Heinrich Nest stood back with gold eyes and admired the mess they'd made of the Blood Sucker's school. There were thick white lines of soap on the windows, toilet paper hanging from the trees, and the large wooden 'Welcome to Blood Sucker High' sign had had several raw eggs thrown at it. It would take a few days for the weed killer to do its work, but when it did, the word losers would be spelled out in dead grass on the lawn.

"What do you think? Good enough?" a voice came from beside him.

"Yeah. Good enough." Nest finished off his beer before throwing the bottle against the side of the school and causing glass shards to settle into the thick grass. "And you know what the best thing about this is?" He glanced at his newest ally. "They won't know if it's aimed at the Suckers or Slayers."

Ethan gave a slow smirk as he looked over the damage before turning back to the Freaky Fang's class president. "Works for me."


Cordy set her bottle of blood on the table before frowning when she saw her principal making his way around the tables in the Blood Well. "Am I seeing things or is that..."

"Flutie," Spike breathed as he caught sight of the older man marching through the bar as if he was on a mission.

"Shit," Angel cursed as Flutie walked up to another table, wrote on his clipboard, and spoke for a few seconds before moving on. The kids at the tables got up and quickly left.

A couple of blocks away at the Bronze:

Snyder walked into the teen hangout and looked over the tables before walking onto the stage and grabbing the microphone, effectively bringing an end to one of Buffy's favorite songs. A groan ran through the crowd, and he called over the mic for silence. "When I get done, I'm going to walk to the door and write down every high school student's name that's here as they file past me on their way to the school."

The high schoolers muttered angrily, and Snyder held up his hand to silence them. "The school has been vandalized. Both Mr. Flutie and I are assembling our students who have the time on their hands to correct the problem. He paused for a moment to look over the crowd. "I must admit, there are more of you here than I'd hoped to see." He glanced one more time over the room before adding, "Any calls needed to inform your parents of your whereabouts should be made quickly." A moment later, he handed the mic back to the lead singer and headed off the stage.


"Well, this is great!" Spike glared over the wrecked school. "This is going to take all night."

Cordelia growled and slid into game face. "Someone's going to pay for this and my guess is it's going to be the Freaky Fangs."

"Led by none other than Heinrich Nest," Angel chimed in darkly. "He was in the Blood Well last night with his flunkies. I should have known something was up." A new group of angry voices cut into their conversation and the three turned to see Buffy, Xander, Willow, and Riley walking up to the school with several other humans.

"Ripper and Ethan. It has to be," Buffy exclaimed angrily.

"No doubt about it," Riley broke in. "This is their style."

Xander nodded before looking over the building and cursing. "I can't believe Snyder's making us clean this up tonight. It's going to take hours."

Cordy smirked as the miserable humans walked past. "Well, at least we'll have entertainment."

Angel gave a lopsided grin as his attention centered on Buffy. "Yeah, we will."


Buffy sighed before glancing at her watch. It was after 10, and they were pretty much just getting started. Reaching for the sponge floating in the bucket of water at her feet, she started to wipe the raw egg off the Blood Sucker's school sign.

"Summers!" Her name cut bitingly through the conversations around her causing some of the students to look up curiously and others to snicker. "Why aren't there any of our students helping the Blood Suckers get the toilet paper out of the trees? Do you think this looks like good relationship skills?"

Buffy looked past her principal and over to the edge of the school property where the vampires were working on the trees. "But half of them aren't doing anything." She eyed a group that was standing near trash cans waiting for strands of toilet paper to be handed to them.

"Get over there Summers. There's still a ladder in the tool shed."

Buffy scowled as she took one more look at the sign before dropping the sponge in the bucket of water. Finding the ladder, she dragged it with some difficulty to the only tree that wasn't being worked on.

"Look at that mate." Spike nudged Angel and pointed to where Buffy was just setting the ladder against the tree. "Think we should help her?"

The brunette turned to watch Buffy. "Don't you think she's doing okay?" he murmured as she carefully climbed up the ladder in her tight mini skirt before trying to grab a strand of toilet paper and missing it. Angel grinned and shook his head before turning to Spike. "Okay... we'll help her, but let's not volunteer too soon. There's that entertainment factor... remember?"

"There is that," Spike agreed with a smirk as he grabbed at a strand of toilet paper before frowning when it tore off and only left him a small section. He handed it to another student standing below him before deciding to move the ladder to a different spot. "So... do you think this was aimed at the slayers or us?"

"Does it matter? I say we go after the Freaky Fangs." Angel grabbed a section of toilet paper and handed it to the guy loitering below his ladder. "We've got to do something to them eventually. This might as well be the kick-off for it."

"Parker!" Flutie glared at one of the boys standing with the group. "Why are there three trash cans under this tree?"

"Because it's convenient."

"Not for Ms. Summers it isn't. Maybe you should *take* a trash can over to her and make yourself useful?"

"Yes sir." Parker did a parody of a soldier standing at attention before grabbing a trash can and starting toward the tree Buffy was working on as Spike and Angel exchanged glances.

Buffy glared at the toilet paper that was just out of reach before muttering a curse and climbing onto a wide limb. She didn't notice the boy standing below her but looked down with irritation when he pulled the ladder away from the tree. "Hey! I'm using that."

"Sure. I know, but as Flutie would say, 'sharing is an act of caring'," he quoted their principal's words from three weeks ago, the first time the students had found out about the humans using their school.

Buffy rolled her eyes and tugged gently at the toilet paper hoping she could get a longer strand this time. "Uh-huh... right." She eyed him with a frown as he climbed the ladder and started to work on the tree. "Why does it look to me like you just *took* my ladder?"

"Well, what do you expect me to do? Flutie ordered me to help, and since you were in the tree, I thought I'd use the ladder."

"Uh-huh..." she murmured skeptically, "but I need it back because I can't reach anymore from here."

He ignored her before suddenly smirking and looking down. "And the winner is... green."

Quiet laughter drifted up, and she looked down to see Spike and Angel standing under the tree. She frowned at them before realization dawned, and when Angel looked up with a smirk she felt her face flush as she smoothed the rumpled skirt over her thighs. green underwear. She was wearing green. Damn it! "I need a ladder."

"Sorry," Angel murmured with a shake of his head. "I'm using mine."

"Me too luv. When I get done with it though, you can give me a bite for it."

Angel lifted an eyebrow at Spike's response before positioning his ladder against the tree and starting to climb. He stopped when he was slightly below her.

"*What*?" Buffy snapped.

"Calm down. I just want to talk for a minute." He gave a slow sexy smile as he looked her over from head to toe before looking up into her eyes. "Does your bra match?"

She stared at him before glancing longingly at the ground. The limb was about ten feet up... It was too far to jump and she started to shift closer to the tree trunk before freezing when the moon went behind a bank of clouds, the sudden darkness disorienting her. It wasn't that there weren't lights around the school, but she was a ways from them, and the boots she was wearing weren't the best for climbing trees.

"Hey," Angel murmured when he sensed fear coming from her instead of anger. "I was just kidding." He started down the ladder. "Come on. I'll let you down." She didn't move though, and after going down a couple of rungs he looked back up. "What's wrong?"

"I can't see."

"That's okay." Parker climbed up on the limb beside her and slid an arm around her waist. "I'll help you down."

"Th... thanks," Buffy felt the light coat she was wearing bunch around the hand that was splayed over her stomach and fought to keep from slapping it away.

"Let's turn you around," he murmured as he urged her toward him. Buffy carefully turned, and Parker shifted to help steady her. "Now the ladder's right in front of you. All you've got to do is step on a rung." He shoved the ladder a few inches off the tree with his free hand and smirked when she clutched at him tighter when she couldn't find it.

"Knock it off," Angel warned as he climbed back up to the limb Buffy was on and turned her away from her antagonizer. "Ladder's right here. Just come to me," he urged as he guided her toward the rungs. Buffy's foot hit a flat step and relief flooded her as she carefully turned so her back was to him before starting down the ladder. Angel's eyes lit up as he watched her move down the rungs from behind before he stopped two rungs from the bottom, and she bumped into him with a startled cry.

"Angel?"

"Here," he murmured.

"I know you're there," she stated with annoyance. "Why'd you stop?"

"I just.. lost my footing."

She waited for him to start moving again, and when he didn't, she frowned. A snicker from Spike had her anger returning. "If you don't let me off this ladder I'm going to *hurt* you. Do you understand?"

"Temper, temper," he murmured. "I'll regain my footing when you tell me if your bra matches."

"Yes, it's green," she hissed. "Now will you let me down?"

"Is it the same shade of emerald?" he asked in a low voice.

Buffy's face flushed. She couldn't believe she was having this conversation. "If you don't let me off this ladder I'm going to make your human face look as bad as your vamped one," she almost growled as the moon came out from behind the clouds to reveal her principal walking toward her.

"Ms. Summers. Did I just hear you threaten another student?" He looked at her with disapproval. "That should be good for a few days detention." She cursed under her breath and started back down the ladder when Angel stepped to the ground, and Snyder turned to face him. "Are you alright young man?"

"Yeah... but I never knew humans were so violent." He forced himself to shudder as he looked away from Buffy's narrowed eyes and turned to Snyder. "I don't understand why she dislikes us so much."

Buffy rolled her eyes before turning to look at Spike when he lightly jumped to the ground. "I'm beginning to wonder if she doesn't just hate vampires in general," the bleached blonde added as he walked over. "I mean, she called me deformed on her first day of classes, and when I suggested she'd make an excellent mascot for our last basketball game, she told me there was no way she'd ever cheer Blood Suckers."

"Linds told me about that," Parker broke in as he looked at Spike. "Didn't she almost threaten you with a ball bat for mentioning it?"

"I didn't threaten him," Buffy broke in with irritation before looking at her principal. "We're playing baseball in gym, and I happened to have a bat in my hand when we were talking."

"I felt intimidated," Spike shot back.

Buffy snorted. "And here I thought vampires and bats got along," she murmured under her breath.

Silence fell as they all looked at her, the Blood Suckers with amusement, and her principal with disapproval. "I have to admit I'm curious Ms. Summers. If I were to give you a choice of a week's detention, or attending a Blood Sucker's game and cheering for their team, which would you choose?"

"Detention," she answered without hesitation before noticing Snyder was looking at her thoughtfully.

"You don't look particularly remorseful." He turned to Angel. "Are you on the basketball team?"

The brunette nodded as he watched the principal intently.

"If her punishment were to mascot your game, would you be willing to help her through the process?"

"I could do that." Angel purposefully kept from looking at anyone but Snyder. He already knew Parker and Spike would be gloating... and Buffy would be fuming.

"Good. I'll talk to Mr. Flutie about it. In the meantime, I suggest you all get back to work." He walked off a moment later.

Buffy stared after him in denial as she tried to figure out what had just happened, and missed the smiles she was getting from the three guys surrounding her. "Oh, this is going to be fun." Spike needled. "Wait until the others hear about this."

"Shut up!" She turned toward him. "If this goes through, I'm going to make you sorry you ever suggested it."

"Now now luv... you're not thinking positively. I'm sure you'll get into the school spirit." He looked over her head and met Angel's eyes. "Some of our traditions might even interest you."

Parker grinned. "And to think I'm giving up the mascot job, and the opportunity to enjoy everything that goes with it, so you won't have detention."

"Don't worry about it," she answered before starting to walk away. "You're not going to have to give up anything because I'm not going to be the idiot mascot." And if she was, she vowed as she headed back toward the school, she'd make them regret it.

A few moments later, she was looking at the broken eggshells and candy bar wrappers on the lawn with annoyance before noticing a broken bottle in the grass, and she stared at it thoughtfully before giving a slow grin. It was perfect, and her grin widened as she started thinking about the possibilities.


Monday morning

Xander walked into the student lounge with a scowl before taking a seat beside Willow.

"How'd it go?" she asked with a smile.

"God Will," he dropped his head on the table before lifting it. "I've never seen so many trash bags in one place before." He shook his head. "So far we've cleaned out 10 dumpsters... and that doesn't include what Oz and Devin brought in yesterday."

"So it's pretty disgusting?" she asked.

He nodded before shaking his head. "We've got truckloads of trash along with 2 pretty good size trailers."

She laughed. "In other words, it's just about perfect?"

He grinned before nodding. "Yeah. But it's going to suck when we dump it."

Oz nodded. "But cleaning it up will be worse."


Things seldom went her way, and her punishment was no exception. That was why Buffy found herself in a Blood Sucker's school bus as it made the final turn into the Freaky Fangs' parking lot on Friday night. The only consolation she had was that Parker had agreed to wear the 'official' mascot uniform after she'd refused to put it on.

The driver shut off the engine before opening the doors, and she let the players and cheerleaders go first before getting off the bus.

Fifteen minutes later, she was standing in an area between the rival school's bleachers as she watched the Blood Sucker's cheerleaders do a cheer to her left while the Freaky Fangs countered it on her right. Feeling like she was being watched, she glanced over and noticed the Freaky Fang's mascot looking at her curiously. She grinned and twirled the plastic stake in her hand, making sure to draw his attention to it, and he raised an amused eyebrow.

"Blood Suckers?" the sturdy brunette asked as he read the lettering on her handmade shirt before lifting his eyes back to hers. She shifted so he could see the large mosquito and the words 'Really Suck' on the back, and he laughed softly as he walked to her side. "Why am I thinking you're not a Blood Sucker's fan?"

"What would give you that idea?"

A loud cheer ran through the crowd as Lindsey scored a point. Parker danced in front of the stands in his bat costume, but Buffy and Luke didn't even turn to look at the game. "Maybe the distinct lack of team spirit," he told her as he stepped closer.

"Really?" She pretended to think about that before giving a faint grin and nod. "You could be right."

He smirked before moving to lean against the wall she was leaning against so they were face to face and a couple of feet apart. "You're a lot more interesting than their usual mascot Blondie, or should I say Buffy?" he asked with a faint smile.

"You've heard about me then?"

"You're a human going to school with our rivals... it's kind of hard to miss."


Angel spun to shoot for the hoop and spotted Buffy and Luke. He froze for a moment and just barely managed to pass the ball to Doyle when Wesley tried to knock it out of his hands.

"Angel," Spike hissed, "what's your problem?"

"Luke," Angel told him before he tried to turn his attention back to the game. Spike glanced at Luke and narrowed his eyes at Buffy before moving to cover the Freak that had just stolen the ball.


A few minutes later, the crowd's cheering caused the mascots to look up in time to see the Blood Suckers score. It was what Buffy had been waiting for, and she moved in front of the cheering crowd with some graceful, and much rehearsed cheerleading moves. Silence fell for a few moments as the Blood Suckers looked at the large mosquito with the words 'Really Suck' around it before they filled the gym with loud hisses and boos. Buffy gave a wide smile as one by one the players turned with astonishment to stare at their supporters.

"What the bloody hell," she heard Spike exclaim before the sudden laughter and cheers from the Freaky Fang's side of the bleachers drowned him out.

Still not showing her back to the teams, Buffy backed into her previous spot between the bleachers and watched as players from both schools cast curious glances at their supporters. Angel's gaze strayed to her for a moment, and Buffy's smile widened as she tried her best to look innocent.

"I like your style," Luke murmured as he cast her an admiring look.

"Thanks," Buffy answered as she noticed the glare Cordelia was giving her, "but I'm not sure everyone agrees with you."

He shrugged. "Who cares? Our side loves you."

Buffy cast him an uncertain smile before Parker broke into their conversation. "But that's just the first act isn't it Buffy? I'm sure our side will like you more a little later in the game." There was something in his voice that made her uneasy, but what could he do to her? They were in a gym surrounded by... vampires, she reminded herself, and one principal who was intent on making her life miserable. She slid her stake back up her sleeve and moved away from the other two mascots, at least as far as she could in the 12-foot passageway.

She was surprised a few minutes later when the Fangs scored. The crowd yelled in victory before a group at the top of the bleachers started chanting 'Bug repellent'. More Fangs added to it until the gym rang with the chant. Wild laughter followed, and Buffy noticed that the players were staring at the bleachers again with curious frowns. She dropped her head and stared at her feet with a faint smile. Bug repellent... mosquito... yeah, she got it.


The game had been going on for several minutes when Luke walked over to her. "Do you have any plans for halftime?"

"Not unless standing here qualifies."

He smirked. "We can surely do better than that can't we?"

"You mean *you* can," Buffy told him pointedly. "I've already been told by the cheerleaders that there's no way I can take the spotlight off them."

Luke laughed. "You're taking the spotlight off the *game* Slayer... The cheerleaders don't stand a chance."

Buffy lifted an eyebrow before glancing up as the players started to walk through the alley she and Luke were standing in as they headed for the locker rooms.

"You know Luke," Angel broke in as he glanced at the back of Buffy's shirt before centering his attention on the brunette talking to her. "She's not interested, so why don't you leave her alone and go back to whatever freak you're dating at the moment?"

"But we've been talking about making her an honorary member of our school," Luke shot back smoothly.

"Angel," Spike reached for his friend's arm. "We don't have time for this now," he glanced at Buffy, "but we will have later," he added meaningfully.

Angel stared at Luke for a moment before heading for the locker room with Spike at his side.

"Is there something between you and McCormick?" Luke asked as he watched the two leave. "He seems a little possessive."

She turned to him with surprise before snorting. "Angel's just the one that got saddled with looking out for me. Believe me, we're not friends."

He glanced back at her doubtfully before giving a faint smile. "He takes his job seriously then." She didn't reply, and he took a step toward her. "Now... what do you want to do for halftime?"

She gave a shake of her head before turning to watch the cheerleaders take the floor. "I already told you."


They'd carefully set the routine. The cheers for halftime were already planned, and Darla was getting ready to do the next one when she felt a hand on her arm. Annoyance ran through her as she turned to the senior that had grabbed her with a scowl. "What?"

Luke told her, and she gave a wicked grin.


Buffy leaned against the wall and glanced at the clock. There were about 8 minutes of halftime left, and she turned to watch Cordelia climb to the top of a pyramid formation before straightening in surprise when she noticed the Fang's cheerleading squad moving toward her.

A blonde stopped a couple of feet away, and Buffy looked up warily. "You don't look like a nerd," Darla half stated, half challenged.

Buffy's eyes glinted with a hint of amusement. "Maybe not a nerd, but not exactly a cheerleader right?" she asked as she held her arms out to emphasize her old sweatshirt and faded jeans.

Darla smiled coolly. "Looks can be deceiving..." she murmured before adding, "Do you know the dances in California Nights?"

"Who doesn't?" Buffy answered. As far as she knew almost everyone at her school had probably taken the time to learn them.

"Then let's do it."

Buffy's eyes narrowed as she looked over the cheerleaders. "You want to dance..." she asked slowly, "now?"

"Yeah," Darla answered with an unmistakable challenge.

Luke laughed, and Buffy looked over to watch him set his oversized mascot head on the bleachers, and hold his hand out to her with a smile. She turned a calculating look toward Darla before agreeing.

Cheerleaders quickly pulled partners off the bleachers before going to the gym floor to line up, they were joined by more Freaks that had been watching the game, and when they were finished there were 20 couples on the floor. A boombox was placed off to the side before the music started to play, and suddenly everyone started the slow moves that began one of the dances.

Buffy moved to the heavy beat as she let the song guide her through the moves. The vampires around her all moving in perfect synchrony. The song was nearing its end when she noticed the teams were standing at the edge of the floor, and she noticeably missed a step before catching herself and turning back to Luke who was watching with sudden amusement. "They haven't been there too long."

She frowned even as she smoothly countered his moves. "Thanks for telling me," she stated with a scowl. Luke laughed before spinning her around as the song came to an end. The dancers bowed to the crowd, and the Fang's side of the gym erupted in cheers.

She'd almost made it off the floor when an arm slid around her waist. "I think you could use a little help with your costume Buff," Parker almost growled.

"What?" Buffy tensed in surprise when she felt a thick, wetness pour over her neck and shoulder as it ran into the top of her shirt, some of it sliding in a rivulet between her breasts as some slid down her back. The brunette released her, and she stared down at the deep red stain that was spreading over her shirt. Laughter mixed with catcalls came from the Blood Sucker's side while the Freaky Fangs booed. Buffy clenched her teeth before moving back to her spot between the bleachers.

Luke walked over to her with a frown before turning toward the Freaky Fang's locker room. "Stay here... I'll be right back."

"Don't really have too many options," she called after him with a wince as she tried to use her shirt to blot at the paint.

A couple of minutes later, Luke was back. He handed her a wad of brown paper towels before pulling a towel and tee shirt out of his gym bag. "Thought you might want to change," he murmured as he held out his shirt.

"It'll get paint on it."

"It's okay. The thing's two years old and has a couple of holes at the bottom." His look turned apologetic. "It's just my gym shirt. But it's dry, and I've only worn it once since it was washed."

Buffy hesitated before taking the shirt and towel with a small smile. "How can I turn it down? Thanks, Luke." A moment later, she glanced over the gym before hesitating. "I'm going to need a place to change though."

He motioned to a hallway that was behind the locker rooms. You can use the coach's office."


Buffy gave a soft laugh when she got a look at Luke's shirt. He'd neglected to tell her it was a school shirt with Freaky written across the front in large irregular letters and a matching Fangs across the back with a large picture of a vampire's fangs drawn out like they were howling. She couldn't stop a grin as she slid into it. If the Blood Suckers hadn't liked her other shirt, there was no way they'd like this one. She played with the fit for a moment and decided Luke had been telling the truth when he'd told her it was a couple of years old. It was a little loose in spots, a little tight in others, but it fit reasonably well.

She reached down to pick up her paint saturated sweatshirt and Luke's paint smeared towel before heading out of the office and stopped in the hallway when she saw Luke and Flutie waiting for her. Luke handed her a couple of small plastic shopping bags and she slid her shirt into one, and his towel into the other before glancing up at the principal who was watching intently.

"Are you okay Ms. Summers?" Flutie asked. "I saw Parker dump the paint on you while I was at the concession stand, or I would have spoken to you sooner."

Buffy's glance slid to the cup of blood in his hand before she quickly looked back up at him. "I'm fine," she answered, "and Luke offered me a shirt." Flutie glanced at Luke before turning back to her.

"I thought you should know that Parker won't be bothering you again. He's been relieved of his mascot duties and will spend the remainder of the game sitting by my side... as well as the next week in detention."

Buffy's eyes widened slightly before she gave a genuine smile. "Thank you."

"It's no problem," he answered with a smile of his own. "Hopefully this kind of behavior will not be a problem in the future."

Buffy gave a skeptical nod before watching as Flutie ordered Parker onto the bleachers.


Spike made a basket, and Buffy swung onto the floor to do a quick victory jog along the Blood Sucker's side complete with a couple of cartwheels.

The reaction wasn't immediate, but in stages, the Blood Sucker's cheers turned to hisses of anger that were quickly followed by some laughter from the Freaky Fangs as they got a look at her new shirt.

The eyes of both schools were on her when Luke moved onto the floor to catch her around the waist and pull her into a quick spinning dance before giving a low bow to the audience. His side applauded, and her side glared.


"Hey Angel... your mascot seems friendly," Wesley stated as he blocked the brunette from heading toward the Blood Sucker's basket. "Does she like fangs?"

Angel glanced over to see Buffy and Luke mimicking the cheerleaders before narrowing his eyes and twisting away. Penn was in the clear, and without breaking momentum, he tossed the ball to him.

"If she's not careful," he muttered as he tried to refocus on the game, "I'm going to find out."


Angel put the ball through the hoop just before the bell sounded to end the game. It wasn't enough, they'd lost by two points. The Fangs cheered the victory, and the Blood Suckers headed for the locker rooms to change.

The Freaky Fang's team stayed on the floor though, and Buffy watched from her spot against the bleachers as they started to line up for another dance, this time including the players.

"Buffy," Darla called loudly across the gym before motioning for her to come over. They all turned to look at her, and the blonde gave a faint frown as she pushed uncertainly away from the wall. "Luke needs a partner," Darla added pointedly.

"One more time?" he coaxed as he held out a hand.

"Better not Buggy," Cordelia snapped angrily. "You wouldn't want to get more fleas than you've already got."

That decided it, and Buffy walked over to take her place on the gym floor.

The music started, and she looked up in surprise when she heard the tune. She knew the dance... but where the other songs were more about movements and less about contact... that wasn't true of this one. She glanced up at Luke. He grinned, and she rolled her eyes in response. A couple of seconds later, she'd settled into the movements with a faint hint of amusement. Darla had said she didn't look like a nerd... and now, Buffy decided, it was evidently time for her to prove she wasn't.

The dance lasted 5 minutes, and when it was over she turned to the exit with a smile... that froze and melted when she saw the silent Blood Suckers watching with gold eyes... all except one, and she looked into Angel's dark brown with a hint of trepidation.

"We're waiting Buff," he murmured as Doyle, Lindsey, Penn, Dru, and Larry moved off to the side to leave her an alley to walk through. "Whenever you're ready."

She started toward them and was surprised when 3 of the Freaky Fang's cheerleaders moved with her. "You know we hang out at the Blood Barn don't you?" Darla asked. "You should stop by sometime and we can talk about guys." She shot a hard look at Angel as she walked past him before looking over to coolly meet Spike's gold eyes. "I've got to tell you, you're going to school with some real losers." She glanced at Parker.

"She's right you know," Nina spoke up from Buffy's other side as they all paused while the blonde picked up her gym bag. "And the girls..." she rolled her eyes. "Big time skanks..." she snarled.

"Did anyone tell you about the time in 9th grade when Cordelia and Harmony got head lice?" Kate questioned.

"We only had lice because *you* put them in our sleeping bags," Cordelia answered angrily.

Darla laughed as they pushed open the double doors that lead into the parking lot. "She's clearly in denial," she stated as they started across the gravel. "And the guys..." she shook her head. "Take Angel for instance... the bastard dumped me right after getting fangs into my throat in 8th grade."

Angel snorted. "We had 2 dates before I realized you were a Freak Darla... which was about the time you emptied half of our blood keg and filled it back up with water."

"Speaking of kegs and parties," Spike broke in. "However did you guys manage to stay out of the sun when all of your cars ran out of gas at the beach 2 years ago?

"We found some shade and bedded down," Luke answered from behind them. "Which was actually kind of fun... Let's just say there was a lot of blood exchanged that day."

Buffy swallowed uneasily before stopping when one of the Freaky Fang's players moved in front of her. "You know," Nest started, "it's a shame Luke monopolized all of your time. I mean, the guy's not even coordinated enough to be a basketball player, he no doubt spent half of the time stomping on your feet."

"Yeah," Wesley agreed as he gave her a smile, his eyes glinting with amusement. "And don't let his mask fool you, his fangs aren't really that big."

There was some faint laughter. "I can vouch for that," Nina said as she glanced at the Slayer with a smile.

Buffy shot her a look before turning back cautiously to the guys in front of her. "Well... that's got to hurt," she stated quietly. They smiled and stepped out of her way, and she took the last three steps to the bus before Nest touched her arm and stopped her. "You know you're welcome at the Blood Barn anytime... In fact, you're more than welcome if you want to stop by."

Buffy forced a smile. "I'll remember that," she answered as she stepped onto the bus and listened to the quiet inhuman growls and hisses that followed her leaving the parking lot, and the soft scattered laughter.


"So... Buffy," Angel dropped into the seat beside her a few seconds later. It was directly behind the bus driver and a change for him since he normally sat in the back. "You told your mother you'd be late tonight didn't you?"

"No later than a quick stop at the Bronze." She shot him a look. "Why? Should I have?"

"If you join us for our party, we can take you to the Blood Well afterward," Penn spoke up.

"Buffy rolled her eyes. "As much of a temptation as that is, I think I'll pass."

"But we insist," Angel murmured. "I mean, we're all friends here right?" He didn't wait for a reply before slowly sliding an arm around her shoulders. "Besides maybe it'll give us time to get to know each other better." He leaned slightly closer. "I'm not adverse to humans." He pulled back to study her with dark challenging eyes. "And it doesn't look like your adverse to us."

The vampires behind them gave low taunting growls, and she twisted to pull his arm away before looking back at him. "It looks like I'm not adverse to you?" she asked with disbelief. "Are you insane? If it wasn't for your little stunt with the ladder, I wouldn't have had to go to your game."

"But you looked like you were enjoying yourself," he shot back with cool irritation.

She couldn't stop from giving a faint smile, one that instantly made him angrier than he already was. "You know, I've been a cheerleader off and on since my freshman year, and I can't ever remember 'bug repellent' being used as a victory chant."

"That was unusual wasn't it?" Spike asked almost threateningly. "I mean, it's never been used before, and all at once you show up at one of our games, and... there it is."

"Yeah," she answered as she turned to look out the window with a smile. "Imagine that."