"Wow! Just look at that girl," said Xander pointing towards someone who was obviously new. "We should go and welcome her to Sunnydale." The girl in question was about 5"7 and had a dark complexion and long, black hair. Instead of being the dark brown that would be expected her eyes were a dark and exotic cross between grey and blue.
"Considering your luck with women Xander, I think you should stay as far away from her as possible," remarked Cordelia as she walked past.
Not willing to pass up an opportunity to beat Cordy at her own game Xander replied, "Yeah, a she-mantis, an Incan Mummy and to top it off you, I need to go out with a normal human girl for once." Before Cordelia could come up with a snappy reply a soft voice said, "Excuse me, I'm new and I was hoping someone could tell me where my classes are and where I could get some books."
"Um yeah sure," said Buffy. What classes do you have?" Every one of the girl's classes matched Buffy's and so she found herself offering to show the new girl around for the day. Oh well she thought, at least no vamps can show while I'm at school. It can't be that bad.
"Buffy," oh no those familiar English tones could mean only one thing, "I, um, we need to see you at lunch," said Giles as he walked past with Wesley. Great it was that bad. Not only did she have to show a new girl around all day she had to meet her new watcher, Wesley and her old watcher, Giles, at lunch and nobody needed three guesses what that was going to be about.
"What's your name?" Buffy asked the girl as she turned around. "Aira," she replied.
"So Buffy, what do you think of the Aira?" asked Xander. Everyone was sitting in the library waiting for Giles and Wesley to show.
"She's, um, nice I suppose," said Buffy. "It's just that she is so…perfect. I mean she's been nice to everyone today, she answered all the questions in all the lessons, she even knew answers that got Willow stumped. I bet she knows things that Giles doesn't know. She dresses as well if not better than Cordelia and she's really funny, she made Snyder laugh. It's creepy."
A muffled sob made Buffy turn around and she suddenly realised that the eyes and cutting gestures of the others had been prompted by the fact that Aira was standing behind her, with tears running down her face. She looked up and Buffy was immediately guilt stricken. Weird where did that though come from she wondered. Soon however she was to busy trying to comfort the girl to pursue the thought.
"Hey, I'm sorry. I meant that in a totally positive way. Please don't cry, I'm no good at that comforting small talk thing."
In between sobs, Aira managed to tell her story. "I'm sorry it's just I was s-s-sent here by my parents, they don't want me around at home and, I-I suppose they thought that if t-they sent me to somewhere f-far away from them with some money and an apartment that I wouldn't b-bother them. So here I am and I s-so desperately wanted to b-b-belong somewhere, and you all looked so at ease with each other and so happy, I-I guess I just thought that if you could accept me then I would have a chance of being happy."
Just as she was about to get up and leave Buffy said, "We do accept you, you can hang around with us for as long as you want." Unfortunately, those words also meant that when Wesley and Giles walked in, in the middle of a "discussion" about Buffy, Angle, vampires and the hellmouth Aira was in the middle of the group hug that hid her from the watchers' views.
"Um, not meaning to spoil the moment or anything but what is a hellmouth and why are they talking about vampires with and without souls," said Aira breaking out of the hug.
"Buffy, while my predecessor (pointed glare at Giles) may not have cared that around half the school knows of your identify as the slayer I would appreciate you not telling the other half," snapped Wesley. Before Buffy could point out that it was he who had been speaking about Slayer stuff Giles, having taken a great dislike the new Watcher jumped in,
"I believe that it was you who alerted someone to the unwholesome aspects of Sunnydale when you walked in. Seeing as the damage has already been done you might try to minimise it by revealing the true history of Boca del Infierno in an attempt at damage limitation."
"Yeah," seconded Xander, "what he said, only in English." Unhappy at being corrected by both Giles and Xander Wesley immediately launched into a long-winded and complicated version of vampire history and demon tradition. When he had finished the first remark was a confused, "Huh?" from the Slayer.
In much simpler terms Willow started to explain, "Buffy's the Slayer. She fights vampires and lots of them live in Sunnydale." By the end of lunch, Aira was just beginning to understand about vampires and Wesley still hadn't explained why he had wanted to see Buffy in the first place. It wasn't until she began to walk out of the door that he remembered.
"Buffy, be very careful when you patrol tonight. Something is going to happen soon."
"Any ideas what oh wise watcher?" came the sarcastic reply.
"Um, well not really, but I am doing as much research as I can," admitted Wesley. Swallowing his pride he turned to Giles, "Would you help me with research please."
Surprised by the honesty of his replacement Giles agreed. Arranging to meet in the library before school the next morning the young people left, talking about their arrangements for their evening at the Bronze.
"If you all want, I can pick you up from your houses in my car," offered Aira. Explaining she said, "My parents thought that if I learnt to drive and they bought me my own car I would be able to go places by my self without upsetting their plans."
"If your sure you don't mind," said Willow.
"No problem," replied Aira, giving them all a dazzling smile. "Is eight alright with everyone?"
Laughing and smiling they all walked off to their next lessons.