********************************

Graham couldn't work out why someone had broken into his room last
night and was beating the hell out of a drum kit. He kept trying to
ask them to stop but they just wouldn't listen. And now to top it all
off someone had decided to mummify him.

His entire body was surrounded by cloth, wrapped tightly around his
upper body, his chest and down to his legs. Even his face was
partially covered, although with a little bit of effort he could
still, thank God breathe.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't unravel the bandages around
him. He knew that if he could just find out where the cloth began he
would be able to extricate himself. However he was finding it hard to
concentrate with all the noise. And to top it off he had the worse
case of cotton mouth he could EVER remember having.

The haze engulfing Graham's mind slowly began to clear as the
situation unfolded. No, someone had not broken into his room to
practice for their drum recital, that was the pounding in his head.
And somehow the ex-marine had managed to entangle himself completely
in the sheets from his bed whilst covering his head with his own
pillow, to drown out the drums perhaps? At least he hadn't been
mummified.

Graham finally untangled himself, and slowly sat up. He regretted it
almost instantly and lay back down again. Maybe mummification wasn't
such a bad idea, at least he'd be dead then. Graham slowly turned
himself over, got to his knees with his head hanging sorrowfully
down. `Never Again' he croaked out to the empty room. <<Where had
that drummer gone? I can hear him, he must be here somewhere>>

Graham wiped the sleep from his eyes as he attempted to control his
upset stomach. `Why? what was I thinking'. Still no answer.

Graham sat back on his heels and held the base of his hands against
his eyes. He pressed firmly against the skin in a vain hope of ending
the pounding that continued through his skull. `Oh God, I think I
need to soak my head'. Graham cautiously moved across the room,
pulling on a pair of boxers from the floor as he went. He could see
his clothes from last night crumpled on the floor where he'd
discarded them. Discarded them after he'd returned home last night
alone, returned from a night spent in the company of Xander.

Despite his current condition Graham smiled to himself in
remembrance. He could still see that beautiful face when he closed
his eyes. Those caramel coloured eyes. That smile. Xander's entire
face lit up when he smiled, you could see it from his lips to his
eyes to his hairline. Every part of his face expressing the joy he
was feeling. Graham smiled in return and let his eyes open as he
recalled the events of last night.

Okay, that was almost as big a mistake as drinking in the first
place, he decided and quickly shut his eyes again. This would take
time to adjust.

After only a few moments, Graham's eyes had adjusted to the
<<scorchingly bright>> light in his dorm room. Another sigh, as the
man attempted to stretch his back and neck, twisted and uncomfortable
from what little sleep he'd had the night before. Graham grabbed a
towel from the back of his door and moved out into the hall.

Graham checked the time, 10.30, Oh God. There'd better be hot water
left, he thought to himself as he tried to process in his mind, <<It
was Saturday right ??? I don't have class today???>> Thought process
discarded half way through, please let it be the weekend, he simply
resorted to prayer.

Graham drifted down the hall, body leaning closely to the wall. Past
Riley's room, past Riley's open door, past Riley kissing
Buffy. `Riley?'

`Hey Graham,' arm still looped around his girlfriends waist. `Ouch
you don't look too good man.'

Graham, towel clutched in one hand, other hand plastering his unruly
hair down. `Not really woken up yet, need shower.'

`You know what I think you need? To not drink as much the night
before.' Buffy joins in with Riley's <<much too loud>> laughter.

`Yeah yeah, just keep it down Iowa.' Hand raised in acknowledgement
to Buffy's hello, down the hall. Graham cursed the bastards that
moved the shower, could have sworn it had been here yesterday.
Finally finds it.

The ex-marine turns the shower on, temperature far too hot, when he
tests it with his hand the burning sensation doing a good job of
waking him up. Turns it down, but not by much. Takes his boxers off
and climbs in, try and sweat out the alcohol.

Not sure how long he's been in there, but Graham's starting to feel a
lot more awake, still hungover but thinks he can probably function in
normal society now. Wonders how Xander's doing. Thoughts make him
smile as he shuts off the water before it starts to get cold. Towels
himself dry, body red from the too, too hot water. Graham wraps the
towel around his waist as he leaves the bathroom.

Riley's door still open as Graham wonders back down the hall. More
steady this time, unsure how he made it on the trip here. Memory a
little blurry, but Graham's pretty sure he didn't ass up on the way
there. Least his stomach's under control now.

`Hey Gray, feeling better? I was worried you were gonna stay in there
all day.' Graham can see in through Riley's door. Alone now sitting
on his bed. `Hard night I take it?'

Graham leans against the open door frame and regards his
friend. `Yeah, remind me next time why I don't usually drink so
much.' Graham can tell Riley's laughing at him but he's too tired and
hungover to care, let alone do anything about it. Simply shakes his
head.

`You feel up to going to grab some breakfast?' Takes a moment for the
hungover man to register that Riley was speaking to him, a few more
to think of an answer.

`Uh, yeah I guess, I'll need to get changed. Gimme a while.' Thinks
the food may do him some good.

`Great, so at breakfast you gonna tell me what kept you out so late?'
Graham, wondering why Riley's auditioning for the part of his mother
doesn't even respond, just flips him off and moves back to his room.

20 minutes later he's changed and ready to go.

*****************************************

Graham orders the breakfast of the hungover ex-marine. Lots of
everything, all fried. Manages to eat most of it and after a while
can actually taste some of it. Not sure if that's a good thing and
decides it's time to stop. Riley still eats, even cleans some food
off his friend's plate.

`So, you, last night, spill. What happened?' Riley sits back replete
from his meal and addresses his friend. Both men having been silent
since arriving.

`What, after you deserted me? When you made me go out and then left
me with your girlfriend's friends?' Graham sighs in mock frustration.

`Yeah sorry, something came up.' Riley's face already reddening as he
realises what he's said.

`Yeah I bet it did.' Graham just shakes his head in return. Riley
waits for him to answer, left eyebrow raised questioningly. `Uh,
well, what's to say? After you left I chatted to Willow for a while
and Tara. Had a couple of drinks, they tried to get me to dance, and
um then Xander turned up.'

`Doesn't explain to me the monumental hangover.' Graham's friend
still confused.

`Yeah, Xander had gone through a rough patch and wanted someone to
drown his sorrows with, and I was there. So we had a few, actually
quite a few drinks then we just ended up going home. Not much to say
really.' Graham unsure why he feels like he needs to justify the time
spent in Xander's company.

`Okay, guess that explains why you looked so green this morning.
Buffy was seriously worried you were gonna hurl on her shoes.' Riley
still laughing at his friends expense. Graham just smiles back in
return. `Rough patch? Xander okay?'

`Yeah. Nothing time won't sort out I guess.' Riley distracted again,
watching the people walk past on the street. `Actually that reminds
me. I was wondering if you knew Willow's room number, she's in
Stevenson right?' Graham trying to sound nonchalant.

Riley, focus now back on his friend. `Yeah it's 214. Ah Gray ... you
do know Willow and Tara, they're like a couple?'

`Duh, of course I know I just wanted to hook up with her, she was a
little uh nervous about how Xander was. Wanted to tell her he was
okay.' Riley no longer concerned, attention back with the
passers-by.

`Sure you should pop in and see her then.'

Graham smiles softly to himself, yeah pop in and see her. Grill her
for information on her hot
dark- haired friend. Try and get in on her good books. Silently
cursing himself for not getting more information before Xander
arrived last night. <<Well you know now he's single>>

Today was already turning into a much better day than Graham had
originally thought.

***************************************

Graham approached the front steps of Stevenson Hall. After he and
Riley had finished breakfast (well it had ended up being more like
lunch really), he'd decided to come over and see Willow. Told his
friend that he had promised her that he would report on how Xander
had been last night. Not really a lie, as Willow had definitely been
concerned for Xander, he had thrown himself rather wholeheartedly
into the act of getting drunk last night.

Drowning his sorrows after Anya had left him.

The ex-marine climbed the stairs two at a time as he approached the
floor where Willow and Buffy shared a dorm room. Looking rather
pleased with himself, he thought he'd done a pretty good job of
extracting the information he required from Riley. Willow's room
number and what time Buffy wouldn't be there.

If everything was going to go to plan he decided to himself, it would
be easier if Willow was alone. Buffy was naturally sceptical but the
redhead seemed pretty open. And she seemed to at least like Graham.

Graham knocked at the door to room number 214.

Willow popped her head around the now open door and smiled. `Graham
hi. If you're looking for Buffy and Riley, they've gone out, about 45
minutes ago I think. Tara and I are just here trying to get our head
around the finer points of a new spell we're trying. How did last
night go with Xander? It was really good of you to help. Oh sorry, I
shouldn't leave you standing in the hall come in.' Something about
talking to Willow always made Graham feel exhausted.

He slipped into the girl's dorm room as Willow closed the door behind
him, Tara was sitting on one of the beds. Definitely a decent sized
room, Graham was jealous. Tara smiled at the ex-marine and gave him a
small wave hello, quiet as usual. Graham sat on the bed opposite,
where Willow indicated. Graham hadn't really been expecting Tara to
be here and now felt a little uncomfortable in her presence.

`So' the redhead continued, `it was really good of you to make sure
Xander was okay last night, I hope he wasn't any trouble. He wasn't,
was he?' Graham just smiled and shook his head. `Good, I do worry
sometimes. He at least seemed to be in a better mood when we left,
mind you that was probably the alcohol I suppose.' Willow smiled at
this and moved slowly closer to the girl beside her. It was easy to
see the two were comfortable together and also in Graham's presence.
An easy familiarity seemed to exist between them.

Graham initially unsure, silently wished to himself that Willow
actually was as open and friendly as she seemed. `No worries, I
actually had a really good time.' Planned on saying more, but the
continually hyper witch had picked up the conversation again. Graham
worried for Tara, wasn't sure if the constant level of chatter from
the redhead would drive him insane or not. Looking at the way Tara
was watching her girlfriend Graham decided it would definitely seem
different when you were in love.

`Good, If you're not busy tonight the two of us were going to meet
Xander again at the Bronze. There's a band playing and we thought
we'd check them out.' Graham not sure if he's more scared by the fact
that he would be going that close to alcohol so soon, or more happy
by the fact that he'll get to see Xander again, smiles widely and
nods his assent.

`Great, when I spoke to Xander earlier he said he wasn't feeling too
good but that he thought it was a good idea to return to the scene of
the crime. He's not really much of a drinker, said he needed the
moral support', for some reason Graham knew exactly what he meant.

`Yeah I don't think I'll be doing any drinking tonight.'

The two witches laughed at Graham's obvious discomfort at the
thought. `He'll be pleased you decided to come.' The ex-marine's eyes
narrowed., meeting Willow's from across the short distance between
the beds. The ex marine had to wonder if the spell the witches had
been practising involved mind reading and squirmed a little
uncomfortably.

`He would?' he asked hopefully. Graham had to wonder how obvious he'd
been. Willow simply nodded and held Tara's hand. All three seemed to
be smiling now.

`Graham' slightly more serious now, the ex marine a little bit
concerned about the change in tone. `The one thing about Xander,
right, is the fact that people seem to underestimate him, expect him
to react in one way, when he usually doesn't. He is a lot more
complex than people at first think, but it does seem to take a lot to
phase him.' The witch, now leaning slightly forward fully
concentrating on the man sitting before her.

Graham nodded in response. Willow's mood immediately changed back to
the carefree face she'd presented earlier. `Tonight then, meet us at
7?'

`Sure thing.' Graham smiled at Willow and said goodbye to Tara as he
made his way to the door.

`Thanks for your help Willow.' She reached out to him and squeezed
his shoulder. Graham turned and left the room, he could hear Willow
close the door behind him.

Okay, now Graham was mightily confused. Confused but definitely
pleased. Tonight at 7, at the Bronze, Willow, Tara and Xander.
Definitely, definitely pleased. Still a little confused though as he
went down the front of the steps of Stevenson Hall.

Did Willow know? It seemed to Graham that the witch had been, albeit
subtly offering her approval. Not sure if he was maybe reading too
much into their conversation, but the way Willow had spoken to him
definitely reminded him in a way of the night he'd been to the prom.
His date still upstairs, putting the final touches on her look, he'd
waited downstairs talking with her family, her brother a good friend
of Graham's, a couple of years older, had pretty much spoken to him
in the same way Willow had. Was she trying to be a protective older
sister? She had definitely seemed to approve. That made Graham smile.

Graham slowly walked back across the campus grounds to his own room.
Conflicting thoughts flying through his head, one thing alone clear
in his mind. Graham decided he wouldn't be getting much studying done
today.

tbc