Chapter 13<\/b><\/p>\n21: \u00a0 \u00a0 The Summers’ House, 1630 Revello Drive, Central Sunnydale<\/h3>\n
The sun shone through the kitchen window scattering dappled light across the countertop and chrome fixtures. Its cheery glow seemed quite inappropriate considering the gloomy nature of the headlines causing Joyce Summers to sigh deeply as she read the details of the top story in the Sunnydale Press.<\/p>\n
\u201cMorning,\u201d Buffy greeted somewhat glumly heading straight for the cabinet to pull down a bowl and a box of Wheaties.<\/p>\n
Joyce wondered if her daughter already knew about the tragedy. The tone in her voice suggested that there was something bothering her. Though it had been a few months since Buffy\u2019s return, they were still patching their relationship back together. It wasn\u2019t always easy to correctly guess her moods.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy, there\u2019s been a horrible accident. Some students from your class were involved,\u201d she paused, waiting for some reaction.<\/p>\n
It came almost immediately and sounded rather detached. \u201cI already know, Mom. Tony Smithson died. There was a fire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy poured the cereal into the bowl, put the box away and opened up the fridge to get the milk. \u201cI could make you something if you prefer,\u201d offered Joyce. \u201cWhat about pancakes?\u201d<\/p>\n
That got her a smile. \u201cNo thanks. I\u2019ve gotta jam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Saturday morning,\u201d Joyce reminded her while taking in the fact that Buffy was already dressed for the day. Glancing at her watch, she added, \u201cYou\u2019re up a little early for a weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo are you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joyce planned on conducting an inventory of the gallery today. She\u2019d been hoping Buffy might come with her. There were times she still felt nervous about letting her out of her sight. This article just brought it all back and the thought of losing her child gripped her heart with fear.<\/p>\n
Walking over, Joyce put an arm around her daughter\u2019s shoulder and placed a kiss on her head. \u201cI love you, honey.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you too, Mom,\u201d came the automatic response. Buffy sent her a strange look as if questioning the need for the declaration. She sat down on a stool and started to eat her cereal.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust promise me that you\u2019ll be careful out there. The police don\u2019t know who is responsible for the fire,\u201d Joyce missed Buffy\u2019s expression as she trailed a finger under a line of newspaper text. \u201cWitnesses say that Tony spontaneously burst into flames, but the police are looking for evidence of foul play. Especially since his girlfriend went missing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coughing as a droplet of milk went the wrong way, Buffy gasped, \u201cMissing?\u201d She pulled the paper off of the counter and skimmed the article. \u201cIt says Karla is a suspect. That she vanished last night before the police got there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joyce nodded, \u201cHer parents must be terrified.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut that\u2019s not true,\u201d Buffy tossed the paper down. \u201cGiles was there. He and Faith saw the whole thing. The police were going to escort Karla home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clearly Buffy was trying to defend her schoolmate. \u201cThe police chief says that\u2019s not the case. It\u2019s right there in the article. Maybe Mr. Giles and your friend were mistaken.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe,\u201d answered Buffy with that I\u2019m-giving-you-the-answer-you-want-to-hear tone that most teenagers thought they got away with, but never did.<\/p>\n
Joyce watched Buffy polish off the rest of her cereal. She wanted to offer an ear if she needed someone to talk to, but it seemed that the subject was closed. \u201cI\u2019m going to be at the gal\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKnock, knock,\u201d Xander\u2019s chipper voice sounded from the screen door.<\/p>\n
Grinning, Buffy jumped off her stool and went to open the door. \u201cIs that a knock, knock joke or are you just happy to see me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m always happy to see you,\u201d Xander waggled his eyebrows. Catching sight of Joyce over by the sink, he froze for an instant and then let out a nervous laugh. \u201cUm, hi, Mrs. Summers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning, Xander,\u201d she tried not to laugh at his expression. Noticing that Willow was trailing in slowly, looking bleary-eyed and yawning wide, she added, \u201cYou too, Willow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow simply waved and crawled up onto one of the kitchen stools. Propping her elbow up on the edge of the counter, she cupped her chin with her hand, eyelids drooping closed. \u201cSleepy now,\u201d she muttered through another yawn.<\/p>\n
\u201cWake up, Will,\u201d Xander walked over to massage her shoulders only to switch to a rousing back pat when she let out a low mewl that sounded a little too contented. Reminding her that they were just stopping by to pick up Buffy, \u201cWe\u2019ve gotta get going.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBye, Mom,\u201d Buffy said as she tugged Willow toward the door.<\/p>\n
Joyce called out to remind her that she would be at the gallery most of the day. \u201cI\u2019ll see you at dinnertime.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Buffster, did you tell your mom to expect that thing?\u201d asked Xander rather cryptically. Then again, Joyce never knew what was going to come from Xander\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n
Buffy looked wide-eyed and hesitant, obviously aware of what he was referring to, but for some reason uncertain that she wanted to reveal it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat thing?\u201d Curious, Joyce stepped closer to the door. They were already on the back porch, standing in a close huddle.<\/p>\n
Through gritted teeth, Buffy muttered to her friends, \u201cNo, I didn\u2019t.\u201d Her mom now knew about the vampire-fighting side of being a Slayer, but she still held back on some of the really scary stuff, like when demon gods threatened to take over the planet.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat thing, Buffy?\u201d she had to ask again, this time concerned. Crossing her arms she gave them her best stern face and waited for a response.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, there\u2019s supposed to be an earthquake.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander helpfully specified, \u201cTonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAn earthquake?\u201d Well, this was California. Earthquakes were hardly unusual. The fact that Buffy and her friends seemed sure there would be one certainly was. \u201cIs the fault line acting up again? I didn\u2019t read anything in the paper to indic\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Now fully awake, Willow was the one with the answers. \u201cNope, you won\u2019t find it there. I was reading this old scro\u2014 schoolbook on\u2026on Nostradamus\u2026yeah, him\u2026 and there\u2019s this prediction about today. You can\u2019t beat that for an early warning system.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNostradamus?\u201d Joyce was surprised at the texts in schools these days. \u201cAren\u2019t his predictions supposed to be vague?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMost prophecies are,\u201d Xander told her quite seriously. A second later he gripped his side and let out a painful yelp drawing Joyce\u2019s attention as he scowled down at her daughter\u2019s elbow.<\/p>\n
Buffy\u2019s mouth curved into a tight smile, \u201cNo use taking chances, right? If you\u2019re going to the gallery, you might want to, um\u2026secure things just in case.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a shrug, Joyce agreed. \u201cIt never hurts to be prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I used to tell Cordelia,\u201d snorted Xander only to cry out again when Buffy whacked him on the arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing now,\u201d Willow waved goodbye and darted down the steps heading across the back lawn toward the open gate.<\/p>\n
Joyce watched as Buffy trudged after her leaving Xander to follow. He ran to catch up, \u201cWhat\u2019d I say?\u201d<\/p>\n