3rd Person's POV

An algebra book is randomly thrown into a trashcan. Willow and Xander walk out of a classroom together. Xander's upset... really upset.

Willow pleads, "Don't just give up, Xander! So you're having trouble with a few equations--"

Xander yells, "No! Now I don't even get the numbers!"

Willow fishes his book out of the trash and hands it to him.

"Here-- tonight I'll help you--"

Xander erupts, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?"

Xander's face suddenly darkens as he savagely rips the book cover in half and hurls it away. Willow just stares after him, disbelieving, as he stalks around the corner, past Bobby holding Herbert the pig. The Pig sees Xander and shrieks with primal terror. Bobby barely holds onto the Pig, as Xander walks past, unconcerned by the Pig's reaction.

Willow joins Buffy in the Hallway and they watch, concern growing, as their friend disappears into the locker room followed by Kyle, Tor and Mick.

They then see Laney come from the corner and bump into a small nerdy girl. The girl slams into the lockers and gasps in shock and pain.

"Sorry didn't see you there." Laney smiles as she moves past laughing.

Buffy quickly walk over to her and grips her arm tightly, "Okay Laney that is enough! First the guy at the Bronze, now Veronica. She didn't do anything to you."

Willow looks in shock as Laney turns angry just like Xander did earlier, "She's breathing. She's a waste of space."

Buffy frowns as Laney harshly grabs her hand and pries it off her own arm.

Laney smirks as she tilts her head, "And right now you're wasting my time. Toodles."

She waves then walks away bumping into Heidi and Rhonda who are on their way out the girls locker room. The three smile at each other then go their separate ways.

The shrill whistle of Coach Herrold, 50's, fake marine, sounds the entire gym. Bobby arrives late to the co-ed P.E. Class.

"Bobby, get over here! People, line up and choose sides for Dodge Ball! Lance-- take off those glasses!"

Coach Herrold chooses Buffy and Kyle as team captains. A grin lights up on Kyle's face as he goes first saying a name that surprised everybody.

"Xander."

Xander grins then walks over to Kyle's side. Buffy frowns then looks at the students.

"Willow."

Willow happily takes her place beside Buffy. Xander whispers something to Kyle who nods.

"Laney."

Laney smirks then makes her way over to stand between the two boys with her hands on her hips. Xander leans back and glances at Laney's butt then clicks his tongue. Laney looks over at him and gives his seducing eyes.

'Later.' He mouths making her giggle.

Lance and Bobby are the last to be picked. Buffy picks Bobby. Kyle chooses Lance, who reluctantly sets his glasses to the side of the bleachers. Then, near-blind, he walks to the group, squinting.

Coach Herrold blows his whistle and the game begins. The dodge balls start flying between the two teams. Bobby's the first out, taking a red dodge ball to the gut.

Dodge balls whiz all around Xander's team, but the Hyena People leap over them with animal finesse. Xander easily catches a ball, hurls it back with intensity, hitting Willow in the arm. Laney chuckles as Xander waves at Willow. She walks to the sidelines, looking more hurt that Xander was the one who hurled the blow.

The Hyena People hold fire and gather up their dodge balls. Buffy stands alone, determined, awaiting their onslaught. Suddenly, Xander, Laney, and the Hyena People turn on Lance, their own teammate. Lance squints, trying to protect himself until he falls, hands over head. The seven dodge balls slam against the boy making him cower and whine in pain.

The Coach watches in awe, "Dodgeball is a ruthless and brutal game... Lance you're out!"

Buffy looks at the other team in pure hatred. She picks up a dodgeball and whips it straight into Tor, which ricochets into Heidi, knocking them to the ground.

Another ball whips into Mick, Rhonda, Kyle and Xander, knocking the wind out of them. The ball ricochets from Xander towards Laney who had her back turned. Within a second, Laney whips around and holds out a hand catching the ball.

"Nice try sweetie..."

Coach blows his whistle then it falls out his mouth as he looks at the two girls in shock. The Hyena People glower back with a newly respectful hatred.

Buffy runs over and helps up a grateful Lance but she locks eyes with Xander-- who leaves with the Hyena People along with Laney. The silence is deafening.

Buffy's on a tear, livid, with Willow right behind her.

Willow stammers trying to keep up with Buffy, "They've just fallen in with a bad influence-"

Buffy shakes her head, "No, 'bad influence' is a Rob Lowe movie. Xander's just gone bad and Laney's gone evil. She was friends with Cordelia and she was never this bad-- there's no excuse for what they did!"

Xander, Laney, and the Hyena people are down the Hallway, tight now, like a Pack. Buffy heads toward them, fists clenched, but Willow beats her to him.

"What's wrong with you, Xander? And you too Laney?"

Xander suddenly turns toward Willow-- only it's the old Xander with the gentle eyes. He pulls her slightly away from the Pack and Buffy. Leans in, somewhat confidentially.

"Guess you've noticed-- I've been different around you, lately."

Willow nods slowly, "Yes."

Xander looks around awkwardly. Then directly to Willow.

"I-uh I think... I think it's because my feelings... for you... have been changing..."

Willow stands looking unsure so he continues.

"We've been friends for such a long time... and... well... I feel like I need to tell you something..."

Willow softens a bit.

"I've... I've decided to drop Algebra... so..."

Willow just looks at Xander, confused.

"I won't need your math help anymore... "

He looks over at the Pack and nods over at Laney, "Babe..."

She struts over with a smirk then holds tightly onto the boy. Xander glances over at Willow then at Laney as he pulls her into a deep make out. Willow frowns disgusted as Laney bites Xander's lip and pulls away slowly with a purr.

Xander looks back at Willow with a blank stare, "Lane is gonna help me out now... which means..."

He glances back at the Pack with a smile as Laney giggles seeming to know what's coming next.

"I won't have to look at your pasty face again."

The Pack laughs hysterically, while Willow just stands there-- as if he'd hit her in the stomach. Buffy looks also stunned-- she can't believe what she heard. Buffy moves to confront them, but Willow runs past, internalizing the pain. Buffy turns trying to figure out if she should beat up some assholes or  go comfort her friend.

As they stand, the laughter continues, but Kyle's laugh suddenly changes, rising into a bone-chilling, high-pitched, Hyena like cackle.

Buffy locks eyes with Xander as she stomps to the two.

"Hey! You got something you want to say to me?"

Xander stares into her eye blankly then looks down at Laney.

"Oh don't act all big and ballsy slayer. We know you're just a small scared and helpless little girl on the inside. Now why don't you go run after your little pet."

Buffy sighs in defeat feeling a small speck of pain as those words leave Laney's mouth. Xander laughs seeing the sadness in her eyes and kisses Laney's head.

"Good girl."

He turns to the others.

"Let's do lunch."

Xander, Laney, and the Hyena people turn away, still laughing. Buffy watches as they move as one, up the empty Hallway. Buffy shivers, listening to Kyle's continuing ominous cackle.

JUST FOR FUN

Laney's Outfit