Like Other Girls...

LOL, yeah, I'm gonna try to finish it Angel. Just cause you requested it so nicely. Now show me love *wink*

Buffy looked at the room she would be in, already mostly set up from the movers and her mother’s several trips. She still had to unpack her personal items, but the bed was made and furniture placed. The first thing she did was find the box with Mr. Gordo and place him on the bed to watch her unpack. The little stuffed ferret, its bandit eyes staring, looked a bit odd with the big pink bow tied around his neck, but she’d never claimed to be completely normal or sane. Tara was probably unpacking in her room, though Miss Gordo, her stuffed feline, was probably stuck at the bottom of some unknown box, waiting to be stored in a corner.

~

As the two blonde girls finally sat in the principal’s office, waiting for the man to return from whatever business he’d been on, Buffy fidgeted and Tara squirmed. Both girls looked at the name plate on the desk. “Mr. Rupert Giles…” Tara said finally, reading the name aloud.

“Rupert….” Buffy giggled, then stopped herself. She had to admit, even if only privately, that Buffy wasn’t exactly that normal of a name. Just then the door opened to a tallish man in tweed and glasses. Both girls looked at him as he walked in, shutting the door behind him and leaning on the desk, only glancing partially at the folders on his desk that were probably theirs.

“Elizabeth and Tara Summers…” he finally said, his English accent apparent, and removed his glasses to clean them. “I assume that you two are indeed the Summers twins?”

“Yessir…” Tara said softly, meek in the presence of the man. “B… b… but she prefers B… Buffy… instead of Elizabeth.”

“Buffy?” He asked, putting his glasses back on and raising both brows curiously. Probably wondering what would compel her to go along with the name. Buffy and Tara only nodded, and he let out a small sigh. “As the both of you have probably guessed, I have read over your transcripts and records. Tara, aside from your occasional skipping this last year, you are an exemplary student. I have no real need to speak with you privately. I would like to welcome you to the school, however, and hope that you shall come to me if any problems or questions arise. My secretary will have your schedule and will point you in the proper direction.”

Tara’s eyes widened at the abrupt dismissal, but she meekly stood, nodding, and walked out the door, giving Buffy an apologetic smile. “I guess this means you want to give me a lecture on how you’ll not have my delinquent behavior going on in your school, and that even my behavior prior to the fire will not stand?”

“Seeing as how you’ve so wonderfully removed the words from my mouth, Miss Summers, then I have no need to repeat them.” Mr. Giles said with a small smile. “However, I trust that you’ll not be doing such things anyhow. A personal note came from the school counselor with your transcript, Miss Summers. She said that you have been improving this past year, and will likely be a wonderful student… and that she was rather surprised at the fire and would not doubt it being an accident. So… with that being said, shall I assume that you’ll be behaving yourself, Buffy?”

“I… uh… sure…” Buffy said, a little clueless, and watched him smile at her before nodding and handing her a slip of paper. It was her class schedule…. “I… does this mean I can go?”

“Yes. I trust that I’ll not be seeing you in this office too soon?” he asked with a small grin, and she nodded, walking to the door and opening it. “Oh… there should be a student waiting out there for you. Her name is Willow Rosenberg, your guide to the school… mostly to make sure you get to classes properly.”

“Yes… of course… to make sure I get to classes properly.” Buffy said in a small grumble, closing the door behind her. She’d hoped that he was going to be cool about this, as stuffy and British as he’d seemed when entering, and all had seemed to be going well. He didn’t lecture her, he didn’t threaten her, nothing… then he reminded her that she was on stressed terms with the simple presence of an escort and a single phrase. However, her grumbling stopped as she saw the nervous redhead waiting for her by the secretary’s desk, shifting from foot to foot. “Hi… are you Willow?”

“Yes.” The redhead turned and smiled a panicky smile at her, fidgeting again. “You’re Elizabeth?”

“Call me Buffy.” She grinned and grabbed her bag from the wall were she’d sat it. Willow nodded. “Sorry if I kept you waiting. Had to listen to tweed guy give his warnings about the school. It’s nice to meet you Willow.”

“Oh… yes, nice to meet you too!” Willow said with a bright smile. The cute blonde girl, and if her looking like the popular girls here meant anything, cute blonde -popular- girl, was being nice and friendly to her. Her, Willow the geek. She was sure that either the girl would be a trouble-making punk, who’d blow her off immediately, or another nerd like herself. Instead she’d met someone who could likely get in with Cordelia’s group. “I… what’s your first class?”

“Um…” Buffy looked at her schedule, shrugged, then handed it to the girl. “So Willow, what’s the what around here?”

“Pardon?” the girl stammered, staring after looking up from the paper. “Oh… um… just Sunnydale. Nothing that great. I think that there might be a Starbucks somewhere… and there’s this club called The Bronze… but other than that it’s a dead town. I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone who can tell you where’s cool to hang out.” Willow quickly led her out of the office and down the hall, babbling along the way.

“Starbucks is overrated. All crowded and stuff.” Buffy said in a friendly tone, then bit her lip and frowned. It was almost as if Willow were blowing her off. She’d never had that happen before. As soon as they arrived at the door to her classroom, Willow handed the schedule back and hurried away. “Well… disappointing…” She puffed out, then walked inside. History… great. She ended up next to a mostly friendly brunette, Cordelia she thought the girl said her name was.

By lunchtime, Cordelia had given her a small tour of the equally small school, and run her over some things about the little town. As Buffy had guessed upon their first words to each other, Cordelia was resident and reigning queen. She’d already guessed that if she wanted top dog position she’d have to work her way into that clique and execute several power plays as soon as she knew enough names. However, she wasn’t sure if that was what she wanted. Trotting out into the courtyard, she grinned as she saw a familiar head of red hair.

“Hi!”

“Hi… um… did you want me to move?” Willow asked with a confused look on her face. She wasn’t blind, she’d seen Buffy walking around with Cordelia. She’d predicted the girl would get in with that circle, and she’d been right. What did Buffy want now.

“No… not really. This seat taken?” The blonde sat down next to her and looked at the tray off food she’d gotten from the cafeteria. “Um… I’ll remember to bring my own lunches from now on…. Coulda warned me that the food was poisonous when we met this morning. So… what’s up?”

“I…” Willow was stunned. “But aren’t you hanging out with Cordelia?”

“Yeah, so?” Buffy poked suspiciously at a blob that may have been a vegetable at some point. Willow looked even more confused. “What? That means I can’t talk to you too?”

“Not legally…” Willow said, still confused. When Jesse and Faith walked up, Buffy smiled at them, then went back to inspecting what they called food with a worried frown. “Um… guys this is…”

“You’re the chick that’s been hanging with Queen C, right?” Faith asked with a small frown. Buffy looked up and put the ‘food’ to the side, deciding against trying it. She shrugged and nodded. “What’re ya doin over here then? Torturing my friend?”

“Willow?” Buffy asked, as confused as the redhead, but Willow remained quiet. “Um… anyway…. I’m Buffy. You are?” She smiled and held out a hand, which the boy eagerly took with a goofy smile. Faith only continued frowning.

“That’s… that’s Faith and Jesse. They’re my friends.” Willow said, trying to get over being stunned. Buffy smiled and nodded at Jesse, then offered her hand to Faith again. The girl didn’t take it. “I… um… -did- you want something Buffy?”

“Yeah B, why ya over here with us?” Faith asked again, sitting down next to willow and watching as another blonde walked up.

“Hey Tara!” Buffy said with a broad grin. “Guys, this is my sister Tara. Tara, this is Faith, Willow… and that guy standing there is Jesse. He kinda reminds me of Xand.”

“Hi…” Tara said with a meek smile, sitting on the ground next to Buffy. The girl, however, was almost immediately removed of her tray of food. “Hey!”

“Don’t eat it, trust me. We’ll catch something after school. That glop is not safe.” Buffy groaned. “Um… anyway… I was in the middle of an interrogation. I’ll tell you how the day’s been in a minute…. Alright… what was the question again?”

The three Sunnydale natives stared at her in shock. “But you’re with Queen C.” Was all Faith managed.

“Queen C?” Tara asked with a small giggle, earning her a smile from Willow.

“The one with my old position.” Buffy mumbled to her sister. “And I’ll have you know, Faith, that just because I walked around with the girl and talked with her, I am not confined to her opinions. I happened to have talked with Willow first. So… Willow… You said there was a club somewhere around here?”

“She must be confused.” Jesse finally spoke up. “Buffy… Buffster… Buffmeister… ya can’t hang out with blips like us… and expect to be able to stay in good graces with Cordelia Chase.”

“You’re right, he is like Xander.” Tara said with a grin. “Well… you were right, the school and town is really small. I made some friends though. They seemed nice enough.”

“Are these nothings bothering you?” came a haughty, feminine voice from off to the side. Everyone looked to see Cordelia standing with her arms crossed, a brow arched.

“She wasn’t talking to us.” Willow instantly offered, Faith only scowling. Jesse jumped up and walked over, grinning like a fool and waving to Cordelia.

“Hi Cordie. Nah, just… not eating lunch. Very non-edible. Did you want something?” Buffy raised a brow and smiled at her in a way that reminded Tara of some of her sister’s worst moods. Perhaps she had been wrong to think that her sister would join the popular group here. Two queens butting heads was not a good situation, and would no due for a group dynamic. Cordelia sputtered slightly, which was only apparent in a small twitch to her cheek. She was at least experienced.

“Well, I was looking for you to make sure you made it to the correct table… but I assume you’ve found it.” Cordelia said with a small sneer.

“I certainly don’t see a table around here, do you Tara?” Buffy asked, looking around cluelessly. Then she looked at the girl’s outfit, primarily the brown skirt. “Unless you are mistaking that thing around your legs for one. Rather last year, don’t you think?”

“It was released only a month ago.” Cordelia said proudly, and Buffy smiled at the scored hit. Tara quickly scooted around to the other side so that she wouldn’t be between them. “I’m sorry to interrupt your downward mobility… but aside from tables… I had come to inform you that tonight people will be going to The Bronze. It lets just about anyone in, but the music isn’t as terrible as it can be, and everyone who’s anyone will be there.”

“Oh, I was already planning on going. Perhaps I’ll see you there.” Buffy smiled sweetly. She didn’t want to start a war on her first day, but she was willing to make her grounds marked. She liked Willow, the girl had a charming innocence to her, and Jesse was remarkably like Xander. She didn’t want to give up on being popular, but she wasn’t going to sacrifice friends for it. Without anything else said, Buffy turned back to the redhead and her friends. “So… anyway, you rushed off earlier before I could thank you for showing me to the class. Tara, this is the girl that ended up escorting me to my first class.”

“Figures… that Giles guy was giving you the evil eye.” Tara giggled. “How long was the lecture?”

“No lecture.” Buffy shrugged. “He just told me that he ‘trusted’ I wouldn’t get into trouble here, and the girl that would make sure I didn’t get lost on the way to class was outside. But he did let slip that Miss Calendar sent him a personal note about me with the transcripts, and how I was probably a good kid at heart.”

“But you are!” Tara said with a grin, Cordelia long gone. The other three were staring at them. Then she turned to regard Faith and Jesse with a grin and conspiratal wink. “That was ‘Queen C’ I’m guessing. Buff was like her… but much worse… at our old school. I guess she likes you guys.”

“Tara, stop being such a brat.” Buffy nudged her. “I could have let you eat the food.”

“Don’t be so mean…” Jesse joked along. “So… you’re going to the Bronze tonight?”

“If someone will tell me where it is.” Buffy smiled, then nudged Willow. “You going?”

“Yeah Red, ya gonna stand your new girlfriend up?” Faith teased with a mean smirk. The redhead blushed.

“Jealous Faith?” Buffy asked with that same sweet smile she’d used on Cordelia. “I’m sure you could nab her if you try hard enough.”

“I wonder if Spike would want to go to the Bronze when he comes up tonight… He said he’d skip school so that he would be here tonight through Sunday.” Tara said in a dreamy tone, ignoring the banter now. Buffy rolled her eyes.

“Faith… me… that’s a big not there… and… no… she wouldn’t… and I’m not…” Willow babbled out, bright red and eyes wide. “She isn’t… and I’m not… well I don’t know…. But she… and… We couldn’t… but we’re not…. And…. But it’s not like I think it’s wrong!”

Buffy laughed, then patted the girl’s shoulder, Faith rolling her eyes. “Breathe, Willow. Breathe. I was just teasing.”

“Oh… but she and I… we’re not… she doesn’t… and I…” Willow continued.

“Relax Red. I’m pretty sure she gathered the straightness from your babble.” Faith chided. “So… blondie… who’s Spike?”

“Her obnoxious boyfriend. You’d probably adore him.” Buffy groaned. “I swear Willow, he’s vulgar. All leather and greasy hair. I don’t know what she sees in him. And he’s so rude too.”

“She’s going out with someone named Spike?” Willow and Faith asked in unison, one shocked and the other impressed.

“He’s driving up today.” Tara said with a huge grin at Faith. “You know… you don’t have to put on the tough act for her. She obviously already likes you, and that means that the entire school couldn’t turn her opinion. Our school in LA was much bigger, and they hated that she was friends with the computer club and drama club.”

Willow stared openly at Buffy, as Jesse just ogled her. “You were like Cordelia… but friends with them?”

“Yes. Believe it or not getting them to stop pestering about the drama club was worse than the computer club. Especially after this one time, when Xander went with me to see one of the plays. He,” she started to laugh. “He just randomly jumped up on stage with them and started singing, and they all broke out into a musical number, though it was supposed to be some kind of impressionist thingy. The whole school heard about them singing ‘stand by me’ the next day, and every time one of them would pass Xander in the halls, they’d start up again. I think they were on something… but anyway… it got to be so much that the girls that were usually around me started glaring and actually made pointed remarks to my face about it. They usually tried going behind my back about that kind of thing.”

“What did you do?” Jesse asked, still staring at her.

“Oh, she did the only thing she could.” Tara said, watching as Faith observed the interaction suspiciously. Obviously she wasn’t ready to be rid of her tough act quite yet. Jesse and Willow turned to look at her. “There was a pep rally that afternoon, and she was one of the cheerleaders. Well, Xander collected the drama club and they all sat together, then in the middle of everything Buffy walks over to them, they all stand up and start up a round of ‘Stand by me’ followed by ‘Another one bites the dust’. Half of the bleachers were singing by the time they were done… it was hilarious.”

“They stopped pestering me afterward.” Buffy shrugged, and Willow couldn’t help giggling, neither could Faith apparently as she chuckled in her husky voice. “Hey look, I made the broody one laugh!” Buffy exclaimed, pointing at Faith and giggling as the girl flushed and folded her arms defensively. “Come on Faith, it was funny.”

“Whatever. I’ll see ya later Red, Jesse.” With that Faith stalked off.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have pointed…” Buffy said with a sigh.

“She just doesn’t like… um… a lot of people.” Willow said, looking down.

“I guess…” Buffy shrugged, then smiled at Willow. “So, ‘Red,’ are you gonna show at that club thing?”

“Um… okay… sure!” Willow smiled brightly.

TBC