Parker walked into class. His face looked relaxed and calm as he took his seat, dropping his bag on the floor besides him. He ran his hand through his black hair. The class slowly filled up, students taking their seats. Parker pulled out his books, skimming through their pages, looking rather disinterested, when his whole body suddenly froze. He closed the book and leant back on his chair, cocking his head to the side. Two girls were sat behind him, one blonde, the other brunette - both rather pretty, though it seemed to be their conversation Parker was taking notice of.

'I know! He's never took notice of any girls before,' sighed the blonde, her brows furrowing.

The brunette nodded in agreement, letting out her own sigh. 'I wonder what he sees in her.'

Parker's eyes seemed to narrow.

'I know!' gasped the blonde.

She looked around, making sure that her outburst hadn't captured anyone's attention. Her eyes swept over Parker, though he was back to skipping through his book, before she turned back to her friend.

'It can't be her looks. I mean, come on! What does Buffy Summers have that I don't?' muttered the blonde bitterly.

The brunette nodded eagerly, a little too quickly. 'I know, like, you're so totally prettier than her!'

Parker rolled his eyes, continuing to flip through his book, though not actually showing any interest to the words on the page. He let out a sigh and looked at his watch, obviously trying to not look too suspicious.

'Angel O'Conner and Buffy Summers. Buffy Summers and Angel O'Conner. It just doesn't sound right!'

'I know! Give it a few days and he'll dump her. He'll hopefully realise that she ain't even pretty,' huffed the brunette.

Parker's eyes widened, his hands clenched up into a tight iron-clad fist, his whole body shook angrily. His playful eyes darkened immediately there was no sign of the happy Parker everyone knew. Everything deepened and darkened.

I woke up with a gasp. I tried to push back my covers, finding that I was tangled up tightly in their wrath. I wriggled, tossed and turned, before finally I was able to throw them off and get to my feet. I didn't know what to say, how to feel, nothing made sense. The look on Parker's face, the furious glare burning in his unrecognizable eyes. It was the one time that I had been truly scared of anyone. The look had so much depth. I couldn't shake his face out of my head; it seemed to stay front and centre. I couldn't hide from it. I couldn't even find myself to be angry at the two girls, who I recognized from my Gym class, who had been slating my looks.

The dream explained everything. Why Parker had left, why he had avoided me, why he had pretended I didn't exist. I had gotten the answers to my questions, though I didn't know if I was relieved or frightened. Parker had found out about me and Angel off two random girls, not me – his meant to be friend. I felt a surge of guilt wash over me. It was always better to hear something off a loved one, not a total stranger. Who wanted to be informed on something in their lives by someone who had no real importance to them? I hated knowing that I had caused Parker such anger and sadness. Even though his dark looked still frightened me, I couldn't help feel responsible.

'Buffy?'

I was cradled in Angel's arms before I could even look up to register his presence. He smoothed down my hair, trying to control the shaking that had erupted from my small frame. I didn't notice that Angel was helping me back over to my bed. I sat down, still cradled in his lap, as I tried to control myself.

'H-how?' I was incapable of finishing my sentence, my head was spinning.

'Faith,' he replied simply.

'Obviously,' I breathed.

I found that I was easily calmed in his presence; he was able to calm me as powerfully as Spike, yet without having the actual power. His arms around me were enough to rope me in and keep me safe. I turned my head, pressing my nose into his shirt, and let the scent wash over me, calm me. Angel sat in silence, letting me calm myself before he began with the questions. Finally, breathing normally again, I looked up into his brown orbs.

'It was Parker. He was so angry, his face looked-'

I shuddered.

'Hey, it's alright – I won't let anything happen to you,' soothed Angel, rubbing my back.

I hadn't realised how warm I was until I felt his hand press against my back. I shivered under his touch – I could feel the electricity pulsing through me. I took a deep breath.

'I'm not worried about me. I'm sat here with a vampire, alone in my room at night, why would I be scared of a human? The worst he could do is throw a football at my head, right?' I laughed.

Angel's lips stretched into a long thin line, his eyes narrowed, though, before I was able to comment, he began smiling.

'I'm more scared of hurting him, - me getting hurt means nothing,' I sighed, returning back to the serious side of the conversation.

The smile disappeared off his face, and it didn't return this time. In fact, more than anything, he looked rather angry. I looked up at him and folded my arms over my chest, glaring back at him. We both sat there, staring at each other, in the early hours of the morning, me in my pyjamas and looking dishevelled, whilst Angel was fully clothed and looked wide awake. We continued to stare at each other, until Angel finally looked away. When he looked back, it was obvious he was brooding.

'You're brooding,' I said.

'I am not.'

'Yes you are!'

'No, I am not!'

'Ok, course you're not,' I mumbled, getting off of his lap.

That did it. His face softened instantly and he reached out, grabbing me gently around the wrist. I couldn't help but smirk – Angel was wrapped around my little finger. I sighed and let myself fall back into his lap, burying my face in his shirt to hide my smile. He began stroking my hair, probably thinking that he had upset me.

'You getting hurt means everything. How would I be able to live without you? How would I be able to contain the demon within me if you were hurt? Seeing you in pain, watching you get hurt would destroy me,' whispered Angel.

I felt my heart swell to twice its size. I guessed that knowing he cared that much, that he would be destroyed if anything happened to me, was something that I would treasure forever. There was a difference between thinking someone cared for you, and knowing they did. At least, if something bad did happen to me, I would be able to die knowing that he loved me.

'You're my girl,' he whispered in my ear.

'Always,' I promised.

----

I awoke the next day in Angel's firm arms. I looked up and saw Angel smiling at me, his teeth glistening.

'What?' I asked, raising my hand to my head. 'Do I have funny bed hair or something?'

'Or something,' he smiled.

I groaned. I slid out of his arms, trying to drag my fingers through my knotted hair whilst walking over to the door. I knew that I could possess extremely funny bed hair if I had a restless night and, judging by the amused expression Angel greeted me with, I had definitely slept restlessly.

'Where are you going?' said Angel, sitting up.

'To go kill a cat on my head,' I muttered.

When I got no reply, I turned around to see what he was doing. Though, the bed was empty when I looked, showing no signs that anyone had been sat there a few minutes previously. Moments later, the door opened and Mom popped her head through. Her eyes scanned around my room, as though she was looking for something that wasn't there, before they fell on me. Her lips automatically curved up into a smile.

'Morning, honey,' she greeted.

'Hey. Erm, what's wrong?' I said, running my fingers through my hair again.

Mom's eyes looked around again. 'I, erm, it's silly, but, erm, I thought I could hear you talking to someone.'

I now understood Angel's quick departure – he had probably heard Mom's thoughts before she even started walking up the stairs. I noticed that I was staring off into space, Mom still looking at me as if though she was waiting until she got an answer.

'I was … erm … singing!' I said, clapping my hands together, 'nothing like a good ol' sing-song to start the day!'

Mom smiled hesitantly. I realised that I had been maybe a little too enthusiastic.

'Are you getting a ride up to school with Angel?' Mom asked.

I didn't need to think twice about my answer.

'Yes.'

Mom looked deeply into my eyes, kind of like how you see people do in movies, and then smiled. 'You'll have to introduce us!'

OH NO! Out of everything I had going on – school, Angel, the Hell Mouth, my accident, school again, Angel again, Parker – I had never even thought that Mom would actually want to do the whole parent/boyfriend meet and greet thing. I shivered mentally at the idea. My Mom would have no idea that she would be meeting, not only my boyfriend, but a one hundred year old vampire.

'What? No, no, no. NO!'

'What? Why?' Mom pouted.

'Because. You are not meeting Angel – and that is final!'

----

'Mom, this is Angel. Angel, this is my Mom,' I muttered, pointing to one another.

I couldn't believe that I had let her push me into this; I couldn't believe that Angel had agreed to do this. What? Was the Hell Mouth having an effect on everyone nowadays? I stood closely next to Angel, gripping onto his arm – even though I knew my strength was nothing to his in comparison, whether I had a slight higher rate of strength and speed than an average human, I wanted at least pretend I could drag him out if things got out of control.

Angel had arrived an hour after he disappeared, equipped in a new set of clothes, with a huge smirk across his face. He must have known what was coming, either through my Mom's probable thoughts or my annoyed expression, as he actually got out of his Jeep and greeted me at the door, unlike the other days he had come to pick me up.

'It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Summers,' smiled Angel.

I nearly cried out in shock when he held out his hand for her to shake. Thankfully, before I could embarrass myself, I realised that he was wearing a pair of black leather gloves, covering every part of his marble, white skin that he could. I breathed a sigh of relief, thanking God that Angel had the brains that I didn't.

'It's nice to finally meet you too!' Mom shot me a look. I rolled my eyes.

Mom shook his hand, flashing a smile at Angel as she let go. I stood there, tapping my foot impatiently, as I waited for this meeting to finally come to an end. It had been about three minutes, though it seemed like three life times. I guessed that the first time your parents met the boy you loved, or the boy you could have just simply had a crush on it, the time would drag on so you would be able to memorise every detail. I wondered if that happened so you could pick up tips later in life when you met your children's partners.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

I looked at Mom and Angel. Neither one of them seemed to have heard the knocking; even though I bet Angel knew exactly who was there by reading their thoughts, which left me to open it. I slowly let go off Angel's arm, yet I noticed how his whole body tensed as soon as I was out of his grasp. I lightly stroked his arm – a secret touch to reassure him – before stalking off towards the door.

I threw open the door, which was still left unlocked from when I had invited Angel in. My eyes widened.

'Parker?'

----

Thank you so much everyone for the amazing reviews! You are all so inspirational and so so kind to me and my story! Thank you especially to SilverSpoon – who has been so much more than just a reader … her views and opinions mean a lot to me – and my thoughts are with her at this moment in time. And thank you to BA2006 who is so sweet to me. AND WOW – ten more reviews until 200! Please, pretty please, even if you don't normally review – just leave me one! Thanks so much! x