See disclaimers posted at the beginning…
***
Pacing restlessly around the cemetery, Buffy glanced at Willow before returning her gaze to the grave behind her friend.
"Anything?" she asked.
Looking up from her perch on the ground, Willow studied her best friend and sighed before turning her gaze back to the stack of papers in her lap.
"Ah! Here: 'Introduction to the Modern Novel.' "A survey study of twentieth century novelists." Open to freshmen, you might like that."
"Introduction to the Modern Novel?" Buffy sighed heavily. "I'm guessing I'd probably have to read the modern novel."
"Um, maybe more than one," Willow replied.
"I like books. I just don't want to take on too much. Do they have an introduction to the modern blurb?"
"Oh! Short story."
"Well, that's good,"
"Oh, no. It conflicts with Psych!"
"Maybe I shouldn't take Psych."
"You gotta. I-It's fun, a-and you can use it as your science requirement. Anyway, Professor Walsh is supposed to be great. She's like, world- renowned."
"How do you get to be renowned? I mean, like, do you have to be 'nowned' first?"
"Yes, first there's the painful 'nowning' process. Wait! 'Images of Pop Culture.' This is good. T-They watch movies, T-TV shows, even commercials."
"For credit?"
"Heh. Isn't college cool?"
"How'd I miss that one?" Buffy wondered aloud as she walked over to sit beside her.
"Well, you did sort of wait till the last minute with your course selection."
"Sorry, 'Miss I-chose-my-major-in-playgroup.'"
"That's an exaggeration. I just, you know, think it's good to be prepared. Don't want to be caught unawares."
"Well, I- I've been busy! It's been a very slay-heavy summer. I just haven't had a whole lot of time to think about life at UC Sunnydale."
"And you've been avoiding."
"Right, and I've been avoi-Huh?" Stopping mid-sentence, she turned to stare at Willow in confusion. Scrambling back to her feet she challenged, "What do you mean, I've been avoiding?"
"Well, it's pretty clear you've been avoiding. Anytime any of us brings up college, you change the subject!" She defended, also rising to her feet. "And, and the summer hasn't been so slay heavy that we haven't had time for fun… We've been to the beach, to LA, and we still managed to go Bronzing every week! If you'd wanted to, Buffy, you could have found time to pick out the courses you wanted." Willow finished in a rush.
For a tense moment, the two friends just stared at one another. With a sigh of defeat, Buffy dropped her gaze and wandered over to perch on a headstone.
"You're right. I, I guess I have been avoiding, Will."
"But, Buffy, why? Don't you think it's exciting? These are uncharted waters!" Willow chirped.
Raising an eyebrow at her enthusiastic friend, Buffy responded, "That's kind of the problem, Will. The whole 'uncharted waters' bit…"
"Buffy, weren't you the one who told me her philosophy was 'Life is short' a-and 'why waste time worrying…seize the moment?' Is this all ringing any bells?" Willow demanded.
Buffy ducked her head sheepishly, but Willow charged ahead. "That was you, Buffy! We were at the Bronze after your first day at Sunnydale High! You made me believe that."
"Things are different now, Will! Even though I didn't think so at the time, things, well, they were pretty simple then."
Exasperated, Willow interrupted, "Of course things are different now, Buffy! You can't just expect things to stay the same… Everything changes, but change doesn't have to be bad!"
"Um, Willow. Let's look back for just a moment, shall we? Let's look at the changes I've been through. I went from being a normal 15 year old girl to being the Slayer. Okay, sure, there are some perks that come with the whole Slayer package, like super-strength and increased healing, but on the whole? I had to give up almost everything normal in my life, cheerleading, friends, boyfriend, so that I could go out every night and fight monsters! Not so much a change for the good, Will."
When she saw that Willow was about to interrupt, Buffy held up a hand to stop her. "No, don't get me wrong--I'm okay with being the Slayer, now. Like Giles told me once, I've had to accept my destiny. And I have, really…but as far as changes go? Still gonna have to keep that in the 'not of the good' category." Taking a breath she continued, "What next? Ah, yes. Mom and Dad get a divorce. Mom and I move. To Sunnydale. The HellMouth. I left behind everything and everyone I'd ever known-not to mention Neiman Marcus and all those other fabulous stores- to move to the what has to be the most dangerous place on earth for a Slayer to live! I mean, LA was bad, there were a lot of vamps there, but it wasn't even a drop in the bucket compared to this!"
She looked at her friend and smiled, "Of course, I did get you, Giles, and Xander out of the deal, so that does kinda make up for it. Skipping ahead, there was that whole 'death' thing, which led to the Chosen Two. That was actually pretty cool for a while-right up until I got Kendra killed and got charged with her murder. Then, my mom, found out that I was the Slayer and kicked me out… I had to stop the world from being sucked into hell by a demon that was resurrected by someone who was a friend of ours! Oh, and let's not forget that I had to kill him to do it! Hmm… I'm sure there's more…"
At this point Willow interjected, "Okay, okay! Buffy, I get it. You're right; you have had a lot of changes already in your life, and not, not all of them have been good. Some of them have really sucked, even, but I promise, this isn't going to be like that! College is a chance for us to break out!"
"Break out? Whoa, Will… Aren't you being a little dramatic?"
Rolling her eyes, Willow retorted, "Right… 'Ms. Change=Bad.' Clearly I'm the one being dramatic!" At Buffy's sigh, she continued, "Look, all I meant is that this a chance for a fresh start-for all of us. We're not locked into anything. It's a whole new world and this time, we get to set our own rules!"
Buoyed by Willow's obvious enthusiasm, Buffy couldn't help but smile.
"You know what, Will? You're absolutely right! This is gonna be great!"
Willow returned her smile, "That's the spirit, Buffy! Now, let's get the rest of your classes picked so that you can get on with the slayage and I can go meet Oz."
With that the girls moved back to their original spot on the ground amidst the college paraphernalia and Buffy's cache of weapons.
After studying her options for a few minutes, Buffy raised her head to look at Willow.
"Will, are we all still meeting at the bookstore on campus tomorrow afternoon?"
"Oh, um, yeah. How about we meet around 3? That way we'll both have plenty of time to get registered and all…"
"Sounds like a plan," Seeing an opportunity, Buffy forged ahead, "Oh, and you get to call and let Cordelia know; I'm in not up to an hour-long debate about what to wear tomorrow and yet another lecture from 'Queen C' on how I need to start dating again."
"Fine," Willow agreed reluctantly, "but you're going to owe me for this! She's going to cut into my 'Oz time.'" As she passed a shrewd glance at her friend, she continued under her breath, "I'll never admit this in a million years, but I have to agree with Cordy. It's long past time for you to get back into the dating scene."
"Did you say something, Will?" Buffy questioned.
"Huh? Oh, not really. I, I mean I was just reading over the course description for this computer course." Quickly changing the subject, she drew Buffy's attention back to the course catalog in her lap.
***
TBC…
***
Pacing restlessly around the cemetery, Buffy glanced at Willow before returning her gaze to the grave behind her friend.
"Anything?" she asked.
Looking up from her perch on the ground, Willow studied her best friend and sighed before turning her gaze back to the stack of papers in her lap.
"Ah! Here: 'Introduction to the Modern Novel.' "A survey study of twentieth century novelists." Open to freshmen, you might like that."
"Introduction to the Modern Novel?" Buffy sighed heavily. "I'm guessing I'd probably have to read the modern novel."
"Um, maybe more than one," Willow replied.
"I like books. I just don't want to take on too much. Do they have an introduction to the modern blurb?"
"Oh! Short story."
"Well, that's good,"
"Oh, no. It conflicts with Psych!"
"Maybe I shouldn't take Psych."
"You gotta. I-It's fun, a-and you can use it as your science requirement. Anyway, Professor Walsh is supposed to be great. She's like, world- renowned."
"How do you get to be renowned? I mean, like, do you have to be 'nowned' first?"
"Yes, first there's the painful 'nowning' process. Wait! 'Images of Pop Culture.' This is good. T-They watch movies, T-TV shows, even commercials."
"For credit?"
"Heh. Isn't college cool?"
"How'd I miss that one?" Buffy wondered aloud as she walked over to sit beside her.
"Well, you did sort of wait till the last minute with your course selection."
"Sorry, 'Miss I-chose-my-major-in-playgroup.'"
"That's an exaggeration. I just, you know, think it's good to be prepared. Don't want to be caught unawares."
"Well, I- I've been busy! It's been a very slay-heavy summer. I just haven't had a whole lot of time to think about life at UC Sunnydale."
"And you've been avoiding."
"Right, and I've been avoi-Huh?" Stopping mid-sentence, she turned to stare at Willow in confusion. Scrambling back to her feet she challenged, "What do you mean, I've been avoiding?"
"Well, it's pretty clear you've been avoiding. Anytime any of us brings up college, you change the subject!" She defended, also rising to her feet. "And, and the summer hasn't been so slay heavy that we haven't had time for fun… We've been to the beach, to LA, and we still managed to go Bronzing every week! If you'd wanted to, Buffy, you could have found time to pick out the courses you wanted." Willow finished in a rush.
For a tense moment, the two friends just stared at one another. With a sigh of defeat, Buffy dropped her gaze and wandered over to perch on a headstone.
"You're right. I, I guess I have been avoiding, Will."
"But, Buffy, why? Don't you think it's exciting? These are uncharted waters!" Willow chirped.
Raising an eyebrow at her enthusiastic friend, Buffy responded, "That's kind of the problem, Will. The whole 'uncharted waters' bit…"
"Buffy, weren't you the one who told me her philosophy was 'Life is short' a-and 'why waste time worrying…seize the moment?' Is this all ringing any bells?" Willow demanded.
Buffy ducked her head sheepishly, but Willow charged ahead. "That was you, Buffy! We were at the Bronze after your first day at Sunnydale High! You made me believe that."
"Things are different now, Will! Even though I didn't think so at the time, things, well, they were pretty simple then."
Exasperated, Willow interrupted, "Of course things are different now, Buffy! You can't just expect things to stay the same… Everything changes, but change doesn't have to be bad!"
"Um, Willow. Let's look back for just a moment, shall we? Let's look at the changes I've been through. I went from being a normal 15 year old girl to being the Slayer. Okay, sure, there are some perks that come with the whole Slayer package, like super-strength and increased healing, but on the whole? I had to give up almost everything normal in my life, cheerleading, friends, boyfriend, so that I could go out every night and fight monsters! Not so much a change for the good, Will."
When she saw that Willow was about to interrupt, Buffy held up a hand to stop her. "No, don't get me wrong--I'm okay with being the Slayer, now. Like Giles told me once, I've had to accept my destiny. And I have, really…but as far as changes go? Still gonna have to keep that in the 'not of the good' category." Taking a breath she continued, "What next? Ah, yes. Mom and Dad get a divorce. Mom and I move. To Sunnydale. The HellMouth. I left behind everything and everyone I'd ever known-not to mention Neiman Marcus and all those other fabulous stores- to move to the what has to be the most dangerous place on earth for a Slayer to live! I mean, LA was bad, there were a lot of vamps there, but it wasn't even a drop in the bucket compared to this!"
She looked at her friend and smiled, "Of course, I did get you, Giles, and Xander out of the deal, so that does kinda make up for it. Skipping ahead, there was that whole 'death' thing, which led to the Chosen Two. That was actually pretty cool for a while-right up until I got Kendra killed and got charged with her murder. Then, my mom, found out that I was the Slayer and kicked me out… I had to stop the world from being sucked into hell by a demon that was resurrected by someone who was a friend of ours! Oh, and let's not forget that I had to kill him to do it! Hmm… I'm sure there's more…"
At this point Willow interjected, "Okay, okay! Buffy, I get it. You're right; you have had a lot of changes already in your life, and not, not all of them have been good. Some of them have really sucked, even, but I promise, this isn't going to be like that! College is a chance for us to break out!"
"Break out? Whoa, Will… Aren't you being a little dramatic?"
Rolling her eyes, Willow retorted, "Right… 'Ms. Change=Bad.' Clearly I'm the one being dramatic!" At Buffy's sigh, she continued, "Look, all I meant is that this a chance for a fresh start-for all of us. We're not locked into anything. It's a whole new world and this time, we get to set our own rules!"
Buoyed by Willow's obvious enthusiasm, Buffy couldn't help but smile.
"You know what, Will? You're absolutely right! This is gonna be great!"
Willow returned her smile, "That's the spirit, Buffy! Now, let's get the rest of your classes picked so that you can get on with the slayage and I can go meet Oz."
With that the girls moved back to their original spot on the ground amidst the college paraphernalia and Buffy's cache of weapons.
After studying her options for a few minutes, Buffy raised her head to look at Willow.
"Will, are we all still meeting at the bookstore on campus tomorrow afternoon?"
"Oh, um, yeah. How about we meet around 3? That way we'll both have plenty of time to get registered and all…"
"Sounds like a plan," Seeing an opportunity, Buffy forged ahead, "Oh, and you get to call and let Cordelia know; I'm in not up to an hour-long debate about what to wear tomorrow and yet another lecture from 'Queen C' on how I need to start dating again."
"Fine," Willow agreed reluctantly, "but you're going to owe me for this! She's going to cut into my 'Oz time.'" As she passed a shrewd glance at her friend, she continued under her breath, "I'll never admit this in a million years, but I have to agree with Cordy. It's long past time for you to get back into the dating scene."
"Did you say something, Will?" Buffy questioned.
"Huh? Oh, not really. I, I mean I was just reading over the course description for this computer course." Quickly changing the subject, she drew Buffy's attention back to the course catalog in her lap.
***
TBC…