Through The Years
by Nicole

School Days

Buffy was dragged from her mother's car kicking and screaming. Today was her first day of kindergarten and she was not happy. Mrs. Calendar came out and met Buffy at the door, she tried to calm the young girl down.

"Hi sweetie my name is Mrs. Calendar. What's your name?" She asked the little girl.

"My name is Elizabeth, but everyone calls me Buffy." She gave her a watery smile.

Joyce smiled at the other lady.

"Well Buffy, I understand that going to a new school can be scary. You will make friends and have fun and it won't seem so bad anymore." She held out her hand for the little girl to take.

Buffy looked back and forth between her mother and the teacher. Joyce gave a nod of her head and Buffy took the teacher's hand.

"I will be here to pick you up after school okay."

"Bye mommy." She gave her mother a hug and followed Mrs. Calendar into class.

"Kids settle down. We have a new student joining us today." She looked at Buffy.

She was standing nervously in front of the class. All the eyes on her were scary, she looked up at her teacher with questioning eyes. She nodded her head as if to say 'it's okay'.

"Would you like to tell us a little about yourself?"

Buffy nodded her head.

"My name is Elizabeth Anne Summers, but my family calls me Buffy. I just moved her from LA."

She looked out at the class and smiled. Mrs. Calendar ushered her to her seat, she was in between a brunette girl and a blonde haired girl.

"Hi Buffy, I'm Cordelia Chase and that blonde girl next to you is Tara. She's real shy just like you."

Buffy gave both girls a smile. School wasn't going to be so bad after all.

 

Buffy was sitting out on the bench watching the other kids play. She missed the comforts of her school in LA, she had lots of friends. This new school was a lot different and the kids weren't as nice.

"How come you're sitting by yourself?" Cordelia asked as she sat down next to the blonde.

"I don't know anyone."

Cordelia got up and pulled Buffy by the hand.

"Come on I'm going to introduce you to everyone." She didn't give Buffy a chance to respond.

"Everybody listen up." She said loudly.

All the kids on the playground looked at her. Even at five years old she held power.

"This is my friend Buffy Summers and she's new. Let's show her that we are a friendly bunch." She turned and smiled at the little girl.

A little red head approached Buffy first. She was a little taller than Buffy, but had a huge smile on her face.

"I'm Willow and I'm in Ms. Lacey's class. That boy over there is Alexander Harris we call him Xander though."

She looked over to the other side of the playground and saw a group of boys and girls standing off to the side.

"Who are they?" Buffy asked.

The other blonde Tara spoke up, "That's the trouble makers, the one that looks like a blonde sheep is Spike, the one with the spiky hair and the big forehead is Angelus, the raven haired girl standing next to William is Drusilla she has a sister named Faith and they are complete opposites." Tara finished explaining.

"I need to stay away from them then." She smiled and the other girls joined in.

Cordelia took Buffy's hand and led her to another end of the playground. She pointed to another raven haired girl and a few other blondes.

"That is Drusilla's sister Faith, she's real nice. The blonde with the green eyes is Darla she's in the first grade, and the other girl is Anya she's in the same grade as us, she loves money."

The school bell rang and it was time for them to go to class. Cordelia never let go of Buffy's hand. In that moment they both knew that their friendship was forever. The kids were divided into centers and Buffy was in the art center with Angel and Drusilla. She was painting a picture when Angel dumped purple paint all over her dress.

"I'm sorry fluffy, but you were in my way." He teased.

She had to try and stop the tears from falling.

"My name is not fluffy it's Buffy and you are a big meanie!"

Mrs. Calendar saw this and made her way over to the kids.

"Children what happened?" She looked at Buffy's dress and saw the purple paint.

"Angel poured the paint on my dress for no reason. He's a mean ugly boy and I don't like him." She stated.

"Now Buffy that's not nice. Angel, apologize to Buffy right this minute." She said sternly.

He looked at her, "Sorry Buffy." He said sadly, he really didn't want to do it, but Drusilla dared him to do it.

Mrs. Calendar took Buffy to the bathroom so she could get cleaned up. Cordelia saw the whole thing and she went over to Angel.

"I saw what you did, and it was not nice." She pushed the green paint on his pants. "How do you like it now? Leave my friend alone!"

All the kids started laughing at him. He ran out of the classroom. Cordelia was about to say something to Drusilla until she saw Buffy's picture. It was of her and Buffy playing outside; she let out a smile and went back to her center. School was over and Buffy couldn't be happier. Not only did her dress get ruined, but she made some pretty cool friends.

"Hi Buffy." Willow sat down beside her.

"Hi Willow." She smiled at the girl.

"You're waiting for your mommy?" She asked timidly.

"Yeah, she is a little late, but it's okay she has her own gallery."

Buffy and Willow kept talking until they saw a black limo pull up. Buffy looked up in amazement.

"Who is that?" Buffy asked.

"That's Cordelia's personal limo. She's very wealthy you know." She said in awe.

Cordelia came out of the school with a smile on her face. She stopped when she was Willow and Buffy sitting on the bench.

"Your mommy's aren't here to pick you up?" She asked both girls.

Just then both Willow's and Buffy's mom pulled up.

"They just pulled up." Buffy said brightly. Willow had already walked to her mom and was talking non stop.

Buffy was about to go to her mom when Cordelia stopped her.

"I made this for you." She held out a macaroni bracelet.

Buffy put it on her arm. "Thank you, Cordy." I have something for you too. She pulled out the picture she made in art.

"I like the picture thank you." She gave Buffy a smile. She turned and walked to her car, and Buffy walked to her mom.

"Hi honey how was your first day?" She asked her daughter.

She turned and looked at the brunette one more time.

"It was good. I made a new friend." Buffy smiled and got in the car.

 

First Grade

Buffy entered the class with a little trepidation. First grade was a lot different from kindergarten, she hoped some people from her class last year would be here. She looked for her desk and was happy to be sitting next to Cordelia. They didn't get to spend time over the summer because she was in the Bahamas. So Buffy spent her summer with Willow, Xander and Tara. Even though the other blonde was quite shy.

Cordelia came bouncing in the classroom full of energy. Her parents had a hard time keeping up with the little spit fire. She looked around and noticed Buffy sitting at her desk, a smile formed on her face. Looking around for her desk she found she was next to Buffy. She had missed her so much during the summer. If she would have had her way she would've stayed.

"Buffy!" The brunette called out.

"Oh my god, Cordelia!" Buffy greeted back and gave her a hug.

"I missed you so much. How was your vacation?" Buffy asked.

Cordelia sat her book bag down on her desk chair and sat down.

"It was the same as always. I missed you though. What did you do for the summer?"

"Nothing really, I mostly hung out with Xander, Willow, and Tara. We went to Disney Land and so many other places it was cool. I missed you though"

She gave the brunette an enigmatic smile. "I don't recognize anyone else from our class last year."

"Oh well, that's their loss." Cordelia tossed back her long hair.

Angel walked into the glass looking all broody. He really didn't want to come back to this school, with his friends in England, he had no one. He looked for his desk and saw that he was sitting in front of Buffy. Angel let out a groan of displeasure, it wasn't that he didn't like Buffy; he just didn't know how to talk to her. Cordelia looked up and saw the brooding boy come their way.

"Oh look, if it isn't paint boy." Cordelia sneered, Buffy laughed.

Angel just rolled his eyes at the two girls. Everyone started calling him that last year, because of the brunette dropping paint on his pants.

"I think you need to stop. You hurt his feelings." Buffy said in mock sympathy.

Angel just looked at her with soulful eyes and took his seat. The bell had rung and all the students made it to their seats. Buffy looked around and saw Tara sitting near the front. She smiled and waved, the shy blonde waved back.

"Kids settle down. I am your teacher Mr. Giles."

"Good morning Mr. Giles." The class greeted back making him smile.

"Today we are going to do an introduction of sorts. Tell us your name and what you did over vactation, or whatever."

The kids raised their hands one by one, he chose Buffy.

Buffy stood up and faced the class; she really did not like talking in front of people. It made her extremely nervous; she looked at Cordelia who gave her a smile.

"My name is Buffy Summers and I'm five." She held up five fingers for emphasis. "My birthday is January 19th; I spent my vacation with my friends Xander, Willow, and Tara. We went to Disney Land, Magic Mountain and tons of other places. My best friend is Cordelia Chase."

Buffy walked to her desk and sat down. Angel was the next to go, he looked out at Buffy and she rolled her eyes at him.

"I'm Angel and I just turned six. My vacation was spent in Ireland with my grandmother. I don't have a best friend he moved to England." He said softly and sat down.

Mr. Giles looked at the boy with earnest, he was certainly shy. He picked Cordelia next.

Cordelia stood up and walked in front of the class. Head held high and she smiled at Buffy.

"My name is Cordelia, and I am six. I was on vacation with my parents to the Bahamas. It was fun, but I missed my best friend Buffy." She went back to her desk, and the two girls high fived each other.

The rest of the kids did their introductions, but two girls were not paying attention. Once the introducing was over Mr. Giles went on to teach the days lessons. The bell rang for recess, and all the kids ran out to the playground.

Tara, Cordelia, and Buffy were standing around talking when they were approached by Willow and Xander.

"Hey guys." Willow greeted.

"Hi Willow." They greeted back.

The kids walked over to the monkey bars and started talking.

"Buffy, you want to come stay the night at my house Saturday?" Cordelia asked the blonde.

"Sure let me ask mom. I'm sure she would say that it was okay." Buffy smiled at her.

"Tara and Willow you can come too. Sorry Xander, but its girls only." She teased him.

"That's okay; I have boy things to do." He joked.

The girls rolled their eyes at his antics. He was always the joker.

"Who's in your class?" Tara asked.

Willow and Xander exchanged glances, "We got Drusilla, Harmony, and Anya. She's really obsessed with money. All she talks about is her parent's money." Willow rolled her eyes.

Xander decided to speak up, "At least she isn't teasing and touching you. Girls have cooties." He wrinkled up his nose.

"Boys have icky germs." Willow joked back.

They were laughing and joking when a new person approached them. Immediately they froze up, it was Lindsey a big second grader who liked to pick on Cordelia.

"If it isn't Little Bo Cordy and her sheep." Lindsey teased.

Cordelia stood up to her full height, "Shut up Lindsey at least I have friends. You have no one, you're a big loser." She held up an L to her forehead.

Lindsey pushed her down and got her dress dirty. Everyone on the playground was laughing at her. Before she could do anything, Buffy had balled up her little fist and punched him dead in the nose. He stumbled back and grabbed it, he noticed it was bleeding.

"Leave Cordelia alone! Mess with her again and you have to answer to me." She helped Cordelia up. "Are you okay?" She asked her friend.

She looked up at Buffy with a watery smile, "I'm okay, just a little embarrassed." She joked.

Principle Wood made his way over to the group. "Buffy Summers, come with me please."

Buffy walked away from her friends with her head hanging down. The other kids just looked on in silence. Buffy seemed like a nice girl, but they knew not to mess with her.

The principle led Buffy into his office, where Lindsey was sitting with a bag of ice on his nose. He sneered at her. She just rolled her eyes and sat down.

"Buffy tell me what happened. Lindsey said that you hit him for no reason." He explained.

"No, he came over and pushed Cordelia down messing up her dress. So I punched him." She said, innocently.

"That still gives you no reason to hit someone. I am letting you go with a warning, but stay out of trouble." He smiled at the blonde.

Principle Wood looked over at Lindsey, "As for you young man, you are to write fifty sentences 'I will not hit girls.' I will also be calling your parents."

Lindsey looked down in horror. His parents were very strict, and if he got into any trouble he was in for it.

"Buffy you are free to go. No more hitting." He warned.

"Yes Principle Wood." She said sweetly, and walked out of the door. Buffy couldn't help but laugh.

Cordelia was sitting in class clearly worried. She didn't want Buffy to get into any trouble. Her face brightened when she saw Buffy walk through the door all smiles.

"Buffy I would like to speak to you before lunch." Mr. Giles told the blonde.

"Okay Mr. Giles." She sat down at her desk gloomily.

The class learned about science, and a lot of other subjects. Mr. Giles was a good teacher, but he was a little stuffy. The lunch bell rang and the kids went their cubbies and got their lunch bags, and lined up in a single file line. Mr. Giles instructed them to go to the lunchroom. Angel was the line leader, so he led the class to lunch.

Mr. Giles and Buffy hung back. "Buffy what happened on the playground?" He asked the young girl.

Buffy looked up at him with expressive eyes," Lindsey was picking on Cordelia and he pushed her down. I hit him for it; no one picks on my friends." She said defiantly.

Mr. Giles couldn't help but smile at the young girl. For a five year old she was a little feisty one. He knew he had to keep and eye on her.

"Don't let it happen again." She smiled at her.

She looked at him again, "I'm sorry. It won't happen again." She gave him a smile.

"Splendid. Let's go have lunch shall we?" He held out his hand to her.

Buffy grabbed it, "We shall." They walked out of the classroom and to the cafeteria. He pointed her to the table and she walked over.

"We saved you a seat." Tara moved down a little ways.

Buffy sat down next to Cordelia. "I'm sorry you got in trouble Buffy." She apologized.

"It's okay. That's what friends are for. So what does everyone have for lunch?"

Tara was the first to answer, "I have peanut butter and jelly, some chips, a pickle, ooh a brownie, and some Sunny Delight." She smiled big.

Cordelia opened up her lunch box, "I have a ham and cheese sandwich, some chips, chocolate chip cookies, and a bottle of Evian." She looked at Buffy.

Buffy opened up her lunch box, "I have a chicken salad sandwich, some Ruffles with ridges, some celery and carrot sticks, a granola bar, and a Capri Sun."

The three girls exchanged smiles, and began eating. Angel looked over at Buffy, but she was too busy with her friends. A blonde haired boy named Riley poked Angel in the side.

"Why do you keep looking at Buffy?" He asked with a goofy grin on his face.

Angel turned back to his food, "I'm trying to figure out what to do to her next. I poured paint on her dress last year." He grinned.

Riley looked at him with a dumb expression, "I wouldn't do that cause Buffy will make your nose bloody."

Angel didn't care, Buffy was just another girl. He liked her, but he was a boy and boys don't like girls, they were icky. He finished eating his lunch.

 

"Buffy I think Angel likes you." Tara told the blonde.

Cordelia and Buffy both looked at her with looks of disgust. "Eww, in his dreams! I don't like boys they are dumb, and gross." Buffy turned up her little nose.

"Yeah, they stink too. We're better than that. Besides Angel is a freak, he doesn't talk all he does is brood, and he has stupid spiky hair." Cordelia said, snottily.

She didn't like him because he spilt paint on her friends dress. It happened last year, but this is Cordelia we are talking about here.

"I just think he's shy. Besides he only did it because Drusilla told him too. She really didn't like Buffy last year; she called her sunshine and light."

The girls giggled at this, attracting the attention of everyone at the table. Lunch time was over and they headed back to class.

Mr. Giles went through the rest of the lesson fairly quickly, and sent the kids outside again for their final recess (Schools here actually let the kids go to recess twice.) Angel and Riley were the first ones out the door followed by the girls.

Buffy felt a tap on her shoulder as she made her way out the door. She turned around and saw Faith.

"You're Buffy right?" The raven haired girl asked.

Buffy looked at her, "Yeah I am, you're Faith Drusilla's sister." She said none to friendly.

Faith looked down sadly and Buffy felt bad. "I'm sorry, but Drusilla and I don't get along."

"I wanted to say good job at putting Lindsey in his place. He's always picking on us younger kids."

Buffy put her hands up, "You wanna come over and meet my friends? I'm pretty sure that they will like you." Buffy grabbed her hand; this gesture was new to Faith. No one really took the time out to show her any kind of attention. All the attention went to Drusilla.

Cordelia looked around for Buffy and saw her walking over with Faith. She was not happy, Buffy was her friend. Willow looked up then tapped Xander on the shoulder; they looked on as the blonde and brunette walked over.

"This is Faith, yes she is Drusilla's sister, but she's a lot nicer." Buffy introduced the girl.

Faith just stood their quietly, she never talked really. It was overwhelming especially looking at the other brunette.

"I'm Willow, and that's Xander." Willow stood up and introduced herself.

Tara followed everyone else's lead, "I'm Tara." She said softly.

Buffy looked at Cordelia expectantly. "I'm Cordelia, Buffy's best friend." She said mockingly.

Finally the other brunette decided to say something, "I everybody." She waved.

"And she talks." Xander joked, causing the group to laugh. He really needed some male friends.

"I have a jump rope, do you guys wanna play?" The red head asked.

The girls answered yes at once. "Okay Me and Buffy will turn." Cordelia volunteered. Both girls took one end and started turning the rope. Faith jumped in and they started singer 'Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear turn around."

Angel and Drusilla walked over with Darla, and Riley, to where the girls were playing jump rope.

"Well, if it isn't little Faithy playing with the upper class." Drusilla teased.

The girls just went on ignoring them and continued playing. Drusilla was getting upset that she was being ignored.

"I'm talking to you." She gritted out.

Cordelia stopped turning and faced the other girl, "Listen Cruela, we don't have to pay attention to you. Leave Faith alone she's our friend, you're just jealous because she doesn't want to have anything to do with you."

Darla let out a little snicker at this. They may be a grade behind her, but they know how to hold their own. Drusilla gave her a sour look, Darla just started laughing more.

"Leave them alone, Dru. Their just first graders." Darla tried to reason.

Drusilla just walked off leaving the group of kids behind. Darla turned back around to the girls.

"You two are brave. I totally had ya'll underestimated." She turned around and left.

Angel and Riley just stood there watching the girls finish playing their game.

 

Recess was over and the kids went back to their separate classes. Cordelia was playfully tugging at Buffy's pony tails.

"What are you doing after school?"

"I don't know, dad is supposed to take me out for ice cream. He's been out of town on business a lot." She smiled and sat down in her chair.

"Okay class, settle down. The book I will be reading from is Charlotte's Web. How many of you heard of this story?"

Twenty hands shot up in the air. "That's good to hear." He began to read until the last bell rang for them to be dismissed.

Mr. Giles had them line up in a single file line with the car riders first. Buffy and Cordelia held hands as they made their way to the pick up/drop off part of the school. On their way out Cordelia saw her mom and Buffy's mom talking. It wasn't anything new, since they are the best of friends.

"Hi Girls." Joyce greeted the girls.

"Hi, Ms. Joyce. Hi mom." Cordelia greeted.

"Hello, Buffy how are you today." Victoria Chase asked the little blonde.

Buffy gave her a million dollar smile, even at five she was a charmer, "Hi, Ms. Victoria. Hi mommy." She greeted the two women.

"Bye Cordelia I will see you tomorrow." Buffy gave her friend a hug.

"See ya." She returned the hug and walked off with her mom.

Buffy looked up at her mom like she wanted to say something. She decided against it and got in the car.

To be continued