Buffy and Wilow are sitting in the graveyard, waiting for a vampire to rise. They pass the time by sorting out Buffy's options for classes. While they are chatting and not paying attention, the vampire rises and quietly stalks over to them, seemingly happy that his first meal is there waiting for him.

However, when he gets closer he notices the crosbow, stakes and other implements not good for vampires and decides to quietly run away in the opposite direction. one smart Vampire. Buffy hears a noise and turns around. She doesn't see anything and complains about the tardiness of vamps.

The first day of college. Stressful for most and Buffy is not enjoying herself. Everyone else seems to know where they are going or what they are supposed to be doing and she's just standing there looking lost. Flyers are thrust at her advertising everything from Jesus to jello shot parties (ahh those where the days - K)

Finally she spots Willow and Oz and goes over to join them. Willow is in her element, having knowledge is actually cool and she has an on-campus boyfriend, who is still cool and still on a band. (Buffy thinks the line for her on-campus boyfriend will be too long by now). Oz knows a lot of the students because the Dingoes have played her so often, but sees how Buffy is and agrees that it is all quite daunting (bless him).

Buffy and Willow head off to the campus bookshop to get their textbooks for the year ahead (see, this is what you're supposed to do, not spend your grant on beer and PlayStations - K). Unfortunately some of the books they want are on top of a bookcase, and Buffy and Willow are both tiny people. Buffy gets on tiptoes to get the books, but manages to knock them off onto the head of another student, Riley. Apologies abound and Buffy suffers from foot in mouth disease and makes a bit of a fool out of herself. Willow and Riley hit it off right away because of the Psychology.

Buffy goes back to her dorm-room and meets her new roommate, Kathy. Slightly hyper (no very hyper), obsessed with Celine Dion and she snores, loudly.

Things go even more downhill form here as Buffy goes to her first class Pop Culture, which the lecturer kicks her out of. Downheartened, Buffy heads off to her next class, Psych and bumps into Riley on the way. They chat, and then Riley confesses that he can't remember her name. When Buffy reminds him he goes "oh yeah, Willow's friend". We are introduced to Buffy's lecturer, Professor Maggie Walsh, a very tough, but world renowned teacher.

That night Buffy is wandering the campus trying to find her halls of residence, she bumps into another student, Eddie, who has a map and between them they mange to locate themselves and where they shoould be going. Buffy makes it back safely, but poor Eddie gets attacked by a vamp. The vampires go to Eddie's room and strip the place to make it look as if he's left, leaving a note as a finishing touch.

When Eddie doesn't turn up for class the next day, Buffy gets worried and goes to his halls to see where he was. She finds his deserted room, but suspects that he didn't go of his own free will because his security-blanket book is still in his bedside table.

Somewhere else on campus the vampires are going through Eddie's stuff, while the head vampire, Sunday watches with disinterest. She finds the students very predeictable, they even keep a tally of Klimt and Monet posters (we had that Klimt poster in our student house). As Sunday leaves the other vamps to it, Eddie - now a vamp - wakes up.

Buffy goes to Giles' house for advice and comfort and finds a strange woman, Olivia, there in one of Giles's shirts and Giles in a dressing gown. Buffy, although grossed ouot, asks for help. Giles says that now he's not her Watcher and an adult yada yada yada she should be able to handle it herself because he can't be there for her all the time.

That night Buffy's on patrol (old habits die hard) and she spots Eddie, her relief turns sour when she realises that she'll have to stake him. Sunday and her vamps turn up and Sunday fights Buffy, breaking her arm. Buffy, not on top form does the wise thing and runs away, nursing her broken arm.

The next day, Buffy keeps a low profile, not wanting to explain to Oz and Willow what happened. Sunday and the other vamps laugh about beating up Buffy and Sunday is so sure that she can best Buffy that she send the other vamps to clear out her room to make it look like she left college.

Buffy goes home and finds her room full of packing crates, Joyce is using it for storage while they do an inventory at the art gallery. Buffy is feeling very diheartened. She goes downstairs and is just passing the phone as it ring. She answers it but there is no one there. (We find out in Angel that it was said vampire that phoned and hung up unable to talk to her).

Buffy goes back to the University and finds all her stuff gone and a note.

getting very depressed now, Buffy goes to the Bronze, she thinks she ses someone who looks like Angel. Someone comes up behind her, asking her what she's doing in a place like this. It's Xander returned from his road trip. Buffy is very pleased to see a familiar face, and even more so with him so happy to see her. When asked about his road trip Xander explains that he didn't get very far before the engine fell out of his car and he had to work in a male strip club to pay for the car repairs. Then one night one of the strippers called in sick and Xander had to go on in their place! But he tells Buffy that it's one story she'll never hear.

Now Xander is living in his basement, paying rent to his parents. Seeing how depressed Buffy is Xander gives her a 'dada-ist' pep-talk using the 'fear leads to anger' speech from Star Wars (badly). he also tells Buffy that she's his hero and spent a lot of the summer wondering about her, but that's something Buffy never wants to hear.

Cheered up and back on the Slay-case Xander and Buffy break into the college office to do some research and learn that a lot of kids have been disappearing from campus. They locate Sunday's lair and do a spot of spying. Xander goes for weapons and backup. Buffy carries on spying but the glass gives way she she craches to the floor at Sunday's feet. Sunday mocks her and her stuff and pays particular attention to the Class Protector Umbrella. Dropping it to the floor Sunday stamps on it. That's all Buffy can take and gets into Slayer-mode and kicks arse.

Willow and Oz go to Buffy's room and find her and all her stuff gone. Willow has a little panic until Xander shows up with hugs for everyone, apart from Oz (they're too manly). With Kathy there, Xander can't really explain how much danger Buffy is in, but with hint s like don't like tanning and whatnot willow and Oz get the picture and run off to help.

Buffy is fighting Sunday when the Slayerettes turn up, using that time honoured Glasgow-kiss as a way of putting the dampners on Sunday. Willow shoots a vamp at close range with a crossbow, Xander stake in the more conventional way as does Oz. The vampire threat dusted, Buffy sorts out her stuff and with the help of the Slayerettes takes to back to her room. As they are leaving a tooled up Giles arrives ready to fight the big bad.

Buffy says that she'll keep his readiness in mind for the next time they need it.