Chapter 1

Dear Diary,

It’s been a while since I wrote in you (sorry). You got buried in the mess of my room, then I spent half the summer at Dad’s (again, oops). Anyway, there’s lots to tell.

First, the Master is dead.

Second, I’m The Slayer comma Used To Be. That’s right, used to be. See, I died, for like, a minute, but that was enough to give the grand ol’ signal to my Slayer power to heave ho, and it went on to the next girl. Wherever she may be. We think she’ll be coming here – active Hellmouth still churning away, and all that.

I knew something was wrong as soon as I tripped on our way out of the Master’s cave. He still had to be taken care of, though, so Angel got the job of dusting dear ol’ grandpa while the rest of us fought off the great tentacle beast thing. Wasn’t fun, let me tell ya. My dress for the dance was totally ruined!

You should have seen Giles’ face when I told him I wasn’t the Slayer anymore. Fish out of water ring a bell? Then, he gave me a hug and said, “I’m sorry”, before regaining that typical British reserve. He’s happy for me, though, saying I can have the normal life I’ve been missing since Merrick gave me the Chosen One speech. Woohoo for me, right?

Of course, the Council called right away wanting to know how I died. I could hear Quentin Travers’ exclamation through the phone when Giles told him I wasn’t dead. But you know what? He’s so happy that they no longer have to deal with me as the Slayer, that he offered to pay me to show the new Slayer around town when she arrives, and guaranteed entrance into the Watcher’s Academy for being a former Potential. Seems a lot of the girls end up becoming Watcher’s when they get to old to be called. Who knew? Not for me, thanks! Tweed is so not my color! I took the check, though. I may be blonde, but I’m not stupid.

So, when New Girl shows up, I take her to all the vamp hangouts, blah, blah, blah – and then go on with my life. School starts tomorrow, so I guess I’ll be busy enough. Hey! I’ll have time for homework! And sleep! How weird is that?

Sigh – Mom’s calling me for something again, so I gotta go.

TTFN,

Buffy