Willow looked at him, and Xander looked right back. The nervousness and the squirming were noticeable only to each other; the world was oblivious. They had tried, they really had.

"We have to stay away," he'd said.

"We're the best of friends," she'd answered.

Then they kissed. Again. And again. And again and again and again...

Buffy looked out the window, waiting for the sun to set. Waiting. Waiting. All she did was wait, now. She had to wait to be alone.

Alone with Angel, for the stolen moments of time. Time he had and she didn't.

And everyone wanted what little time she had, except for one man. Her father. Was he even really her father? At this point, she didn't know. Didn't care.

Giles looked at the book, not reading it. It was just there. Memories of anger raged through his mind. If Jenny was here, she'd know how to help.

If Jenny was here, he wouldn't be so angry with an unjust God.

If Jenny was here...

The hate and fear and loneliness would melt away back into the void where Ripper resided. And then he could start to solve the problem at hand.

Oz looked at the table, and then at Willow, then back at the table, then back at Willow.

He loved her. There it was, simple fact. But something was wrong. Something about Willow was slowly changing, and he had no idea what it could be. None at all.

But he still loved her. She was proof to him that love at first sight existed and was strong in this world.

And whatever changes took place, he'd still love her.

Wesley looked around the room, his eyes falling on Cordelia. He was attracted; she was taken. He was attracted; she was younger. He was attracted; she was not.

She looked at him as she looked at Giles, a stuffy Brit there to make her work with the Slayer. Nothing more, nothing less. Sadly, probably that thought would never change.

And what was wrong with that? There were other women...but none like her.

God, what was wrong with him?

Cordelia at her nails. She didn't want to be there. She was there for Xander. She wanted to leave. To be normal.

So she stood up. She packed her bag. She looked around at the people who knew the truth, that they were queer, and said simply one thing.

"I don't want to be here."

And she left, thinking about how she could escape the queerness and go back to reality, even if for a short time. Just to be normal again.