I do not own Buffy The Vampire Slayer or Rent.

Chapter Two

Previously on Seasons Of Love...

"Hi" Buffy shook hands with them each. When she got to Spike she shook his hand and felt a shock go through her body. The last time she felt that she was 15 and met her first love Micheal. He was the one that got her into the life she knew of drugs, unprotected sex with him, and her stripping. She felt like she had to get away it was to dangerous to feel like this.

She stopped herself just in time she knew it would be strange to the new peopel if she suddenly took off. She wanted to blend in and not draw attention to herself. She saat down and looked down at her food she took a sip of her drink.

"Is that are you are going to eat?" Willow asked her new friend.

"Yeah I am not that hungry" Buffy said and took a bite of her apple. She was dying for a hit but she couldn't not on school grounds. They were still watching her closely so she would have to time it perfectly when she would take one. But she planned on taking a hit when she got home she knew that the herion was killing her faster but she didn't care it made her feel good. Suddenly she realized everyone was looking at her and she blushed. "I am sorry what did you say."

"I was just asking how come you moved to the old Sunnydale?" Xander asked with a mouthful of twinkie. He thought she was hot but he didn't have a crush on her or anything. He got this feeling she was guarding something and he wasn't sure what.

"Oh I had to get away from New York a lot of stuff happened there and I just needed a new spot. My mom found a art gallery here to open up so here we are." She had rehearsed her story for days before she could say it with a straight face. She also was not going to go into to much detail since she could froget things and say something different the next time she told the story.

"Wow you lived in New York what was it like?" Willow asked after she swallowed a bite of her food.

"It was home" Buffy said. "It is where home still is. I miss it" she admited. She could admit this much to these people she could talk about the city and a few things of her friends but not to much. "And it isn't like the movies it isn't all glamerous it is a rough place but heaven on earth to me" she said. She wondered what they were doing right now Maureen was proably planning a new protest and just thinking of it made her laugh.

They all noticed when she laughed her eyes sparkled and she looked happy and she changed when she looked at them she had a front up like she was hiding from them guarding herself not letting anyone in. Buffy was trying not to let them in but for some reason she had a feeling she could trust these four and that scared her. If she told them her secret they would turn tail and run no one understood her and her secret unless they have it or they know others that do.

"So what part of the city did you live in?" Oz asked. He had some family there and they all lived in grenich village and such.

"I lived in alphatbet city as they call it" Buffy said to them. "It is a part of the city that many people don't go in. It isn't the rich and pertty neighborhood" she explained quickly. "And many people live there never get out except the select view." That just made her think of Benny who did when he married into money.

"I mean that sounds rough" Willow said. "I would be happy to live somewhere safer."

Buffy laughed and smiled at the redhead, she was younger then Buffy and had a more niave look at the world. No place was perfect Buffy knew that not even Sunnydale. "I feel safer there then here. People know me and I trust people and we always looked out for each other. It is a lot harder starting over here in a place I don't know anyone. And a place I don't know that well when I am missing alphatbet city."

"It sounds like you are grieveing over not being there kitten" Spike said speaking up. He saw her face as she talked about home it went through every emotion, happiness all the way to sadness and all of the emotions in between. That place had a hold on her he could already tell and she was itching to go back. It was crazy to say this already but he wanted her to stay wanted to get to know her so much better she was different then any girl he has ever met and he liked that she wasn't fake she didn't pretend to be happy or anything or pretend to be someone she wasn't.

"Yes I do honestly. Leaving there killed me inside. I grieved and still am. But I need to be here to just be somewhere else for a bit. After graduation I am going back the old room is still open for me. It will always be there when I go back" Buffy said and sighed. She loved sharing with Collins, Maureen and Joanne, and Mark. After Mimi and Roger died they all moved into the flat and Benny was staying on the couch as him and his wife are divorcing.

"Well I hope you will let us be your friends while your here pet" Spike said. "In fact me and the band Dingo's Ate My Baby is playing at this club called the Bronze you should come" he said.

Buffy thought for a moment and then nodded. She was calling a club owner when she got home for a job. She would being doing the job she always did she was going to strip and serve in a gentlmen's club. She would go to the Bronze after that. "What time should I be there?"

"Well how about 6 and you can listen to them do a sound check and we can find a seat close to the stage" Willow said. She was the band's best and biggest fan. And she didn't know that Oz had a crush on her to the same as she had a crush on him. Everyone but them could see it already Buffy could tell the way they would steal a glance to the other when the other one wasn't looking.

"Sure I can be there" Buffy said. She finished off her food and drink and her cell. She looked down and saw what her Aunt called a text message. It was to her from Joyce it said, 'I hope your day is going okay and don't forget your pills at 3 see you at home later on.' She was getting use to being checked up on more then usual. Sure she was always checked on back in New York more so they checked on each other they didnt' want to lose another member of the family so soon.

"Great" Spike smiled. He hoped to impress her tonight and maybe peak her interest in him. He wanted to get the girl something about her said that she was the missing puzzle peace in his life.

Lunch flew by and slowly Buffy let them in a bit. By the end of lunch she knew she would become good friends with them but some secrets she would keep to herself. Secrets that only her family knew about it was better for everyone that way. They didn't need to watch her die one day at least her family has seen it with others and it would be easier for them. She looked at her schedule as she stood up. "I have health class" she said and sighed.

"So I do I kitten" Spike smiled. That was one class together. He knew that Willow and Xander were in there to Oz was the only one that had a free period. After saying bye to Oz the four of them set off to class with Buffy in the middle of the group. She did not even notice a dark eyed, dark haired boy staring at her.

"So that is the new girl she is a babe" Angel said and smirked and Larry. "She would be good for a piece on the side since Cordelia won't give up" he shook his head. "I need some before I scream" he said. Cordelia was hot that was the only reason he was still dating her while he got his satisfaction from other girls.

"Yeah she is hot" Larry agreed. "I mean look at the way she dresses and walks. She has to be a slut with the way she is shaking all she has as she walks. And she is from New York you know how big city girls are much more advanced" he chuckled.

"Very true my friend very true" Angel slapped Larry on the back. When the bell rang he sighed. "I will see after school my house to chill invite the team" he said. He was on the football and was quaterback. He got whatever he wanted and whoever he wanted and he wanted the new girl and would get her.

Buffy walked into the classroom and the others led her to seats in the back and she sat down. She almost went pale at the subject on the boards it was one word Aids. She looked around and saw the people wasn't even paying attention to the words.

The teacher walked in talking after the warning bell rang and everyone was in their seats. "Recently a study shows the people think that can't get Aids when the possiblity is high. More then likely one of you will get it before your twenty five with more and more people having unprotected sex. What are other ways to get Aids?"

Willow raised her hand and was called on. "Blood transfusions, and sharing needles" she said and the teacher nodded.

"You know the only people that get Aids are the loser" Cordelia Chase said. "I mean if you have unprotected sex your stupid and if you do drugs your stupid it is there own fault. Now the ones that get it through blood trasnfusions that is bad luck" she said.

"What do you think of person that has aids like say one of your friends said what would be your first reaction? Would you treat them the same or differently? I know most of you want to say the same but you would treat them differently" the teacher said. She heard the portest go up and but she looked at them.

"I think you would treat that person different" Buffy said speaking up. "I mean you would think what kind of person is that to get aids do we even know them. You would slowly start to pull away and even though people know they can't get it by just touchign a person they would be scared of getting it anyway and they would hear people talk when it came out and dont' want to be assoicated with the person that has it" she said. She has seen it happen to people in the past and that is why she kept hers quiet.

"You bring up a good point Miss. Summers. You can't get it through hugging and normal human contact. But yet people are scared of getting it and being in contact with someone that does." The teacher said. The new one seemed informed about the subject while the others were lost and it was nice to have one smart one in the class.

"I think you shouldn't treat a person bad for it. I mean they are stil people not a walking disease. And you can't know how they got it. So why should it matter if they have it or not they are human and still need to be treated like that" Spike said and leaned back in his chair. He saw Buffy glance him and looked at him suprised he would say that and there was something else in her eyes he wasn't sure what.

Buffy was suprised by what Spike said but happy. By the end of class she was bored. She knew all there was to know about HIV and aids she had it she knew it all. She couldnt' be taught anything new it was the same old information she got from the clinics when she went for new medication. She stood up and gathered her books up and looked at her schedule. She had gym next and then english and it was time to go home.

"What do you have next?" Spike asked and leaned over her shoulder.

"Gym and hten English." Buffy said and looked at him.

"So do I" Spike grinned. "I will show you the way since Will and Xander here have different schedules."

"Great thank you" Buffy smiled. "See you Willow and Xander" she said to her new friends. She left the classroom with Spike. "You guys seemed like you known each other a long time."

"All of our lives" Spike said proudly.

"But you should english when did you move here?"

"When I was five I moved her with my dad Rupert Giles he is the librian here and my mum Jenny Giles" Spike said. He missed his mum who died of cancer two years ago. "My mum died two years ago so me and my da."

"I am sorry about your mom I know it is hard to lose a family member. And it gets harder each time" Buffy said softly and looked down. Spike noticed this and had a feeling this girl has lost a lot of people in her life.

"You lost someone your close to?"

"Yes four actually it got harder each time" Buffy said honestly. She hoped he didn't ask of what she had no idea what she would say. When they reached the gym he showed her where to go and she go ther uniform and got changed. She didn't have time to talk to Spike since they had the gym divded into boys and girls but he was waiting for her after class. "Hey" she smiled at him when she came out of the locker room.

"Hey" Spike said. He felt like a shy school boy around her. She was so beautiful and he felt like he was lucky to even be around her. "Time for English love" he said.

"I hope I do good its been years since I been in school. I dropped out when I was sixteen" she said to him. "I did some stuff to catch up so I wouldn't be back in 10th grade" she said. She knew that he knew how old she was.

"How come you dropped out?" Spike asked as they walked down the hallway side by side.

"Life happened" Buffy said after thinking a moment. She couldn't say I had to because I found out I had Hiv my mom died of that year and I need to make money to live before a education.

"I get it not ready to talk about that" Spike said and smiled. He understood they just met and she needs time to get to know them. "So here is the directions for the Bronze" he said and handed her a slip of paper.

"Thanks I was going to ask you how to get there" she said. She put the address in her bag as they walked into english and got seats next to each other. The class passed by and Spike walked her to her locker before going to his. She heard the beeper go off pressed the button and took her AZT she did not even need water to take it. She put the bottle back in her purse and shut her locker. She walked out front and saw her friends and waved and started walking down the sidewalk.

"Hey you need a ride home?" Spike called out.

Buffy turned and nodded and he waved her over. She walked over to him and looked at him. "I mean if you don't mind I don't want you to feel obligated to."

"I want to" Spike said. "You can ride with me to drop off Xander first and Willow rides with Oz."

"Well okay then" Buffy said. "See you tonight" she told Willow and Oz as they left in his van. Buffy got in the front seat and Xander in the back and Spike behind the wheel. Soon they were pulling out of the parking lot heading for Xanders. She sat back quietly and listened to Xander and Spike argue over who was the best super hero.

"See you later Buffy" Xander said as he got out of the car. "See you at the Bronze" he said to Spike and went inside.

"Are you sure you two are eighteen?" Buffy asked tesingly. "I mean you argued about superhero's" she giggled.

"Hey batman is way better then spider man. Spiderman the bloody bloke all he does is shot webs out of his hands while batman can fight and is strong and has cool cars and stuff."

"I always like Robin he was cute" Buffy said.

"Well Robin is a nacny boy" Spike muttered. It was dumb but he was jelous because Buffy thought he was cute.

"Oh my house is right up this street" Buffy said to him. He found it quickly and parked out front. "See you tonight" Buffy said to him.

"See you then Pet" Spike said and she got out of the car. He drove off after he was sure she was inside. He went home to get ready for the night he wanted to look extra special and he had no idea that Buffy was doing the same thing at her place. She had no idea why she wanted to look good since she wasn't going to have a romance with Spike anytime soon but she wanted to impress him and look good for him anyway. She wondered if coming to Sunnydale did help or if it made some of the issues tougher and harder. Only time would tell and she was at the mercy of time it was out of her hands and not in her control anymore,it was all in destiny's hands.