A/N: OK, so I lied a little about the scene lifts. This part is mostly stuff from "Bad Girls", with altered tone and some different dialogue, and there are a couple other scenes getting lifted with bigger changes on the horizon.

Willow was inundated with college catalogs. Her grades were such that she could literally go anywhere on the planet to college, and boy was it apparent now, with so many of them piled on the table in the student lounge.

Suffice to say, Willow was beyond thrilled. "I'm so overwhelmed. I got in! To colleges. Real live colleges! And now they're wooing me They're pitching woo!"

Buffy and Xander shared a knowing look, barely containing their lust as the blonde said, "The wooing stage is always fun."

For what seemed like the millionth time in the past week or so, Willow gave her two best friends the dirtiest of looks. What the hell? she thought before saying, "It's weird, too. Rejection I can handle from my long years of training in the field." Willow glared tellingly at Xander as she emphasized her point, and little did she know that the guilt trip was having a big effect on him. "But this…."

"I feel your pain, Will," replied Xander, somewhat shakily. "Like, right now? I'm torn between the fast-growing industries of appliance repair and motel management."

"Xander!" scolded Buffy angrily. "Stop selling yourself short! Just because you're not Super College Student like Will, it doesn't mean you don't have a future."

"Oh, that's so cute," sneered Cordelia as she inserted herself into the conversation with her typical lack of tact. "The new couple is planning their life together as losers in love." Xander and Buffy went cold as Cordy accurately described the two as a "couple", further troubling Willow. "Most people just turn out that way, but you two are really taking charge."

"The comedy stylings of Miss Cordelia Chase, everybody," declared Xander loudly and somewhat nervously. "Who incidentally won't be needing a higher education when she can just market her own very successful line of Hooker Wear."

Buffy glared at Xander. He was going to pay for that low blow. Sure, Cordelia was a total bitch, but she wasn't even dressed all that badly. In fact, she looked pretty hot…..No no no! thought Buffy as she scolded herself mentally. Getting hot for girls was just a one-time thing, and getting hot for Cordy is just sick and wrong.

"Well, Xander," fired back Cordelia as Buffy dealt with her inner turmoil, "I could dress like you but, oh. My father has a job."

"Because being investigated by the IRS is a great job," snarked Buffy loudly enough for everyone to hear, feeling a great deal of satisfaction that she had seen that little bit of news in the paper yesterday.

Now completely embarrassed, Cordelia slunk away shamefully, trying her best to avoid the questioning looks from everyone.

Xander actually felt a bit ex before changing the subject. "So. Life beyond high school. Anyone. For the love of God, please chime in."

"I hear it's nice," answered Buffy.

"It's best to graduate," replied Oz. "Because getting left back? Not the thrill ride you'd expect."

Buffy groaned before declaring, "And if I don't pass Mrs. Taggart's chem test tomorrow, I'll be taking that same thrill ride through senior year again."

"I can help," answered Willow helpfully. "Chemistry's easy. It's just like witchcraft, only there's not as much newt. What do you say? Study jam at my house? Tonight?"

Despite knowing the potential of lying, unplanned reveals, and other badness, Buffy quickly agreed. "I'm there." Then the bell rung, ending the brief respite from school for all four Scoobies. "I guess I should nag Giles, see if there's anything he wants me to help with."

"Oh, that's right," remembered Willow. "He said he needed to talk to you."

"What about? Is he all right?"

"Well," declared Willow, "he's looked better…."

Buffy understood Willow's comment almost immediately upon entering the library, as he was seated on the front of the library table sniping at a younger, even more British man. "Well, you're in no danger of finding any here," declared Giles as she entered.

"Vampires?" asked the man, proving Buffy's suspicion that he was British.

"Controlled circumstances." Noticing the new occupant of the library, Giles added, "Hello, Buffy."

"Well, hello!" declared British guy far too happily.

"New Watcher," declared the former Slayer with great contempt.

"New Watcher, confirmed Giles.

"Wesley Wyndham-Pryce," announced the Watcher as he offered his hand to shake, which Buffy did not take. Pulling it back awkwardly, Wesley continued, "It's very nice to meet you. Your exploits are rather legendary." The last part was a blatant bit of ego puffery, as the new Watcher knew very little about Buffy other than her status as an ex-Slayer.

Looking to Giles as she sat down beside him, Buffy asked, "Is he evil?"

"Evil?" answered Wesley.

"The last one was evil."

"Oh, yes, Gwendolyn Post," started Wesley before being interrupted.

"No, I meant Quentin Travers," declared Buffy coldly. "You know, the guy who took away my powers just so my Mom could almost get killed by a psychotic vampire?"

Wesley was beyond flustered now. "We-well, I'm sure that Mr. Travers meant no malice towards you or your mother. It's my understanding that he did commend your for your service as the Slayer once it was revealed that your term as Slayer had ended."

Buffy turned to Giles again. "Is he evil?"

"Not in the strictest sense."

Now rather annoyed, Wesley said, "Well, I'm glad that's cleared up. Now, I asked you here to remind you that any interference with Faith's duties as the Slayer will not be tolerated. You've been given the exceptional opportunity to move on from your sacred right, and I suggest you take advantage of it.

Buffy gave the new Watcher a condescending glare before asking Giles, "So, is there anything going on right now? Xander and I sort of skipped out on our patrol because Mom insisted he stay for dinner last night." She neglected to say just why, even though her Watcher had raised an eyebrow at the excuse.

"Other than Wesley arriving last night, no."

"Oh, so you and Boy Toy are making it official now?" Buffy and Giles turned around to face Faith, who was give Wesley a dismissive once over. "New Watcher."

Simultaneously, Buffy and Giles confirmed, "New Watcher."

Faith groaned and simply turned to Giles as she presented two jeweled swords, one long and one short, to him. "Ran into some vamps who were carrying these last night."

"These look familiar," said Giles.

"It should," declared Wesley as he pawed through the box of books on the library's table. He swiftly pulled out a book and opened it, presenting it to Giles.

"El Eliminati. Fift-"

Wesley took over in as annoying a fashion as possible. "Fifteenth Century duelist cult. Deadly in their day, their numbers dwindled in later centuries, due to an increase in anti vampire activity and a lot of pointless dueling. They eventually became the acolytes of a demon called Balthazar, who brought them to the New World. Specifically, here."

Faith was beyond bored by this point. "Is there a point here? Because I dropped out of school to avoid the boring history lectures."

Cutting to the chase, Wesley said, "Balthazar had an amulet, purported to give him strength. It's buried with a wealthy landowner named Gleaves, and I believe the few remaining Eliminati are probably looking for it. For sentimental value."

"So you want me to fetch some worthless piece of jewelry?" asked Faith, now thoroughly disgusted.

"I wouldn't call it worthless," replied Wesley, "but you are correct in that the El Eliminati cult can do nothing of value with the amulet now that Balthazar is dead. I'm sure that Mr. Giles has previously given you orders…."

Giles hemmed and hawed around the reality that he had not in fact given Faith "orders", having typically handed out tasks to Buffy. For her part, the blonde declared, "Giles always says please when he sends me on a mission. And afterwards, I get a cookie."

Faith, thoroughly nonplussed, declared, "If I see it, I'll grab it. Otherwise, I'm gone."

"Are you sure you don't need any help?" asked Buffy. "Xander can tag along, and it'll be like old times."

The Slayer laughed. "You're joking, right, B? I only give one ride to a customer, and by my count, you and Boy Toy got a couple extra spins for free. Besides, he was much better in the sack than you."

Buffy was thoroughly devastated as she watched Faith leave. Worse yet, not only did Giles know, but Quentin Travers' little sock puppet did, too. Bowing her head down, the blonde stood up and murmured, "I-I need to t-talk to Xander," before rushing off in shame.