What if Buffy Summers never learned of her true calling until college? Would she be wiser, more mature, and easier to work with than she was in high school?
Doubtful.
Hello all! I've been sitting on this idea for a while when I realized that one of my favorite series of all time (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) took place in those dreaded years of teenage angst. Now that I'm older and going to college myself, I began to wonder how the TV show might have been different if it was geared more towards the college years of her life.
That's what I've done here.
It starts off with a rating of M for a reason. There will be sex later and a lot of gore. It's not a tame fanfic. I hope that doesn't scare off any of my readers.
Almost done: Please read and review! I'd love some feedback from people who enjoyed (or even didn't enjoy) my work.
And finally, I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I just like to toy with the lives of the characters.
Enjoy!
All throughout high school, Buffy Summers hated going to the library. She seemed to be allergic to the books (or was it the dust?) and the geeky little nerds that always lurked in the shadows of the shelves. However, being in college mandated that she take a trip to the forbidden place at least once every couple of weeks for the proper reading material, lest she fail her classes. That fatal option was too inappropriate, and forced her to beg her best friend, Willow Rosenberg, to accompany her to gather books. At least the red-headed girl knew how to navigate the rows upon rows of dusty tomes.
"Buffy, it really isn't that bad, you know. Just ask the new librarian. He's very nice and would love to help you out." That ploy didn't work, however, and she was convinced to help her friend out.
A half hour later, the sweater and skirt clad Willow stood up next to a computer that was running the search engine software. "You just need to type the name of the book in the computer and…" She did so as Buffy shifted her weight from foot to foot nervously, feeling subconsciously aware of the thick-rimmed glasses that were staring at her. "Bada bing, bada boom! It comes up. Then you write down the number." Picking up her bag, she headed for the stairs of the two-story library. "Here. Head to that shelf."
Buffy took the slip of paper reluctantly with a pout on her face. With some prodding as encouragement from Willow, the blonde girl climbed the stairs.
After fifteen minutes of searching, a triumphant Buffy emerged from the bottom shelf, holding the copy of "The Complete Works of Shakespeare". Willow gave her quiet, sincere applause and a pat on her back. "See? It wasn't so bad! Maybe next time you can do it on your own!"
The frown that Buffy shot back stopped Willow in her tracks. "And… maybe not. 'Cuz I'm your best friend and that's what we do, right?"
"Yep." Buffy draped her arm around her shoulders as they headed back for the stairs. "Not just my best friend but the brainy one, too. Don't forget that part."
They checked the book out with the librarian (a middle-aged man around 40 years of age who gave Willow a pleasant smile, and bid them to have a good day with a thick British accent), before heading back to their dorm.
Much of their things were still in boxes because the semester had only started a week ago. Buffy dropped the book on one of them and then tossed her bag on the bed. "Thanks for going with me on that adventure, Will. I would hate to brave those perils alone."
"You know, it is college, Buffy. It's really not that scary. Especially not the library. I know that the old one was dusty and dark but really! Nothing scary here!" Her smile was a little hopeful, but playful at the same time, because she knew that the tan, fun-lover hated the idea of the books' homes.
Buffy followed her bag onto the bed and spoke slowly. "…I know. But you couldn't leave me all alone to let those geeks cover me in their Star Trek pins and basement breath!"
Willow made a face but knew that her jests were all in good fun. In high school, Buffy had been the same way. She was always tanned, toned, and popular. Willow had been pale, very quiet, and book-oriented. It used to be that she wondered why a girl like Buffy even hung around her after the mandatory stuff had been completed.
In her Sophmore year, Willow was assigned to tutor Buffy and another boy named Xander Harris, to help them pass the year. When the tutoring was done, the three people became unlikely friends and had moved onto the University together.
Taking off her jacket and moving to hang it in the closet, she quietly reflected on the times that she thought that Buffy and Xander were using her. That feeling had passed long ago when Willow lost her mother in a car accident and they were there to take care of her. Since then, she hadn't ever considered that idea again.
"Do ya think Xander might be up for going to the movie this weekend? I could phone him and find out." She paused and the added sheepishly, "I forgot to ask him during Physics…"
Buffy had leaned over the side of the bed and picked up the newspaper and now had a sour look on her face. "I don't know, Will. Another guy's been killed. I'm starting to wonder if we shouldn't stay here because staying out late doesn't sound like a good plan."
"That's five people so far, right?" She sat on the bed on the other side of the room and leaned against the wall, pulling her knees up to her chin.
"Six." She continued reading on. "And all the same way. Cops still don't have a lead on a suspect either. I mean, what kind of sicko takes all the blood out of a body?"
Willow shrugged her shoulders. "Vampire? O-or a demon that likes blood?"
The blonde rolled her eyes and tossed the newspaper to her friend. "In any case, I think we should stay in. I've got a bad feeling about going out."
"A-Are you sick? You never want to stay in." She laughed a little bit. "What happened to party-Buffy?"
"I don't know, Will. I've just got a weird vibe about this whole thing, you know? My instinct is all screamy and loud. I think I'm going to listen for once."
Her disappointment didn't last long as she realized that Buffy was quite serious, which rarely happened, so she didn't press it anymore. "Well okay. Maybe we could stay on campus and watch a movie here! We could invite Xander and h-have popcorn and everything. All without risking our necks out on the streets!"
Buffy smiled, showing brightly white teeth. "Thanks, Will. That's a good idea. I'll call Xander and let him know what's going on." True to her word, she flipped open her cell phone and dialed her friend.
After a brief fifteen minute conversation, the last member of the their "Three Musketeers" had been included in on the girls' plans for that Friday night.
With a yawn, Willow announced she was going to bed and Buffy, not wanting to keep her awake, decided that it wasn't a bad idea. After a quick brushing of her teeth and a wash of her face, she donned a cotton nightgown and crawled underneath her blankets. Willow shut off the lights and followed suit, setting the alarm by her bed for the next morning.
It wasn't long before Buffy could hear her roommate's gentle snores in the darkness and she drifted off to sleep as well.
But while Willow slept peacefully on the other side of the room, Buffy was not as lucky.
Not long after she had fallen asleep, she began to toss and turn, twisting her blankets and pulling her sheets. Her body began to sweat and her breath caught in her chest. Even in her sleep, Buffy grabbed at her neck, unable to bring oxygen into her body. She felt pain there; horrible, skin-curdling pain; and the screaming was so loud. It wouldn't stop.
Ears bleeding, she rolled and clutched at them! Anything to make it stop!
And then she saw it.
Two eyes in the darkness, looking up from the freshly ripped open neck of a blonde woman. The blood dripped down the humanoid face, coating pearlescent white fangs that shown in the darkness. The creature dropped its kill when it spotted Buffy and she turned to run but couldn't move. She was frozen to the spot as cold, chilling fingers caressed her face and neck. She could smell the man-like thing in front of her. It scented of dirt, death, and decay. As she saw the fangs move closer to her neck, she opened her mouth to scream.