Angel was sat in the library he had dated Buffy briefly that was how he was introduced to the group none if them liked him they were 15 and was pretty mature but couldn't handle dating a vampire he was long over her though. Cordelia chase was the most mature though he couldn't put a finger on it. it was almost as if she had been through in her short time what many adults haven't been looked at her she looked a bit nervy and shaky this was unusual for cordelia always the confident may queen.

"I need some air i will be back in a minute babe." She said it directly to her boyfriend as she knew no-one would care because they didn't like her. not even looking up from his book Xander Harris just mumbled an

"Okay."

Angel couldn't believe it something was bothering cordelia and her boyfriend either didn't care or couldn't see it. Angel slipped out no-one would wonder where he was anyway. he saw cordelia he planned to talk to her then she took a joint out of her pocket and lit it. he realised something must be very wrong but he still needed to talk to her she had soon smoked it and Angel approached her she didn't look much different most people her age would be sky high after smoking a joint that size but it looked like it had barley touched her almost as if she had been smoking for years.

"Cordelia are you okay?" she looked like she wanted to run.

"Angel? What are you doing out here?"

"You looked upset so i came to see if you were okay." he looked at her she saw he really meant it he didn't have the face of a liar.

"Really you care? i mean cause your not exactly an openly caring person i mean you care but more secretly."

"no i care and if I'm honest you seemed lonely and i know its bothered you even more that your boyfriend didn't notice anything was up." she smiled how could he not know her but know what she was thinking?

"It did he's supposed to care about me but he only cares when his friends aren't around."

"Talk to him to be honest i cant stand the boy and don't get why you care about him as much as you do but i can see you do and you really do deserve better than the way he's treating you right now."

"Angel your a great guy Buffy was stupid to dump we should be getting back i don't know why nobody's probably missed me but I'm sure they missed you."

"na girl you got it twisted i dumped her. And i doubt they missed me probably haven't even noticed i was gone." They arrived at the library

"Cordy your back and Angel? you left? why? and why are you with her."

"Told you." He whispered to cordelia "I went to get some air a little while ago and i ran into i would walk back with her."

"Sorry you had to go through that?"

"Go through what?"

"You know having to put up with queen c she's a real bitch you shouldn't of had to put up with her." This annoyed Angel the girl he had spent time with wasn't a bitch like they insisted and she was obviously going through something at the moment and all of them were to blind to even notice including her own boyfriend.

"Buffy shut up." Everyone was shocked Angel had never spoken to Buffy like that and he was defending cordelia over Buffy. "Cordelias not a bitch okay she has bitchy moment quite a few but maybe she is justified maybe she has a reason to be bitchy they way you just spoke about her qualifies as a reason in my book." He sat on the steps where he always was picked up his discarded book and tried to focus on the words he couldn't no matter how hard he tried his thoughts were filled with anger at his ex for speaking that way about cordelia he hardly knew her but he wanted to he wanted to be her friend he was even more angry at Xander for not even defending his girlfriend. He made a decision. To leave.

"Buffy I'm gonna go patrol." he started to walk towards the door.

"Want me to come with?" He turned and looked at her a look coming over his face as if contemplating it.

"Na I'm good." He left the door swung in his smiled at everyones shocked looks thats the Angel she spoke to thats the real Angel.

"Well if leaving is an option i will do that too." cordelia left and everyone was speechless. cordelia saw Angel walking through the car park.

"Angel." She called he stopped and turned while she caught up. "Hey what you did for me in there was amazing you didn't have to do that but you did i just wanted to say thank you it meant a lot."

"Why don't they see this cordelia?"

"See what?"

"why do they see a bitch and i see a strong independent woman who cares for others."

"They see what they want to like you said i can be a bitch if I'm hurting i cover it up they have seen that so thats all they are willing to see."

"Well they are missing you off home?"

"Yeah i just wanted the chance to get out of there and i wanted to thank you."

"Well your welcome. i could walk you home?"

"Sure." they walked and talked cordelia got to her gates she saw her uncle stood in the front door she had a smile plastered on her face it dropped when she saw her uncle stood took in her house it was big almost a mansion. The yard was trimmed short and tidy a hedge either side on the door and a path leading from the gate to front door. Angel took in the gate it was 12 foot with spikes at the top it had a keypad that the code opened the gate a call button with a speaker underneath her he thought Buffy was being bitchy when he said cordelia was rich but damn this house was incredible and he hadn't even seen inside. "Angel thank you for walking me home and making me laugh ill see you around." She kissed him on the cheek the punched in the code for the gate.

"See you around cordelia." He watched her as her whole demeanour changed she was relaxed and carefree not 5 minutes ago but the moment she laid eyes on her uncle she became guarded and tense. he left hoping to see the young girl again soon.

As cordelia got to her front door her uncle pushed he in. "Where you been bitch?"

"At school then i was out with harm i swear."

"who was he?"

"Who?"

"The guy you were with."

"Oh him he's just a friend he walked me home because he said its not safe to be walking around at night never know who could be lurking round the corner he doesn't know anything i swear."

"He better not you don't know if he will go to the police."

"I haven't told him a thing i promise."

"Okay go get changed."

"Yes uncle." He shot her a death glare "Sorry i mean yes sir."