First Day Blues By: Nicole
Rating: PG
Spoilers: up to season four , but it’s an alternative universe so spoilers aren’t big at all.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Joss, Mutant Enemy, and the WB own everything.
Distribution: Finnatics, of course. Anyone else, just ask and I’ll say yes: )
Summary: this is part of a new series where Buffy went to Huxley, Iowa instead of Sunnydale. It is an alternative Universe, and I think you just might like it.
Feedback: please. It would make me sooooo happy

Buffy had just come back from her mile run. A slayer had to stay in shape even if she was in the middle of nowhere. This would be her first day on the farm filled with plenty of chores. Buffy wasn’t looking forward to the chores at all because she could really break a nail. Maybe Riley would do her chores for her if she sweet-talked him into doing it.

Huxley didn’t seem that bad so far, but Buffy had yet to do any real work. Riley had showed her the sights of the town. He had even showed her the road to Makeout Point, but boy, did he blush. Maybe, he had been there a time or two. Buffy didn’t know, but she was willing to find out.

Everyone here seemed nice. Allison and Emma had been nice telling Buffy about all the boys that were available at school. She had noticed that Riley had been left out of that conversation so either he was taken or he was off limits because of the whole “under the same roof” thing. Oh, well, she would just have to find out…..but Buffy couldn’t think any more because her Slayer sense was kicking in. There was someone behind her. Buffy whirled around to find Riley behind her.

“Hey, aren’t you up just a little early?” Riley had heard her leave about an hour ago, and he was very curious to where she went. His mother had been very vague as to what trouble she had been in so she could have been doing anything.

“Yea, I just went for a run. I like to keep in shape, and it is a good stress reliever.” So she did know the meaning of the word run. Who would have thought that she was an exercise freak? Buffy saw the laughter in his eyes. “What didn’t think I knew how to run?”

Riley couldn’t believe her. She knew exactly what he has been thinking. “ Something like that.” Buffy knew that she had him back into a corner and she liked it. “Want to race? I’ll won’t beat you that badly, I promise.” Riley saw that hint of laughter in her eyes once more. He wasn’t about to let her keep that laughter in her eyes. “To the mill and back.” Riley knew he could he beat her from that distance.

“Deal.” Buffy got a head-start from Riley, but Riley caught up to her in no time. Just wait, Riley. I’ll show you whose the fool. They got to the mill neck and neck. Using her Slayer skills to beat Riley wouldn’t be bad or so Buffy told herself. On the way back to the house, Buffy put Riley in his place leaving him in her tracks.

When Riley reached the house, he was so tired, but Buffy had barely broken a sweat. “Want to race, again?” Riley could see the laughter in her eyes again. Man, living with her was going to be horrible. Somehow, he was going to have to get her to lose that laughter in her eyes. But then again he liked because it just her more of a mystery. He had so many questions, and he didn’t know where to begin.

“I like it’s time for a shower.” Now, it was Riley’s turn to have laughter in his eyes. “But, Buffy, we barely know each other.” Oh, man. This was going to be a rollar coaster ride for both for them because he wasn’t the only one with laughter in his eyes.

“And then we milk the cows about nine. Buffy, are you listening to me?” Buffy had this look the whole time Allison had been talking to her. Allison wasn’t about to get in trouble because of Princess Buffy.

“Why don’t you try milking the cows if you have been listening?” Allison just looked at Buffy knowing that she had no clue how to milk a cow. “Go on, one utter at a time.” Buffy bent down so she could see the cow’s utters. I hate my mother was all Buffy could think about.

After five tries with the lovely cow, Buffy finally had some milk in the bucket. Of course, she had other names for that cow, but she was a lady and didn’t need to use them. “I think I am done for the day. Don’t you?”

“Nope. You need to feed the animals. Allison did tell you what animals eat what didn’t she?” Riley had come up behind them, and Buffy just looked at Riley knowing where this was going. She was going to be worked to death on her first day. Buffy without a word just walked off to go find some hay. She would show them all that even a sissy girl from LA knew what the word work meant.

“While you’re at it, all the stalls need to be cleaned and ….” But Buffy could no longer hear her. Buffy had her something face on, and it was a something face that was going to do nothing but work.

Three hours later, Buffy was finally finished with all the chores. She went up the stairs like a flash of lighting. Riley was the only one to notice her come in at all. Mrs. Henry had come to visit with her baby so the woman in the family won’t be alive to the world until she left.

Riley went out to the barn to find all the chores done even the ones that he didn’t think she could do. Riley was impressed because he really didn’t think she had it in her. Buffy was a fighter that much Riley knew. And he also knew he owed her an apology.

Buffy heard a knock on her door, and she knew it was Riley. She saw him go to the barn. “Come in, Riley.” How the heck did she know it was him? Riley came in to see Buffy on the bed looking very hurt.

“I’m sorry. We all thought it would be funny to see if you could even do all the chores. I didn’t really think you could do one let alone all of them.” Buffy knew that he was being sincere, but she just couldn’t forgive him yet.

“I expected this from your sisters, Riley. I know that they don’t like me, but at least, I thought I had one friend here in Huxley. I was wrong. I thought you would be different. I thought we were…. forget it. I don’t know what I thought” Buffy didn’t want to cry in front of Riley, but it just came. He went to comfort her, but she just backed up when he got close.

“Just go.” Riley didn’t know what to say so he left the room. All he knew was that he felt horrible because he just made a girl cry. He was mean and horrible, and right now he felt very ashamed of what he did. He just hoped he could make it up to her.

Buffy sat on the bed crying herself to sleep. She had been strong because she knew what a burden she was and always would be, but sometimes, she just couldn’t be that strong. She cried for what seemed like hours. Finally, Buffy drifted off to sleep with thoughts of Riley in her head. Maybe, Huxley was going to horrible after all.

It was time to walk into the evil that is high school. Buffy had gotten no sleep that night because of the first day at a new high school. She was worried and scared. This was not what she needed. Allison and Emma had already told her that she wasn’t welcome, just not in so many words. And Riley was a senior so what would he do with a sophomore. Nothing.

Oh, well. It was time to face her doom so Buffy looked at the outfit she had chose for her first day of school. It screamed LA so at least everyone would know who she was, but she figured they would know her anyway. It wouldn’t hurt to make an impression on the dorks in this town.

Buffy walked down the stairs to find Riley in the kitchen. When he saw her, the milk came spilling out of his mouth. Ha, Buffy thought to herself that will show him.

“Buffy, are you going to school dressed like that?” Riley couldn’t believe what she was wearing, not that he didn’t like it. However, no one else would. Huxley wasn’t ready for Buffy Summers and somehow Riley knew Buffy wasn’t ready for Huxley. He hoped that the students would at least be civil to her. No one in this town liked outsiders, but he hoped for Buffy’s sake that they would make an exception.

“Yes, are we ready to go?” Buffy knew that she was walking into trouble but she didn’t know any other way to be. Riley thought she might need help so he promised himself that he would watch her back. “Let’s go. Allison and Emma already left with Mom.” Riley could see that Buffy was already hurt by his sister’s actions. Hopefully, that would be the worst of it today. Buffy walked down the halls of Huxley High to her first class. Riley had been supportive telling her to have a good day. Something told her that she wouldn’t have a good day at all. Buffy opened the door of room 212 to find a classroom full of kids that scared her. Give her a demon any day to a room full of her peers.

Everyone got real quiet in the room, while Buffy talked to the teacher. Some just stared at her outfit while others would say a nasty comment then just smirk. Great, Buffy thought to herself, I walked into hell.

Buffy introduced herself as “Buffy Summers”, and a smartass in the class said “Buffy, what kind of name is that?” Buffy put up her defenses, smiled, and said “Mine, so don’t mess with it.” She stared down the kid who had just offended her. With that done she took a seat, and the teacher began to teach.

After the class got out, a young woman came up to Buffy. She seemed friendly but when she spoke Buffy knew not to cross her. “Just because you come from LA doesn’t mean you own this town. Don’t mess with me or you just might get burned, Buffy.” She made sure to emphasis Buffy’s name. Buffy watched her walk away. Man, she was going to hate it here in Huxley.

As Buffy walked down the hall, she got nothing but stares, snickers, and blunt comments being yelled at her. She really didn’t need this. She was the Slayer, and she was suppose to battle evil demons not high school teenagers.

The day went on with nothing but torment. She had a class with Allison, but she barely acknowledged Buffy’s existence. There had been numerous comments about her outfit. Throughout it all, Buffy hadn’t even frowned and she sure wasn’t going to cry in front of these people. But the worst was yet to come. It was lunchtime.

Buffy noticed that no one had even looked at her the entire time she was in the cafeteria. Riley was no where to be seen, right now she wished he was there. At least, he would have smiled at her. The same young woman that has come up to Buffy earlier went up to her again. “Hey , Buffy, I just wanted to say welcome to Huxley.” As she spoke, the girl poured grape juice into Buffy’s lap. Buffy was in shock so she sat as everyone in the cafeteria had a good laugh., except for one person. Buffy could feel the tears coming, but she just couldn’t.

“Cordy, that wasn’t very nice. Apologize to Buffy.” Riley had come up behind the pretty brunette. The entire cafeteria got quiet. Riley was well-respected here because he had helped lead the town to two football championships. Cordy just looked up at Riley and said “ Sorry.” She walked away without another glance. Riley knew that the tears were coming so he gently took a hold of Buffy’s hand and lead her out of the cafeteria.

When they were out of hearing distance, the tears came. Riley just took her to a quiet place where no one would find them. She just laid her head on his chest and cried. Riley just held her not really sure what to do. Buffy slowly calmed down. “So are you like Mr. Football superhero here in Huxley?”

Riley just wasn’t surprised by anything that came out of her mouth anymore. She had him firgued out, but he couldn’t say that he had her figured out. “How did you know?”

“Well, from the looks of it, Miss Cordy is the Queen Bee, and no one puts them in their place unless they happen to be the King Bee.” She was very smart but maybe that’s what happened to you when you grow up in LA. Riley looked into Buffy’s eyes seeing such pain, but he didn’t think it was all because of today. Riley wondered what could upset this fair-haried beauty.

“You’re forgiven, Riley Finn.” Riley knew that she was talking about the chores on the farm. “ I just can’t stay mad at the man who rescued me.” No one had ever called him a man. He liked how she had called him a man. That was defiently something he could get used to. He was also about to take advantage of her weakened state.

“Buffy, I don’t want to pry but I have been wondering what made your mother sent you to Huxley?” Buffy looked at Riley knowing that she couldn’t tell him, but she was alone in this world. No watcher had come, but she just couldn’t. Riley was too pure to know about the things that went bump in the night. “I just found out that demons are real, and it’s all been down-hill from that. The final straw was when I burnt down the gym. I got kicked out of my other high school. Lost all my friends, got my watcher killed. You name it , I probably did it.”

Riley could never have guessed that Buffy was capable of all that. I guess she had a lots of personal demons. Now, he knew why she looked so lost. “ Isn’t like social suicide to hang out with me?” Riley thought about it for a minute.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t think I would care. I would get to be with you, and I don’t see that as bad. In fact, I think I would really like it.” Riley had gotten close to her. Very close. She could feel his breath on her neck. Buffy could barely think because all she wanted to do was kiss Riley.

Riley could feel his heartbeat faster and faster. Riley looked at Buffy, and she reminded him of a deer caught in headlights. He just couldn’t take advantage of her, but his mind wasn’t working. He slowly went down to touch his lips with hers, but the bell rang.

“ I…I guess we better go.” Riley didn’t move from his spot. He didn’t want to go to class. He wanted to stay with her and learn about her, and kissing wouldn’t be a bad addition.

“Yea. I guess we better.” Neither of them moved for what seemed like an eternity. Buffy got up slowly knowing that if she didn’t leave now there was going to be trouble. “ I better go show Cordy that I don’t break easily.” She was fragile but she could survive Hurricane Cordy as long as Riley was around. “Thank you.”

“No problem. What about your clothes?” Buffy looked down at the grape juice stains on her favorite white shirt. “I think I look wonderful. What do you think?”

“I think you look beautiful.” Buffy could feel her cheeks get red. Riley knew he hit a nerve when he saw her blush. “No one has ever said that to me.”

“I guess I’ll just have to tell you everyday.” Riley was going to be amazing to her even if it was going to kill his popularity. Some things were just more important than being popular. Riley had always know that but h never had to put I to use until Buffy came along. Buffy had been here for four days, and already he would give up his world to be with her. Riley put his hands under her chin and lifted her chin up so he could look into her eyes. “You are beautiful.” Then he walked away leaving her alone.

After having close encoutners of the Riley kind, nothing could ruin Buffy’s day.

Home