Chapter Four

The First Date.

"Tell me something about yourself that no one else knows." Angel said.

"You mean other than; I'm still a virgin, and my birthday is next week, and my parents are divorced, and I hate my father. My favorite movie is 'Interview with the Vampire'."

"Ah. 'Evil is a point of view. God kills indiscriminately, and so shall we. For no creatures are under God are as we are none so like him, as ourselves.'"

"'Do you still want death, or have you tasted it enough?'"

"'You lack the courage of your convictions, sir, Do it!'"

"Life has no meaning anymore, does it? The wine has no taste. The food sickens you. There seems no reason for any of it, does there? But what if I could give it back to you, pluck out the pain and give you another life, one you could never imagine, and it would be for all time, and sickness and death could never touch you again. Don't be afraid, I'm going to give you the choice I never had.'"

"Wow, it really is your favorite movie. You are in good company. I love it too." He was amazed that someone liked the movie as much as he did.

"Maybe, we can watch it together sometime."

"I'd like that."

"Maybe in my room. I have a DVD player in my room."

"I'd love that." He kissed my hand.

We made it to the club.

"There's nothing in this world now that doesn't hold some…" I began.

"Fascination." He finished.

"Yes."

"You really do love that movie. If Linda knew, she go nuts. I told you she liked vampires."

"Let's not tell her. I want as much alone time with you as possible."

"Your secret is safe with me." We made our way in the club.

"Thanks. This is nice. Did you used to come here with Darla?" Wanting to know all about him, I asked the question.

"Yes, I did. Does that bother you?"

"If it did, I wouldn't have asked. I don't mean to be rude. I say things sometimes and they come out rude, I don't mean it that way though." I babbled again.

"I just need to shut up. I bet he's getting tired of hearing me babble." I thought.

"Buffy, I'll tell you when I want you to shut up. I think it's cute that I have this effect on you."

"Well, you do. I can't believe that someone has an effect on me. Mom would be so pleased." I giggled like a stupid twit.

"Oh, why?"

"My old friends were vapid and stupid. I didn't act that way though. She always wondered why."

"Oh."

"Tell me something about you. Something no one else knows."

"Hey, that's my line. Just kidding. I am a serious college football fan."

"You, too."

"Yes, ma'am. Alabama fan born and raised. Roll Tide Roll."

"Oh, yeah. Even growing up in L.A., my mom taught me three things: One, Don't do anything until you are ready. Two, don't ever vote a Republican Ticket. Three, Better be an Alabama fan, or I'll disown you."

"Wow! What don't we have in common?" He asked.

"Um, Can you eat strawberries?" I asked.

"Actually, I love to eat strawberries."

"Well, don't kiss me after eating some, unless you want to kill me. I'm allergic."

"No more strawberries for me then. I don't want to kill you."

"What else am I privileged to know about you?" I asked.

"My favorite horror movie: you already know that. My favorite movie in general: 'Fried Green Tomatoes'."

"I've never seen that one."

"You'd love it. It's set in Alabama."

"Is it?" I questioned.

"Yes, and the author is from Birmingham."

"No, really."

"Yes, Fannie Flagg was born in Birmingham."

"Wow. I swear, you learn something new every day."

"I know you are a virgin, but have you at least kissed a guy before?" He asked.

"Oh, shit. He had to go and ask the one question, I never wanted to answer." I thought.

"Um… Well, define kiss?" I asked.

"Well, you know."

"Are we talking peck on the cheek? Or on the lips? Or French kissing?" I asked.

"All of the above." He joked.

"How about none of the above?" I joked.

"You've never even kissed a guy?" He questioned.

"No. You must think I'm such a spaz."

"No, not at all."

"It's just I could never do anything along those lines with someone I don't care about, and you're the first guy I've ever cared about."

"Maybe that revelation was left undone." I thought.

"No, don't think that. I love that fact about you. The fact that you wanted to remain pure and untouched until you found the right person to give it to."

"I really was just out for a random guy in L.A., but never found anyone. I don't know, maybe I was waiting for love and didn't know it."

"I think that was it. Maybe you'll find it with me." He said, hoping, with deep feelings in his eyes.

"Maybe."

The DJ put on Keith Urban's Your Everything.

"I love this song."

"Would you care to dance?" He asked.

"Sure." Taking my hand, he led me to the dance floor.

Taking me in his arms, I relaxed into his soft embrace.

"The things he does to me just by holding me like this. I love this. I wonder if he like being this close. Stupid thought, of course you do, right, Angel?" I thought.

"You know that's the truth. I'm satisfied just holding you like this for the rest of my life. I don't know if it's too soon, but I think I may be falling for you." He thought.

"Me, too. I mean, I think I'm falling for you." I thought.

"Good. As far as I'm concerned, you can stay for the rest of my life." I put my arms around his neck and danced a little closer to him.

"Angel?"

"Hmm?" He answered.

"Is there anything you need to tell me up front, before I get to involved?"

"Like what?"

"Like if you're sick?"

"Nope, had a physical last week. Dr. Murphy says I'm healthy as a horse." He joked.

"Murphy?"

"Linda's dad is a doctor. Her mom is his receptionist."

"Oh, maybe I'll use him too, normal stuff."

"I don't know of any female doctors around here. Dr. Murphy, John, is the only doctor in New Site."

"Oh. So for the other type, I'd have to go into town. Ahh, man, that means time away from you." I joked.

"Not on your life. I'll go with you, if you need to go anywhere. All you have to do is think of me, and I'll be there."

"Alright, what if it's 2:00 in the morning and I can't sleep? You just gonna leave Sean at home and rush over to my house?"

"Yeah, usually he's not alone. Linda is always sleeping over."

"I know you don't care. I wonder what Mom would say if I slept over."

"I'm sure I don't know. I don't think it'd be good though."

"You right on that one. She knows we are dating, so she'd think we are making love. Not good."

"Let's hope you can tell her you're at Willow's and she believes you, or if she knew Linda was there, it might not be as bad."

"'Not be as bad.' Please, she'll think an orgy's going on if she knew both Linda and I were at your house."

"Right. We'll have to come up with a solution about you staying with me. Don't worry; I'm sure if we put our heads together, we'll think of something."

When the song ended, we walked back to the table.

"You want something to drink?" He asked.

"Sure."

"What would you like?" He asked.

"Just a coke. I need to keep a clear head." I joked.

"Alright, be right back." Making his way through the crowd, he made it to the bar.

"The day I'll never forget. He took me in his arms and kissed me lightly." I thought.

"That's good. I'd better write that down."

Reaching into my purse, I pulled out a tiny notebook. Pulling out a pen, I wrote down my thought.

Angel appeared shortly there after.

"Here's your drink. I heard your thoughts. That was good."

"Oh, wow. I… Um… Oh… Shucks…." I blushed.

"Don't sell yourself short, Buffy. I think you are a wonderful writer."

"It's over. I feel like I'm falling. I think I'm falling for you. I hope you think that is a good thing." I thought.

"I think it's a great thing. I felt myself falling the first moment I saw you."

"Oh, honey, that feels so good. Do that again, baby. Oh, God. Oh, Angel, keep going." I thought.

"That's going to be good for my story."

"You're taking my advice and writing a story?" He asked.

"Yes. I thought about it and thought it was a good idea."

"Good, I hope that you'll let me read it when you get through."

"Of course I will. It was your idea for me to attempt this, so why not."

"Good."

I sipped my coke.

"I sit on my bed, guitar in hand, thinking of you, wanting to write something. Then it comes to me, I look at the ring on my left hand and the words start pouring out." I thought.

"Do you play?" He asked.

"Huh?" Still dazed in thought, I was trying to come up with something for this story.

"Guitar, do you play?" He asked.

"A little. I'm not very good yet, but I try."

"You want lessons?" He asked.

"You play?" I asked.

"Yes, I took lessons at age five. I wanted to go with Darla and be her backup singer and accompanist, but my parents moved away, and I had to take care of Sean. He didn't want to move and leave Linda."

"You could give me any kind of lesson you wanted." I joked.

"You should write that down."

"Okay."

"What kinds of guitars do you have?" He asked.

"I have two guitars. I have a small blue-burst acoustic, and a teal Fender Strat. Not the cheap Squier Strat. It's an actual Stratecaster. Not that there's anything wrong with the Squier type. They're fine, if you're on a budget. I told my parents I wanted a Telecaster for Christmas. Nashville Style."

"If I wasn't already in love with you: that would have cinched it for me."

"You love me?" I asked.

"What? You sound shocked? You want me to say the words. I will. Buffy Anne Summers, I love you!"

"I love you, too. Am I the first person to say that to you?"

"Yes, Darla always said 'me too'. I wonder if she did, love me I mean. Oh, who cares. I have you now. Everything's right as rain."

"How does it feel? From your perspective, hearing someone say that they love you?" I asked.

"It feels like I can swim the deepest ocean, run a marathon, jump out of a plane, jog to the Georgia state line at 3:00 in the morning, like the sun is shining only for me, for us."

"I know. I feel the same way. I just wondered if you did. If you don't mind I'd like to write that one down."

"Go ahead. If I can inspire you, run with it."

"Okay." I jotted the things in the little notebook.

"I told myself when you left me, I'd never recover. I lied to myself. I have recovered and moved on. How does that make you feel? Lousy? Good, now you know how I felt when you left." I thought.

"Buffy, whew, where does all the angst come from?" He asked.

"I guess from my parents. I guess I'm writing a love lost, love found story." I laughed.

"Oh, I see."

"Oh, no. The angst troubles him. Maybe I should tone it down a little." I thought.

"No, it doesn't. I like it. It makes you seem more gothic than you really are. You maybe pure, but you have darkness in you, and I like it."

"Oh, good. I'm glad you like it."

"I'm glad you're glad that I like it."

"Well, I am. I can't think of anything else to say."

"Are they there? If not let's go back to your place?" I thought.

Picking up the pen, I jotted the thought in my little notebook.

"They're not there."

"What?"

"Linda and Sean, they went out too."

"Oh, I wasn't… Oh, God… I am no where near that kind of thing yet."

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that you were. Oh, God."

"No, I'm sorry. I should have said it was for the story."

"It's okay. I understand. You're only sixteen; there'll be time for that."

"Maybe we can on our birthdays. What day next week is yours?" I asked.

"It's Thursday."

"Mine is Wednesday. We'll have to go out for our birthdays, and maybe if I'm ready, and if they're not there, we maybe can…"

"I'd like that. I'd really like that."

"Don't hold me to it though, I may not be ready."

"Hey, it's not like it's the end of the world if we don't make love. I can wait. I mean I have waited three years. I think I can wait a little longer."

"Which reminds me; Spring Fling is Friday; I know I can't officially ask you, but I figure you'll be there as a chaperone, so if you could escort me out and sit with us at our table…"

"I'd be honored to be your non-date for the Spring Fling dance."

"Good. Maybe this weekend we, I mean you, me, and Uncle Spike, could go shopping for shoes and other things I need to go with my dress. Do you need a tux?" I asked.

"Nope, Mom and Dad bought Sean and me a tux before they left for Ireland, so we are covered."

"Good. So shoes and other things are all we'll need."

Looking at my watch, I noticed it was 11:45.

"Oh, darn. It's time to head home, but I don't wanna. I love being here with him. I just love him, but I must go." I thought.

Standing, he took my hand and led the way to his jeep. He started the car and we headed to my house.

It was 11:50 when he pulled into my driveway.

"I had a good time tonight." I said.

"Me, too. See you in the morning?" He said.

"Yes, I'll see you in the morning to pick me up for school." I said.

"Good. Now a day without seeing you, is a day without sunlight." He said.

"I know." I said.

"Oh, no, he's gonna want to kiss me now. What if I'm not good at it? Oh, Buffy, just stop thinking and let him kiss you. How many chances are you gonna have to kiss a gorgeous guy?" I thought.

"Do you want me to kiss you? Or do you want to wait and let it be special? I mean it is your first." He said.

Putting my arms around his waist, I pulled him close and savored his scent. Staring into his deep chocolate eyes, I released him. Leaning forward, he brushed his lips to mine gently. Tangling my hands in his hair, I drove him deeper into my mouth.

When he broke the kiss, I just stared off into the beautiful Alabama night. There were no clouds in the purple sky. You could see all the stars twinkling.

"Wow! That was…"

"Amazing?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I was gonna say."

"So your first kiss was a good one?" He asked.

"Do you even have to ask that? You were there; you should know." I joked.

"Yeah, it was pretty good. My first kiss wasn't that good."

"Well, I'm glad I made your toes curl with that one."

"You certainly did. I'll see you in the morning."

Leaning in again, he placed his lips to mine. My tongue snaked out of my mouth and entered his. I massaged his tongue with mine. Tangling his hands in my hair, he drove me deeper into his mouth. Moaning in his mouth, I broke the kiss.

"Wow, I guess tonight is a night of firsts for me."

"I guess so. Until tomorrow morning." With a kiss on my cheek, he strolled over to his jeep, climbed in, and drove away.

"I miss you already, baby." I thought.

"I miss you, too. I'll see you in the morning. I love you." He thought.

"I love you, too. I'll be dreaming of you tonight." I thought.

"I'll be dreaming of you too." He thought.

Walking through the front door, I closed it, slid down it, and sat on the floor. Sitting there, I just stared.

"Wow, wow, wow, wow. That's all I can think. My first kiss. My first French kiss, and I initiated it." I thought.

"I know. They were really great kisses, baby." He thought.

"How far are you away from home?" I thought.

"Pulling in the driveway, now." He thought.

"I'm glad you are home safely. Call me when you get in the house. I can't very well tell Mom that you got home now. She'd wonder how I know." I thought.

"You're right on that point." He thought.

Getting up, I walked into the living room and flopped down onto the couch. I donned a trademark Angel half smirk on my face. I'd seen that smile on his face at least five times tonight.

The phone rang.

"I got it, Mom." I called to the kitchen.

"Hello?"

"I'm home, baby."

"I'm glad. I had a great time tonight."

"Me too. I'll be there at 7:00 to pick you up for school."

"See you then. I love you!"

"I love you, too!"

"Bye, honey."

"Bye, baby." I hung up the phone.

"'I love you!' Did I just hear you right, Buffy?" Aunt Jenny said coming around the corner from the kitchen with Mom, Uncle Johni, and Uncle Spike.

"Yes, ma'am. You heard me right. He said it first tonight. It was love at first sight."

"So don't leave us hanging, Little Bit. Tell us about your date with Angel." Uncle Spike said.

"It was AWESOME!!!! I've never had such a good time." Mom came over to me.

"Have you been drinking?"

"Yeah, I'm drunk, Mom. No, I had a coke. That was all." Everyone laughed.

"Good, I'm glad you didn't drink. Remember what happened the last time you drank, even though it wasn't your fault."

"I'm only gonna drink here or at Angel's, so he can drive me here."

"That's my girl."

"I need to get out of these clothes. Uncle Spike, want to come with?"

"And have a little girl talk? Does a bear shit in the woods?" He joked. Falling into step with me, we made our way to my room.

"So, Little Bit, give me the juicy details of your date." I went to my closet.

"He kissed me."

"Your first kiss. This is a momentous occasion."

"Twice."

"He kissed you twice?"

"Yeah."

"Details."

"I was so nervous. I actually thought, 'Oh, no, He's gonna want to kiss me now. What if I'm not good at it?'"

"What happened next?"

"I shut off that train of thought and let him kiss me. OH, MY, GOD! The guy can kiss, I'll give him that."

"What was the second kiss like?"

"A French kiss."

"You made it to first base with a guy, on your first date? Wow, you are like me." He joked.

"I initiated the tongue thing."

"Brazen hussy. You're bold, Buffy, Very bold."

"Is that an insult or a compliment?" I asked.

It was a compliment."

"Good. I'll make a deal with you. Go shopping with us this weekend, and I'll give you an inside scoop on what happens after Spring Fling, Deal?"

"Honey, you don't have to bribe me with juicy gossip to go shopping, I'd have done that anyway."

"Good. I need some shoes to go with the dress Mom got me for Spring Fling."

"I'd love to help you pick out a pair of shoes for the dance."

"Great. We're going shopping on Saturday, that's not a problem, is it?"

"Not for my favorite niece."

"I'm your only niece."

"True, but still my favorite." He laughed.

"Thanks."

"For what, Little Bit?"

"For helping me pick out my outfit tonight. Angel said I was gorgeous. He could barely take his eyes off me the entire night."

"Wow, that must have been cool."

"It was. Now I need to start practicing again."

"Practicing? What?"

"Mom didn't tell you. I play guitar, a little."

"Like I said, just like your uncle here. I play a little."

"Is it an epidemic? Does everyone play?"

"Not that I know of, Little Bit."

"Angel plays too. He's been playing since he was five. He told me he wanted to go with Darla when she left, but his parents left and you pretty much know the rest."

"Yeah, Sean didn't want to move and leave Linda."

"That's pretty much it. He is so much in love with her. I've never seen a love like that. I can't believe that I love Angel after only knowing him a day."

"Love's a funny thing."

Coming out of the closet, I was wearing the pajamas that my parents gave me for Christmas. They were deep purple and silk.

"We'd better get back to the others. Uncle Spike?"

"Hmm, Little Bit?"

"I love you!" I hugged him.

"I love you too! If I didn't I wouldn't be bending over backwards to help you in anyway I can. I kinda have to bend over backwards for Johni." He joked.

"Good one." We walked downstairs to the living room to join the others.

Flopping down on the couch, I smiled the little half smile I sported earlier.

"Buffy, honey, are you okay?" Mom asked.

"Never better, why?"

"I've never seen you act like… What happened on the date?"

"Nothing like what you're thinking, Mom. He only kissed me."

"You're floating from a kiss? I wonder how you'll be when you and he make love for the first time."

"Mom!"

"Oh, okay. How was your first kiss?"

"Unbelievable. I can't even believe it myself. It was so AMAZING!!!!! I mean, when I came in the door earlier, all I could do was slide down the door, and think 'wow, wow, wow, wow. That was it."

"It's as I feared. Joyce, you're daughter has turned into a teenager with a boyfriend." Aunt Jenny joked.

"I know. I don't know how I'm gonna live with her now."

"You don't have to if you don't want to. I can always live with Angel. One girl alone in a house with two men. Think of the possibilities." I joked.

"Good one, Buffy." Uncle Johni said.

"Baby, don't encourage her. I'll tell you everything about the date later. She's not saying everything." Uncle Spike said.

"Oh, no, you're not holding out on me. Tell me now."

Uncle Spike leaned over and whispered, "Angel not only kissed her once. He kissed her twice."

"No. Tell me more."

"The second kiss was a French kiss, and she initiated it."

"No way. That's my girl."

"I know. I'm so proud of her."

"What are you two mumbling about over there?" Mom said.

"Nothing." They chirped and giggled.

"Oh, no, you've got a secret. I want to here it."

"We can't. It's not our secret to tell."

"Whose is it?" Mom asked.

"It's mine."

"Buffy, don't tell me you lost your virginity already. I'm not ready for that."

"No, virginity is still intact. Don't believe me, ask Angel. Angel not only kissed me once tonight. He kissed me twice."

"No wonder you couldn't think. A double dose of those lips, oh wow. If I hadn't been dating a real son of a gun…" Aunt Jenny said.

"The second kiss wasn't normal. It was a French kiss."

"What?!!!! You've only had one date and you've made it to first base. You're a fast worker, Buffy. If you see what you want, go for it." Aunt Jenny said.

"'Go for it.' You're telling my sixteen year old to 'go for it'. What are you smoking, Jenny?"

"Oh, come on, Joyce. At the rate she's going, she didn't need my advice."

"Hey, standing right here."

"Sorry. It's just, I'm not ready for all this."

"Don't worry, the next step isn't coming for at least a week." I joked.

"Please tell me you are joking."

"I don't know if I am. I don't know what the future holds for me. If it means that in a week then, I can't stop it. You already know that. You can't stop what is destined to happen."

"You are right, honey. At least tell me that you'll be careful."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll be careful. You've been preaching to me about this since I was 12. I think I'm responsible enough to make this decision on my own, but I may want advice so I'll be asking everybody what they think."

"At least you will ask for help. Joyce never did. How do you think you got here, Buffy?"

"Jennifer! Not now, not here. Honey, that's a conversation that's best left for another time."

"Joyce, come on. She'll be seventeen in a week. I think she's old enough to handle it, and don't call me Jennifer!" Aunt Jenny said.

"Oh, alright. The reason you are here is because, I acted like an irresponsible teenager. I was 19 when I had you. Mom and Dad forced your dad to marry me when they found out I was pregnant. We were in love though, for a while. After one week of marriage, your dad started cheating on me, and still, you knowing, with me."

"Mom, it's okay. You can say it. He was cheating on you while still having sex with you. I wouldn't say he was making love, you were. He wasn't. I think after you guys got married, you seemed old hat to him, so he looked for something different. There is nothing wrong with you, just him. He is a lying louse, who deserves everything he got. No I take that back, he deserved a good, swift kick in the balls."

"Buffy! I can't be mad at you. You're just speaking your mind. You get that from us. I can't say I disagree with you though. Your dad is a royal prick."

"Who are you, and what have you done with Joyce and Buffy?" Uncle Johni joked.

"What do you mean?" We chirped.

"So much bitterness, so much anger, so much rage, so much angst, just let it go. You divorced him, Joyce. He's out of our lives for good. It was your fault he was in our lives in the first place, but we can choose our friends, but we can't choose who we fall in love with."

"Hear, hear." Uncle Spike cuddled close to Uncle Johni.

"Here they go again. I love it when they do this."

"I know. It's so cute."

"I still don't understand why people want to outlaw this. I guess some people are just closed minded. Bigoted backwoods back ass wards racist rednecks. Being scared of gays and lesbians is so stupid. They're just people like we are, they just love differently than we do, but it doesn't make them wrong. They love who they want to, just like we do. Look at Buffy and Angel, he's four years older than her, you don't care, but some people would. Angel is 20 and Buffy is 16. If the principal got wind of a teacher dating a student, Angel would lose his job, and that's not good." Aunt Jenny ranted.

"I know. That's why we've said no public displays of affection. It's gonna be left here or at his house."

"That's good thinking, but if it can't wait until you get home, you can always hide in his office, and have the guys stand guard."

"That's not a bad idea. I'll run it by him tomorrow." I yawned and stretched.

"It's after midnight. We'd better get going. We'll see y'all tomorrow. Love y'all."

"Love y'all too. See y'all tomorrow." They left.

"I'm going up to bed. Are you coming, Mom?"

"Yeah, I'm just gonna cut off the lights. I'll be up soon."

"Okay. Good night, Mom." I gave Mom a hug and a kiss.

"Good night, sweetie." I let go and headed up the stairs.

Once in my room, I climbed into bed and just laid there, thinking about the events of the evening.

"Do you want me to kiss you? Or you want to wait and let it be special?" I thought. Closing my tropical rainforest green eyes, I saw the kiss. Oh, My God. The man could defiantly kiss.

"You still awake, Buffy?" He thought.

"Yeah, I am. I was still thinking about that kiss. OH!!! MY!!! GOD!!! Mom nearly blew a gasket when she thought we had made love already, but calmed down when she learned that we hadn't. Then she nearly hit the ceiling when she found out that we'd made it to first base. Uncle Spike said I was just like him, only without being gay. Wait a minute, I am just like him. We both like guys. Aunt Jenny brought up a good point though."

"What was that, baby?"

"We can display affection in school, as long as one of the guys keeps lookout for the principal. If we keep it in your office, or in the bathroom in the study hall building, no one would be the wiser, except the guys. They'd know in a heartbeat."

"Jenny is right. With the office door locked and the blinds pulled, no one can see anything. That is good. If she or Giles comes in, the guys won't think anything of it, but if it's the principal, then they would say red alert. For the others, it's a yellow alert."

"Sounds good to me. I need to get to sleep. I love you. Good night, honey."

"I love you too. Good night, baby"

Rolling over onto my stomach and cuddling Mr. Gordo, I drifted off to sleep.