Chapter 2

“So, what do you think?”

Buffy entered the house, taking a look around. “It has four walls and a roof, what am I supposed to think?”

Joyce let out a sigh, closing the door behind them. “This is a new start for us, Buffy. I would really appreciate you giving this place a chance.”

She shrugged. “Fine, I suppose anything is better than the crazy house.” Buffy was surprised to be released from her prison as soon as she was, figuring that she would be spending at least a year in there. Her mother got a new job offer shortly after, which moved them to Sunnydale, a town where pretty much nothing ever happened. Her father was still back in Los Angeles, her mom having caught him with his secretary one night, therefore giving her another reason to pack up and move them. Buffy was still pissed at her mother for agreeing to send her to that hellhole, but it was nothing like the hatred she held for her father, so it was obvious which one she would prefer living with. Not that she had much of a choice after getting kicked out of her last school; Sunnydale was the only place that would take her.

“I can’t tell you how sorry I am for everything that happened, honey, but I’m only looking out for you. Things will be good here, I know it, and you’ve already gotten so much better.”

Buffy rolled her eyes, letting her mother believe what she wanted. She only pretended that demons didn’t exist for her sake, but Buffy knew they were very much real. At least in this town, she hopefully wouldn’t have to deal with them anymore. They brought her nothing but trouble.


* * * * *


“Have a good first day, sweetie, and please try not to get kicked out.”

Buffy gave a small smile, which quickly faded once she got out of the car, glancing up at her new school. Getting kicked out of this place would be a blessing, but she would try to make the best of it.


* * * * *


She saw a girl at the water fountain, getting picked on by what she assumed was the head cheerleader. Buffy couldn’t believe that she used to be one of those girls. Shaking her head, she made her way over to them. Buffy shoved the cheerleader out of the way, taking a drink from the water fountain, while the other girl stared at her intriguingly.

“Um, excuse me? Did you not see me standing here?”

Buffy gazed up at the brunette, shrugging her shoulders. “I saw you; I just chose not to care.”

Her jaw dropped, not used to being talked to like that. “Okay, you’re new here, so you obviously don’t know who I am. I’m Cordelia Chase, the most popular girl in this school, and you better get that through your head. I’ll only let it go this once, but don’t get in my way again, you got it?”

Buffy laughed, looking her up and down. “Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Cordelia gave her a disgusted expression, and with a flick of her wrist, she headed back down the hall.

“Wow, that was amazing. No one talks back to Cordelia.”

She turned to the other brunette standing there. In another life, this poor girl would have been on Buffy’s list of potential students to torture, but that wasn’t the case now. It seemed like she got enough shit from the popular crowd already. “I’m from LA, I’ve seen worse than her.”

“Neat, I’m Willow Rosenberg, fellow nerd of Sunnydale High.”

Buffy took the hand that she was offering. “Buffy Summers, nice to meet you.” She didn’t know where this sudden politeness came from, but there was just something so innocent about this girl. It was something she hoped the girl kept, Buffy’s innocence was ripped away from her after discovering her newfound calling, and she wouldn’t wish that on anyone.


* * * * *


She walked into the dreary library, which was completely deserted. If she didn’t need books for her classes, Buffy never would have even bothered setting foot in there.

“Hello? Is anyone here?” A tingle ran up her spine, but it quickly vanished. Buffy shook the feeling away and turned around, only to bump into a hard chest. Strong arms stopped her from falling, gazing at her savior. He wasn’t that much taller than her, with a mop of brownish, blond curls. It looked like he used to bleach his hair, but hadn’t done it in a while; glasses adorned his features, and he wore a tweed jacket that didn’t seem to fit with the rest of him. She glanced down at his hand, seeing an odd looking ring on his finger. Something didn’t seem right about that, but when she looked back up at his face, she realized just how blue his eyes were, even with the glasses hiding them.

“Sorry, are you all right?”

Add a sexy British accent to the list; she licked her lips before nodding. “Yeah, I didn’t know anyone was here.”

He smiled. “I don’t get many visitors. What can I do for you?”

She caught herself from staring, following him to the front desk. “I need some school books. English, Chemistry, and Math,” she said the last one with distaste. “I’m new here.” Buffy didn’t know why she felt the need to include that, it was probably obvious.

His eyes lit up. “Buffy Summers?”

She was surprised that he knew her name. “Good call; guess I’m the only new kid.”

He shook his head. “I’m William Pratt, the librarian; I was told that you would be coming. I think I have just what you’re looking for.”

Buffy stepped back when he placed a leather bound book on the desk, it was large, and had the word ‘vampyr’ on the cover. She stepped back even further. “That’s not what I’m looking for.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m very sure,” she responded, taking off when he turned away from her. So much for a fresh start, it seemed her calling would never leave her alone.