~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miller's Café was nothing special, really it was more a hole in the ground but locals flocked there so it became the "it" spot. Spike led Buffy into the mass of bodies to a small table which held a ticked off looking bunch.
"Hey guys, miss me?" Spike joked.
"Yea I missed you like a punch in the gut" a man spoke up sarcastically.
"What's the matter, Peaches? They run out of that hair gel you're so obviously fond of?" teased Spike.
"Yea well, I'm not the one who was twenty minutes late, am i? Whose the girl? He asked with sudden interest. She was cute and possibly single so of course Angel was all over that.
"This here's Buffy. Buffy that's Xander, his girlfriend Anya, Oz, his girlfriend Willow and Captain Forehead here is Peaches" he grinned as he introduced everyone knowing his jab would not go unnoticed.
"Hi Buffy!" they all waved.
"Um actually the name is Angel, it's a pleasure to meet you Buffy" the handsome brunette got up to take her hand and kiss it. He had plans to get to know this Buffy girl.
"It's, uh, nice to meet you Angel, you all in fact. I didn't expect that Spike had such nice friends" she smiled at everyone but she kept her eyes glued to Angel as she noticed him giving her the once over. She didn't mind though, he was rather attractive but looked away when she noticed Spike glaring at Angel for it.
"So. Peaches. Don't you have somewhere to be?" he pressed. Fat chance he would let tall, dark and brooding steal his girl. Well if she was his girl but he was going to work on that!
"Actually Spike, my schedule just opened right up. So Buffy, where'd you meet Spike?" he inquired, pulling her into the seat next to his.
Spike glared at Angel at this turn of events as he squeezed in the other side of Buffy, who'd he think he was trying to horn in. Not that he was really surprised, they were always extremely competitive with each other and he was sure this was just another one of those things.
"Well it's funny. I actually ran into him in the hallway just now. Literally. I wasn't really watching where I was going because I just broke up with my boyfriend and I almost bowled the poor guy over. We got to talking and well here we are" she laughed nervously.
"You broke up with your boyfriend? That's terrible" he said with concern as he rested his hand on hers. "I don't know what kind of idiot would let you go but I say good riddance. Now you can move onto richer avenues" he smiled suggestively.
"I-yes, I suppose I am free to do that now" she returned his smile. Everyone was being so nice to her today! First she made Spike as a friend and now Angel? Maybe she wouldn't have to be alone anymore.
"Hey Buffy, would you like to go to The Bronze with us tonight?" spoke up Willow. She decided it was time somebody save her from the obvious pissing contest that was about to start between Angel and Spike any moment.
"Sure I'll go, I love going to The Bronze" Buffy grinned enthusiastically. She really did like going, being there always gave her an escape from life's trials and today she definitely needed to escape.
"Great then it's settled. I'll pick you up at 8." Stated Angel, ignoring the fact that Spike was now shooting daggers at him.
"Er, actually I think there would be more room in our car. Oz has a van and we were going to pick up Xander and Anya anyway so… How about it Buffy?" interrupted Willow.
"I would like that Willow" she smiled at the girl appreciatively. It was nice that her friends were embracing her; she was worried she would make a bad impression. "Here's my address" she slipped the girl a slip of paper she had written her address on quickly.
"Okidoke, well we need to go but we'll be round to pick you up at 8-ish." Willow waved as Oz led her away, Anya and Xander following after them. Leaving Buffy in between Angel and Spike.
"So Buffy, what do you want do now?" Angel asked as he put an arm around the back of her seat.
"Well actually I have some things I need to finish before Willow comes to pick me up later. My sister will be home in a little bit and I promised I would be there when she walked in" she admitted. Ever since their mom died, Dawn had grown increasingly clingy toward her sister. Buffy wagered she was afraid she would be gone too if Dawn wasn't too careful.
"Pity. I was hoping we could get to know each other…save me a dance later though, alright?" Angel winked and brushed her arm lightly as she was getting up.
"Sure I will" she smiled, not noticing the shocked look on Spike's face. It soon faded as she got out of her seat and turned to say goodbye to him.
"Thanks for having lunch with us Pet, I'll see you later at The Bronze" he cooed while staring at her with those intense eyes once more.
"Bye Spike, thank you for having me" she said earnestly. He was such a sweet guy for going out of his way to make her feel better. She was ecstatic that they would see each other later. She also wanted to know more about this Angel guy…
