Here We Go Again
by Livia
09/19/99

Xander leaned forward in Giles' overstuffed armchair, his elbows resting on his knees. "So was he dead?"

"Xander, no!" Willow rebuked him, her arm curled protectively around Buffy's waist.

Buffy just rolled her eyes. "Realize the existence of more than one track, Xand. I already said no more dating the dead, and not every guy I have the hots for is a corpse."

Giles looked up from the pile of books he'd gathered on the coffee table. "Yes, very good. Now, Buffy, if you could be a little more specific as to his general description?"

"Oh," said Buffy and shared a dopey grin with Willow. "He was so totally yummy. But not like pretty-boy handsome, like a Backstreet Boy-- more like Johnny Depp. Sort of a quirky thing but not too weird. Just-- dreamy." she said, and Willow giggled along with her.

"Wonderful description. Although it would probably be more helpful," Xander said, "if Giles were trying to look him up in Tiger Beat."

Buffy blinked and sat up, squaring her shoulders with an effort. "Right. Yeah. Um..."

Giles had pulled his glasses off during Buffy's description, and was polishing them pointedly. "You said his face-- changed, when you two were attacked?"

"Right." Buffy looked around, then dug in her backpack for a magazine and dark black pen. Finding a picture of a face, she circled the eyes in black, with tapering streaks trailing down like tears. She also colored the lips in black. "I didn't really get a good look... but kind of like this."

"Kinda girly there isn't it?" Xander said helpfully.

Buffy shot him a glance, then handed the magazine to Giles. "And his whole face went kinda pale, too."

"Mmm-hmmm," Giles muttered, and stood, crossing upstairs into his bedroom where yet more books were stacked.

"Which lends credence to my dead theory." Xander said desperately.

Willow and Buffy were completely ignoring him now. "But Angel," Willow offered, "his face went all grr sometimes when he fought, and you didn't mind that."

"Nope." Buffy shook her head. "And hey, compared to vamp face, a little Goth makeup is nothin'."

Xander had heard enough. He stood up. "Fine! Date the dead! See if I care! But you both know me better than anyone, and you both know I'm not gonna hold back from saying..."

"Xander!" Buffy stood up, exasperated, and poked Xander in the chest. "He is NOT dead!"

As he reached the base of the stairs again, book in hand, Giles cleared his throat. The three teens looked up.

Giles glanced down at a black-bound volume, then at Buffy. "Well, actually..."

Buffy sat back down on the couch.

"Oh," said Willow sadly.

"What did you say his name was, again?" Giles asked Buffy.

"Eric Draven..."

"Mmm-hmm," Giles said, and handed her the book.

"Told you so," said Xander.

[end]