"Study group?" Mrs. Summers gave the five teens a questioning look.
"Willow was nice enough to invite us; they were helping us catch up." Buffy tried her best to not look overly nervous.
"There is something about Dante Mrs. Summers, just makes the time pass by really quick." Larry gave an innocent smile, so followed the rest of the teens.
"Study group at a club?" She questioned. This adult was no mere beginner, she was good, really good, but these teens were ready for her.
"No, we met at the club, that's where we decided to go to Willow's house." Xander explained.
"My mom doesn't like clocks because the hands seem domineering... So it was kinda easy to loose time there..." Willow was only half joking here, after all they did have digital clocks around the house.
"What about you two, have you told your parents where you are, they must be worried sick." Joyce was defiantly trying to trap the teens in their lie, but she was trump-ed by the classic line.
"Our parents know the Rosenbergs, they trust us." Larry smiled, he knew they had won.
"You three better get home right away. As for you two, don't go to bed just yet, we have some talking to do." They had won the battle, but she was still going to make them pay through the nose, even if she couldn't punish them.
Buffy tossed and turned, the nightmare taking her over. She finally woke with a start and looked to see exactly where she was. Her room that was half assembled and boxes still covered half of her floor, exactly the same way she had left it before.
"Buffy!! Get up; you're going to be late!" Joyce yelled down the hallway to her eldest daughter's room.
"Great... Another day at Weirdo High." Buffy pulled back the sheets and began to get ready.
********************
As she made her way down the stairs she could hear her sister laughing, most likely at something ridiculous Xander was doing. She entered the kitchen to the site of Xander and Dawn making juice while Joyce tried to control the craziness and spilling of juice.
"Ok Dawninator gotta go, see you after school." Xander grabbed his bag and went to Buffy's side; of course he missed the look Dawn had given him which could only be explained as adoring.
"Be careful you two! Look both ways before you cross the street!!" Joyce yelled after the two fleeing teenagers. As soon as they were clear of the house Buffy began to speak.
"I save the world from the undeadies every night, and she thinks I can't remember how to cross a street."
"That's a valid point. Here's another, at least she cares enough to hope you don't get hurt. My parents could barely remember my name."
"I know you're right, but does that mean I can't complain?"
"Oh, no. Go right on ahead." Xander gestured. Buffy gave a gracious nod and continued on her 'mom needs to stop treating me like a baby' monologue. By the time they were almost at school Xander decided to open his mouth once, even though he knew it meant he would probably get hit for it.
"Buff, don't tell me that inside there isn't just one part of you that loves that your mother worries. You would be going crazy right now if she didn't say anything and you know it." Xander was then slapped on the arm, but he felt it was worth it.
"I hope Jesse's ok." Buffy changed the subject.
"Yeah, what is it with our friends getting bit by vampires? I have to say, it's getting a little redundant."
"Xander, we only knew him one day."
"Ok, so why do you think he was killed. I mean this is Sunnydale. Like anything bad could happen here."
They didn't know at the time, but just below them there was the master, awaiting the day of the harvest.
******
"So England, how's the patient?" Xander and Buffy bust through the doors of the library before first period.
"Not good. I have been making sure his blood clotted, but he seems to have lost a lot of blood."
"Did you guys find anything out about the harvest?" Oz, Larry, and Willow came through the library doors and sat down next to the other two teens.
"Actually, guys, I appreciate that you want to help-"
"You thought the chosen speech was bad, you guys are up for a doosie."
"Xander, I just don't want to see them get hurt."
"What are you talking about?" Willow asked Buffy, very confused with what was going on in front of her face.
"The fact is the slayer has always worked alone. To risk civilian lives... "
"That's all fine and good but this is the way I see it; there's bad strange things going on in the world, we want to help stop them. More people on the good side = a plus on the good side." Oz said in his usual monotone voice.
"Exactly." Xander agreed. He had this conversation with a slayer and her watcher; he knew exactly how they felt.
"Xander, you're not helping."
Willow raised her hand sheepishly and began to speak, "I don't want to die, and I really don't want to get pummeled by any vampires, but Jesse is my best friend, and I want to help in any way I can."
"Yeah, totally what they said." Larry said as if he were a cheerleader.
"Face it you two, you're outnumbered."
"Why are you taking their side?" Buffy asked very upset with the side Xander had chosen.
"Because I was them. Would you rather have them help in the safer stuff, or the way I came crashing in?"
Buffy looked at the hopeful slayeretts as they waited for her to speak.
"Get this strait you guys, me slayer, you 'run away from tanless people' guys. Got it?"
The three nodded, knowing that this would be the start of the biggest change in their lives.
"Alright, welcome to the good fight. Since tweed pants over there couldn't find anything out about the harvest we get into research mode, which means a lot of reading of old smelly books. Enjoy." Xander said as he handed out three large volumes to the newbies.
"Alright Buffy, since you have decided to stick on as the slayer, we have training to do. We'll see how coordinated you are." Buffy nodded.
"Hey Xander, could you go do that thing for me?" Buffy asked as she grabbed some weapons from Giles.
"And miss first period? Of course I will. I'll drop by G-man's place and check on Jesse on my way back."
Giles gave his slayer a curious look, "What 'thing' did you ask him to do?"
Buffy shrugged, "Nothing."
***********
Xander climbed through the window in Buffy's room. He looked to see if the door was open and then pulled out one of Buffy's trunks. He took out the top half and shoved the steak that still had Merick's blood on it up his sleeve. Before he could grab the other things he needed he heard Joyce coming up the stairs.
"That crazy woman." She said under her breath. Joyce walked into her daughter's room and looked out the open window. She shook her head and shut it, then went over to the closet. She opened the doors, satisfied when she saw nothing out of the ordinary she went to the phone by her daughter's bed.
"Hello Mrs. Kenneth, I checked my daughter's room and I don't see a mysterious man anywhere.... No, I'm sure... Thanks for your concern.... Bye."
Once Joyce left the room Xander let out the breath he held, and got out from under the bed. He didn't have time to get what he needed; he would have to come back again, preferably when Mrs. Kenneth was gone.
"Willow was nice enough to invite us; they were helping us catch up." Buffy tried her best to not look overly nervous.
"There is something about Dante Mrs. Summers, just makes the time pass by really quick." Larry gave an innocent smile, so followed the rest of the teens.
"Study group at a club?" She questioned. This adult was no mere beginner, she was good, really good, but these teens were ready for her.
"No, we met at the club, that's where we decided to go to Willow's house." Xander explained.
"My mom doesn't like clocks because the hands seem domineering... So it was kinda easy to loose time there..." Willow was only half joking here, after all they did have digital clocks around the house.
"What about you two, have you told your parents where you are, they must be worried sick." Joyce was defiantly trying to trap the teens in their lie, but she was trump-ed by the classic line.
"Our parents know the Rosenbergs, they trust us." Larry smiled, he knew they had won.
"You three better get home right away. As for you two, don't go to bed just yet, we have some talking to do." They had won the battle, but she was still going to make them pay through the nose, even if she couldn't punish them.
Buffy tossed and turned, the nightmare taking her over. She finally woke with a start and looked to see exactly where she was. Her room that was half assembled and boxes still covered half of her floor, exactly the same way she had left it before.
"Buffy!! Get up; you're going to be late!" Joyce yelled down the hallway to her eldest daughter's room.
"Great... Another day at Weirdo High." Buffy pulled back the sheets and began to get ready.
********************
As she made her way down the stairs she could hear her sister laughing, most likely at something ridiculous Xander was doing. She entered the kitchen to the site of Xander and Dawn making juice while Joyce tried to control the craziness and spilling of juice.
"Ok Dawninator gotta go, see you after school." Xander grabbed his bag and went to Buffy's side; of course he missed the look Dawn had given him which could only be explained as adoring.
"Be careful you two! Look both ways before you cross the street!!" Joyce yelled after the two fleeing teenagers. As soon as they were clear of the house Buffy began to speak.
"I save the world from the undeadies every night, and she thinks I can't remember how to cross a street."
"That's a valid point. Here's another, at least she cares enough to hope you don't get hurt. My parents could barely remember my name."
"I know you're right, but does that mean I can't complain?"
"Oh, no. Go right on ahead." Xander gestured. Buffy gave a gracious nod and continued on her 'mom needs to stop treating me like a baby' monologue. By the time they were almost at school Xander decided to open his mouth once, even though he knew it meant he would probably get hit for it.
"Buff, don't tell me that inside there isn't just one part of you that loves that your mother worries. You would be going crazy right now if she didn't say anything and you know it." Xander was then slapped on the arm, but he felt it was worth it.
"I hope Jesse's ok." Buffy changed the subject.
"Yeah, what is it with our friends getting bit by vampires? I have to say, it's getting a little redundant."
"Xander, we only knew him one day."
"Ok, so why do you think he was killed. I mean this is Sunnydale. Like anything bad could happen here."
They didn't know at the time, but just below them there was the master, awaiting the day of the harvest.
******
"So England, how's the patient?" Xander and Buffy bust through the doors of the library before first period.
"Not good. I have been making sure his blood clotted, but he seems to have lost a lot of blood."
"Did you guys find anything out about the harvest?" Oz, Larry, and Willow came through the library doors and sat down next to the other two teens.
"Actually, guys, I appreciate that you want to help-"
"You thought the chosen speech was bad, you guys are up for a doosie."
"Xander, I just don't want to see them get hurt."
"What are you talking about?" Willow asked Buffy, very confused with what was going on in front of her face.
"The fact is the slayer has always worked alone. To risk civilian lives... "
"That's all fine and good but this is the way I see it; there's bad strange things going on in the world, we want to help stop them. More people on the good side = a plus on the good side." Oz said in his usual monotone voice.
"Exactly." Xander agreed. He had this conversation with a slayer and her watcher; he knew exactly how they felt.
"Xander, you're not helping."
Willow raised her hand sheepishly and began to speak, "I don't want to die, and I really don't want to get pummeled by any vampires, but Jesse is my best friend, and I want to help in any way I can."
"Yeah, totally what they said." Larry said as if he were a cheerleader.
"Face it you two, you're outnumbered."
"Why are you taking their side?" Buffy asked very upset with the side Xander had chosen.
"Because I was them. Would you rather have them help in the safer stuff, or the way I came crashing in?"
Buffy looked at the hopeful slayeretts as they waited for her to speak.
"Get this strait you guys, me slayer, you 'run away from tanless people' guys. Got it?"
The three nodded, knowing that this would be the start of the biggest change in their lives.
"Alright, welcome to the good fight. Since tweed pants over there couldn't find anything out about the harvest we get into research mode, which means a lot of reading of old smelly books. Enjoy." Xander said as he handed out three large volumes to the newbies.
"Alright Buffy, since you have decided to stick on as the slayer, we have training to do. We'll see how coordinated you are." Buffy nodded.
"Hey Xander, could you go do that thing for me?" Buffy asked as she grabbed some weapons from Giles.
"And miss first period? Of course I will. I'll drop by G-man's place and check on Jesse on my way back."
Giles gave his slayer a curious look, "What 'thing' did you ask him to do?"
Buffy shrugged, "Nothing."
***********
Xander climbed through the window in Buffy's room. He looked to see if the door was open and then pulled out one of Buffy's trunks. He took out the top half and shoved the steak that still had Merick's blood on it up his sleeve. Before he could grab the other things he needed he heard Joyce coming up the stairs.
"That crazy woman." She said under her breath. Joyce walked into her daughter's room and looked out the open window. She shook her head and shut it, then went over to the closet. She opened the doors, satisfied when she saw nothing out of the ordinary she went to the phone by her daughter's bed.
"Hello Mrs. Kenneth, I checked my daughter's room and I don't see a mysterious man anywhere.... No, I'm sure... Thanks for your concern.... Bye."
Once Joyce left the room Xander let out the breath he held, and got out from under the bed. He didn't have time to get what he needed; he would have to come back again, preferably when Mrs. Kenneth was gone.