Title: Icecapades, Schmicapades
Author: Queena
E-mail: thessulah@aol.com
Rating: PG
Summary: Buffy and Oz have their first date. Sorta.
Disclaimer: Joss is da man and I ain’t.
Author’s Note’s: The fourth in the Blood Pump Series.

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No. No. No. God, what was I thinking. I can't wear a pink skirt with brown shoes. Okay, I'll wear this. No. Can't wear a fuzzy sweater, it'll make him think of Willow. Just wear something simple. Yeah, Oz likes simple. Shit, I could probably dress in a moo moo and he wouldn't even notice. Well, he'd notice, but he probably wouldn't care though. Alright, that looks good enough. Black jeans with a long-sleeved brown shirt. Nice and simple.

Okay, okay, make-up. Foundation base. God, I really need to get a new sponge. Transluscent powder. Eyeshadow, eyeliner, brow liner. Damn! The tip broke again. Stupid brow liner. Now where did I put that sharpener. Ah hah! Here it it. Is that too dark? Nah. Damn! Stupid mascara! Oh yeah, that's attractive. Okay, calm down Buffy. There, you can barely even tell that you messed up.

"Buffy, Oz is here!" No. How come I didn't hear the doorbell? I haven't even done my hair.

"Be right down!" Yeah, after I figure out what I'm going to do with my hair. When in a rush, pull it back. Where did I put those clippy things. Shoot, that vamp broke one of them on my last patrol. Um, um, um, headband, yeah, that'll work. There, that doesn't look so bad. Spritz, spritz. Okay, I don't look too horrible.

Okay, now breath. It's just Oz. Quiet, unflappable, Oz. My friend, Oz. No big deal. Right? Jacket, jacket, where's my jacket. There it is. Okay, done. Just open the door and go down there.Whew, here I go.

Oh, no! I hope Mom's not showing him my naked baby pictures. "Oh, you know how she is. She can't go anywhere without looking just right."

Great, Mom, make me sound shallow. I'm sure he'll appreciate that. "Oh, really? And here I was, thinking she was spending this extra time to look nice for me." He's on to me. I can't do this. I can't, I can't.

"Hi! Ya ready to go?" Wow! I did it. This is going to be great. Yeah, just like two friends hangin'.

"Yeah, it was nice seeing you again, Mrs. Summers." Always the polite, young man. Can't wait to hear what my mom has to say when I get home. 'He's such a nice, young man, Buffy.' 'At least he's not 200 and some odd years older than you.'

Thank god, we're out of that house. God, now I'm starting to wish I had moved into the dorms instead of staying with Mom. Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! No! Damnit, no! Yep, Giles, just my stupid luck.

"I...I gotta answer this."

"By all means. I'll wait out here." Well that plans out. I just knew some evil was going to come up. That always ruins my dates.

"Buffy, what are you doing back already?" God, mom is dumb sometimes. Better take this in the next room. Don't want mom to hear the profanities that I'm about to use.

"Buffy?"

"What?! What the hell do I have to fight now?!" Yeah, I'm steamed.

"Buffy, I-I-I-I-"

"Spit it out! I was busy, damnit!"

"Well, a situation has arisen."

"Uh duh. I didn't think you called to find out what happened on ER last night."

"A prophecy, unfortunately I found it a bit late and it's happening tonight. It seems that a large demon is going to rise tonight. One called Sera-"

"I don't want to know his name. I'll meet you at the library." Click. I hate him. No, I hate demons and vampires and all of those icky things I have to fight. Okay, no more self pity. Gotta go save the world or whatever.

Deep breath. He has that same old patient look on his face. It's a look that's easy to get used to.

"Let me guess, the forces of darkness."

"The forces of darkness." Sigh.

"Come on, I'll drive you to the library."

I hate silences. Especially when I'm with Oz. They just seem so poignant. Tangable. He could at least put on some music.

"So, when are you going to make this up to me?" Huh? I didn't know he wanted me to make it up to him. How does he want me to make it up to him?

"Well, I'm a busy little Slayer. I'll have my people call your people." Yeah, be witty me. That way he won't notice how disappointed I am.

"Or maybe you could call me. No middle men involved." He wants me to call him. That shouldn't be a problem. I'm definitely a phone person. But what will I say? I've talked to him on the phone before but those were all rushed conversations.

"That shouldn't be a problem. I'm phone gal."

"I suck on the phone, unless I'm talking with someone who is good at carrying the conversation practically by themselves." Gee, what an unbelievable shock.

"I can do that. I have a tendency to run off at the mouth."

"Hmm, I never noticed that."

"Really, that's funny 'cause you always struck me as the perceptive type. You know, the kind who just sits back and watches everything. Maybe that's because you hardly ever talk or-"

"Buffy, that was my sarcastic voice." K, now I feel dumb. I hate guys who make me feel dumb.

"Well, you should warn me when you're going to do that. Like before saying something you don't really mean you should say, "K, I'm going to be sarcastic now." Help me out here."

"Buffy."

"What?"

"Your running off at the mouth again."

"Sorry."

"Don't be. I like it when you do that." He likes when I do something. If my grin spread any further I would look like the Joker from Batman.

"Here we are." Ugh. Why did we have to get here so soon? I'd kinda like to find out what else he likes about me. Oh, did he just get out of the van. Better follow suit.

"You want some help?" Do I ever.

"Nah, it could be dangerous. No reason for you to have to deal with this."

"I thought I'd spend zero time here after high school." I wish I could say the same. Sunnydale High's library, still Slayer Central.

"Some things never change."

"But a lot of things do." Wow, I never noticed what a bright green his eyes are. Maybe because he's never looked so intensely at me before. Why *does* he look so intense. Oh my God! He's going to kiss me! NO! Not my cheek, this is going to take some manuevering. Ha! Score! You weren't expecting that were you? God, his lips feel so good. I never want this to end. Sigh, it had to end sooner or later.

"Go do your duty." Why couldn't my duty be spending time with him? Ah, oh well. "Later."

"Later."

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The End