Valyssia

I had the strangest deja vu reading this today and then I realised that of course I’d read it as part of the Empty Spaces series. I can’t believe I didn’t comment at the time, but I think I was reading it on my E-reader and didn’t get back to leave a comment.

The confusion at the beginning is nicely done. Willow trying to help Xander despite her feelings and her best intentions being hi-jacked because of her hesitation and Buffy’s impatience.

I liked Willow’s internal dialogue – so circular and confused and self-castigating. Especially this

"Her smile lasts for a second or two. Prettiest smile in the world and I put it out. Now that’s true talent. I’m a talented, selfish, insensitive, mean, rotten brat.
I hang my head. Hopefully she won’t notice that I’ve been crying. I’m so selfish that I don’t want to talk about it."

"So I guess next time I fight fire with fire by asking her out." – and that’s a prime example of how a house of cards gets built! *g*

This is an interesting take on the classic canon triangle, from a different angle. I especially liked Buffy asking Xander if he thought Willow was acting weird and Xander's thoughts that despite the length of time he's known Willow he still doesn't understand how she thinks.