3rd Person's POV

Buffy is getting ready for her date. Xander, Laney, and Willow are there. Willow holds up to outfits for Buffy to choose as Xander and Laney sit on her bed.

"Pick."

Buffy tilts her head, "Let's see. Do I want to appear shy, coy and naïve, or do I go unrestrained, insatiable and aggressive."

Xander stands up and walks over to her closet, "You know, Chambers is a little homespun. He probably doesn't like that overly-assertive look... Hey, here's something. A nice, comfy overcoat."

He pulls a drab, floor-length overcoat out of her closet. He reaches for something else.

"And this ski cap. The earflaps will bring out your eyes."

Laney scoffs then looks up from her nails, "Buff mix-n-match."

Buffy nods then turns to the boy in the room, "Xander, guy's opinion." She uncaps two lipsticks holding them up, "Which one do you think Chambers will like better?"

"Oh, you mean for kissing you and then telling all his
friends how easy you are so that the whole school
loses respect for you and talks behind your back?
The red's good."

"Thanks. I'll go with the peach."

Willow hands Buffy some clothes, "Put this on."

They stare at Xander a beat.

"You're not bothering me."

Willow turns Xander around as Buffy changes into her outfit. As Willow and Buffy talk, Xander tries to get a glimpse of Buffy's reflection in the doorknob.

Laney sighs, "So, where's he taking you?"

"I don't know. Where do you suppose the young kids are going on dates these days?"

Willow shrugs, "Well, I read somewhere that sometimes they go to movies."

"Movies... Interesting."

"And once on TV I saw a bunch of people our age at a party." Xander replies.

"Wow. I never knew being a teenager was so full of possibilities."

Suddenly the doorbell rings.

"That's Chambers!"

Buffy runs down the stairs and opens the door. The gang stands in the hallway behind her.

"That's Giles." Buffy says with a frown.

"Tonight is absolutely the night."

"I'm not home."

She starts to close the door. He stops her.

"The prophecy is happening. Look."

He flips open a newspaper. The headline reads: 'SEVEN DIE IN VAN ACCIDENT.'

"My theory was correct. Seven people were killed last night."

"Yeah. In a car crash."

"Those deaths were forecast more than three thousand years ago. And listen to this. Also among the dead was Andrew Borba, whom police had been pursuing for months in connection with a series of brutal assaults. That's the one the Master is waiting for. He is set to rise with the others tonight. My calculations make me sure of it."

Buffy frowns as she stops her foot, "You were sure of it last night. You showed me charts and drafts and calendars."

Giles hangs his head, "I forgot about leap year."

Xander smiles widely, "Of all the luck. A vampire uprising on the night of your big date. Isn't that always the way?"

"Not tonight it ain't." Buffy shakes her head not believing.

"Buffy, you have to believe me--"

"You expect me to buy into your open-to-interpretation interpretation when you can't even remember to carry the four?"

"You must answer your calling."

"Last night I answered it and they put me on hold."

They freeze as they head footsteps. Chambers comes up the porch carrying a carnation.

"Hey, guys. What's Dewey Decimal doing here?"

"Oh. He's, uh, out promoting Bookmobile awareness. We call him gruff but lovable Giles. But enough about him. What's the plan?"

"What are your thoughts on bowling."

Buffy nods, "If it gets me off this doorstep, I'm for it."

She pushes past Giles.

"So you're just going to go."

"If you say so."

Giles frowns, "You're just going to ignore the fact that you've been chosen and have a destiny to fulfill."

Willow and Xander, on alert, pull Chambers away from the conversation. Laney quickly follows behind.

"Uh, Chambers--" Willow stammers.

Xander crosses his arms, "Yeah. A couple of things about tonight."

Buffy and Giles continue to argue in hushed tones during the following.

Chambers frowns, "What is it? She's not into bowling?"

"Well, it's too late to do anything about that. But you should probably know Buffy doesn't like to be kissed. Actually, she doesn't even like to be touched."

Laney chuckles as Willow glares at him, "Xander..."

"As a matter of fact, don't even look at her. She really hates that."

"You know what? I'll just kind of let Buffy lead."

"Oh, she can't stand that most of all."

Giles and Buffy's argument grows louder.

"Fine. It should be very exciting for you doing absolutely nothing all by yourself."

"Ha! What you fail to realize is that that's what I do best!"

Giles storms off. Buffy clenches her fists and groans angrily, then turns to Chambers.

She smiles sweetly, "Okay, all set!"

"Don't wait up."

Buffy and Chambers start down the walk.

Willow frowns, "This is bad."

"I wish it was just bad."

"We're going to have to take steps."

Xander nods, "Yep. We've got to follow Buffy and Chambers. I do not trust that guy."

Willow's eyebrows furrow, "Xander, we have to go with Giles. He could get into trouble."

"Oh, he'll be fine. He's like Super Librarian. Everyone forgets, Willow, that knowledge is the ultimate weapon."

Willow gives him a look.

"All right, all right. But if Buffy shows up at school
tomorrow married with three children, you're going to look pretty stupid."

Giles runs towards the mortuary in the distance. He runs into a room and locks the door behind him. He looks around. There are tables for dressing the bodies, caskets propped open for display, a table of urns, floral funeral arrangements and wardrobe racks. Drawers for the bodies line every wall.

Giles leans against the door and breathes a sigh of relief: he is safe. He looks across the room and sees another door. The doorknob starts to jiggle as Giles clutches his bag.

"I've got another clove and I'm not afraid to use it!"

"Giles, it's us!"

"Willow, Laney, and Xander!"

Giles sighs in relief, "Thank heavens you're here."

"What can we do to help? Whatever you need, just name it." Xander asks urgently.

"I'm being hunted down by a team of vampires."

There is a long pause, then...

"We'll go get Buffy." Laney yells.

"That would be good."

Their footsteps fade as they run off.

Giles looks around. It is silent. He nervously peers out the small window in the door that he first came in.

A vampire's face appears on the other side.

Giles jumps back, then moves to barricade the door as the vampires begin pounding to get in.