Chapter Text
It's not like you've never met her before.
She just wants to talk, right?
You can do this...
Buffy sipped her peppermint mocha, considering backing out. They'd only met once and now she was coming to talk to her.
The catch? Riley wouldn't be with her.
She surveyed the small coffee shop, sitting off to the side of the entrance so she could spot her. About five more minutes ticked by until she saw Sam enter the cafe.
They offered each other friendly smiles and she went to the counter to grab her meal.
"Sorry. I think the cashier's new," she said, sitting across from Buffy. She set her Chai tea and cinnamon streusel muffin on the table.
Buffy winced in sympathy; she never wanted to deja that vu again. "Hope they learn before Fall," she murmured to herself. "Um... Wil said you wanted to talk about something?"
She nodded. "I do. Listen, Buffy... I think we kinda got off on the wrong foot. I told him not to spring me on you like that, but you know how he is."
She gave Sam a sheepish smile. "I do. But I wasn't exactly Miss Welcome Wagon."
"Hey, you handled it better than I would have." When Buffy shot her an incredulous look, she chuckled. "Seriously! Don't get me wrong; I was excited to meet you, but I can't help feeling like you got blindsided."
"A little," Buffy admitted, taking a swallow of her drink.
"I know it'd mean a lot to Riley if we were friends, but I'm not asking just for him. I'd really like it if we could start over."
Buffy was silent for a few minutes before she gave her a little smile.
"I think I can do that," she replied.
And oddly enough, she meant it.