A/N: Okay – I'm thinking about… one more chapter before the big day? This one being the last? What say you?

Wow! 10 Chapters! I hit double digits! … And on goes the story…

Pulchra Nex: Lol. Sorry bout that. I'm not in school at the moment… Holidays. Thank god. Hope you like this chapter.

spikegothicchick: No school for me for another week! Thankyou for the review!

General Mac: You just gave me an idea… Thankyou!

Mony19: I agree… lol. And I'm the writer… anyway – enjoy this chappie.

anj4eva091403: Thanks! More is on the way.

funkydevil206: Aw thank you so much!

lilly: Update is on the way!

pinkyblue-ice: More it is! Thanks for the review.

She'd lasted another whole day at school. Luckily Ms Calender hadn't called her back again today. One more word of encouragement or look of pride and Buffy thought she's pull to save herself the embarrassment of letting the kind teacher down.

She walked over to her mum's car, smiling as she neared the open window, "Hey mum!"

Joyce smiled back at her, "One day left, dear. How are the nerves?"

Buffy's smile faded slightly, and a frown took over, "I don't think I can…"

"Buffy… I've heard you practising. You've taken to that guitar so quickly, and I can see how much those singing lessons payed off, I just know you're going to be magnificent."

Forcing a smile on her face, Buffy got in the car, swinging the door closed behind her.

"Now… I realise this is horrible timing, but I've been called by the hospital… Your Aunt Rita is in hospital because-"

"And you need to go and see her…"

"Yes. But she's up in Los Angeles and I'd be staying there for a week or two and-"

"Mum. It's okay. I can sing a little song. I can overpower the nerves," I hope, "I'll be fine. Faith can help me out. It'll be okay – just go see Rita, Kay?"

Joyce gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead, "Thankyou."

Buffy fidgeted on her bed. She didn't know what to do. She'd sang three times in the past hour, watched television for the hour prior and called Willow about a history assignment. Twice.

She looked over at her clock and noticed that it was only 7pm. Her mum had dropped her home and left pretty much immediately afterwards.

She looked around her room. What was she gonna do now? Picking up the phone, she dialled Faith's number.

""llo?"

"Faith! It's Buffy… Just thought I'd call to say hi…" Buffy said cheerfully.

"Hey B! Hows it goin'? Nerves givin' you a hard time?" Faith asked, and Buffy could tell that she wasn't very busy either.

"I'm just worried, is all. I mean… yeah, I'm getting nervous… and those butterflies in my tummy? I think their more like birds… but I'm just not-"

"I'm pretty sure we've had this conversation, B. You're gonna do fine, okay? These next twenty-four hours are gonna be the hardest-"

"Twenty two hours."

"Right. These next twenty-two hours are gonna be the hardest to cope with. But you. You, my friend, can do it. Come on, B. Think about… I dunno… Spike."

"What?" Buffy exclaimed in to the phone, loud enough that she was sure that Faith would have to hold hers away from her ear.

"Buffy, everyone thinks about him to cope with nerves… either him or Angel… Actually maybe it's Angel everyone thinks about…" Faith thought out loud.

Buffy sighed, mainly out of relief, "No. I'm fine. Just need to waste some time. Mum's gone to visit my aunt who's in hospital, so I have nothing to take my mind off it. Oh hey… only twenty-one hours and fifty minutes left…"

"Do you want me to load up on scary movies and come and spend the night at yours?"

"Please?"

"I'll be there in twenty."

Faith was in the kitchen making popcorn. That is, she was putting it in the microwave and waiting for the seeds to pop themselves to life.

Buffy? Buffy was sitting on the lounge trying to decide whether I Know What You Did Last Summer or Jeepers Creepers was a better film to watch.

Finally settling on one, she slid it into the player and turned on the surround sound. Nothing like a thriller to get your mind off everything.

Faith came and sat down next to her, shoving the popcorn between them both, "So, what are we watchin'?"

"I Know What You Did Last Summer," Buffy replied, "Haven't seen it yet."

Faith nodded and spread out on her side of the couch, while Buffy curled up on hers. They turned the sound right up and prepared for a night of distractions.

Just before she turned the light off, Buffy looked at her watch. Twenty One Hours To Go.

A/N: I didn't know what to do in that chapter… that's why its really short… Well. Next chapter will be the big one. I can't wait to write it!

Hope you liked!