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Of all the impulsive or brainless things Stefanie had done in her life, there was never one she wanted to take back more than when she decided to sneak out to go to the Bronze that evening. However, she had resolved that it was the best time to confront Jared over what he'd said about her; she didn't want to have to wait a whole weekend for it.
She paid the bouncer at the door quickly, stepping into the crowded club, paying scant attention to the people who were dancing or the soft slow songs that were playing. Instead, she made her way directly to the backstage room and the basement stairs, knowing it would be where she was likely to find Jared. He'd used to bring her here all the time when they'd first started dating.
Stefanie had just reached the top of the staircase, pausing a moment before moving to descend, when someone grabbed her shoulder from behind. With a gasp, she turned to see Cordelia. "Oh, God, you scared me," Steffi said, putting one hand to her chest and trying to catch her breath.
"Stefanie, what are you doing here?" Cordelia asked. "I thought we'd all agreed to stay in."
"Unless absolutely necessary," Stefanie replied. "Cordy, there's just something I have to take care of really quick. Won't take me more than half an hour... And anyway, what are you doing here?"
"Asking around about our new problem... Look, Steffi, I don't like this. There are too many vampires in the Bronze, and more keep coming every few minutes. It's not safe here."
Stefanie paused, then gave a slight nod. "Five minutes, that's all I ask," she pleaded, her stubborn side shining through. "Jared's here, and I just need to talk to him about something. It really can't wait, Cordelia."
The brunette vampiress remained silent for a painfully long moment, then conceded to Stefanie's wishes, seeing that nothing she said would sway the other girl. "Do you have a cross or holy water on you?"
Stefanie patted her own purse. "Everytime."
"Good," Cordelia said with a sigh. "However, if that's not enough, I want you to be able to call for backup." Cordelia retrieved her phone from her purse, handing it to Stefanie. "Watch your back... In the meantime, I should get going. With all the vampires coming, I'm liable to get staked for being the good guy if I stay around too long."
Stefanie nodded again. Gesturing to the phone, she added as a parting remark, "With any luck, I won't even have to use this... See you later, Cordy." She waited until her friend left, then turned towards the staircase once more, beginning her descent.
She found Jared lounging on the couch, half tangled around the blonde he was making out with. Stefanie cleared her throat loudly, catching his attention. "Oh, it's you," Jared said in annoyance, wearing a smirky smile. Turning to his girlfriend, he said, "Give us a few minutes alone."
Stefanie bristled slightly as the blonde stepped past her, heading back the way she had just come. Jared, on the other hand, had yet to abandon his seat or his arrogant posture. "I suppose you know what I'm here for," Stefanie said right off, challenging him.
"I'm guessing it wasn't to kiss and make up," he answered. "Although lord knows why I'd ever take back a tramp like you."
She took a step closer, fighting tears. "Why, Jared? What's this all about? Isn't it enough that I'm not around hassling you to be a part of our baby's life? Why do you have to go and make mine miserable?"
Jared leaned forward. "Because I can, Steffi," he answered. "Either way, what's it going to matter once we graduate? Life goes on, babe, like it or not. Until then, you just gotta roll with the punches." With that, he stood, walking closer. "Now, if you'll excuse me, my date is waiting."
Stefanie remained frozen where she was, letting the tears flow freely down her face. She wondered how she could have been so blind as to have fallen in love with a stuck-up jerk like him all those months ago. And briefly, she wished she had taken Buffy up on her offer to beat the crap out of him. Finally, with a sigh, Stefanie turned to leave, regretting her decision to come here, when the door above was broken open by a lifeless body thrown through it that then tumbled halfway down the stairs.
Stefanie bit back a scream, taking note of the two punctures in the blonde's (Oh, God, Jared's date!) neck. And now, through the broken door, she could hear the sound of screams. Quickly, she darted for a door concealed in the back of the room, ducking inside and locking herself in. She let loose an expletive, then hissed angrily, "Cordelia was right. I should have left when she told me to!"
However, rather than beat herself up over it, Stefanie reached for the phone, not wanting to take her chances alone; she could easily be overpowered depending on how many bloodsuckers there were. "What a time for my feelings to override my common sense," she muttered to herself, dialing Jenny's number...
Oblivious to Stefanie's plight, Buffy, Angel, and Giles were gathered in the library, planning their strategy based on what they knew. "A vampire who practices magics with a vendetta against me and Buffy," Giles half whispered thoughtfully. "Can't say it rings any bells... Unless this is one we've faced before and failed to defeat."
"Nope," Angel answered. "Serena said he's a new one, whoever he is. I'm more curious about, if he's that new, why he would come here to Sunnydale to find his Slayer. I mean, the current girl, the one who was called to replace Buffy, is stationed in India. Why wouldn't he go there?"
"That's what we're going to find out," Buffy said in response. She grabbed a stake from the table, tucking it in the waistband of her jeans. "I'm gonna go out on the hunt. This guy's probably laying low, so it's off to the sewer tunnels... In the meantime, in case I'm wrong, you guys should check above ground."
Angel stopped Buffy when she moved to leave, holding her arms in his hands. "Be careful," he told her. "And promise you'll come back to me in one piece."
Buffy nodded. "I've handled lots of different vampires. This one shouldn't be any more of a challenge... And the moment he's gone, it's off to honeymoon-land for us," she promised.
Angel smiled, leaning forward to give her a kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too," Buffy replied, taking a step away and just looking at him a moment before turning to leave. Moments later, Angel and Giles followed in her footsteps, both sporting weapons of their own...