A/N: I'm having sort of a hard time with this fic, I enjoy writing it, but the characters seemed a little off to me in this chapter. I might put this one on hold for a while if I keep having such a difficult time with it.

New Beginnings

Chapter 4

"Dad, we're going to be late for school," I told him, looking at the clock as he continued to lecture us on how to behave; you'd think we've never been out in public before.

Dad smiled and hugged each of us, "I know, just…be good okay?"

Everyone nodded in agreement and I insisted, "I will!" when I received a stern glance from him.

"I don't want to go to school," Drusilla whined to me, holding my hand as we walked to the bus stop.

"I do," Harmony chirped happily and I glared at her with a nobody-asked-you look.

"You're just jealous because I'm already popular." She remarked, walking a head of us to the bus stop.

I ignored her and looked behind us at Angel who was trudging along looking very much like he was walking to his death.

"What's your problem?" I asked him, noting that he'd once again gone into broody-teenage-boy mode, with his head down and his hand shoved in his pockets, a scowl present on his face.

Angel shrugged, "I can't believe we have to take the bus," he muttered.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed his hand, dragging him with me to the bus stop at the end of our street, "It's not the end of the world, darling boy." I replied, "After all, we've never been to public school before, only dull private ones, this might be fun."

We stood there in silence a few minutes before I saw Angel straighten up and put what could pass for a smile on his face as Buffy and Faith walked over.

They're riding our bus, great, this'll be fun, I thought rolling my eyes.

"Hi, Buffy." Angel said, "Taking the bus?"

"No, she just likes to stand at the bus stop because it's fun," Faith snarked with a sarcastic grin on her face.

I couldn't help but bite back a smile too; maybe she'd be okay after all.

Buffy ignored her sister and turned to smile at Angel and nodded making small talk until Dru interrupted them by fixing her large brown eyes on Buffy and saying, "My sister doesn't like you much."

Buffy's mouth dropped open, no doubt pondering how anyone could not like her and Harmony cut in with, "Don't worry, Darla doesn't like anybody."

"I do too!" I replied, pushing Harmony.

"Do not!" Harmony replied, shoving me back.

"Yes I do!"

"No you don't!"

"Did you know that dandelions scream when you pick them?" Drusilla asked, directing the question to no one in particular, but just lost in her own world again, bored with my and Harmony's argument.

"You people are so weird." Buffy muttered under her breath as the bus came and we all filed on, me glaring daggers at Buffy and Angel as well when he sat with her.

I walked to the back and sat in an empty set, Dru following me and sitting too.

Harmony took a seat next to a snobby looking brown haired girl talking on a cell phone.

My eyes swept the bus, wondering if there was anyone on here I actually wouldn't mind being friends with. I smiled as the bus stopped again and two more kids walked on; a brown haired girl with an evil smirk on her face matching my own and a cute sandy-blonde haired boy.

They both took a set across from Dru and I and I leaned over my little sister and smiled at them, "Hi." I said catching the blonde haired boy's eye, "I'm Darla. I just moved here. Who might you be?"

"Lindsey." The boy replied with a slight southern accent, "uh, Lindsey McDonald. I'm sorta new here too, an' this is my friend Lilah."

Lilah gave me an appraising glance and then smiled with an air of superiority, before turning back and looking out the window again.

"So…is the your first day of school here?" Lindsey asked.

I nodded, "Yes…I'm going into fifth grade."

Lindsey grinned, "Cool! I'm in fifth too." He said, "I could show you around…or something, if you want, since you're new and all."

I smiled coquettishly at him and nodded, "Okay Lindsey McDonald, I think I'd like that."

I sat back in my seat again, satisfied. Maybe this school wouldn't be so bad, Lilah seemed like she'd be okay to hang out with and Lindsey already seemed head over heels with me, it'd be fun to have him follow me around like a lap dog. I just hoped Dru would fair as well in her grade.

TBC…next chapter, Buffy and Darla are put in the same class and hyjinks ensue. Please Review!