"Listen to Another Round of Blues."
Like I need another round of blues...I've had enough to last my short life already. But I suppose Riley knew what he was doing when he handed the CD to me...
I pop the CD in, hoping it's not a sad and depressing song. It's a lovely day outside, I'm using Xander's uncle's convertible, and nothing can make this day go wrong.
Nothing.
Not even another round of blues.
[Here we go again
Another round of blues
Several miles ago
I set down my angel shoes
On a lost highway
For a better view
Now in my mind's eye
All roads lead to you]
So Xander hands me this tape, saying to listen to it. He just expected me to listen to it without even telling me what's on it?
We've been dating for a while, and there are times I still don't get him.
But I like this song, so far. The title's really misleading.
I balance my Walkman as I head over to the beach, where I'm going to meet Willow and Buffy and a few others for a picnic or some other humanistic ritual. Should be fun...
[So wherever you go
You better take care of me
This time
If you're gonna go
Remember me and all
This time]
I get stuck with Spike duty, lucky me.
But he's behaving nicely, probably because he knows I want to go and hang out with the others at the beach. Girls day out, since the nights are too dangerous.
And he handed me a tape. I think if Giles ever found out Spike had used his tape deck, there'd be hell to pay.
And when I asked what was on the tape, he just shrugged and turned back to watching his soap.
Men are weird, and he's even weirder.
But I like this song...
[We had our bitter cheer
And sweet sorrow
We lost a lot today
We get it back tomorrow
I hear the sound of wheels
I know the rainbow's end
I see lights in a fat city
I feel love again]
Angel's lost it. First he not only gives me the day off so I can go to some get-together in Sunnydale, but he let's me drive *his* car. And he gives me a CD.
He's never even listened to the music I listen too! And I *so* dislike Shawn Colvin..."Sunny Came Home" majorly gets on my last nerve.
But I'm going to humor him. He pays me to humor him, I think. And this really isn't a bad song...
I wonder if this was something...no, not going to think about him right now. But he probably *would* have liked it.
[So wherever you go
You better take care of me
This time
If you're gonna go
Remember me and all
This time]
I'm going to steal this CD from Riley, I think, at least long enough to tape this song. It was a totally sweet gesture. And I've found myself singing along with the song.
I wonder why he picked this song? I mean, what could he possibly think, picking this certain song?
I mean, it's a nice song, pretty easy to understand...but why did he think I should listen to *this* particular song?
Maybe...maybe he just wanted to let me know he's glad I'm over Angel. That's what this song kind of reminds me of, getting over someone. Well...
No more thinking about heavy stuff. I'm just going to keep driving and keep enjoying this song.
[All this time I been makin' deals
Shades if black and white on a Hollywood reel
All this time I been missing
Something so real all this time
I been a face in the crowd
Now I'm living in color and laughing out loud
All these names for just foolin' around
It's a new breakthrough
It's an old break down]
A new breakthrough, an old break down...Xander's lost his mind. What exactly did he give this CD to me for?
I'm not depressed, I haven't suffered from the blues for a long time, and...well, maybe someone else will be able to explain it to me.
I think all the scorned women I've helped would be able to explain this song to me, but since I haven't been scorned myself...
Maybe he was just thinking I'd enjoy the song?
Who knows what goes through his head...
[We smoked a lot of hope
We did our cryin' , too
We're finally waking up
To what real love can do
Down a lost highway
Under the twilight moon
A chorus in your eyes
Another round of blues]
So Oz left me. So what? Did Spike *have* to rub it in my face?
I'm *not* over Oz, I won't *be* over Oz for a while...and I don't need a song to remind me.
Still...it is a nice song, I suppose. I'm still going to yell at Spike for it, though. Who does he think he is? He's just a vampire that gets on my every last nerve, the bane of my existence...
All right! I like him! So what?
He's a decent guy, once you get past his cockiness and attitude. And he's even forgiven me for the mess with him and Buffy getting married...
Maybe he's giving me one huge hell of a hint.
[So wherever you go
You better take care of me
This time
If you're gonna go
Remember me and all
This time]
Maybe this is a helpful hint to get past Doyle's death. There, I said his name. I can remember him and not hurt. Well, not much.
I didn't need a hint. I was just fine without this hint...oh well. I guess I've been moping a bit more lately, and he noticed.
At least I know I have one friend I can count on. I mean, I don't think he'd have been this concerned if I was just an employee, just a person he had to save.
He really *can* be an Angel.
[We had all
This time
We had all
This time]
As night fell, the men gathered together and got on the speakerphone. Angel picked up after three rings.
"Did it work?"
Riley spoke up first. "I think it did, Angel."
"That's good."
"Well, why did we have to give a copy to Anya?" Xander asked, sitting on the couch closest to the phone.
"Because," Spike said, rolling his eyes, "you were treating her like dirt." He turned back to the phone. "Angel, you think everything will be fine."
"Yeah," he said, as the click of the door was heard in the background. "Gotta go. I'll talk later." He hung up, and the others turned to look at each other.
"Well...let's hope the women get over themselves," Xander muttered, sulking slightly.
"Here, here," Spike and Riley chorused, sitting down and waiting for the aforementioned women to come back.
When the door opened, not three but four females walked in, moonlight spilling in behind them.
"That was a fun night," Cordelia said, smiling at the others. She stifled a yawn. "I gotta head back up. Let's do this again, all right? After I bitch Angel out..."
The other girls nodded, smiling until the door closed, then turning on the guys with hard stares.
"So..." Xander said. "Had a good time?"
"Don't think you're getting off easy. What's up with the song?" Buffy demanded, crossing her arms, and glaring at the three guys.
"We just thought it was a good, therapeutic song," Riley said sincerely.
"Don't turn our psych class stuff around on us," Willow said sharply. She pointed at Spike. "You and I are going to have a long talk. Now." She grabbed his duster and tossed it at him and waited a moment for him to put the duster on. "Now."
He got up, put the duster on, and followed her out the front door.
"That goes for you too, Xander," Anya said, tossing him his coat and marching him towards the door.
Buffy looked around Giles' apartment. Her gaze flitted from the little kitchen area, to the books, to the table, then to Riley.
"Aren't you going to yell at me?"
Buffy shook her head. "Oh, I know why you did it."
"Why?"
She smiled, sitting next to him. "Because you care about me. But why did the others do it?"
"Because they care about the rest of you guys. In different ways, but they still care."
Buffy nodded, then rested her head on his shoulder. "I don't think they're going to get yelled at that much. You guys just shouldn't do things like that to us."
Riley smiled. "We won't do that again, I promise."
"You better not."