I don't own BtVS. (I may revise and re-upload this chapter at some point in the near future because I'm not entirely happy with it but I wanted to give you guys something. If and when I change it, I'll let y'all know.)
The Friendzone
Chapter 3
I can't sleep tonight, wide awake and so confused. Everything's in line, but I am bruised. ~ Demi Lovato, Nightingale.
Buffy rolls over in bed, slamming her hand down on the blaring alarm clock on her bedside table. She huffs in annoyance and throws the covers off her bed. She sighs heavily, getting up and going into her bathroom to shower. She hadn't slept well the night before, with the words of her mother and friends mulling around in her head. Does Angel really love her? Can they really stay together? Can they really ever be friends? The fifteen-year-old has never been so confused in her life and it kept her awake trying to figure it out.
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Summers," she states to her reflection after stepping out of the shower. "You are confident and beautiful and have a date with a cute boy on Friday." She runs her fingers through her damp hair. A cute boy with the personality of a wet mop, she thinks to herself as she leaves the bathroom to get dressed for the day. She pulls on a white sundress with little cherries all over it and slips her feet into a pair of red flats.
"Buffy!" she hears as she's curling her hair. The voice causes her to jump slightly and burn her ear on the hot iron. She yelps in surprise and Angel rushes into her room.
"You okay, Buff?" he asks, kneeling beside her. She glares slightly at her best friend.
"You scared me and I burnt my ear," she whines, pouting.
"I'm sorry, Buffy. Want me to kiss it better?" he teases, leaning in to kiss her check but she shoves him away.
"What are you doing here?" she asks harshly, way harsher than she intended. Her feelings had been hurt and she's not all too thrilled with her neighbor at the moment. He gives her a sad, half-smile.
"I'm here to drive you to school," he tells her, sounding puzzled. She laughs humorlessly.
"Why? You haven't done that since the first day." Her voice is accusing and he looks down at his feet, guiltily.
"I know. And I'm sorry, Buffy. Really and truly I am. But some stuff's been going on with me lately and I haven't been handling it right. I was hoping that after school, you and I can go to our cave on the beach and talk." Angel stares into Buffy's hazel eyes, pleading with his brown ones for her to forgive him. She shakes her head.
"I can't. I'm going over to Willow's to study with her and Xander…" she trails off, looking away from Angel's puppy-dog gaze.
"I'm sure they'd understand if you explain-" he starts to say but she cuts him off.
"I'm not canceling my plans all the sudden just because you want to talk." Angel looks taken aback by her abrupt attitude and she stands from her seat in front of her vanity.
"If you really want to take me to school, let's go," she tells him, grabbing her bag and walking out of the room. Angel stares after her in shock. There was a time when she would have dropped anything and everything to talk to him. What have I done? He thinks, desperately.
~TFZ~
"No, Darla. It's over. It's been over for months now. In fact, it never even should have started," Angel grits out, annoyed at how desperate and clinging Darla is being.
"But, Angel, my dear boy," she pleads. "We're perfect together."
"Nothing about us is perfect."
"It's that little girl, isn't it? Bunny? She'll never be able to satisfy you, Angel. You're wild at heart and that innocent little whore will never be enough for you." Angel grabs Darla by the shoulders, staring her in the eye.
"Her name is Buffy, and if you ever call her a whore again, you will be sorry," he growls. "We're through!" Angel storms away from the stubborn blonde and rushes to the gym. Buffy's trying out for cheerleading and he wants to support her.
"We'll never be through, dear boy. Just you wait and see," Darla smirks to herself, walking in the opposite direction.
~TFZ~
"You'll do great, Buffy!" Willow promises her friend and the blonde smiles.
"Yeah, Buff! You've always been great at leading the cheers!" Xander quickly agrees.
"Thanks, guys," she sighs. "I just hope I'm good enough to make it."
"You would be good enough, Buffy, but unfortunately for you, most the people here are better," Cordelia Chase cuts into the trio's conversation.
"Oh, Cordelia, aren't you the jealous little monkey!?" Xander defends Buffy, whom just shakes her head.
"Hey, Buff," Angel greets his crush. "Will, Xander." They both wave.
"Angel," Buffy breathes. "I didn't think you'd come. I didn't even think you knew I was trying out."
"You've always been a cheerleader. Of course I knew you were trying out. And haven't I always been there to support you?" Buffy looks down.
"Things are different now," she whispers, as her name is called. Angel watches her walk into the middle of the gym to start her try-out and frowns. He goes to sit in the bleaches and feels his heart break. What does she mean, things are different? Does she not want to see me at all anymore? he thinks, sadly.
~TFZ~
"I'm so confused, Will," Buffy frowns back at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. "It's been so weird lately. How can you possibly think he loves me?"
"Because I have eyes, stupid," Willow replies, teasingly. "I'm serious, Buffy. He looks at you like you're Aphrodite."
"It doesn't matter. I have a date with Riley on Friday," the blonde sighs, cringing slightly.
"You're really, really not into him, huh?" Willow giggles.
"He's just so dull," she whines.
"I bet the squad list is posted. Wanna go look?" the redhead nudges her friend's shoulder.
"Let's do it," Buffy states, smiling slightly. The two girls leave the bathroom together and head to the quad where the cheerleading results are posted.
"Are you excited?" Xander asks, catching up with them.
"I might be when I look at the list," Buffy states.
"I most certainly am," Cordelia buts in, breezing past them to check the results. She squeals happily and hugs Harmony, who had walked up behind her. Buffy, Willow and Xander all roll their eyes. Buffy steps up to the list and scans it quickly. She turns back to her friends and frowns.
"Well, I have bad news…" she trails off.
"Buff, I'm sorry," Xander squeezes her shoulder and Willow nods along.
"Why? I'm the one who needs to be sorry since we can't spend as much time together now that I'm on the squad…" she looks up at her friends and grins. They both hug the blonde and turn to head to Willow's house.
"Buffy! Wait up!" Angel calls, jogging up to the small group. The three turn to face Angel.
"Do you guys mind if I steal Buffy for a little while?" he asks.
"Angel, I already told you that I'm not canceling my plans," Buffy snaps, annoyed.
"Buffy, the test is three days away. We have plenty of time to study. I think you guys need to talk," Willow encourages her friend. Buffy looks torn and decides to let Xander be the tie breaker. She looks at him with wide hazel eyes.
"Go talk to Angel," Xander agrees. "We'll study tomorrow." His eyes flash jealously but Willow's the only one that notices.
~TFZ~
"Why are we here, Angel?" Buffy whispers, drawing patterns in the soft sand with her foot. They had been sitting silently for the past ten minutes and the silence is close to driving her insane.
"I made a mistake, Buffy. And we're here so I can beg for your forgiveness," Angel finally admits, looking down at his own feet.
"What are you talking about?" she asks, hesitantly. Soft, brown eyes lift to meet confused, hazel ones.
"I love you, Buffy. Not as a sister and not as a friend. I love you so much it hurts. I was only dating Darla to distract myself because I was sure you didn't feel the same way. But thinking back on it, I realize I was wrong. You love me too, don't you, Buffy?" Tears spring to Buffy's eyes.
"I have waited two years for you to say those words, Angel," she murmurs, brokenly. "But you're too late. I have a date on Friday and I intend to go. I think it's best if we don't see each other for a while because you're right, you screwed up. And I don't know if I can get over the way you've been treating me lately."
"Buffy, we've barely seen each other lately…" Angel starts to protest and Buffy springs to her feet.
"Exactly! You've been avoiding and ignoring me. And my feelings are really hurt and you're not being very fair right now so I just think it's for the best if we never speak to each other again."
"I know I have and I am so, so sorry, Buffy! And I know I just put you in a terrible situation but to completely shut me out? How is that fair?"
"Because you moved on. I should be allowed to do the same."
"How the hell do you go from me distracting myself to me moving on?" Angel exclaims, backing Buffy against the smooth wall of the cave. She shoves him away from her.
"Instead of telling me how you feel, you decided to date someone else. I'm pretty sure that's called moving on!"
"You're being completely irrational right now."
"Oh yeah, but isn't that part of my charm?" she snaps, sarcastically. Angel's jaw clenches.
"Why now, Angel?" she demands. "Huh? Why are you telling me now when I'm starting to date someone else? Why not tell me you love me when I'm, oh, I don't know, single?"
"Come on, Buffy! You're going on one date with the kid! I would barely say you're not single anymore."
"That's true but the fact of the matter is, you waited until someone else asked me out to tell me how you feel. So I'm thinking, you don't mean it. You're just jealous that somebody else asked me first. And what about your girlfriend? Darla?" Buffy practically growls Darla's name.
"I dumped her, Buffy! I only want you. It's always been you." Angel reaches for her hand but she backs away.
"Well, isn't that just great for you?"
"Buffy, why are you acting like this? Why do you always have to be so damn stubborn?"
"I've loved you since I was seven years old, Angel and you've always treated me like your little sister. How am I supposed to believe you love me after all this time?"
"I have never treated you like a sister. I've been very protective of you, because I love you. Not because I look at you like family. Deep down, you've known this all along, Buff."
"I'm going home," she states, walking away.
"Buffy!"
"No, Angel! I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want to have this conversation! I'm terrified of this conversation. I just don't want things to change but it's too late for that. It's already changed and I have a lot to figure out. I am going home." Buffy keeps walking, but Angel easily catches up with her.
"At least let me drive you," he whispers. Buffy looks up at him and nods silently.
Review please! Sorry if it's awful but I is tired...
