Title: Potential 1/4
Author: Jen
Email: supermom11200@yahoo.com
Rating: PG
Pairing: B/G kinda, sorta, but not really
Setting: It’s still Sunnydale, but that’s about it.
Summary: A Potential has come to town or is it someone else?
Spoilers: I’m playing holy hell with it all. Mwa haa haa!
Distribution: WatcherGirls, bgzone, Headquarters, ODD, wherever I post it. Anyone else, ask. After I pass out from laughter, I’ll say yes.
Feedback: Feed the beast! Feed the beast! (Sorry, I was channeling Rick & Bubba for a minute.)
Disclaimer: I don’t own them. Wish I did. Joss & the usual suspects do.
Dedications: Jamie is the sugar in my mocha, Kim is the mustard on my hot dog, & they are my friends. Thanks.
“Dawn, hurry up if you want a ride to school! I am not going to be late today.”
Buffy Summers stood in the kitchen doorway and yelled at her sister, not that yelling was necessary. In their small apartment, talking loud was enough to have the neighbors banging on the walls.
Dawn walked down the hallway and smirked at her sister.
“What makes today any different from any other day?”
Buffy sighed, ignoring the question. Dawn knew perfectly well and that was why she was giving Buffy a hard time.
“Are you going with me or on the bus?” Buffy asked.
“I’ll walk, thanks. I so do not want anyone knowing that we are related. I mean, eeiiww! My sister, the teacher? Please, I have enough to deal with being new. I am not going to add my weirdo family to the list, ok?” Buffy smiled slightly at the grievances listed and headed for the door.
“Fine, but remember that when you need my help studying for the mid-term.”
“What?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you? You’re in my third period class. Don’t be late,” Buffy told her, right before the door closed on the incredulous teen.
***************
Buffy looked around her classroom and smiled. Her first teaching job, her first class, her first…
“Oh, damn it!”
She realized what was missing, her first cup of coffee from the teachers lounge.
Buffy grabbed her coffee cup, left the room, and walked quickly to the haven for teachers, located down the hall and around the corner.
She opened the door and saw a tweed covered man sitting at the table, drinking from a green mug.
The man looked up from his newspaper. ‘Not another one,’ he said to himself.
He looked at the young woman and said in a soft British accent, “This is the teacher’s lounge. Students are not allowed in here.”
“Well, that’s good because I’m not a student. I’m Buffy Summers, sophomore composition and senior English Literature teacher.”
The man gave her a second appraising look and smiled ruefully.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been telling students that all morning. I just assumed…”
“Do you know what they say about people who assume things?”
“What?” he asked.
Buffy walked to the coffee pot and poured the brew to the top of the cup. She took a sip before replying, already heading for the door.
“It makes an ass out of you and me.”
The door closed behind her. She stopped for a moment then heard what she was waiting for, a giggle, and then deep, throaty laughter carried to her.
She always did like helping people start their day with a smile.
***************
Rupert Giles watched the door close behind the woman. His laughter escaped him before he could stop it. After a moment, he calmed down and returned to his paper. A few minutes later, he abruptly stopped reading.
"English Literature? Bloody hell..."
With that, he quickly left the lounge, and hurried to the library. The new English teacher and her class were coming in to research their term papers.
He slowed his stride a few steps away from the door, straightened his tie, and walked through the doors that were already in motion.
He saw the students milling around the room and watched as the same woman from the lounge stood near the circulation desk looking for someone.
He approached her from behind and tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped slightly and whirled to face him.
He grinned shyly and asked, “Can I help you, Ms. Summers?”
“My students are looking for some, well, books. I'm new. Teacher, that is. But, you know that, don’t you?”
“I'm Mr. Giles, the librarian. I was told you were coming.”
Buffy sighed softly as he walked around the counter and leaned against it. ‘Tweed should so be made illegal,’ she thought.
She met his eyes and said, “My students are going to need books, uh, lots of them, for their papers.”
“And which books might they need?” he asked.
“English writers, poems, plays, all of it. After looking over my predecessor’s grade books, some of them will need all the help they can get.”
“Well, if I can be of any help, personally, please tell them to feel free to ask. Let me show you where they are kept.”
He returned from behind the counter and led her up the stairs. She quickly captured her students’ attention and they followed.
Giles showed the class through the maze of bookshelves. He pointed to the proper places and he and Buffy descended the stairs. They sat at the large table that dominated the room and spoke quietly.
"Mr. Giles?"
"Oh, Ms. Summers. Please just call me Giles. Everyone does."
"Um, ok, Giles. Then, you must call me Buffy. Ms. Summers makes me sound old."
"Bu- Buffy..."
"I know... it’s a nickname. When my sister was little, she couldn’t say Elizabeth. It came out as Buffy and the name stuck."
“You have a younger sister?” he inquired, getting a sinking feeling in his stomach.
“Yes, she’s a sophomore and she’s thrilled to have big sister teaching at her school. What’s worse is that she’s in one of my classes.”
“May I ask what your sister’s name is?”
“Dawn.”
That sinking feeling went straight to his feet at her words. ‘Oh, this is bloody priceless. A sister.’
Buffy noticed the flicker that passed through his eyes and quickly disappeared.
He rose from the table and put his hands in his pockets.
“Well, it was nice meeting you, but I have some things to do in my office. If anyone needs assistance, please let me know. You should also let your students know that I do keep the library open for an hour after school is finished. If they need extra time, they shall have it.”
Without waiting for a reply, he left.
Buffy blinked at the abrupt ending and watched as he entered his office and closed the blinds.
“Well, that was weird.”