3rd Person's POV

"Is she dying?"

Laney chuckles throwing a piece of popcorn back at Xander who was laying on Buffy's bed above her head.

The four teens were currently bewildered watching a weird Hindi show where the lady was running around on the phone singing.

Willow sips her juice box from her spot beside Laney on the floor as Buffy and Xander braid her hair.

"I think she's singing." Buffy suggests.

Laney nods with a grin as she pops more popcorn into her mouth, "To a telephone in Hindi."

Xander shrugs, "Now that's entertainment!"

The Hindi woman on TV dances around the room.

Xander's eyebrows furrow as he looks up from Willow's hair, "Why is she singing?"

Willow frowns, "She's sad because her lover gave her twelve gold coins, but then the wizard cut open the bag of salt, and now the dancing minions have nowhere to put their big maypole... fish thing."

Xander peeks down at Willow who sits taking another sip of her drink.

"Uh-huh."

"Still doesn't answer why she's singing Will..."

Buffy nods agreeing with Laney then frowns realizing she had interpreted the entire scene wrong.

"Wait... her lover? I thought that was her chiropractor."

Willow raises an eyebrow, "Because of that thing he did with her feet? No, that was personal."

Xander chuckles shaking his head, "Hmm. And we thought just because we didn't have any money or anyplace to go this would be a lackluster evening."

"I know! We could go to the Bronze and sneak in our own tea bags and ask for hot water." Willow smiles.

Xander grins holding his hands up in surrender, "Hop off the outlaw train, Will, before you land us all in jail."

Buffy slaps his arm, "I, for one, am giddy and up. There's a kinda hush all over Sunnydale. No demons or vampires to slay, I'm here with my friends... and there is no trouble around."

...

Wind blows past a vacant lawn in front of the Delta Zeta Kappa fraternity house. Suddenly on the second floor, a girl crashes through the glass door of the balcony. She rolls over the railing and doesn't hesitate to drop to the ground below.

A fraternity brother in a dark hooded robe rushes out onto the balcony after her. When he sees that she jumped, he quickly goes back inside.

The girl looks up seeing the guy run back inside and curses. She quickly gets up, apparently not hurt in the fall, and begins to run as fast as she can.

Five brothers, all wearing robes, come streaming out of the house after her as she runs through the darkness of the night. Hurrying into the trees, she looks around for which way to go and makes tracks for the wall to the north.

Just as she reaches it she trips and falls, but quickly gets up, climbs a low tree branch and jumps over to the wall. She shimmies over the top and drops down the other side into the cemetery. The fraternity brothers follow her over the wall one by one. With everything that she has, she uses all her energy to speed through the cemetery.

In the shadows ahead, one of the brothers had been waiting for her. As he sees her get closer he steps out and looks at her with a disturbed grin.

"Callie! Callie, where're you going? The party's just getting started."

"Please don't Richard..." She sobs uncontrollably as he shoves her over to the others.

She screams as they take her away. Richard has a look around to make sure no one saw. Chuckling to himself darkly, he pulls his hood over his head and follows them back to the house.

...

Cordelia stands in the hallway of school demonstrating her fake laugh to one of her many Cordettes as Laney leans against the wall shaking her head.

"See? Dr. Debi says when a man is speaking you make serious eye contact, and you really, really listen, and you laugh at everything he says." Cordelia fake laughs again.

"Or maybe that's just the best way to become a human like robot with no brain."

Cordelia turns to stare at Laney with wide eyes, "I've still got my look though right?"

Laney chuckles, "There's seriously something wrong in that pretty little head of yours."

"You love me."

Xander comes out of a classroom nearby and sees Buffy and Willow. He hurries to catch up, only hearing the end of their conversation.

"It's not a date Buffy, it's a caffeinated beverage... Okay, sure, it's hot and bitter like a relationship that way, but..."

Xander gives them a look, "What's like a relationship?"

Buffy pouts, "Nothing I have. Coffee?"

"Huh?" He stops by Cordelia as Willow and Buffy get a drink at the fountain.

Cordelia looks Xander up and down as Laney crosses her arms already knowing the two were about to have a row.

"There's really no comparison between college men and high school boys... I mean, look at that."

Xander chuckles, "So, Cor, you're datin' college guys now."

Cordelia shrugs sweeping her bangs from her eyes, "Well, not that it's any of your business, but I happen to be dating a Delta Zeta Kappa."

"Oh! An extra-terrestrial."

Laney who had been sipping on her water, suddenly chokes as she spits some out on the floor. Laughing she wipes her mouth and shakes her head.

"Hey! Some of them are really cute and very non extra terrestrial looking."

Pointing at Laney who had slightly agreed with his statement, Xander then looks back at Cordelia and pursues his lips, "So that's how you get a date after you exhausted all the human guys."

Cordelia raises an eyebrow crossing her arms over her chest, "You'll go to college someday, Xander. I just know your pizza delivery career will take you so many exciting places."

Laney who had been going for a second try at drinking her water, once again sprays out a fountain laughing.

"I'm sorry Alex that was just- dang that was a good one. Not nice but a good one."

Xander has no comeback for that, and joins the other girls at the drinking fountain. Buffy and Willow have smiles on their faces from overhearing.

The bell rings loudly making Buffy slap her forehead remembering something.

"Oh! I told Giles I'd meet him in the library ten minutes ago! Aw, he won't be upset. There hasn't been much paranormal activity lately."

She heads for the library as Xander and Willow walk towards their class. Laney and Cordelia are a few steps ahead. The two girls giggle away not even paying attention to anything else in the world.

Xander frowns as he runs his chin thinking. Willow glances over at him wondering why he had been so quiet.

"What's wrong with you? This is the longest I've heard you not say anything at all. Not that it's a bad thing. If it's what Cordelia said... don't take it to heart. If anything you'd be a great pizza delivery guy."

"Well I wasn't fretting over that but now I am. And my feelings are slightly hurt so thank you for that."

Willow grimaces, "Sorry. Well if you weren't thinking about that... then what's on your mind?"

"Laney isn't... she isn't dating one of those college guys is she? Not that I care. I jus-"

"Care..."

Xander sighs, "I just want to make sure she's okay and treated the way she should be. She's a lot more fragile now after me and the hyena pack... not to mention her super dead ex coming back to life trying to turn her into the undead bride."

Willow nods, "Yeah she's not doing as well as she wants everyone to think. She puts on a really good show but Angel said sometimes when he comes to check on her, she wakes up due to nightmares."

"Angel?"

Willow stares at Xander with wide eyes as she smiles sheepishly, "Oops I wasn't supposed to say anything. Wow well back to extra terrestrials. No she's not. But she did say something about one guy hitting on her when she went out partying with Cordelia."

"Hitting on her? A terrestrial?"

Willow shrugs, "Yeah but she said she wasn't interested."

Xander frowns as Willow begins to walk faster to class.

"Wait... Angel's been over at your house at night?"

...

At the front of the school, Buffy sits on the railing of the stairs watching cars pass by on the street. Xander and Willow appear walking toward her.

"Boy, what a long day."

Willow shakes her head with a smile, "And you skipped three classes."

"Yeah, and, of course, they flew by."

As they reach Buffy, Willow tilts her head in confusion, "Buffy! Aren't you supposed to be doing your homework in the library?"

Buffy shrugs with a grin as she takes Xander's arm, "I'm dawdling with my friends."

Cordelia comes walking by and bumps into Willow. She continues down the stairs without so much as an acknowledgment.

Xander shrugs ignoring Cordelia, "Works for me."

A black BMW pulls up to the curb. The windows are all darkly tinted.

Buffy frowns rolling her eyes at Cordy before turning to Willow, "You okay?"

"Jeez."

"It's better not to get in the way of the wicked witch when she has her sights set on Dorothy. Or in this case Cordelia when she has her sights set on college men."

The three teens laugh as Laney stands with her arms crossed pouting.

"What's wrong with you?" Buffy smiles lightly.

Cordelia who had stopped and turned around, makes her way back to the Scooby Gang. She grabs Laney's arm and shakes her head.

"She's upset with me."

Willow shrugs, "And what did you do now?"

Laney huffs, "She's trying to set me up with one of those things."

Cordelia rolls her eyes, "Those things are men with cars and money. Plus I think you'll really like one."

Laney pouts, "I doubt it..."

Xander, Willow, and Buffy all watch as Cordelia pulls Laney over to the nice car with Laney pleading for help along the way.

As Cordelia bends down to see her reflection in the car window, she lets go of Laney. Cordy pushes her sunglasses on top of her head as the driver's window lowers.

"Cordelia." Richard smiles.

Cordelia smiles at the handsome dirty blonde man, "Richard. Nice car."

Tom in the passenger's seat notices Buffy sitting on the railing and points her out to Richard. Richard nods slowly before looking at Cordelia. Laney rolls her eyes and stands with her arms crossed looking bored. The back window rolls down making her glance over then shake her head with a slight smile.

"Colby was it? You stalking me?"

The brunette guy chuckles with a slight shrug. He opens the door then steps out and stands beside Laney leaning on the car. Laney takes a step back so she can see his face, seeing as he was almost 2 feet taller than her.

Xander looks over as Buffy and Willow both say woah looking at the guy Laney had been talking to.

"Wow he's like a model. What's in their water?" Willow gapes.

Buffy nods slowly.

Xander looks at the nice looking guy who was definitely flirting with Laney and shrugs.

"He's alright."

Willow and Buffy let out a quiet giggle as Xander mumbles to himself.

"I'm definitely not stalking you Laney. If I was I'd at least try to be somewhat romantic and leave you a rose everywhere you'd go."

Laney chuckles and rolls her eyes playfully, "So if you're not stalking me and leaving me creepy love letters and roses everywhere I go... what are you doing?"

"Well I'm a pledge for Delta Zeta Kappa so that means it is my duty to follow my brothers wherever they go and do whatever they want for a whole week until I am an official member."

Laney nods, "Isn't that kind of boring... you know being their little bitch."

Colby chuckles then waves his hand beckoning her over to the trunk of the car away from the others. He leans down slightly and whispers , "Not when they get drunk off their asses and do stupid, yet memorable tease worthy shit that you can use for blackmail."

Laney nods agreeing with an evil smirk, "Hmm I like you..."

"I like you." Colby says in a matter a fact tone.

In the car Richard leans towards Cordelia slightly giving her his perfect grin, "So, uh, we're having a little get-together tomorrow night at the house, and it's gonna be a really special evening."

Cordelia does her fake laugh.

Laney hearing Cordelia make an utter fool of herself shakes her head before peeking over at her brunette air head of a friend.

"Um Cordy too much Dr. Debi... way too much."

Cordelia makes an ooh face before grimacing slightly. Laney turns back to Colby who grins down at her as Richard and Tom glance at one another not understanding.

"Excuse me what?"

Cordelia smiles again, "Oh nothing! Nothing important. I would, I would love, and I mean love, to go!"

Richard nods smirking, "Great... So, who's your friend?"

Cordelia waves her hand over at Laney as if introducing her into a stage, "That, is my best friend Laney! Gorgeous isn't she? Wait... don't answer that."

Richard and Tom both glance at Laney who was by Colby still. She stood wearing black leather pants and a tie crop top with black sunglasses covering her eyes.

"Gorgeous doesn't do her justice. Neither does it to you Cordelia, but no I was talking about her."

Cordelia looks to where Richard was indicating and frowns as her eyes follow to see Buffy.

Her mouth drops as she stares in awe, "Her? Oh, she's not my friend."

Tom smiles, "She's amazing!"

Cordelia quickly changes her toon and grins, "She's more like a sister, really! We're that close. Tell them Laney."

Laney peeks away from Colby once again as the two had just been staring at one another, neither knowing what to say, but the silence being somewhat peaceful.

Dragging her shades down to her nose, Laney smirks at Cordelia's antics, "Oh yeah they're close. Closer than close."

Richard nods, "Well, why don't you introduce us?"

Cordelia stares with wide eyes realizes she's trapped herself, "Okayyyyy...."

She quickly stumbles to Laney then yanks her away from the frat guy. Laney frowns as she is pulled over to Buffy.

Now distracted Xander looks at Buffy and Willow, "Okay, so tonight, channel fifty-nine, Indian TV, s*x, lies, incomprehensible story lines. I'll bring the betel nuts."

Cordelia suddenly reaches the group and grabs Buffy's hand, "Come on..."

Buffy frowns glancing at Laney.

Laney shrugs with a bored look, "Go quietly... don't put up a fight and she won't hurt you... or your feelings."

Cordelia nods, "Richard and his fraternity brothers want to me you."

Buffy groans, "Well, I don't really wanna meet any fraternity boys."

Cordelia rolls her eyes coming to a halt before glaring at Buffy, "And if there was a God, don't you think he'd keep it that way?"

Laney chuckles, "Brutal Cordy. You're on a fucking roll today."

Willow and Xander watch as Cordelia drags Buffy away with Laney walking behind on their heels.

Xander throws up his hands not believing what was going on, "Uh, I-I believe we were dawdling here!"

Cordelia brings Buffy up to Richard with a huge grin.

Richard smirks, "Hi, sweetheart. I'm Richard. And you are?"

Buffy huffs rolling her eyes, "So not interested."

Laney lets out a laugh as Buffy tries to leave.

Cordelia grabs Buffy's hand yet again not letting go, "Heh, she's such a little comedienne."

Richard frowns, "What, she likes to play hard to get?"

Tom chuckles, "No, Richard. I think you're playing easy to resist."

Laney smiles, "You guys are a class act. This is hilarious."

Colby comes up beside Laney and nudges her arm lightly, "Now you see what I mean?"

Buffy takes this chance to pull away from a distracted Cordelia and starts to leave again. Tom jumps out the car and quickly paces to her.

"Ah, feel free to ignore him. I do all the time."

Buffy slows down her jetting away to a complete stop and turns around to see yet another handsome brunette. He wasn't as tall as the one Laney was talking to but he definitely caught Buffy's eye.

"I'm Tom Warner. I'm a senior at Crestwood College, and I... and I just feel like a complete dolt meeting you this way, so..." He crosses his arms and sheepishly smiles, "Here I stand in all my doltishness."

Willow and Xander are within earshot of Tom and Buffy and overhear the conversation.

Xander shakes his head, "Huh-huh-huh, right. Like she's gonna fall for that."

Buffy smiles, "I'm Buffy Summers."

Tom nods, "Oh, nice to meet you. Are you a senior here?"

Buffy frowns, "Junior."

"Oh, me, too. Except that I'm a senior and I'm in college. So we have that in common..."

Buffy giggles slightly as Tok smiles once more.

"I Uh I major in history."

Buffy grimaces, "Mm. History stumps me. I have a hard enough time remembering what happened last week."

"No, nothin' happened last week, don't worry, I was there."

Xander frowns, "She's gonna walk away..." He pauses then points, "Now."

Tom dances back and forth on his feet, "So, uh, my friend invited your friend to a party we're having this weekend."

Cordelia does her fake laugh loudly for Richard making Buffy glance over seeing Laney and Colby both staring in disturbance.

Tom laughs, "You know, actually he's not even really my friend. I only joined the fraternity because my father and grandpa were in it before me. Y'know, it meant a lot to them."

Xander shakes his head, "Okay, boots, start a-walking."

Willow and Xander stare for a while longer before Willow gives Xander a knowing look.

"Yeah they're both falling for it." Xander says with an annoyed look.

"Oh, I know, I talk too much anyway. They're really dull parties full of really dull people, so... would you like to come and save me from a really dull fate?"

Buffy bites her lip, "Oh, I wish I could, but I'm sort of involved."

Tom makes a tick sound as he sighs in defeat, "Well, sure, of course you are. Well, thanks for letting me ramble."

Buffy smiles not really wanting him to leave. Was she interested in him or the attention that she wasn't receiving from Angel.

"Y'know, people underestimate the value of a good ramble."

Giles walks out the school and spots Buffy talking to Tom. Shaking his head, he calls out to her.

"Buffy!"

Buffy turns to look and sees him pointing at his watch and walk off to the library.

"Oh, I gotta go," She turns to go but stops and smiles, "It was nice to meet you."

Tom nods, "Oh. Same here."

Buffy hops up the stairs. Xander hands her bag to her, and she runs off to the library. Tom watches her go.

Xander glares, "I hate these guys. Whatever they want just falls into their laps. Don't you hate these guys?"

Willow glances back at her sister talking to the college guy, Colby. This is the first time Willow had seen her sister smile so big in weeks.

"Yeah, with their charmed lives and their movie star good looks and more money than you can count? I'm hating."

NEW UPDATE TOMORROW!! What are y'all excited about? Dreading?

Ships?

Favorite duo?

Trio?

Favorite character?

Any future requests

Future predictions?