The Move
Chapter One

New Town

I awoke at 6:30 in the morning.

"Buffy?" Mom called.

"I'm up, Mom." I yelled back.

"Don't wanna be late for your first day of school."

"No, wouldn't want that," I grumbled, throwing off my covers and getting out of bed. Walking through the box filled room, I tripped several times but finally made it to my closet. Pulling out my favorite form fitting, tattered blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and white button up top, I dressed quickly. Going to my vanity, I ran a brush through my golden blonde hair. Surveying the overall result, I liked what I saw: casual, but trendy. Going back to my closet, I grabbed my favorite pair of Sketchers, then my bag and quickly made my way downstairs

"Good morning, sweetie. How'd you sleep? Any interesting dreams?"

"For there to be interesting dreams, I'd have to think about a guy, and there's no guy to think about. Is that even a sentence? Did that make sense?"

"You're only sixteen. All of that will come in time. Don't make the same mistakes I made with your dad."

"I know. I'm not doing anything with anyone, until I'm ready."

"Good."

"I see that look in your eyes. You don't believe me. Mom, you know as well as I do that I've never even been on a date. I could never date someone I didn't care about."

"Who are you, and What have you done with my daughter?" She joked.

"New town, new life, new attitude. I want a fresh start. I also want to date. At Hemory high, I was popular. Starting at Horseshoe Bend is making me change my whole outlook on life. I don't want friends who like me for what I have. I want friends who like me for who I am. I'm tired of being shallow. No more cheerleading. I never did like it much, anyway."

"Good, I didn't really like your friends in L.A. at all. I just pretended to for your sake. Thank God, I left your father and came here."

"I didn't like them either. I only hung out with them because I was popular and that's what was expected of me."

"Good, are you hungry?"

"For your cooking?" I joked. "I'm just kidding, Mom. I could eat a horse."

"Good, because that's what I made. Just kidding. Grab some plates and please set the table. We'll have a normal sit down meal, like a normal family."

"Okay, Mom." I chirped grabbing two plates and some silverware.

I made my way into the dinning room and set the table.

Mom came in with two omelets. She laid them on the plates and went back to the kitchen for some tea. She brought the picture and poured two glasses.

We sat and ate in silence. Looking down at my watch, I noticed it said 7:30. School didn't start until 7:45. I had to be there early because of being new and all. I had to get my class schedule. Telling Mom bye, I made my way to school.

It was about a ten minute walk to campus. It looked nothing like my old school. The quad alone was worth the move. My old school was a hole in the ground compared to Horseshoe Bend High School. It was amazing, considering that it was in the middle of one of the smallest town in Alabama. Walking through the big glass doors, I just stared in shock. This was such a beautiful place.

I went into the office and got my class schedule. I walked back out into the commons area (lunchroom/auditorium). Having never seen anything like it, I sat at one of the tables and pulled out a notebook. It was filled with poems that I had written over the past few months. Most of them were pretty angsty. They reminded me of Emily Dickinson's work. Most of them were about the loss of my father in my life. My mom is the only one who reads my poetry. I just don't think I'm that good.

Beginning a new poem I wrote:

I know you've been calling.

I'm not stupid.

You want to see how I'm doing.

Well, I don't need you,

Checking up on me

Every few days.

You say you still want me,

But all you want is the idea of us.

I don't want or need an idea.

I want and need the real thing.

So, leave me alone.

I'm okay, I'm fine without you.

Lost in thought, I just sat there, starring off into space.

"Hi, you're the new girl, right?" A voice from behind me said.

"Yeah, I'm Buffy. I am the new girl. I just moved here from L.A."

"Hi, I'm Willow. This is Xander, and this is Linda."

"It's nice to meet you. May I ask you a question? And please don't take it the wrong way."

"Sure, what's your question?" Linda asked.

"Are you guys popular? I don't mean to be rude, but I was popular at my last school."

"You want to be popular again?" Xander said.

"No, I don't want to be popular again."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance. I'm president of the science club." Linda said.

"I'm president of the FFA." Xander said.

"I'm president of the computer club." Willow said.

"Good. I'm pleased to meet y'all."

"Hi, guys." Another voice said from behind me.

"Hi, sweetie." Linda said.

"Hey." He said kissing her on the cheek.

"Where are my manners? Buffy, this is Sean. Sean, this is Buffy. Buffy is new. Buffy, Sean is my boyfriend. We've been together since we were nine." Linda said introducing us.

"Not to be rude, but Sean is not my type. I don't go for blonde guys. I'm already blonde, and that's enough for a relationship." I joked. They all laughed.

"You're not my type, either. Besides, I only have eyes for Linda." He kissed Linda again.

"Xander's not my type either. I can tell he's not available either. You and Xander are dating too, aren't you, Willow?"

"Yes, we are."

"Everyone's paired off, but…" I stopped mid-sentence. Some guy came through the big glass doors.

"Buffy, are you okay?" Willow asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Who was that going in the office?"

"Oh, that. That's no one." Sean said.

"Sean, quit joking. That's Sean's older brother, Angel." Linda grumbled then chirped lightly hitting him.

"How old is he?" I asked.

"He's twenty. His birthday is next week." Sean admitted.

"What a coincidence, so is mine." I said.

"Really. How old will you be?" Linda asked careful not to offend me.

"I'm not offended. I'll be seventeen" I said picking up on her feelings.

"Cool, so are we. Except Sean, he's already seventeen. He'll be eighteen in a month. I've already gotten his birthday present."

"Good, I can't wait to find out what you got me. I'm gonna go talk to Angel. Linda, I'll see you in study hall."

"Okay, I love you!" Linda kissed Sean on the cheek.

"I love you, too!" He chirped running into the office.

"So tell me about Angel. He is soooo hot!"

"What do you want to know?" Linda asked.

"I guess the million dollar question is: Is he single, and would he ever date a student?"

"He is single. He has little girlfriends in each class, but he told me that he would date a student if he likes her enough."

"Do you think he'd like me?"

"Well, if I know Sean, he probably went to tell Angel about you. Here they come now." Linda pointed at the office door.

"Hey, baby, I'm back." Sean said to Linda.

"Hey, yourself." She said back to him.

"Buffy, this is Angel. Angel, this is Buffy Summers. She just moved here from L.A." Sean introduced me to his older brother.

"Hi, Mr. O'Daniel. It's nice to meet you."

"Please, 'Mr. O'Daniel' is Sean's and my father, call me Angel."

"Okay, Angel."

"I'll see you all in study hall, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"You don't have to call me 'sir' either, Buffy. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better. My little brother, over there, says you're single. We'll talk more in study hall." He left us.

"My, GOD, he is soooo hot." I said.

"He is also super nice. Sean and I are over at his house everyday. I like him. I'm an only child, so it's nice to have him around, kinda like the big brother I never had. He treats me like family."

"He knows that if he doesn't that I'll kick his ass. We're over at his house, because I live with him." Sean joked and we all laughed.

With the bell ringing for homeroom, We made our way to class.

"Who do you have for homeroom?" Willow asked.

"Mr. Callahan."

"Same as us, except Sean. He is a senior." Linda said.

"So you can…"

"We'll be more than happy to show you to class."

"Good, I'm glad. I'm so lost here. My last school was nowhere near this nice."

"What school in L.A. did you go to?" Xander said.

"Hemory high. It was in the northern part of L.A."

"So it wasn't near the star-studded part?" Willow asked.

"No, but my mom and I used to shop on Rodeo Drive. We've seen our share of celebrities."

"May I ask, who?" Xander said.

"You guys watch Charmed?"

"I do. I never miss it. It's my favorite show." Linda said.

"Well, Mom and I actually met Holly Marie Combs in a shoe shop. She was super nice. I still talk to her on the phone every week."

"Cool, maybe you could get me an autograph sometime?"

"Sure. She loves that kinda thing. She knows that the fans are the reason they work."

"Thanks."

"Who is your favorite character?"

"Leo. When Piper and Leo finally got married, I was crying my eyes out. My mom came in my room when she heard me cry. Needless to say, Mama was surprised to see Sean holding me."

"I agree. Brian Krause is soooo hot. I'll talk to Holly this weekend and get a couple photo of her and Brian and get them to sign it for you."

"Thanks, I think I just found my new best friend. I've never found anyone, except Sean and Angel, that likes Charmed as much as I do."

"I know. I cried when they got married too. They're soulmates."

We reached Mr. Callahan's room.

"Mr. Callahan, how are you?" Willow asked.

"Top O' the morning, Willow. Who is this lass with you?" Mr. Callahan greeted in a thick brogue accent.

"I'm Buffy. I'm new. I just moved here from L.A."

"Whoa, L.A. That's pretty big time for little New Site. What made y'all move here?"

"My parents got divorced, and my aunt lives here. She works here."

"Who is your aunt?"

"Jenny Calendar."

"Miss Calendar, the computer teacher?" Willow asked.

"Yeah, she's my mom's sister."

"That is so cool. She, next to Angel, is my favorite teacher."

"She is pretty cool."

"Did she come to visit y'all in L.A. a lot?"

"Sometimes. Not often though."

"It was nice to meet you, Buffy." Mr. Callahan said.

"It was nice to meet you, too, Mr. Callahan." I extended my hand to shake his.

We took our seats with Xander and Linda.

"So, are you excited about seeing your aunt again?" Willow asked.

"Who is your aunt, Buffy?" Linda said.

"Jenny Calendar."

"Miss Calendar?"

"Yeah, she is my mom's sister. She didn't visit a lot, but she is my favorite aunt. Actually, she's my only aunt, well unless you count Uncle Spike." They all looked puzzled.

"Wait, William Spike Smith?" Xander questioned.

"Yeah, my mom's brother's lover. How did you know that?"

"Johni comes around with Spike quite a lot to see Miss Calendar. Seems like y'all just accept Johni's being gay. That's cool. They are pretty cool."

With the first three classes behind me, it's time for study hall.