I've had this idea floating around in my head for a while now, so I figured I'd better start writing it down and posting it up here. Essentially, I've taken the Buffy-verse and changed a few events. Buffy has just transfered and Angel is perfectly human. I'm going to pretty much follow the story lines, but I can't guarantee they will be perfect. PLEASE give me comments. I can only make it better if I know what needs to be changed.

FIRST DAY

Angel watched the petite blonde walk through the door and into the office. Despite her size, she seemed to fill the room with a kind of danger than made him curious. His thoughts seemed to shatter when a young man walked up behind her in the office. He put a protective arm around her and Angel knew there was probably no chance of them ever being together, but he had to try...maybe.

"Earth to Angel," Xander, his friend, said, waving a hand in front of his face.

"I think he's gone," Jesse, another friend, told Xander.

Angel shook it off. He gave them a crooked grin and shook his head.

"I'm still here," he chuckled softly.

Willow walked to where they were and sat down next to Xander. She put her backpack down and started rummaging through it. Angel's eyes had drifted back to the office, only to find that she was no longer there. He looked back at his friends quickly, trying not to let them know that he had indeed been trying to catch a glimpse.

"Are you okay?" Angel asked her, nodding at her bag.

"Yeah...I'm fine," she said, finally looking at them. "Are you? You look distracted."

The warning bell buzzed at them. The three guys groaned in unison, while Willow stood up and actually seemed to beam. She slung her bag pack over her corduroy-clad shoulder and motioned for them to get up, too. Grudgingly, the three got up and went to class.

A girl roughly her own age was walking her to her first class, English. She let the girl lead her down the hallway, only barely aware of what she was telling her about the school. She nodded every now and then to feign interest. When they past by the basement door, an odd chill swept through her. She made a mental note of it. It could be worth checking out.

The girl finally turned to a classroom and went in. Buffy followed promptly. An older woman with greying brown hair stood at the front. Buffy forced a smile as the teacher told the class who she was and where she was transferring from. The girl with the red hair and gray jump suit that had led her here took a seat toward the middle of the room. Unfortunately, the only seat available that Buffy saw at the moment, was one directly to the girl's left. She took the seat and didn't say a word as the teacher began the class.

Buffy vaguely remembered the girl's name. Something with a 'W,' but she hadn't really been paying much attention. The girl turned to her shyly.

"I could help you get caught up. I mean, if you want," she whispered.

Buffy just nodded lightly, pretending to be engrossed in the lesson of the day. The girl seemed to collapse into herself, as though her confidence had been punctured, letting all of the air out of her.

After class, Buffy caught her at the door. She pulled her just to the side of the door and let go of her arm.

"Hey, I'm sorry," she apologized.

"Oh, n-no. I-it's fine," she stammered.

"No, we got off on the wrong foot and I want to make it better," Buffy insisted.

She hesitated, not sure of what to say next. Social interaction had somehow gotten harder after Merrick died. School society used to be so easy. Now, fighting vampires felt more comfortable to Buffy.

"I'm Buffy," she finally said, reintroducing herself.

"Oh. Uh, I'm Willow."

Buffy offered a hand to Willow. Willow took it and lightly shook. There was a precision about Buffy's grip that Willow was unsure of, but accepted it anyway.

"So..." Buffy said, still uncomfortable.

"Oh right, uh...your next class is right down here," Willow replied, pointing down the hallway and starting walking in that direction. Buffy followed behind.

Angel sat daydreaming in class. His thoughts were totally engrossed in the girl that he had seen in the office. When the history teacher called on him, he stammered out an answer that sounded like it could have possibly had to do with the lesson. The teacher was taken back when the answer was correct, though she still eyed him suspiciously. He had always been good at history, regardless of if he had read the chapter or not. The disruption from his dreams were still enough to keep him from venturing further into them. He picked up his pen and began taking down the notes that the teacher had just written on the board. Mostly, it was just something to keep him occupied until the bell rang.

After class, Angel met Jesse and Xander at their usual spot outside on the benches behind the science wing. Willow, however, was missing from the scene. Angel sat down on the bench opposite them and let his bag fall carelessly to the ground.

"What happened to Will?" Angel asked them.

Jesse shrugged. It wasn't like Willow to be late to meet them. Suddenly, they heard two voices coming up behind them. Jesse and Xander turned to look. Angel struggled to hide his grin of happiness when he saw the blonde from the office.

"Hey, Will," Xander greeted her. "And new girl."

"Buffy," Buffy said and waved. She gave them only half a smile.

Angel still felt the danger in Buffy that he had felt when first saw her. It didn't dissipate any when she was there next to them. Willow seemed a bit oblivious to it, but the three guys felt it. Xander thought it had to do with her eyes. They seemed to tell a story of loss. The three of them introduced themselves to Buffy and tried to shake the odd feeling.

'More to hurt,' Buffy thought sorrowfully to herself. She had already gotten her watcher, Merrick, killed. Were these four next now?