Summary: Buffy and the gang are all off to the same college, California University at Sunnydale.. But none of them know eachother. yet. See what happens when the gang meets up, and its members start switching partners.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, even though my number one dream would be to have James Marsters chained to my bed for all eternity for him to be at my beck and call. :: sigh :: Until then, I'll just have to go back to writing about it.

Mismatch

Chapter 1: Going Away

"I'm so glad high school is almost over." the petite blonde said into the phone, lying on her back in her bedroom.

"We'll get to live right near each other again," the muscular dirty blonde replied from his end, tossing a nerf ball at his miniature basketball hoop and missing. "It'll be just like high school. Me playing first string, you cheering us on." She giggled.

"I can't wait," she replied dreamily. Going to college next year in Southern California with her will be sophomore boyfriend.

They'd been the perfect couple her last two years of high school, head cheerleader and starting quarterback. They'd been elected prom king and queen both years that they'd went there together. Then off he went to college in Cali on a football scholarship, and they'd actually managed to stay together through phone calls, letters, emails and of course the occasional holiday.

"I gotta run now though, class, so I'll talk to you tomorrow sweety."

"Night Riley."

"Night Buffy."

He'd told her he'd loved her once, but she just couldn't say it back, not then, not since, so he'd stopped saying goodbye that way. Sure, he was a great guy and all, but there was just something missing. Of course she'd never break up with him though. Who was she to go against a perfectly good cheerleader stereotype? It didn't matter anyway; he cared about her, and not just the cheerleader outfit she wore, which was more than she could say for her other boyfriends before him who only saw her as a trophy to show off. Maybe in college she'd find something more.

The summer flew by in a blur. Buffy had actually finished packing for school two weeks before she was to leave, much to her mother's, well.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you couldn't wait to get away from me," Joyce said from Buffy's door way, leaning on the frame with her arms crossed mockingly across her chest. Buffy smiled up from the paper work she'd strewn across her bed spread. "I know, I know. college is very exciting and new but would it KILL you to indulge your mother and pretend that you're going to miss me?"

"Of course I'm going to miss you! For a while." she added with a grin identical to her mothers.

"Ohhhh.. Okay. I see how it is." her mom replied, sitting down next to her eldest and putting her arm around her shoulders. "So, what are we looking at today?"

"Course schedule, freshman handbook, residential assignments, and campus map."

"Oooh! Roomates!" she replied, snatching that paper up, giddy as her daughter. "Cordelia Chase, Beverly Hills; and Willow Rosenberg, Sunnydale. Oooh! A townie! You could have her show you around the place!"

"Maybe."

"And I thought you were going to have a double?"

"I was. But the college underestimated the enrollment this year, so there wasn't much room for doubles. And the doubles that DO exist went to upperclassmen, so they turned my would be double into a triple."

"You three will be just like sisters!"

"Please. I've already got one. Don't really fancy two more."

"I heard that," the younger sibling said from the door, arms crossed defiantly over her chest in trademark Summers' fashion. "Are you leaving yet?"

"Tomorrow morning." Then the younger one's face softened.

"I'll miss you. call me?" she asked hopefully.

"Of course! Every day."

*Authors note* Please read and review! Should I continue? Mind you, most of the rest of the gang WILL appear in the next chapter! And yes, of COURSE she gets rid of Riley. eventually.