Strolling through the streets of Sunnydale, Xander Harris was feeling restless. The fifteen year old boy was contemplating whether or not he should visit his best friend�s house. He had visited her yesterday, but he couldn�t think of anything else he wanted to do. He didn�t want her to get the impression that he didn�t have anything better to do. But he didn�t.
As a matter of fact, Xander spent most of his waking hours thinking about his best friend. And even a few sleeping hours too. All of which he�d deny of course. But this teenager felt happiest when he thought about her.
Because Xander was in love with Willow Rosenberg.
For ten years, they were the best of friends. With their third friend, Jesse, they were inseparable. But Xander had loved Willow from the moment she gave him that sweet, shy smile. It made his insides turn to honey and lately, it made him feel more usual than ever.
Willow actually listened to his problems and was the only girl who didn�t think he was a total dope. She literally lent him a shoulder to cry on. She knew when he was bored and would tell him stories. She knew when he felt sad and would give him a hug. And she knew when he wanted to be alone and Willow would respect his privacy.
Xander knew she was everything he�d ever want or need. And he couldn�t tell her.
Because she wanted to be one of the guys. Xander knew she was too good for him, and of course she�d never feel that way about her best friend. He was just someone to joke with and laugh at. Someone to kid around with and keep you up all night on the phone. Xander was just her best friend, and he�d never compromise that for anything.
Xander kicked a stone in frustration. It tumbled off the pavement and fell onto the road. He kept walking, his hands deep in his pockets.
They had been through everything together. He was surprised that she didn�t know half the things he was thinking, especially during the past few years when they entered high school and everything changed.
He remember it was only a few days ago when Willow had come over to his house to work on a health assignment. Unfortunately, Xander�s father was in one of his drunken states. He had stumbled into the kitchen and seen the two teenagers sitting at the bench and flicked through Xander�s health notes.
�Now, what�s this filth? Ah, you two have been gittin� up to some trouble, eh?�
�No! That�s our health homework. Dad, don�t worry,� Xander tried to grab his work, but his father had sat himself down.
�Right, right. Anyway, I think it�s time I told you about the facts of life.� And Mr Harris began to ramble some incoherent yet explicit information to the pair. Xander remembered blushing when he saw Willow bright red and trying not to look at him as his father spent a few minutes trying to explain something highly embarrassing. Afterwards, Willow packed up and left as she said a quick goodbye. And Xander threw himself onto his bed and groaned.
He didn�t know how to act around his best friend the next time he saw her. Instead, he ran to Jesse and hung around his house for a while.
�What are you doing here, man? Willow hasn�t dropped by.� Jesse grinned at him. He bounced a basketball and attempted to shoot. He missed. Xander coughed.
�Hey, can�t I spend time with my number one buddy?� Xander asked, trying to catch the ball on its rebound. It smacked loudly into his hands. Jesse raised an eyebrow.
�Sure man. Just thought you might be wanting to spend some time with Wills.� He watched as Xander shot for the hoop and hit the rim. He ran a few steps to claim the ball as it bounced away.
�What�s the deal? Will�s my bud. So are you.� Xander tried to grab the basketball off the tall boy, but he lifted it over his head.
�Nothing. Heh heh, watching you guys doing this show is like watching a dance with all the wrong steps.� He shot to score with a sharp wrist motion and the ball sailed through the ring cleanly. �Swish!�
�Huh?� Xander didn�t notice as the ball rebounded and hit him in the shoulder. �What�s that supposed to mean?� He shook his head.
Jesse stopped the ball and turned to his friend. �Listen, it�s just I *know*. And it�s obvious, but you guys spend so much time keeping quiet. You�ll never actually ask the question to find the answer you�re looking for.� He shrugged.
Xander shook his head in confusion and walked out of the driveway. What was Jesse talking about? Did he know that Xander was secretly in love with Willow?
Now he was walking to the place that was like his second home. Nearing Willow�s house, he stopped as he inhaled with anxiety. Would Willow know what he was feeling? Would she suddenly realise that he was in love with her, and then start to laugh? Would she pull out his still beating heart and crush it against the ground with her beautifully souled heel? Xander felt his heart frantically trying to pound its way out of his chest.
It�s not going to be the end of the world if she rejects me. Well, it�ll be the end of *my* world, but everyone else will live. What am I doing? Calm down, Harris. Just knock on her door and ask. He nodded to himself, taking confident strides towards the front porch. Then he stopped. What if she thinks I�m some sort of perverted psycho and takes out a restraining order on me? Stop it. She wouldn�t. It�s *Willow*, remember? Calm, smart, sweet Willow.
Xander stepped up to the front door and raised his hand to knock.
He knocked the door three times. Heart beats thudded loudly as the door swung open.
She stood in a pair of lavender overalls, a smile gracing her pretty face. He stood captivated by her sparkling green eyes and delicate pose.
�Hey Xander, come over to eat me out of house and home?� she joked, widening the door. He could see the hallway beyond her door looking into the comfortable house he so often spent happy hours.
�Actually, I wanted to ask you a question. It�s- it�s very important.� He coughed and stepped in as she stood aside. She closed it behind him, gesturing for Xander to go further into her home.
�Okay, something about that book report?� Willow inquired. He shook his head.
�The, uh, health assignment?� She asked again, but blushed slightly and looked down at her bunny slippers.
�No!� he said quickly. Then clearing his throat, he watched her blush fade and she looked up. Willow caught his heart in those expectant green eyes again. And Xander felt his breath falter.
�I wanted to ask you...�
He took a step towards Willow, not trusting his voice to tell the truth. It hadn�t so far, and he wanted to be perfectly clear. Xander saw Willow�s eyes widen as his face got closer and he met her lips with his questioning mouth. His felt the softness of her lips against his and he kissed her gently with inexperienced awkwardness. Xander felt the shy response of her and then he parted.
Willow opened her eyes and Xander looked into them as he inhaled shakily.
She smiled her sweetest smile.
�Yes,� she whispered. �The answer to your question is yes.�