Joss Whedon owns Buffy. Emilie Brown/ItaSaku1 is my amazing beta. Enjoy!
I Found Home In Your Arms
Chapter One
Third POV
The young blonde girl squeezes her eyes shut and tries to ignore the yelling coming from downstairs. She didn't understand. Last year, they were so in love and everything was perfect but now every night sounds the same. Except tonight, something much worse happens. The sixteen year old girl cringes as she hears glass shatter and then the door slams shut. She holds her breath and counts backwards from ten, trying to force away the tears that threaten to fall. She's only gotten to five when her mother knocks on her door, gently. She pokes her head in the room to see her only child curled up on her bed, looking fragile. Her mother's gray-blue eyes fill with sorrow at the thought of what she has to tell her baby girl.
"Sweetheart," she whispers, sitting besides the broken girl. Her hazel eyes gleam knowingly as she looks at her mother's guilt-ridden face.
"He's not coming back this time, is he?" she whispers into the silent room.
"No, Buffy, he isn't," Joyce Summers murmurs to her daughter, who falls into her arms and cries for the father she's lost and the pain her mother so obviously feels.
~.~.~.~.~
"Buffster!" Xander Harris calls to his petite, blonde friend, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. She smiles sadly up at him.
"Hey, Xander," she greets him. "Where's Will?"
"Library," he answers, turning them in the right direction to meet up with their other friend. "I hear there's a new guy starting today. Supposedly, he got kicked out of his school and his parents' house for drugs and fighting."
"Is that so?" Buffy raises an eyebrow, knowing how fast rumors spread at their school and how unlikely they are to be true. "Who have you been talking to?"
"People! Okay, I haven't been so much as talking to people as listening in on people's private conversations but I get the same info either way," he admits, waving his hands around for emphasis. Buffy shakes her head and smiles, but it doesn't light up her whole face like her smiles used to do. The pair walks through the doors to the library and glance around for Willow. Instead they find a tall man with dark hair, dressed in black leather pants and a leather jacket, leaning against the counter while Mr. Giles checks some books out to him.
"That should be everything you need for your classes but if I missed anything be sure to come back to get whatever else you need," he tells the mysterious new kid. Mr. Tall, dark and handsome picks up the books and turns from Giles. Buffy nearly gasps at the sight before her. Now that he's turned around, she can see his chiseled features and deep brown eyes.
"Sure thing, Jeeves," he answers, walking out of the library and throwing a sexy smirk Buffy's way. She struggles to catch her breath after he leaves and nearly sighs in relief when she sees Willow walk down into the main section of the library from the second level, carrying a stack of books. She hurries to her friend's side, taking half the books and giving her an awkward hug, due to both of them balancing books in their arms.
"Hey, Will!" she says, semi-happily. The red-head smiles back at her best girl friend.
"Morning, Buff," she greets her, chipper as usual. They walk over to the counter together and chat with Xander and Giles as he checks out the books for Willow. Buffy's friends have yet to notice her strange behavior.
~.~.~.~.~
"Buffy?" Willow asks as she watches her friend pick apart the sandwich she brought for lunch. Her blonde head bobs up.
"Hmmm?"
"You okay? You've been really quiet all day and now you're not eating…" she trails off.
"Yeah, Buff," Xander chimes in, "You're always hungry! What gives?" She sends him a glare but her heart isn't in it.
"My dad left again last night," she whispers, almost afraid to say it out loud. She doesn't want to make it too real. "I don't think he's coming back this time." Willow's face crumples in concern and sadness and Xander's forehead creases in a deep frown.
"Oh, Buffy! I'm so sorry!" Willow wraps her slender arms around her best friend. Buffy holds onto her hand and leans into her caring embrace. She smiles weakly at her friends.
"I'll be okay, guys," she assures them. "And so will mom. We just need time. And lucky for me, I have the two best friends in the world to help me through this."
~.~.~.~.~
BPOV
I nearly weep in relief as I get to the locker room to change for gym. Not only is it my favorite class but it's also my final period of the day. I quickly change into my sports bra, shorts and Sunnydale High t-shirt before throwing my hair back into a ponytail. I tie my sneakers quickly then jog out to the gym. I nearly trip over my own feet when I see the mysterious guy from the library sitting in the bleachers in sweats and a white muscle shirt. I quickly make my way to the class and sit down next to Willow and Xander, waiting impatiently to find out what we're doing today.
"Okay, class!" Coach Patterson exclaims, walking up to where we sit. "We'll be working on self defense today. I'll be teaching you a few basic moves in case of emergency but remember the basic rules as well. Avoid shady areas at night and always travel in groups. Okay, now, partners! I'll be pairing you up today. Cordelia and Percy. Anya, Larry. Willow you go with Oz. Xander and Harmony," I tune out as she assigns the class their partners until I hear my name, "Buffy, you're with Angelus. Raise your hand so he can find you." My eyes widen in shock and I slowly lift my hand over my head. New guy, who I now know to be Angelus, walks over to me, a sexy smirk on his lips.
"Well, hello, gorgeous. Looks like we're partners." I feel my throat close up and try to force myself to speak. I clear my dry throat awkwardly.
"Looks like it," I answer, hoarsely, "I'm Buffy." I hold my hand out for him to shake and when he takes it, I nearly pull away at the spark that flows between us.
"I'm Angelus, but you can call me Angel," his smirk widens, almost as though he's reading the thoughts swirling in my mind. The thoughts of jumping him and having my way with this gorgeous man right here on the gym floor in our school.
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