Inell's Fanfiction Archive

Willow looked up as Xander sat down beside her. She flinched at the look in his eyes, knowing why he was angry. She gave him a bright smile as she said, "Hi Xander."

"Where's Jesse?" he asked, trying not to look in her eyes.

"Nice to see you too," she said, a bit angry at his attitude.

"Willow," he sighed, running a hand through his hair, "it's been over a week. No one has seen him. He hasn't been home. I'm really worried."

"Why do you think I'd know where he was if you didn't?" Willow asked, feeling guilty because Xander was upset.

"I just know that you're hiding something from me," he said softly, looking at her. "I've got some guy wandering around telling me to keep you safe, I've got a best friend that has disappeared completely, and you're lying to me. Why? I thought we were friends, Willow."

"We are," she said, looking at her hands. "That guy, the dark one? Don't listen to him. He's been following me around for weeks. For some reason, he thinks that I need to be protected."

"Why would he think that?" Xander asked.

"Xander, I'm going to be honest with you," she said softly, looking into his eyes. "I've fallen in love. It's still so new and different that I didn't know how to tell you."

"Do I know him?" he asked tightly, not liking the feeling of jealousy that had entered him at her words.

Willow shook her head, "No, you don't know her."

"Her?" Xander's eyes widened slightly, "You're gay?"

Willow sighed, "No. I love Darla, she just happens to be a woman. Do you see why I couldn't tell you? It's happened so fast, all in the last month."

"I'm your best friend, Wills. You could have told me," he said softly, relieved that it hadn't been Jesse's name she had spoken. Looking back at her, he asked, "Do you know where Jesse is?"

"Truth?" she asked.

"Between us? Always the truth," he responded.

"I don't know where he is at this moment, but I know that he's OK," she confessed softly. "I'm sorry, Xander. I promised him that I wouldn't tell anyone."

"All this time you've known?" he said, anger in his voice. "I've been worried to death and you never said a word! I thought I was your best friend, Willow. Now I find out that you were lying about knowing where Jesse was, that you've got a girlfriend that I've never met and that some weirdo is following you around trying to protect you from the world. What the hell has been happening?"

"You are my best friend, Xander," she said, hating the look in his eyes. "I promised."

"I can't be here right now, I can't be around you," he said softly, feeling guilty for making her cry but also feeling that he was justified in being upset.

"I'm sorry, Xander," she whispered, watching him leave, tears falling silently down her face.