Author: Summer
Rating: R/NC17 haven't decided
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Joss is King
Summary: VERY AU. EVERYBODY'S HUMAN. The Scooby Gang are starting their second year of high school. There are some new students starting, bullies and Giles is Buffy's dad!
Feedback: I'd love it!
A/N: God I hope you like this story, please review.
Chapter 6 - The Tryouts of Life
Buffy stood there, unable to move. It was like....watching a car wreck. You know you should look away but for some insane reason you just..........can't. She felt tears begin to sting her eyes as her sisters turned to look at her. She felt so humiliated she ran into the nearest bathroom only to find herself coming face to face with a urinal.
Realisation hit her. SHE WAS IN THE BOY'S BATHROOM!!!!!!!!!!!! She wanted to die!!!!
Just when she thought it couldn't get any worse, she ran out, lost her footing and accidentally managed to bump into the couple strolling along the hallway. Cordelia gave her one of her icy stares along with a 'I'm more superior than you' smirk.
For a moment she couldn't say anything. Just stood there looking like a fish with its mouth open.
"Buffy" Cordelia exclaimed in obvious delight. Seeing the embarrassment plastered over Buffy's face.
"Cordelia......hi...Cordelia" she stuttered "Spike" she said quietly "excuse me I just have to......."
"Use the bathroom?" Cordelia cut in looking over Buffy's shoulder at where she just came from.
Tears were threatening to spill as she looked from Cordelia to Spike and back to Cordelia. Her face started to heat up. She just knew she had to get out of there. Running past the duo she ran into the girls bathroom.
"God I must be the biggest idiot, fool, stupid, stupid bitch................"
Her rambling was suddenly interrupted by the sound of her sisters voices "Buffy? Buffy?"
Willow was the first to spot her, seated on the toilet lid of stall four her head in her hands. She looked up at the redhead. A couple of tears escaping her eyes. "I'm such a fool Will. To ever think he could like me".
"Buffy no don't say that!" Willow said walking over to her she gave her a comforting hug.
"Why not? It's true. They're probably laughing about me right now".
"No ones laughing Buffy" Faith interjected "Cordelia's just an ass! And him? he's just a jerk!"
"That's just it, he isn't. He's....nice" Buffy hid her head in her hands again.
"Nice? Buffy he was seen kissing another girl! Not just another girl, Cordelia Chase no less! Listen if you want, I know these guys they could.........."
"No" Buffy said firmly not liking where her sister was going. Tears were now freely rolling down both cheeks and over onto her sweater "He's....a nice guy. He was......." she paused finding it difficult to go on "Maybe it's me....maybe...I did something wrong?"
"No Buffy, you shouldn't think like that" Willow answered "It's Cordelia. She knew all about you two! She wants to break you up before you even get started".
"How do you know?" Buffy asked.
"One word, Oz. He told me that Cordelia thinks Spike's hot. Said she's gonna do everything she can to make him hers!"
"Big deal" Faith said "I still say beat them up".
"No" Buffy glared "No beating. I don't want that. I'll fight Cordelia the way I want to." standing up she walked over to the mirror.
Faith was about to respond when the tardy bell rang startling everyone. "Well that's the bell. I'll have to run" she ran over to the door "I've just got to get a seat next to Matthew Banks. He's too fine! Unless......." she said turning back "you want me to stay ?"
Buffy sighed and turned to Faith forcing a smile "no Faith, you go on. I'll be fine"
"Kay, I guess I'll see you two later? Oh and remember Buff, my offer still stands....."
"Goodbye Faith" Willow interjected noticing Buffy getting a little irritated at the suggestion.
As Faith left Buffy sombrely looked over to her remaining sister "You can leave too if you want, Will".
"No it's okay Buffy I can stay if you want me too".
"Will, no. You go. There's no point in both of us getting into trouble for being late".
Willow mad a move to leave "Aren't you coming?"
"Uh...no..... I think I'll just stick around here for a little while longer. You go ahead. I'll be OK"
"Really?" Willow wasn't so sure she should leave "I don't like leaving you on your own like this"
"Willow just go, I'll be fine. Really. See" She gave her sister her best reassuring smile"
"Okay...if..if your sure, I'll see you at break...alright?"
"Kay"
As she walked out the bathroom Willow wondered if she was doing the right thing. She was hoping she was. She didn't like seeing her sister like this.
*****
Buffy turned back to the mirror. Looking at her red tear stained cheeks and puffy eyes she shook her head. She hated when she cried. Turning on the tap she watched as the water twisted its way around the bowl and down the pipe, staring, as though it held the answers to her problems. She couldn't help it. Sadness overwhelmed her, tears began to fall and dejection took over. As the second bell rang Buffy just sat back down on the toilet lid gripping the sides of the bowl letting the tears travel down her face. She sat like that in a state of listlessness for the whole first period and well into the second.
*****
"God, I wonder where Buffy's got to?" Willow exclaimed.
It was early afternoon. Willow and a little group of friends had just sat down at the lunch table. Willow obviously waiting for Buffy to arrive.
"I'm not surprised she's late" Anya commented "She didn't show up for this mornings classes either! Not that I blame her,............it was history!"
Willow seemed to ignore Anya's last remark in favour of looking around the cafeteria. Oz walked up and she didn't even notice.
"Hey baby" he gave her a kiss making her head spin round, surprising her. "Oz! Oh...I didn't see you.....sorry"
Oz shrugged his shoulders "Its OK babe. What's wrong?"
"It's Buffy. She was kinda upset this morning and she didn't show up for any of her classes. She said she'd meet me at break and..surprise she didn't show up then either...............so...(*sigh*)..I was kinda hoping she'd be here at lunch".
"It's that thing between Cordelia and Spike, huh?"
"Yeah she saw them kissing this morning and she was kinda....distraught"
"I know, I overheard Cordelia talking with Harmony. Apparently she's been spreading the news of her latest conquest around the whole school!"
"Hey no wonder Buffy's not here" Anya interjected "Hey, I wouldn't be if that were me, I'd be way embarrassed"
"Thank you Anya" Willow sighed. She had a bad gift of butting in at the worst moment.
The group chatted for a few minutes before Amy had to leave. As the group said their see you laters Anya noticed a figure walking over to their table.
"SPIKE!" Willow almost screeched. "What do I say?" she whispered to her boyfriend.
"Don't worry, lets just see what he wants first".
Willow smiled at her boyfriend, grateful that he was beside her. She wasn't any good at this sort of stuff.
"Willow, hey" the group looked up as Spike casually made his way over to their table.
"Spike" Willows voice was barely above a whisper "what...what do you want?"
"I was just wondering where Buffy was. I haven't seen her around today and I wanted to ask her.....you know..about..the tutoring".
"Oh...um...Buffy...yeah" she stuttered trying to get her words out "I don't know where she is..Spike..have....you tried the gym?"
"Oh, yeah. She wasn't there" he shrugged his shoulders "never mind, I'll..just go and......I'll find her........." And with a brief nod he was off.
Anya was the first one from the group to speak. As usual it was something unintelligible. "Well that was.......interesting. Wonder what he wanted Buffy for?"
"He told us Ayn, for tutoring" Willow shook her head at the young girls query.
"No, I think he wants her for something a lot more than that!"
Willow rolled her eyes. But she couldn't help but wonder, somehow in the back of her mind, if Anya' comments did hold some sense. She sighed, dismissing the thought she went back to her lunch.
*****
"COME ON, GET IN" Buffy shouted at her locker door. She's just deposited a handful of library books into it and she was having trouble getting it to close "AWW WHY DON'T THEY MAKE THESE BIGGER?"
*Why is everything going wrong today?* She felt tears sting her eyes. No! She wouldn't cry! She said to herself silently. She's done enough of that this morning. Taking a few of the books out she was just about to close it up again when she heard her name being called.
*Shit* she thought *not now, not now* turning around she caught sight of blond hair. As the figure got closer she saw it was infact........SPIKE!"
"Damn" she muttered "how did he find me? This is sooooooo embarrassing, oh god, this morning..oh..." She quickly turned back to her locker hoping somehow she'd be invisible. But it was no use as she felt his hand clamp down on her shoulder.
"Buffy, where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere Luv"
Buffy sighed trying to control her anger *He's just pretending nothings happened, two can play at that game* "What's up?" For the first time she turned around and looked at him squarely in the face.
"I thought you could come round some time, this weekend maybe and you could start your tutoring"
"This weekend?" Spike nodded "I..er..I can't, sorry" Buffy turned back to face her locker taking a few more books out.
"Well.......why not?"
*Damn, he's persistant* "I'm trying out for the squad Monday...but of course you probably know that".
Spike looked confused "No, why would I?"
"I just thought.....what with you and Cordelia being so close......."
"Woe woe, who said we were close?"
Buffy had the sense to look appalled. How could he deny this? He was kissing her! Putting her brave face on she turned to him "Look, it's really none of my business what you do...........and with whom-"
"Are you upset about this morning? Cause I-"
"It doesn't matter really" she aid cutting him off holding up her hands in mock surrender. Slamming her locker door shut she picked up hr backpack and started walking down the hall, Spike shouting after her.
"LOOK, SHE CAME ONTO ME!!!"
*****
Buffy had never felt so tired. She had been practising her cheers all through the weekend and now it was Sunday evening. She felt totally unprepared just as if she hadn't been practising at all. But she had to show Cordelia, she just had too! Especially considering the past few days. Cordelia, (*sigh*) whenever she thought about her her blood boiled.
"I'll show miss queen of the cheers who's boss!" she said going over her routine in front of the mirror. She turned her head round at the sound of tapping on the door.
"Buffy, sweetheart it's me"
"Dad" Buffy sighed "come in dad"
Giles poked his head round the door frame "Buffy, aren't you coming down for dinner?"
"Uh...I'm not really that hungry dad, tryouts are tomorrow!"
"So? That's no reason to skip dinner"
"Daddy....I...this is really important. I really want to make the team this time".
I really don't think skipping dinner will help you get on the team. If anything it'll make you weaker, you need food to help your nutrition. You can stand to gain a few pounds.-"
"Dad!..I.-"
"Buffy, don't argue! I want you downstairs at that dinner table in 5 minutes, don't forget to wash up!" Giles made a move to leave but before he was completely out of sight he turned back and said "I think you have to ask yourself Buffy, why are you trying out? Is it because you want to? or because of Cordelia Chase?"
"Parents" (*sigh*). Buffy took her sneakers off and threw them at the closed door. She sat there for a few minutes thinking over what her father just said. Now she was more determined than ever to kick Cordelia's butt. If only she could stop those butterflies in her stomach...........
TBC.......................................................................................................................
A/N: Well I FINALLY finished the 6th chapter, phew! Sorry for the delay. I'll post the next one up SOON! I promise. Thanks to all of you that reviewed and e-mailed me. Thanks, I really needed the motivation. Thanks again.