Disclaimer: I dont own anything.
This is something I've had written for a while but I'm unsure of it, let me know any feedback, thanks.
It was one of those days, the sun high in the sky beating down on everyone, the bar/diner was jam-packed with the usual Thursday afternoon crowd. Buffy wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand and groaned with the stickiness in the air.
She forced a smile as she wiped up the drink that old man Jones had spilled, his eyes roamed over her in a sickening fashion, causing her to stiffen with unease "Would you like another drink?" he licked his lips and nodded, so she left before he could say anything to her.
"That's the third drink he's spilled since you started earlier…" Buffy looked over to her friend and raised her eyebrow, of course it was; he was intent on tormenting her every time she worked. Tara placed her hand on top of Buffy's and gave it a squeeze.
"I'll be fine… just get this drink over to him and I'll take my break" quickly and without saying anything she replaced the old perverts drink and hightailed it before he could find a way to have his hands roaming over her.
Buffy plopped down on the step of the backdoor of the diner, when she was in high school she dreamed of becoming an actress, Hollywood, Glamour, Parties, it was all she could think of; she tried it out and like many wannabe fame seekers, she ended up back in Sunny-hell working in this diner.
She had even tried to find a better job in this town but no one was willing to hire her, so for now she was stuck waiting on tables and being hit on by all sorts of men and even a few women.
After she graduated, she didn't bother with going to College – at the time she didn't see the point. College wasn't needed if she got her way and struck lucky in Hollywood. Since returning home, thoughts of enrolling, even in just a night class were becoming more appealing.
Buffy picked at the corner of her apron and sighed, the only way she could think of bettering her job prospects were to enrol and gain more experience. The problem was she didn't know what she wanted to do as a serious career.
Once her fifteen minutes were up she headed back inside to resume her duties, luckily her unwanted admirer had vacated his seat and was wobbling his way down the main street, presumably back home before returning that night to drink more.
Her boss motioned towards the table at the end of the row with new customers seated; she picked up her note pad and walked towards them. Her heart started to race as she neared, it had been five years since high school, his face still had the same intense beauty as it did back then.
His hair was still spiked high, his brows drawn down towards his eyes, not that he was fat in high school – but he was more defined, his shirt clung to his muscles in a way that would drive any red blooded female insane.
He looked up at her and for a second she could see the hurt and anger that he had held towards her all those years ago, she was a complete bitch to him back then, all for show of course. It would have been social suicide to admit that she liked him.
"Angel?" her voice came out shy and unsure, she took a deep breath "It's been a long time"
Angel forced a smile "Yeah, I guess it has…" his gaze burned through her, he had fixated and loved her for as long as he could remember, they had been sort of friends until they went to high school then she became part of the popular crowd and made his life hell.
He ran his eyes over her as she shuffled from foot to foot, her brilliant white teeth bit onto her bottom lip, clearly uncomfortable being under his scrutiny. Angel shuffled in his seat to get more comfortable and slanted his eyes at her.
It hit him that he was acting immature, holding onto hate from when he was a teenager, he let out a laugh, deciding he should be more friendly, guarded, but friendly "how have you been Buff?" she was beautiful back then, although he could see she was worn down, she was still breathtaking.
Buffy shifted from foot to foot again, looking down at the ground "I've been good… I'm sorry to hear about your grandma, she was a lovely woman" it saddened her that she had lost her fight with her illness; she made sure everyone was looked after.
Angels face turned stony, he felt guilty that he had moved away all those years ago, leaving his only guardian by herself; sure she had pushed him to leave, to make something of himself but he still felt bad about it "Uh, thanks"
Before she could ask what he wanted to eat or drink a small boy came bouncing past her and jumped in the booth across from Angel, her heart sunk as she looked at him, a sickly warmth spread over her, her stomach knotting up tight – bar his light eyes, he looked like a smaller version of his father.
"Hey buddy… say hi to Buffy" Angel kept his eyes on her, he saw the look she had across her face, despite wanting to rub it in her face that he had a family, he in fact felt bad. His son shied away from her and hid behind one of the menus on the table.
Buffy extended her hand to the boy, which after a pause, he hesitantly reached out to her "Hi, I'm Buffy, what's your name?" a lumped formed in her throat, he was the cutest thing. He shook her hand then giggled.
"His name is Connor" Angel ruffled his sons hair causing him to squeak then try to fix his hair back to the way it was, eerily similar to how Angel had done that whenever someone messed his hair when he was younger.
"Nice to meet you Connor… Uh, can I take your order?" she wanted to get their order in and leave, she was happy to see him again but the jealousy tore right through her. She noted down their food then left, only leaving enough time for him to say thanks to her.
When their food arrived it was another waitress that came by, Angel smiled "Hi Tara… how have you been?" she was another Sunnydale High Alum who hadn't changed since then. Tara hadn't been part of the popular crew but she wasn't his friend either.
"I'm well… uh" she looked around then back at him as he saw him scan the diner for his previous waitress, his face may have been stony but his eyes gave away everything "Her shift finished so she left… I-if you want I can give you her address, she's not working tomorrow, you can talk to her then?!"
He thought for a moment then shook his head, he didn't particularly want to speak to her in depth, Tara wrote down the address anyway then slid it across the table to him, he noted that it was in the part of town that wasn't as nice as where they had stayed as children.
Once they had finished their dinner he handed Tara the bill and a large tip for her then left. Although the sun had now set for the night, it was still clammy, Angel pulled at his shirt, wafting arid air down his chest and stomach; Connor looked at his father then copied him.
Angel laughed then enclosed his son's small hand with his as they crossed the road and made their way down to the hotel that he had paid for during their stay here. Connor got dressed for bed then giggled loudly as Angel blew raspberries on his tummy.
Connor squeaked in protest before curling up beside his dad as he was read a bedtime story. It wasn't long before he had fallen asleep; Angel tucked him in and kissed his hair. He sighed deeply, times like this were precious – something he didn't get to have regularly.
Angel climbed into his bed, placing his arm across his face. Seeing Buffy brought a mix of emotions to the surface, he had loved her and she had been a bitch, constantly hurting him yet during his time away he wanted to forget it all and call her.
Not that having his son was one of the happiest times of his life but Connors mother was a constant reminder of being near a selfish bitch who hadn't grown up. Her, he didn't like, not anymore. He looked over to his son one last time then fell asleep himself.
Oooooooooooooo
As soon as their dinner order was placed she high-tailed it out of there, she practically ran all the way to her little apartment and as soon as she closed the door over the tears fell. Buffy wiped harshly at her face, she didn't know why she was getting so upset.
She threw herself onto the sofa and sighed, if it wasn't for her perception of an inane perfect life, being a cheerleader, being popular and being well loved then maybe she would have gotten over herself and allowed herself to ask him out; but that was a no-no.
All of her friends made fun of him because he wasn't athletic, he wasn't exactly a nerd but he was good at school, he had charm to him but wasn't strikingly handsome as some of the football or basketball players that now had beer bellies and little hair.
They had all made his life a living hell through taunts and beatings, not just his but a lot of peoples. She placed her head in her hands and took slow and steady breaths – she had an overwhelming urge to wretch.
Sunnydale High Senior Year *6 years ago*
It was their first day of Senior Year; Buffy blew a bubble with her chewing gum then let it pop as she surveyed the rest of the students from her year, all chilling on the quad like she was. Over the summer some people had lost weight – some gained it, but when she noticed him, he had suddenly become dangerously beautiful.
She tapped Cordelia on the shoulder then pointed to Angel as he crossed over the lawn, Cordy watched him as he walked then shouted him over.
He hesitantly made his way towards him "Hi Angel, how was your summer… by the looks of it you've learned how to be even more of a dork" she laughed loudly as she evaluated his clothing.
Buffy saw the hurt in his eyes as it was obvious he thought that she was going to at least be civil to him, seeing as though it was their last year in high school. As Cordy turned to her and laughed, Buffy forced out a laugh then patted her friend on the shoulder.
"What a loser" she watched as his shoulders slumped then he continued the way he came. Over the summer she had realised how much of a superficial bitch she had become. She spent hardly any time with her school friends and got berated for how she acted by her cousins and their friends.
The smile fell from Buffy's face and was replaced with a frown as Cordelia turned in the other direction, her eyes continued to watch his retreating form. Cordy asked her a question to which she agreed too, without evening listening to what the request was.
Angel heard Cordelia call on him, he was surprised because she never spoke to anyone who was 'beneath' her, when he came closer and heard what she said it hurt him. He should have expected her to act like that but deep down he was hoping that she was beginning to grow up.
His eyes flitted to his golden haired love, his ex-sort-of-a-friend, he saw the look of annoyance on her face then how false her laugh had been. Maybe she was seeing through the A-crowd's crap? He noted however that she didn't defend him either.
Angel decided to walk away as quick as he could, so not to let them see the hurt on his face; he thought for a moment, why should he let it bother him? They were silly little girls, only one last year left of this misery before he could escape the Hellmouth for good.