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Chapter 4 How to eat a Twinkie




Oz and his friend Devon were busy. Their band, Dingoes Ate My Baby, was playing at the World Culture Dance at the Bronze that night. They had to put all their things in Oz's car. As usual, Oz was doing all the work. Devon was talking to his new girlfriend, Cordelia Chase.

'Let's meet at the Bronze after you've played’, said Cordelia.

'Yeah, cool,' Devon said. 'Is he coming?'

They both looked at a very tall blond Swedish guy. He was standing near Cordelia.

'He follows me everywhere’, she said to Devon. She didn't look happy. 'This exchange student thing is terrible. They don't even speak American!'

Cordelia walked off, and Sven followed her.

Devon watched his girlfriend. 'Wow! She's fantastic!' he said to Oz.

'Mmm,' Oz said. He wasn't sure.

'Hey, man! You have to get a girlfriend. You play the guitar in a band! Lots of girls would love to go out with you. And there are so many pretty girls in Sunnydale’, his friend said.

Oz didn't answer. He got into the car. 'Come on. Let's go-'

***

As usual, Willow and Xander met that morning before school. They were talking about the dance. Everyone had to wear something from another culture.

'I'm wearing something from Iceland,' Willow said. She felt a bit sad. She wanted to go to the dance with Xander. But she knew that he didn't feel the same way.

'What about me?' Xander said. 'Which countries have cool clothes?'

'What about those shorts from Austria - you know, lederhosen?' Willow said. She thought about Xander's legs in shorts.

'No way!' said Xander. "They look really stupid’. Suddenly, he stopped talking. Willow looked at him. He was looking ahead and smiling. Ampata and Buffy were there.

'Not Ampata again!' thought Willow. But she also waved and smiled.

***

'Are you OK, Ampata?' Buffy asked as they walked into school. Ampata was very quiet.

"There are so many people here’, she said.

Buffy smiled at her. 'Don't worry. You'll soon make friends.'

Just then she saw Xander and Willow. They stopped to say hi. Xander only seemed to see Ampata.

They all walked to their first lesson together. Xander didn't stop talking to Ampata. Willow looked sad.

After the first class, they all went to the library. 'Mr Giles works in the library’, Buffy told Ampata. 'He's a bit strange sometimes. But he'd like to meet you.'

When they arrived, Giles was looking at a piece of the Incan plate.

***

'Ampata, this is Giles’, said Buffy. 'Hello’ Ampata said.

'Pleased to meet you’, said Giles. He gave her the plate. 'Can you translate this?'

'Giles!' said Buffy. But Ampata didn't seem very surprised. She took the plate.

'Why are you asking me?' she said.

'Well, it's from Peru’, Giles said. 'It's from the sarcophagus of an Incan mummy. We're trying to translate it because ... ' He stopped suddenly.

Willow helped him. 'Because we're in the archaeology club’, she explained.

'Where are the other pieces?' asked Ampata.

'We don't have them’, said Buffy.

Ampata was looking at it closely.

'What does this picture mean?' Giles pointed to a picture of a man with a knife.

'I'm not sure exactly,' said Ampata. 'But I think this person is a bodyguard.'

'Ah, a bodyguard. So he stays with the mummy at all times?' asked Giles.

'Yes, that's right,' said Ampata. 'Sometimes people try to touch the mummy. He has a knife and he protects her.' She gave the plate back to Giles.

'Well, thank you. That's a good start for our ... club.' Giles looked at Buffy.

'Oh, yes, Ampata’, Buffy said quickly. 'I'm sorry. I have to do lots of things for the archaeology club now. Boring things ... Willow, can you stay with Ampata today?'

Willow didn't have time to answer. Xander answered instead. 'I'll stay with her, Buffy. Don't worry, Will - I can do it.'

Ampata smiled. 'Yes, that will be fun.'

They walked out together. Willow watched them. 'He really likes her,' she said sadly. Buffy looked at her friend. What could she say?

***

Xander was having a great time. Usually, girls didn't laugh at his jokes. They thought he was a bit strange. But Ampata seemed to enjoy his conversation. They went to Xander's classes together and had lunch in the school cafe.

After school, they sat outside and talked. Xander was telling her about American food.

He took a Twinkie out of his pocket.

'What's that?' Ampata asked.

'This is a lovely all-American cake. And you eat it like this ... '

Xander put it all in his mouth. Ampata laughed. 'But now I can't try it!'

***

Xander couldn't speak. He was still eating the Twinkie. But he took out another Twinkie from his pocket and gave it to Ampata.

She put it in her mouth. Then she started laughing. I can't eat it like that!'

'Yes, you can. And if you eat it really quickly, you don't get fat.'

Ampata ate the cake then smiled at him. 'You are strange.'

'Girls often tell me that,' said Xander. 'Then they run away.'

'Well, I like you when you're being strange,' said Ampata. They both laughed again.

Suddenly, they stopped laughing. It was the man with the big knife - and he didn't look happy.

'You took the plate!' he shouted angrily. 'Where is it?'

The man tried to hit Xander with his knife. At first Xander held the man's arm back, but the man was very strong.

Then Ampata cried out. The bodyguard - if he really was a bodyguard - looked at Ampata for the first time. 'It is you!' he said.

While he was looking at Ampata, Xander hit him hard. The man fell back.

Xander took Ampata's hand. 'Come on!' And they ran into the school.

Chapter 5 ‘I choose life’

Buffy and Willow were sitting in the library. On the table in front of them was the piece of plate and some books. They were looking through the books for pictures like the ones on the plate. But Buffy didn't feel very lucky.

'We've been here for hours, Will!' she said. 'I'm so bored. I prefer slaying vampires to this.'

Willow said nothing. She was looking ahead of her. She didn't seem to hear Buffy.

'Willow? What's wrong?' Buffy asked. 'Is it Xander and Ampata? She's only here for a week, you know.'

'Yeah. And then Xander will fall in love with someone else. And it won't be me,' said Willow sadly.

'Oh, Willow.' Buffy felt very sorry for her friend.

Just then Giles came in. He looked at Buffy's book. 'Fantastic!' he said. 'Good work, Buffy!'

Buffy looked at the book. 'What have I done?!'

Giles pointed at one of the pictures on the open page. It was almost the same as the picture on the plate.

'Maybe Rodney's killer is the mummy,' he said.

'Why do you say that?' Willow asked.

'Look,' said Giles. He pointed at the page. 'A mummy can live on the life of another person. It kills people to live.'

'So we have to find the mummy,' said Buffy. 'And we have to stop it. How do we do that?'

Giles started to answer. But just then Xander and Ampata ran in. They both looked frightened. 'The man with the knife has come back!' said Xander.

Giles made some tea while Xander told the others the story.

'What does this guy want from us?' said Willow. ‘I don't know,’ said Xander. 'He said, "You took the plate."'

'The plate is clearly a problem’, said Giles. 'Where can we keep it safe?'

'You must destroy it,' said Ampata, 'or someone will die.'

'Someone has already died,' Giles answered.

'What? Did the man with the knife kill someone?' asked Ampata.

'No, not exactly,' said Buffy.

'You're not telling me everything,' said Ampata.

No one said anything. Xander looked at the floor.

Ampata was upset. 'That plate is dangerous. You must destroy it! Please believe me.' She turned and ran out of the library.

'Ampata!' Xander ran after her.

'Xander!' Willow followed Xander.

'Willow ... ' Buffy started to say. But then she stopped. Someone had to help Giles in the library.

***

Xander was talking to Ampata outside the library. 'Ampata, listen! You're safe with me.'

Ampata was crying. 'Your archaeology club is dangerous. I don't want that. I just want an ordinary life.'

She walked off. Willow came over to Xander. 'Is she OK?'

'She's just a bit frightened’, he said.

Willow smiled kindly at him. 'Why don't you take her to the dance tonight?' She didn't want to say it. But it was V-the right thing to do.

Xander looked surprised. 'But I thought ...’

‘I'll see you there’, said Willow. She smiled again. But inside she wasn't smiling.

Xander smiled back. He was really happy. 'Willow – you are my best friend!'

'I know’, Willow said quietly as Xander ran off after Ampata.

***

Giles and Buffy were looking at the piece of plate again.

'I don't understand,' said Buffy. 'Why does the bodyguard want this bit of plate? How is it useful?'

'Maybe he wants to join it to the other bits,' Giles said.

'Do you think he's got the other bits?' asked Buffy. 'We didn't find them all.'

'We had to leave the museum very quickly,' said Giles. 'Perhaps the other pieces are still in the exhibition room somewhere.'

'Why don't we go back there and look?' said Buffy. 'Maybe the bodyguard will come back too.'

'Yes’, agreed Giles. 'And we'll be ready for him. Let's meet there tonight.'

'Oh, Giles - not tonight,' said Buffy. 'I've got plans!'

Giles looked at her. Buffy knew that face.

'OK, OK’, she said. 'No plans.'

***

The Incan princess felt a bit better. With Xander, she felt almost safe. Almost.

She was still frightened of the bodyguard, and of the plate. She couldn't have an ordinary life while the bodyguard was living.

She loved her new life here. It was much better than her life in Peru - 500 years ago. She wanted to make a new start in Sunnydale.

***

Xander and Ampata were walking through school. 'OK’, said Xander. I have something to tell you. And it's a little bit scary'

The princess looked worried again. 'What is it?'

'Well’, said Xander, 'I really like you. Will you come to the dance with me?'

'Oh!' Ampata smiled. 'That's not scary!'

'Oh, it is, believe me’, said Xander.

'Can I tell you something?' said Ampata. 'I really like you too.'

'Really?!' Xander was surprised.

'Yes, really!' she said with a laugh.

'Wow - that's great!' said Xander.

'I need to go in here,' said Ampata. She pointed to the girls' toilets.

'OK. I'll wait for you,' said Xander.

Ampata went in and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked happy. But she also looked a bit ill. 'No,' she thought. 'I've taken two lives already. That's enough.'

Then she saw her hands. They looked old. 'It's not fair!' she thought angrily. She didn't want to kill anyone else. But she didn't want to go back in the sarcophagus. She wanted to live.

Then she saw the bodyguard behind her in the mirror.

'Please don't kill me,' she said. She spoke in a very old language.

The bodyguard spoke in the same language. 'You're already dead. You've been dead for 500 years.'

'But it wasn't fair,' Ampata said. 'I didn't do anything wrong.'

'Rodney Munson didn't do anything wrong. The exchange student from Peru didn't do anything wrong. But you killed them anyway'

'Please,' said the princess. 'I'm in love.'

It was true. She loved Xander. She felt like a real person with him, and not a sacrifice.

The bodyguard came closer. 'You must die. You are the sacrifice. You have no choice.'

He held up his knife. But as he brought it towards her, Ampata caught his arm in her hand. 'Yes, I do,' she said. 'I choose life.'

She held his arm behind his back and kissed him. His life became hers. She looked strong and young again.

It only took a few seconds. The princess moved his dead body into one of the toilets. Then she came out. Xander was waiting for her.

She smiled at him. 'Xander - I'd love to go to the dance with you.'

Xander smiled back. He felt very happy. He took her hand and they walked off together.

'Now, finally, I can be happy,' the princess thought.

Chapter 6 The World culture fiancé

Ampata and Buffy were in Buffy's bedroom. Ampata was almost ready for the dance. In her Peruvian dress she looked like a beautiful Incan princess.

Buffy, can I borrow some make-up?' she asked.

'Of course,' Buffy said. 'There's some on the desk.'

Ampata saw some bags on the table. 'What's in the bags?'

'Oh, the bus station sent the rest of your things,' Buffy said.

'Oh, yes,' said Ampata, 'I must move them.' 'Don't worry,' Buffy said. 'I can do it.' She looked down at her jeans and T-shirt. 'I'm not going to the dance.' 'Why not?'

'Oh - I have to do some work. Archaeology club work.'

Ampata looked surprised. Buffy smiled at her. 'Don't worry. Xander will be with you.'

'Yes,' Ampata said. 'I like him a lot. He's funny!' She put on some makeup in front of the mirror and turned to Buffy. 'A long time ago I knew someone just like you. You are always thinking of other people.'

Buffy walked over to Ampata's bags. 'Yeah?'

'Yes,' Ampata said slowly. 'This person had to protect her people. No one else could do it.'

As Ampata was talking, Buffy looked in one of her bags. There were boys' clothes in there! What?!

'They chose her from all the girls of her age. She was ... '

'Special,' Buffy finished. How much did Ampata know?

'You know the story?' asked Ampata.

'Maybe ... ' said Buffy.

'She was sixteen like us,' Ampata said. 'She was a sacrifice, and she died. She never really lived her life.'

Just then they heard someone at the door. 'That'll be Xander and Willow,' Buffy said. She ran downstairs and opened the door.

It was Xander - in cowboy clothes.

'It's Clint Eastwood!' Buffy laughed. 'Hey, where's Willow?'

'She's not coming with us’, Xander said. He looked at Buffy's clothes. 'What about you? You don't look ready'

'I'm not coming’, Buffy said. 'Giles and I are looking for mummies instead.'

Xander started to say something. But just then he saw Ampata. She was walking down the stairs and she looked beautiful.

'Hello, Xander’, she said with a smile.

Xander couldn't speak. 'Ah, yiyuh.'

Buffy laughed. 'I can translate for you, Ampata. He thinks you're beautiful.'

Buffy's mother came in then. 'Ampata, you look wonderful! Buffy, why don't you go too?'

'Oh, I told you, Mum. I've got too much homework’, Buffy said quickly.

Ampata took Xander's hand. 'Well, goodnight then.'

'Be careful,' Xander said to Buffy quietly.

'I will,' she said.

And Xander and Ampata left for the dance.

***

Cordelia was wearing something from Hawaii. She thought she looked great. Of course, Hawaii was part of the United States, so it wasn't really another culture. But Cordelia didn't care. She just wanted to wear beach clothes.

As she walked into the Bronze, she saw Willow. Willow was wearing an Eskimo coat. She looked very, very hot! Cordelia didn't understand. Willow was one of the cleverest students at Sunnydale High, but she did really stupid things sometimes.

Cordelia's friend, Gwen, waved at her. 'Hey, where's Sven?'

'I don't know and I don't care,' said Cordelia. 'I'm trying to lose him. He's so boring. He never says anything.'

Just then, Sven appeared. Gwen looked at him. 'He's quite good-looking’, she thought. 'And conversation isn't very important anyway.’

‘Hi, Sven’, she smiled. ‘Let’s get a drink’.

***

Willow felt uncomfortable. It was very hot in the Bronze. Maybe her Eskimo clothes weren't a good idea...

Xander and Ampata walked in together. Ampata looked beautiful - and cool.

'Why did I wear these stupid clothes?' Willow thought.

Xander saw her and waved. He and Ampata came over. 'Hi, Will!' he said. 'You look ... warm.'

'Err - thanks,' said Willow. 'You guys look great.'

Dingoes Ate My Baby were playing. Xander looked at Ampata.

'Do you ... would you…?’

She smiled at him. 'I'd love to dance,' she said.

And Willow was alone again.

***

Oz looked at all the high school students. He didn't really like playing love songs but everyone was enjoying this one. He saw a guy in cowboy clothes. He was dancing with a girl in a kind of South American dress. Everyone was looking at them. The girl was really beautiful.

Then Oz saw someone even more beautiful. He couldn't stop looking at her. She was wearing Eskimo clothes. But who was she?

***

The princess was very happy. She loved dancing with Xander. Then she looked at her arms. She wanted to cry. They were looking old again.

She had to do something quickly - before Xander saw her arms. She ran off the dance floor and out of the door.

A boy was sitting on the stairs. His name was Jonathan. Ampata smiled at him and touched his hair.

Jonathan was a bit worried. 'I thought you were with Xander,' he said.

'Not now.' Ampata moved closer.

***

Xander was surprised. What was happening? Everything was going so well between him and Ampata, until ... Why did she run off like that?

He looked around the room. He had to find her. He couldn't lose her now.

He left the main room.

'Ampata! Where are you?' he shouted.

***

Jonathan heard him. 'I'm going!' he said to Ampata, and he went back to the dance floor.

Xander saw Ampata alone on the stairs.

'Ampata! What's wrong?!' he asked.

Ampata started to cry. 'You're too good for me.'

'What?!' Xander didn't understand. He held her very close. 'Talk to me,' he said.

'I can't,' Ampata answered. She looked into Xander's teyes. Xander looked back at her. He really wanted to kiss Ampata. And he was sure that she wanted the same thing.

They kissed. It was a wonderful kiss.

And then Xander started to feel strange ... weak ... and he was falling ...


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Äàòà äîáàâëåíèÿ: 2015-09-15; ïðîñìîòðîâ: 54; Ìû ïîìîæåì â íàïèñàíèè âàøåé ðàáîòû!; Íàðóøåíèå àâòîðñêèõ ïðàâ





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