You set up a movie night at Amy's place with everyone to cheer Buffy up from her failed date. Perhaps not the best decision you had made. Oh, it worked for cheering Buffy up. In that sense it did exactly what you wanted it to. The real problem was they'd decided to watch romcoms all night. Some of it was funny, but it was mostly not your cup of tea. Well, the girls enjoyed it, and that was what mattered. The popcorn had been good too. Everyone was in a good mood back in school, Buffy seemingly having moved on from her brief crush.
Time came for the yearly zoo field trip, which was as always a fantastic day spent outside away from school and any of that. Buffy wasn't quite in the spirit, but it only took a nudge from you for her to realize the true beauty of the day away from class, homework, and all that other stuff. You even stepped in when Kyle and his buds started pushing in on Lance so Buffy wouldn't have to.
You did feel energized after that field trip. Really energized. Willow was being annoyingly clingy, but she was all that was left of your original group, so you tolerated it the best you could. Buffy, on the other hand, continued to impress you with her sheer grace. She was a leader in her own right, there was no doubt about that.
You were a leader too, of course. And that was a problem. There can only be one leader. You could ditch Willow, and turn to run with your other group. You could feel a tug towards Kyle and the others, knew they would understand you in a way Willow and Buffy didn't. You craved that understanding and connection, that easy movement. It would be easy, and you would be respected. But you had chosen Willow and Buffy previously, even if Buffy's presence chaffed at you.
[ ]Don't fight Buffy, step to take your place in the other pack
[ ]Challenge Buffy for right to lead
[ ]Write-in