Tree Hill Slayer

Chapter 2

Buffy didn't feel guilty about buying her plane ticket. All she was focused on was getting out of California and as far away from the Hellmouth as possible. So once she was on the plane, she finally took a breath to relax.

For a second she thought about Xander and Willow and her mom and Giles and everyone else in Sunnydale. But then she shook her head and thought about Tree Hill. She wondered what it would be like, or what sorts of people she would meet there. And as she daydreamed about maybe starting a normal life there, she fell asleep.

"We will be landing in Kenton, North Carolina in a few moments," the pilot said over the intercom and woke Buffy up. "Please make sure your chairs are in the upright postion and prepare for touch down."

Buffy rubbed her eyes and looked out the window. She could see the ground beneath them getting closer. Far down was the landing strip at the Kenton airport, the city airport just outside of Tree Hill (according to the lady that sold Buffy the tickets).

When the plane landed Buffy got up fast and hurried out. She was tired of flying. She'd not really done it before and so she was not used to it and didn't exactly enjoy it. She could protect herself on the ground if a demon attacted her.. But she couldn't do anything if the plane decided to crash down. She got her bag from the luggage claim as soon as she saw it. She wondered really quickly how many of her friends and family had began to freak out at her absence. But she didn't care anymore.

The slayer headed outside of the airport and stepped into the bright light of early afternoon. She had the air in her lungs and the luggage on her shoulder, and a bundle of cash in her pocket. There was nothing stopping her, and so she stood outside the airport and waited for a cab to come by. Then, she flagged it down and said, "I want to go to Tree Hill."

The cabbie, a chubby man with a bear and bowler had nodded and pulled away once she was in the car, but then he said, "What's a young girl like you doing alone, taking a cab to Tree Hill? Do your parents know where you are right now?"

Buffy bit her lip, looked down at the duffel bag in her lap that had a tag that said "Buffy Summers, 1630 Revello Drive, Sunnydale California." Her heart hurt suddenly, missing her mother. But she swallowed and forced the feeling down into her stomach. "I don't have any parents," she lied. "But I've heard about Tree Hill... And I'm coming here to maybe start a new life."

The cab driver raised his eyebrows and Buffy saw them in the rear-view mirror. "Well, that's a shame," he said, "I guess if there's any place to go to find peace it's Tree Hill. It's a nice town at least."

He kept quiet for most of the rest of the drive and when he passed a big stone sign that said "Welcome to Tree Hill" he said, "Where at in Tree Hill you want me to drop you off at?"

Buffy shrugged. She didn't know. How was she supposed to know? "I guess you can just drive for a few minutes and then I'll just say when I'm ready to get out."

The cabbie did just what she said and drove her through the main part of town and down another street. He drove her right past a building that said "Karen's Cafe" and Buffy thought it looked kind of picturesque. As if it had never ever witnessed the prescence of a vampire, or a demon, or any of that. So she said, "Can you let me out here?"

The cabbie stopped the car and Buffy got out with her bag. She started to get out her money and the cabbie shook his head. "This one's on me," he said, "And I hope you find what you're looking for here. Just remember that there are still a few good people in this world. And good luck." He pulled off as Buffy was still holding Ken's wallet in her hand. She thought about what he had said and that there were a few good people in the world. But she'd left all of them in California.

Feeling a little disheartened, she walked up to the cafe and opened the door. A pleasant little bell jingled to tell the people working there that they had a guest and it sounded kind of nice. She walked up to the counter looked up at the menu. She thought maybe a cup of coffee would do her nice. She'd need to find a place to stay that night soon, but for now she just wanted to relax. As she was waiting a girl stepped out of the back. She was realy pretty and had reddish brown hair and appeared to be around the same age. She smiled at Buffy.

"Hello," she said, "Can I help you?"

The slayer nodded. "I'm just kind of thirsty. And kind of..cold." She wasn't physically cold, but she did feel a little far away and sad. She was hoping coffee would warm her up.

"Coffee then," the girl said, "Sound good?" She turned around and poured a fresh cup for Buffy. "Any sugar? Cream?"

"Both," Buffy said. "I just want something that doesn't depress me." She still felt kind of out of it and maybe her interactions weren't as quippy as expected of a Karen's Cafe visitor because the girl looked at her curiously.

"I don't think I know you," the waitress said, and handed the cup, a sugar shaker and a pitcher of cream to Buffy. "Are you from around here?"

Buffy shook her head. "Just moved here actually. I'm actually looking for somewhere to stay."

"Yeah?" The girl nodded. "Well I'm Haley. What's your name?"

Buffy thought about maybe going by another name..Maybe her middle name Anne. But she didn't really feel like it mattered what she went by. She was so far away from Sunnydale she could start over and keep the same first name. She just needed a new last name just in case she wound up in the paper or something. "Buffy," she told the girl and sipped her coffee slowly. "Buffy Winters."

"Buffy Winters?" Haley smiled. "What grade are you in?"

She thought about school. It didn't really make any sense if she said she was going to be a Senior, because there was no way she could register for class without an ID or anything. So she just said, "I just graduated," and tried to look a little happier, at least for the girl. She was pretty nice and that was refreshing.

The door jingled behind her again, and she turned to see two girls sashay in, laughing with each other. One girl was a tall brunette with cute dimples and an amazing figure. And one was a hot blonde with curls. They came up to the counter.

"Two diet cokes," the brunette said to Haley.

"Hey Haley," the blonde girl said.

Haley smiled at Buffy, "This is Brooke," she motioned to the brunette, "and Peyton," she motioned to the blond. "Hold on a sec." She turned to get the girls their drinks.

"Ooh, new girl," Brooke said, "Where'd you come from? I like your coat. Very West Coast."

"California," Buffy said, and then instantly regretted it. She didn't want anyone tracking her down or figuring out who she was. But these girls seemed so normal. They seemed like normal high school girls. Kind of like Cordy, but less bitchy. It was kind of like on her first day at Sunnydale High when she met Cordy and had a chance for a fraction of a second of being popular, before being a slayer ripped that to shreads. But now she had a chance again, and she wanted to take it. "L.A. But I just moved here."

"No way," Peyton's eyes widened. "That's pretty cool."

Brooke whisteled, and winked. "Well girlfriend, I bet you've seen the best there is of fashion. Come sit with me and Pey here and talk."