A/N: Hey guys, I was originally going to do a chapter where everyone went on a class trip to Washington, DC this chapter, but I decided I didn't feel like writin that, though I may do it later. Anyway, this is the beginning of where the first part of the story starts to wind down, and the second part (you will be able to tell when the story shifts) will begin in a few chapters. I hope you all like it!

It had been about a week since I had helped Marcie, and she had manged to enroll back in school. She had Japanese class with me, and she ate lunch with me, Warren, Buffy, Willow, Oz, Xander, and Amy every day.

I began to walk to school that morning with Warren. He had come over early to walk with me, which I thought was cute. Today, I was wearing a ripped pair of jeans, a gray Bleach t shirt, my necklace, black tennis shoes, and a pair of glasses without lenses (I had perfect vision, but I thought they looked cute). I also had my pitch black hair put up.

Me and Warren arrived at school just on time, then parted ways as we each went to class. I went to history, and he had biology.

I got to class and sat down next to xander, Buffy, and Willow.

"Good morning everyone," I greeted them with a smile.

"Good morning Erika,' they all replied.

"So, how do you all think Marcie is doing?" asked Buffy.

"Like, how she is adjusting and all?" asked Willow.

"I think she is doing pretty well, considering all she has been through," I stated.

'Yeah," said Xander. "By the way, did she ever go back home?"

I sadly shook my head no. "Her parents had given up hope, and had gotten drunk one night and died in a car accident a few months ago. Since she has nowhere to go, she's still secretly living in the school."

'Oh, that's too bad," said Willow

(A/N: remember, if you drink, don't drive!)

"Yeah," I replied sadly. "But, she is doing much better now!"

Afterwards, the teacher walked in. We had a big test today, which most people were not very happy about.

Laster in the day, I waited for Warren outside of his physics class so that we could walk to lunch together.

"Hi,' I greeted him as he walked out. We held hands and walked to lunch, where Buffy, Amy, Xander, Willow, Oz, and Marcie were already waiting. We sat down, and we all conversed about many things during lunch.

"So, are you going to go patrolling together tonight?" Amy asked me and Buffy.

"Yes, most likely," I replied.

"It's been pretty quiet lately, so we can get done faster," said Buffy.

"Could I help?" asked Marcie.

"Sure," I replied.

"I'd go, but me, Wilow, and Amy are going to take turns watching Oz tonight, since it's a full moon,' said Xander.

"yay, lucky me," sarcastically said Oz.

~~~Later that day~~~

I headed to the library after class to meet with Buffy and Marcie, as well as to help everyone make sure Oz was secured. Warren had already left to go home.

"Hello Erika," Giles greeted me as I walked into the library.

"Hi Giles," I replied.

Everyone else had already locked Oz up, so we all stood around talking for a few minutes. After awhile, Buffy and Marcie walked in.

"Are you ready to go?" Buffy asked me.

"Yeah," I replied.

The three of us walked ot the graveyard. It was slightly chilly, so I was wearing a black leather jacket, and I had taken off my fake glasses, as they would just get in the way for patrolling. Buffy and Marcie had put on jackets too.

"So, do you often see a lot of vampires and other demons when patrolling?" asked Marcie.

"Occasionally," I replied. "Since I stopped Oshiri's latest plan awhile ago, things have been fairly quiet, but we know he's still out there planning something."

After about an hour, we had only seen one vampire, which we had quickly defeated. We all began to walk home, when suddenly, while passing by the bank, we saw three shadowy figures trying to break into the back of it.

"Look!" I urgently whispered as I pointed

We watched for a minute, and then, we could clearly see that they were vampires.

"Why would vampires rob a bank?" asked Marcie.

"I don't know, but we need to stop them!" said Buffy.

"Yeah, you're right!" I said. "Let's do it!"

The three of us ran up and began attacking the vampires just as they managed to get into the bank. We ran in after them.

"Get lost!" snarled a vampire as he headbutted Buffy. She stumbled back, then threw the vamp across the room.

I took on the other vamp in hand to hand combat.

"These vampires are clearly trained specially," I thought to myself.

"Marcie!" I yelled. "stop being visible! These vampires are way too tough for you!"

"Ok!" she replied as she turned off the power to be visible that I had given her.

I continued to fight the vampire. He had, through sheer luck, managed to back me into a corner.

"Dammit!" I yelled as I blocked his punches as he laughed evilly.

All of a sudden, he tripped.

"What?" he yelled as he fell. I then staked him.

"Thanks Marcie," I said. She had tripped him, which is why he fell.

"No problem," she replied as she turned visible.

Buffy quickly finished off the vampire she was fighting as well.

"Where did the third one go?" Buffy asked, looking around.

"I'm not sure," I replied.

We looked for it for a little while, but couldn't find it.

"I guess he got scared and ran off,' said Marcie.

"yeah, probably,' I replied. We all then began to walk home.

~~~Meanwhile, in Oshiri's new lair~~~

The third vampire from the bank ran up to Oshiri, completely out of breath. He was holding a bag, which he put on a table in front of Oshiri.

"I got… the payment… that they require," the vampire wheezed.

Oshiri unzipped the bag, revealing a lot of money.

"Excellent," Oshiri replied in vamp face with an evil grin. "Erika is done for."