Thanks for the reviews! They're helping a lot, and your suggestions are very helpful. I've decided to include a few of them, because they work very well with my story.
Will it be B/S or B/A? Well, reader that is up to YOU! Review and tell me what you want.
Keep your suggestions coming. Anyway, onto the next chapter...
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Chapter 3
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Buffy followed Fred down a long, wide corridor much like the first one she had seen, and was surprised at the amount of doors on both sides.
"How many rooms are there?" she asked.
"Oh, about seven hundred. There are six stories in this building, not including the basement. The first two are used for classrooms and offices, and the other four are the dormitories. There's one hundred and seventy-five rooms on each floor."
Buffy gave a low whistle, looking at the silent doors. Was it always this quiet?
"Oh, heaven no!" she said when Buffy put her question forth. "It's only ever like this on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Any other time, the halls are jam packed with screams and laughs and chatter, and it's impossible to hear yourself think!" she giggled.
Buffy raised her eyebrows doubtfully, but kept her skepticism to herself.
"This is your room, Buffy." Fred chirped, pushing open a door and urging her into the room. "I'll be back in ten to take you for the tour."
She walked through the door and swept her eyes over the entire room. It was small, but not overly so, and there were three beds, each fronting a wall. Two of them were occupied by the redhead she had seen earlier- Willow, she recalled- and the brunette who she remembered was Cordelia. They glanced up from unpacking when she entered the room.
"Hi," she said uncertainly.
They smiled and waved 'hello' and ushered her inside, closing the door behind her.
"I'm Buffy." she introduced herself. "And your Willow and Cordelia?"
"Yeah," said Cordelia, "But call me Cordy. How'd you know?"
"I'm psychic," she grinned.
"Oh really?" Willow asked, "Is that your gift?"
Gift? Buffy thought with confusion then widened her eyes when it dawned on her. "Oh no! Me physic?" she snorted.
"Then what freaky thing can you do?" Cordelia asked, offense not intent by her tone.
"I...uh." Buffy wasn't ready to think about being the Slayer herself, let alone discuss it with two girls who she'd barely met. It was still too painful. "I'm...Hey, you're a seer aren't you?" she asked as a pathetic attempting to change the subject.
Fortunately, Cordelia took the bait and launched into an in-depth description of her visions, and how she had been discovered by Angel's co-workers. Buffy sat down on the only vacant bed as she listened to her tale. Willow continued to unpack her suitcase and fold her clothes neatly into the set of drawers beside her bed. She noticed that each bed had them, and that Cordelia's were already bursting with clothes despite her still unpacked third suitcase.
Buffy's concentration began to wane as Cordelia spoke about a young man, the one who had found her, and his 'totally fine body' and his 'intense eyes'. She caught Willow's eye and the other girl rolled her eyes at Cordelia's back, forcing Buffy to stifle her giggles by coughing.
Once Cordy had finished her tirade, Buffy turned to Willow.
"You're a witch, right?"
"Yeah, though I had no idea until two days ago. I can't believe I'm really here!" she breathed.
"I know. It's weird and unbelievable, but I'm curious to see what it's all about." Buffy said.
"I can't wait to see what they teach seers here! I mean, what's there to learn? You just get visions when they're sent to you, it's not like you can say 'here vision-visions' and they come with their tail between their legs!"
Buffy and Willow exchanged as amused look at Cordelia's imagery.
"Buffy, you never told us what you're here for." Willow said suddenly, and her and Cordelia turned to face her with curious expressions.
Buffy gulped and glanced down at her hands folded in her lap. She knew she would have to tell them eventually, but it felt that she would truly be the Slayer if she told them. She drew in a deep breath.
"I-I..." she took another deep breath then tried again, "I'm the Slayer."
Cordelia's eye flew wider and Willow gasped.
"Oh! So you're a potential, huh? You must feel so bad, waiting for the next Slayer to die so you can get your powers." Cordelia gushed.
Willow rolled her eyes again while Buffy stared at the brunette.
"Cordy," Willow said exasperated, "Buffy isn't a Slayer, she's the Slayer."
Cordelia narrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Yeah I know...Oh!" her hand flew to her mouth, "The Slayer. Oh crap, I'm so sorry!"
Buffy felt the urge to storm out of the room, but Cordelia's innocent expression made a gush of laughter escape her lips instead. Willow followed suit, and soon the three of them were rolling on the floor in giggles.
"Uh...girls?" The three of them stopped and gulped for air, and saw Fred standing in the doorway, Xander and Oz right behind her.
They scrambled to stand, straightening their disordered clothing.
"You girls ready for the tour?" Fred asked.
They shot each other grins and nodded.
"OK, this way."
After shutting and locking their door, the three girls and two boys followed the lively Fred through the building.
"How cool is this place?" Xander said enthusiastically. "It's like a castle. I won't even be able to find the kitchen!" His face turned to one of horror, and Buffy grinned while Willow gave him a light punch and Cordelia giggled.
"Xand, you can't be hungry yet! You had eight of my mum's pancakes this morning!" Willow said, but Xander's stomach protested vehemently and he grinned sheepishly.
"Are you two friends?" I asked curiously.
"Yeah, me and Will go way back." Xander said, slinging his arm around her and then snaking his other arm around Cordelia's shoulder. "And me and Cordy here will be very close very soon."
The comment earned him another punch, and he rubbed his arm while grumbling about 'woman'.
Oz said nothing, but kept a slight, amused smile on his lips.
They were shown the four dormitories and then Fred led them down to the two bottom floors.
Door after door showed them the various classes. One held wands, herbs, cauldrons and candles for Witchery studies, and Cordy and Buffy had to forcefully drag Willow away from it. Another was filled with orbs, telescopes, and crystal balls, and they were told this was where the seers were taught.
Suddenly, a loud bell rang through the halls.
"What was that?" Xander exclaimed.
"That was the wake up bell. The students will be getting ready for breakfast now."
They came to a grand, carved double door that reached the roof. The five students gazed at it in awe, and Fred told them that this led to the library.
Xander strained against the weight of the door, and Buffy, seeing his struggle, pushed the doors open with ease using only her fingertips. Xander glanced at her in surprise.
"What the hell are you? Superwoman?" he asked.
"You're the Slayer." Oz said simply, more of a declaration than a question.
"Uh...yeah." she said, waiting for the uncomfortable looks and whispered 'freak' comments. However, none came, and she smiled when Oz said, "Cool," and walked past her without any hint of sarcasm.
"Well, now I know who to go to when I need some extra muscle." Xander said, slinging his arm around her shoulders, earning him groans from both Willow and Cordelia.
They entered the library and Xander gave a low whistle.
"What would they use all these books for?" he asked.
"To read, Xander. That's why books were created, so that people can read them." Willow said as Cordelia sniggered.
The library was particularly big. Huge was a better word to describe it. The walls were hidden by shelves of books and in the center were over ten rows of shelves. Books of all shapes and sizes occupied every inch of these shelves. In each corner they were about three couches where students could lounge to read leisurely and on the other side of the library were three long tables that were obviously used for private study.
"Come on, we've got to get to the hall for breakfast." Fred called from the door, and they hurried over to her. They walked through the twisting halls and came back to the helix staircase.
Fred walked around the stairs and Buffy saw that they hid a large red curtain. Their brunette guide pulled on a gold cord and the curtains drew apart to reveal another room. It was nearly twice the size of the library and was scattered with an abundance of circular tables.
"This is the dining room. It's used to all meals or assemblies. Go on now, breakfast will be soon." she urged them through, then disappeared.
The five of them found a small table near the stage and sat down. The same bell that had sounded before now echoed through the hall. A moment later, students began to pour through the entrance, and Buffy stared in wonder as the hall began to fill. Within a few minutes, the room was full with screams, laughter and chatter, much like Fred had said.
The students seemed to be under eighteen, but they ranged from seven to seventeen. Boys and girls alike sat at the tables chattering, waiting for breakfast to appear.
A moment later, nuns trickled from a small door at the side of the stage, and a cheer erupted from the crowd. They carried plates of delicious smelling food. Pancakes, croissants, eggs, donuts, toast, milk and juices were brought to every table, and within five minutes everybody was digging in.
"This is heaven." Xander said, and everybody, mouths too full with food to answer, nodded their heads with hearty agreement.
After fifteen minutes, when the plates were nearly empty and many stomachs were full, Buffy saw Angel enter the hall and make his way toward the stage, succeeded by unfamiliar adults. They filed onto the stage and when Angel held up his hand, silence fell.
"Good morning students. I trust you slept well. First, I would like to announce that we've been joined by a few new students. If you see them in the halls, please kindly welcome them to our home. Secondly, to the students who thought it amusing to try and lock Dennis in the toilets, be assured that he is now fully recovered and has been permitted two days to where the teachers shall be blind to his behavior and actions."
Buffy noticed with amusement that a fleshy, blonde boy sitting on the table beside her own turned a sickly green.
"Thirdly, I would like to introduce a new teacher to this school. Mr Giles, would you please stand forward?"
A middle-aged man stepped forward and bowed his head slightly to a scatter of lukewarm applause.
"He will be the new librarian, among helping with other circumstances." Buffy noticed his gaze lock onto her, and she presumed that this man would be working with her Slayer duties. Her new Watcher, maybe?
"Now, please finish your breakfast. The students planning on returning home for the weekend must be ready with packed bags by ten. Those preparing for an excursion into the city, the bus will be leaving at nine forty-five, which is in exactly five minutes. Moreover, those remaining here, the garden has been opened so feel free to wander. The first floor is restricted as customary, so please do not disobey. That will be all."
Buffy watched curiously as students scrambled to get ready.
"So, what are you girls doing today?" Xander asked, digging into yet another syrup-laden pancake.
