The Guy Thing 14/18: Code

Xander sauntered into the Magick Box, and was grateful that it was almost
empty. Giles was behind the counter looking over some order forms. He
glanced up.

"I'm afraid Anya isn't in today." Giles was a bit surprised that Xander
didn't know that.

"Yeah, she and the wiccans headed off to the Mall to get one CD. I expect
them back in about 6 hours."

Giles grinned at the joke, more out of social obligation than anything else.
"So, are you here as a customer?"

Xander shook his head as he took a seat on the stool near the counter.

"Where's Buffy?"

"She and Riley are spending the day with Dawn. Something about a water
park, if I recall correctly."

Xander examined every item in the counter case very carefully. Giles waited
patiently. "Uh, Giles?"

"Yes, Xander."

"I've got a friend who's got this problem."

"Ah." said Giles, indicating that he understood more than Xander intended.

"By all means, tell me your friend's problem." Giles put the order forms
down, and pulled up a stool and sat across the counter from the lad.

"It's kind of complicated."

"As you say, we probably have five or six hours."

Xander flashed him a gentle grin.

"OK, my friend has this girlfriend that he likes a lot, but . . . " Xander
stoppped short.

". . . he's unexpectedly found himself drawn to another?" Giles spoke in a
suprisingly soft voice.

Xander nodded.

"And has your friend, uh, acted on this attraction?"

Xander nodded again.

Giles sighed as he nodded. "These things do happen, Xander. They are
unfortunate, but they do happen. I will give you one word of advice . . .
to give to your friend."

Xander looked up at him, expectantly.

"Don't tell . . . , tell your friend not to tell his girlfriend. It may not
be the most honest of actions, but it is a sin of omission rather than of
commission. Telling her would only be cruel. It might make him feel
better, but would only serve to wound her."

Xander nodded.

"Uh, Xander?"

Xander met his eyes. Giles' eyes had that caring look that he usually
reserved for Buffy. Xander swallowed.

"The person that your friend is drawn to, would uh, would he have a
significant other of whom your friend is quite fond of as well?"

Xander got the look of a deer caught in the headlights of an on-coming semi.

"Breathe, Xander."

Xander started breathing again. He looked up at Giles. "You knew?"

Giles shook his head, "Not until just now, no."

Xander put his head down on his arms on the counter, unable to face the
ex-librarian.

"Is your friend in love with him?"

"No, not really." Xander managed to shake his head without lifting it from
his arms.

"That does simplify things in the long run. Is he in love with your
friend?"

Xander looked up, still not meeting Giles' eyes. "Maybe. I don't know. I
don't think so. It's more like a lust thing. Like he's trying it out.
It's not like it is with Graham . . . " Xander cut himself off.

"Oh, dear." Giles stared strictly at the lad. "Xander." He admonished,
"Cheating on one's significant other might be considered a temporary
aberration. But cheating on the one with whom one is cheating does take it
rather far afield."

"She's gonna kill m . . . him, isn't she?"

"She very well might, Xander. And I'm not at all sure that he wouldn't
deserve it. I mean how would you feel if you walked in and caught Buffy
with Anya?"

The sly grin that came across Xander's face made Giles wish he hadn't asked
that question. "Never mind."

Changing the subject quickly, Giles continued, "So does young Mr., I mean.
. . "

"I know you've cracked my ingenious code, Giles."

Giles nodded, grateful for that anyway. "Does Riley want to continue seeing
Buffy?"

Xander shook his head slowly. "I don't know. I don't think he does either.
He's kinda confused about it all. Me, too, by the way."

"Yes. I gathered that. Right. Are you in love with whomever you're
cheating on Riley with?"

"No, but it wouldn't matter. He's completely in love with Riley."

"Uh, Xander?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you having a go at me?" Xander looked puzzled, so Giles rephrased it
for the Yank. "Er, are you making this up?"

Xander shook his head.

'Only in America!' thought Giles. 'Or rather, only in California!'

========================================