My black SUV pulled to a stop in my designated parking spot, 198. It would be one of those days, I could tell. I, Liam Angelus O’Brien, hated school. There was only one perk about it, Bailey. Bailey Summers and I had been best friends since middle school. Now it was our senior year and we were rolling on our two year anniversary tonight. I had gotten her a pink and silver angel necklace that said “You’re my angel,” on the underside. I also had made a picture frame out of wood that I had gotten Willow to write the lyrics to Bailey and my self’s song on the outside of it. It was the song by Green Day, ‘Good Riddance’. It was our song, it had nothing to do with love and we both knew that, but one day we said we needed a song so she turned on the radio and said whatever song was on would be our song. There is was. “Good Riddance” was our song. I walked into school and I saw her standing at my locker by myself. Bailey and I had friends, but none of them were as close as we were to each other. There was Xander Harris, Willow Rosenburg, and William Hunt who where her best friends and then I had Charles Gunn, Wesley Windem-Price, and Francias Doyle. Doyle and I had been friends before Bailey and I. All of us always hung out. We would probably hang out tonight before Bailey and I went back to my place alone. I lived by myself. My father had left my mother and I was then I was young and my mother had kicked me out a few months ago because she found out I was going out with Bailey. She did like me dating, she was one of those over bearing mothers, but I love Bailey and I wasn’t giving her away because my mother didn’t approve. I stopped at my locker in front of her and kissed her lips light, “Hey Bailey.” “Angel, hey,” She smiled down at me. Bailey called me Angel because my name in Celtic means “Guardian” and my middle name was Angelus. She shorted Angelus and because I was her ‘guardian’ she poked fun of guardian angels. So my name was angel. We always joked around and talked about when one of us died then we would have a guardian angel watching over us all the time. But for now Bailey just called me Angel. She was the only one aloud to call me that. That’s true love, I tell you. “Do you want to do something tonight?” I asked throwing my arms around her waist and leaned against the lockers. “Yeah,” she beamed, “it’s our anniversary, silly, of course we’re hanging out.” “Where do you wanna go, baby?” I kissed her neck from behind moving my foot up the locker trying to find a comfortable position. “What about ice skating?” She pondered up to me by turning her neck, “We could hang out with the gang before hand, I mean at skating, you know? Then we could have some alone time.” “Sounds like a plan, I’ll pick you up at seven okay?” I questioned. “Okay,” she smiled. “How ‘bout I sleep over your place tonight? We could tell mom that everyone’s sleeping over there and then just us stay there?” “Lie to your mom, if she finds out she’ll kill us,” I stated down at her. “Common, tonight is special to us,” She quirked. “I know and I want to make it special, so okay,” I turned her around in my arms and sat my feet back on the floor. I kissed her lips softly. “Well, well, well look what we have here Fluffy and the Poof,” I heard from across the hall. Buffy and I both looked up from our basking in the hall to where our friends came walking in a pack, “Spike.” I snarled. Spike, or William, didn’t like me too much, he always thought Buffy could do better, and which in probably could. But I knew she didn’t want to, we were made fore each other. I actually think Spike had a small crush on Bailey. And that was another reason he didn’t like me. Bailey and I had liked each other, but hadn’t acted for almost three years before we got together one in which time Bailey and Spike where going out. After she dumped Spike Sophomore year she went out with me two weeks later when I asked her. Spike was insanely mad about it, but he still remained friends with Bailey. “Be nice you two,” Bailey laughed punching Spike in the arm as he came over to us. “Yes, m’am,” Spike said sarcastically putting his hands up in a salute to her. “That’s better,” she smiled at him, “hey guys.” The rest of the gang came into view. Doyle’s girlfriend Cordelia was with them. She was perfectly fashioned of course with her pink mini skirt and white tank top with matching shoes. She was a pretty girl, kind of snobby, but being around Doyle was slowly changing her. She was nice enough and she treated him well. Willow was in tow with her boyfriend, Oz. Oz was a great guy Willow couldn’t have found anyone better than him. He was quite, but sweet and nice. They all gathered around us and started to talk in a cheerful banter. “So what are the plans for tonight guys?” Xander spoke up first. “Ice skating till ten?” Bailey put out there. “I’m there,” Xander said. Ice skating was our usual Friday night activity, so he pretty much knew that was what we were going to do. “Oh ice skating, we’re going right, Oz? I so wanna go, please?” Willow asked her boyfriend as if he would ever say no to her. “That’s cool, Will,” he said patting his thumb on the back of her hand. “Me and ‘Delia are going,” Doyle said. “We went last week though, Doyle! Can’t we go to the mall or something, I mean I need a new dress for next week’s dance,” Cordelia whined at her boyfriend. “Hey Cor, why don’t we just go shopping tomorrow afternoon? Then tonight we can chill and then I can have my anniversary with Angel. Then tomorrow we’ll have a girl’s day and get dresses to knock these boys’ socks off?” Bailey stated trying to solve all the problems. She was always like that. She wanted everyone to be happy and even though she didn’t like Cordelia too much, she tried on a count that she was really close with Doyle. “Good plan, Buffy. Even though you don’t wear the best clothes, I can so pick out the cutest outfit for you. You’ll knock Liam’s pants off. It will be so much fun. We’re always around these two lugs and we never get girl time. Willow you should come too because you could so need a better dress that your mother doesn’t pick out, okay?” Cordelia said shallowly eyeing Willow’s green sweater and orange skirt. Willow didn’t match, but she had her own style. I didn’t understand why Cordelia had a problem with it. But it’s okay. As long as they have fun. “Hey! I like my clothes. But I’ll go, I like girl time. We have way too many guys in our group. Only three girls. Sheesh,” the redhead giggled infectiously. “Tell me about it,” Bailey laughed in front of me. “Hey, I resent that. I know for a fact that you love spending time with me, baby,” I kissed her neck softly. “You know it, I just want girl time. You said yourself that you didn’t like watching me try on dresses and didn’t understand why I made such a big deal about finding the right dress. But it’s all for you, Angel,” she smiled up at me laughing. “Okay, okay, that’s enough out of you two love birds. Stop before I puke,” Spike said with a disgusted tone. Xander laughed, “He’s got a point you guys are making me sick. No more cute mushy shit.” “Man, you guys could say it less mean!” the blonde exclaimed in front of me. Then the bell rang. “We better get to Biology, Charles,” Wesley said in a stuck up English tone. “Yo, English, damn it, its okay if we’re late. We’re going not going to die or anything, so chill out,” Gunn yelled and hit Wesley in the arm. “Yeah, but we gotta go. Common Buffsters and Wills, we gotta go,” Xander said. Bailey had English 12 with them. “Okay, I’ll come,” Bailey said looking around in my eyes. I kissed her softly, but of course it grew larger. “Bailey! We gotta go! Common!” Willow screamed hyper as can be. She was such a geek, but she was the most loveable geek ever. “You better go,” I pulled away not taking my arms away from her. “Yeah, I should,” she stayed still. I kissed her on the lips as she left my arms, “See you at lunch, okay?” “Okay, I’ll see you later, Angel,” she smiled. “Love you,” I kissed her forehead. “You’re going to smudge my makeup,” she laughed wiping her head. “You still look more than perfect,” I kissed her nose. “Okay, I love you bye.” She pulled out of my embrace and walked with Xander and Willow away. “I guess that means you, me, Cordy and Spike better get to German 4,” I gestured down the hallway and we started walking. ********** Later at Lunch: Bailey: “So, Bailey, it’s your big 2 year anniversary tonight, what are you and Liam doing after we go ice skating tonight?” Willow smiled excitedly. “Yeah Buffy, what *are* you and Liam doing tonight?” Cordelia winked as we waited for the boys at our table. “Well, we’re going to his house after skating and we told my mom the whole gang was sleeping there, but it’s just us. It’s going to go to a romantic night. Since he never has any food we’re going to drop by the grocery store on the way home from skating. I think tonight’s going to be our first time. And I am so thrilled. I love him so much, but I really want to show him just how much I really do, y’know? And I think tonight is the night that it’s going to happen,” I beamed at Cordelia and Willow. Then Angel and the guys came over. Spike slid up next to me scouting in-between me and Willow, “Hey Red, Fluffy,” he nodded his head patting my head gently. “Hey Spikey,” I giggled patting his cheek. “Hey Will,” the redhead greeted the bleach haired man. I felt an arm loop around my shoulders and move to my waist. It was Angel. I looked over at him and smiled. He kissed my nose in reply, “Hey cute stuff.” “Hey, Angel,” I greeted him, “How’s your day going?” Everyone else rolled into our usual table. Doyle plopped down next to Cordy, same with Oz and Willow. And Xander stayed at the other end of the table next to Willow. The three girls where spread out now between our guys. We loved our guys. “It was okay, nothing special. I turned in Litmus’s German 4 paper. I hope I did well on it, what about you?” he pondered. “Fine, had gym, you know how that goes. I didn’t like it, but it was better than actually going to a new class. We worked on gymnastics and I love senior year we don’t have to wear those stupid uniforms, so I wore my new yellow tank top and new light pink shorts that say ‘kiss me’ on the butt. So it was cool,” I smiled back at him. The only response I got was a growl. I guess he didn’t like the idea of anyone else seeing me in shorts and a tank top. “I don’t like when you show everyone else what’s not there’s, you don’t have to wear those clothes to look hot or beautiful you are more beautiful than ever in one of my t-shirts,” he smiled and looked somewhat serious when we kissed my lips. “You wanna see me in one of your shirts and only that?” I smiled seductively. “Or even less,” he touched my cheek and chuckled. “Sounds fun,” I laughed back. I resumed back to my lunch I packed and ate a piece of sandwich, “want a bite?” “What do you got?” he mumbled chewing on his own sandwich. “What do I always have? PB&J, my favorite and I got a ho-ho,” I gushed with food in my mouth. “I want the cake,” he grumbled. “Okay, hungry-man,” I handed the snack food over to him. “Giving Liam the food? What? I am food guy!” Xander exclaimed. “Sorry Xand, he was here first!” I laughed. “Sure!” Xander yelled back down at me. ****************************************** BAILEYS HOUSE PART ********* ICE SKATING ********* LIAM’S HOUSE ********** THE ACCIDENT IT’S SELF IN THE MORNING AFTER LIAM’S HOUSE ************* BEGINNING OF THE HOSPITAL SATURDAY NIGHT TO TUESDAY MORNING ********** When I turned back around I saw her close her eyes and move her head back and forth to the music. She knew the soft guitar melody by heart. “Sing with me, please, baby?” She pondered. “I’d love to,” I said lying back beside her and cradling her form to my chest. “An other turning point a fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the wrist directs you where to go. So make the best of this task and don’t ask why. It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time. It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right, I hope you had the time of your life,” we sang. I heard her heart beat decrease at the sounds of the monitor. She was slipping away from me. I just started bawling. I still had to sing, she wanted me to sing, so I would sing. She just lay in my arms singing, crying lightly and fingering the angel I had given her last Friday. “So take the photographs and still frames in your mind hang it on a shelf for good health and good time. Tattoos and memories and dead skin on trial for what it’s worth it was worth all the while. It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right,” I sobbed the last verse. I rocked her gently; I knew she was leaving me, “Don’t leave me, Bailey, God, I love you, please don’t leave me! Don’t leave me! I love you, know that I love you.” She was destined on singing this song through so I sung with her, “It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right, I hope you had the time of your life.” She smiled up at me and I kissed her lips after she said, “I love you Liam O’Brien, never forget me.” “Never, my love. I love you so much,” she closed her eyes and dropped her head. She left with these last words, “It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right I hope you had the time of your life.” Her breathe hitched on the last one. I cried and did not sing with her, “I love you, God I love you. I will never forget you. Don’t leave me.” She smiled at me with her eyes still closed, “I know my sweet sweet Guardian Angel.” With that her breathing slowed and her head dropped tiredly to my chest. I kissed her hair softly and she kissed my chest in repose. It was her goodbye kiss, “I hope you had the time of your life.” She was gone and the monitor went flat. “I did, God I did! NOO!” I screamed crying and sobbing as the nurses and doctors tried to get me off of her. I held her close to me still. She wasn’t cold yet. My Bailey. God my sweet Bailey. She was gone now and this body was only left. Why? Why did they have to take her so fast? Why did such a wonderful person be stripped from this world? I didn’t understand why she could never look into my eyes and make it all better how I would never get to grow old with her and have a family. None of that. She was the only think I looked for in the future. And now that one thing is gone. I have no future. “Liam, man you gotta let go,” I heard the thick Irish accent of Doyle over my crys and the doctors screaming at me to get off of Bailey. I knew he didn’t just mean let go of her body, but let go of her. I couldn’t. I loved..love her. And how could I let her go? She was the only one that believed in me. The only one that loved me. The only one that was ever there for me. I let her go and turned around, falling off the bed and to a heap in the floor. Doyle was there next to me. I cried into him. My best friend was dead. My love was dead. What was I going to do? I couldn’t believe this. She was gone. I sat there for God knows how long in Doyle’s arms. I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed. She was gone. My light, my savior was gone. There was no reason to live. Without her there was nothing left. I stood up and got out of Doyle’s arms. I heard him call after me as I ran down the hall and out the doors. I couldn’t be in that building anymore. I ran to my car and sat there. I turned on the car and our song was still on from the accident. I put my head on the sterring wheel and cried. Why did she have to leave? This wasn’t fair to anyone. The world lost one of the purest souls ever on this cruel Earth. **************** The next week at the funeral for Bailey: Bailey’s mother had asked me to give the uligee since I was her best friend and boyfried. I walked up when it was my turn to go. I first placed a daffodil on her grave and kissed my hand placing it on the stone. The stone read “Her Guardian Angel now has his own Guardian Angel” just like she had asked me to put on there for her. God I missed her. I really didn’t know what to say. But here it goes: “Bailey and I have been best friends since as long as I can remember,” I sniffled out. “I can’t even remember a time where she wasn’t there for me. Even now she;s still here fore me. She’ll never leave me. She’s right here,” I spoke with pride pointing to my heart. “Friday night was Bailey and my self’s two year anniversy of being together, but we’ve liked each other since we were in elementary school. She was the first person to love me unbconditionally and I know she probably won’t be the last, but she will be the most important and I will never forget her,” I chuckled softly. People probably thought I was crazy for laughing, but thinking of her made me laugh or cry and that’s just how it went. “Bay would kill me right now is she knew what I was going to say. Bailey and I’s song was ’Good Riddance’ by Green Day. We were never really into new music of today considering we were oldies lovers, but we decided on this song about a year and a half ago because we needed a song. We had got in our first argument over it because neither of us could decide on one song. So I told her we would turn on the radio and whatever son was on that would be our song. It just happened to be ‘Good Riddance’. So in memory of her I would love to play this song:” //An other turning point, a fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go. So make the best of this test, and don’t ask why. It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time. It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right. I hope you had the time of your life. So take the photographs and still frames in your mind. Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time. Tattoos and memories and dead skin on trial. For what it’s worth, it was worth all the while. It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right. I hope you had the time of your life. It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right. I hope you had the time of your life. It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right. I hope you had the time of your life// “The last thing I wanted to say was that now I know why this song fits our relationship. I now know it was fate that this song came on that radio that day for our song. This song explains how things happened between us and things may be bad, but we both had the times of our lives. I will never forget that girl that is now my guardian angel with long blonde locks and the most beautiful heart of gold I have ever witnessed in my life. The photographs may fade, but the memories I have the memories I have of our love will never die. “As a wise woman once said ‘Love never dies only fades’ this is true. My love for Bailey will never ever die. She had that much of an impact on my heart. I heave had people walk in and out of my life for the last 18 years. But the one person that I actually want to stay left my life in person, but never in spirit. I just want everyone to know that they should hold the people they never want to walk out of their lives close to their hearts and never take simple moments, like smiles, lightly. Remember them forever. All I have to say now is that I had the time of my life.” I smiled softly with tears trailing down my cheeks. I walked down from my position in front of the coward and to my car. I couldn’t watch the faces of my friends cry anymore. I couldn’t let anyone else see my tears either. It was too much, right now.