Chapter 2 Cars
Buffy walked the streets of Sunnydale looking for the auto shop that Angel worked at, she would call but the phones at her place hadn't been set up yet and her cell phone well let's just say a cell phone and orange juice don't mix. She asked a few people here and there where the shop was, people here were actually helpful and friendly. Finally she found it, she could hear music playing and tools drilling. She headed to what looked like the main office.
"Can I help you miss?" A man asked.
"I'm looking for an Angel O'Brien." Buffy said.
"Sure he's the garage at the end miss." The man said and Buffy smiled.
"Thanks." And she headed back outside and walked down to the garage. Angel was trying to take out some bolts with some other guys around him. They were his co-workers and plus this and two other cars were all that was here today.
"Hey look," A man said as a young blonde woman wearing jeans, heels that clicked and a white tank top walked closer to them. "That ain't the uniform." Angel looked up and then ducked. He was hoping she'd call but didn't expect her to come here.
"You know her Angel?" Another man asked.
"Yeah met her last night." Angel replied and he got some snickers and smirks.
"I've got a girlfriend." Another man stated and they looked at him as he sat in a chair and shrugged.
"Well let's leave the love birds alone." The first man said and they started to walk away as Buffy got closer.
"Hey," She said seeing Angel leaning over the engine of the car.
"Hey," He said smiling, he was happy to see her but if he knew she'd be here he might have cleaned up a little. "I thought you'd call first."
"Yeah I would but no phone at the moment." She replied and he nodded and she set down her bag and walked over looking at the old Mustang. Then as she stood next to him he picked up a rag wiping his hands. "Whoa nice headers." She said looking into the car and Angel looked at her curiously.
"You know what they're for?" He asked.
"Yeah they help improve engine performance also the cool air in tank helps with the engine too keeps it warm or cool as needed." Buffy looked up at Angel as he looked at her, she knew about cars. "My grandpa was a real grease monkey." She answered him because she knew he wanted to know how she knew this. "The six weeks I spent with him during my summers he'd let me work at his auto shop. He taught me how to take a part an engine, clean it and put it back together again."
"Wow." That's all Angel could say. She didn't come off as a person knowing anything about cars except how to drive one. "You know a lot then."
"Yeah but it's something I don't advertise get weird looks I guess girls aren't supposed to know about cars." She said and leaned over the engine looked although Angel was looking at something else as she leaned forward. She then looked up at him and he snapped out of his gaze.
"Well I think it's hot I mean you're hot I mean yeah." He stammered, is he really getting this lucky a beautiful woman who knew cars was interested in him. Buffy smiled, he was rather cute when he was nervous.
"Thanks, so what's wrong with her?" She asked, she called the car her, she knew the language of automobiles, the guys here would say marry her right now.
"Not sure owner thinks it's the transmission." Angel stated as he leaned over with her looking. "Was going to gut it out the person doesn't appear to be taking care of her."
"Need help?" She asked. 'Oh god yes please.' He thought he then turned to his boys as they were conveniently working on other things.
"Sure, you might want to put on a suit or something," But before he could finish Buffy pulled her hair up and slipped off her shoes and looked through the tools. "Or not that's cool."
Two hours had passed as they worked on the red Mustang together. Buffy pulled herself from under the car and handed Angel a tool.
"Well let's see if it worked." Angel stated and got the keys off the key rack and tossed them to her. Buffy opened the door and put the keys in the ignition waiting for Angel. He leaned over the engine and waved. She put her foot on the clutch and turned the car on and it roared. Angel smiled as he watched everything run like it was supposed. He closed the hood of the car and then got into the passenger's seat and Buffy knew they were going for a test drive. She shifted the car in reverse and then shifted it into first gear and was off. Angel reached for the radio and turned it on and surprisingly the both of them started to sing the song together.
Angel pulled back into the shop and Buffy got out of the car.
"Manny." Angel said and a man came over while he tossed the keys to him. "Owner can come and pick up the car tomorrow."
"Sweet." The man said as he walked away but then turned around. "You've got another costumer coming in at four but Steve said we're not going to start anything new until tomorrow." Angel nodded as Buffy stood there.
"Thanks." Angel said and Buffy shrugged.
"No problem."
"You're welcome to stop by and help." Angel said and she nodded. Her white shirt and jeans were ruined however but it wasn't like this was all she had. She then saw the time knowing dinner would be here soon plus her mom and Riley would be home.
"Well I need to go if I'm walking home."
"You walked here?" He asked and she nodded like it was no big deal. "I'll drive you home let me take this last person." She smiled and nodded, she didn't mind staying here.
Angel pulled up to her house wide eyed. He's passed by 55 West but never been inside the neighborhood. Her house was huge.
"Yeah I know." She said looking at him. "Well thank you." He nodded and she smiled.
"You know after dinner my friends and are heading to a place called the Bronze." Angel said and she nodded.
"I might go." She said smiling. "See you around." She then got out of the car and walked to her house and Angel stayed in the Plymouth waiting for her to get inside. She waved to him letting him know she was safe inside. Once she closed the door he let out a huge sigh.
"Whoa, holy crap what are you doing with someone like her?" He asked himself and then pulled away from the huge place. Buffy headed upstairs to take a shower to clean the oil off of her. After her shower she got dressed for dinner knowing that people would be over. She never did have a quiet dinner with her mother. Buffy put on a dress that went above her knees, it was emerald green to match her eyes, she wore a silver necklace and silver heels too match. She pulled her hair up and left her room. Buffy was greeted by neighbors and sat down for dinner and sighed. The cook set down her plate and it had food but it was always little. Buffy's mother said she wasn't fat but believed in smaller portions. The food was always good but there was so little of it. Another servant came over and poured her some wine. Riley looked over to her.
"How was your day sweet pea?" He asked and she turned to him. Should she say what she did, rolled in oil fixed a car with Angel.
"Just stayed in." She replied lying to him and he nodded smiling. She looked up to her mother who smiled and kept eating. Buffy looked up to the clock and it read six thirty and she sighed. She wanted to go to the Bronze and be with Angel even if was just sitting next to him he was much more interesting than this than Riley.
Angel walked up to the Bronze and did a quick scan to see if Buffy was around but didn't see her. He saw Willow coming over smiling.
"Hey ready to see Oz play?" The red head asked and Angel smiled. Xander and Spike came over and he saw Xander's groupie Anya trailing him.
"Where's your girlfriend?" Spike asked and Angel sighed and they all walked in the club. It was a typical club night. Oz's band was up on the stage playing and Willow smiled, she liked the idea she was dating the lead guitar player. Angel walked through the crowd to get closer to the stage for Willow. Then the person he didn't want to see, Faith was dancing. She turned around and saw Angel and smiled. She had always liked Angel but he never could bring himself to like her. It was too late they had made eye contact so he just walked away and found an empty couch and sat down. Willow didn't sit with them but looked to her boyfriend. Xander made a drink run for them as Faith continue to dance not directly in front of Angel but she'd hoped he was watching. Angel looked around trying to avoid her. In fact he was tempted to just leave.
The dinner was over and Buffy snuck out the house. She took the neatly bun out of her hair and shook it out letting her long blonde locks fall around her shoulders and headed to Riley's Bentley, he had two so he shouldn't miss the white one as she got in. No one would know she was gone well maybe Riley but as of now he was too much into himself talking about his latest case. She turned on the car and headed off. She was twenty one, a woman she could do what she wanted to right. Besides she'd be back before anyone missed her.
She found the Bronze and it looked like it was a good club. She wasn't much of a clubber you think she would be living in LA where there was a club on every corner. She got out of the Bentley and already caught some attention from the guys. She made her way to the front door looking for a black Plymouth hoping Angel was here. Inside the Bronze Oz's band was done for now so the DJ was back. Willow joined her friends waiting for Oz to be done packing up. Faith was still trying but Angel was talking to Spike. Buffy came into the Bronze and looked around for Angel. Angel took a sip of his straight Jameson then Xander lightly hit him on the back.
"Your girlfriend is here." Xander pointed and he looked up. His jaw dropped, the dress, the heels everything about her.
"She is pretty." Willow said smiling to Angel. Angel couldn't take his eyes of her and then they locked eyes. "Well go before some other guy does."
"Right." Angel said and set down his glass. Faith smiled thinking he was coming to him but then walked right passed her. She looked to see where he was heading and saw the small blonde girl standing there waiting. Angel didn't think she would be here but that didn't matter. They stood in front of each other and she smiled which made him go weak at the knees.
"Hey." She said and he smiled back.
"Our boy is in love." Xander said and then Faith came over to them. "Bitch alert, bitch alert."
"Shut up," She spat. "Who's the blonde trick?" She asked pointing to them as they stood there talking.
"Buffy." Willow said with a smile as Oz came over handing her a drink. Faith scoffed and walked away and the group looked up and saw the couple heading to the bar.
"So this is the Bronze." Buffy stated while a bar tender poured her a drink and Angel nodded.
"Small town not much." Angel said and sipped his drink. "How was dinner?" He asked and she shook her head not wanting to talk about it. She sipped her drink looking to the crowd.
Somewhere in between the five drinks between Angel and Buffy they made their way to the dance floor and she threw her arms around his neck and his arms found their way around her waist. He didn't dance well not to this music and certainly not with a girl. She didn't dance with boys not like this but he excited her so she rocked her hips against him. Angel did a quick scan of his surroundings and his friends couldn't see him, good he thought and followed her movements. His friends were on the other side dancing well Oz and Willow avoided Spike and Xander as they danced like goofs. Anya laughed at Xander's moves.
The gap between Angel and Buffy was no longer there, she was completely on him. She wasn't drunk maybe slightly tipsy and he just had a buzz so they would remember this. They were really close but it didn't bother them. 'Oh god, think of something else besides her small dress and…stop Angel stop.' He begged to himself as they danced. Faith stood in the corner watching with her arms folded across her chest. She's never seen this girl before and Angel was drooling all over her. Angel smiled and he was honest with himself he hadn't smile like this in a long time. Buffy then leaned back and Angel swallowed hard trying to keep himself together. Buffy came back up smiling as she could tell he liked it. Then Xander came dancing to them.
"I love this song!" He yelled out and the danced away.
Spike drove the Bentley to Buffy's place as Angel drove her in the Plymouth. The lights were still on and people were still there. It was almost one in the morning and Buffy wasn't sure if she was missed or not.
"Nice place." Spike said getting out of the car and Buffy got out of the Plymouth holding her shoes and nodded. "Sweet ride too." Then the front door opened and two people came out.
"Oh no." Buffy said as she could see her mother and Riley.
"Buffy where were you?" Her mother asked and looked at the people behind her.
"Mom I'm fine," Buffy assured her mother. "These are some friends mom we were just hung out that's all."
"Until one in the morning?" Riley asked and looked to Angel, he felt threaten by this man and wasn't sure why. Angel didn't like this man and he didn't even know him and he didn't want to get to know him.
"Everything is ok mom." Buffy stated and her mother nodded. "I want you to meet Willow, Oz, Spike, Xander, Anya and Angel." She said pointing to each of them.
"Nice to meet you all." Her mother said smiling but Buffy could tell it was a fake smile.
"You think they could come over for dinner tomorrow?" Buffy asked, Joyce looked at all of them. She could tell they had no money and she didn't want Buffy to get attach but maybe just once and then Buffy could move on. Joyce believed that Buffy needed no friends but her and Riley.
"Ok." Joyce said and Riley looked to the older woman and then put his arm around Buffy indicating she should go and also trying to show this Angel person she belonged to him. "Good night everyone."
"Night." They all said waving Buffy did a quick turn around and waved to her new friends and then looked at Angel. He could see in her eyes a plea to come get her but instead she waved at him.
"Come inside you must be freezing." Riley said and pulled her closer but she didn't wrap her arms around him at all. Angel stood there waiting until she got inside the house and then turned back to his car.
Buffy stood outside on her balcony when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her. She wished it was Angel's and for a moment she had a fantasy 'Angel wrapped his arms around her waist and she turned around. He was shirtless before her and she smiled. He tilted his head and their lips connected in kiss. It grew and he picked her up placing her on the balcony ledge and she wrapped her legs around his waist.' She then came to back to reality, it was only a fantasy but one she'd love to live.
"After the dinner tomorrow night I'll be in LA for a week." Riley stated. 'Yes thank you lord.' Buffy thought.
"That's too bad." Buffy said as she looked out into the night.
"Get some sleep." He then kissed the top of her head and left. Buffy stood there and then rested her chin in her hands and a small tear fell. She felt trap like a prisoner and no matter what she couldn't break free. So many people would give to be here, have the kind of stuff she had but it wasn't what it was all cracked up to be. You felt like drowning, no one listened, no one cared.
Angel tossed his keys aside as he headed into his apartment and saw someone had called him. He pressed the button to listen. No one had his home phone it was a private line for his father who was in Ireland.
"Hi Angel its Giles, your father sends his love but I'm afraid his condition is taking a turn for the worst. I'll keep you up to speed. Hope everything is going well over in the colonies, talk to you soon, bye." The man's voice was gone. Giles was Angel's god father and was in Ireland taking care of his father. Angel rubbed his eyes and sat on the couch in silences. He looked up to the wall and knew he should sleep he had to open the shop and then apparently he was having dinner with Buffy tomorrow night. He stretched out on the couch closing his eyes and all he could see was Buffy, Buffy, Buffy she was in his thoughts. He never thought about one girl like this. Come to think of it he never had a crush on a girl either not this bad at least.
Sparks fly between them. More on the way so now that we have some more knowledge about our two lovers' background any ideas what's to come. You'll learn more about them as they talk. But Riley is going away for a week, thank god right. Hope you like them fixing the car together. More soon. And the cell phone and the orange juice, yes I did drop my cell phone once in orange juice once…no comment on that. Comments and reviews are welcomed. Thanks for reading.