Interchange

Interchange

Lily's Note: Just so you know, I knew how this was going to go before Genesis' review :-)

Chapter Two:

Oh dear.

"What's up with the Ripper 'tude, Giles?" Buffy's voice shook a little as she waited for Willow and Xander to jump out of Giles' office door and yell "Surprise!".

"I don't know how you know these things but you should get out of here before I really kick your ass." The girl wore a mixed expression. "And you don't want me to do that."

I don't know if she wants to kick my ass or cry. I don't think she even knows. Buffy almost laughed. But then she remembered what was going on.

"You think you can take me? Why don't you give it a try?" Buffy smirked, picking up a fighting staff that Giles had left lying on the Library table. She twirled it around in her fingers and flipped in into her other hand, trying to psyc this new chick out with her neat Slayer-y skills.

At least, that was the plan. What actually happened was that the staff slipped through her fingers and landed on the floor with a loud bang.

"So I'm a little out of practise." Buffy shrugged. "But I'm still The Slayer."

"I don't recall you ever dying India, do you?" Giles asked lightly.

"Not recently."

"Look I can, um" Buffy looked nervously around the library and grabbed the staff she had dropped. She smiled triumphantly. "I can snap this like a twig."

"Please, do." Giles smirked. "And while you're at it, you could try lifting up the table with one hand."

Oh I'll show him Buffy held the staff in both hands and bent it. Or, really, she tried to. The wood just wouldn't break.

"I don't get it" She muttered as she worked on the staff. "I've bent guns before, this stupid stick should be easy."

India, who had gained some confidence now that she was sure that Buffy wasn't a threat to her, walked over and took the staff from Buffy. In one smooth motion, she snapped it in two.

"I think you'll find that's how it's done." She handed the two pieces back to Buffy.

"I say India That was from Africa, I had to get it imported." Giles protested to late as Buffy quietly placed the pieces onto the Library table and then walked through the double doors into the hall.

Buffy felt numb as she walked down the hallway, away from the Library. What was going on? What had happened to her in there?

It was a fluke. She frowned. Or a trick staff to go with the trick that Giles and the guys are playing on me.

She decided to skip first period and go find some non-trick stuff to break. But then she ran into Principal Flutie.

"P-p-principal Flutie?" Buffy gasped. "What? How? When?"

"How did I know that you were planning on skipping class, Miss Summers?" Flutie smiled. "Well, it's just a sixth sense I have. Although, I never expected it from you, after your exemplary record at Hemery. They said that you never missed a class."

"You so caught me, sir." Buffy covered with a shaky grin. "I'll turn around right now and go to class."

"Good girl. If Mrs. Hill gives you any trouble, tell her you were in a meeting with me." He smiled kindly.

"Alright Principal Flutie. I guess I'll see you around." Buffy backed away and practically ran towards her first class.

As she entered the History classroom -- before the teacher, she noted -- Buffy saw Xander sitting down the back.

Phew. Now at least I can get Xand to tell me what's going on. He couldn't keep a secret for his own mother. She walked towards the empty desk next to his, trying to ignore Harmony who was waving and calling out from the other side of the room.

"So, thanks for this morning." She said as she slid into her chair. "That was quite a joke you guys pulled, and I'm impressed -- the actor you hired to play Flutie is a dead ringer. Get it? Dead ringer." Buffy chuckled nervously at her own joke.

"Did you want something?" Xander turned to her with a frown. "Because I think your little Ex-Cordette wants you." He pointed in Harmony's direction.

"Xan-der." Buffy shook her head. "You can stop now, the joke's over. See? 'Ha, ha, ha, let's all laugh at how stupid Buffy is'."

"You're still here." Xander was still frowning. "How 'bout you fix that."

Buffy's mouth opened and shut, no sound coming out.

"Now."

Buffy choked a little and got up from her desk. She headed over to where Harmony had saved her a seat.

"Why were you talking to that loser?" Harmony wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Is it, like, adopt a loser week or something?"

The teacher arrived then, so Buffy just shrugged at Harmony and tried to act like she cared about the Cold War.