This chapter's kind of long and there's not much going on because I have to introduce everyone and explain what's going on since its a bit different. Hope you like it!


Ch. 1

Juniors

Buffy Summers made her way up the steps in front of Sunnydale High School the first day of her junior year.

When she reached the top, she looked around for her friends.

"Buffy, over here!"

Buffy looked in the direction of the voice and saw her friend Xander Harris waving at her. Buffy smiled and walked over to him and the rest of her friends sitting on a bench.

"Buffster! Great to see ya. What's up?" Xander asked.

"Same old, same old," Buffy answered, sitting down beside Willow Rosenburg, who had been her friend since third grade, just like Xander.

"Hey, Buffy," Willow smiled.

"Hi, Wil. Tara, how was the Bahamas?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, the vacation I've always dreamed of but you got instead. How was it?" Xander asked sarcastically.

"It really wasn't that great. It was a cruise to the Bahamas and my brother got seasick, and my parents got terrible sunburns from playing too much shuffleboard. By the time we got to the Bahamas we just sat in a hotel room for three days, basically."

"Oh...in that case, I'm not so jealous." Xander thought about it. "No, still jealous."

Everyone smiled and the bell rang. They got up and headed toward the front doors of the school.

"So, we hittin' the Bronze tonight or what, guys?" Xander asked as they walked into their first class and sat down near each other.

"Sure. Celebrate the starting of school. Though, there's not much to celebrate... But I'm in," Buffy said as a boy with platinum blonde hair, carefully slicked back, walked into the classroom and sat down in the seat closest to the door.

"Who's that?" Tara asked, looking at him.

Everyone followed her eyes.

"Yikes! That's hair," Xander commented.

"Yeah. Wonder how much bleach that took," Buffy said.

"I've never seen him before," Tara said.

"Me neither," Willow responded. "Though...I guess he does look a little bit familiar."

"Yeah, he does," Buffy agreed as the bell rang again and the teacher walked into the room and began to talk.

Buffy couldn't concentrate. Her brain kept nagging her as to who this boy was. She stared at him practically the whole time, but nothing came to mind.

When class was over, Buffy got up and to go talk to him, but he left before she got the chance.

"I think that has to be the one person in school with hair crazier than mine," Oz pointed out.

"Who knew that was possible?" Xander asked sarcastically, grinning, as the gang walked out of the classroom and down the hall toward their lockers. "I mean, that hair is like...whoa."

"I thought it was kind of hot," Tara commented shyly.

"Hot? I was thinking more along the lines of weird," Xander replied as Cordelia Chase and her followers approached them.

"You must be talking about yourself, Xander Harris. Because weird's the one word that describes you perfectly," Cordelia said, smiling evilly.

"No, I was referring to the new kid's bleached hair, Cordelia," Xander told her.

"Oh, him. Someone needs to tell him that Billy Idol hair is so over."

"Do you know his name?" Willow asked.

"No. He won't talk to anyone. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a life to live." Cordelia pushed past them and walked away.

"Cordelia has insulted us. It's official. School's back in session," Xander said and they continued down the hallway.

When they passed the library, Buffy went in to check in with Giles since she hadn't seen him since school ended.

"Hello...Giles..." Buffy called as she walked into the library.

Giles came out of his office.

"Oh, Buffy. Good to see you. How was your summer?"

"Boring in all meanings of the word," Buffy told him. "And that includes the un-dead activity."

"So, no problems then?"

"Nope. Problem free. Though, I did break a nail once while slaying a vamp..." Giles looked at her, "But you probably don't need to know that. So, what's up? Any apocalypic stuff goin' on?"

"No, fortunately."

"Good! 'Cause the gang's meeting up at the Bronze tonight, and I was kind of hoping for a free."

"You should still probably patrol," Giles advised. "Just in case."

"Sure. I can do that. I'll just go to the Bronze and swing through the cemetery before going home."

"Very good. I'll let you know if anything comes up."

"OK, cool. I'll catch ya later," Buffy responded and left the library.


That night at the Bronze, the gang was all out on the floor dancing to an up-beat song.

When it was over, they all went back to their table and sat down, catching their breath.

"I need a drink. Anyone else want one?" Xander asked.

"Yes, please," they all agreed.

"OK. Anyone have any money?" Xander asked and everyone looked at him. "What? I spent all my money on drinks last night."

Buffy gave him ten dollars and he went off to get the drinks.

"Just a question, but how's he going to carry all those back by himself?" Oz wondered.

"He volunteered. Let him figure it out," Buffy replied.

"Hey, you guys. Look." Willow nodded toward the table about ten feet away from them.

"It's the new boy," Tara said.

He was sitting at a table by himself, stirring his drink with a straw.

Just then, Xander came back with a tray full of drinks.

"Oh, he figured it out," Oz said.

"Yep. I do have some brains, believe it or not," Xander said, handing out the drinks to everyone and sitting down. "I see blondie's here."

"He looks kind of lonely," Willow said, feeling sorry for him.

"Yeah, he does," Buffy agreed, studying him and narrowing her eyes. He reminded her of her old friend from elementary, who moved away in third grade. Maybe he was. She'd have to ask him tomorrow, though, because he was leaving.

THE END OF CHAPTER 1


Thanks for the reviews, mates! I've changed a few things according to your reviews. It's loads better now.

Keep the reviews coming!