Buffy slumped down in the seat in front of the principal’s office, and kicked her feet against the floor in front of her. There were already scuff marks on the toes of her new brown buckle shoes, and Buffy knew she would be in trouble when her mother saw them. The dress she wore showed dirt smudges on the hem, and her hair hung limply from the pretty curls her mother had so painstakingly curled the night before. Her legs both had dirt, gravel, and blood caking her knees, from where she had hit the ground.
Her mother was going to just flip out when she heard about this one. It wasn’t like it was all Buffy’s fault; it’s just that Buffy was the only one who was going to get into trouble. The door to the principal’s office squeaked open slowly, and Buffy’s eyes were riveted to it as it pushed open. The most dreaded of all dreaded places, Principal Snyder’s office held the kind of fascinated fear that kids never wanted to get to know better.
Behind the desk, he sat waiting, and slowly, he crooked a finger her way, and motioned for her to enter. Her legs suddenly made of wood, she found it difficult to move, though she did finally stand up and shuffle towards him. Buffy came to a stop before him, and rather then show him her fear, she jutted her chin out, and put her hands on her hips. If the scowl he gave her was any indication, however, it wasn’t the move he was hoping for.
“Sit.” It was just one word, but it spoke volumes to her, and she quickly dropped the attitude, and sat primly in her seat, as her mother had taught her to. Wide green eyes looked up at the principal, as she readied herself to defend her honor. It was just a little fight, after all, nothing all that big. Principal Snyder had her file open before him, and boy was it a doozy of a file, even though she was so young.
“Well, well, Miss Summers. I had hoped we would go at least a week before our first meeting, but I can see I was wrong in my hopes. Can you please explain to me just why Cordelia Chase’s hair ended up in your fist, with her eye turning black?” Mr. Snyder stared down at her, and she had the distinct feeling that the vein in his forehead was going to pop.
“It wasn’t entirely my fault this time, though! I was minding my own business, and Cordelia came up behind me, and shoved me to the ground. I tried telling the playground aid, but she didn’t listen! Then, Cordelia and Harmony were laughing at me!” Her young voice was excitable as she pleaded her case with the principal.
“Miss Summers, really, I would think you could come up with something better then that. Well, no matter, you will have plenty of time to think of it while you spend the next two days in after school detention. Now, I suggest you go and compose yourself, let the nurse take care of those scrapes, and then get back to class.” Buffy opened her mouth to reply, but Principal Snyder shook his head while holding a hand out to stop her. With a deep breath, and a scowl on her face, Buffy made her way out of the office, and down the hall to see the nurse.
*
Buffy slowly crept in through the front door, looked to the left, then the right, and scurried up the stairs. When she was at the halfway point, she cringed to hear the sound of her mother’s voice calling to her. Buffy stopped in her tracks, and slowly turned to look down at her mother. Her mother was very feminine, the exact opposite of her, wearing a pale blue dress with a flared skirt.
“Elizabeth Anne Summers, please come down here, so we can talk?” Ever lady like, Joyce Summers smiled as she talked to her wayward child. Buffy, a name that Joyce detested and refused to use, came skulking towards her, shoulders slumped down, feet dragging on the floor. When she got to the bottom, Buffy’s head was tilted slightly to the side, and she was glaring up at her mom from the tops of her eyes, not moving her head upwards at all.
Joyce swept out of the room, and walked towards the kitchen in the back, with Buffy following slowly behind. In the kitchen, warm cookies sat on the table, and a glass of milk sat next to it. Buffy took her shoes off, and placed them on the rug by the back door, then slumped down in the chair at the table. Her mother raised her eyebrows towards Buffy, and gave her ‘that’ look. The one that meant, Buffy sit up like a proper lady.
“Elizabeth, I received a phone call today from your principal. I think that maybe you ought to explain what happened, before your father comes home. He’s going to be very upset, and you know I don’t like seeing that. Now tell me, what did you do to Cordelia Chase this time?” Joyce knew the story from the principal’s side, but she also knew from experience that Buffy often told slightly different tales. It usually depended on how outlandish the story actually was, on whether Joyce believed it or not.
She was expecting a dilly of a story this time, however, and had already thought up a suitable punishment, though that depended on Hank, of course. As Buffy opened her mouth to speak, the phone rang, and Joyce held up a finger, then politely answered the phone.
“Summers residence, this is Mrs. Summers speaking.” Her voice was soft and calm when she answered the phone, but not a moment later, Buffy noticed her mother’s hand clutching the phone was just a little to white, to tense. Her eyes were a bit wider then they had been before, and her face set a bit more tightly. “I… see. W-when did this happen?” Joyce’s voice wobbled slightly, and her eyes darted to Buffy’s. Without a word to Buffy, she pointed to the back door, and Buffy took off out it, pausing only to grab her shoes.
She sat on the back step, throwing glances over her shoulder now and then, and started to put her shoes on. She heard a few boys playing next door, and with one last glance towards her kitchen, she dashed over, to see what was going on. Buffy spotted Liam among the boys, as well as Larry, Xander, and Will. Several other boys, mostly older ones she didn’t really know, were all gathered around, while they picked teams for football. A tattered relic of what was once a football was clutched under Larry’s arm.
“Liam? Can I play, too?” Buffy scampered over the fence, unaware that she was still in a dress. Liam turned towards her, and frowned.
“Bethie, Bethie, Bethie, what would mom say if you came home with stains on your school clothes? Now, go back and change, and if we have room, you can play.” Liam turned back, and Buffy muttered to herself over his nickname for her, though he didn’t like the name Lee that she had given him any better then she liked Bethie. Buffy walked around to the gate, like a girl would. She really hated when they had to remind her that she was indeed a girl, rather then a boy.
Buffy came back around to their yard, and saw her mother, her prim and proper mother, sitting on the back step, her face in her hands. Buffy’s step slowed, and she glanced back towards Liam. Tugging at her lip thoughtfully, Buffy decided to get Liam, first. She scampered quickly back to her neighbors yard, and whistled loudly, using her fingers, as Liam had taught her the previous summer.
Liam looked up, and saw her waving towards him, motioning for him to come closer. “Just a minute, guys. I think my sister needs something.” He trotted over to her, and wiped the sweat from his brow. “What is it, Bethie?”
“Mom’s outside, sitting on the steps. I think she’s crying, Lee.” Liam frowned, then looked back at the guys, and held up a hand, his fingers outstretched to indicate he’d be gone for 5 minutes. He trudged around the gate, Buffy trailing behind him a bit slower. She felt an odd sense of dread in her stomach, and wasn’t anxious to hear what had upset her mother so much.
Moving quickly through the grass, Liam sat beside their mother, and hesitantly patted her back a few times. Joyce looked up, and saw both of her children looking at her, and she took in a deep breath. Calming herself quickly on the outside, if not the inside, she took several more deep breaths before addressing the two children.
“Liam, Elizabeth… I-” Joyce stopped as a crying hiccup caught her voice, then continued on. “Liam, Elizabeth. I received a phone call a moment ago. Your father… there was an accident. He… He died after his car was hit on the way home.” She didn’t make it any further before the tears she had tried so hard to hide away, came bursting forth, like a broken dam.
Buffy and Liam looked at each other in shock for a moment, before they both held their arms around their mother, comforting her the only way they knew how. Behind them, Xander had walked up, with Will and Larry behind him. They had heard the news, and stood watching the small group in shock. It was the first time death had come so close to their circle of friends, and they had no idea how to cope with the loss Buffy was feeling.
Quietly, the boys came closer, and did the same as Buffy and Liam had done. They hugged their friend, and her brother and mother.
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Author's Chapter Notes:
The first few chapters really deal more with what happens as Buffy is growing up, more so than the relationship she and Spike develop. It's getting there, though!
Thank you for the reviews!
Thank you for the reviews!
Chapter End Notes:
The next chapter should be up Thursday, but then I'll be gone without internet for a few days, so chapter 4 will be early next week. Enjoy!