Coo Coo Ca-Choo

Saturday Morning- Sunnydale

William tried to silently sneak into his house without his mother noticing but when he got half way up the stairs to his room, they creaked rather loudly.

“William! Is that you?” came his mother’s voice as she appeared at the landing above him.
“William Giles! Where have you been young man? I have been worried sick about you. Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Put your poor mother into the grave? You were with that Harris boy weren’t you?” she droned on and on.

He finished his climb up to her where she studied him studiously.
“Sorry, Mum…spent the night at Xander’s. Forgot to call you.” He said rather unconvincingly.

Anne Giles took in his appearance. He smelled like liquor and was disheveled.
“Have you been drinking?” her eyes narrowed.
“No, Mum” William lied.
“Don’t you lie to me boy. I can smell it on you and what’s that on your collar…is that …oh my God…is that lipstick? You smell like perfume too and…and oh dear lord in heaven…”
“Mum…please…I want to go to my room” William pleaded.
“You filthy, dirty, sinner! I can smell it on you! You’ve …you’ve fornicated! Don’t try and deny it! I need to take you to church. We must pray for your soul” Anne continued her tirade.
“Mum…I’m sorry…just let me go to my room. I don’t want to talk about it or pray about it or go to bloody church!” he lost control of his temper momentarily.
Anne reached out and slapped him across his face.
“You filthy disgusting boy. God will punish you for this. Mark my words” Anne fumed.

William pushed past her and into his room, shutting the door behind him. He leaned against it and hung his head.
“He already has, Mum. He already has”

Sunday Morning- Los Angeles

Buffy signed in exhaustion. The movers had arrived with her furniture and boxes. She had been unpacking and cleaning in her new apartment all morning.

RING RING went her cell phone. The land line hadn’t been hooked up yet. Those idiots at the phone company. She specifically called them weeks in advance so it would be turned on when she arrived but due to some mix up, it hadn’t been. After being shuffled around from one department to the next she finally got someone to assure her they would have it turned on my tomorrow. Thankfully the gas and electric companies came through and had turned their respective utilities on.

“Hello!”
“Buffy!” a voice shrieked on the other line.
“Willow! Hi chica! I made it! I’m in town at the new place. Wanna come over and help? Pizza and beer is on me!” Buffy asked Willow.
“Sure…do you mind if Tara comes with? I want you to meet her and hey…more help!” Willow replied.
“Sure! Sounds great. You know a good place that delivers or you want to pick something up on the way and I’ll reimburse you when you get here?” Buffy questioned.
“That’s a good idea. The best place in your area is Wicks and they don’t deliver so Tara and I will stop and do carry out. You need us to stop at the store too?” said Willow.
“Nope…one of the first things I did when I gnto nto town yesterday was a beer run. You know me!” Buffy said trying to be funny.

Good thing she couldn’t see the look that crossed Willow’s face.
“Yep, sure do Buffy. O.K. We’ll be there in an hour or so. See you then!”
“See you then. Bye.” Buffy hung up.

Buffy and Willow had met during college at Stanford and were dorm mates and became best friends. Buffy rarely ever drank when Willow had first met her. She always joked that beer was bad but then she had started seeing this frat boy named Parker Abramd afd after they had broken up, Buffy’s alcohol consumption chandrasdrastically. It seemed like anytime someone saw her she had a beer in her hand. Her personality changed too. A once somewhat shy and sweet girl became everyone’s favorite party girl, outgoing and bold. Willow had never said anything to her best friend but she wondered why Buffy drank so much and had come out of her shell like that. She tossed it up to just growing up and college life. Buffy never offered any answers herself.

After graduation, Buffy opted to stay in the San Francisco area where she grew up but Willow had received an internship at a big computer company in Los Angeles and so moved there. Buffy didn’t know exactly what Willow did other than she was very smart and made a lot of money doing it.

Buffy had taken a job with Shultz and Simmons Publishers, a well respected and nation-wide known book publishing company. She had worked her way up the ranks in the Frisco branch making a name for herself and had been offered an assistant editor in chief position in the big corporate branch in L.A. It was a major promotion and she readily accepted. Getting to live near her best friend was an added bonus.

Buffy went to the fridge and popped open a beer. She swallowed half of it down in one gulp. She smiled as it reminded her of two night’s previous watching sweet little, well not so little William chugging his beer down. Her smile turned to a saddened face as she thought about never seeing him again.

“Christ, Buffy…you’re old enough to be his moth…alright…older sister. You did the right thing leaving. It’s not like you two could ever have anything. The age difference. Different cities. Besides, I can’t tie myself down to one man no matter how sweet and kind and handsome and good in bed they are. Stop it Buffy!” she scolded herself.

“I probably should have just left the poor boy alone. But no, I had to go fuck his brains out and then skip out on him. He must think I’m a terrible person. Probably cursing me as a slut right now.” She thought.

Shaking of her thoughts and finishing her beer, she started on another box and waited for Willow and Tara to get there.

Sunday Afternoon- Sunnydale

“Hello” William answered ringringing telephone.
“Christ, you ARE alive. Man, I’ve been calling you since yesterday. You mum said you couldn’t coo tho the phone. What the hell did that chick do to you?” Xander said.
“We forgot to call my mum and tell her I was staying at your place Friday night and I didn’t come home until Saturday morning and she was pissed, spouting off about sinners and God and going to church. You know how she is. Anyway…she watched me like a hawk yesterday and wouldn’t let me take your calls. She is at church right now. Only reason I’m able to answer the phone” William explained.
“So…come on man...spill...details...how was it? You did do it, right? Out all night...you had to have!” Xander prodded.
“Don’t really wanna talk about it” William answered.
“Was it that bad?” Xander asked.
William sighed, “No, it was that good. Just leave it, Xan. Please.”
“Damn...alright man. Don’t get all broody on me now”
“I don’t brood!” William raised his voice.
“Wanna go to Joe’s and get some burgers and a shake?” Xander changed the subject.
“You asking me on a date?” William tried to sound lighthearted.
“Yeah, now that I know how easy you are, you manslut you.” Xander joked back.

It hit William the wrong way though. “Don’t call me that…you…you wanker.”
“Get Guinness. William Giles swore!” Xander continued joking.
“Look...in or out? Meet me at Joe’s in 30, alright?” Xander told him.
“Right. See you then” William hung up the phone.

2 hours, 4 cheeseburgers, 2 order of fries and two super sized chocolate milkshakes later, William and Xander sat rubbing their full bellies.

“So…William. I’m just curious. All seriousness. You don’t have to tell me details but you’ve been acting funny and I know something happened. Come on…I’m your best bud. You can tell me.” Xander continued to pry. William sighed. He knew Xander would never give up if he didn’t give in.

“We had sex. I told her I loved her like the stupid git that I am. She left. End of story.” William told him.
“Oh man. That’s harsh” Xander replied.
“Not even the half of it. She couldn’t even tell me she was leaving in person. She left me a note. Instead of waking up to her, I woke up to a piece of paper.” William teared up a bit.
“Even harsher. I’m sorry man.” Xander didn’t know what to say.
“Did you…I mean…kinda soon to be falling in love don’t you think?” Xander inquired.
“You weren’t there. I saw it in her eyes. We had a connection. It was more than just the sex. I know it.” William said with a tinge of hope in his voice.
“Why’d she leave then?” Xander rationalized.

William looked away with pain clearly written on his face.
“She told me it was the best night of her life. I don’t know why she left.” William answered.
“Best, huh? You just gonna let her walk away like that then? Without a fight?” Xander questioned.
“What else can I do? She lives in another city. I don’t even know her last name. Christ.” William ran his fingers through his hair.
“I know she works for some publishing company. She mentioned something about that. Other than that and her moving to L.A., that’s all I know.”

Wheels were turning in Xander’s head which usually only spelled trouble for William.
“Thought about where you’re going to college, William?”
“What? What does that have to do with Buffy? You know very well that I’m going to UC Sunnydale as are you. We’ve had that decided for the last two years.” William said.
“What if you made a change of plans and enrolled in UCLA instead?” Xander grinned.
“WHAT? My mum would kill me for leaving. She’d never let me go to school in another city. You know that” William rolled his eyes.
“Well, seems to me that you’re a man now, William. The best too apparently” he grinned teasing him about Buffy “you gonna do everything your mommy tells you your whole life? I don’t mean to be mean, Will and I’m one to talk considering my parents but you know your mom is a little off her rocker” Xander looked him square in the eye.
“Maybe the best thing for you is to get away from this damn town and if you happen to meet up with a hot little blonde while you’re away…” Xander trailed off smiling.

William’s mind was churning in every direction. Getting away from his mum, this town, getting to see Buffy again…going to a better school. Christ almighty but Xander Harris was right. William began to feel hope build up inside him. Yesterday he was distraught with sadness but now things didn’t seem so bad.

“Xander…one condition. You gotta come with me? To UCLA. I can’t go by myself” William demanded.
“I thought you’d never ask. No problems leaving my folks, believe me. Hello L.A.! Hey, we can even drive down next weekend and tour the campus and apply for admission. We still have the rest of summer break before the fall semester starts but it’s better to get everything taken care of so when the time comes, we can just go.” Xander beamed.
“You’re a guy’s best bloke, Xan. Thanks.” William told him.
“Aw shucks” Xander batted his eyelashes.
The two boys paid their bill and left the diner.

William whistled as he drove home after dropping Xander off.
“Until we meet again, Buffy…Until we meet again.”

Continued in Chapter 4- Road Trip