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*Senior Year*

Buffy stumbled her way around the house, by all accounts she'd had too much to drink. Her head was swimming and her stomach bubbled with uncertainty. She pushed the door of the bathroom open then almost collapsed in front of the toilet.

It was month into senior year, like every year before; someone was throwing a party at their house. This year it was a new student who was hosting the party, Faith rolled into school with brazen force, claiming her spot in the 'A-crowd'.

Unlike the rest of the A-crowd she had invited pretty much their entire year; her house would be classified as a mansion, so they were not short of space.

"Buff, you're a mess!"

Her head turned so she could look over the porcelain of the toilet to glare at the intruder. Riley stood at the door looking at her with amused disgust, she was hoping to get things going with him tonight but now she couldn't think of doing anything other than being sick.

"Ri, help?" her voice came out shallow and slurred, what she wanted was to curl up in her bed with a sick bowl in front of her and him rubbing soothing circles on her back. The snort that came from him and the look she got she knew that he wasn't going to be helpful.

He shook his head then left the way he came; Buffy let out a groan then emptied the little contents of her stomach into the toilet. It didn't take long before she started sobbing, this was the worst state she had ever gotten herself into – she felt exceptionally ill.

.

The mass of drunken idiots at this party made him laugh; they all thought they were something special – now they just looked a riot. Angel was surprised with the invite but then again Faith had hinted that they'd meet up later in private and that was not going to happen.

Cordelia and some of the jocks gave him a disapproving look then shouted cruel jibes at him, he forced down the feeling he was having and climbed the stairs, wanting to create distance between them and him.

So far he had tried a few of the bedrooms but there were many couples occupying these rooms, some only kissing, others, well – he didn't want to keep those images in his head. The sound of throwing up made him pause, he pushed open the door and his heart sunk.

Buffy looked terrible, her eyes were unfocussed and her hair was stuck to her damp forehead. From the way she had treated him before, he wanted to turn around and let her deal with the binge but something deep down made him enter the bathroom and close the door.

Angel ran his hand over her back to sooth her from sobbing, he felt her stiffen before relaxing. After a moment her sad green eyes fixated on his, there was no way he would leave her alone in that state "Shhh" his hand continued to draw circles on her back.

They sat in silence for half an hour, once Buffy felt ready to part ways with the porcelain she pushed herself up from her foetal position and grabbed onto the sink. He saw her sway and almost fall, his reaction was to grab her and hold her close.

Buffy brushed him off of her, feeling awkward with him being kind to her. She saw him shake his head then call a taxi from his cell phone. It didn't take much convincing, but the feel of his warm body dwarfing hers made her decision to let him take her home easy.

He held her tight as he manoeuvred them down the stairs, avoiding her friends and the fight that was starting in the hallway. He slid into the taxi and pulled her close, petting her hair as she sobbed quietly, luckily the journey to her house didn't take too long.

Buffy handed him her key, all she could do was bear her weight against his body as he kept her close. Her parents were away visiting family for the week, if her dad saw her like this then he would throw a shit fit.

Angel ushered her through the house and to the direction of her room to which she pointed, her room was filled with all the medals from cheerleading and with photos of her and those so called friends of hers. He bit down the elation of being in her room by the fact she was upset.

His hands shook as she asked him to help her change into her pyjamas; he made sure that she was facing away from him, so that he could hide how nervous he was. His hands skimmed down her tiny waist as he pulled down the top but he let her put her shorts on by herself.

Angel took a deep steadying breath then helped her over to her bed, she climbed onto it with a thud then pulled the covers up to her neck. She looked like a lost little girl, times like this broke him down, he wanted to hate her but he couldn't.

"Angel?" he was about to leave but stopped at her bedroom door, his heart pounding in his chest "Why are you being so kind?" he wasn't sure what to say in that moment, that he liked her? Or just that he was a nice guy? He didn't know.

He chewed on his lip as he turned around and made his way back over to the bed, he kissed the top of her head and tucked her hair behind her ear, taking the safe option "I wanted to make sure you were okay" he smiled down at her then left her to go back to his house.

Buffy closed her eyes to stifle a cry, none of her friends would be this kind to her, like Riley did, they would make fun of her then continue to party. Despite the fact that she had made fun of him, for all intents and purposes been a royal bitch, he was looking after her.

It made her heart clench at how she had treated him.

Angel pinched the bridge of his nose, he had spent all morning discussing the upcoming funeral of his grandma Kathy, it was becoming too much. He knew that she had some friends and carer's that could do it as they knew her better, but he wanted to make sure it was done properly.

He stood up from the sofa and cracked his aching back; he could hear his son's laughter from outside making him smile. Connor was out back on the old ratty swing set being pushed by Willow. She had become a friend recently as she was Kathy's carer.

Willow smiled widely as she came closer "Oh He's such a cutie!" she looked back at the boy then back to Angel, they looked almost identical, he would be a proper heartbreaker like his father "I can watch over him, if you need to go out for a while, I don't mind"

Angel shook his head "I've got a lot of things to do, there is only two days left before the funeral…" he looked down to the ground for a moment then back to Willow, she had that look on her face, her resolve face "Okay… I'd like that"

Willow placed her hand on his forearm "I'll let people know the arrangements for you…" she had saw a list of people that had to be informed but it was missing one person "Have you let Buffy know?"

"And why would I do that?" he glared at her; she was the last person that he wanted to invite, not like she was a part of their life.

After a moment to let him cool down Willow folded her arms over her chest "because she has been a good friend to Kathy… she has spent a lot of time with her, especially last Christmas when I couldn't!" her eyebrow rose to emphasise her statement.

That was something he didn't expect, why would Buffy of all people want to help his family? He didn't know what to say, Willow gave his arm a squeeze with a smile.

He pulled out his wallet and took the torn piece of paper that had her address written on it and ran his thumb over the ink. He felt Willow's hand leave his arm and heard her speak to Connor, without another thought he left them alone.

Oooooooooooooo

Buffy had got up a couple of hours ago but decided to have a lazy Sunday, she lay on the sofa in her pyjamas, for some reason she gravitated towards the old yearbooks that were collecting dust in a box in her closet.

She flipped the pages thinking back on all the good times that she had. Being as 'popular' as she was, most of the pages were dedicated to them, most of the photos were from all the parties they attended and all the games they had cheered at.

Her thumb ran over Angel's picture, he wasn't smiling but the look on his face was one that, looking at it now, could bring her to her knees. His eyes smouldered and his sharp jaw looked kissable. Her head snapped towards the door when she heard the knock, her breath caught in her throat as she spied through the peep hole.

He looked like his yearbook photo, yet somehow more dangerously beautiful than back then. He smirked as his eyes roamed over her pyjamas adorned with little pigs, she blushed furiously which he thought was adorable "Hi"

Buffy bit her lip nervously "Hi Angel… w-what are you doing here?" she tipped her head to the side, she was going to kill Tara, of all of the times that he could show up, it would have to be when she looked like a slob.

"I came to talk" Angel entered her apartment and looked around; it was plainly decorated, only a ratty old sofa, some books and TV "Nice place" she shrugged lightly then headed towards her bedroom. A few moments later she came out wearing a thin strapped camisole and shorts.

He cleared his throat, she was still petite but her outfit accentuated her curves, she looked amazing "I uh… I wanted to say thank you, Willow told me that you had watched over my grandma last winter, Kathy never told me about it" he was shocked to find out that she had taken time off work, especially near Christmas.

Buffy rubbed her arm, she didn't do it to score points with him, Kathy was a lovely woman who treated her like she was one of her own, only in the past year or two though "It was nothing Angel" an uncomfortable silence fell between them; she looked around then cleared her throat as did he.

"… I wanted to let you know, the service is at 10am on Tuesday…" he pursed his lips together, he couldn't leave her without an invite, and she had been there when he wasn't.

Buffy ran her fingers through her hair "I'll be there" once again the air became awkward, she looked around her apartment trying to come up with something to say to him but he beat her to it.

"So… the yearbooks, feeling nostalgic?" he tipped his head towards the gaudy decorated books, they looked dusty like his – he didn't know why he kept them, high school wasn't something he wanted a constant reminder of – especially with loads of pictures of the A-crowd.

"Still speak to the old gang?" the venom in his tone didn't escape her attention, she knew how he felt about them, how he used to feel about her. She hoped that it was different now, well, he was speaking to her, so that must count for something.

"Not really… most of them are still around town, we lost contact after Graduation…" she left the conversation there, there was a reason why they had lost contact but that was a story she'd rather not get into with him today.

Angel nodded, he picked up and answered his phone; Buffy could see his expression fill up with happiness which deep down caused the green monster of jealousy rear its ugly head again. She turned away to put the books away, trying not to eavesdrop on his conversation.

"Buff, I have to go… but I'll see you soon?" she didn't want to delude herself into thinking that he had some sort of feelings for her but she thought she saw a flicker of a hopeful expression in his dark chocolate eyes, it thrilled her.

She nodded slowly "Yeah, I'll see you soon" he paused by the door then tipped his head at her as he left. Buffy closed the door over softly and smiled to herself; maybe she could make amends for past actions and show him how much she cares for him.