"Please, Buff. It's just one dance." Buffy hesitated under Xander's big, brown, puppy-dog-eyes.

"Xander, I've told you before, I…" Buffy cut off. She didn't want to break Xander's heart, not again. However, she knew she couldn't lead him on. Also, if she did say 'yes', she knew how much it would break Willow's heart. Buffy, Xander and Willow were all the best of friends, and Buffy didn't want something like this to get between them. After all, she was happy enough to just be friends with Xander, really good friends, but Xander wanted more. "I'm sorry, Xand. I can't do it."

"Sure you can." Xander protested. "All you have to do is say three little letters. How hard can it be, really?"

"Xander, don't. I'm sorry. It wouldn't be right." Buffy stood up, solemnly, and walked away.

"Hey, Will. We could go you and me. What do you say?"

"No."

"What?"

"You think I want to go with you, pretending I was her? I couldn't do that. I love you too much." And Willow got up and left too. Poor Xander, didn't realise the exact meaning of Willow's words when she said, 'I love you too much'.

So Xander went home that night and turned his radio on full blast and took his phone off the hook, so no-one could phone him. Poor Xander was too upset to even go downstairs and eat. He just lay on his bed, and let the music drown his sorrows. I should be able to handle rejection, he thought, I've had enough practice.

That same night, Buffy had gone to the dance with Willow, and they talked about Xander.

"Buffy, I can't imagine what he'll be feeling right now." Willow said, worriedly.

"Have you tried calling him?"

"Yes, he's taken his phone off the hook. No-one can get throught to him."

"I wish I hadn't rejected him."

"But, you had to, because of Angel."

"Xander…"

"What?"

"Hey, Buff. Hey, Will." Xander said, as he walked up and stood behind Willow. "So, did he show?"

"Who?" Buffy asked him.

"Angel. Did he show?"

"No, I guess he-" Buffy began, before she was cut off by Willow.

"Hi, Angel," Buffy turned around to see Angel standing behind her.

"You know," she began, "I'm beginning to lean towards Xander's idea of putting a bell on you."

"Sorry." Angel said, awkwardly. "Creature of the night, thing, I suppose. Were you busy?"

"Well, we were talking, but now I'm not so busy." Buffy replied.

"Did you want to…"

"Dance?" Xander finished for him.

"I'd love to."