Buffy spent the next few days going about her business in the Swan household along with helping Bella out with a few chores here or there. She slept downstairs on the couch as there wasn't any room for her upstairs with Bella and Charlie. As Bella said, Charlie didn't hover and only asked Buffy a few basic questions though he seemed a tad skeptical that Buffy fought a wolf and lived. Buffy danced around the issue bringing up that she took a lot of self defense classes growing up. Bella more or less got him off the subject fully by describing how badly in shape Xander was though Charlie still had a skeptical look about him. Xander meanwhile was resting peacefully at the hospital for the most part. He was a tad paranoid his second night there when he realized that Victoria might come after him, so Buffy spent most of that night calming him down and assuring him he'd be fine.

Will she come after us, or is she bound to only strike again when the plot says so? Buffy thinks.

But could I have changed her part of the story already by fighting her? Note to self, ask Willow these questions next time she contacts you. Assuming she does contact you again…oh my gosh. Does time pass here the same way it does outside? My mom must be worried sick right now!

"Buffy?" Bella asks as she pulls her truck into the parking lot of her high school.

"Hm? Oh, I'm sorry Bella. I promise you, I don't zone out like this normally," Buffy tries to laugh off.

"Is it something you want to talk about?"

"Not especially," Buffy replies and notices that Bella looks mildly relieved at the response. "Hey, you don't have to worry about me dragging you into any conversations, Bella. Whenever you want to talk, we'll talk. If you don't, I don't have any problems with you being a closed book."

"Oh, thank you so much."

"Hey, Bella!" Someone yells from outside Bella's truck. The two women look up and spot Mike waving to them with Tyler, Angela, and Jessica standing beside him.

"My friends," Bella sighs. "Despite what I said earlier, they aren't bad people. Just give them an opening at your own risk."

"They seem like child's play compared to the people at my high school. Let's do this." The two ladies get out of the truck and approach the group of friends.

"Hey everyone," Bella greets then looks to Buffy. "This is Jessica, Tyler, Mike, and Angela."

"Hi Bella," Jessica says then glances over at Buffy. "And who's this?"

"Buffy Summers," Buffy introduces. "I'm just a backpacker staying at Bella's place for a while."

"And Charlie's ok with you taking in a random stranger?" Jessica asks looking Buffy over.

"Speaking of Charlie, is he still mad at me?" Tyler interrupts.

"Of course he is. Why do you think you still don't have your license?" Mike points out. Bella gives Buffy a 'what did I tell you' look before turning her attention back to the group.

"It's not like that, Jessica. Buffy and a friend of hers were in the woods and got attacked by a wolf. Buffy didn't have anywhere else to go, so I let her stay with me while her friend recuperates at the hospital."

"You fought a wolf? How did you survive?" Angela asks looking slightly awed.

"Just luck I guess," Buffy lies. "Though I would appreciate keeping this between us."

"Of course," Mike says. "If you'll do us the small honor of joining us for our dodgeball game today during gym class."

"…are you serious?" Jessica asks.

"Look at her, she's practically Linda Hamilton's blonde double and she fought a wolf. This could be the edge our side needs to defeat Edward and Emmet Cullen's team once and for all."

"But you can't just ask a total stranger to join our class," Angela points out.

"People come and go in our class all the time. The coach won't care if we take in some outside help this one time."

"Usually I'm the focus of their world," Bella whispers and Buffy snickers at this.

"Um, excuse me. Don't I get a say in this?" Buffy asks and they all suddenly stop talking as if they forgot Buffy was standing in their presence. "Look, the offer sounds fun, but…" Buffy stops as she prepares to turn them down and remembers what Willow said about how being tied to the hex means she must participate in the story.

What harm could a dodgeball game cause? And besides, it looks like Bella can use all the backup she can get with these dudes.

"Actually, you know what. Sure. I'm in," she agrees.

"Really? Alright!" Mike exclaims. "Gym's our first period, so suit up and put your game face on. It's gonna be a war zone in there," he says excitedly before heading off the for the school with Jessica and Tyler trailing behind him.

"You'll have to forgive Mike. He gets like that sometimes," Angela apologizes to Buffy.

"I've seen worse. Believe me." She turns over to Bella and nudges her head towards the school. "Lead on." Bella nods and the rest of them make their way towards the school.

"I guess now is a terrible time to mention that I'm terrible at sports," Bella whispers from their side of the gym.

"Relax. It'll be fun," Buffy tries to calm her. Much to Buffy's surprise, the coach indeed just rolled with her joining the class despite being an outsider. Buffy wonders if the hex has anything to do with it.

"It's only fun if you don't get hit."

"Just stay close to me and you'll be fine," Buffy advises her.

The coach blows his whistle and everyone sprints to the center of the court. Buffy reaches the center first and snatches up two of the dodge balls. She chucks them both immediately hitting two members of the opposing team right off the bat. A ball comes flying at her, but Buffy ducks causing the ball to hit Angela just behind her.

"Sorry Angela!" Buffy apologizes while dodging a few other balls. She catches one in midair, spins around, and throws it at the person standing beside the attacker in one fluid motion striking the player in the leg to take him out.

"That's how we do it!" Tyler shouts as he scoops up a ball and avenges Jessica by taking out the person that hit her.

Emmet meanwhile grabs a balls and swiftly tosses it at Buffy, but she somersaults to dodge it. He tries again, but Buffy spins out of the way of the ball with a wide smirk on her face. Emmet gives a small growl then turns his gaze at Tyler instead.

"Oh crap," Tyler utters and makes a run for it just avoiding Emmet's throw. Edward spots him, however, and throws the ball he's holding just in front of Tyler, making him run into its path. The ball connects with his face and he falls briefly sliding across the floor.

"Oh my God!" Jessica cries out and throws her ball at Edward, who casually sidesteps the ball and honestly looks bored by the attempt. Jessica narrows her eyes, picks up another ball, and readies another throw only to get hit by someone else instead. "Son of a bitch," she mutters dropping her ball and walking off the court in disappointment.

"Look out, Bella!" Mike shouts as someone else throws a ball at her.

Buffy grabs Bella and pulls her out of the way before sprinting after the rolling ball, picking it back up and then tossing it into the air. The other player gets underneath it ready to catch the ball, but Buffy whistles over to Mike, who takes the hint and throws the ball he has, hitting the opposing player in the chest before the ball can land taking him out of the game.

"Whoo!" Mike cheers and gets hit in the arm by a dodgeball from Emmet. "Damn it."

The games rages on for a good ten more minutes until only Buffy, Bella, Edward, and Emmet remain. The coach calls for a cease fire and has both sides of people go back to their sides while placing two balls in the center of the court. He blows his whistle and Buffy races forward as does Emmet. Buffy reaches the balls first and grabs one before retreating. Emmet doesn't let her get far and throws his ball with as much strength as he can muster.

"Look out!" Bella warns. Buffy turns and with only a split second to react, uses her dodgeball to deflect Emmet's back over to his side. It harmlessly bounces over to Edward who walks over to it with somehow even more casual indifference.

You're mine, he hears Buffy think.

"Fat chance," Edward mumbles picking up the other dodgeball.

"Edward, heads up!" Emmet shouts. Edward looks up and gets hit square in the face by Buffy's dodgeball. The entire gym falls silent for a moment; the ball having bounced off Edward and rolling back over to Buffy and Bella's side.

"Man, Cullen got nailed," one of the students says.

"Has he ever been hit before?"

"I don't think he has."

"That Buffy has an arm."

"I heard she fought a wolf."

As everyone continues to stare in silence, the other dodgeball rolls over to Bella who picks it up and, noticing Emmet still in shock from Edward getting hit, chucks it in his direction. Emmet doesn't even realize he's been hit until the coach blows the whistle signaling the end of the game. Buffy's side erupts in thunderous applause and they all swarm around Buffy for the victory. The team praising Buffy in particular for being the first person ever to land a hit on Edward.

"Hey, don't thank just me. Bella got in the final hit," Buffy reminds them.

"I didn't do much. I just took your advice and stayed close."

"See, I knew having her on our side would pay off," Mike mildly brags, but Buffy just goes with it. It's been a while since she's been praised for such a normal activity.

"Edward, you alright man?" Emmet asks helping his vampire brother to hit feet.

"Yeah, I guess," Edward answers rubbing his face. "That actually stung. Who is that girl?"

"You're really asking me when you can do, you know?" Emmet asks. Edward rolls his eyes and walks over to Buffy.

"Uh oh, looks like Edward's come to seek his revenge," Jessica sings. Edward ignores her and steps before Buffy.

"And you are?" He asks.

"Just passing through. Name's Buffy."

"The Dodgeball Queen," Mike adds.

"That does have a decent ring to it," Buffy laughs for a few seconds, but Edward only stares at her. "You've got something to say?" Edward looks at Buffy for a few more seconds then turns and walks away without a word. "Ooook. What was that?"

"You've just been Edward Cullened, is what," Jessica answers. "When 'God's gift to humanity' over there says a few words to you and then leaves like you don't exist, that's when you know you're truly one of us."

"Gee, what an honor," Buffy says.

"Ok, that's enough bonding, people!" The coach calls out. "Class isn't over yet!" As the class moves towards the center of the court for their next activity, Edward hangs at the back of the pack with Emmet.

"You get anything off our mystery girl?" Emmet asks.

"Just thinking about how she must've wounded my ego, but then one another thought caught my attention."

"Oh yeah. What's that?"

"What's vampire boy staring at?" Edward whispers.

To Be Continued…