Author's note: Okay, Alexis, I never said anything about siring, although I'm pretty sure I didn't make that clear. I know lots of people mess with chronologies of Spike's turning and his siring to fit their stories, Hell, I'm known to do so myself, in this particular story, however, Spike was turned in 1880 (like in the show)by Drusilla (like in the show), BUT Angelus taught him everything he knows. :) So I hope this clears things up.
And also, sorry everyone, for taking so long with this update. But I pretty much haven't had much time. So, Here it is folks, Hope you like it. I'll update sooner now.
Chapter XXXIII - School Hard
"I cannot believe you are making me do this." Alex whined.
Buffy laughed.
They were both sitting out side the principal's office waiting to finalize Alex's enrollment. The school was beautiful, in the fifteenth century it had been the home of a wealthy baron, (not unlike Spike was now, only he's a duke not a baron). Tucked in the English country side about seventy kilometers from London, the Hall itself served as the main building with a few other annexes strewn around the stately grounds for the different departments and the boarding dorms. Alex was to be a regular student-Trevden was about a forty minutes drive from Wescottshire and basically the snootiest school Cortenay could find.
"Quit the drama queen act, Lexy." Buff replied nudging her slightly and surveying the opulent school hallway. This was must nicer than Sunnydale High,well, that was actually a gross understatement. This placemadeSunnydale high look like apretend school in a garage with crates for chairs."This reallyisn't all that bad."
The damphyr cocked an eyebrow, indulging herself in a rather out of character sulk. She had never really been one to sulk, content to just take anything life gave her. She supposedthe sulkingcame from being around people who actually cared about her. The luxury of it was softening her up.
"I have to wear a uniform." she reminded Buffy.
The uniform was a skirt crisscrossed with maroon, white, navy and black forming a nice traditional plaid patternthat reached to a couple inches above her knees, leather shoes, knee socks, a white oxford shirt with a dove gray v-neck sweater and a maroon and navy striped necktie. She even had to wear the shoes that Rosemary had gotten her, a pair of semi-pointy leather flats that had a little strap. Basically, Mary Janes. Alex didn't think she would have to wear Mary Janes. EVER.
"Trust me, it's not so bad." the slayer tried assure her, She remembered her own words to her mother so long ago (kilts and knee socks? Mom you'll let me have knob knees?)"At least you don't have to stress over what to wear to school everyday."
Alex shrugged.
She never really had a problem coming up with things to wear before. Of course back home, her clothing was the last thing on her mind. She had usually just pulled one a black t-shirt and jeans-never knowing the significance of her outfit. Her mother-back in her dimension-had hated it when Alex would wear black, and the scoobies could never look at her when she wore black. She never understood why until she met Spike.
"You certainly had fun this morning." she commented pointedly, nice clothing was another luxury she had come to get used to.
Buffy smiled, this was one of the first times she had ever been out side of Wescottshire since they arrived, and perhaps it was the very first. She hadn't really been keeping track. She had been dying to come up with a reason to try out the latest fashions that filled her wardrobe, she figured Cortenay had sent out Rosemary and a fleet of maids to make sure each of their closets was filled to the bursting point with whatever clothes were in the catalogues. Even William had the latest spring and fall line of smockings and onesies.
Currently, Buffy was wearing a pair of Seven (for all of mankind) jeans, a knitted white turtle neck sweater (Zara) and dove gray (Jimmy Choo) boots. Her dirty blonde hair (she had stopped bleaching it) was pulled off her face in a neat pony tail and her make up, understated. She looked, with out a doubt like a lady. Everything she wore on her combined was cost more than all the savings she had ever managed to keep from her allowance back in Sunnydale.
"Lady Wescott?" asked a polite voice.
Smoothly, Buffy looked up and smiled.
"Good morning." she said, pausing for a moment to wait for her to supply a name. The name didn't come but Buffy supposed that she would hear it evenatually.
"G'morning." the woman replied. She had cropped black hair, beady dark eyesand a nose that a kind person might call assertive. "I'm Sylvia, headmistress Sharpe's secretary. The headmistress is ready to see you now."
She led then into a wood paneled office dominated by a large polished desk. Behind it stood a formidable woman with a head of sensibly cropped chestnut hair, slightly hooked beak and a black pantsuit that seemed to expel lint-and reduce it to ashes. Buffy immediately realized that this woman was not to be trifled with.
"Ah, Lady Wescott, please have a seat." the headmistress gestured at the maroon straight backed chairs. She turned and smiled at Alex. "Ah, and you must be Alexandra."
Alex nodded and smiled silently.
"Welcome." again, the headmistress gestured to the chairs.
Both slayer and damphyr took their seats, both consciously sitting straght and folding their hands in their laps. Alex even went so far as to tuck one ankle behind the other, just to amuse herself and feel all lady-like.
She glanced worriedly at the headmistress, even though her mother's posture was impeccable, there was no way a So Cal raised cheerleader would pass for a sophisticated Duchess in the eyes of a woman like this.
A woman who looked like she ate so cal cheerleaders for breakfast and then washed them down with New York trouble makers and southern belles.
"Let me begin by apologizing for my husband." Buffy began, remembering not to pretend she was British, it was more believable that way. She did speak as precisely as she could and did her best to ignore the look of pure shock from her daughter. She knew that if she saw the astonished look on Alex's face she would burst out laughing. "He was detained by work."
Mrs. Sharpe smiled graciously.
"Oh course, your grace." she said immediately falling into the 'suck up to the nobles' game. "He must be quite the busy man."
Buffy nodded.
"Yes, actually." She said with an icy smile, that didn't reach her eyes. "Thank you for you consideration."
The headmistress nodded.
Alex tried very hard to keep the absolute shock from showing on her face as she turned to listen to what the headmistress wished to say.
"So, lady Wescott, I understand you have just transferred to England from Germany." she commented glancing at the transcripts, she shuffled the papers around a bit before continuing. "Alexandra seemed to do very well at the," There was a pause. "The American High school?"
Buffy's nod was demure.
"Yes," she said.
"You will permit my curiosity?" the administrator asked, it was a rhetorical question but she paused to let Buffy nod anyway. It was a question raised more out of curiously, it didn't really hold ay weight as to whether Alexandra Wescott got in or not. In fact, the girl was already assured in, one of the school's benefactors had recommended her. The school simplycould not do without Mister Cortenay. "But the American high school is a curious choice for an English girl."
Buffy had her answer already prepared. She had make sure nothing Sharpe asked would be a surprise.
"As you may have already realized, Mrs. Sharpe, I am an American. And naturally, I wish for my daughter to be educated by fellow Americans, it is my belief that we have some of the best school systems in the world." she said allowing her voice to take a colder note, as Rosemary had suggested should such a topic be broached. Some Brits seemed to hold a grudge against 'the colonies' for no apprent reason. Some still clung to the thought of America as a rough, fledgeling nation that needed to be civilised, as if America wasn't one of the top economic and educational powers of the world. "Is there a problem with her papers?"
The gracious smile reappeared on Mrs. Sharpe's face.
"Why, heavens no." she said. "I scarcely see such well-documented transcripts." she glanced at the one more time. "In fact, I believe Alexandra will be an excellent addition to our school."
Buffy smiled.
"That is what we are hoping." she said. "So will that be all?"
Mrs. Sharpe nodded, getting to her feet. She reached her hand across the table so that Buffy could shake it.
"Yes, lady Wescott," she said with a polite smile on her face. "Thank you for your time."
"Not a problem at all." Buffy replied. "I'm just glad to know I'm leaving Alex in good hands."
The student in question had to bite the inside of her lip to keep from laughing. She was sure as soon as they left the Headmistresses presence, Buffy would drop the nobility act and start imitating the severe administrator
"Run along to Sylvia, Alexandra," Mrs. Sharpe addressed the damphyr. "She will give you your class schedule."
Alex smiled.
"Thank you, Mrs. Sharpe." Adapting the fakest, nicest most annoying sounding voice she could.
The two of them exited the office and Sylvia handed Alex her class schedule along with the map of the school and her locker number and combination. She they left the suite of the headmistress Alex turned to Buffy.
"How did you do that?" she demanded.
Buffy bit her lip and let out a little giggle. Something that she had been wanting to do since she made reference to Spike as her husband.
"Rosemary drilled me." she said. "She sat me down, asked me questions and would not let me have any oatmeal.And then she did, but withheld the honey until i got evey question right." she shuddered. "I expected her to go all LA confidential and shine a light in my face. Next to her, Sharpe was a piece of cake."
Alex smiled and shook her head. Rosemary was a peice of work.
"She made you earn your breakfast then?"
Buffy nodded sagely.
"I had to make sure I refered to Spike as 'Duke William' or I wouldn't get any OJ."
"the nerve!"
Buffy laughed.
"My sentiments exactly."
Suddenly the shrill trill of the bell sounded.
They bothed grimaced. Apparently school bells were international, and they still managed to strike dread into the hearts of students everywhere.
"That" Buffy said gesturing to the bell."is universal for you are late for class." she sighed."And I had better get going. I know how parents and schools are like totally un-mixy things."
Alex nodded.
"Gerard will pick you up later at three." Buffy said. "But I think I'm going tohave to go with him, This snooty school is all with CIA weirdness, They're making sure one of the parents is with the student at the time of collection, blah di blah." With a dismissive shake of her head, she handed Alex fifteen pounds. "There's your lunch money for the next week, and how much like a mom do I sound?"
The two girls laughed, and the halls were suddenly flooded with kids in uniform.
"Oh, God." Buffy said. "I'd better go. Knock 'em dead, kiddo." she paused and grimaced. "Only not literally." she paused again and looked thoughtful. "Unless they're like a demon or something in which case-I'm babbling aren't I?"
Alex nodded.
"Only a little."
Buffy nodded.
"Okay. I'm going."
"I suppose I can't beg and plead with you to please, please, please let me stay at home." She said. "Futile?"
"Let's just say oh, yeah,"
"You hate school; you should so be on my side." Alex said.
Buffy handed her her back pack with a pointed smile.
"Please like your Dad would stand for it even for a minute." She said. "He's a big stickler for the school thing. It's funny because he never was like that before. Watcher-reflux maybe."
Alex rolled her eyes.
"Fine, Go on." She said. "I'm going have to go deal with this sooner or later."
Buffy smiled.
"Have fun."
And with on last look she was gone.
Alex glanced around the corridor. She's always hated first days of school.
"Fun, right. Sure."