3rd Person's POV

The end of the school day. Students file out as Buffy, Laney, and Willow come down the steps.

"Willow, it's not that big a deal. It's just a bunch of people getting together. I mean, sure, Chambers asked me specifically right in front of Cordelia. And, yeah, he gave me the marshmallows from his Jell-o during lunch. And then he walked me to History class and said 'I can't wait to see you tonight.'"

Laney and Willow give each other a look then stare at Buffy.

"I guess I blew it way out of proportion." Willow says jokingly.

"All right, it's a big deal. Did you notice how the
corners of his mouth curled up when he chewed?"

"I missed that. I was too busy looking down and to the left of his 501 label."

"I'd like to see an IMAX of that... Wait a minute."

Laney frowns as they stop walking, "What's wrong?"

"If you listen real close, I'm starting to sound like
a regular teenager. I've got friends. I've got a date.
All I need now are zits and an eating disorder."

Giles comes up to them, "Good afternoon, ladies."

Buffy ignores him and holds her chin, "Although I should probably do something about that
supernatural ability to destroy the undead."

Giles frowns, "I'm under the impression there's some sort of ironic tone in that statement, but as an Englishman I'm incapable of discerning it."

"Yeah? Well, that makes us even, because I don't get Benny Hill."

"In any case, that supernatural ability, which you
should cherish and treasure, if I might add--"

"You always do."

"--is needed tonight."

"Uh oh..." Laney whispers over to Willow who nods.

"Close the beach on that idea. I've got a very big meeting tonight with-- okay, let's just call him what he is-- a god."

"Oh, no. You have much more urgent business to attend to."

"More urgent than me moving past 'Buffy, The Celibate Years'? I don't think so."

"It's not all that great Buff."

Buffy glares at Laney making her smile sheepishly and look away.

"My books tell of a major event occurring on the
evening of the 1,000th day after the Septugian Sunset. That's tonight."

WiLlow frowns, "Already? Seems like just last week was the 1,000th day after the last Septugian Sunset. Where does the time go?"

"According to my calculations, we are due for a fresh
rising of vampires. It is prophesied," he pulls out his notebook and glances down.

"On that day, seven souls will be captures into the darkness. And the Master will look upon one of them and be pleased."

"Too bad, because I looked upon Chambers and was very pleased. Can't Laney stake out tonight? She loves staking out."

Laney smiles nodding her head, "It's true... I do."

Giles shakes his head, "The slayer must be present tonight. Your responsibilities to the world are paramount."

Buffy pouts as she pleads "But... cute guy. Teenager. Post-pubescent fantasies."

"You'll have to put those on hold. For tonight, we do battle!"

Laney leans back as she tries to catch her breathe, "We should really be getting ready to go to the Bronze. We promised Willow we'd be there."

Xander continues to kiss down her neck. He pecks her neck with each word, "Yeah... but... it's Xander... and... Laney... time."

Laney laughs as she pushes Xander away, "That's not a thing."

Xander grins as he pulls her closer, "We can make it a thing."

Laney giggles and shakes her head, "You naughty boy I'm gonna get ready. You can tell me which outfit you like best."

Laney gets up from her bed leaving Xander to lean against the headboard. She strips down to her bra and underwear then raids her closet.

"Hmmm what to wear...?"

Suddenly, she feels arms wrap around her waist. Xander lays his chin on her shoulder as he looks at her clothes.

"I'm sure anything would look great. Here how about this?"

Xander reaches for an outfit making Laney tilt her head to the side then smile.

"Good choice Alex."

"It's what I do."

Laney pushes Xander away with a chuckle then she gets dressed. After she does her hair she turns around to show him and he holds a thumb up.

"Beautiful."

"Alright let's go then."

As he heads to the door, he is pulled back and turned around. Laney leaps forward and presses her lips to his.

"One more time..." She mumbles as her lips move with his.

He grips onto her waist making her moan. Her arms wrap around his neck and pulls him down closer. All space has vanished between the two. After another minute of making out they finally separate.

Laney fixes her shirt back then reaches over and ruffles Xander's hair, "There all better."

"Shall we?" Xander jokes as he holds his hand out.

"We shall."

Willow sits at the gangs regular table stirring her drink with her straw. She had been waiting for Xander and Laney for thirty minutes now.

As soon as she's about to get up to leave, the two come rushing in.

"Where were you guys?"

"This one couldn't figure out what to wear." Xander says rolling his eyes jokingly.

"Hey! It's a very delicate process. Beauty takes time." Laney sticks her tongue out.

"Then why do you look like that?"

Laney gasps making Willow glare at Xander.

"Here it goes..." Willow mumbles.

Willow waits for Laney to start raising hell but then frowns as she hears her laugh.

"Good one Alex. I got ya next time though." Laney winks as she walks away to find Cordelia.

Willow's eyebrows furrow in confusion as she looks at Xander shakes his head with a small grin.

"What the hell was that?"

Xander looks over at Willow in question, "What do you mean?"

"Since when did you like Laney?"

"I don't like like her. She doesn't even like like me. We just get each other. It's fun to make fun of each other."

"Right... and that's all it is?"

Xander rolls his eyes and nods, "Yeah of course."

Willow sighs then smiles widely, "Good. It'd be really weird to see you with my sister."

"Well good thing we're not together." Xander smiles.

Those words make Willow feel a little better but it doesn't fully help to see the two giving sensual looks throughout the night.

Later that night, Buffy walks in the club and looks around for Chambers. She stops short and frowns.

There he was. In the middle of the dance floor. Dancing with Cordelia. Buffy starts to walk in until she watches Cordelia pull him close. Frowning even more, Buffy turns on her heels and walks back out the door.

Buffy slams her locker door, revealing Xander and Laney beside her.

"So you just went home?" Laney frowns as she leans against the locker between Xander and Buffy's.

"What was I supposed to do? Say to Chambers,
'Sorry I'm late. I was sitting in a cemetery with the
librarian waiting for some vampires to rise so that
I could slam a few stakes into their hearts but it
was a false alarm so now, hey, let's dance'?"

Xander stands weighing this with his hands, "Or... flat tire."

"Giles should come with a Surgeon General's warning: may be hazardous to Buffy's social life. He's completely not cognizant. It's as if he's never even been on a date."

Laney shrugs, "Distinct possibility."

"I can't take this anymore. I feel like everyone's
staring at me, the hideous dateless monster."

Just then a student walks past, and Buffy tears into him.

"That's right, I have no life. Move along, pal. Nothing to see here."

The student scurries on.

"Buff leave the poor guy alone."

Xander nods agreeing with Laney, "You're reacting a little overly, aren't you? Everyone likes you. I bet you could have any guy in the school."

"That's a nice thing to say. You're a good friend."

Laney laughs as Xander groans at the word friend. Then coincidentally Chambers comes up to them.

"Hey, Buffy."

Buffy smiles brightly, "Chambers."

"Oh, look, it's Chambers. Buffy and Chambers. And Xander. That'd be me."

Xander moves aside and begins rummaging through his locker.

"Where were you last night?"

Buffy rambles, "Oh, I, uh... broke my watch, and we don't have any clocks in our house, so I didn't know what time it was, actually, I didn't even know what day it was. Was that last night? I'm sorry."

"How about we try again for tonight? I'll even lend you my watch."

Behind them, Xander rolls his eyes, trying not to gag while Laney holds her hands together up to her face smiling.

"Tonight? You and me?"

Chambers shrugs, "We could invite the chess club, but you know, they drink a lot."

"Well, no, it's just I kind of heard that you and Cordelia were somewhat... all over each other. A little."

"I just danced with her a couple of times. She was there all alone. I felt sorry for her."

Xander 'finds' something in his locker, "Yay! I've been looking for this pen cap for weeks."

Buffy acts as if she is calculating in her head, "Tonight... Let's see, if I rearrange, and move that to next week, and then shift that to-- sure. Tonight'll work."

"I'll pick you up at seven."

"Seven." She repeats.

Handing Buffy his watch, he points, "That's when the little hand's here."

Buffy smiles playing along, "Ah, right between the six and the eight."

"See you then."

They both smile then he walks off.

Buffy looks over to Xander and Laney, "Tonight! Isn't that so?"

Xander smiles with fake chipper, "Oh, yeah. I'm sure you and Gaggy Von Gaggenheimer will have a great time."

Buffy frowns making Laney smack the back of his head.

"Come on, be happy for her."

Xander defends him, "This is me being happy. You should see me Christmas morning. I barely even crack a smile. But I'm all sugar plums dancing on the inside."

JUST FOR FUN

Laney's Bronze Outfit
then School Outfit and Hair