Heart of a Warrior

By: Lexvan

Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H. I watch the show cause, male or female, heroes that use the elements are pretty cool. Takes place after season two.

Chapter 1:

Sweet sixteen.

The irony wasn't lost on Irma Lair as she stared at her digital clock changed to 4:30 P.M. This was one of the most important birthdays there was. The one that usually involved some huge party. Complete with a huge cake, lots of guests, and if lucky, the keys to a brand-new car. But that wasn't on her mind at the moment. For she had plans to go out to dinner with her boyfriend. The one and only Andrew Hornby.

Andrew Hornby.

Her mood changed slightly at the reminder of her day. She d been telling herself she should cut him some slack lately. The band, he was in, took up almost all of his free time, seeing as they were trying to get as much props as Matt's band. And after all, she may not have been as supportive as she could be. But all day, there had been nothing. No Happy Birthday card stuck into her locker, no shout out to her during the school radio broadcast. She d caught a brief flash of him at lunch before he d ducked out with his friends, most likely to go rehearse in the band room before their gig, in a few days.

Irma had spent the entire period trying not to cry into her tray of tacos, while Will and Taranee offered her sympathetic looks and Hay Lin patted her hand, while attempting to hush Cornelia with the other one when the blonde opened her mouth to apply some unkind words about Andrew. Even Will's oldest friend, Angelo Vanders who moved there from Fadden Hills, told her not to worry. But tonight was different. It was her birthday. Andrew was going to treat her to a wonderful birthday dinner.

Irma took one last look at her dress, before heading out. It was a light purple, thin strap dress that went a little past her knees. She wore the same color short heel shoes with it. Her shoulder lenght, brunette hair was the same as always. Except for the few curls in the front. Earlier, Cornelia came over to help her with her make-up. The way she did it, it was like she didn't have any on at all. According to Cornelia, that was how it was supposed to look. Happy with how she looked, she sprayed on her perfume lightly, grabbed her new white coat, and left for the restaurant.

'He'll be there.', Irma thought to herself. 'I know he will.'

Four hours later..............

"Would you like another order of bread sticks, madam?"

The waiter was clearly not to pleased with Irma s taking advantage of the free bread sticks policy, judging by his tone of voice. Irma sighed and propped her chin in one hand.

"No, thanks. Just another glass of water, please."

"I ll replenish your lemon slice while I m at it.", the waiter replied feeling sorry for her, lifting her glass from the table and striding off.

Irma stared morosely after him. She didn't want to order until Andrew showed up. She pulled out her cell phone from her purse one more time, pinky finger tapping the dangling turtle charm as she listened to the same recorded voice-mail greeting again.

"Hey! Andrew here. You know what to do."

Except she didn't know what to do anymore.

"Hey, Andrew........ it s me....... again. Um......... they stop serving at ten o clock, and it s eight twenty-seven now, so if you can get down here in fifteen minutes we can still manage to eat and still do a little da........."

Irma shook her head, snapping the phone shut with another sigh.

"Never mind."

'I could've stayed home and had a great dinner with my family.', she thought to herself. 'I could've taken Hay Lin up on her offer to go to the movies. I could ve gone over to Taranee s and crammed for the math portion of the SATs with her and Will. Even her trying to explain trig, for the eighty-millionth time, to Will, would've been more fun than this. Heck! Hanging with Corny is better than this!'

Dropping the phone back in her purse, Irma stared out of the nearby window at the glittering lights of downtown as the waiter returned with her water.

"Are you ready to order yet, madam?", he prompted dutifully, not even moving for his order pad this time.

"Just five more minutes, please.", Irma pleaded. "I'm sure he'll be here."

But deep down, she knew Andrew wasn't coming.

"Very well.", the waiter muttered before beating a hasty retreat.

Irma found herself alone again.

"Happy birthday, Irma Lair." she whispered to herself sadly as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Irma? Is that you?"

Irma turned to see Angelo Vanders, Will's childhood friend from Fadden Hills, who moved to Heatherfield a year and a half ago. He was wearing a black suit, with black shoes.

"Angelo? What are you doing here?", she asked wiping a tear away.

"I just got out of church.", Angelo explained. "It was a special Thursday service. When it ended, I figured I'd make reservations to have a belated birthday dinner for you here Saturday, seeing as how Andrew had one set for you tonight, and your family is having your party this Friday."

Angelo then looked at the table to see that Andrew's seat was unoccupied.

"Hey, where's Andrew?"

"He's not coming.", Irma sadly replied softly.

"He stood you up on your sixteenth birthday?!?", Angelo asked more angry than shocked. "Of all the stupid, idiotic........."

"Shhhhh!", Irma whispered as the other customers were looking at the two. "People are watching!"

"Sorry!", he whispered as he took a seat at the table. "I just can't believe he did this to you on your birthday!"

"Well he did.", Irma replied. "I had my hopes set on having a good time too."

Angelo could tell that Irma was more upset than what she was showing. And he wasn't going to let her go home like this. Not on her birthday.

"You know what Irma, you are going to have a good time tonight."

Just then, the waiter came up to them.

"Ah! Mr. Vanders!", the waiter said upon seeing Angelo. "It is good to see you again!"

"How's it going Victor?", Angelo asked.

"Very well, my friend.", Victor answered. "Do not tell me it was you who kept this poor girl waiting."

"No! No!", Irma said. "It was my boyfriend who didn't show up."

"Well, he is a fool to do this to you.", Victor replied.

"Which is why I'm treating her to her birthday dinner.", Angelo said.

"Very well.", Victor said happily. "What will the madam be having?"

"Well, if it's not to much trouble........."

"Irma, it's your birthday.", Angelo said. "Order what you want."

"Well, the steak and shrimp sound good."

"Two orders of steak and shrimp, Victor.", Angelo said.

"Coming right up.", Victor said as he walked into the kitchen.

"Angelo?"

"Yeah, Irma?"

"Thank you."

"No problem, Irma.", Angelo said with a smile. "And Happy Birthday."

Once the meal came, both friends ate their food happily, while talking about the things the did so far this week. After their meal, they had some cheesecake, that Irma love. Both were quite full after their meal.

"You enjoying yourself now?", Angelo asked Irma.

"Yeah, I am.", Irma said with a small smile.

Just then, music started playing. Angelo then got up, walked over to Irma, and offered his hand.

"Would you like to dance, Ms. Lair?", he asked.

"It would be my pleasure, Mr. Vanders.", Will replied taking his hand.

Once on the dance floor, Angelo wrapped his hands around Irma's waist, while she wrapped her arms around his neck as they slowly danced to the music the band was playing. As they danced, Irma took the opportunity to lose herself in the wonderful feeling of his arms, feeling her body become calm at Angelo's touch. She buried her head in the crook of his neck, enjoying his feel and smell. Soft hums of contentment escaped her every time he gently rubbed her back. Through two songs, she stayed pressed to his chest. Angelo just held her knowing she needed to be held, no questions asked.

'Andrew, you're a fool for doing this to Irma!', Angelo thought to himself.

As the music ended, Angelo and Irma sadly pulled away from each other. Angelo then got a good look at Irma's dress. To him, it brought out her inner beauty. It also made him think of something funny.

"You know what Irma?"

"What?", she asked as they walked back to their table.

"I never thought I'd ever see you in a dress.", Angelo joked, making Irma smile and laugh. "You look great though."

'It's good to see her smile.', Angelo thought to himself.

"Well, you don't look so bad yourself!", Irma said with a grin.

"Well, a brother does have to profile correctly.", Angelo joked.

They both them started laughing at the joke. After a few minutes, Angelo paid the bill, and they both left the restaurant. They both decided to take a walk through the park, while talking more about old times.

Soon they were in the center of the park. The stars were bright and the moon shined in the night sky. Angelo then decided to give Irma her birthday present.

"Hey Irma.", Angelo said as he stood in front of Irma. "I think it's time I gave you, your present. I was going to drop it off at your house, but seeing as we ran into each other at the restaurant....."

"First dinner, then dancing, now a present.", Irma grinned. "Keep this up, and people may talk."

Angelo slowly pulled out a rectangle shaped velvet box and handed it to Irma. She opened the box to see a silver angel necklace.

"Angelo, it's beautiful!", Irma said happily. "Help me put it on!"

Irma then handed Angelo the necklace, and turned around so he could put it on her. Once he did, she turned back around to see how it looks on her to him.

"So, how does it look?", she asked.

"It looks very beautiful on you.", he replied smiling.

Angelo then noticed Irma's expression change as she sat on a bench.

"It should be me and him here.", she said softly. "It should be me and Andrew here."

"Aw, Irma.", Angelo said kneeling down in front of her.

"I'm his girlfriend, for crying out loud! We're supposed to be happy!", Irma said sadly as her voice wavered, dangerously close to cracking into a million shards. "I thought we were supposed to be there for each other."

Angelo saw this and wanted to stop her, but knew she had to get this out, or it would drive her crazy.

"He wasn't supposed to change like this just because the band's fame grew a little.", she as the tears started to flow. "He wasn't supposed to forget about me. Or let me sit in a restaurant alone, waiting on him, on my sixteenth birthday of all days, while I called his phone, hoping he'll answer."

She kept talking through the tears, that were now running hot tracks down her face.

"It just doesn't make sense anymore!"

Irma then buried her face in her hands and cried at how bad her relationship with Andrew had gotten. Suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her. One hand stroking the back of her head, tilting it downward so that Irma found her face buried in the crook of Angelo's neck. Her fingers clutched helplessly at his back, grabbing a fistful of his suit jacket while her tears fell. Her mind then began drifting to other things. It felt good to be encircled by the protective arms of Angelo. It made her feel safe. Something she wished Andrew would do for her. Then suddenly, Irma felt something on her lips. Something that sent her crashing back to reality.

He was kissing her!

Angelo was kissing her!

And she was enjoying it!

Angelo then disentangled himself slowly from Irma as she blinked at him through watery red eyes. He looked every bit as shocked as she was.

"I'm so sorry Irma. I didn't mean to.........."

"It's okay.", Irma interrupted him. "Don't........ don't worry about it."

They both just sat there, unmoving, in silence. Irma s lips burned with feverish warmth. She tried to will herself to return to the train of thought she'd been following, before all logic had evaporated at Angelo's earlier, comforting, embrace.

"He doesn't deserve you, Irma."

Irma just closed her eyes. She knew if she looked up, and met those brown eyes of his, she might lose herself in them.

"Then who does deserve me?", she whispered. "Who do I need to be with?"

Angelo then placed a finger under her chin, tilting her head up to face him. Angelo then, not caring if Andrew came walking up and saw them, kissed Irma again. Irma then placed her hands on the side of his face, deepening the kiss.

At that moment, on her sixteenth birthday, Irma Lair was happy......... to be loved.

A/N: Looks like Irma got two presents that night. One of them being a kiss from a possible new boyfriend! What's going to happen next?