Chapter 3 Potential

In school the next day, Buffy was walking down the corridor to her locker when a goofy looking boy with floppy brown hair turned a corner and collided with her.

Buffy's reaction was a strangled "Ooof!" as she lost her footing.

Floppy Brown Hair bent to gather her bag and offer his hand to help her up. "I'm sorry. I always take that corner too fast and on the wrong side of the hall. Really, I'm just an accident waiting to happen. Can I make it up to you? You could be my golden goddess and I'd worship at your feet."

Buffy gave a bright smile to the highly caffeinated individual. "Hi, I'm Buffy Summers."

Floppy Brown Hair grinned from ear to ear. "Xander Harris; you know, that golden goddess thing has only ever gotten me irritated glares before."

"No! A line like that?"

"I know, I know," Xander threw up his hands resignedly; "I'm doomed to dorkdom."

"Well, it's nice to have found a kindred spirit at least." Her eyes flashed; finally, someone friendly and willing to banter with her!

"You? A dork? Never! Blasphemy!" His outraged cry was at least partially genuine. How had this luminous creature escaped the hell of popularity? Especially with a name like Buffy.

She solemnly shook her head. "I promise. I used to want to be Dorothy Hamill, haircut and all, and my favorite stuffed animal is a pig named Mr. Gordo."

He gave her his endearing smile again and held out his arm. "Well then, I must take you to our leader. Naturally, she is in the library."

Xander strolled her casually down the hall, past a group of kids who had congregated in front of their lockers in that age-old high school morning ritual. Buffy recognized a shock of bleached platinum hair at the center of the group. When she turned her head for confirmation, Xander noticed.

"Spike and Dru, Drusilla. What possessed her parents to give her that name the world will never know, but she has grown to enjoy it. They're the center of the school's crazy/sexy/cool group. Well, Dru is actually just crazy, and…"

"And Spike's sexy/cool?" Buffy finished for him.

"I was going to say he's cool. A little pale for my liking. Anyhow, the sexy one of the pack is Cordelia Chase. Unfortunately, she's also a raging bitch." He pointed out a gorgeous brunette leaning on a locker next to Spike and Dru, dressed in what was obviously expensive clothing in the latest fashion.

"Those three really don't look like they go together. Spike and Dru, maybe, they've got that goth thing going."

"Cordelia and Drusilla bonded over their hard-to-spell names in kindergarten, while their parents were bonding over their law firm and ever-expanding bank accounts. Those girls are the heiresses of the two richest families in Sunnydale. Spike is in the mix cause he's 'exotic', he's from England."

"Ah, now it makes sense."

"And here we are, the Sunnydale High school library. You'll learn to love it here." Xander swung the door open wide, revealing ornate woodwork and beautiful high ceilings. The room was circular, and in the center was a reading area where a redheaded girl was reading the top book off of a tall stack.

"You know, I'm not much for the book-learning, but this place is plush."

The girl looked up and broke into a huge smile. "Xander!" She was wearing a fuzzy green t-shirt and when she stood to greet her friend with a hug, Buffy could see that she also wore an orange skirt with matching orange and green striped tights. All Hail the Queen of the Dorks, she thought.

"Hi!" The girl chirruped at Buffy excitedly, "I'm Willow Rosenberg. I'm really glad to meet you."

Buffy smiled warmly at her. It was obvious to her now: anyone with that much energy was bound to wear equally dynamic clothing. "Glad to meet you, too. I'm Buffy Summers. So," she looked expectantly at her two newfound friends, "what year are you guys?"

"Sophomores." Willow gushed.

"Barely." Xander conceded.

"Xander and algebra don't get along very well."

"Algebra started it! All those xs and ys and other variables. I don't have to prove anything to algebra; I know I'm a worthwhile person!"

Ignoring what must have been a daily tirade, Willow instead asked to compare schedules with Buffy. As they poured over the computer printouts, a man Buffy instantly categorized as "librarian" shuffled into the room. "Hello," he called out in an unmistakable British accent, not looking over the rim of his mug of tea.

"Hi Mr. Giles! Did you know that we have a new student?" Willow went over to the checkout desk that the tweed-clad British man had disappeared behind.

"Yes Willow, I did," he replied, though underneath the desk his voice was a bit muffled. "Buffy Summers?" he queried as he popped back up.

"Present," Buffy replied.

"I believe I have a book for you," Mr. Giles said as he nonchalantly slid it across the counter.

Buffy sidled up to the desk and looked at the proffered tome. She groaned and rolled her eyes before reading the title aloud. "Europe Through the Ages. That sounds like some history I'm probably destined to repeat."

"I'll be your study-buddy, Buffy," Willow said.

"That's our Will," Xander replied, "always with the studying. Even if it's someone else's homework."

Buffy looked at the girl worshipfully. "Yep, glad I met you!"

The three students laughed and Mr. Giles cracked a faint smile as he crossed the room to re-shelve some books. Just as Xander started to the two girls a joke (Did you hear the one about two muffins sitting in an oven?), Spike strode into the library.

"Harris, you can tell that joke using any inanimate object on the planet. Don't be a git."

"Spike," Xander shot back, "you have to be British to qualify as a git, so that leaves me out of the running. You get my vote, though, don't worry."

"Hi Spike," Willow squeaked, the most subdued Buffy had seen her, but still clearly anxious to head off any confrontation brewing between the boys.

"Hey Red. Where's Rupes?" As he asked the question his gaze landed on Buffy. His cool blue eyes narrowed on her, and a half smile crept over his lips.

"In the back," Willow practically stammered.

"Thanks. Hi Buffy."

"Good morning, Spike."

"You two kno-know each other?"

Spike tilted his head and pursed his lips, considering his reply. "We recently found out that we have a few things in common."

Buffy visibly blanched at his reference to their conversation in the cemetery the night before. Recovering, she explained, "Spike and I met at lunch yesterday. I admired his choice in footwear." She shot Spike a warning glance, but he just smirked. She found herself vaguely irritated.

"Buffy wants to know where she can get herself a pair," Spike retorted, winking at her before heading into the stacks to seek out his uncle.

"I find him mildly infuriating," Xander said. The three headed out into the hallway as the bell sounded. "He's got an attitude problem."

"R-r-really, he's ok."

"Willow," Buffy said gently, "you're still stuttering."

"Popular people make me nervous. But Spike's always been nice to me. Oooh! Here we are, history class! See you later, Xander!" Willow bounded into the classroom with the enthusiasm of fifty puppies and took a seat at the front. Buffy hung back at the door.

"So, what's the sitch? Is he a real jerk or what?"

"Really?" Xander replied, looking quickly to see who was around, "Spike's not the one to watch out for. It's his vampire of a girlfriend who's a major pain. See you in lunch."