Chapter 2

Buffy Summers had the dream again. In this dream she was drowning, trying to swim to the surface. There was a mysterious, comforting figure up here. Buffy knew if she could reach him, everything would be okay, but she could never get to him. When she woke up Buffy knew what day it was, September 3rd 2012, labor day. Labor day always brought mixed emotions for Buffy Summers. It was usually a nice day, not too hot or too cool. It was also usually the last day of summer vacation. Buffy tried to do something fun but she would always know that school would start again in a few short hours. This labor day brought more tension than usual. Buffy would start her senior year of highschool tomorrow. Next summer Buffy would be too nervous about starting college. In a sense today was the last real summer day for Buffy. The Summers family had moved here to Sunnydale only a week before, so Buffy would start a new school. She envied her little sister Dawn. Dawn was starting her freshman year of highschool. She had to start highschool in a new town, but at least she was getting both out of the way at once. Starting her final year of highschool in a new town, not knowing anyone, Buffy dreaded tomorrow. Fortunately her new principal, Robin Wood, was having a barbeque on the beach today for all students and teachers. Mr Wood felt this was a good way for new students, particularly freshman, to get to know each other before school started. Buffy's mother Joyce brought her and Dawn to this party. When the three Summers women got to the beach they met principal Wood. He seemed nice, was cooking burgers. While Joyce talked to Wood Buffy surveyed the beach. There were teens, ranging from 14 to 18, in assorted groups. Some playing frisbee, some volleyball, some were swimming in the ocean. Many were just hanging out, helping themselves to the free food that Wood was providing. Refreshments included burgers, hot dogs, chips, salad. There was soda and juice. No alcohol visible but Buffy doubted that would be hard to find if she wanted to. Buffy also noticed a few of her classmates were visibly pregnant, apparently none had a boyfriend with them so they stuck together. Buffy walked around, a little nervous around all these new people, afraid to humiliate herself. Although Buffy wore her bathing suit she tried to avoid the ocean. As she walked a young man named Xander, who was also 17, came to her.

Xander: You okay, you seem like you're afraid of the ocean.

Buffy: Just a little. I'm Buffy.

Xander: Xander. You're new in town, right?

Buffy: My mom got a promotion so she moved me and my sister Dawn here last week.

Xander: And your dad?

Buffy: He's still in LA, I assume. I haven't seen him in years.

Xander: Oh God, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry.

Buffy: It's cool. I'm wearing a bathing suit at the beach and I'm afraid of the ocean so I've probably humiliated myself too. Every time I come here I have to work up the courage to go in. I don't know why I'm afraid, but I am.

Xander: May I give you a tip?

Buffy: Sure.

Xander: If you see a big wave coming, don't run from it, go towards it. The impact will be less that way. You're more likely to just ride it up, ess likely to be tossed around.

Buffy: So basically just face my fears and it won't be so bad?

Xander: Pretty much. You want to come over with our little group. It's just me and my friends Willow and Jessie.

Buffy: I'm in.

Buffy met Xander's friends and the four of them hung out for hours. Xander seemed like a loveable class clown and a nice guy. Buffy wondered if Xander might have a little crush on her. The irony was he seemed oblivious to Willow's crush on him. Willow seemed like the smartest of the group, computer nerd and proud of it. Willow seemed excited for shool and to go to the school library. Jessie seemed nice, if quiet. Jessie planned to leave Sunnydale after grduation, go to Hollywood and sell a screenplay. From these three Buffy learned about people in Sunnydale High. Willow spent time at the school library and Rupert Giles was the school librarian. He seemed to be dating the computer science teacher Jenny Calendar. Other teachers included history teache Alan Doyle and Physics teacher Winifred Burkle. Wood was a cool principa, stern only when he had to be. Vice-principal Snyder on the other hand seemed like a small-time Fascist. Xander's ex-girlfriend was a rich princess named Cordelia. Willow's ex-boyfriend was a musician named Oz, but right now all four of them were unnatatched. Snyder was instituting a voluntary ROTC program at Sunnydale high. It was being taught by Colonel Mcnamara and his assistant Riley Finn. Te group didn't talk much about the 8 pregnant seniors but Buffy realized they had likely formed a pregnancy pact and gotten pregnant in March, too many too be a coincidence. Willow seemed excited about a well known graduate of their highschool, Richard Wilkins, former Governor of California and now an independant presidential candidate. Willow wasn't even sure she agreed with Wilkins' politics, but thought it was cool that the possible next president had gone to their highschool. Buffy liked talking to these three, whether about her new school or about the show they all watched "On her own" which was about to begin it's final season. When Joyce told Buffy it was time to go home Buffy knew she had even fewer hours until school started again. But, thanks to her new friends. she wasn't as scared as before.