SECOND
CHANCE
NOTE: I own none of the Scooby gang because they belong to mean old Joss.
A/N: I'd like to say thank you to everyone for the reviews that I've gotten so far. I have a plot planned out for this story but if you have any suggestions or requests then I might fill them in.
CHAPTER 7
The next school day Autumn stood at her locker, going through it, every so often feeling eyes on her back. The red head kept looking back to see passing teenagers, all clearly gawking at her. Autumn hated it. All right, so she made one, loud, ridiculous outburst in class. Would it cost her the rest of the year? Maybe even the next three? She really didn't care what others thought of her but it was still annoying. When Autumn closed her locker door she saw Jessica, the Mexican girl that had given her and Maggie directions, staring at her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Autumn asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Question," said the beautiful girl plainly.
"All right." Autumn leaned against her locker. "What is it?"
"Are you psycho or just plain schizophrenic?" Jessica asked as if it were nothing more than a casual conversation.
Autumn rolled her eyes. "Oh, brother."
"Sorry but you had some major "I see dead people" issues going on."
"I fell asleep, I had a nightmare, and I freaked out, okay? Dreams aren't my thing." Autumn pushed her hair back.
"I know what you mean," said Jessica, hugging her books against her chest. "I mean in one I'm making out with the basketball team captain and the next I have a zit that just keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger." She turned to Autumn. "But seriously, little chica, you're nuts."
Autumn gave her a glare. "Thank you, Jlo."
Jessica scoffed. "Please, Ms. Singing Sensation Wanna Be? As if."
"Great. I'm going to go now." Autumn headed off with Jessica following after her.
"I'm serious. I mean this is high school. Not dinky little middle school. This is the big league. Kids, especially small town Sunnydale kids, don't forget something like a girl screaming her lights out over a bad dream. What are you, five?"
"She follows me," Autumn muttered to herself. She looked at Jessica. "Is there a reason why you're ranting to me?"
"Yes. It's not easy being an outcast. One second you're a popular home coming queen and the next all of your friends disown you because you couldn't pass your freakin' history class and got held back even though it really isn't your fault because that teacher has it in for you and history is useless 'cause it's stuffed that's already happened and the past is made to be forgotten and—" Jessica stopped when she saw that Autumn was staring at her. "Uh, anyway, you get my drift."
Autumn sighed. "Would so many people stop caring about me? It's sick!" She started to walk again but Jessica positioned herself in from of her.
"You might not want to believe me but you can't do that screaming thing again, chica. Trust me, it'll be over for you."
"Thank you, oh, mighty grim one. Can I go to English before I get held back?" Jessica moved aside. "Thank you." Autumn moved down the hall.
"Just remember what I said," Jessica called after her as the bell rang. She headed in the opposite direction but stopped. "Hey, wait. I'm in her English class." She turned around and went in the direction of Autumn.
When Autumn's free period arrived she headed for the computer room, hoping no one would bother her up there. Before she could even get out of her class good Wesley walked up to her. Autumn felt a sensation to groan. That happened often around Wesley.
"Can I talk to you?" he asked.
"If I say no I still have to come don't I?"
"Yes."
She sighed. "I expected as much." Wesley led her to his cubicle where she took a seat. "Please make this fast. Free periods are supposed to be just that, free periods."
"I'll make it brief," Wesley assured her, sitting behind his desk. Autumn sat in front of him like she always did. "I just thought you'd like to go further into this talk about your... calling."
"Calling? What am I, a nun? So I'm doomed, I mean destined, to hunt the boogieman. What's the big—?"
"Shush!" Wesley hissed. Autumn jumped a little. "It's called a secret identity and you're talking too loudly."
"A superman thing?" Autumn laughed a little. "By day a high school student, by night... a super heroine."
"The correct term is Slayer."
"Yes, I know. What do you do to get Slayer-fied? Do you perform some type of ancient ritual passed down by the... ritual people?"
"No. Now that you know what you are you can now hunt vampires."
Autumn stood up with a smile. "That's great. Talk to you later." She started to leave.
"Freeze and come back," Wesley halted her.
"Which do I do first?" she asked, looking back. He glared at her. "No joking? I see that." Autumn went back and sat down. "I told you that I understand. I go out and kill things that are very mean."
"You can't just "kill things" as you put it. Just because you're a Slayer doesn't mean you can just jump head first into it."
"What about leg first?" Another glare. "I am so angering you."
"If you jump into slaying you will get hurt. Nothing is guaranteed, even with a destiny."
"Wow." Autumn was actually moved. "That is so deep. Can I go now?"
"Shall I frown at you again?"
Autumn lowered in her seat, slightly disgraced. "No, please."
"Like I was saying you need the proper training. How to recognize a vampire and most of all how to defeat one."
"You're kidding, right? I've seen like a dozen horror movies this summer alone. How hard is it to stab a vampire with a stake? And, if that fails, open up a window and let the sun shine in to burn them to death. It's so simple."
"You don't understand. The real world isn't as simple as a good ending having horror flick."
"I would say something sharp but you don't seem to like that."
"I know."
Autumn picked up her book bag. "Listen, can I please go? I'm still fifteen and I still have no attention span."
"Go on," Wesley smiled. "But remember what I told you."
"Can do," Autumn called after him as she left.
When the last bell of the day rang Autumn made it out of the building through a large bunch of kids. She felt a tap on her shoulder, fretting because she thought it was yet another teenaged kid wanting to jeer at her, but it turned out to be Maggie.
"Hey, girlie," Maggie greeted.
"Hey. Maggie, I've been wanting to talk to you. Listen, I thought it over and I decided to except the whole Slayer thing."
Maggie gave her a funny look. "Right. What changed your mind?"
"The mean old guidance counselor," Autumn replied with a pout.
Maggie giggled. "At least you have faith now." They started to walk. "You know, my uncle's actually a watcher. That is a—"
"Every Slayer has a watcher. As in Watcher's Academy. Did your uncle go there?"
"Uh, yeah. He did. How did you know that, though?" Maggie asked.
"Counselor told me," Autumn answered with a shrug.
"How did he know? Who is he?"
"His name's Wesley Pryce," Autumn told her.
"Wesley Wyndham Price?" Maggie looked surprised.
"No offense but stop with the questions. And, yeah, I guess that's his whole name."
"Oh, I know him. Well, I know of him. My uncle and I... we talk."
"Obviously," Autumn sighed. "What do you know about him?"
"Just that he went to the academy but was fired when something went wrong with one of his slayers."
"Really?" Autumn was surprised. "Wesley doesn't look like the "kicked out" of anything type."
Maggie shrugged. "Well, clearly, he is."
A/N: Don't you just love pointless chapters? All right. I just felt like writing the stuff that's in this down for future use, OK? No need to yell at me. Besides I haven't eaten so if this chapter isn't any good blame it on my tummy. Well, please review.