"That's her." Tara whispered, nodding towards Buffy who had just slipped through the door, headed straight for the back and taken a seat in the corner, not making eye contact.

"You weren't kidding when you said she was a looker." Xander smirked to Angel.

Buffy had honey blonde hair that reached her shoulders, slim figure and beautifully sculptured features. She was wearing black bootleg trousers, a white polo neck jumper and black boots, none of which hid her figure. She pulled out a book from her bag and started reading.

Willow got up and went and slid in the seat next to Buffy.

"Hi, I'm Willow Rosenburg." She introduced herself.

Buffy put the book down, "Buffy Summer's. You're Tara's girlfriend aren't you?"

Willow nodded, "Yes. What are you reading?" she asked.

"Falling Leaves. Have you read it?" Buffy asked.

"I don't think so." Willow replied.

"You can borrow it after me if you like, it's really good. I only have a couple of chapters left." Buffy offered.

"Oh thank you. What lesson do you have next?" Willow asked.

"Food tech."

"Our teachers a doss. We just sit in groups and talk for the hour, she gave up long ago trying to get us to cook. You can sit with us if you like." Willow said.

"So, how did it go?" Ryan Summers asked his cousin.

Buffy had been a lively, outgoing popular girl at her old school, until everything happened. Now she was quiet and had a sad look in her eyes all the time.

"Fine." Buffy answered.

"Make any new friends?" Ryan inquired.

"A few." She answered.

"Did you see Giles?" He pushed.

"Yeah. At lunch."

"Laura's back this evening, from Boston. She called me today, said she got the deal. She said she was getting a wage rise and we will go out this weekend for a meal to celebrate."

Buffy gave a slight smile and nodded. The doctors had told him and Laura to try and talk to her as much as possible, so he carried on chatting incessantly all the way home.

Laura Summers sat on the sofa waiting for her young cousin-in-law to get out the bath. She hadn't seen her for a week due to a work convention coming up at the worst possible time, just as Buffy was moving in with them.

Buffy had been living in Sunnydale since she was a born, but it was decided it was for the best for her to transfer to Hemery High in LA, and Ryan and Laura were more than happy to take her in. Especially since Giles got at job as a librarian there. Laura and Buffy had always been friends, and in fact Buffy had matched Laura and Ryan up in the first place. After such a terrible thing had happened, Buffy had closed up and hardly talked to anyone.

She heard footsteps on the stairs and she got up. Buffy walked in the room, dressed in some pale blue silky pajamas.

"Oh, Buffy!" Laura exclaimed, pulling Buffy into a huge hug. "I've missed you."

"I missed you too." Buffy replied.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't be here when you first got here, and for your first day at school." Laura apologised.

"It's ok. I made friends before you ask."

To Be Continued…