SECOND
CHANCE
NOTE: I own none of the Scooby gang because they belong to mean old Joss.
A/N: This story takes place at the beginning season seven of Buffy and season four of Angel. When Wesley was booted out of AI (he so had it coming) he went back to Sunnydale. Buffy's alive (yay) and if you're wondering how Angel gets back from the sea without Wesley's help... well, he never goes. I was just wondering, if Buffy died, who was the new slayer? If any of you know... don't tell me. You'll ruin my moment. Now on with the story.
CHAPTER 2
Autumn entered the cafeteria a few minutes after talking to Wesley. She looked around until she saw a hand waving at her. The hand's owner was Margaret. Autumn formed a smile and walked over to the two-seated table Margaret was at by the window.
"Can you believe these tables only go as low as two seats?" Margaret asked as Autumn sat down. "God, it's like they expect everyone to have someone to sit with."
"Yeah, it's a conspiracy," said Autumn, taking of her book bag and pulling a lunch carrier out of it.
"You don't buy your lunch?"
"Gross, never," Autumn replied, taking food out of the carrier. "You never know what they have in the cafeteria. Some old lady could drop her hair net in your food. Can you say icky?"
Margaret giggled a little. "Well, it was the chocolate pudding, cake, caramel apples, and brownies they were serving for desserts that lured me."
"So which one did you..." Autumn looked at Margaret's tray only to see that she had gotten all of the desserts she named. "... Pick?"
"You know, my parents don't let me eat sweets," said Margaret, picking up her cup of pudding. "They say it makes me hyper." She took a spoonful of pudding and stuck it into her mouth. "Oh!"
"What is it?" Autumn asked, startled at the sudden exclamation.
"This stuff packs quite the chocolate punch."
"Gee, I wonder where you parents got that hyper theory from," Autumn mussed sarcastically.
"You know what these desserts need?" Margaret asked. "Some coffee. I swear, what kind of bloody school doesn't have coffee? In London we swore by it. My uncle doesn't let me go near the stuff. You know, I think my entire family is set out to ruin my American experiences."
"Well, there is a starbucks down the street, Margaret."
"Really? I think I just found myself a second home. Oh, and, Autumn, please call me Maggie. Margaret is for my stiff of an uncle."
Autumn nodded. "He sounds like the guidance counselor."
Both girls shared a giggle.
Jeff dropped Autumn off after school and drove off to hang out with some friends. Autumn went into the house, locking the door behind her. Her mother walked up to her then. Mrs. Tucker had light brown hair, Mr. Tucker had dark brown, and Jeff had black. Why was she the only redhead in the family?
"How was school?" Mrs. Tucker asked. "Meet any new friends, get invited to any raging parties, see any hotties?"
Autumn felt like gagging at her mother's weak attempt to sound cool. "School was fine. But besides the "raging parties" I have homework. So I'll be upstairs."
Autumn went pass her mother, up the stairs, and shut the door to her bedroom. She sighed deeply taking off her book bag. Autumn practically fell into her bed. Raging parties, hot boys, what was her mom thinking? What planet did she come from, the sixties? All she'd gotten from school was a collective headache and some homework.
She didn't feel like taking all night with the light assignment she had so Autumn began taking her pencil and algebra book out of her book bag and started the work. Autumn lay stretched out on her bed, on her stomach, going over math problems for over an hour. She was so bored with it that she began to drift off a little. A few minutes later Autumn heard what sounded like heavy breathing coming her way. The breathing was strange. It was deep and struggling, making Autumn's heart beat. She suddenly popped up with a gasp, looking at Jeff who had just entered the room. Autumn released a relieved sigh.
"Oh, hey," Autumn greeted slightly dry. "When did you get home?"
"A couple minutes ago," he replied. "What's your problem?"
"Um, annoying older brothers coming into my room when they're not invited?"
"Look, I just came to tell you that dinner's almost ready and Mom says to wash up." Jeff left out muttering under his breath, "Bite sized freak."
"I'm home," Margaret called, entering her house. She looked around the living room. She eyed a cup of coffee she held mischievously. "Guess know one's—" Margaret turned around and saw Giles standing there. She nearly jumped out of her skin from the shock. "Oh, you scared me."
"I see you're home," said Giles. "How was the first day?"
"It wasn't exactly a joyous occasion but I endured it."
Giles noticed something then. "Is that coffee?"
Margaret looked down at her hand, seeing the portable starbucks's cup she still held. "Oh, this? Of course not. It's... a new health drink at Starbucks. Quite refreshing. You should try it some time."
Giles took of his glasses, a little anger on his. "Margaret," he extended the girl's full name. "You know my rules about coffee. You'll be up the entire night now."
Margaret sighed. "Oh, Uncle Rupey, you are so not
fun. We're in America now. Living it up?"
"Yes, well," Giles took hold of her coffee, "We still have rules in this household. Now go tend to your homework."
Margaret gave him a smirk. "Spoiled sport." She left the room.
Autumn played with a baby-sized tomato on her plate, rolling it around with her fork. She held her face in her other hand, her elbow on the table. The entire family had been silent during dinner. Mrs. Tucker decided to break the ice a little.
"Autumn, I got a call from the school today." Autumn
looked up from her plate. "Now I don't think it's too serious but your
vice-principal told me he sent you to the guidance counselor. Is anything
wrong?"
Autumn's eyes nearly widened. "What? Oh, come on."
Jeff sniggered, taking a sip of his milk. "It's about time someone sent you to a shrink."
"Zip it, punk," Autumn snapped irritated.
"Autumn, Jeff, that's enough," Mr. Tucker interjected. "Autumn, all your mother wants to know is what's going on."
"Dad, there is nothing going on," Autumn said defensively. "I can't believe he even called about something like this. All I had to do was talk to a British guy about being anti-social. So what?"
"Oh, dear, not this again," Mrs. Tucker said worriedly.
"Well, what do you expect?" said Jeff. "To be social someone would actually have to consider ruining their reputation to be her friend."
"Shut it up, moron," Autumn retorted.
Jeff started, "Kiss my—""Enough," Mr. Tucker said firmly, slamming his hand on the table. "I won't tolerate this bickering."
"Hey, I didn't start it," said Autumn, shooting a killer glare at Jeff.
"Autumn, honey, all we're saying is that you need to start making friends at school," said Mrs. Tucker gently. Maybe Jeff can introduce you to some people."
"Yeah, that'll happen," said Jeff sarcastically, playing with his vegetables.
"Just shut up!" Autumn shouted with thunder in her voice. She banged her fist down on the table so hard parts of the wood broke off. "Oh, no."
"Oh, Autumn," Mrs. Tucker reprimanded lightly.
"Klutz," Jeff said to himself.
"Autumn Eliza, go to your room," said Mr. Tucker severely using her first and middle name.
Autumn glared at the people at the table. "Fine!" she hollered.
She practically jumped up from the table, stormed out of the room, and stomped up the stairs. Autumn slammed her bedroom door so hard the doorknob pulled loose a little and a couple of picture frames fell from her wall. She picked up the pictures with a confused look on her face. Autumn usually got stronger when she was angry but not that much stronger. She hung the pictures up again and laid down on her bed, burying her face in one of her pillows.
The next thing Autumn knew she was asleep and dreaming again. She awoke to a dark room, much like the previous night's dream. Autumn heard what sounded like crashing coming from outside. She made her way over to the window, peering out of it. At first she saw nothing but her backyard but suddenly a boy, good looking and appeared to be her age or older, popped up in the window, startling Autumn.
"Who are—" Autumn started to ask.
"Ready for me?" he interrupted, staring at her closely with his piercing blue eyes.
"What?"
"Catch you later." He planted a kiss on her lips and suddenly vanished into thin air.
Autumn jumped up in bed. She felt her lip and smiled to herself. "That was no nightmare." Autumn laid back down and went to sleep.
A/N: Yes, this chapter confuses even me. I know you guys have questions that will be answered. Also I know you guys are dying to know about the Margaret and Giles situation. Don't worry. Things will be explained.