New York 2009
She had agreed to go. Reluctantly, but she had agreed. Giles was right, there was nothing for her in England. Not really. There was really nothing for her anywhere. Anywhere where he wasn't. So there was nothing for her in New York either. But she could use the change in background scenery, and she was tired of London. She was tired of everything. Tired of life. She didn't have the energy to argue, to fight him on it, to fight at all. So she had agreed to go.
Besides, he might be right. It might help the new Slayers if she completed her education. And helping them was the only thing that gave her life any meaning anymore. With so many Chosen Ones the fate of the world no longer rested only on her shoulders. There were so many others to share the burden. She had thought that no longer being alone in her destiny would be liberating. And maybe, had he been there with her, it would have been. Hell, she would have loved to take time off from being the Slayer had she had someone to spend that time with. To have someone to just be normal with. As normal as a Slayer in love with an ensouled vampire could be. Besides, he had the uncanny ability to keep her on track, keep her true to herself, true to the mission. If she had him with her things would be different. But she didn't and they weren't.
So instead of liberated, she felt lost. Because that same cross which had been so crushing had also given her purpose, conviction, meaning. And now the only meaning her life had was to help teach the new girls how to help her carry their burdens.
And so, here she was, back on a college campus, wondering what the fuck she was doing here. After everything she had been through, she was back where ten years ago she had been so lost, so afraid.
"Hello, you must be Buffy Summers," said the woman sitting across from her. She was Giles' age, English, and attractive with jet black hair, graying at the temples. "I'm Vivian Tallis. Rupert has told me so much about you. He and I grew up together. Throughout our childhoods we were quite inseparable. As we grew up we grew apart, as children as will, began moving in different circles. But I've always had a fondness for Rupert. I'm so pleased to be able to help you both."
Giles had not told her much about this Tallis woman, so she could not be sure what exactly 'so much' entailed. "Its nice to meet you too, Ms. Tallis. Thanks for all your help with the logistical transfer stuff."
"It was my pleasure. Glad I could assist a friend of Rupert's. Now, though, enough pleasantries, lets get to the business of this meeting. I'm sure you are eager to get your classes selected. Looking at your transcripts from UC Sunnydale, I see that you have completed most of your general education requirements. However, there are several requirements yet to be fulfilled. You need still to take a language class. Do you happen to be familiar with any foreign languages?"
"I took French in high school, but it was with major suckage. And I spent a few months in Italy, and picked up a bit, but really just enough to eat and go shopping, just the basics, getting by stuff, you know." Truthfully, she hadn't interacted with much of anyone when in Italy, except Dawnie. And even with Dawn, she hadn't been much for the verbal exchange.
"Very well then, either of those languages will do. We can see which best suits your schedule. You will also need to enroll in a math class to fulfill that requirement."
Buffy groaned, what had she let Giles talk her into? She was totally going need Willows help if she was going to pass a math class. Maybe she would be able to teleport some tutoring.
Vivian Tallis smiled at her. "There remains two more requirements. You'll need to enroll in a science class, biology, chemistry, physics, which science is not of concern to the university."
"I'll take biology, I guess." At least she wasn't squimish about cutting things up. Demons, frogs, she didn't imagine to would make much of a difference after all the innards she had seen as the Slayer.
"Perfect. The last class is English literature…"
"No," Buffy interrupted her. "I'm sorry. Ms. Tallis. There must be some mistake. I took a literature class. We read the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It was Prof. O'Connor's class."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Summers. But your records to not indicate that you enrolled in a literature class. And considering that tragic natural disaster that occurred in Sunnydale five years ago," ('natural disaster' the 'so much' was quickly turning into 'not so much at all,' Buffy thought) "it is impossible to contact the school," Vivian Tallis continued. "Unfortunately, we can only go off the records we have." She checked her sheets. "There is a literature class you might enjoy. It is taught by one of our PhDs, a promising young Victorianist. He is currently engaged in very interesting manuscript work." Sounds thrilling, thought Buffy. "I'm surprised there are any openings in his class. They usually fill up quite quickly. His teaching style is a bit unorthodox, but he is very popular with the students. He has an 8:00- 10:30 class on Thursdays night, does that work with your schedule?"
"That's fine," Buffy replied. At least she could patrol after class that way. Relieve some of her boredom. Popular with the students was promising at least. From what she remembered her time as an undergrad, popular equals easy.
"Good, then, I'll register you for ENG 102 with Prof. Pratt. Now let us figure out the rest of these classes. I'm sure you are eager to continue to settling in. New York is quite a change from London, but I do hope you'll be happy here."
Buffy smiled. It was unlikely that she would be, could be, happy anywhere. But she would adjust, survive. After all, she always did.
