Alright, this story takes place after the first 3 episodes of Season 6 (of Buffy)...okay? So, Buffy isn't doing "stuff" with Spike yet, and everyone still thinks they brought Buffy back from some hell place...Silly Scoobies...

Buffy Summers moaned as she heard the sharp ringing of her alarm clock, waking her out of a deep slumber. Rolling over, she glared bleerily at the time: 10:30 in the morning. She reached her hand out from under the thick covers and fumbled to shut off the alarm.

Slowly, she sat up and leaned against her pillow for support. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she looked around her room. Warm golden sunlight filtered through her partly open blinds and cast the shadows away. Buffy's old stuffed animals, including her pig Mr.Gordo, were heaped into a large box in the corner of the room. Next to her small bookcase lay the glittering miniature umbrella that Buffy had been presented with at the prom for being the "Class Protector". Buffy smiled slightly, remembering the days back in high school with Angel, Xander, Willow, Cordy, and Giles.

Now standing up, Buffy went over to her bedroom door and walked outside into the hallway. The house was still and quiet, and Buffy paused to glance at her mother's picture on the wall. It had been about a year since Joyce had died of a tragic illness. Buffy shivered, thinking of the time when she had walked into the house to find her mom's dead body on the couch. She missed her mother very much, but at least she had Dawn. Even though Dawn could be a bit of a pest at times, she was Buffy's sister. At the moment, Dawn was still over at her friend Janice's house. She had slept over the previous night and was staying there for the afternoon. Xander had come by the house earlier to check on everyone, then left to meet up with Anya at the Magic Box, where she was probably cleaning or counting money. When Buffy strode into the kitchen downstairs, Willow and Tara were bustling around, pouring milk into glasses and getting out bowls for cereal.

"Hey Buffy! You're up kinda late," Willow greeted, brushing a strand of red hair out of her face.

"Yeah, I wanted to sleep a little late so I wouldn't be tired today. With Phoebe coming to pick me up for Disney Land and all..." Buffy frowned. "And why are you up so late, Will?"

"Oh, nothing," Willow glanced at Tara and they grinned at eachother.

"Oooo," Buffy said, nodding her head knowingly. Buffy missed having a boyfriend and staying up late at night, cradled in his arms, whoever the guy was. I'm glad Willow has Tara though, especially after Glory sucked out her brain--literally.

(Later on)

After Buffy had finished chowing down a simple breakfast, she had gone back upstairs, washed up, and changed into a blue tube top and jeans. Feeling clean and refreshed, she began packing her things for the trip. She grabbed her make-up bag, brush, and toothpaste out of the bathroom closet and headed to her room. Opening up her blinds all the way, she got out her bags and floral-patterned suitcase. Feeling rather upbeat, she began to hum merrily to herself as she packed.

It'll be good to get away from Sunnydale...and even Willow and Xander and all my friends. Not that I don't love them, its just...I need a whole new scene. Being pulled out of heaven can be pretty tough on a girl.

Stuffing another pair of shorts into her suitcase, Buffy closed the suitcase and pressed against it, tugging it shut. She straightened up and flexed her sore back, wiping beads of sweat off her forehead. That was when she heard the distant 'ring' of the doorbell from downstairs. Running to the window, she pulled the blinds back and peered outside.

"Oh yay! Phoebe's here," Buffy said, grinning. She looked back at all of her packed things. "Perfect timing, too." Letting the blind fall back into place, Buffy hoisted her bags onto her shoulders, heaved the suitcase off the bed and began the long hike down the stairs.

Sorry, the beginning chapters are gonna be short. I'm still trying to figure out what direction I want to take this story to. Hmm.....Ya know, like demon of the week or something...Oh well, stay tuned!