhere?"
"You're in Sunnydale again?" Giles asked blankly.
"Oh, yes. I'm checked in at the Sunnydale Crossings."
"Well, em, then I'll come over and meet you in the hotel coffee shop?" Giles ventured. "As I recall, they make a decent cup of tea, as opposed to most establishments in this town."
"Okay, good. I'll meet you here in twenty minutes."
Giles just stood there thinking for a few seconds after he hung up the phone. So Celia was back in town. Was it personal or Watcher Council business?? Well, there was only one way to tell that. He reached for his car keys, which weren't where he kept them. Oh, right, Faith had taken them so she could 'slow down' Mister Trick on his way into town. Oh, well, he would just have to go get them from her.
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