Chapter Text
"Ladies," Dr. Walsh's new T.A., rumored to be a graduate student in abnormal psych or criminology from Kentucky or somewhere, touched the brim of his hat as Buffy and Willow filed out.
"I have to admit," Willow murmured. "I kind of love it when he does that."
"It's not awkward? Because of...you know." Buffy still hadn't found the words for the whole coming out drama with Willow, and it was sometimes painfully obvious. Not quite as bad as being all "Wow, they have colleges in Kentucky," with Stretch over there, but close enough.
Willow stuck her chin out in a modified Resolve Face. "Lesbians can be ladies, I think. Maybe I should ask Tara."
"God, Will, don't ask Tara that! She barely talks to me as it is...after that she'll probably hate me."
"She doesn't hate you...she's just shy."
"I've got a question about the reading...catch you later?"
"Sure...but don't think I don't know what you're doing."
Buffy approached the desk where Raylan had spread fifteen essays on heredity and environment. Which, to be fair to Dr. Walsh, was probably the place in psychology where he felt the ground beneath his feet, so to speak.Much less slippery than the id and superego and whatnot.Although his id definitely noticed the cute blonde in the halter top.
"Riley, right? I was wondering if you could help me out with number four of the Discussion Questions...."
Even with her toothpaste-commercial smile, it gave him a start to hear his immediate predecessor's name out loud, though he tried not to show it. His mother had always said "Least said, soonest mended," despite living with Arlo all those years. Maybe she should have asked a few more goddamn questions, at that.”I’m sorry about that… Raylan Givens, at your service.” Buffy couldn’t be sure, but she thought he was considering tipping the hat again.She couldn’t decide if that was polite or strange, so she just settled for “You’re not from around here, huh?”
“Was it my lack of a tan or lack of a goatee that gave me away?”
Buffy laughed, a simple, uncomplicated sound that put Raylan at ease that she knew nothing whatever about Dr. Walsh’s secret projects and was just the sort of sunny, simple girl that would take his mind off all the troubles he brought from home.She was damn near as sexy as Ava Crowder, but without Ava’s naked confidence in her own attractions….well, she could be almost as sexy as Ava.
“Let’s just call it a combination,” Buffy replied.
“Well, you’re quite right… I’m a recent graduate of the University of Kentucky.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Buffy blushed.
“Um, okay,I realize that I’ve only been in California a few months, but I wasn’t aware that being from Kentucky required condolences.”
“Not at all…it’s just that the way you said that was kinda…tragic.”