Xander strolled into the halls of Sunnydale high, late as per usual for Thursday mornings. This morning he had ancient history first, which meant Mr. Macallister. Which means all he had to do was walk into the room, find the roll and tick his name off because Mr. Macallister was never at school until after first break.
If any of the other staff ever said anything about it, the old coot would just start screaming at them. None of the staff said anything, so he just showed up late every day.
A blonde stepped out of the Principals office right in front of him, rummaging through her bag. The collision sends her small frame sprawling.
"Oof"
"Ahh crap I'm sorry. You alright?" Xander stretches out a hand and helps her off the ground before helping her pick up her stuff.
"No problem, I really should look where I'm going." Ironically she was looking for the map the office gave her. She gave an embarrassed smile
"New ?" Xander asked before picking up a stake looking at it quizzically than handing it to her with a shrug. She snatched it quickly stashing in her bag. Hoping that not saying anything will make it go away.
"Yeah, I was looking for umm room..." She glances down at a slip of paper she just picked up "... E 3?" She gave him a questioning glance.
"Unlucky, thats a chem. room." He smirked at her than pointed up the hall. " End of the hall than right, you cant miss it.... Well not after the seniors lit the door on fire last week." He gave a chuckle. The mention of fires and school made the blonde pale slightly but she recovered well, settling her folder in her arms she tossed her hair slightly.
"Thanks ahh?" the prompt was universal.
"Xander. It was nice to meet you ....?"
"Buffy" gave him a parting glance before heading up the hall at a brisk pace.
* You'll have to watch her..... for now. She's special *
"I know. I felt it too"
"Xander, what are you doing out of class?" Flutie seemed to of caught Xander outside his door. Xander didn't seem worried. Flutie was a lot better than his grade school principal.
"Macallister" Thats all he needed to mention.
"Oh... well.... just go to class, cant have you just wondering the corridors"
******
Ancient History was the only class that Willow, Jesse and Xander had together. So as he entered the room he just sidled up to them, joining their conversation.
"Well look who's decided to show up to class" Jesse's comment was met with a playful shove from Xander.
"Lay off. I was talking to the new girl, definitely something." Xander didn't mean the something that seemed to have Jesse drooling at the moment.
"Looks like you'll have bragging rights." Willow shot in. " Your the first to talk to her."
"So whats the dirt?"
"Her names Buffy."
"And?"
"Sorry didn't manage to grab her bra size Jess, but if you ask real nice I'll bet she'd tell ya"
"Yeah, with a knee to the groin" Said Jesse dejectedly.
"That'd be my answer" Piped in Willow.
"Yeah but we dont have to ask you, we already know yours" The boys smirked at each other as Willow's face temperature went into meltdown and her eye's widened.
"What? How?" she hissed at them both. Clearly embarrassed.
"And that brings me to me to my next question. I need help with the math."
"Whats in it for me?"
"Confidentiality Ofcourse" He said with a smirk. Willow knew Xander and Jesse wouldn't tell. She wasn't even sure they knew. But she played along anyway by pointedly giving Jesse a stare. Xander reached over and grabbed Jesse in a headlock.
"Dont worry he wont say a word" he gave Jesse a nookie just emphasize his point as Jesse tried very unsuccessfully to get away.
Willow took her time looking as if she was considering her reply.
"Ok, but you'll need "theories of trig""
Xander kneeled down and rustled through his bag, looking to see if he had the book. He pulled out a small bag after he was done.
"I'll have to go to the library" He handed Willow the small bag "Next time you sleep over try to remember your laundry" He gave her a smirk. She turned beet red a she found out how accurate Xanders and Jesse's information was when she glanced in the bag. The small bag quickly disappeared into her own.
"Dont worry, Xan washed it." Jesse really should learn when to keep his mouth shut. "Right after I went through it all"
Jesse's head made a dull thud when it came into contact with Willow's thrown steel stapler.
*******
Xander wandered up into the library just before first brake. His English teacher had let him go a bit early to get the book he need for his study period with Willow. Truthfully, Xander had just made himself a very large distraction in English until the teacher sent him out.
The library was deserted. A bit musty and dark with that distinct book smell. Dust particles could be seen floating in the light coming through the big window on the right which seemed to shine right on that long wooden table in the center of the room. It made for a nice effect.
He looked about for the librarian, but decided he'd just get the book himself. He really didn't want to be caught in the library especially by the Librarian. The guy was probably the loneliest person on earth stuck in here, and Xander, even though never meeting the guy, had already mentally labeled him with weirdo status.
The maths section wasn't that hard to find and he stashed the book into his bag, just as the first break bell was heard.
He was just about to leave when his friend motioned him to a few old dusty books up the back, on an almost hidden shelf.
* This one *
Xander reached out and grabbed the book in question. The writing on the front was in some weird language Xander couldn't read. But he didn't have to.
"Okaaayy"
The book seemed to flip open itself, calmly almost, until it reached a page. A page with his friend on it. He looked at the page, his friend, page, friend, page, friend. He pointed at the picture. His friend nodded at the unasked question.
The picture in the book showed a small being, which was all Xanders friend was, reaching only mid thigh on Xander. The being was well muscled and blood red. Arms were elongated with sharp, long fingered claws at the end. They hung next to knees with bony spikes that bent backwards, his legs ended with sharp taloned claws, that were a cross between dog and bird feet, thick but evenly spaced. His friends face was beautiful in it's arrogance, with high cheek bones and a vicious smirk that hid sharp yellow fang-like teeth. A forked tongue ran across it's lips. He had a large fore head that led up to where two broad horns emerged and curved back over it's head, flowing like hair. It's whole being just screamed wrong, or would of had they been able to see it.
His friend hadn't always been like that. When Xander was younger, he had just seemed like a floating red cloud that talked to him, helped him and kept him company. It's image had changed so slowly that Xander hadn't noticed. The slightly fearsome look it possessed now didn't disturb Xander though, his friend had always been there, and the advice it gave him never steered him wrong.
His friend motioned to two other books. Xander grabbed them and was just about to leaf through them when a familiar voice rang through the library and was this time answered by the librarian.
Xander friend motioned him to bag the books and listen to the conversation.
*******
"Okay, what's the sitch?" Buffy demanded as she burst through the library doors
"Sorry?" Giles walks on down from the stacks, giving Xander a little fright as he relized how close he was and that he hadn't noticed him
"You heard about the dead guy, right? The dead guy in the locker?"
"Yes." Buffy dumps her bag on table and heads up the stairs, talking all the time.
"Cause, it's the weirdest thing. He's got two little, little holes in his neck, and all his blood's been drained." she steps right up to him, almost daring him to confirm her suspicions "Isn't that bizarre? Aren't you just going, ooo?"
Xander started to lean forward, this was getting interesting.
"I was afraid of this." said Giles clearly not intimidated by the girl.
" Well, *I* wasn't! It's my first day! I was afraid that I was gonna be behind in all my classes, that I wouldn't make any friends, that I would have last month's hair. I didn't think there'd be vampires on campus. And I don't care." All her rant was missing was her shaking her fist at him at the end.
Xander had to stop himself from snickering at that. Vampire's? Please! He glanced down at his friend though and saw the mask of rage on his face.
" Then why are you here?" Book guys smirk and question caught Buffy off guard
'Librarians got her there' thought Xander looking on, mentally changing his opinion of the librarian.
" To tell you that... I don't care, which... I don't, and... have now told you, so... bye." Buffy turns away to go, ego deflated.
"Is he, w-will he... rise again?" He was desperate to keep her here.
"Who?"
"The boy." Stated library guy, matter of factly
"No. He's just dead." There was disappointment on her face.
"Can you be sure?"
"To make you a vampire they have to suck your blood. And then you have to suck their blood. It's like a whole big sucking thing. Mostly they're just gonna kill you. Why am I still talking to you?" Buffy seems to relize that she's supposed to not want to talk to this guy and turns to leave
"You really have no idea what's going on, do you? You think it's coincidence, your being here? That boy was just the beginning." That turned her around, annoyance clearly plastered on her face.
"Oh, why can't you people just leave me alone?" she was defiantly getting frustrated now.
Giles poses slightly before beginning.
"Because you are the Slayer. Into each generation a Slayer is born, one girl in all the world, a Chosen One, one born with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires..."
Buffy interrupts him
" ...with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires, to stop the spread of their evil blah, blah, blah... I've heard it before, okay?"
"I really don't understand this attitude. You, you've accepted your duty, you, you've slain vampires before..." The English guy seemed really confused now.
"Yeah, and I've both been there and done that, bought the T-shirt and I'm moving on."
"What do you know about this town?" he says walking into his office
"It's two hours on the freeway from Neiman Marcus?" Buffy questions tiredly.
"Dig a bit in the history of this place. You'll find a, a steady stream of fairly odd occurrences. Now, I believe this whole area is a center of mystical energy.." He comes out with a pile of books in hand ".... that things gravitate towards it that, that, that you might not find elsewhere." He finishes placing his books on the table
"Like vampires." She frowns as he starts piling the books up in her arms.
"Like zombies, werewolves, incubi, succubi, everything you've ever dreaded was under your bed, but told yourself couldn't be by the light of day. They're all real!" He emphasizes his words by placing more books in Buffys arms
"Cool! But, okay.." She starts handing him back the books. ".... first of all, I'm a Vampire Slayer. And secondly, I'm retired. Hey, I know! Why don't you kill 'em?"
"I-I'm a Watcher, I-I haven't the skill... " He's seems rather flustered by the idea
"Oh, come on, stake through the heart, a little sunlight... It's like falling off a log." Buffy see's right through his lame excuse
'Who are these weirdoes?' Xander continues to listen in from his hiding place.
"A, a Slayer slays, a Watcher..."
"...watches?" she deadpans
"Yes. No!.." He starts setting down the books "... He, he trains her, he, he, he prepares her..."
"Prepares me for what? For getting kicked out of school? For losing all of my friends? For having to spend all of my time fighting for my life and never getting to tell anyone because I might endanger them? Go ahead! Prepare me." Buffy looks pissed, and stands there waiting for a reply. One isn't forthcoming.
Buffy sighs angrily before turning and walking out the door.
"Damn!" Giles curses to himself before following.
Xander stands up, shouldering his bag.
"Okaay, that was weird" he hurries out of the library to meet up with Willow and Jesse.
If any of the other staff ever said anything about it, the old coot would just start screaming at them. None of the staff said anything, so he just showed up late every day.
A blonde stepped out of the Principals office right in front of him, rummaging through her bag. The collision sends her small frame sprawling.
"Oof"
"Ahh crap I'm sorry. You alright?" Xander stretches out a hand and helps her off the ground before helping her pick up her stuff.
"No problem, I really should look where I'm going." Ironically she was looking for the map the office gave her. She gave an embarrassed smile
"New ?" Xander asked before picking up a stake looking at it quizzically than handing it to her with a shrug. She snatched it quickly stashing in her bag. Hoping that not saying anything will make it go away.
"Yeah, I was looking for umm room..." She glances down at a slip of paper she just picked up "... E 3?" She gave him a questioning glance.
"Unlucky, thats a chem. room." He smirked at her than pointed up the hall. " End of the hall than right, you cant miss it.... Well not after the seniors lit the door on fire last week." He gave a chuckle. The mention of fires and school made the blonde pale slightly but she recovered well, settling her folder in her arms she tossed her hair slightly.
"Thanks ahh?" the prompt was universal.
"Xander. It was nice to meet you ....?"
"Buffy" gave him a parting glance before heading up the hall at a brisk pace.
* You'll have to watch her..... for now. She's special *
"I know. I felt it too"
"Xander, what are you doing out of class?" Flutie seemed to of caught Xander outside his door. Xander didn't seem worried. Flutie was a lot better than his grade school principal.
"Macallister" Thats all he needed to mention.
"Oh... well.... just go to class, cant have you just wondering the corridors"
******
Ancient History was the only class that Willow, Jesse and Xander had together. So as he entered the room he just sidled up to them, joining their conversation.
"Well look who's decided to show up to class" Jesse's comment was met with a playful shove from Xander.
"Lay off. I was talking to the new girl, definitely something." Xander didn't mean the something that seemed to have Jesse drooling at the moment.
"Looks like you'll have bragging rights." Willow shot in. " Your the first to talk to her."
"So whats the dirt?"
"Her names Buffy."
"And?"
"Sorry didn't manage to grab her bra size Jess, but if you ask real nice I'll bet she'd tell ya"
"Yeah, with a knee to the groin" Said Jesse dejectedly.
"That'd be my answer" Piped in Willow.
"Yeah but we dont have to ask you, we already know yours" The boys smirked at each other as Willow's face temperature went into meltdown and her eye's widened.
"What? How?" she hissed at them both. Clearly embarrassed.
"And that brings me to me to my next question. I need help with the math."
"Whats in it for me?"
"Confidentiality Ofcourse" He said with a smirk. Willow knew Xander and Jesse wouldn't tell. She wasn't even sure they knew. But she played along anyway by pointedly giving Jesse a stare. Xander reached over and grabbed Jesse in a headlock.
"Dont worry he wont say a word" he gave Jesse a nookie just emphasize his point as Jesse tried very unsuccessfully to get away.
Willow took her time looking as if she was considering her reply.
"Ok, but you'll need "theories of trig""
Xander kneeled down and rustled through his bag, looking to see if he had the book. He pulled out a small bag after he was done.
"I'll have to go to the library" He handed Willow the small bag "Next time you sleep over try to remember your laundry" He gave her a smirk. She turned beet red a she found out how accurate Xanders and Jesse's information was when she glanced in the bag. The small bag quickly disappeared into her own.
"Dont worry, Xan washed it." Jesse really should learn when to keep his mouth shut. "Right after I went through it all"
Jesse's head made a dull thud when it came into contact with Willow's thrown steel stapler.
*******
Xander wandered up into the library just before first brake. His English teacher had let him go a bit early to get the book he need for his study period with Willow. Truthfully, Xander had just made himself a very large distraction in English until the teacher sent him out.
The library was deserted. A bit musty and dark with that distinct book smell. Dust particles could be seen floating in the light coming through the big window on the right which seemed to shine right on that long wooden table in the center of the room. It made for a nice effect.
He looked about for the librarian, but decided he'd just get the book himself. He really didn't want to be caught in the library especially by the Librarian. The guy was probably the loneliest person on earth stuck in here, and Xander, even though never meeting the guy, had already mentally labeled him with weirdo status.
The maths section wasn't that hard to find and he stashed the book into his bag, just as the first break bell was heard.
He was just about to leave when his friend motioned him to a few old dusty books up the back, on an almost hidden shelf.
* This one *
Xander reached out and grabbed the book in question. The writing on the front was in some weird language Xander couldn't read. But he didn't have to.
"Okaaayy"
The book seemed to flip open itself, calmly almost, until it reached a page. A page with his friend on it. He looked at the page, his friend, page, friend, page, friend. He pointed at the picture. His friend nodded at the unasked question.
The picture in the book showed a small being, which was all Xanders friend was, reaching only mid thigh on Xander. The being was well muscled and blood red. Arms were elongated with sharp, long fingered claws at the end. They hung next to knees with bony spikes that bent backwards, his legs ended with sharp taloned claws, that were a cross between dog and bird feet, thick but evenly spaced. His friends face was beautiful in it's arrogance, with high cheek bones and a vicious smirk that hid sharp yellow fang-like teeth. A forked tongue ran across it's lips. He had a large fore head that led up to where two broad horns emerged and curved back over it's head, flowing like hair. It's whole being just screamed wrong, or would of had they been able to see it.
His friend hadn't always been like that. When Xander was younger, he had just seemed like a floating red cloud that talked to him, helped him and kept him company. It's image had changed so slowly that Xander hadn't noticed. The slightly fearsome look it possessed now didn't disturb Xander though, his friend had always been there, and the advice it gave him never steered him wrong.
His friend motioned to two other books. Xander grabbed them and was just about to leaf through them when a familiar voice rang through the library and was this time answered by the librarian.
Xander friend motioned him to bag the books and listen to the conversation.
*******
"Okay, what's the sitch?" Buffy demanded as she burst through the library doors
"Sorry?" Giles walks on down from the stacks, giving Xander a little fright as he relized how close he was and that he hadn't noticed him
"You heard about the dead guy, right? The dead guy in the locker?"
"Yes." Buffy dumps her bag on table and heads up the stairs, talking all the time.
"Cause, it's the weirdest thing. He's got two little, little holes in his neck, and all his blood's been drained." she steps right up to him, almost daring him to confirm her suspicions "Isn't that bizarre? Aren't you just going, ooo?"
Xander started to lean forward, this was getting interesting.
"I was afraid of this." said Giles clearly not intimidated by the girl.
" Well, *I* wasn't! It's my first day! I was afraid that I was gonna be behind in all my classes, that I wouldn't make any friends, that I would have last month's hair. I didn't think there'd be vampires on campus. And I don't care." All her rant was missing was her shaking her fist at him at the end.
Xander had to stop himself from snickering at that. Vampire's? Please! He glanced down at his friend though and saw the mask of rage on his face.
" Then why are you here?" Book guys smirk and question caught Buffy off guard
'Librarians got her there' thought Xander looking on, mentally changing his opinion of the librarian.
" To tell you that... I don't care, which... I don't, and... have now told you, so... bye." Buffy turns away to go, ego deflated.
"Is he, w-will he... rise again?" He was desperate to keep her here.
"Who?"
"The boy." Stated library guy, matter of factly
"No. He's just dead." There was disappointment on her face.
"Can you be sure?"
"To make you a vampire they have to suck your blood. And then you have to suck their blood. It's like a whole big sucking thing. Mostly they're just gonna kill you. Why am I still talking to you?" Buffy seems to relize that she's supposed to not want to talk to this guy and turns to leave
"You really have no idea what's going on, do you? You think it's coincidence, your being here? That boy was just the beginning." That turned her around, annoyance clearly plastered on her face.
"Oh, why can't you people just leave me alone?" she was defiantly getting frustrated now.
Giles poses slightly before beginning.
"Because you are the Slayer. Into each generation a Slayer is born, one girl in all the world, a Chosen One, one born with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires..."
Buffy interrupts him
" ...with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires, to stop the spread of their evil blah, blah, blah... I've heard it before, okay?"
"I really don't understand this attitude. You, you've accepted your duty, you, you've slain vampires before..." The English guy seemed really confused now.
"Yeah, and I've both been there and done that, bought the T-shirt and I'm moving on."
"What do you know about this town?" he says walking into his office
"It's two hours on the freeway from Neiman Marcus?" Buffy questions tiredly.
"Dig a bit in the history of this place. You'll find a, a steady stream of fairly odd occurrences. Now, I believe this whole area is a center of mystical energy.." He comes out with a pile of books in hand ".... that things gravitate towards it that, that, that you might not find elsewhere." He finishes placing his books on the table
"Like vampires." She frowns as he starts piling the books up in her arms.
"Like zombies, werewolves, incubi, succubi, everything you've ever dreaded was under your bed, but told yourself couldn't be by the light of day. They're all real!" He emphasizes his words by placing more books in Buffys arms
"Cool! But, okay.." She starts handing him back the books. ".... first of all, I'm a Vampire Slayer. And secondly, I'm retired. Hey, I know! Why don't you kill 'em?"
"I-I'm a Watcher, I-I haven't the skill... " He's seems rather flustered by the idea
"Oh, come on, stake through the heart, a little sunlight... It's like falling off a log." Buffy see's right through his lame excuse
'Who are these weirdoes?' Xander continues to listen in from his hiding place.
"A, a Slayer slays, a Watcher..."
"...watches?" she deadpans
"Yes. No!.." He starts setting down the books "... He, he trains her, he, he, he prepares her..."
"Prepares me for what? For getting kicked out of school? For losing all of my friends? For having to spend all of my time fighting for my life and never getting to tell anyone because I might endanger them? Go ahead! Prepare me." Buffy looks pissed, and stands there waiting for a reply. One isn't forthcoming.
Buffy sighs angrily before turning and walking out the door.
"Damn!" Giles curses to himself before following.
Xander stands up, shouldering his bag.
"Okaay, that was weird" he hurries out of the library to meet up with Willow and Jesse.