Part Nine
Buffy twirled around in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom. Cordelia convinced her to buy the sundress and a matching pair of shoes, and Buffy had to admit that she looked good. The dress fell two inches above her knees with spaghetti straps and a conservative neckline. Wherever Angel was taking her, she was ready.
She fixed her hair so that it was curled slightly to her shoulders. For some reason, whenever she saw her reflection, she giggled like a schoolgirl on her first date.
But this isn't a date. Angel just feels bad for me and is doing this to make me feel better, she told herself.
As she put on the final touches of her make-up, the doorbell rang. It was six o'clock and Angel was right on time. Quickly giving herself the once-over, Buffy walked downstairs to open the door. What she found was not what she expected. Angel stood on the front porch in a pair of black trousers, black shoes and a dark blue shirt. In his hand he held a single red rose.
"Hi. Come on in," Buffy invited.
Angel gazed at the blonde beauty in front of him. He had never seen a true angel until he saw Buffy. She literally took his breath away. "You look wonderful" was all he could say.
"I bet you say that to all the broken-hearted girls you take out to dinner," she joked.
"No, just you."
"You're a great liar."
"I never lie." He handed her the rose. "A rose for the lady."
Buffy took it, bringing it to her nose. It smelled fragrant and sweet. "That's so thoughtful. Thank you. Would you like to have a seat while I finish getting ready?"
Angel sat down on the couch, looking at the framed photographs that adorned the end table. One was a family photo of Buffy and her parents when she was ten, another of Buffy, Xander and Willow standing in front of a tree at the park, and one of Buffy and Kevin at a school dance.
"All ready," Buffy informed him when she returned to the living room. "Hope you don't mind, I grabbed my pajamas and a change of clothes."
"Why would I mind?"
"Thought I'd at least let you know." The two of them walked out of the house, Buffy locking up while Angel carried her overnight bag. "Where are we going?"
Angel held the car door open for her. "I saw this little Italian place jut outside of town. Would you like to go there?"
"Mmm...Italian is my favorite."
Twenty minutes later they were seated in a secluded booth in the restaurant, looking over the menu. Several waitresses passed their booth, all taking a look at Angel as they walked by. Buffy felt a wave of jealousy pass through her. She wanted to rip their eyes from their sockets and tell them that he was her date. 'My date. Is that what this is? Cordy and Willow think so, but I don't know. Maybe. But Angel probably doesn't. Just doing his good deed for the day.'
A waitress, tall and brunette, stopped at their booth. She smiled at them, mostly at Angel, which did not go unnoticed by Buffy. "Hi, I'm Shannon and I will be your waitress. What can I bring you to drink?"
"Water, please," Buffy answered quickly.
"Make that two," Angel replied.
Shannon left to get the waters. "Everything looks good," commented Angel. "I'm having a hard time deciding. How about you?"
"Pasta Alfredo with chicken. Heart attack on a plate. If I'm going to die, I'm gonna go happy."
"Buffy, you're not going anywhere."
"Sure. Whatever." 'Way to go, Buffy. Go into full brooding mode. What a way to make him think you're a total loser.'
Luckily, Shannon returned with the drinks. "Have you decided?" she asked.
"Buffy, you go first."
She sighed. "Pasta Alfredo with chicken and a caesar salad. Extra dressing."
"Great." Shannon wrote it down in her pad. "How about you, sir?"
Angel glanced over the menu swiftly. "I'll have the chicken parmesan and a cup of vegetable soup."
The waitress took the menus from them. "Thank you very much," she said, addressing it more to Angel than to Buffy.
"Are you aware that every girl walking by is checking you out?" Buffy asked.
He shrugged. "I haven't noticed anyone."
"Then you must be blind, because at least five girls have done it. Including our waitress."
"She's just friendly."
"Please. She didn't look at me once," Buffy informed him. "She's obviously single and on the prowl."
"Let her look all she wants." He was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the conversation. "Did you find a Prom dress yet?"
"Yeah. All three of us did. Willow and I ran into Cordelia at the mall." She neglected to mention their run-in with Kevin.
"I am sure you are going to look beautiful. The belle of the ball, etc."
Should I ask him? But what if he says no? Then I'll be utterly humiliated in the middle of the restaurant. No, not now. Maybe later. "Okay, you are obviously seeing something I don't."
Their soup and salad were delivered, and the two of them began eating.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" Buffy asked between bites.
"Depends on the question. But sure."
"How old are you? I have a guess, but I'm curious."
"Twenty-seven last August. Was your guess right?"
"Pretty close."
They ate in silence until the main courses arrived. Buffy glared at Shannon for flirting with Angel. "Wow," Angel said, commenting on the portions. Once again, he didn't notice the waitress staring at him.
"I know. They're going to have to wheel me out of here."
During dinner, Angel asked about Buffy's friends. How they had met, what they do for fun and whether they knew about her being the Slayer. She told him all about Xander, Cordelia and Willow. Buffy dominated the conversation, telling Angel about her life in L.A. as a child and what it was like for her after she was called. "Anyone I considered a friend turned on me. It's made me see how true my friendship with Willow, Xander and Cordelia really is. They don't judge me."
When they finished dinner and exited the restaurant, Angel asked, "What would you like to do now? It's still early, maybe a sweep through the park.?"
Buffy shook her head. "No way. Saturday is my day off, Giles knows this. Do you mind if we just go back to your apartment? I'd kind of like to veg out."
"Sure. We can watch a movie or something."
********
"I can't believe you have HBO," Buffy said for the third time that night.
It was almost eleven and the two of them had just finished watching 'Say Anything.' "Just because I'm a Watcher doesn't mean I'm ready for the nursing home yet. I'm still young."
'Don't I know it.' "That was such a sweet movie. I swear, if some guy ever stood in my yard with a boombox blasting 'In Your Eyes' I'd be his forever. Lloyd was so romantic."
Angel agreed. "That he was."
Buffy stood up to stretch. A photograph on a nearby table caught her eye, so she picked it up. "Is this you?" she wanted to know, sitting down once again.
"Yes."
"You were such a cute kid. Who's this with you? Your older sister?"
"No, my mother," he replied with a hint of sadness in his voice.
She took a long look at the young woman in the picture. "She's beautiful, Angel. She looks young."
"She was. When the picture was taken I was five and she was twenty."
"Oh my god. You mean she had you when she was fifteen?" This shocked Buffy.
He nodded. "And she died when I was six."
"What happened?"
"It's not a very pretty story, Buffy."
"I think I can handle it. If you want to tell me."
He took a deep breath. "It was a demon. A particularly strong demon. He found her patrolling and killed her. Ripped out her inner organs and outlined her body with them."
She was horrified. "I'm so sorry." She paused. "Did you say patrol?"
"My mother was a Slayer."
"I didn't know."
"I didn't want to tell you right away. I've never told anyone. Her Watcher raised me, and from as far back as I can remember, it's all I wanted to do. Be a Watcher."
This intrigued Buffy. "Do you remember much about her?"
A solitary tear fell down Angel's cheek. He never spoke of his mother; it hurt too much. But he wanted to share his memories with Buffy. "I must have been four or five. She took me to this park and it had an old-fashioned carousel. My mother sat me on this white horse and watched me with the most amazing smile. I'll never forget it."
Buffy wiped the tears away with her fingers. Unconsciously, she moved her face closer to his, gently kissing his lips. They were warm and salty from the tears. Her right hand cupped the side of his face.
Her kiss surprised Angel. He did not know how to react, for it had been so unexpected. Her kisses were like heaven to him, and he never wanted to return to earth. Unsure at first, Angel soon gave in to his urges, responding to Buffy. His hands wound to her back, slowly moving up and down. He could feel her heart beating rapidly through her shirt. This kiss awakened feelings and desires Angel had never experienced.
When she felt his hands on her neck and in her hair, Buffy panicked. 'What am I doing? What if he wants more?' She broke away from him, flushed and panting. It was the most intense moment of her life and it scared her. She looked into Angel's tear-filled brown eyes, not seeing the love that radiated from them. "I can't. I..." She jumped up and ran into his bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
Buffy threw herself on the bed, crying into his pillow. It smelled of a combination of his shampoo and aftershave. She inhaled it, but it only made her cry harder. Why am I feeling like this? A voice inside of her answered. 'Because you love him.'
Part Ten
He stared after Buffy as she ran out of the room. What happened? Did I scare her? What? One second they were sharing a heated kiss, and the next thing he knew she was running away. Angel wanted to go after her, but decided to let her be. Maybe he'd pushed too hard or came on too strong. He didn't know and figured it would be better to apologize for whatever he did to upset her.
Angel walked over to the bedroom door, preparing to knock. Something made him stop just before his hand made contact with the wooden door. No, she needs to be by herself. Buffy wouldn't have ran away if she wanted to be with me.
So he turned out the lights and settled down on the couch. Sleep didn't seem to want to take him, which left Angel to contemplate what had happened. He had never known that a simple kiss could be so intense, could stir such emotions. There was a spark that accompanied the touch of Buffy's lips. It made him feel more alive, as if her kiss restored the life he'd lost somewhere throughout his life.
He was unable to control himself. Suddenly, his heart had taken over control from his mind. Thinking rationally was no longer an option. While his mind told him to resist the urge to kiss her back, his heart shouted that he shouldn't deny himself the touch of the woman he loved. Angel's heart won out, forcing him to respond passionately to Buffy. And it cost him.
She rejected him, of that he was certain. He scared her away by coming on too strong. She probably thinks I'm like every other guy; that I'll expect something from her. That kiss was much more than I ever expected. Angel did want something: her love. He prayed to whatever god would listen that someday, Buffy would love him with the same intensity that he loved her.
********
The bright rays of the sun woke Buffy at dawn. She groaned, trying to blink away the light, but to no avail. The alarm clock next to the bed read six forty-three. Too early for her to get up on a Sunday morning.
For twenty minutes she lay there in an attempt to fall back to sleep. It didn't work, so she swung her legs over the side of the bed. She opened the door and peaked out in the living room. Angel lay on his left side on the couch, facing the hallway. Biting her lip softly, Buffy went back inside the bedroom to get dressed. She wanted to leave before he woke up. It would be too embarrassing and awkward if she were to stay. Running away and crying from their kiss was childish, and Buffy knew it. What he must think of me now, kissing him like that. I was so caught up in the moment that I wasn't thinking about the consequences. I'm so stupid.
In five minutes Buffy had her things ready. She quietly stepped through the hallway and into the living room. Stopping a few feet from the couch, Buffy looked at Angel. He was sleeping peacefully, making her smile that she hadn't woken him up. She suppressed the innate urge to bring her lips to his again, knowing it would be even more embarrassing. No, better to leave. Without saying anything, Buffy left the apartment and headed home.
When Angel awoke two hours later, he found his bedroom empty. She left. Buffy didn't want to be near me. Dammit, how could I have been so stupid?
********
"Come on, spill," Willow begged. "How did it go last night?"
Buffy, Willow and Cordelia sat on Buffy's bed. "Yeah. Did you ask him? What did he say?" Cordelia wanted to know.
"Dinner was nice. We went to a restaurant outside of town. And no, I didn't ask him," Buffy told them.
"Why not?" demanded the brunette.
Buffy frowned. "Things happened; I never got a chance."
"You were with Angel all night. How could you not have had a chance?"
"If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone. Not Oz, not Xander and especially not Giles," Buffy said to her friends.
"Of course" and "Yeah" were their responses.
Buffy took a deep breath before beginning. "After dinner we went to his apartment and watched a movie. I saw a picture of him and his mother, and you know me, I'm always curious. Angel told me about her, how she died and stuff like that. She died when he was only six years old. Then he told me his most vivid memory of her. He started crying."
"He cried?" The idea of a grown man crying astounded Cordelia. She'd never seen it happen.
"I felt so bad. There he was, crying because I'm too nosy to mind my own business. I wanted to make him feel better. And the next thing I knew, I was kissing him."
"And?" Cordelia questioned.
"And...Angel started kissing me back. I got scared though. Like, what if he wanted more? He's in his twenties, and experienced. What would he think of me? God, what does he think of me now?"
Willow grabbed her best friend's hand. "I'm sure Angel doesn't think any less of you."
"Hey, Buffy, I have a question. What -- what was it like? The kiss, I mean," Cordelia wanted to know.
"Cordy!" hissed Willow.
"I wanna know."
"It's okay. It...it was amazing. I've kissed guys before, but never like that. I don't even now how to describe it. With Kevin, it was never about passion or intensity. But with Angel, my knees went weak and I couldn't even form a coherent thought. It seemed so automatic, so right. I didn't need to think about what I was doing, I just did it."
Willow's eyes were wide. "Wow. I've never been kissed like that."
"It scared me so much. I ran away."
"You did what?" screeched Cordelia.
"I ran into the bedroom and cried."
"Why didn't you stay? Talk to him?"
Buffy blinked hard. "Because if I stayed, I knew I'd kiss him again. So I left this morning without saying good-bye. He was still asleep on the couch when I left."
"What does he wear to bed?" asked Cordelia, with a sly smile.
"Cordelia!" Willow hissed again.
"Boxers, for your information. Guys, what am I going to do?"
"What do you want to do?" Willow asked.
Buffy shrugged. "I don't know. My head says to stay away, he's older and my Watcher...sort of. But my heart says to go for it. That maybe it's worth the risk."
"Follow whichever is louder."
"That's real smart, Cordelia. What if she makes the wrong decision?"
"She won't know 'til she tries," argued Cordelia.
"Buffy, you have to make your own decision."
She nodded. "I know that. But I don't know which to listen to. My heart or my head."
"Well, how do you feel about Angel?" asked Willow.
"It's weird. I've known him for less than a week, but...I think I love him," Buffy admitted.
"Go for it," advised Cordelia.
"If you love him, Buffy, what do you have to lose? He kissed you back, right?" Buffy nodded. "Then he obviously feels something for you. Run with it. See where it takes you," Willow told her.
"What if he looks at me and thinks I'm just some lovesick school girl?"
"If he's the one, he won't think that."
"The one? My true love?"
Willow smiled. "Have you thought about the possibility? If that kiss was as intense as you described it, maybe Angel is your true love."
"You lucked out, Buffy. They don't come much cuter than Angel," commented Cordelia.
"It's not about cute, Cordy. It's about love and being soulmates. I think he's the one. Angel is your true love."
"It'll never work. So what if I love him? He's in love with someone else, remember? True love or not, I can't take that risk. I have to forget him and move on," Buffy said, making up her mind. Whether her heart broke in the process or not.
Part Eleven
Monday morning rolled round quickly. Both Buffy and Angel were nervous about seeing each other, given the events of Saturday night. They respectively decided not to say anything unless the other brought it up.
Buffy showed up for her tutoring session five minutes early, in hopes that Angel would bring it up. When she saw that he wasn't there waiting for her, she was slightly disappointed. "Hey, Giles. Where's Angel?" Her heart beat nervously in anticipation of seeing him.
"He is running an errand for me, so he might very well be a few minutes late," Giles answered. "Tell me, how was patrol on Friday night? Did you show Angel how it's done?"
She decided to be totally up-front with her Watcher. "He didn't need me to show him how it's done. He saved my ass in fact. If he hadn't shown up when he did, you might be out of a job."
"What do you mean, 'shown up when he did'? Did he forget about meeting you?"
"No, he was here, but I wasn't."
"Buffy, you made a promise and I expected you to keep it. Breaking it almost got you killed, if I am understanding you correctly." Giles was none too pleased with Buffy.
"Look, I'm sorry. Buffy did a stupid thing. She did a lot of stupid things this weekend. But you know what? Something happened Friday and I went patrolling alone to think. I forgot about meeting Angel, but he found me and saved me."
Giles looked at her. "May I ask what it was that caused you to forget?" It wasn't like Buffy to be so irresponsible.
"Kevin broke up with me because he's a hormone-driven teenage boy," she said with a bitter edge to her voice.
"I didn't know, I'm sorry," apologized Giles.
"It's okay. He said some really nasty things that I'm not feeling up to repeating and he dumped me. I wanted to be by myself, so I went on patrol, completely forgetting that I promised you Angel could come with me."
"Why don't you move on to the part where you almost died," suggested her Watcher.
Buffy frowned. She knew she had to tell him, but feared his reaction. "In the cemetery I got into a fight with a vamp. He got the upper hand and knocked me unconscious. I don't remember what happened after that. When I woke up, I didn't know where I was."
"Where were you?"
"Angel had found me, staked the vampire and brought me back to his apartment."
"Really," he commented. This did not sit well with him. Angel should have taken her to the hospital or home, not his apartment.
"Yeah. He told me what happened and listened to me cry all night about Kevin." She thought back to how easy it was to talk to Angel that night. Before things became complicated by their kiss.
Giles narrowed his eyes slightly. "You spent the night with Angel."
"God, not like that. Everyone makes it sound so sordid. Nothing happened. Me on the bed, him on the couch. Get your mind out of the gutter."
"Did you patrol with him at all this weekend?"
Buffy shook her head. "No. Saturday night we went out and Sunday I stayed in. Why, did you want me to patrol?"
"We? As in you and Angel?"
"Uh-huh."
Just then, Angel burst into the Library carrying several books. He stopped almost dead in his tracks when he saw Buffy. He tried to make eye contact with her, but she stared at her hands instead. Giles felt the uneasiness between the two, and planned on getting to the bottom of it.
"Here are the books you wanted, Giles," Angel said, handing the books to the elder Watcher.
"Thank you." He took the books and walked into his office. He made a mental note to keep an eye on Buffy and Angel.
"Hi, Buffy," Angel greeted her. He was unsure of what to say.
"Hi," she repeated. The awkward feeling from that weekend had returned.
Angel figured she wasn't about to bring up Saturday night, seeing as she hadn't even looked at him since he walked in. "Do you want me to go over any more about the Cold War?" Better to get right down to business.
"I'm pretty sure I understand it. We can move on to something else."
Angel sat down at the table and Buffy chose the seat across from him. I really did scare her, he thought. She doesn't even want to sit next to me. "Why don't we go over the Kennedy administration then."
Buffy listened as he talked about Camelot and how America changed in the three years John F. Kennedy was President. Her mind wasn't on his words, though. It didn't mean anything to him, just another kiss. I am so dumb for thinking it meant anything. Probably had a good laugh over how he got the Slayer to fall for him.
She nodded her head once in a while, pretending she was actually paying attention to his words, when in fact she wasn't. No, Buffy kept watching his lips move, remembering how warm they were when they kissed. And she wanted so badly to silence him with another one to see if it would feel the same. But she pushed those thoughts away.
"Do you have any questions?" asked Angel when their time was up.
Yeah, I do. Were you as affected by our kiss as I was? Will you do it again so I can feel that way once more? Do you love me? Because I love you. She shook her head. "Nope. Nothing I can think of."
********
"Angel, may I see you in my office please," requested Giles after Buffy's training.
"Sure." They walked into Giles' office. Angel didn't bother to close the door behind him; the library was empty. "What is it, Giles?"
"Buffy informed me of what happened Friday night. Is it true that she had a near-fatal run-in with a vampire?"
Angel didn't see where it was going. If Buffy told him, why did Giles need to ask him? "Yes. When she didn't show up to meet me, I went looking for her. I was on my way home and I saw her fighting a vamp. He was about to kill her when I staked him." He shuddered involuntarily at the thought of almost losing Buffy.
"And Buffy was unconscious?" Angel nodded. "Where did you take her?" Giles already knew the answer, but wanted to hear it from the young Watcher himself.
"To my apartment."
"Why didn't you take her to a hospital?" demanded Giles.
He shrugged. "I don't know exactly. My apartment was closer."
"Did you ever stop to think that perhaps she was seriously injured? A concussion or a coma, maybe?"
"Buffy woke up twenty minutes later. She's perfectly fine."
"It didn't occur to you that Buffy could have died from her injuries, did it?"
"No," answered Angel. "Look, I made a mistake. I'm sorry, but I can't change what I did. And I'd do it again."
Giles glared at Angel. "She also told me that she spent the night there, too."
"She was upset, fell asleep on the couch. I didn't have the heart to wake her up, so I let her sleep in my bedroom."
"And you went out with her on Saturday night. Am I right again?"
"Yes."
The Watcher nodded. "Did anything happen between you two?"
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Don't play coy now. I saw the way you looked at her and how Buffy wouldn't look at you. It's apparent that something is going on."
Angel looked away. He hated being forced into admitting what happened between them. "We kissed. But that's all. I...it...she ran away from me. I think I scared her."
Giles noted the look of hurt in Angel's eyes. "You care about her, don't you? No, let me rephrase that. You love Buffy, don't you?"
"Are you insinuating that I'm too blinded by love to do my job? Then fine, I'll admit it. I'm in love with Buffy. I have been since I first saw her. You know, I never expected to, either. But I saw her and I just knew she was the one."
"And you don't have to tell me how wrong it is, because I know. It hurts to know how much I love her and that I can never be with her."
"The Council will frown on this, should I tell them," informed Giles.
"A Slayer is supposed to be distanced from her Watcher, I get it. But you can't tell me that you don't care about Buffy. You do. She's like a daughter to you, anyone can see that." Angel took a breath. "I don't care if you tell the Watcher's Council. It's not going to change the way I feel. I love her, and I will continue to do so whether the Council approves or not."
********
Willow placed the books she borrowed on the library counter. She intended on saying hello to Giles until she heard voices coming from his office. She recognized them as belonging to Giles and Angel.
"You love Buffy, don't you?" she heard Giles ask.
A few seconds later, Angel replied. "Are you insinuating that I'm too blinded by love to do my job? Then fine, I'll admit it. I'm in love with Buffy. I have been since I first saw her..."
The redhead stood in utter shock. Angel's in love with Buffy. She's the one he told her about. But, should I tell her? Deciding, after a great deal of thinking, that it wasn't her place. If they were meant to be, they'll find their way to each other. That doesn't mean I can't give them a push in the right direction.
Part TwelveTwo and a half weeks seemingly flew by. The awkwardness between Buffy and Angel remained, because neither of them wanted to bring up the kiss. When they spoke it was about either history or slaying. Never did they talk about personal business.
The Prom. Sunnydale High had been bustling about it, particularly Willow, Xander and Cordelia; it was all they could talk about. Buffy, on the other hand, had come to think of it as a chore. No longer did she look forward to it. Prom became something she came to dread, yet she was still planning to attend. It was a chore now, something she had to do, like slaying.
"Earth to Buffy," Xander said.
Buffy, who had been staring at her plate and pushing around the mashed potatoes with her fork, blinked. "Huh?"
"Where were you?" he wanted to know.
"Just spacing. What did you want? I didn't hear you."
"What time are you going to be here tonight?" he asked.
She shrugged her shoulders. "Seven, seven-thirty. God, I don't even want to go."
"Because of Kevin? Don't let him stop you from having fun. It's party time."
"Yeah, I know. But I'm going to make a fool out of myself. I...I sort of told him I had a date. Which I don't. Hence, Buffy the Fool."
"Lots of people are going stag."
"And I hadn't planned on being one of them," Buffy replied miserably. "I just wish I had a date, that's all. Look, I'm really depressing you, so I'm gonna go." Buffy stood up, walking out of the cafeteria.
Willow approached Xander, who sat at the table by himself. "What's wrong? Where did Buffy go?"
"She took off. I think she's upset about not having a date for the Prom tonight."
She shook her head. "This is all Kevin's fault. If he hadn't been such a jerk, Buffy wouldn't be so upset right now. Ugh!"
"Yeah, tell me about it. If I only there were something we could do to help her," mused Xander.
A lightbulb went off in Willow's head. "That's it, I got it."
"Got what?" Xander didn't know what his friend was talking about.
"A way to make Buffy happy. I know just how to do it. Bye." Willow took off.
********
Angel walked through the halls. Classes were over for the day and the halls were virtually empty, due to the Prom that evening. He thought he was alone until a hand tapped his shoulder. Whirling around, he found himself looking at Willow.
"Willow. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be getting ready for Prom?"
"I will be. Actually, I'm here to see you."
Angel tilted his head. "Me? Why?"
"I need your help. With Buffy."
"Willow, I think I'm the last person you should be asking for help. Especially where Buffy is concerned. She and I haven't--"
"Angel, I know," Willow said.
"Know what?"
Willow hesitated for five seconds. "About the kiss. Buffy told me."
"I scared her away."
She shook her head in disagreement. "No you didn't. You didn't scare her away, she was afraid you'd want more than she was ready to give. After what happened with Kevin, she's a little leery."
"I wouldn't hurt her."
"I know that. You love Buffy."
"What? Where did you hear that?" He didn't know where, or from whom, Willow had heard it. Except from Giles.
"From you. I heard you talking to Giles a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't eavesdropping or anything, I kind of overheard."
Panic gripped him. "Buffy. Does she know? Did you tell her?"
"No, I didn't. It wasn't my place to tell her. But I need your help with her. Tonight's the Prom, and Buffy doesn't have a date."
"I still don't know how I can help you. Things have been awkward between us."
"I know that. But she wanted to ask you, Angel. She told me; she said she was going to ask you, but then everything happened. And now Buffy's going to the Prom alone and she's miserable," explained Willow.
"What could I possibly do?"
"Do you want Buffy to be happy?"
"Of course I do."
Willow raised her eyebrows. "Then do what I tell you. If you love Buffy, you'll do it."
********
"You're a vision," Mrs. Summers complimented when Buffy strolled down the stairs in her Prom dress.
Buffy smirked. "You're my mother. You have to say that."
"It's the truth, honey. Your dress is beautiful. You are beautiful."
She glanced at her reflection in the hallway mirror, not recognizing the girl looking back at her. Her dress, blood-red, cascaded to the floor, held up by two thin straps. The neckline was lower than Mrs. Summers would have liked, but Buffy pulled it off, making the plunging neckline sophisticated. With matching red heels, a red back and her blonde hair in curls framing her face, Buffy was ready to go.
"Do you have your bag?" her mother asked.
Buffy nodded. "Yes, Mom. I'm staying at Xander's tonight, you have the number."
"My baby's going to her Senior Prom. I can't believe it."
"Yeah yeah."
"Buffy, you are going to have so much fun," promised Mrs. Summers.
She snorted. "Sure I will. All by myself.""
"You won't need a date to have fun."
"I wish I had one, though." I wish I'd asked Angel before this whole fiasco started. "All of my friends will be dancing and having a grand old time while Buffy sits at her table all alone, shoving appetizers into her throat. Yeah, big fun."
Mrs. Summers smiled. "Maybe you'll surprise yourself. Come on, I want to take some pictures before you go."
********
The inside of the gymnasium had been transformed into a grand ballroom. Streamers, strobe lights and a large disco ball added to the festive ambiance. Buffy couldn't believe her eyes. It was like she'd entered another reality.
"Buffy!" called Willow.
She made her way over to Willow and Oz. "Hi, guys. You look great." Buffy admired the simple blue dress her best friend had purchased during their shopping excursion.
"So do you." She gave Buffy a hug. "How are you doing?"
"Okay, I guess. Dateless, but otherwise fine. Are you two having fun yet?"
"Yeah, so far," began Oz. "Prom is surprisingly affecting. I might get choked up. But that's to be seen."
Buffy laughed. "I'm going to say hi to Cordy and Xander."
She had seen them on the other side of the gym and walked toward them. On her way, though, someone stepped directly in her path. Kevin.
"Hello, Buffy," he said.
"Hi. Excuse me, but you are in my way."
He smiled slyly. "Where were you headed?"
"I see Xander and Cordy. Do you mind?" Buffy was really not in the mood to deal with her ex-boyfriend.
"Actually, I do. See, I want to meet your date. Exactly where is he, Buffy?" Kevin questioned.
"Go away, Kevin. I don't want to hear it."
The boy chuckled. "I knew you didn't have one. See, if you'd gone with me, we could be out there dancing right now. But you had to go and be all pristine. Buffy the Pure."
Buffy resisted the urge to slap him. "Pardon me if I don't want to sleep with you. I'm sure you can find any cheap slut on a street corner willing to do that. Go find one and leave me alone."
"You bitter bitch. No wonder you couldn't get a date," Kevin shot.
She was about to explode when she felt an arm moving around her waist. Familiar brown eyes stared into her green ones.
"Sorry I'm late, Buffy," Angel said.
"A--Angel?" she stuttered.
"An emergency came up, I'm sorry if you thought I stood you up." Angel glared at Kevin. "Kevin. I believe Buffy told you to leave her alone."
Seeing the menacing look in the older man's eyes, Kevin gulped. "Fine. See you around." He took off in the opposite direction from where Buffy and Angel faced.
Angel grasped Buffy's hand, sliding a red rose corsage onto her wrist. "May I have the pleasure of a dance?" He offered his hand.
"You certainly may."