(act one, chapter eight: 162 candles)

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"Okay, what are we doing for your birthday?" Buffy heard a girl inside Stefan's bedroom ask.

"One, it's your birthday! Why didn't you tell me?!" Buffy half yelled as she entered the room, throwing a unlighted candle at Stefan, who was sitting on his bed next to Lexi. "And secondly who is she?" She asked while pointing towards the other blonde in the room.

"This is Lexi, my best friend."

"You have friends?"

Lexi let out a laugh as Stefan fake smiled at the two.

"Yes, I have friends. You're my friend, remember. Lexi this Buffy Sommers, Elena's cousin/ sister. She likes to throw stuff at people."

Buffy gasped. "I do not, this is the first time I threw something at you."

"You threw a book at me yesterday."

"Oh, well, that's not important. That's yesterday, in the past. Lets leave the past behind us. So is this one of your really old friends? Okay that was a bit rude maybe."

"I'm not that old." Lexi said amused.

"Younger than 1000?"

"Yes."

"Okay, then you're not old. Do they exist actually, 1000 year old vampires? Huh."

"So, Buffy Sommers as in Buffy Summers from that vampire show?"

Buffy's mouth fell open. "OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! She knows it. I love you. Stefan your best friend is awesome. Move over." She spoke to Stefan, making some weird hand movements in the process. "You're my new best friend. Stefan won't mind. I'm more fun anyway. Sorry Stef, that was not to hurt you. Oh and happy birthday, I'm gonna make you a cake. You do like chocolate cake right? Wait, what are you gonna do for your birthday."

"Yeah," Lexi jumped in. "It's not everyday a guy turns 162."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah!" The two girls said in union.

"Hey Buffy, why are you here anyway."

"Oh" Buffy started. "I had to ask Damon something."

Lexi look from Buffy to Stefan confused.

"Why were you looking for Damon?"

"Last night after the party, I woke up in my bed and Damon was sitting next to me. I just wanted to ask what happened."

"I'm sure it's nothing." Stefan said, but both his phone and Buffy's went off, both getting a message from Elena, about meeting them at the at the station.

"Vicki is gone? Why did you let her leave? I thought she still needed help."

"A friend of mine in Chicago is helping her. We thought it would be better for her. But you can't tell that to Caroline's mom."

Buffy shrugged. "Okay." She spoke while sending her mom a text if she could pick her up. God she couldn't wait to be seventeen and finally drive herself everywhere she wanted.

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After the five of them (Buffy, Elena, Jeremy, Stefan and Matt) talked to Liz, they walked outside. Buffy saw Matt walking away from Stefan angrily. They had all just been questioned about Vicki, but no one (except for Elena and Stefan) had any idea what had happened to Donovan.

"I'll meet you guys by the car." Elena said as she parted ways with them.

"Hey, you two okay?" Jenna ask her daughter and her nephew.

"It's weird to talk to Liz about actual police things. It's scary. Ugh, never again." Buffy answered before looking towards Jeremy. "You okay?"

"I truly believe that her leaving town is for the best."

"I'm sure it is buddy." She said, as she hugged him.

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"You're wallowing." Jenna said, as she dropped herself next to Buffy on the couch.

"So are you."

"My wallow is legitimate. I was dumped."

"Yeah, well, Logan's a jerk. We all knew that."

"You didn't get a brush-off e-mail saying, 'I'm leaving town. See ya."

The two sighed but suddenly they heard Jeremy. "Wanna keep it down over there?"

"Why? What are you doing?" Jenna asked as she sat up more.

"Homework."

Now Buffy's head shot up from above the couch.

"Since when do you do homework?"

ALIEN.

"I gotta finish this. I'm way behind and I have a quiz tomorrow, so."

The two Sommers looked at each other.

"What do you think?" Buffy asked. "Alien?"

"Some sort of replicant."

"He can hear you."

"Weird." Buffy whispered to her mother as the bell rang. "I'll open it. You watch Jeremy's replicant."

She opened the door and a happy Bonnie was standing in front of the door. "Bon Bon. What's got you so happy this early in the morning?"

"What's got you so grumpy this early in the morning?"

"I don't really know, to be honest."

Bonnie looked towards the stairs. "Elena up?"

"I don't know. I suppose she's also sulking in her room."

"Come on." Bonnie said, as she grabbed Buffy's hand and the two walked up to Elena's room.

"You up, El?" Buffy asked as she opened the door.

"No." Elena answered, before turning her back to the door, pulling the covers over her head.

"Come on." Bonnie spoke as the two girls both sat down on the bed and took the covers off her.

"No."

"Why haven't you called me back?"

"I'm sorry."

"Are you gonna stay in there forever?"

"Yep."

"Sounds like a good plan to me."

"Buffy." Bonnie scolded as she hit the blonde with one of Elena's pillows.

"I'm officially worried. What's going on?"

OH great therapy. Yeeey. Nope, can't even fake it.

"I'm tired of thinking, of talking."

"Can we get a one-line version so I can pretend to be helpful."

"So we can pretend to be helpful." Buffy corrected the Bennett.

No matter how sad she was feeling herself, Elena's feelings were may more important than hers.

"Stefan and I broke up."

"I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" Elena looked at Bonnie. "Right, stupid question. I know I've been kind of MIA when you need me the most. I suck."

"You wanna make it up to me? Get my mind off it."

"Just remember you asked for it." Bonnie said before stepping off the bed, closing the windows, and lastly is what Buffy was the most confused about. She tore Elena's pillow apart.

If that was my pillow, I would seriously be mad.

"Be patient."

"Okay."

She sat back down again. "I need both of you to swear to secrecy."

"It's kind of a bad week for that kind of stuff."

"No, swear. I'm not supposed to be showing this."

"Okay, I swear." Elena said and Bonnie looked over to Buffy, who nodded her head.

"Me too."

"Okay."

"There's no windows open right."

"Right." Buffy said.

"There's no fan, air conditioning."

"None, what are you doing?" Elena asked.

"Grams just showed me this. You're gonna love it. Ready?"

The two nodded. Bonnie started to move her hand and a feather, from the pillow she previously had destoryed, started to float underneath her hand.

"Bonnie, what's going on?"

"Oh my god. My best friend is a witch. Elena she is a wicth. I always know you were the coolest out of us." Buffy said to Bonnie, who smiled widely at her.

With one eye movements, a part of the feathers started to float above them.

Buffy's mouth opened wide.

THIS IS AWESOME

"It's true. Everything my grams told me. It's impossible and it's true. I'm a witch."

"I believe you." Elena said, still looking around her in amazement and wonder.

The three of them started laughing. And Buffy was glad Elena felt better. And so did she, just a little.

"It's weird, huh? After all this time joking about being psychic I really am a witch."

"Bonnie," Buffy started. "I'm not gonna lie, I'm jealous of you."

"You don't think I'm a freak now?"

"Bonnie, you're so cool."

Then Bonnie looked at Elena. "No Bonnie, of course not. I just- I just don't understand, though. If your grams asked you to keep this a secrets, why did you tell us?"

"You two are my best friends. I can't keep secrets from you."

Elena laughed nervously when Bonnie said that, glancing at Buffy as she did. But Buffy was taking out her phone.

CARE BEAR

We (yes you to Buffy Sommers) planning a party in the grill, this evening.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

Oh, okay!

"People." Buffy said, the two looked at her weirdly. "Apparently I'm throwing a party with Caroline. This evening in the Grill."

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"It's open. Come on in." Lexi's voice could be heard from outside as Elena rang the bell at the boarding house.

"Come on." Buffy said, dragging Elena inside.

"Lexi, hey." Buffy said, as she saw the blonde walking towards them. "I would hug you right now, but you're in a towel and that would be awkward."

Now Elena turned and Lexi was stunned. "Oh, my God. How? Uh? Who?"

Buffy looked weirdly.

Why in hell is she so stunned.

"I'm Elena. Who are you?"

"Lexi. A friend of Stefan's."

"Is he here?"

"He's in the shower."

That came out wrong.

Elena's eyes went wide.

"Do you wanna wait?"

"No."

"I'll tell him you stopped by."

"That's okay." Elena spoke as she dragged Buffy to the front door again.

"Wait, I have to ask her something."

"Fine, I'll wait in the car." Elena answered leaving the house fast.

"Lexi, have you see Damon by now? I really have to know what he was doing in my room last night."

"No, but he's probably at the Grill for the party."

"Okay, wait, you're coming too right? I'm sure Lena will understand I've well explain."

"Hell yeah." Lexi answered.

"Okay, now I've gotta go, other sides Care will kill me."

"See you later." Lexi called after her, as she made her way out of the house.

As soon as Buffy opened the door of Elena's car she got questions thrown at her. "How do you know her? How does Stefan know her?"

"Elena, chillex. He's not cheating on you. Lexi is his best friend. And I met her this morning when I was looking for Damon, who I by the way still have not found."

"Why are you searching for Damon?"

"I have to ask him something about last night."

"What?" Elena's head snapped to Buffy. Afraid the compulsion might not have worked.

"I think he brought me home from the party, but I'm not sure though." 

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"Bonnie. Hey, I've been looking for you." Amy spoke to Bonnie as Caroline, Bonnie and Buffy were dancing. "I'm totally sorry to do this. I know it's so Indian giver and I know we're not even supposed to say that anymore. But I need my crystal back."

"Why? You said you hated it. But then I saw it on you and realized how great it is. And I've got, like, three outfits I can coordinate it with, so."

"I can't give it back to you."

"Okay, well, I didn't wanna have to tell you this, but I'm your friend. When you wear it, it makes you look fat."

Wow. What the fuck.

"There I said it, but, it's because I'm your friend, so."

"I'm sorry, Amy, I can't."

"Well, what do you mean that you can't, Bonnie? It's mine."

"I though you said it was Damon's."

Ah, there we go.

"Well, it is." Amy said.

"So he's the one who really wants it back."

"No." She wanted to say something but she couldn't.

Did this bitch really just compel her?

"Maybe it just." Amy tried to take the necklace's off Bonnie's neck but it shocked her. "Ow, are you wearing polyester?"

"You were really gonna pull it from my neck? What the hell is wrong with you?" Bonnie spoke before going back over to the other two.

"Hey, I need to talk to Elena. Be back in a minute. Or five." Buffy said, making her way over to the bar seeing Elena sip on a drink.

"I don't trust Damon." Elena said.

"What did he do?" Buffy questioned.

"I don't know."

"Well, I know he really wants that crystal of Bonnie's back."

"Ah, the famous Elena and Buffy the vampire slayer." Lexi said as she walked over to the two cousins.

"Towel girl."

"I've been called worse." Lexi spoke as she and Buffy hugged. "Here." She said, handing a shot to her and Elena.

"I didn't know that you guys could drink."

"Oh, yeah. It helps curb the cravings but makes for a lot of lushy vamps." Lexi replied as she downed the drink.

"You know, I've never seen Stefan drunk. He always seems so-"

"Uptight?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah."

"But not with you."

"Well that's the benefit of knowing someone for over a hundred years. You can just be yourself."

"Yeah." Elena sighed. "He can't be himself with me."

"Well, not yet. The first step was him telling you. The rest comes with time."

Technically he didn't tell her. She found out, but I'm just gonna keep my mouth shut for the better.

"You seem so sure."

"The love of my life was human. He went through what I imagine you're going through. Denial, anger, et cetera. But at the end of the day, love really did conquer all." She smiled at Elena before nodding to the glass in front of her. "Are you gonna drink that?"

"Oh, go for it."

There goes another drink. She's going for it.

"I'm scared."

"But you're here, because you're crazy about him. I get it, okay? I mean, what's not to love. Listen, take it from someone who has been around for a long time."

Quite literally.

"When it's real, you can't walk away."

ANOTHER SHOT. HEY.

"Hey, Lexi. It was really nice meeting you."

"Hell yeah. I already love you." Buffy said, smiling as she downed her own drink.

"Love you too." Lexi said before walking away.

Buffy saw James standing by the bar and decided to go over to him. "Hey love." She greeted him.

"Buffy."

Well that's short.

"Something wrong?" She asked worriedly.

"Nothing, okay? God, why do you always have got to be so-" He cut himself off.

"Be what?" She asked, angry.

"Nothing." He snapped as he walked away leaving her standing alone by the bar.

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A few minutes later Buffy saw Lexi getting dragged out of the bar. She saw that Stefan and Elena wanted to follow but they couldn't get through the door of the Grill because the police stopped them.

I KNOW HIM

"You can't get through, Buffy." Benjamin Williams, a police officer, who used to babysit her, said to her.

"But Benny, I saw Matt dragging Caroline out of here. I wanna see if she's okay."

"Fine." Ben replied, letting her through.

Lying is so easy.

What she didn't do is follow Caroline and Matt. She knew Matt would take care of Caroline. She made a turn to her left and saw Lexi walking towards Liz, who was shooting at her.

She better be grateful for me now. Damn it.

Buffy saw Damon coming towards Lexi with a stake.

So naturally she did the most stupid thing a person could have done in this situation.

She ran towards them and jumped in front of Lexi, between her and Damon.

Damon who had been to focused on killing Lexi, hadn't seen her as he stabbed the stake, right into her shoulder.

"FUCK." She screamed as she felt the stake going into her flesh.

Even with the pain, she whispered 'go' to Lexi. Who speed away fast, after seeing Stefan and Elena standing around the corner, knowing they would take care of her. But she did felt guilty, leaving the girl who had been calling her her new best friend all day, like that.

"Buffy." Liz screamed, not caring about the vampire anymore as she ran over to the girl she cared for as a second daughter.

FUCK THIS SHIT HURTS.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Damon asked as Buffy fell in his arms.

"What were you doing?" Buffy asked the two adults. "I met her today, she was nice. She can't be a criminal." She said, deciding to play the innocent act.

"Oh honey, it doesn't matter now. We just have to get you to a hospital." Liz said as she and Damon laid Buffy down on the ground.

"Buffy!" Elena yelled, as she came running towards them. Sending daggers at Damon as she sat down next to Buffy, holding her hand.

"I'm calling an ambulance." Liz said, taking her phone out of her pocket, with shaking hands, and walking a bit further away from then.

"What the hell was that? Why were you trying to kill Lexi? And you? Why jump in front of it?" Elena said, scolding them both.

"I can't let the only person who knows Buffy Summers, without me making them force them to watch it, die." Buffy replied in a duh-voice.

"They're coming." Liz said, running back over and placing's Buffy's head on her lap. "I'm so sorry honey."

"I will go look for the you know." Damon said, looking to Liz, who nodded. Then he looked back down at Buffy. "I am sorry Buffy." He said, genuinely, looking back one last time worriedly, before walking away.

"I'm gonna call Jenna. She needs to know."

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"Hey, how are you feeling?" Jenna asked her daughter after she finally arrived at the hospital. The woman had left in such a rush that she wasn't even sure that she closed the door of the house behind her. Well, what did you expect? Elena called her that her daughter got stabbed.

"Like someone who just got stabbed in the shoulder." Buffy answered. "It hurts more than I thought it would. The films always make it look so not painfully."

"Well you were wrong."

Buffy gasped. "I am never wrong."

Jenna laughed softly at her behaviour. Even though she was stabbed, Buffy would never admit she was wrong in anything.

"Caroline is also on her way over here. I called her but Matt picked up and when he woke her, and told her she was suddenly all sober. Bonnie's also coming and Elena and Stefan."

"Ah, all for me."

"You know it is, Missy." Caroline said.

"Ah well. That's cool." Buffy spoke as she looked towards Elena and Stefan, question in mind if Lexi was safe. They both nodded their heads.

"Hey, I'm gonna get some food from the vending machine. I haven't eaten yet, I'll bring something for you." Jenna spoke as she stood up and kissed her daughters head, before walking to the door.

"Wait, we'll come with you." Caroline said, feeling hungry herself. But she looked back at Buffy.

"Go, Care, I wouldn't want you to starve."

"We'll be back in just five seconds." She spoke before dragging Matt with her.

What confused Buffy was that Stefan walked over to the window. And Lexi came climbing in.

"She couldn't get in through the door, because Liz is still standing there."

"I wanted to thank you for doing that." Lexi said as she sat down next to Buffy.

"Oh, no problem really."

"Why don't you let your wound heal. I could give you my blood." Lexi offered.

"I couldn't. If Liz sees that it's gone, she will put a stake in me for real."

"Does it hurt terribly?" Elena asked.

I FEEL LIKE I DIED

"Oh no, it doesn't hurt at all." Buffy answered.

Suddenly Lexi grabbed Buffy's hand and a pen.

Where did she get that pen? You know what I'm just not gonna ask questions.

"Call me if you ever need anything." Buffy looked down at her hand and saw a phone number. "You should keep contact me with anyway, even if you don't need anything. I'm after all your best friend."

"Hey, another best friend." Buffy sheered. "I'm gonna text you all the idiot things he does." She spoke pointing to Stefan, who rolled his eyes.

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Words: 3107

Posted: January 28, 2024

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x Kat