Buffy Summers was 16 years old. She lived in LA, California, and attended Hemery High School. She was a popular girl- beautiful and smart( although the beautiful part probably had more to do with her popularity, rather than her intelligence). She was interesting, and lively- a typical American teenager…or more fittingly, a typical American Cheerleader. Her life wasn't exactly perfect, with low grades in certain lessons (like History) and the constant awareness that her parents marriage wasn't entirely stable, but other than that, Buffy was a happy girl.

Of all of her friends, her cousin Celia was closest to her. Celia was older by a few months. Their close age allowed them to bond easily. Also, Celia was very similar to Buffy, lively and popular, and over the years, the two of them had been through a lot together-family problems, boy problems, school problems…their friendship was steady, and they had already made plans to share a room at University, if possible. The two girls never had a dull time together.

Then one evening, the event that would change their families lives forever took place. Celia's parents were out for the evening and they decided to take advantage of this, and the fact that Celia had just gotten her permit. They decided to drive to a party in the Valley, but in the end, they never made it. Celia had just pulled up at a junction when a huge lorry had pulled out in front of them, causing the small car to swerve and flip over.

It had taken Buffy three weeks to emerge from her coma, battered, bruised and broken. When she was told that her cousin had died in the crash, she didn't eat, sleep or speak for another three.

In the midst of everything, her parents had decided to get a divorce, after months of whispered arguments. She might have seen it coming, but it didn't make Buffy feel any better. As if things couldn't get any worse, her mother broke the news to her that they were moving from LA to a small town called Sunnydale. She knew that she would miss Celia even more if she couldn't visit her grave every night, as she had got used to doing. She was too tired to argue; it didn't seem fair to put even more unnecessary pressure on her poor mother.

A few months later, they arrived at the new house. Buffy spent the first day sat on the sidewalk silently , lost in thought as the delivery men carried their furniture in. She had no idea how close she was to change- no idea that just across the road in the opposite house, there was a boy who was about to see her for the very first time.

For once in his life,Angelus was actually early. Maybe it was Cordelia's constant nagging that had caused it or it was just a trick of fate,but he was on time as he got dressed that morning,preparing for a day out with his girlfriend.

He wasn't going to be and Cordelia were going to see the latest 3-hour chick flick beforegoing out with a gang of hadn't slept well last night and now this?

Oh well,he thought.I can always go to sleep during the film.

Feeling slightly more cheerful,he checked his appearance before grabbing his keys from the countertop and swinging through the front door,only to stop mid-strided and stare at what he had just seen.

Sitting on the sidewalk on the other side of the road was the most beautiful girl he had ever sat, engrossed in staring at the ground, her honeyblonde curls tousled and falling over her wore clothes that seemed just like the one's other girls from school wore. But she wasn't like them. Angel could tell.

When he snapped back to earth and realised how long he had been lost in the blonde beauty, he jumped into his car and drove to Cordelia's house in a was sitting, on the porch, waiting. When she saw him pull up, she stormed over to the car, flung her designer handbag onto the dashboard and slammed the door angrily.

"You're late," She spat as they set off. Angel found it easier than usual to drown out her sharp, bleating voice.

"ANGELUS!" She yelled ,startling him. The car swerved. He fumbled with the wheel in shock, trying to control his driving.

"What?" He demanded. She stared at him like he had grown another ear on his nose.

"You're LATE. You don't even apologise and yet then you think you can be RUDE to me? ME!"

This is how most of their dates went. He already knew that she would ignore him, he wouldn't care and then she would make him apologise. He didn't like it but he knew that if he tried to dump her she'd kill him. And he wasn't a coward -he could just put up with it .There were good sides too. Everyone said they looked great as a was half the reason that Cordelia dated him. His position at the top of the school had been secured before she dug her talons deep into his skin. He had always thought that he could put up with it.

His thoughts drifted back the girl this morning. For the rest of the ride, he thought about her. There was silence in the car as they pulled up in the parking lot at the cinema.

"Well?"

"Well,what?" He knew this was coming. Cordelia pursed her lips and waited.

"I'm waiting."

"I can see for?"

"For you to apologise."

"For?"He didn't usually demand a reason and he could tell from her face that she was shocked.

"For?For?"In a second,she was out of the car,storming away from car rolled after her,smoothly as she clattered along in her dangerously high heels.

"Cordy,""He sighed,slowly following her at about 3mph.

"What?"She yelled.

"I'm sorry!"He said flatly. She glared at him.

"Screw you Angelus. After everything I have done for you-"

She didn't get to finish her sentence. Fed up of her whinging and the overall relationship, he swerved away and sped all the way home, leaving Cordelia coughing in a cloud of exhaust fumes.

The next day rolled around all too fast for Buffy. One second she was preparing for a night of no sleep and the next, seven hours of sitting, huddled in bed had passed. It was time to get ready for a day at her new school. She showered and pulled on jeans, a tank top and flipflops. Her hair fell, silky and glistening over her shoulders.

Her mother had made blueberry muffins but she wasn't hungry at all. She just wanted to get this over with.

A few minutes later, her mom pulled up in front of her new school, wished her luck and left for her new job at some gallery.

Sunnydale High. It was smaller than her last school but the bustling crowds of students were larger. Breathing deeply, she walked into the school, doubting whether or not she would last the day.

At least she made it to her first lesson. It was a new term so she spent an hour in homeroom, sitting next to a timid girl named Willow, who was really nice. They checked each others timetables and luckily shared classes so Buffy survived the rest of the day without getting lost. Willow was shy but sweet and although she wasn't as outgoing or sparky as some of her previous friends, Buffy liked her.

And unlike her past friends, she couldn't see Willow going off her because she wasn't "as cheerful as she used to be.""

After her first day at the new school she sat on the wall, waiting for her mother, who had insisted on picking her up. She was searching through her bag when she felt someone sitting beside her. She looked up to see possibly the cutest guy she had ever seen in her whole life. He had eyes like pools of melted chocolate and hair the same shade of gorgeous brown.

"Hey," She said. He smiled at her and her stomach fluttered.

"Angelus," He held out his hand.

"I'm Buffy." They shook hands, his skin warm against hers. It made her flesh tingle.

"You're new,right?" She nodded," Why'd you leave your old school?" He hadn't meant to ask something so personal and obviously she didn't want to answer. At that very moment, Buffy saw her mother pull up down the road.

"Sorry,my mom's here," She stood and tugged her bag over her shoulder. Angel cursed inwardly but forced a smile.

"Er, okay.I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning." She watched him for a few seconds and then a pretty smile crept onto her own face, before she walked over to her car.

Angel sat there in a daze for a few minutes. He had looked out for her all day ( whilst avoiding Cordelia) and he had almost given up hope of seeing her again. She looked so beautiful, the sun bringing out the gold in her long hair, her eyes hazel and glinting in the had been a hard job not to reach over and kiss her. Most girls would have died if Angelus had layed one on them but that would possibly scar Buffy for life, and it would scar him too, if Cordelia ever found out what he was feeling.