A/N: There's no Slayers, vampires, demons, witches, ect. They're all in their sophmore year at Sunnydale High. Giles is already the librarian. Spike is there. He's not a vamp. Disclaimer: I own the characters Jacklyn and Ginger. (I needed five girls so I had to make some up.) Besids that., I am at the disposal of demigod Joss.

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The alarm clock on the night stand next to the bed started to make loud and annoying noises, causing Buffy to lift her head of the soft pillow and reach over and silence the offending object by hitting the snooze button. For the fourth time.

"Buffy! Mom said if you get in trouble on the first day because you're late, you are so grounded," called her little sister, Dawn, from downstairs.

"I'm up," she shouted back. She glanced at the clock and found she exactly one hour to get ready, eat breakfast, and get out the door and meet Willow at the corner. She swung her legs over the egde of the bed and came to her feet. She shuffled over to her closet and opened it, surveying her wardrobe. Survey says....Black. She felt like looking dark today, so she pulled out a black mini-skirt, black halter top, and knee-high black boots. She layed them out on her bed and routed through her jewelry box for her silver hoop earrings. Once she found them, she layed them on the bed and made a dash for the bathroom.

Locked.

"Dawn!" she shouted, pounding on the door.

"What? I'm using the bathroom," Dawn shouted back.

"Hurry up. I have to take a shower."

"Maybe if you had gotten up earlier you would have gotten here first."

"Just hurry up."

"I am."

Buffy heard the toilet flush and the door opened. Dawn stood there, glare in place and hands on her hips.

Buffy brushed past her and into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Dawn starred at the door for a second before huffing off.

Once Buffy had taken her shower and blow-dryed her hair, she exactly fifteen minutes to get dressed, apply make-up, eat breakfast, and meet Willow at the corner.

She rushed into her room and started getting dressed. She put on some blush, eye-liner, a little lip-gloss, and put on her earrings. She looked at herself in the full length mirror, giving her outfit an okay and headed downstairs.

Five minutes and counting.

She rushed into the kitchen, grabbed a bagel, shoved it in the microwave, and grabbed a glass and filled it with orange juice, downing it in five seconds flat.

Her mother, Joyce, starred at her in amazement. "In a hurry?"

"Yeah. I have," she looked at the clock, "two minutes to meet Willow at the corner."

The microwaved started to beep, signaling that the bagel was done. Buffy pulled the bagel out and stuffed part of it in her mouth. She grabbed her bag and put in her shoulder. She gave Joyce a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Bye. Have a good day," said Joyce as Buffy rushed out the front door. She looked back at her plate and shook her head with a chuckle.

Buffy stuffed another part in her mouth before throwing the rest away in the garbage can. She started down the sidewalk in sort of a trot. Half running and half walking.

She saw that Willow was already there and sighed.

When she reached the corner, Willow greeted her with a smile. "Hey, Buffy. Rushing this morning, are we?"

"Yeah. Slept in. Come on. Let's go."

They started their walk to Sunnydale Highschool.

"Nice outfit," commented Willow. "Feeling dark today?"

"Yeah. Your outfit's nice, too."

Willow had on a purple, glittery long-sleeved shirt over a green spegetti-strap, and tight blue jean hip-huggers. Her short red hair was hanging straight, around her her face.

"Thanks."

"I bet you're glad were back in school, Miss Rosenburg, teacher of computer class."

"Yeah. I can't wait to start class again. I get to teach for my related arts class and for my study hall. The principal is going to try and put other teachers in for everything else, but the teachers have to follow *my* lesson plan."

"Don't you feel special."

"I do. I love teaching. I'm not sure I would be a teacher when I grow up, but it's a fun experiance right now."

"Are they ever going to get a teacher to replace the one that moved away?"

"They're trying. I think Snyder said they would have one by the end of this semester."

"I'm guessing you're hoping that they don't."

"Sort of. I like teaching. It makes me feel smarter than everyone else."

"Well, you sorta are. That's why they gave you the job."

"You know what I mean. Anyways, I like it and all."

"But...."

"But, some of the kids are trying to take advantage of me. Even the teachers. Kids will come up to me and offer me things like money and invitations to parties, just to bring their grades up," Willow was getting more worked up with every word. "And teachers. I can't believe some of them. They come up to me all casual and ask me to bring a students grade up because he or she's their favorite. Like the coach asked me to bring up the best player on the football team's grade up, just so he could stay on the team."

"Willow."

"Yeah."

"Breathe."

"Breathing." Willow took a few slow breaths, before bursting into giggles. "I'm sorry. They just get me so worked up."

"I noticed."

"How 'bout I change the subject. I heard a rumor that there's a new kid. Seventeen, same grade. Heard he's a hottie," Willow leered with a glint in her eye.

"He transferred from another school, but he came from England. Heard he has an accent."

"He got kicked out of his old school."

"How?"

"Fights."

"Oh, a bad boy, too. I think he's got my attention."

"His name is William Elliot."

"How'd you know?" asked Buffy.

"When you're part teacher, you get into the teacher loop. I hear alot of stuff about kids. I could get his schedule for you if you want."

"You can? Will, you're the greatest."

"I know. That's why I already have it." She pulled a sheet of paper out of her bag.

"Give it," said Buffy, snatching the paper out of her hand. She looked over the piece of paper. "Ooh. He's in five of my classes. Including lunch and related arts."

"That's neat. What's your fist class for related arts."

"Ooh. Computers. That means we have you, Miss Rosenburg."

"Cool. This is great. Too bad you don't have computers all year."

"Yeah. Oh well."

They came up to the school. Kids were filing in all around.

"Look out. It's the 'popular crowd'," said Willow, pointing in the direction of a group of girls that consisted of Cordelia, Anya, Harmony, Jaklyn, and Ginger. The five most popular girls in school. Unfortunatly, Xander, their other best friend, is going out with Anya. Willow never liked her. She was a fancy rich girl that's life goal was to be better and richer than everyone else. She always made a deal about how much money she has. Then, Cordelia is the trend setter. She wears the latest fashions and looks down on anyone who doesn't follow her example. Jaklyn is the flirt. Even if a guy has a girlfriend and she had a boyfriend, she flirts with them. Batting her eyelashes, giggling at their jokes, high-pitched voice, the works. Harmony is the wanna-be. She's just in the crowd because she's Ginger's friend, and Ginger is the leader of the pack. If Ginger says something, it goes.

"Hey guys," said Xander from behind.

They turned and waited for him to catch up.

"Remind me again why you date Anya," spoke Willow.

"Because she's nice to me, she's pretty, and she's one of the few girls that like me," replied Xander.

"We like you."

"But niether one of you want to go out with me."

"True, but that's just because I have Oz and Buffy's interested in the new kid."

"The new kid? What new kid?"

"William Elliot. He got kicked out of his old school for getting into fights. Word out he's a hottie."

"Oh him. I know about him."

Buffy turned to face Xander. "You knew about him and you didn't tell me? How'd you know?"

Xander held up his hands. "Whoa, there Buff. First of all, I don't gossip about boys. I just knew because I heard Cordelia and Jaklyn talking about him. Second of all, how can you be interested in him? You don't even know what he looks like."

"I bet you know. What's he look like?"

"Buffy....I am not going to talk about boys and what they look like."

"Oh come on, Xander. You're my only link. I have to know."

"But.....Fine. Um....He wears alot of leather. I know that. Bleached- blonde hair. About as tall as me. In fact, there he is," said Xander pointing across the yard.

Buffy and Willow turned. Buffy's eyes got wide. Hottie is the understatement of the year. He had on leather pants and and a black t- shirt under a long black duster.

"Buffy! Earth to Buffy, come in," said Xander, waving a hand in front of her face.

She shook her head. "Huh? What?"

"I said, I'm going to eat lunch with Anya today, if that's okay."

"Yeah, sure."

"Okay, then. I'm going to class."

"Yeah."

Xander glanced at Willow, who just giggled, and walked off.

Willow took Buffy's arm. "Come on. We need to get to our lockers."

They walk through the busy halls before coming to Willow's locker. She spun it a few times and opened it up. She took her books out of her bag and put them in the locker.

"So Buffy, what are you doing after school today?" she asked, trying to make conversation.

"Um, nothing right now. Maybe we can go to the Bronze."

"Sure. No wait, doesn't your mom have that thing she has to do at the gallery."

Buffy smacked her head with the palm of her hand. "Oh, that's right. I have to watch Dawn. Maybe you can come over. We can rent movies and make popcorn."

"That sounds good."

Willow closed her locker and they made their way to Buffy's locker. Buffy adjusted the strap on her shouder and gave the combination lock a whirl. Once she had the combination out, she pulled on it and it didn't open. She tried the combination again and pulled....it didn't open.

She turned to Willow. "It won't open."

They both jumped as a loud bang rang out when a fist hit the locker, making it open. Buffy turned around and saw the bleached-blonde smirking at her.

"A friend told me some of these lockers don't cooperate the way you want them to," he explained. "Name's William. People call me Spike."

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Spike? Sounds like a dog."

"I wouldn't think Buffy is any better," he retorted.

"Who told you my name?"

"Dark haired boy. Hangs with a group of girls that swarmed me as soon as I stepped out of my car."

Buffy nodded. "Xander. He's one of my friends. Oh," she pointed to Willow, "this is Willow."

"Hi," said Willow shyly with a wave. She turned to Buffy. "I need to get to class. I have to teach first period. See you at lunch."

"Okay. Bye Will."

She turned back to Spike. "So....I heard you got kicked out of your old school."

"Yeah. This ponce thought he could take me. Ended up with a bloody nose and broken finger."

"What did you end up with?" she asked with a smile.

"A black eye and a concussion," he said sheepishly.

"I think the winner has to be consious at the end of a fight."

"I was...... Until he threw a brick at my head."

Buffy laughed. "That must have hurt."

"Sure as Hell did."

Buffy put her books in her locker and closed it with a bang. They started walking down the hall.

"How long have you lived in this town?" he asked.

"For about four years. I lived in LA before that. Then, my parents got divorced and I live with my mom and my sister. What about you?" She was starting to get more and more relaxed.

"I'm from a small town about fifty miles down the California coast. I live with my mum and dad. I got a little brother. His name is Chris. He's twelve. He's an annoying little bugger."

"My sister is eleven. Her name is Dawn. She can be quite the pest, also." That's when the warning bell rang. They had five minutes to get to class.

"What's your first class?" she asked like she didn't already know.

He looked at the piece of paper. "Math. Mrs. Casey. What 'bout you?"

"Same."

"Good." Pause. "It's nice to know there are some sane girls in this place."

Buffy laughed. "You just had a bad first experiance. Alot of girls are nice here."

"Not like I would notice," he said, looking into her eyes. She stared back at his piercing blue eyes as they walked down the hall.

"Here we are," he said, looking away. He stopped outside the door. "Ladies first."

She smiled at him and walked in with him coming in behind her, just as the finale bell rang. They took a seat in the back next to each other.

"So, what do you know about this bint?" he asked, guesturing to the woman fiddling with her glasses and shuffling papers.

"She's a nice teacher, but hard. She's patient, but she will get mad at you if you goof off."

"I reckon we'll get along just fine," he said casualy, leaning back against the seat.

The first half of the day went by in a blurr. Buffy noticed as she walked down the halls that girls were giving her mean looks. Buffy didn't understand why they were doing that until the Popular Crowd stopped her in the hall.

"What's with you, Summers?" asked Ginger, stepping forward.

"What do you mean?" asked Buffy, clutching her bag, looking for a way out of the trap they had her in.

"I mean," said Ginger, getting closer, "who do you think you are? You think you can win William over with your irrestible charm?"

"His name is Spike," Buffy corrected her.

"What?"

"He likes to be called Spike."

Jaklyn whispered in Anya's ear. "He didn't tell us that."

Ginger whipped around. "Shut up, Jaklyn." She turned back to Buffy. "Listen Summers. Spike is not your type. So hands off. Besides, I bet he was just talking to you to be nice. You know.....pity."

"How would you know? You weren't even around."

"I know enough that any guy who would want to talk to you is either blind or new. And, Spike is new. I bet once he gets a look at every other girl in this school, he'll forget you in a second."

"Shows how much you know," Buffy muttered.

"You'll see, Summers. Once he get's a helping of me, you'll be yesterday's news."

With that, the Popular Crowd walked off, leaving Buffy in a daze.

"Buffy!" called Willow. She was running down the halls.

Buffy's head snapped up. "Yeah, Wills."

Willow stopped in front of her. "What was that? I mean, they were caging you in."

"Ginger was just being a bitch because I was talking to Spike, and she heard."

"Oh," said Willow nodding. Then, she looked up. "What exactly did you two talk about?"

They started walking to fourth period, which was lunch.

When they got there, the large room was already busy with hungry students. They got in line to get their food.

Once they had everything and paid, they took a seat at their usual table. Oz came and sat by Willow.

"Hey, baby," he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey, Oz." She turned to Buffy. "So, what did you two talk about?"

"Nothing much. He told me about his family and I told him about mine. He told me about getting expelled from his old school."

"And......."

"And....That's it."

"No. I mean how did he get expelled? And what's his family like?"

"Why? You have a boyfriend. Why are you interested in what he's like?"

"Yeah," said Oz, looking slighty offended.

"Oh, I don't mean that," said Willow, putting her hand over Oz's. "I'm just interested in a person who my bestfriend might soon be going out with."

Buffy's eyes widened. "What? I'm not going out with him. I barley know him."

"Yeah, but you two are great together. And from what you're telling me you really hit it off."

"We just talked a little. That's all."

"Then why is he heading over here to sit with you?" she asked, her gaze over Buffy's shoulder.

Buffy turned around as Spike walked up to their table.

"Mind if I sit here?" he asked.

"No. Go ahead."

He took a seat next to Buffy.

"Hey Spike," Willow greeted. She guesturing towards Oz. "This is Oz. He's my boyfriend. He plays a guitar in a band."

"Hey man," said Oz, stretching out his hand. Spike shook it.

"So, Oz," said Buffy, changing the conversation. "When's your next gig?"

"Tomorrow. The Dingoes are playing at the Bronze." "Cool. Maybe I'll come watch with Willow."

"Cool."

"You wanna come, Spike?" asked Willow before Buffy could say something.

"I would...If I knew what or where the Bronze is."

"Oh, we can show you. It's a club where kids can hang. It's the only decent place in town."

"I can take you two in my car," he offered.

Willow glanced at Buffy. "Sure. That would be great."

"Great. I can pick you two up anytime you like. You just have to tell me where you live."

"We can do that." She looked at Buffy. "Okay?"

Buffy nodded. "Sure."

Spike flashed her a smile, making her blush. He grinned wider.

A bell rang for the end of lunch. It was time for computer class for Spike, Buffy, and Willow.

They walked into the classroom. Kids were starting to occupy the desks. Buffy took a desk behind Spike, who was sitting in the second row from the front. Willow flashed her a smile as she took a seat on the front desk, legs dangling over the front. She started class and gave assignments. Buffy had learned about the assignment a few days ago and finished in no time flat. Once she was done, she concentrated on everything Spike was doing. He was pretty good. He wasn't as fast as Buffy, but she had had the advantage. She watched him work for about ten minutes. Then, he pulled up a notepad on the computer and typed: You like what you see or do you need to take a picture?

Buffy blushed a deep crimson red. She reached out and slapped the back of his head playfully. He turned and grinned at her.

She tried to glare at him, but she couldn't keep her smile from surfacing.

He smiled back and turned back around.

The rest of the day was also a blur. Buffy pretty muched paid zero attention in class, which got her in trouble a few times.

After school, Buffy was walking alone since Willow was riding with Oz. She was walking out the front door, when Spike stepped in her way.

"Hey," she said.

"Hello, Luv. Listen, Willow said you were walking home alone and I wanted to know if you would like me to drive you?" he asked casually.

"Um..." She thought for a second. Inside she was screaming 'OMG OMG OMG'. "...Sure."

"Great. My car's this way." He led her to his black Desoto, and opened the door for her. She stepped into the car and sat on the seat. He closed the door behind her and climbed into the driver's seat. He gave her a grin as he stuck the key in the ignition and turned, making the car sputter and cough before humming in a steady rythm.

She gave him directions to her house as they went. When they came to a stop in front of her house, he leaned back against the seat.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow," she said, climbing out of the car.

"Yeah. Can't wait," he replied with not a hint of sarcasm.

"Bye."

"Bye."

She closed the door and started towards her house. She opened the door and closed it behind her. She was starting up the steps when her mother's voice stopped her.

"Who was that?"

Buffy turned around. "A friend, who offered to drive home."

"Does this friend have a name?"

"Sp-...William. William Elliot."

"How old is he?"

"Seventeen."

Joyce nodded approvingly. "Good. I don't like it when you hang out with boys that are more than two years older."

"Well, he's just seventeen."

"How long have you known him."

"A day," Buffy huffed, getting tired of the twenty questions bit.

"Buffy...I'm just trying to make sure I know who your friends are."

"Well, now you know."

"Are you still watching Dawn tonight?"

"Yeah. Willow's coming over to watch movies and make popcorn."

"Okay."

"Anything else?"

"Are you going out with him?"

"No." Pause. "At least...not yet." She finished up the steps and went into her room.

Later on that night, Buffy and Willow were snuggled on oppisite ends of the couch under a cover eating popcorn. Dawn was sitting on the floor in front of them, watching the movie.

"So, Buffy. How'd you like your ride home?" Willow asked.

Buffy smiled at her. "It was okay."

"What all happened?"

"Nothing. He just drove me home."

"Uh huh."

"I'm serious. That's all that happened."

"What about tomorrow? I mean, he's taking us to the Bronze. Are you gonna dance with him?"

"Maybe. If he wants. Of course, if the Popular Crowd finds out...."

"Yeah. But he seems nice. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would give you up because someone else is prettier. Not that...You're not pretty."

"I know what you mean. I'm just not sure. Is Xander coming?"

"I think so. I'll talk to him tomorrow."

"Okay. Just remind him not to mention to Anya that he's going to the Bronze."

"Right."

"Do you really think he'll dance with me?"

"If he doesn't, we can give him the 'cold shoulder'. I can be as cold as the North Pole."

Buffy laughed. "I can do that."

"What's this movie about?" Willow asked, guesturing towards the television.

"I have no clue. Dawn rented it. I just paid for with Mom's money."

They both settled down to watch the movie.