Chapter 34
“Buffy.” Hank caught her up in a brief hug before backing off and looking at her. A frowned marred his brow. “Gained a lot of weight, haven’t you?” he pointed out.
Elizabeth’s face flushed. Yeah, she had put on about fifteen pounds, but she was nowhere near overweight. More like at her normal weight, actually, since she’d had to keep herself dangerously thin for cheerleading. She had worried about it now and again, but Spike had always assured her that he liked the curves. This was the first time she’d ever felt really self-conscious about it, though.
She managed a nervous laugh. “Freshman ten, you know?” she pointed out.
Hank tisked her lightly. “You know you should’ve kept up with the cheerleading,” he informed her.
“I still do Tae Kwon-Do,” she offered. “Every week.” Plus, the marathon sex sessions more than make up for the exercise lost…
Hank shook his head. “I never could figure out why you’d want to do something so…unladylike…” He sighed and looked around the café. “It’s a bit…lower class, isn’t it?” He scanned the crowd of studying and chatting college students.
Elizabeth bit her lip. That was actually why this was her favorite café on campus – more the type of place the Westing House crowd would hang out in instead of the Tri Xi group. Mentally, she cringed when she saw her father appraise a young man in a torn black T-shirt with bright blue hair. Yeah, definitely a good idea I didn’t let him get a look at Spike…
“What do you say we go somewhere a bit more…appropriate?” Hank suggested.
Elizabeth sighed. “There’s an Italian restaurant about two blocks away,” she agreed.
“Great,” Hank agreed with a grin, “I can show off the rental I got for only half the original price…”
Elizabeth shot Tara a look indicating that everything was all right for now, and Tara nodded in response before turning back to the dorm. It looked like Elizabeth was completely on her own now. Tara, in a very un-Tara-like moment, contemplated the possibility of arranging an ‘accident’ for Elizabeth’s obviously overbearing and pompous father. Too bad she was such a nice person…
* * *
“You’re sure you don’t want a salad?” Hank repeated, looking up at her over his pasta. “It’ll be a treat on me.”
“I’m not hungry,” Elizabeth insisted, sipping at her water. “Gotta watch my weight, y’know.”
Hank nodded approvingly. “I didn’t realize just how dismal the weather was around here,” he commented. “With all the snow and the cold.” He shuddered. “Give me 75 and sunny all year round,” he joked lightly.
Elizabeth managed a smile. “Actually, I don’t mind it so much,” she admitted. “The snow can be a lot of fun. And it’s kind of amazing just how much the weather can change from day to day.”
Hank gave her a bright smile. “That’s my Buffy – always seeing the silver lining.”
Elizabeth managed a tight smile. “I do go by Elizabeth now,” she pointed out.
Hank sighed. “Elizabeth.” The word sounded sour coming from his mouth. “Right.”
Elizabeth bit her lip before taking another sip of her water. “How’d your meeting go?” she decided to delay the upcoming confrontation.
Hank wasn’t going to give her such an easy out. “Fine,” he said dismissively. “Look, Buffy,” he began, “I think we need to have a serious talk about your future.”
Elizabeth held her breath. “Yeah?” she ventured nervously.
“Now, I understand that things can get a little wild in college,” Hank assured her. “All the new people and the new things to do – it can be very distracting. However, it’s absolutely no reason to throw away everything you have.”
“I’m not throwing away anything,” Elizabeth insisted.
Hank cut her off. “Just hear me out,” he instructed her before settling into lecture mode once more. “You have a very bright future in front of you, young lady. You’ve got an important family, the best business contacts imaginable, your choice of all the upcoming wealthy bachelors, and a chance to earn yourself a valuable degree that will ensure your success in the future. In short, you have everything, Buffy. Which is why you can’t afford to be so callous.”
“But I’m not—”
“Let me finish,” Hank repeated. “You obviously haven’t been thinking about the long-term since you got to college, and – like I said – I can understand how you might be distracted. However, just because something else has caught your eye doesn’t mean you drop all your options. And you certainly don’t start lying to me about it. I’m very disappointed in you, young lady. I thought I had taught you better than that.” He shook his head sadly.
Elizabeth bit back the impulse to tell him that he hadn’t taught her anything because he’d never been around in the first place. “It isn’t like that,” she insisted.
“It may not seem like it to you,” Hank conceded, “but in the long run you’ll realize that I was right.”
“But you understand,” she continued, “Spike’s—”
“Not the issue we’re discussing at the moment,” Hank informed her. “What I really care about are these ‘phantom classes’ you may or may not be taking. If you don’t start progressing towards your major soon, you could very well end up being one of those losers that are trapped at college for years.”
Oz is not a loser! Elizabeth wanted to shout, but she held her tongue. “It’s my first year,” she countered. “I’m not even allowed to declare my major yet!”
“Nevertheless, there’s no reason not to start. You have to prepare for any possible future difficulties. That’s how one survives in this world, Buffy,” he lectured her, “by being prepared for the future. Why, if you took a couple of classes now, you could probably even graduate in three years. That would save you time and me money.”
“But I like it here,” Elizabeth insisted. “I don’t want to leave a year early!”
“That’s your prerogative, I suppose,” Hank sighed at his daughter’s lack of ambition. Sometimes he wondered how they could even be related. “But it’s an option you want to keep open. And that’s what thinking about your future’s all about.”
“I’ve still got plenty of time,” Elizabeth insisted, “and…” She took a nervous gulp. “What if I decide I don’t wanna be an econ major? Then taking all those classes will just be a waste of time.”
Hank raised an eyebrow at that. “And what, pray tell, would be your major then?” he inquired. “’Cause if you’re thinking of something like law…” He gave her a kind smile. “I don’t really think that’s where your…ahem, abilities lie…”
Elizabeth felt her heart constrict. She hadn’t even been considering that, of course, but just the fact that he didn’t think she was smart enough to try… She forced herself to be composed and dared to tell the truth. “Actually, I was thinking of art.”
“Art?!” Hank exclaimed in disbelief. “What kind of job are you going to get from a degree in art?!”
“Giles and Joyce say that college isn’t about getting a job,” Elizabeth insisted. “It’s about finding something that you love and exploring it. And I believe them.”
“Giles and Joyce?” Hank’s brow furrowed. “They’re those professors Dawnie was going on about, right? The parents of this…boyfriend of yours?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth admitted.
He let out a weary sigh. “They sound like decent enough people,” he began, “but just look at them. They ended up as professors, for crying out loud! They know absolutely nothing about our world. You have actual potential, and I won’t let you throw it away because some academic types put some foolish ideas into your head.”
“They’re not foolish!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“They are foolish,” he shot right back. “Honestly, Buffy, do want to end up as some commoner? Having to work non-stop just to make enough to eat? You really want to be stuck living in some dingy apartment in the ghetto when you could have one of the mansions on Revello?”
“No,” she admitted reluctantly.
“You’re better than all that,” he insisted. “You can have it all if you would just take the time to work toward the future that – incidentally – I’ve worked very hard to set out for you. If I hadn’t managed your mother’s financial affairs so well, you’d be penniless right now. Which would mean no college at all. And if you don’t take these steps, you’re going to end up broke and desolate. And that’s not what you want.”
“No,” she agreed with a sigh.
“Good,” Hank favored her with a smile. “Now, I want you to register for an economics class,” he instructed.
“But it’s already fourth week!” she protested.
“You’re still allowed to add courses,” he informed her. “I checked. I’m sure you’ll have some catching up to do, but no pain no gain, right?”
“I’m already taking four classes,” she pointed out.
He nodded. “Two of them completely unnecessary,” he commented. “Art and history won’t get you anywhere in life. Money will.”
“You want me to drop?”
“I insist.”
Elizabeth nibbled on her lower lip. “What if I refuse?” she ventured.
Hank’s gaze turned cold. “I’ve already paid your tuition for this semester,” he informed her, “but I can easily withdraw it at my own leisure. You do not want to fight me on this, young lady.”
Elizabeth flinched but couldn’t really argue with that.
“Now,” Hank went on, “I’ve been talking with a Professor…” he scanned the numbers in his daily planner for a moment before he found the name, “Winston over in the econ department. He’s teaching 220 this semester. It doesn’t require any prerequisites, so you should be able to cut right in. And he’s agreed to fit you into his class…”
Elizabeth felt like her head was in a bit of a spin. God, her life was flip-flopping right before her eyes, and she couldn’t do anything to control it. It was not a pleasant feeling.
“So, if you just show up on Monday at 10:30—” he continued.
“That’s when my history class meets!” Elizabeth cut him off.
“Well, then, I guess that settles which class you’ll have to drop,” Hank concluded, satisfied that everything had worked out so well.
“But I—” she began. That’s the class I have with Spike! With the flirting in class, and the casual brushes, and much goodness…
“You don’t really have much of a choice,” Hank pointed out.
Elizabeth sighed.
“Don’t give me that look,” he said angrily. “I think I’m being very reasonable here. After the way you lied to me, I seriously considered pulling you out of here and getting you enrolled at UC Sunnydale where I can keep a closer eye on you.”
Elizabeth’s face paled at the thought of being separated from Spike and all her friends.
“Luckily for you, I’m still willing to give you the benefit of the doubt,” Hank informed her. “You’re young and thus don’t think properly all the time. It’s inevitable. You’re very fortunate to have me looking out for you.”
And before I came here, I would have agreed with you…except, oops!, you weren’t looking out for me then, were you? Elizabeth was angry and confused and frightened, and she didn’t know what to do.
“And my request is quite reasonable,” he still sensed her reluctance and continued to sell his policy. “Technically, you’ve got two electives right now. I could make you use both for your major, but I won’t. After all, it’s still your life to live.” He gave her hand a pat and flashed her a false, reassuring smile.
Funny, it sure doesn’t feel like it…
“Now, let’s talk about your plans for next year,” Hank went on. “You’ll be a sophomore then, so I’ll be expecting a bit more out of you. From what I’ve gathered, you’ll have fulfilled all your core requirement courses by then, so you’ll have room for four electives. Am I right?”
“Uh, yeah,” Elizabeth managed to nod numbly.
“I think we should stick to the same arrangement,” he decided. “I’ll give you one free elective, and the other three you can use to fulfill your major. If all that works out well, then maybe I’ll cut you a bit more slack your junior year. All right?”
Elizabeth nodded numbly. That’s not so bad. Hell, it’s still a year away, and at least it will all be over in three more years…
“That’s my pumpkin,” Hank said happily. He gave her a smile. “You’re going to be a somebody,” he decided. “I can just tell.”
I don’t want to be a somebody. I want to be me…
“So, are we good?” he asked.
She just nodded.
“I want a more definitive answer than that,” he informed her.
“Yes, daddy,” she agreed with a sigh.
“There’s an angel,” he smiled before his expression hardened once more. “And don’t you ever try to lie to me about your classes again,” he informed her sternly. “It may have taken me a while to catch on, but I do have an in at the registrar’s office now. And I’ll be keeping close tabs on you.”
“I won’t do it again,” she assured him.
“Great!” he exclaimed. “Now, is that all?” He checked his watch. “Because I want to stop by the office in Boston before I head on to London, and if I leave soon, I can catch an earlier flight which will give me extra time to prepare for my negotiations with ValCorp…”
Elizabeth blinked. “You’re not going to chew me out about Spike?” she asked in surprise.
Hank also blinked. “Why would I do that?” he wondered.
Now Elizabeth was thoroughly confused. “B-But I thought that was what this was all about,” she insisted. “You finally found out about him and didn’t approve, and you were gonna come here and break us up.”
Hank laughed at that. “Such an imagination,” he scolded her good-naturedly before he addressed her concern. “Buffy, I’ve known about this ‘Spike’ of yours for ages. You two haven’t exactly kept a low profile, you know?”
“Well, no,” she agreed.
“Which, really, might be a good idea,” Hank said thoughtfully. “Nasty rumors about college stuff like that can come back to haunt you later.” He chuckled again. “I should know, right?” He gave her a playful nudge with his elbow. “But if you’re not worried about your reputation, there’s not much else to discuss, really.”
“You’re OK with me dating Spike?” Elizabeth said in disbelief.
“Well, maybe ‘OK’s a bit strong,” he conceded, “but it’s to be expected.”
“What’s to be expected?” Elizabeth asked, confused.
“Everyone does it,” Hank assured her. “Just so long as you aren’t deluding yourself…”
“Deluding myself about what?” Elizabeth demanded. “What are you talking about?”
“Your little college fling,” Hank explained patiently, in a voice similar to what one would use with a not particularly bright child. “It’s actually quite common. Nearly everyone I know took the opportunity to go slumming once or twice while they were in school. It’s really perfectly harmless.”
“ ‘Slumming’?” Elizabeth repeated, offended.
“That’s all that it is,” he informed her, his voice deceptively soft. “Buffy, you’re going to go places in life. You can’t honestly think that this little relationship of yours is going to go anywhere. You’ve got a family, a future; this guy is just some punk.”
She shook her head. “His parents—”
“Are very nice, important in whatever it is they do, I’m sure,” he cut her off. “But they’re not ‘our people’, Buffy, and they never will be.”
“Mom married you, and you were a ‘commoner’,” she shot back.
Hank gave her a patient smile. “Yes, but I actually worked my way up through the world and made something of myself,” he pointed out. “This boyfriend of yours has no such drive. He’ll end up just like his parents, trapped in a middle-class existence until the day he dies.”
“And that’s so bad?” Elizabeth sighed.
He let out a weary sigh. “I’m sure it’s just fine,” he conceded, “for him. But you’re so much better than that. Not even Dawnie has the same advantages you do…”
Read: Dawnie’s mom wasn’t from a rich family, so Dawn’s not as important as you, Elizabeth shuddered at the thought.
“Sorry to disillusion you, pumpkin,” he patted her hand gently, “but these things just don’t work out. He knows you’re better, and it will drive a wedge between the two of you. It’s better you hear it from me now than learn from experience.”
“He won’t leave me,” Elizabeth said confidently.
“Maybe not,” Hank’s patience was rapidly dwindling, and he kept checking his watch, “but eventually you’re going to wise up and realize that he’s holding you back. My advice: have your fun, and then cut him off before things get nasty.”
A sick feeling was building in Elizabeth’s stomach at what her father was saying. As horrible as it was to hear, there was a hint of truth in there.
“I mean, what did you think would happen?” Hank asked. “That the two of you would get married? Raise a family?” He laughed at the absurdity of the notion.
Tears threatened to spill from Elizabeth’s eyes as the fantasy was shattered.
Hank’s expression softened when he noticed her reaction. “Oh, princess,” he cooed softly, catching her in a brief hug, “I’m sorry. But you can’t honestly believe that you’re going to marry some guy named ‘Spike’. You’re pretty and wealthy. You could have anyone. You’ll see that I’m right. In the long run, this Spike will just be a wild memory of your more foolish years. Cherish it, but don’t ever forget that ultimately it’s not that important.”
Elizabeth felt suddenly very, very cold.
“That a shiver I see?” Hank smiled. “Told you the weather was too cold here.” He appraised her again. “You know, you might consider finding a tanning salon around here. You’ve gone a bit pale with the winter, and you want to keep up that golden tan.” He winked. “Because you never know when the real Mr. Right will come along, and you’ll want to use your best assets.”
“Yeah,” she managed a weak ghost of a smile.
“Now, I want to catch that early flight,” Hank checked his watch again. “Have a fun school year,” he said his good-byes, “and enjoy your new class…”
Elizabeth watched him go and felt as though she was about to die of a heart attack, it was pounding in such a desperate rhythm within her chest. Just in that one visit, everything had suddenly changed. Her academic future was set in stone and completely beyond her control, and Spike was…
Still her boyfriend. She still had Spike, for now at least.
And how dare her father do this to her?! How could he just tear up everything she’d built here, and then vanish once more, leaving alone and with nothing? How could he govern her life and abandon her all in one fell swoop?
With a heavy heart, Elizabeth made her way back towards Westing House, pondering the uncertain future that lay before her…
* * *
“That bad, ‘ey?”
Spike had only had to look at the dire expression on Elizabeth’s face to know that the meeting with Hank hadn’t gone well.
“A severe beating,” she sighed, sitting on the edge of their bed.
Spike inched closer to her. “Tell me about it?” he requested softly, twining one golden lock of her hair through his fingers.
She managed to smile slightly at the comforting touch. “He wasn’t too pleased about the whole major thing,” she sighed.
“Not surprisin’,” Spike agreed, pulling her further onto the bed and into his arms.
She snuggled up against him with a contented murmur, burying her head in his shoulder. “He threatened to cut off my tuition and make me go to UC Sunnydale,” she admitted with a shiver.
His grip on her tightened as pain at the thought of losing her flashed through him. “What did you do?” he asked raggedly.
“Caved in,” she answered, ashamed. “What else could I do?”
Spike bit his lip. She needed him to listen now, not come up with far-fetched suggestions. “So, what does that mean?” he pressed.
“I’m an econ major again,” she said with a grimace. “I have to start taking this econ class dad picked out for me, starting on Monday.”
“Monday?!” Spike repeated in disbelief. “You can’t just pick up a class now.”
She let out a wry laugh. “Oh, believe me, I tried to explain that to him,” she agreed. “He wouldn’t have any of it. That part’s not so bad, though…”
“Oh?” Spike asked in dread.
“Next year I have to take three econ classes,” she provided.
Spike frowned. “You want me to bump this guy off?” he half-teased. “’d save you a lot ‘f trouble…”
She managed a small smile at that and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “My cuddly assassin,” she teased softly, wrapping her arms around him tighter.
“All yours,” he agreed, nuzzling her hair softly.
After a moment, Elizabeth pulled back. “I guess I’ll just have to suck it up and take it,” she decided. “I can do that.”
“You shouldn’t ‘ave to,” he pointed out.
“Yeah, but short of getting my big fat ass dragged back to California, kicking and screaming, there’s not much else I can do.”
He sighed. “Maybe you can get Anyanka to help you. Buddy up in classes or somethin’.”
She nodded. “Sounds like a good plan,” she agreed. “See?” She plastered a false smile on her face. “I can make this work.”
“Was never any doubt about that, luv,” he said with a shy smile.
“Huh?” She looked at him curiously. “Whattaya mean by that?”
“’S just…” His cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment, but he plunged on. “Gotta feelin’ you could do just about anythin’ you set your heart and your mind to…” He absentmindedly began playing with the corner of the coverlet, looking anywhere but at her.
A warmth suffused her body at that. “Thank you.” She leaned in closer to him and brushed her lips across his once more. “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone’s said me. Which is impressive, since you’ve shot quite a few doozies my way.”
He grinned at that. “So, I take it we’re still on?” he asked hopefully.
“Actually,” she admitted, “he didn’t really care about us. And I was all set to refuse to break up with you, too.”
“He din’t try to make me history?” Spike said in surprise.
“Nope,” Elizabeth shook her head. “Apparently, you’re not interfering with this all-important future he’s got planned out for me.”
“One ‘f these days, you’re gonna hafta knock the old man on his ass, you know,” he pointed out gently.
She sighed. “I know,” she agreed, taking his hand and intertwining their fingers. “But not now. Not when I have so much to lose…”
Their lips met once more and lingered this time, carefully rediscovering the taste of the other as their bodies melded together, holding each other tightly.
“I love you,” Spike whispered when they finally broke apart.
“I know,” Elizabeth agreed softly, brushing back the persistent peroxide blond curl that fell onto his forehead. “Will you show me again?” she requested, tracing the outline of his face. “Will you make me forget this afternoon ever happened?”
“Gladly,” he agreed before tackling her back onto the mattress and covering her body with kisses…