Chapter 4: Gazes
AN: Before I begin, I made a tumblr. foodandnovels is one and supernaturallytwilight21 is the second one. Check it out, I just started and I literally know nothing about tumblr lmao. Alright that's all!
Angel and Gunn stared in awe at the two women as the came down the stairs. Dressed in a black sparkling dress was Fred, her hair down and black high heels. Bella was dressed similar, her hair in a bun, and her dress a dark plain blue, and shoes to match. They smiled as each man held their arm out. Fred took Gun who was dressed in brown presentable jeans and a yellow shirt. Angel was in his usual black but with a white dress shirt. "You girls dressed up all fancy." Gunn commented as they made their way to the car. "Well we are going to L.A." Bella answered as she and Fred got into the back seat. Gunn snorted as Angel started the car. "I thought what happens is Vegas stays in Vegas." He replied. "Who says anything is happening in Vegas?" Angel coughed and cleared his throat looking uncomfortable. Bella took a glance at him in the rear view. "Yea, who says?" Bella answered smiling, letting her eyes sweep over him again. What's that emotion in your eyes vampire? Bella thought and sat back with Fred as they watched scenery around them.
"Fred are you sure that's the place? I mean Lorne is a demon and.." Bella tapped Angel and pointed to the sign above them. "That clearly doesn't matter here." Angel parked and everyone stepped out making their way inside. Fred and Bella were already taking off toward the bar as soon as they entered. "Guess they needed a drink." Angel mumbled. Gunn raised a brow. "You think? With your son running abound L.A. and Bella having visions every few days, I say we all need a drink." After following the ladies leads, the four found a table near the middle section watching curiously. The room dimmed and bright white lights danced across the stage. The curtains opened and Lorne smiled across on the stage. "Hello L.A.!" He sang and everyone clapped and cheered. Bella leaned back in her seat smiling. She then frowned as a feeling overtook her.
Angel noticing her discomfort nudged her. His brown eyes assessing her face as his brow creased. She waved him off giving him a smile. "I'm fine Angel." He stared for a moment longer and then nodded. His arm, which was resting on the table moved behind her chair as a precaution if she suddenly got struck with a vision. Or that's what he was telling himself. Bella was young, but her mentatility was much older and Angel couldn't help but notice. She was a plain girl or woman he could say but there was something oddly beautiful about her. It might've been the selflessness, or maybe the way he could see her growing into someone he knows she can be? Or maybe it as just her? She was 18, soon to be 19 in about five months, but she was nothing like a normal 18 year old girl. She wasn't naive anymore and she grew with her surroundings more. She was very different from when he met her on the cliff. She was a sad but curious thing. The pain that was in her eyes left but those questions never did. She wanted to ask him something so bad and Angel knew it. He could tell. It was something about being around her. The visions made things come together. He was always there when she fell, or came to. He was there when she'd look up confused or hurt, or even angry.
It was an early Saturday morning. Around 3 am. Bella was sitting across from him, telling a story. She stood, still talking animatedly about some boy from high school. Ah high school. Angel couldn't really say if he misses it or hated it. She was chatting about how she just received her online degree since Charlie took care of school related things. She was also talking about a dog, Angel couldn't be sure. Not that he wasn't listening, but he got lost after this Mike character she mentioned, who sounded a lot like a puppy following the meat stick. He looked down at his paper, reading the headlines. His ears finally noticed the silence. He looked up and hurriedly put his mug filled with pigs blood down on the table. "Bella?" She was quiet, and still. Her eyes were that cloudy white that freaked the hell out of him. He grabbed her shoulders as she started to sway. Being a vampire, strength wasn't a problem, so when she went limp, she felt like a feather.
Angel could say that after that happened, he wasn't sure what was going through his head. She was delicate in his arms, and when she woke, her hand was on his chest, right above his unbeating heart. Their eyes connected for the briefests of moments..and then nothing. Angel could have easily kissed her but something told him not to. He was afraid. Also conflicted. Cordelia was somewhere in a higher plane and here he was with a girl in his arms.
"Did you guys see that? He walked right past us." Fred whispered. Bella watched Lorne, her eyes narrowing.
Lorne completely ignored them as his act was over, heading backstage with a crowd following him. "Lorne! Lorne!" He could heat his friends, and his eyes closed momentarily. Finally. He thought.
Gunn, Fred, and Bella sat at the table in a glum. Bella more so confused, as she didn't know Lorne that well, his rejection not really hitting her as hard. "Something is not right." She mumbled. Although she was underage, Bella looked well old enough no ID was needed and with it being Lorne the hosts, many of the bartenders were only concerned about the people Lorne asked to sing. "You think something is going on?" Gunn asked, slightly facing Bella as he ran a hand through Fred's hair. "I don't know, but something just seems...wrong." Bella eyed the woman in a blue dress from Lorne's show that seemed to be in a trance. "Where's Angel?" Fred asked looking around. Gunn turned around seeing nothing. "I'm not sure. But I've got an idea."
AN: Sorry for the AN right in the middle of this, but it may seem like I'm jumping around from one part so another, but it's like the episode, jumping from one scene to another.
"Oh, no way. This is not going to work." Bella grumbled as she and Fred fumbled with the skirts and fishnets. "It's itchy." Fred mumbled. "Tell me about it. But your butt looks great Fred." Bella winked. Fred blushed and laughed softly. "You think so? I've be working out is you know what I mean." Bella gagged and shook her head. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. Come on." The girls walked out swaying their hips as they approached the guards. "Hey, hey, hey. What are you two doing back here? Shouldn't you be getting ready on stage?" The girls eyes slightly widened. "Um...yeah! We should but we were called for um courage if you know what I mean." Fred answered, her eyes blinking. The guards eyes narrowed and Bella did the quickest thing she could think of.Smack! Bella almost winced at the sound of her palm hitting Fred's buttcheek. "That he did sweet thang." She smiled nervously hoping to look confident. "Oh! We get it..a little.. bump bump before the show. Don't worry he don't bite. Have fun ladies." The guards let them through and the two walked in and waited until the doors closed. Fred turned letting out a startled squeak. Bella put her hand to her chest in fright. "Sweet baby Jesus. It's you two. Oh aren't I'm glad to see you." They were pulled into a hug. "Sure. Doesn't seem like it out on that stage." Fred answered slightly upset with him. "Oh hunny! I had to!" Lorne sat them down and gave them the rundown.
"Okay, we're getting you out of here. We need a distraction." Bella looked at Fred with a smirk. "Last time you gave me that look, you were possessed by a ghoul. I'm not sure if I want to know what we're about to do." Bella laughed pulling Fred by the hand. "Lorne get ready to knock those fellas out. Fred follow my lead." Bella pulled open the doors in a rush screaming. "Oh my god! Help!" Bella ruffled her hair a little and Fred held onto a body guard as if scared to death. "Yes! He's gone! It was horrible! He turned into this..this huge skeleton thing and slithered down the sink! It was so gross!" She screamed into the taller of the two's ear. "Hurry!" Bella added shooing them on. They ran inside and Lorne came out seconds later. Gunn ran up behind them helping tie a large tassel around the knobs. "Great work. Now come on, let's find Angel and get the hell out of here."
The four ran through the Casino area looking for Angel. "There!" Gunn pointed heading Angel's way. "Angel. We need you to hold off these guards. I'm going to get the car and come back for you in five okay?" Angel say pulling the lever. "Uh huh." Gunn frowned slightly but patted Angel's shoulder. "Let's go!" The rest followed Gunn as they ran through an exit. "Angel's gonna hold 'em off." Gunn answered as they ended up in a huge crowded area. "I don't think so. Look." Fred pointed towards some officers and they looked around for an escape. "Cover your ears!" Lorne stated eight before he let out a high pitched note. Pulling the girls along, Gunn and Lorne ending up at the convertible. "Im going to get Angel. If I'm not back in 5 minutes, you guys drive off." Bella nodded and held Fred's hand. "He'll be fine." She reassured.
"You three! Owner is not going to be happy about this." Each was grabbed by an officer as they were lead back inside. "A little easy on the arm? I bruise sir." Bella commented rolling her eyes. They sighed as they could hear Gunn talking to Angel. "Angel? Come on we need to leave. Something fishy is going on and- ah damn." Gunn too was escorted away from Angel as they were all lead to a back room. A man in his mid 40s turned towards them all. "Lorne! Baby! What are you doing?! Are you not happy here?" The questions were sarcastic as he stood. "DeMarco. No I'm not. I gave you what you wanted. Now let me and my friends go." Lorne struggled against the officer's hold. DeMarco tsked. "No you didn't. A vampire with a soul..who will have a play in the apocalypse is your friend. I-" DeMarco was stooped as a loud bell rang. On a big screen was Angel looking confused surrounded by flashing lights. "What in the hell? Bring me that vampire!" He turned towards the four and smiled. "You 3 are going to the desert. Bring Lorne. I want him to watch his friends die." Bella struggled with no avail.
Angel was brought in moments later looking confused. "I've been here before." He comented looking around. "So..how did you win?" DeMarco asked. Angel looked confused. "I don't know." He answered, and Bella wished she could face palm. The four winced at the hard punch that he received. "I'll ask again vampire. How did you win?" After another punch, Bella couldn't take it. "Leave him alone!" She snapped. DeMarco turned looking unbothered. "What are they still doing alive? Kill them already!" Gunn hit an officer with his foot surprising the others. Bella used her teeth to bite down on the hand of one officer and Fred stepped on another's foot. A gun was suddenly pulled out, aiming at Fred's face. Bella instinctually grabbed Fred's hand, squeezing it.
Things were slow motion for Angel as his mind could only process one thing at a time. His friends were in danger and this was very life threatening. His face morphed, and he ran towards the officer knocking him in the face as Gunnuses that to his advantage taking down two officers at once. Lorne uses that opportunity to smash the blind full of souls. "No!" Lorne smiled dropping the bat. "Now that's great redecorating." They walked out, aching slightly. "I just want a bath." Bella stated and the response were hums in agreement. As they made their way to the car, Bella stopped frozen momentarily on the spot. Sensing this, Angel turned cocking his head to the side. "That's the second time tonight. You alright?" He came forward looking down at her. Bella shook her head, her eyes focusing once more. "I-Something doesn't feel right. I just have a bad feeling about something." She answered looking up at him. "Is it the beast?" He asked taking Bella's hand, searching her eyes. "No..but it's close." She got tears in her eyes, and Angel wiped them away as they fell. "I don't know why I'm crying..I-I. Can we go home now?" She asked. Angel nodded letting the subject change go and helped Bella to the car.
Throughout the car ride, Angel couldn't help but watch Bella. He was worried. Bella could feel his stare and as they made eye contact, they looked away feeling that spark. It was there, underneath the formality so to speak. That friendliness. Angel gazed back again, taking her in. The ride home was quicker, and as they tiredly walked up the steps, Bella got that feeling again. That feeling so intense, her gut screamed no. She winced slightly, leaning against the door frame outside. "Bella? Are you alright?" Fred asked frowning. Bella closed her eyes, wishing they would stop asking her that. "I'm fine. Go. Go. Something I must've ate." She smiled weakly.
Angel grabbed Bella by the shoulders and lifted her up to grasp her legs, holding her bridal style. "Let us help you." Bella sighed leaning her head against his chest. She nodded closing her eyes. She could feel only a few steps were taken before Angel stopped. Bella looked up noticing all their eyes were focused ahead. Bella turned her head towards a woman dressed in all white. She had short blonde hair and a beautiful face. This was Cordelia. Bella let herself down watching her friends look on in awe and shock. As she looked at Cordelia herself, Bella felt that ache again, only in her head. "Oh." Bella groaned. "Who are you people?" Bella closed her eyes, as her ears rang. She could barely make out Cordelia's voice or any one else's. It was easy and hard slipping out from behind the gang and outside. She almost fell to her knees as green hands grasped her. "Woah there baby cakes. Hey what's wrong? That song your sending hurts like hell." Lorne spoke softly helping her to her feet. "Lorne? Something's not right. I-Cordelia." Lorne sat Bella down on the garden steps and patted her hand. "Cordelia? I'll be right back. Stay here." Bella felt like her energy was being sucked out from her.
Although it was dark, Bella knew her eyes were closing and couldn't stop her body from complying with gravity. She could barely feel the ground and at the same time the pain was amplified as she hit her head on the pavement. Blackness was all she saw.
Angel shook from his stupor as Cordelia closed the door to her room. She was hesitant and skittish but trusted them enough to be in a closed room with a lock. Angel followed Lorne outside. "I'm glad she's back. This memory thing is a mess but we'll figure it out. Okay..that's not right." Lorne commented and Angel looked around the garden confused. "What is it?" He asked. Lorne turned in a circle. "I left her right here." Angel finally caught up to what was going on. "Bella? Is she inside?" Angel made a move to go back in, but Lorne stopped him. "No. Going back inside would be the last thing she would do. She could barely make it out of there. Angel. We may have a problem." Angel narrowed his eyes as there was a small stain of blood on the concrete. "Is it Bella's?" Lorne asked worried for his friend. "I think so. Question is, where is she?"
AN: THATS IT! I wrote this in one night so any and all mistakes are mine. I own nothing, I barely own the plot. All credits go to its respective creators. I know this was more of a recap with an added character (being Bella) to the episode The House Always Wins but I made a twist at the end. Please read and review. Where's Bella? Even I don't know lol.