CHAPTER TWO - 'THE FRESH START'

Buffy gave herself the once over in the mirror. It was her first day at her first real world job as department manager in McFadden's department store, it wasn't just a job it was the start of her career. She had worked hard for her college diploma in consumer psychology and now that hard work had paid off in the form of a top job in retail. Life was perfect.

'How far from the truth can one statement be' She thought to herself as adjusted the white slash next top she had chosen for her first day.

She looked good and confident on the outside and as long as she could keep her self calm then it wouldn't matter if she didn't feel that way on the inside.

The past two months had been hard on Buffy, she had totally gone into herself and even gone as far as to cut herself off from all of her friend and even her family to some extent.

"But that all ends today Buffy you're starting a new life." She said reprimanding herself for her inner thoughts of running and hiding.

"You might even make some friends." Were her last words to Mr. Gordo as she picked up car keys and headed out of the door.

~***~

Buffy entered the store through the staff entrance using the key card she had been given in her induction pack. A tall young man holding a clipboard greeted her.

"Hi I'm Mr Wood, but call me David." He said extending his hand to her.

"I'm Buffy Summers your new head of marketing."

"Yes you are." He said with a bright smile, "We've got two other graduates starting today as department heads so today will be spent team building if that's ok with you."

Buffy couldn't believe his laid back manner, she never thought the real world of employment would ask her if elements of her job were ok with her.

"Yeah that'd be great." She said with a bright smile, she was feeling ok with herself.

"Good then if you'd like to follow me I'll introduce you to the other two."

Buffy followed him through the corridors at the back of the store, her heart pounding and breathing uneasy. 'You can do this.' She told her self.

David pushed open the door to the staff room and motioned for Buffy to follow him. Sat on the large chocolate coloured sofa's inside were a young woman and man, Buffy felt her heart speed up again as she realized that she was going to have speak to these people and make friends with them.

"This is Willow, head of staff child care." David said extending his hand towards the pretty red headed woman. "And this is Alexander, head of catering." He continued pointing to the dark haired man.

Buffy smiled at the two people and introduced herself.

"Ok then I'll give the three of you some time to get acquainted." David said as he left the room.

Buffy continued to smile nervously, 'There's your safety net gone Buff."

~***~

After a short time with Willow and Xander Buffy felt much more at ease with herself. She had begun chatting and realized that these people did not know anything about her and therefore weren't judging her on the failures of her private life.

She liked both of them they were friendly and funny.

"So what was your major?" Willow asked sounding genuinely interested rather than just polite.

"Consumer psychology, I studied at UC Sunnydale just a few miles from here." Buffy answered taking her time to remain calm.

"Sunnydale, yeah we've both just moved there because it's so much easier for work." Xander told Buffy.

"So where did you live before?" Buffy asked falling into the flow of the conversation.

"We're both from L.A." Willow answered.

Buffy tried to keep the smile firmly fixed on her face, "I know someone who lives in L.A. Most of my friends have moved away from Sunnydale now that they've finished college."

The conversation carried on until David came back into the room and told them that it was now time to start the real work of team building and more staff induction. The three gathered their belongings and followed.

~***~

In Buffy's opinion the team building exercises had been a boring waste of time, yeah she knew numerous facts about her two co-workers but she didn't feel that she knew them. They both seemed like really nice people that if things were different she would like to get to know a whole lot better.

The three college graduates were collecting the stuff and getting ready to leave there first day in the real world, Buffy was glad that it was over because now she could go back home and sit watching television all night alone.

"Buffy, we, I mean me and Xander were wondering if you would like to come out for dinner tonight and then maybe a few drinks or something?" Willow asked looking more nervous than Buffy had done all day.

"Thanks for the offer but I.." Buffy said realizing that she had no excuse what so ever for turning them down.

"Oh right well it was just a thought, I mean if you have other things to do that's ok. We just thought you could show us some of the good places to go in Sunnydale. But really it's ok." Willow rambled cutting Buffy off.

Buffy looked at the red head and got the impression that both her and Xander really wanted her there. 'Come on Buffy you can do this."

"Well alright I don't have any other plans, it'll be great." Buffy said trying to quell her fears about making new friends.

The three new friends made arrangement to meet later that evening for dinner and headed off their separate ways to get ready.

TBC.