I'm sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry to infinity and beyond that it's taken so long. I just seemed to lose my inspiration with this story as well as the storyline. But I've copied it all off the internet and I'm back, at least I think I am. To make it better or at least try I'm posting two chapters. I'm sorry again and please read and review.
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CHAPTER NINE
FOOZBALL
"People can get a little feisty when it comes to sport and being individuals, especially teenagers."
Angel stood outside on the playing field, the wind was whipping his hair right into his eyes and he felt like an idiot with padding all over him. 'Yes ladies and gentleman,' he thought to himself, 'This is me about to play football.'
"Stanley what took you so long," the coach shouted from the other end of the pitch, "Get over here right now, and get your helmet on son. You can get knocked out after you win us the championship. Angel gritted his teeth but quickly strapped up his helmet, (it wasn't as bad as tying shoe laces), and reluctantly jogged towards the big pile of boys warming up, the coach right at their centre.
"Stretch before you go out there." 'Does this guy always yell,' Angel thought irritably.
He stood there looking around at all the other guys; he knew how to stretch for a fight, but for a football practice? The coach was busy looking over his practice plan and crossing out things, muttering to himself. He stood their dumbly for a while, then decided to do a stretch a guy next to him seemed to be doing. It was less embarrassing then some other guys were doing anyway. Angel grabbed his ankle and attempted to balance. It failed miserably and Angel only just managed to stop him himself tumbling over. He heard loud clapping and whistling from the stands and turned around slowly, completely red and dreading what he was about to see. There he was, Xander Harris in all his glory and might, standing up on the highest stand clapping with all his might. To top it off Buffy, Willow, Oz, Cordelia, heck the whole gang was sitting there watching him. He scanned up and down the stands just to make certain Giles wasn't there too; luckily the stiff British librarian had remained… well what he was a stiff British librarian, remaining in his library.
"And I thought gym class was perfect. Ladies and gentleman this is heaven," Xander called.
"Shut up Xander," Angel heard Buffy growl, pulling him down, "Stop being a jerk or I'll make you stop."
"But Buffy," Xander whined, "It's like handing a five year old a pin and his least favorite teachers behind."
"Xander," growled Buffy dangerously, "Don't push it, I wasn't kidding." Xander made a face, but nonetheless slumped defeated, blowing up his cheeks and putting his head in his hands.
"Can you teach me how to do that," he heard Cordelia say.
"Stan, MOVE," the coach practically screamed in his ear. Angel jumped almost a foot and ran quickly, following the now receding team to the other side of the field. It looked like stretching time was over. 'Oh well,' he thought, 'How important can stretching be, it's only a training session not a fight.'
They split into two lines and started practicing throwing and catching. When Angel got to the front he felt his heart start to beat faster and his palms become sweaty, it took him a moment to realize he was nervous.
"Get a move on March," the coach yelled. Angel jogged slowly, the other guy coming up to meet him, Angel put his hands out before the guy released the ball, scared that he'd put them out too late. The ball came towards him, he reached out to catch it, and it fell right through the gap in his arms. He heard laughter burst from all sides of the line, and from the stands. He was pretty sure he was as red as the devil by now.
'What the hell are you doing March," the coach yelled, running towards him. He seemed even redder then Angel guessed he himself was. "Stop mucking around like you usually do and do this properly or do laps."
"Sorry," muttered Angel, he quickly knelt down and picked up the ball, he straightened up and passed it to the other guy, it was an awkward pass with no tact or skill, but at least it reached the other player. 'At least this guys the class clown and they all think I'm doing this on purpose,' Angel thought consolingly as he heard some sniggers. But it wasn't that consoling as he remembered the people, mainly Buffy, sitting in the stands, who knew he wasn't doing this on purpose.
"Catch it properly this time March, your holding up the whole team," some more yelling from the coach.
"Alright, alright I heard you the first time," Angel muttered, but only under his breathe. The guy passed it again and Angel only just managed to catch it, he ran on and passed it to the guy at the head of the other line. This time Angel wasn't so lucky. His pass had a lot of force in it, due to relief and he aimed a little too enthusiastically. The ball hit the guy right in the face and Angel thought he heard something crack in a sickening way, blood started to gush out of the guys now flattened nose.
"I'm so sorry,' Angel apologized profusely, he turned even redder now.
"Id's odkay," the guy said over his bloody nose, stepping away from Angel as if afraid of further injuries.
All the guys crowded around him, one guy stood next to Angel, jeering, "Er, what are you saying sorry to McClaggan for?"
"Yeah," another guy cried out, "He's the one who got his stupid ugly face in the way of the ball, isn't that right McSlaggan." The other jocks guffawed as if this was a great joke. Angel noticed that the guy was a lot smaller and timid looking then everyone else.
"S…sowwy," he stuttered, he kept his eyes to the ground. Angel noticed that he seemed far too used to this then Angel liked. He looked around for the coach, but the man who had come running to reprimand Angel for dropping the ball a few moments ago, was now strolling along at his own leisure. Angel realized, with a burst of anger that he was smiling; obviously he knew what the other jocks were doing but felt no inclination to butt in.
"Come on guys," Angel said, trying for the friendly approach, "He better get to the nurse he doesn't look so good, just leave him alone."
"What's gotten into you Stan," said one of the guys, looking at him like he was an alien. "You're always the one who wants to have a little fun. I mean you're the one who thought of Slaggy's nickname."
"And a stroke of genius it was too," one of the guys exclaimed.
"Yeah I'm the one who started it and now I'm the one who's saying you should finish it," Angel said, dangerously quiet. 'Okay so that's a bit of a lie but… all for a good cause,' he thought.
All the jocks fell silent, not meeting his gaze. "What happened to having fun," the same guy challenged finally. Angel ignored him, pushing past him he went to Slaggy, for want of a better name. The poor guy looked like he was about to pass out, he had turned a nasty shade of green. Angel draped his arm over his shoulder and let him lean all his weight on him.
"I'm taking him to the nurse," Angel called to the coach who had just reached earshot.
"Fine," he shouted rather reluctantly, "But don't take too long, if were going to win the cup we need to train, especially you."
Angel gritted his teeth but said nothing, dragging Slaggy back up to the school. The poor guy was half out of it; he didn't seem to know what was going on. Angel hoped that he didn't have a concussion. Buffy and the others were veering towards him, Xander was in the lead, Angel sped up, trying to avoid him, but sadly he wasn't a vampire and didn't have his vampy strength to help.
"Nice pass, Dead boy," Xander crowed as he came within hearing shot. "I think you broke Slaggy's skull."
"Don't call him that," Angel growled.
"Hey, his head did get in the way after all," Angel's head snapped towards Buffy, she was giggling and leaning on Willow. Angel felt highly uncomfortable, he had never seen Buffy like this, so vindictive for no reason, so… mean. He turned away quickly from her, pretending to concentrate on keeping Slaggy up.
"Here I'll help," said Buffy, still giggling. She took one of Slaggy's shoulders, practically holding all his weight by herself. Angel didn't let go though, there were times when a less strong boyfriend had to pretend, for his macho sake.
"Wait till I tell Harmony about this," Cordelia snorted, "Of course I was alone when I saw it, checking out jocks, wasn't I. My social status cannot go down, I mean it already has gone down a notch since Xander, I'm swamped with work, trying to bring it back up."
"Of course Cordy," said Xander, draping his arm over her, "Do you want me to come verify to your friends that you were alone."
"I would Harris," said Cordelia, disgusted, "If your words were worth anything at all. And what did I tell you about not in public." She pushed his arm off her roughly and sauntered slightly ahead, dissociating herself from the loser-ites.
"Someone's crabby on top of being a female dog today," Xander said, drooping slightly. Oz patted him consolingly on the back.
"Perhaps the boss is visiting today, "Willow said perkily, "Maybe she has to show them the numbers or get cut from the female dog society."
"Probably," Xander said, nodding knowingly. They had reached the dark looming doors of Sunnydale High.
"The nurses office is right around the corner," Buffy said, Angel felt relief flood him, his back was killing him after being crouched for so long.
"I've got to go," Oz said, checking his watch, "Band practice."
"Oh can groupies come along?" Willow asked excitedly.
"I think we can squeeze you in," Oz smiled as Willow grabbed his hand and started to drag him towards his van, the theme now cow print.
"I better get home too," said Xander gloomily. "Meet you up at the Bronze Buff?"
"I don't think so," Buffy said, "I've got a ton of homework to do and I'm just not in the mood for it tonight."
"Right," Xander sighed and turned around, Cordelia had already headed for her car after hearing Xander was leaving, and with him her potential for a smooch.
"And now there are two," Buffy said.
"Three," Angel pointed out; Slaggy gave a groan as they pulled him through the door. They turned the corner and Buffy knocked on the door with her free hand.
"Is that you again Mr McClaggan," a woman's voice, a woman who sounded slightly annoyed. "How many times has it been this year, oh yes fifteen, you really need to be more careful." The nurse opened the door and her mouth formed a silent oh. Angel guessed they must look a sight, with blood all over Slaggy's front.
"He got hit with a football," Angel grunted, guilt filling him.
"Bring him in," the nurse said, her eyes narrowed towards him with dislike. 'What did I do,' Angel thought defensively, and then he remembered that Stan seemed to be the one who had started the victimizing of Slaggy. By the sounds of it this hadn't been the first time Slaggy had come to the nurse and probably most injuries retained from Stan.
The nurse's room was quite small, with the trolley filled with tools at one side and an examination table at the other that was practically it. There was a door at the end which Angel guessed probably was an old cupboard they had converted into the nurses office. The door had a peeling sign with a few letters still discernable, CUPOAD which led Angel to believe this. Angel caught the strong whiff of disinfectant; it made his head spin slightly.
"Set him down here," the nurse said, pointing to the examining table, "Careful, careful," she said quickly to Angel. 'Like I'm not being,' Angel thought grumpily.
Slaggy groaned a bit but was able to sit up. The nurse examined his nose, getting an ice pack and some tissues. "Well it looks like he got hit with a football."
Angel guessed she hadn't believed him the first time, 'Probably thought Stan beat him up,' for some reason this accusation made him feel bad.
"Here have some fruit juice, the sugar will do you good," the nurse said, planting a cup in Slaggy's hand. He sipped it a bit and his colour started to slowly turn back to normal. The nurse bandaged up his nose, "I don't think it's broken," she said, "You must have just burst a blood vessel, but if you feel any sicker come to me or go to your doctor."
Slaggy nodded and slowly got up, "Tanks," he said to her, trying to breathe and talk through his mouth at the same time. He looked apprehensively towards Angel but the nurse was now making shooing motions with her hand and saying loudly it was about time she locked up. The old biddy obviously wanted to go home now. Stan finally trudged out of the room, not making eye contact, Angel filed behind him along with Buffy.
"Look I'm really sorry…" Angel began; he was determined to see this right.
"Why can't you just leave me alone," Slaggy said, shaking with fear or anger Angel wasn't sure. "I'll go to Snyder i… if you don't…" his nerve seemed to have left him, his voice faded.
"Look," Angel tried again, "I really am sorry about the ball, it was an accident, and all the stuff I did. I…."
"Don't give me that," Slaggy was now yelling, "You're not sorry and don't pretend you are. You don't even know my real name. Just leave me alone because I'm learning self defense and next time it will be you with the bloody nose, so just… leave me alone." It was a bit of a lame ending, a bit of a weak speech since the guy was shaking with obvious fear now, but he seemed determined to be dramatic, stamping away, only having to turn around again because he had been going the opposite way from the exit.
"Great," Angel said bitterly once Slaggy was gone, "I had to swap bodies with a guy who's a complete jerk, this is just great." He kicked the nearest locker and then started to swear, hopping around as his foot was throbbing horribly. He hated it, hated the fact that he had to carry this guys conscience and misdemeanors on top of his own, because that's what he was doing, that was the way he was, he felt like the biggest jerk in the world right now because a guy he didn't even know used to pick on a guy who he didn't even know the name of.
"You're not a jerk," said Buffy, "Slaggy's the jerk, I mean talk about ingratitude."
"Yeah well wouldn't you be like that if a guy picked on you for no reason everyday," Angel growled.
"Yeah but see unlike him, I'm not a dork so guys don't pick on me," Buffy smiled, Angel felt his mood worsen, she seemed so short sighted, so not Buffy.
"Anyway," she said, moving towards him, "I was wondering if you want to go somewhere and get some smooches, I mean it's not like you have to go back to stupid football practice, there's not much the coach can do to you."
"You mean you want to make out with Stan," Angel said coldly. Buffy backed away as if she'd been hit.
"No," she finally said, her eyes wide.
"Oh stop looking so wounded," Angel snapped, suddenly furious, "We both know what you want, you want Stan, and you want a normal teenage boyfriend who's popular because he's bigger and meaner then anyone else. Well guess what Buffy I'm not any of that, I'm a vampire with a soul who's trying to atone for the centuries he's been ripping out people's throats. I'm a champion trying to fight the good fight, helping the downtrodden, and up till now I thought you were too, but I guess when it comes to someone popular it's their victims faults because there losers, isn't that right?" He took an aggressive step towards her.
"No," she said, grabbing his arm, "This is high school Angel not the arena, you got to fight the important battles, not the street squabbles. So what if I don't stand up for every Tom, Dick and Harry, so what if I want to just not be righteous for a moment, just be normal and have fun."
"Well Buffy I guess your not going to have a lot of fun around me," Angel growled, "Because this is only temporary, this face this body, it isn't me. No once we get this fixed, and I hope we do it fast, I'll be a vampire again, I'll be Angel. This is only temporary and I can handle that, but can you? Can you go back to who I really am?"
"It doesn't have to be temporary you know," Buffy said, her eyes sparkling.
"I guess I have your answer then," Angel nodded slowly and took his hand out of her grip. "High school does something to people Buffy," he said, backing away, "I guess I thought you'd be strong enough to see it and fight it. I suppose I was wrong though, like I was wrong about everything else," he turned his back to her.
"Angel," Buffy called as he walked away.
"Stan's body has to get back to football practice," he called back coldly. After he had gone Buffy sighed and walked out after him.
The nurse watched her go through a crack in the door, once the main doors had swung shut behind her she sighed, relieved. She slowly opened the door and slipped out hurrying to the exit, she didn't want to be stuck again. She was just about to go home when those too had started. It had been highly embarrassing and dramatic to have to stand there and listen to it all; waiting for them to finish their little soap so she could go home. Some of the things they said sounded entirely silly and she had wondered for a moment whether they both hadn't been high, but then again teenagers always liked to make up little dramas to pretend they were in the middle of everything. She remembered how very tiring being a teenager had been, of course she had later learned that it was all to do with hormones. Yes puberty was a rollercoaster ride and the nurse was quite happy it wasn't something she had to repeat again. Because unlike normal rollercoaster rides you couldn't get off it, and it was one of the unpleasant ones which you spewed through. The nurse reached her car and sighed gratefully, now she just had to open it up, hop in and drive to the safety of her home where there were no teenagers. There she could pour herself a glass of vodka and count how many more paychecks she needed until she could go on the holiday that was the reason she was working. She moved her hand instinctively to put in her purse and got an unpleasant jolt as she felt nothing there. She turned back slowly, she would have to return to the gloomy school again, she just hoped that she didn't meet any hormone filled teenagers along the way.
Okay a bit strange but I'm in a strange mood. Just learned how to ride my bike and jumping all over the place, not that you need to know that. I think I've drunk too much Milo, it's my coffee. Anyways please read this and the other chapter after this and review, even though I'm so undeserving. : p
