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Willow clicked her pen again. Had she been doing that too much? She should stop, it was distracting and annoying- which she very much was trying not to be at this moment. She dared to look up from the homework she was working on (it wasn’t due until next week, but she liked to get a head start.) to Buffy, who was sitting across from her with a Math book open on the table. They’d both had a free period, and Buffy had just… invited her to hang out in the library.
She still didn’t quite understand exactly why Buffy was being so nice to her.
There were two distinct categories, and Buffy should have for all intents and purposes fallen into the one that did not include Willow Rosenberg. She belonged with the Cordelias and Harmonys of the world; The beautiful, confident girls, the ones who could have a boy wrapped around their finger with just a look, who’d never have to worry about finding a date for a school dance.
And as if that wasn’t enough, she also had actual superpowers and fought vampires which were real apparently? Willow was still sort of wrapping her head around that one.
But for some reason, Buffy was here- with her- sitting in the library and chatting away like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And Willow wasn’t ungrateful! Far from it! But… it was still confusing. Buffy hadn’t asked Willow to do her homework or to copy her answers down during a quiz. When she sat next to Willow in class or at lunch, it seemed like she was doing it just because she wanted to.
It wasn’t exactly like there were many people her age who wanted to be around her. Only one really, Xander. There’d been Jesse, but he’d really been more Xander’s friend than hers and Amy- but she’d started being so weird the last few months; almost acting as if Willow didn’t exist, and sure they’d never been especially close but-
Willow was pulled from her thoughts when Buffy snapped the book closed.
“We should totally hit the mall after school,” Buffy said absently, toying with a fraying edge on the cover. “I so need a new skirt, a vamp got mud on this really cute one last night and the stain won’t come out.”
Willow blinked. “The mall? Like out in public? with me?”
Buffy blinked back with a slightly confused smile. “Yes? Unless there’s some secret un-public mall in Sunnydale I don’t know about.”
“Oh, um, not that I know of.” Willow said, “I guess we can go. If you’re really sure.”
Buffy looked at her a little strangely again, but she was still smiling so that was a good sign at least. Just then the bell rang. Willow hadn’t even noticed the time passing by so quickly.
“We should meet here after last period,” Buffy said as they put their things into their bags, “Giles has some boring lecture to give me but we can go after.”
Willow nodded and slung her backpack over her shoulder. They walked out the door and into the crowded hallways. She expected Buffy to split away once they were out, but to her surprise Buffy fell into step with her.
“I’m going to History.” Willow said, frowning. She was sure Buffy didn’t have the class at the same time as her.
“It’s on the way to Biology,” Buffy responded, “We can walk together.”
Willow had to remind her legs to keep moving against the throng of people trying to get to their classes. She glanced at Buffy who kept talking, like what she said wasn’t even a big deal.
Buffy, who was walking her to class when she didn’t have to, who kept seeking her out, who was going to the mall with her later; this wonderful superhero wanted to hang out with her. Willow smiled.