AUTHOR: Kelso
RATING: Probably R eventually, but chapter 1 is PG.
SPOILERS: minor references to S1-3 events, plus major spoilers for S4, particularly "The Freshman" through "Something Blue"
SUMMARY: Set in S4. Buffy has a secret admirer.
DISTRIBUTION: anywhere
DISCLAIMER: "Buffy" and "Angel" characters belong to Joss Whedon.
NOTES: Set in season 4. I changed the timeline around so events don't always occur in the order they did on the show.
Gifts 1/?
The lurking figure in the alleyway straightened to attention. His fifth cigarette had burnt down nearly to his fingers, but she was finally coming. He stood perfectly still as they approached within hearing range, ears pricked to better pick out her words from among those of her unimportant companions.
"What do you think of Professor Smythe?" asked the redhead, Willow.
"She's boring," the dark-haired buffoon, Xander, replied.
"*He* is my favorite teacher," corrected the golden-haired Slayer, the one he had been waiting for.
"Yeah, Xander, it's hard to form an accurate opinion when you've never even seen the people we're talking about," Willow said with a chuckle.
"Not my fault. You know that school wouldn't--" Xander stopped speaking as Buffy whirled and glanced around, scanning the darkness. "Something wrong?" Xander asked, taking a look himself.
Buffy shrugged and resumed walking. "I guess not. It's just that I had the strangest feeling. Kinda like...I don't know, like someone just stepped on my grave. Know what I mean?"
Willow and Xander shook their heads and chorused, "Nope."
"Oh, you guys," Buffy grumbled affectionately. "Well, forget it. It's probably just me being paranoid about starting college and probably failing all my classes. I still can't quite believe I got in."
They wandered off down the street, laughing and chatting. As soon as they reached the next crossroad, the figure in the alley emerged from the shadows. He'd waited all that time, only to hear a mere scrap of conversation. It had still been worth it. He dropped the smoldering cigarette and crushed it beneath his boot as he began to think about which gift he would send the Slayer first.
*****
Two days later, Buffy wandered the edges of the campus. It was past dusk and she knew she ought to be patrolling or studying, but after the day she'd had, she couldn't bring herself to engage in either activity. She was so engrossed in staring at the ground and feeling sorry for herself that she nearly walked right into Willow.
"Hey! Buffy!" Willow greeted her. "What's up?"
Buffy glanced up and forced a smile that died before it could reach her eyes. "Not much, really."
Willow fell into step beside her friend. "What's wrong? You look kinda upset, with the frowny face and all."
"Professor Walsh gave me a D on our first psych assignment. I can't seem to do anything right in any of my classes, especially that one."
"Just keep trying," Willow encouraged. "You'll start doing better in no time."
"Yeah, well, that's easy for you to say. You could get straight A's without straining one muscle. Oh, wait, you already do."
Willow's face fell. "Buffy, I'm sorry--"
"No, Wills, I'm the one who's sorry," Buffy apologized. "I didn't mean it like that."
"It's okay." Willow thought for a moment. "How about we work on the next assignment together? That essay that's due Friday. I can help you fine-tune it."
"Which would imply that it's tuned in the first place," Buffy said ruefully. "Oh, all right. It can't hurt, and God knows I need all the help I can get."
Willow frowned. "Look, I'm going to meet Oz and we're going out for something to eat. You want to come?"
"No, thanks. I'm just going to head back to my room." The last thing Buffy wanted to do was to ruin Willow's night out.
"Okay." Willow smiled reassuringly before she trotted off.
Alone again, Buffy plodded along, head down, as depressed as she'd been since Angel's departure. No wonder she'd been called as the Slayer. She certainly didn't have the brains to do anything else, like get an average grade in a basic college course. Not that she even felt like a worthy Slayer nowadays. Her lack of confidence at school was spreading to all other areas of her life, as well.
She was about to turn and head back to the dorm when a scream sounded from the patch of woods to her right. Buffy instinctively broke into a run and cut through the nearest patch of bushes. After about 50 yards she burst into a clearing, where a ring of six vampires surrounded a brunette girl she vaguely recognized from philosophy class.
Buffy grabbed her handy stake and swung into action, lunging at the nearest vamp and stabbing it in the back. It dissolved into dust almost before it had a chance to realize it was under attack. The remaining five vampires hissed and turned upon her, game faces showing.
"Run!" Buffy yelled at the coed as the vampires attacked. She punched one in the face, elbowed another in the gut, and kicked a third away, but then found herself grabbed and pinned by the last two.
The female vampire Buffy had punched stalked over to her and shook her mane of blonde hair. "Well, well, what have we here? I believe it's the infamous Slayer. You're wandering around the wrong neck of the woods, honey. This is my territory, and you won't live to regret your mistake." She grinned evilly around her fangs and leaned toward Buffy's neck.
As the blonde spread her jaws, a low growl sounded from the bushes behind them. The vampire hesitated and stared in that direction. A flicker of what looked like fear crossed her face before she stepped back and retracted her fangs. "On second thought, I'll let you go with just a warning this time. Remember my name, and remember to stay out of Sunday's territory in the future. Let her go," the vampire instructed her companions.
They released Buffy and stepped away, following Sunday into the woods. Buffy whirled around and scanned the darkness behind her. Something had scared the gang leader, but what? Or more precisely, who? "Angel?" she called tentatively. "Is that you?"
*****
Safely obscured near a clump of fir trees, Spike snarled softly. He'd done a bit of asking around and learned that Angel had left town months ago, with hardly a backward glance. Rumor had it he was camping out in L.A. with one of the Slayer's female friends. So the older vampire wasn't within hailing distance, yet the Slayer automatically assumed Angel was her savior. Well, she'd learn soon enough who really deserved her gratitude. It wouldn't do to show himself and overplay his hand so early in the game, but Spike planned to reveal his identity at the right moment. Until then, though, he had a few matters to take care of--one being a nice little conversation with Sunday and her gang.
End Ch. 1
