What If: Buffy had joined the Cordettes instead?

[nightshade]

What if instead of making friends with Xander and Willow, she stayed with Cordelia and her group of friends.

 

[NotASlayer]

Buffy might have found it harder to survive, because of the Cordettes only Cordelia was really any use.

If she did survive, Harmony would not have lasted long as a vampire. Because if you had been exposed to Harmony as a human for a solid three years, finally having a justifiable reason for killing her - "It's my job; don't blame me for loving it." - is something you would take advantage of. 😀

 

[Ethan Reigns]

Without Cordelia, Buffy might have ended at Slayerfest '98 because Cordelia was good at bluffing and the occasion, the school dance, would have still put them together. As it was, Xander and Willow became very useful allies whereas the Cordettes were defined mainly by their narcissism. Everything had to be about them and only Cordelia was likely to be more of a help than a hindrance.

But even in "Out of Mind, Out of Sight" where Cordelia considered her life to be going well until she met Buffy:

Cordelia: Because you're always around when all this weird stuff is happening. And I know you're very strong, and you've got all those weapons... I was kind of hoping you were in a gang.

Cordelia eventually got on board with the idea of helping Buffy. I doubt any of the other Cordettes would have joined in. Cordelia also helped Xander steal a rocket launcher so Buffy could annihilate Acathla. Cordelia drove Buffy home after she got weak during the cruciamentum.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Same as before, she pulls a stake out at Cordie, they reject her. Meanwhile, Jessie, Xander and Willow leave the Bronze early, or don't go at all. Buffy returns to the Library, accepting Merrick's teaching that she is ronin, and friendship can only end in alienation, betrayal or death, and the best thing to help others, is to do her duty.

(Insert end credits, which is probably wind chimes or something.)

 

[Stake fodder]

It depends on who would end up dominating the group. If Cordy stayed in charge, the vamps drawn by Buffy's presence might wipe out the Cordettes, who would be more concerned about appearing nerdy than taking uncool steps to protect themselves.

If Buffy took over the Cordettes (the Buffettes then?), slaying - or at least, carrying a stake - would become the cool thing to do in school. It might actually reduce the population of vampires!