C20

The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue over Sunnydale, reflecting off the windows of Brooke Sanders' home. Inside, the living room echoed with the sounds of a Hindi movie, providing a rare moment of relaxation for Brooke, Xander, and Willow. They lounged on the couch, enjoying the respite from their usual demon-fighting activities.Xander stretched, grinning. "You know, even with no money and nowhere to go, we still manage to have fun."Willow offered an alternative. "We could go out, maybe hit the Bronze?"Brooke shook her head, her smile tinged with a hint of melancholy. "I'm good staying in, just being a regular girl for a change. It's been quiet on the Hellmouth lately, and I'm not complaining."Their brief moment of peace was shattered by a scene that would soon become all too familiar. In the dim light of a frat house, a girl hurled herself out of a second-story window, landing hard before scrambling to her feet. She sprinted through a cemetery, fear propelling her as three figures in ceremonial robes pursued her. Her escape was cut short by another robed figure who stepped into her path, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "Where do you think you're going? The party's just getting started."The next day at school, Cordelia chattered excitedly with her friends about dating tips, while Brooke and Willow walked nearby, deep in conversation about Brooke's recurring dreams of Angel."I keep dreaming about him," Brooke confessed, her frustration evident. "But it's not just the dreams. It's like...he's all I think about."Willow, ever the optimist, smiled. "I think you and Angel are perfect for each other. Apart from the whole vampire thing. Why don't you ask him for coffee? It's casual, no big commitment."Cordelia's voice cut through their conversation as she bragged to Xander about her new college boyfriend. "Delta Zeta Kappa," she emphasized, clearly proud. "They're so much more sophisticated than high school boys."Giles, meanwhile, was on his usual mission to ensure Brooke's readiness for any demonic threat. "You must train harder, Brooke. The Hellmouth may be quiet, but we can't afford to let our guard down."Brooke's patience was wearing thin. "Giles, I just want to be a normal teenager, even if it's just for one night."That afternoon, Richard Anderson, a Delta Zeta Kappa member, arrived at the school to see Cordelia. His friend, Tom Warner, immediately took an interest in Brooke. Introductions were made, and Tom invited Brooke to their party. She declined, citing her involvement with someone. But the invitation lingered in her mind as Giles summoned her for yet another round of training.Nightfall found Brooke on patrol, her thoughts a tangled web of duty and desire. She encountered Angel, who seemed distant, troubled. They found a bracelet stained with blood, which Angel identified as belonging to a girl from Kent Preparatory School. As they discussed the implications, Brooke mustered the courage to ask him out for coffee.Angel's response was a dagger to her heart. "Brooke, you don't know what you want. Our age difference is...complicated."Hurt and angry, Brooke fled. The next day, she impulsively agreed to accompany Cordelia to the frat party, a decision driven as much by defiance as curiosity.That evening, Giles and Willow uncovered disturbing information. The bracelet's owner, along with several other girls, had gone missing near the Delta Zeta Kappa house. Angel, arriving at the library, immediately sensed something was wrong. Willow, in a rare outburst, scolded both Giles and Angel for their treatment of Brooke."You're pushing her too hard, Giles! And you," she turned to Angel, "stop playing with her feelings and be there for her!"Their urgency galvanized, the group rushed to the frat house to find Brooke and Cordelia.At the party, Brooke was acutely aware of the frat boys' drunken behavior. Xander, who had sneaked in to keep an eye on her, was quickly humiliated by the party-goers. Seeking refuge from the chaos, Brooke accepted a drink from Tom, who flattered her with comments about her maturity. The drink took its toll quickly, and she stumbled upstairs to a bedroom, unconscious before she hit the pillow.In the dimly lit room, Richard approached her, his intentions far from innocent. Tom intervened, asserting that the girls were for a higher purpose. Cordelia, unconscious beside Brooke, was equally unaware of the danger they faced.When Brooke and Cordelia awoke, they found themselves chained in a dank basement, along with Callie, the girl who had tried to escape the frat house earlier. The room reeked of fear and desperation. As Machida, a hideous half-man, half-snake demon, slithered closer, Cordelia was chosen as the first sacrifice. Brooke, ever the Slayer, broke free of her chains just in time, creating a distraction that saved Cordelia.Willow, Angel, and Giles arrived at the party, now a battleground. They met Xander, and together they stormed the house, beating back the frat brothers. Willow, guided by her instincts, found the basement and led the charge. As Tom and Brooke fought, she seized a sword and, with a decisive swing, severed Machida's head. The demon's death throes echoed through the basement as the frat boys were subdued and arrested.In the aftermath, Giles acknowledged the error of his ways. "I realize I've been too hard on you, Brooke. From now on, I'll try to find a better balance."The following day, the group gathered at the Bronze. Cordelia's standards had shifted, now advocating for younger men. Xander, newspaper in hand, recounted the fate of the Delta Zeta Kappa members. "Sentenced to life, and the bodies of their past victims were found. Seems their companies are suffering too."Angel appeared, his presence softening Brooke's tension. "How about that coffee?" he asked.Brooke smiled, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "I'd like that. I'll let you know when."As they settled into their routine, the Hellmouth's dangers felt momentarily distant. For Brooke Sanders, the line between Slayer and teenager had never been clearer, or more treacherous.