"I’m really looking forward to that." He turned in surprise to look at his Slayer. He hadn’t realised she was there. He was also pleased that she would be interested in the seminar being advertised. When he looked at her though, it was obvious she wasn’t reading his flyer. He turned his attention to the place her eyes were glued.
"W-what is a Goth night?"
The rest of the gang arrived at the notice board to hear the blasphemy emitting from the Watcher’s lips. Xander felt it fell upon himself to educate the ‘brain’ about an area obviously lacking in his experience. "Come on, Giles. Surely you’ve experienced a Goth night?" Xander was subjected to one of Giles’ ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about, and don’t really care’ looks. . "It’s a chance to dress up in your favourite Gothic outfit and dance the night away." To emphasize his point, the Slayerette did his version of the moonwalk.
"O-oh. A fancy dress."
"Not just a fancy dress." Buffy decided to take the lead. "A dance party. With a dark theme. A very dark theme." Still no appreciative comments from her Watcher.
"I, um, I would have thought you would have had enough Gothic in your lives."
"Yeah, but this is for fun. You know. No real reason. Laugh. Dance a little." She was definitely going to have to get him a life.
Willow decided to move the conversation on a bit. "Have you decided what you’re going to wear yet?" As Cordelia had told everyone her chosen outfit, the question was obviously addressed to the Slayer.
"Yes, well. I’ll leave you to it, shall I? This is something I have no interest in." Giles turned to make his escape.
"I’m afraid that you do have an interest in this." Principal Snyder was pleased at being able to catch them all unawares. "You have volunteered to chaperone this little episode of frivolity. As such, you will be expected to dress the part." He turned before they could see the smirk on his face. If he can’t punish the girl, he’ll punish the man.
"B-but I didn’t v-volunteer." Giles couldn’t help the desperation in his voice as he called after the retreating principal.
Xander put a comforting arm on the librarians shoulder. "Giles, old buddy. Welcome to the ‘I’ve been volunteered to perform a painful duty by Principal Snyder’ club." Giles turned to look at his shoulder, until Xander saw fit to remove the offending appendage.
Buffy decided it was time to take matters into hand. And tackle the important issue. "You’re going to need a costume. Tweed is definitely not considered Goth."
Willow determined to be helpful "You could always rent something." She realised immediately that she’d said something wrong. After the episode with Ethan, none of them intended to step inside a costume shop again.
Giles couldn’t help the slight shudder that went through his body. "That won’t be necessary. I shall attempt to purchase something."
"I’ll help you." Buffy had been dying to get him into a mall for months.
Cordelia was not one to miss out on a shopping expedition. "We can all go.."
"No, we cannot. I am quite capable of going shopping on my own, thank you."
Giles pretended not to hear their collective groans as he climbed on his dignity and moved away.
"Who is that?" They turned to look questioningly at Cordelia. She held her hands over her stomach, and was facing the door. Quickly recognizing the reason for their friend’s position Buffy and Willow looked to see what, or who, had caught her attention.
The basketball court was unrecognizable. The dance committee had done wonders to decorate the place, and give it a true "Gothic’ feel. The lights were also dim, making it hard to see anything too far away. What they could see however, caused the same reaction in them as it had Cordelia. They simultaneously felt their stomachs do a flip-flop, and placed their hands over them protectively. Xander, wondering what the fuss was about, also turned toward the door.
He stood framed by the light spilling from the corridor. His six foot plus frame was clothed entirely in black. A hint of white could be seen at his neck. His hair had been given an artful disarray effect. And he gave off that elusive something that most men search for, and few attain. Animal magnetism.
It was obvious that the three friends weren’t the only females affected. Conversation had steadily decreased as more eyes turned toward the stranger. No-one recognized him. All of the females wondered if he was their prince charming.
Whoever he was, he was looking for somebody. Not very successfully, by the looks of things. Buffy moved a little closer. Only then did recognition set in. She moved quickly toward the door.
"Giles?"
"Buffy. There you are."
"I was just over there."
"Yes, but I’m not wearing my glasses. Everything is a blur."
"Giles. You look.......wow."
His suit was of a silky material. The mandarin collar of the jacket exposed the high neck of the white silk shirt. A hint of his cuffs showed out of the sleeves. His hair looked as if he had applied either mousse or gel to get that particular arrangement. And was that an earring in his ear? Almost as shocking as the large wooden cross around his neck.
"That’s good, I take it?"
"That’s very good."
"Then why is everybody staring at me?"
"I’d say the girls and chaperones are staring at you because they want to eat you. And the guys want to deck you."
"Oh dear." He turned as if to leave.
She quickly grabbed his arm. "Oh no you don’t. You’re here now. You’re staying." She dragged him toward the Slayerettes.
"Giles?!" Anybody would think that Willow and Cordelia had been rehearsing, they said it in such harmony. He wished people would stop saying it though. Did he look so different?
Just then, a slow dance came across the loud-speakers. He turned to see a young girl in front of him. She seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place her.
"Will you dance with me?"
Buffy looked towards Giles. He was obviously in shock. Well, what did he expect, turning up looking like that? "Sorry. He’s already promised this dance to me."
For the next couple of hours, the Scooby Gang alternated dancing with their Watcher. Whenever someone approached, one of them would drag him onto the dance floor. Xander couldn’t work out if they were being protective, or possessive. Either way, it was working. No other female got near him.
At one stage, Principal Snyder marched up to Giles as he was dancing with Buffy. "You’re meant to be chaperoning, not enjoying yourself. You haven’t missed one dance. How can you do your duty like that?"
"Jealous?" Giles didn’t know what came over him. He felt like a different person tonight.
Fortunately, Xander and Cordelia had been dancing close by. Xander decided to rescue his friend. "Actually, Principal Snyder, it’s a quite clever strategy Giles has going. By dancing, he’s in the middle of all the action. If anything starts, he’s there straight away to stop it." Snyder hated it when he was outsmarted by one of his students. "Besides, you always say we’re the main trouble makers. By dancing with one of the girls, he’s making sure we aren’t the cause of any problems."
As the principal stormed off, Giles looked at Xander. "I owe you." Xander acknowledged the debt, and resumed his gyrations.
Later, the DJ, changed the tempo of the music to more upbeat, techno. Giles at this stage, adamantly refused to participate, insisting that he "didn’t boogie." Entreaties by both the Scooby Gang, and others, wouldn’t move his stance. Buffy was surprised, therefore, when he suddenly grabbed her hand and dragged her onto the floor. She didn’t see the rather cute boy stop his approach towards her, and move onto more easy prey. Giles didn’t feel guilty. If she can act possessive with him, he can do the same with her.
Xander executed one of his perfect spin maneuvers. And stopped with his back to Cordelia.
"Hey!"
As he completed his spin, he turned his head once again behind him. "You know, I think I could really come to hate Giles." At her questioning look, he continued. "The guy’s a genius. He has a destiny. He’s got every female in the room lusting after him. Even my girlfriend. And." As if this was the worst crime of all. "He can dance."
Cordelia looked toward the subject of her boyfriend’s monologue. And smiled. He really could dance. What other ‘talents’ had he hidden from them all?
They were standing by the refreshments table, the girls in a semi-circle, protecting their Watcher from any unwanted attacks. Xander would have found it all amusing, if he wasn’t just a bit jealous. They wouldn’t protect him like that. But then, he wasn’t being hassled by all and sundry either. He really must get the name of Giles’ tailor.
Just then a loud, steady beat came across the loud-speakers. It caused a groan to be emitted from the librarian/chaperone.
Buffy looked up at her friend. "What is it?"
"Something I haven’t heard in a long time. A tune that makes the sanest of people do the most ridiculous gyrations and act juvenile."
To prove his point, the gym teacher came running up to the group. "Come on, Mr. Giles. Let’s show these kids how to really have a good time." Behind her, it could be seen that most of the adults were forming a line.
Giles drew himself up straight, and hoped his quaking legs weren’t noticeable. In his most dignified voice he responded. "I do not do the Time Warp." The obviously disappointed woman slinked away.
The next day, four very tired teenagers dragged themselves into the library. So intent were they on just making it to the chairs, they didn’t notice the look of fear on Giles’ face when he looked up at their entry, or the relief, when he realised who it was.
"What’s wrong with you lot?"
Xander lay his head upon his arms. He was in no condition to respond. Cordelia and Willow just slouched in their chairs. It behooved Buffy to respond.
"Giles. Do you know what time the dance finished last night?"
"About twoish, I believe."
"And we’re all tired."
"That’s ridiculous, Buffy. You often go to bed later than that."
"Yes. After a night of slaying. Not dancing."
"Well, you obviously have no stamina. I think we should increase our training." Giles turned to go into his office. He needed to return the book he had been reading to his briefcase before the wrong people saw it.
With great effort, Xander managed to raise his head. "Who would have thought that the earl of tweed was secretly the king of boogie?" After expelling so much energy, he returned to his previous position.
The girls had just managed an agreeing "hm", when the library doors opened once more. They turned, and looked with surprise at the newcomers. Cordelia, the most shocked of all, got up to greet them. "Harmony? What are you guys doing here?"
"This is a library, Cordelia. Where else would you find a librarian? To help you find books, that is."
Xander looked at the group of girls. It took his brain a while to click in gear, but enlightenment came upon him in dawning horror.
"Oh, my god! Giles has got groupies!"