Chapter Thirteen

Buffy and Giles are sat down to dinner. They sit in a comfortable silence, eating. Giles has something he wishes to bring up, but he doesn't know how to approach the subject without angering Buffy.

Finally he clears his throat, "Buffy. There's something I've been meaning to discuss with you."

Buffy pauses and looks up at him, nervously, "What is it?"

Giles puts down his knife and fork and rubs his hands nervously, "You are the Slayer. Technically your job is only to slay demons and vampires. That is something mostly done by night. I've been noticing that during the day, you seem rather…lonely.

Buffy frowns and looks at Giles awkwardly, "What's your point?"

Giles clears his throat again, "I feel it would be in your best interests to go back to school."

Buffy immediately stands, dropping her knife and fork, "I'm gonna go. Do an early patrol."

Giles nods, understanding that he's gone too far. "All right. Be careful."

Buffy just nods and leaves the apartment, as Giles watches her go.

Buffy walks quickly to the Hyperion, deciding to pass up the cemeteries for now. She walks through the front doors and strides in, looking around for her friend. She doesn't see him, so she gives a quick wave to Fred, behind the counter and jogs up the stairs, intent on finding him.

Buffy walks down the hall to Angel's room and knocks lightly on the door. Angel shouts from within the room, "Come in."

Buffy slowly opens the door and walks inside. She is startled to Angel standing there shirtless, with water droplets dripping down his chest. She clears her throat and looks down, embarrassed.

Angel smiles as he sees Buffy, "Buffy. Hi. What are you doing here?"

Buffy wrings her hands, "Well I just, thought we could…talk."

Angel picks up his towel and starts drying himself off. He gives Buffy a concerned look, "Sure. Is anything wrong?"

Buffy tries to concentrate on anything other than the fact that Angel is standing in front of her half-naked. She sees a dent in the wall behind Angel and stares at it. 'Just focus on the wall. That'll work…'

Angel notices Buffy's distraction, but he just thinks that Buffy is having problems. Buffy clears her throat again, "Giles suggested that I go back to school."

Angel frowns, "And you don't want to?"

Buffy looks down, "I don't know."

Angel looks at her gently, not wanting to push, "What do you mean?"

Buffy sits down on Angel's bed, "I don't know. I mean I guess I'd like to go back to school, but what if it goes like it did back home? Everyone thought I was a freak. The principal thought I was on drugs. I lost all my friends. It was a whole lot of badness."

Angel sits down next to her, "Well they couldn't have been very good friends if they abandoned you just because you changed."

Buffy still looks down, not too sure, "I guess…"

Angel thinks for a moment, trying to help her decide, "Are there any reasons that could convince you to go back?"

Buffy nods, "I'm bored at home. All I do during the day is train, and watch TV and even that loses its fun after a few hours. And I'm lonely. I don't have any friends. Not since I left L.A."

Angel gives her a small smile, "Maybe you should give it a shot."

Buffy thinks for a moment and then nods, confidently, "Why not. It's worth a try. And if I hate it I can always drop out right?"

Angel laughs and shakes his head, "I don't think it's going to be that simple."

Buffy frowns, "Well I'll try it anyway."

Angel smiles, "Good."

Buffy smiles and turns to Angel to thank him, but the second she sees him, she freezes and her smile fades. Their eyes lock and they share a gaze so intense Buffy has to look away. Angel frowns as she breaks eye contact, "What?"

Buffy doesn't answer, and Angel rests a hand on Buffy's shoulder, trying to get her to look at him, "Buffy…"

At the first touch of his hand on her bare skin, Buffy feels an arc of electricity shoot through her. She turns her head to look at Angel, "Yes…?"

Angel locks eyes with Buffy and they gaze at each other silently, unconsciously moving closer and closer until their lips almost touch. They close their eyes and Angel moves to kiss her. Suddenly, Buffy realises what's going on, 'god, what am I doing!'

She jerks away from Angel, jumping off the bed. She looks away from him, anxiously, "No. I'm sorry. I can't do this. I have to go. Giles will be worried."

Angel stares at her, confused and opens his mouth to ask her why, but before he can Buffy is already out the door and halfway down the stairs. That's the trouble with seeing someone with enhanced abilities. She was gone.

To be continued...

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