Disclaimer: The only things I own are Buffy Maclay, James Masters and Samantha Rivers. Everything else belongs to Joss Whedon.

Chapter 1 Different

Buffy Maclay looked in the mirror to check herself for the millionth time that day. A five foot five girl with long honey blonde hair. She had amber eyes and was very skinny, but not too skinny. She had a creamy complection that gave her a beautiful glow. She was twelve years old and currently attending Hemery Jr. High School. She slipped on her deep red halter and her dark blue jeans with the word 'evil' going down both legs. She took out her make-up case and picked out her Rose red eye shadow and her rose red lip gloss. She looked in the mirror one quick time before putting on her pink tinted sunglasses before grabbing her book bag and heading downstairs. She hoped that her appearance would hide what she really felt. After that dream last night, she hoped that she didn't show her fear.

"Buffy, you need to hurry up, you'll be late for school." her 'mom' called from the kitchen. The reason for the quote was because she was adopted. Her parents told her when she was old enough to understand. Buffy wasn't upset by it. She was told that her mom wanted to keep her but couldn't. She never knew her real parents but her adoptive parents are and always were good enough.

"I'm coming mom."Buffy yelled from the living room. She strolled into the kitchen and saw her friend James Masters sitting at the counter eating a piece of toast. Her and James had been best friends since they were one.

"Hey James, are you going to walk with me to school, or are you just stealing food?" she asked playfully.

"Both." he answered smiling. She hit him playfully. "It was a joke Buff, did you have to hit me so hard?" he asked, rubbing his arm where she hit him.

"Sorry, accident." she said apologetically. "So, today feels special, why would it?" she asked him.

"Cause it's a Monday." he answered. She looked into his eyes and pouted. "And because it's my girl's twelfth birthday." he said with a smile. Those words made Buffy smile he said 'his girl'. He called her his girl.

"So, Mr. Masters, where is my present?" she asked still smiling.

"At my house. You'll get it when school is over. Buffy started pouting again. "Buffy, that's not gonna work, besides, we gotta get to school or we'll be late. You don't wanna be late on your big day." Buffy pouted more but did agree and started to walk out the door with him. He stuck out his arm and they linked arms together like they usually did. For some reason, she got tingles down her spine when they touched. Okay, mabey she liked James a little, but not enough for her to feel this. They continued walking for a few minutes just laughing and talking and Buffy occasionally asking what James got her for her birthday. No matter how many times she asked, James just told her that she would find out later, which bugged Buffy to no end. After about five minutes, they arrived at Hemery Jr. High School. The second Buffy entered the school, she was approached by Samantha Rivers, local mean popular girl in school. Her and Buffy used to be friends until Samantha fell in with the wrong crowd. Now they were always at each others throats. Samantha tossed her badly dyed blonde hair over her shoulder came to stand face to face with Buffy.

"Wow Buffy, nice outfit." Samantha said with cold eyes and a sarcastic smile.

"Wow Samantha, you too. Nice to know you shop at 'future whores 'r' us." Buffy replied matching Samantha's eyes and smile. Samantha's smile dropped and she looked ready to kill.

"You better watch yourself Maclay." With that, Samantha turned and left with her friends. When Buffy turned to face James, he had a smile but looked mad at the same time.

"Buffy," he started, "why did you say that to Samantha. You know you just pissed her off."

"What did I do?" Buffy asked innocently "I just gave her a compliment."

"You called her a whore." James reminded her.

"Okay, mabey I did but she started and no more arguing, I won cause it's my birthday." she stated putting her foot down.

"Fine, but lets get going or we'll be late for class. They didn't argue any further but walked strait to their lockers that were right next to each other. They grabbed their English books and headed for room b101 which was Ms. Sanders English class. Ms. Sanders was just reviewing tests so the class was assigned a reading assignment. Of course no one was reading instead they were all passing notes. Buffy kept asking what her gift was and James kept saying she would find out later. After two hours of passing notes, the bell rang and the students piled out the door. They had a ten minute passing period so Buffy and James took their time walking to their lockers to dump off their English books and walking to the gym. When they arrived to the gym, they headed their separate ways and got changed into their gym cloths which consisted of a red top which said Hemery Jr. High School and yellow sweat pants that said the same thing. Buffy walked into the gym after changing and sat on the bleachers and wait for instructions for the day.

"Okay," Ms. Ortega, the teacher started. "We are about to start our self defense unit. First we will start with the girls trying to flip the boys. Now everyone, when I call your names, go stand next to your partner. Maclay, Carter. Rivers, Masters. Shelly, Stevenson. Chew, Manter, and so on. Buffy stood up and walked over to John Carter, a cute boy with brown hair and green eyes.

"Hi John." Buffy started.

"Hey Buffy." John said back.

"Alright," Ms. Ortega shouted. "Boys, stand behind your partner and wrap one of your arms over her shoulder and the other around their waist. Ready now Rivers, Masters, demonstrate. Rivers, grab hold of Masters' right arm and try to flip him over your shoulder. She tried to flip him but James didn't budge.

"Pathetic Rivers. I expected better from you. Maclay, Carter, demonstrate. Buffy grabbed John's right arm and flipped him over her shoulder without really even trying. She expected to have the same results as Samantha, but she sent john flying twenty feet until he came to a stop. Everyone ran over to John to see if he was okay they didn't notice Buffy slip out of the room and into the girl's locker room. The only one to notice was James who had stayed where he was watching as everyone ran over to John. He know he would be yelled at if he were caught, but he had to see if Buffy was alright. When he walked in he saw Buffy sitting on a bench tears rolling down her cheeks and staring off into space. He walked up so he was standing beside her and tapped her on her shoulder. She jumped in her seat and stared into his face. She hugged him and started crying into his chest. He wrapped his arms comfortingly around her and let her cry. After five minutes of her crying and James comforting her, Buffy pulled out of his warm embrace and asked him to turn around so she could change. He saw a scared look in Buffy's eyes and decided not to make a joke but instead to turn around and let her change. He could hear a locker open and heard Buffy slipping out of her gym sweat pants and into her jeans. A minute later he heard the locker close and her Buffy snap her gym lock closed. When Buffy told him he could turn back around. He spun around and saw her back in the blur jeans and her red halter with fresh tears coming down her cheeks. He sat her down on the bench facing him and he sat down himself. He held her hands in his and told her that it wasn't her fault.

"Buffy, listen to me, it was accident it's not your fault."Buffy nodded her head but knew that it was her fault. She knew that she was supposed to move him but now twenty feet away. She was worried what all the other kids would say to her, especially Samantha. Just when she came up with the possibilities of what would happen once class was over, the locker room door opened and revealed Ms. Lockley, the school counselor.

"Buffy, can you come with me to my office." she said, "Oh and Mr. Masters, what are you doing in the girls locker room?" she asked.

"Um, Buffy was scared and I saw her come in here and thought I would comfort her." he explained.

"Well, get back to class," she said, "Buffy, get your things together and follow me." Ms. Lockley told Buffy. Buffy grabbed her books out of her locker, said goodbye to James, and followed Ms. Lockley.

Buffy was walking through the hall feeling as though she might be expelled. Heck, she should be. She through John twenty feet and almost killed him, now she had to pay the price. When they reached Ms. Lockley's office, there was a man standing in the shadows with spiky brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. Buffy could only find one word to describe him. 'Yummy' but she felt Ms. Lockley stiffen beside her. Buffy had a feeling that she didn't like this mysterious man as she eyed him.

"Angel." she spat.