Chapter 2
When She Was Bad
Willow and Xander had gotten ice cream then went for a walk around the darkened streets of Sunnydale. Tiring of walking the red head took a seat on a stone wall; Xander leaned against it facing the graveyard.
"I'm so restless", Xander exclaimed his eyes roaming over the empty graveyard. "I'm actually glad school is starting again."
Willow took a bite of her ice cream before replying. "Yeah, and that has nothing to do with a certain girl that we both know that is a vampire slayer?"
"Please. I'm so over her." The brunette affirmed before casually asking. "Did she, uh, say when she was getting back, about which I don't care?"
His feelings for the blonde slayer was obvious despite his denial. They had been friends since kinder-garden and he had yet to see her as a girl not just a buddy. "I haven't heard from her. I mean, I got a couple postcards after she went to L.A. and then, like, nothing."
"Yeah, I never heard… Well, she's probably having fun with her dad", Xander dejectedly replied.
Meeting Xander's woeful gaze Willow felt a pang of sympathy. "And you don't care."
"Okay, so maybe there's some interest. I'm a man, I have certain desires. Certain needs…" He moved closer to Willow.
No part of her wanted to hear of his manly desires for Buffy. "I don't wanna know", the shy girl affirmed.
The playful intimacy was becoming less playful as he moved closer smiling at her. "Don't you", he taunted. Switching gears he dabs his cone at her, leaving ice cream on her nose. "I've got a movie for you." Xander said resuming their game of guessing movie titles.
"Xander…", Willow responded exasperated.
He dabs another bit of ice cream on her nose. "Come on. You're Amish, you won't fight back because you're Amish, I mock you with my ice cream cone, Amish Guy."
"Witness. My nose is cold." She wryly replies.
Moving closer Xander acts like he's going to lick it. Willow leans back laughing at his antics. "Xander!"
"What can I say? It makes your nose look tasty." He removes the offending ice cream with a napkin.
Her arm is on his shoulder they come close to kissing. Thoughts of his desire for Buffy invade her thoughts and she backs off. Then she notices a vampire beside them his face perilously close to theirs. Screaming Willow leaps from the wall.
A newbie stands on the other side of the wall a dirty tux attesting to his newly risen status. He smoothly vaults the wall stalking the two teens.
"Willow, go!" Xander demanded stepping in front of the startled red head.
She stubbornly stood her ground unwilling to leave her best friend to face the vampire alone.
Xander punches the vampire, but he is unphased. He grabs the boy by the neck pulling him in for the kill.
She desperately searches for a weapon to no avail. Finally Willow took it upon herself to grab the vampire's arm, trying to wrench him off of Xander.
A strong hand took hold of the vampire's shoulder pulling him back and spinning him around into the path of a fist. After a series of kicks and punches Buffy turns to her friends. "Hi guys."
The vampire rises to his feet behind her without looking back she kicks him in the chest sending him flying back into a tree. A broken branch impaled the vampire he explodes in a cloud of dust. The slayer doesn't even glance behind her.
"Miss me?" The blonde asked cheekily.
The teens walked down the street, while Xander matched strides with Buffy Willow struggled to keep up with them.
Casting a curious glance at her friends Buffy asked. "So, how did you guys fare? Did you have any fun without me?
"No", Xander quickly affirmed.
Thinking of the nights spent with the vampire who had become her friend over the past months brought a smile to the shy girl's face. "Yes."
"Summer was a little yawnworthy. Our biggest excitement was burying the Master, because fry cook at the Double Meat Palace was no big whoop." Xander assured her giving her a goofy smile.
Buffy's face subtly hardened at the mention of the Master's name. Neither teen took notice of the change in their friend.
"That's right, you missed it! Right out by that tree." Willow indicated a tree deep in the grave yard. "Giles buried the bones and we poured holy water and chanted and we got to wear robes!" The hacker excitedly informed her.
Nodding Xander joined in, "very intense. You shoulda been."
"Have you seen Giles", Willow asked changing the subject.
Staring at the tree Willow pointed at Buffy answered crossly, "why would I call Giles? I'll see him at school."
Xander threw an arm over Buffy's shoulders. "Man, I'm really glad you're back.
"Yeah. Me too." The slayer replied unconvincingly as she continued looking at the tree.
_
Buffy wakes from a nightmare of the Master killing her with a start, gasping and sweating. Sitting up she runs a shaking hand through her hair. She hears a noise outside the window. Rising from bed she goes to investigate the sound. Angel looks back at her from the other side of the glass.
Raising the window Buffy addressed the vampire, "hello".
"Mind if I come in?" He politely asked the sleep tousled slayer.
Moving away from the window she shrugged. "Be my guest", she replied noncommittally.
Angel enters the room with the grace of a centuries old vampire. "How are you?"
"Peachy", the blonde slayer flippantly responded causing a moment of uncomfortable silence. "So, is this a social call? It's kind of late. Or it is for me. For you this is, what, lunch hour?"
Wincing at her harsh words Angel moved away from Buffy. "It's not a social call."
"And that means grave danger. Gosh, it's so good to be home." She groused taking a seat on her bed.
Frowning Angel continued, "I'm sorry. I wish I had better news"
Blue eyes filled with impatience. "Let me guess. Some of your cousins have come for a family barbecue, and we're all on the menu."
Sighing with annoyance Angel paced across the room. "The Anointed One. He's been gathering forces somewhere in town. I'm not sure why."
"I guess I'll find out soon enough", she flippantly responded.
"You don't sound too concerned." The dark haired vampire stopped his pacing.
Buffy shrugged, "I can handled myself. I could use a little action, anyway."
Concern for the teen lanced through him. "Don't underestimate the Anointed One just because he looks like a child. He has power over the rest of them. Its source is deep, and old. They'll do anything for him."
Buffy smirked at the vampire. "Did you miss me", her words held a taunting edge.
"Yes, but Willow's company was more than enough to keep any loneliness at bay." He wasn't going to be baited by a snarky teen.
His words stung Willow had made no mention of spending time with him. Frustrated she groused, "is that it? Is that everything? 'Cause you woke me up from nice dream."
Moving over to the window he cast a glance over his shoulder. "Sorry. I'll go."
_
Buffy enters the Bronze she sees Xander and Willow, and starts to cross the room to join them, when Angel appears before her. "Oh. Hi again."
"Hi." He greeted the distracted slayer.
She cast a curious glance around the club. "Is there danger at the Bronze?"
"I can't help thinking I've done something to make you angry. That bothers me more than I'd like. Angel told the distant blonde.
Turning her attention back to the vampire she addressed him. "I'm not angry. I have no idea where that comes from."
"What are you afraid of? Me? Us?" He moved closer to the slayer.
Scoffing she takes a step back. "Uh, could you contemplate getting over yourself? There's no 'us'. I'm sorry if I was supposed to spend the summer mooning over you, but I didn't I moved on to the living. Besides you seemed to have found to find a way to occupy yourself." She gave him a distasteful look, "Willow really?" She leaves making her way over to her friends.
Willow couldn't help, but notice the exchange with Buffy had left a sour look on the vampires face. When the slayer reached the table she was quick to question the blonde. "What's wrong with Angel?"
"Beats me", she replied shrugging. She grabs Xander's hand as the band starts playing. "Let's dance."
"Uh, uh…" Xander mumbles as Buffy leads him onto the dance floor.
The red head watched on in disbelief as Buffy danced with Xander. The teen pressed her body seductively against the brunette. His face clearly showing his pleasure at the much wanted attention from the slayer.
Angel's attention wasn't focused on the couple on the dance floor, but instead on his friend who watched the scene stricken.
Buffy turns in his arms whispering something in his ear. Then moves forward as if to kiss him.
A pained sound escapes Willow as tears prick her eyes. Rising from the table she flees the club, and the sight before her. In the alley behind the Bronze Willow finally allowed the tears to fall. She was pulled into strong comforting arms, and she knew without looking Angel had come to her side.
"Don't cry, Saileach", the vampire soothed her by stroking her hair. He had taken to calling her by name in his native tongue of Gaelic. It had seemed so natural after all they had shared.
Stifling her tears she turned to face Angel. "I'm sorry I'm being silly."
Raising a hand to brush away her tear, Angel smiled woefully at the distressed girl. "Nonsense you've been hurt it's only natural."
"B-but you and Buffy surly-" she was interrupted by him.
"There is no me and Buffy she's moved on, and so have I." He quietly admitted. "Hurting you was uncalled for though. She's a girl playing at being a woman uncaring of who stands in her way." Angel took Willow's small hand in his own. "Come I'll buy you a mocha."
Smiling at the vampire at her side she allowed herself to be led away.