This is my first EVER AU story so please let me know what you think! Don't hurt me if it's bad! Runs away and hides
Disclaimer – I do not own any of the characters from Buffy or Angel, if I did they would be together and happy! I do own Bandit though so don't nick him! The title of the story is 'take a look at me now' also known as 'against all odds' by Maria Carey although it has been song by others! So I don't own the name so don't sue me!
Pairings – B/A, W/O, X/A, C/D.
Distribution – You want, you have as long as you tell me where it is going!
Feedback – Yep all reviews are welcome. They keep me writing! I love reviewers:D
Summary - Buffy Summers is a young girl who has everything except love from her parents. Her best friend is her dog Bandit but when she goes into foster care everything changes! BANGLE GOODNESS!
So review and enjoy!
Buffy Summers is an eightyear old with gorgeous blonde hair and striking green eyes. She lives with her parents on the outskirts of London in England, where her father, Hank, is a top businessman and known by most. Her mother, Joyce, owns her own gallery, which brings in a fair amount of money. Money wise they couldn't be better due to Hanks income but Buffy never got to spend anytime with her parents. Sometimes they were too busy to even say a simple greeting to her in the mornings. She didn't mind though, she was extremely shy so didn't mind being on her own. She taught herself how to get herself food like cereal and look after herself at an early age. She didn't cook at all because she when she tried for the first time she ended up with a bad burn which had left a tiny scar on her hand.
Buffy yawned and looked at her clock beside her bed. It was seven in the morning on a Sunday. She was used to getting up early, it became a habit since she had to wake herself up when she had school. She rubbed her eyes to get rid of the blurriness and looked around her room for signs of Bandit but she couldn't see him.
Her room huge and was decorated with pink and white wallpaper. She had a bed like a princesses with a drape surrounding it. There were more toys than you could count even though she had never once asked for a toy in her life. She had a walkthrough wardrobe with hundreds of outfits, chosen by her mum, even though she hardly wore any of them. She had a bookshelf with a few of her favourite books and some photos of her and her family. There was also one of her Cocker Spaniel, Bandit, as a puppy. She got all the things a girl would wish for but she never got the one single thing she wanted...love.
She wandered wearily downstairs dragging with her Mr.Gordo her favourite toy pig. Neither of her parents was home so she poured herself some cereal, poured in some milk and began eating. She washed up after herself and went and watched some cartoons on the television with Bandit curled up next to her.
She spent the rest of the day reading, doing her homework and playing with Bandit. When she heard her parents coming up the drive at about ten at night she ran upstairs with Bandit at her heel. They were always moody when they got home and she found it best to stay out of their way.
She listened to what her parents were saying from the top of the stairs hugging her golden, faithful friend.
"What do you mean you lost everything? How can you lose 1.5 million dollars?" She could hear her Mum shouting. Her dad was the one who usually shouted, it scared her when they both were.
"I got drunk and I fucking lost it. It is not my fault, we will just have to move somewhere a little smaller, we still have plenty of money from your gallery." Buffy could see his face turning three different shades of red from anger.
"So you are going to live of my money," she emphasized the word 'my'. "And what about our daughter. She will have to move school and lose her friends."
"She will make new friends. For. Gods. Sake. We cannot afford to live here anymore," Now he clenched his fists ready to unleash his anger. Buffy's mum could see the anger and decided she had lost as usual. There was no beating her husband at an argument, most the time he let his anger get the best of him.
"Fine. Come on let's go to bed," hearing this Buffy rushed back to her own bedroom and pushed Bandit in her wardrobe so they couldn't hear him. She wasn't supposed to have him in her room but she liked having him there. He was her best friend, once when she was alone someone had tried to break in but Bandit scared them away, he always protected her, they had grown up together. She could hear noises from her parent's room. They were noises a four year old shouldn't even know about let alone hear. She scrunched up her eyes tight and put her pillow over her head to try to sleep through the noises. She had to get up for school the next morning.
The next morning she woke up a bit later than usual after not having much sleep. She pulled on her school cloths, which consisted of tights, a skirt and a blazer with a tie. She went to an all girls private school and was in her very first year of school. She had few friends due to her quiet nature but she didn't care.
"Buffy, can do three times seven?" Buffy sighed class was so boring. The teachers treated you like an idiot.
"Twenty one." She replied. She was fairly bright for her age so got bored easily at school. But it was better than being at home. Stupid teachers.
"Correct," As the teacher spoke one of the people who worked at reception came in.
"Buffy Summers, the principle needs to see you." The school receptionist told them. Buffy stood up and walked along the corridor to the principles office. She was nervous; she had never been there before. What have I done wrong?
"Hello Buffy, don't worry your not in trouble. Your father called us today and said he was transferring you to another school. He said he would be picking you up soon. Here is a card from all the staff and children. We will miss you Buffy," Buffy was shocked. She was going to a new school. She opened the card and peered inside, it was full of names mainly teachers, tears were threatening to spill over her eyes as she read the names. Her father never told her they would be leaving so she wouldn't even get to say goodbye to her friends.
Her dad arrived and got her out the school before she could even speak. The car was outside already packed with luggage, this was unfair they were making her move without even a warning.
"Dad where are we going?" Buffy asked confused and shocked.
"To L.A in America," he replied.
"Why? I don't want to go I like it here," She asked.
"Because I say so, now be quiet and get over it." Buffy did as she was told and sat in silence even though her mind was screaming at her to try to persuade her dad to stay.
When they arrived at the airport Buffy was amazed at the size. It was huge. All around her there were people rushing to catch their flights. When they got on the plane she gripped onto the armrests. She had never been on a plane before but she had seen plane crashes on the television and it was scary. When the plane took of it was even worse. It left a funny feeling in her stomach and made her ears pop.
When they finally landed in a smaller airport than where they started Buffy watched the other passengers being greeted by their loved ones. She could see another little girl about her age running up to her grandparents with her parents close behind and giving them all hugs. It made her feel sick with jealousy.
There new home was a small dingy apartment in a place called Chino. She was thankful she still had Bandit with her to protect her. This place scared her. Everything was dirty and smelly, no one greeted them with waves, and they were just blanked out by their neighbours. The inside of the apartment was no better than the outside. It was the total opposite to what she was used to. They normally had cleaners so there old how was nearly always perfectly clean, but this house looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years. Buffy decided to investigate her new home.
"Buffy you are starting your new school tomorrow. The neighbour said she would take you." Her Mum yelled about ten minutes later from the other side of the house. 'Great' she thought sarcastically. Her room was tiny and square shaped. She only had one bag of clothes, which her parents had packed and a small box with her private possessions in. She carefully places her folded clothes in her drawers and started putting some of her photos up.
The next day her neighbour walked her to school. She was an elderly woman who smelt like smoke. She didn't speak to Buffy once on the way. At school she sat next to a blonde girl called Harmony who looked a bit ditzy.
"Hi I'm Buffy," She introduced herself to the blonde.
"I'm Harmony." The other girl introduced. Buffy decided she already didn't like this girl; there was just something about her non-trustworthy. The rest of the day was plain and boring. She spoke to a few people but most were rude and mean. She went home and lied on her bed. The tiny four year old cried into her pillow letting her pain out. It wasn't the move that made her cry it was her parents. Her mum had to work longer now her dad wasn't getting as much money and her dad was constantly going on business trips to try to bring in more money than his wife. He like being the best. All they cared about was money.
Her parents came home later fighting as usual. It seemed to get worse and worse every time. Buffy didn't have time to go to her room before they got in like she usually did so instead she sat on the sofa hugging Bandit.
"I NEED to go on this business trip." Hank shouted at his wife.
"You are NOT leaving me here for 3 weeks with that brat why you go to Hawaii," She screamed back.
"We don't have enough money for all three of us to go," He yelled turning as red as a tomato again. "Buffy get the fuck upstairs."
That was all she needed. She started heading towards the stairs when a hand connected with her fragile face. She couldn't believe it her father had hit her. Sure he had hit her before but only when she disobeyed him. She ran towards the stairs and saw Bandit growl lightly at her father trying to protect her.
"Bandit no!" She shouted. But it was too late. Hank had already kicked Bandit and there was a yelp of pain.
"Fucking dog," Hank growled.
"Bandit…" She whispered hoping to see him move, but he continued to lie there motionless.
She cried herself to sleep that night. Bandit was her best friend. He was the only one she could tell her secrets to, the only one which would try to protect her, the only one to care about her. He had died trying to protect her; you can't get more loyal than that.
It was extremely early in the morning and the sun was only just beginning to rise when she woke up. She had a bruise on her face, which was still extremely painful. She looked out her window into their tiny garden and could see some newly dug up dirt. Bandit. She went outside in just her pyjamas, lent on the ground and whispered to her faithful friend.
"Goodbye Bandit. I love you. Promise you wont forget me. Please promise me. I will never ever forget you. Thank you for looking after me and protecting me. You will always be my best friend." Fresh tears hit the freshly turned soil and the braveeight year old cried like she had never cried before. She hated her dad; he took away the one thing she had loved. The one thing that had loved her back.
I'm so very little
and my Daddy is real tall
I'm trying very hard now
to make myself more small
Maybe he won't see me
if I shut my eyes real tight
Maybe he won't hit me
if I pray with all my might
God please keep daddy yelling
even though it scares me through
Cause when the room gets quiet
I know what he will do
And next day he'll tell the neighbours
that I had a nasty fall
They helped my Daddy hurt me
cause they never made a call
Hope you enjoyed my first chapter! I do not own the poem so please don't sue! But it is a really good poem and it brings the point across. Don't worry there is still lots and lots to come, Angel isn't even in the picture yet!
Let me know whether you think it was amazingly good, ways I could improve it or whether it is just a load of rubbish!
So basically REVIEW if you want me to carry on because I have other stories to write and need to know whether it is worth carrying on with!
Love you guys who are reading this!