Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Generally, watching Jesse try to get a dance with the one and only – thank God - Cordelia would have him pissing himself; nobody could as rapped up in herself as she was (not even her 'poodle' Harmony). The idea that his friend could still lust after her once she'd opened her mouth was just too crazy for words.

Then again, she looked a hottie…

Xander grunted, while forcing down the last drop from his mug. He was low on the spirit front, sure, that was a given, but did he really have to drink black coffee just to suit his mood?

"Wow Xander, now even the losers are deserting you!"

Xander raised his head, sighing. "Harmony! What a pleasant surprise…"

The girl turned mute as he got up to face her.

"Aw, hey, you took your first step tonight Harm," Xander said with a devilish glint in his eyes. "You made up a whole insult and said it all by yourself without Cordelia's cue. Keep up the good work and maybe one day, one day, the wizard 'ill give you a mind of your very own"

Harmony's eyes widened. She was pissed off. "Loser," she sniffed, storming off to find her friends.

"Got a point there Harmony," Xander whispered dully.

"Hi,"

"Willow!" he replied excitedly, hugging his friend. "Man, its good to see you!"

"Gee, I've missed you too Xander but oxygen becoming an issue now…"

"Oh right, sorry," Xander rolled his eyes. "I really don't want to miss you like that!"

Sorry friend…Angel thought sadly as he listened in from his table. The kid was about to lose his 'best' friend in a way that not even his nightmares could compare to, and as of tonight she was going to introduce him to the one responsible – a man named Angel.

But there was no turning back, not since this morning's paper. Willy was dead, and dead for good.

This was the only way left.

Willow said, "Xander I'd like you to meet somebody."

Xander took one glance at him and took his friend to one side. "He's the guy that brought ya here? Okay, look don't worry, first sign of trouble and I'll kick his little fonze butt."

"Huh?" Willow returned, bemused.

Xander shook his head slowly. "Oh c'mon Will! That guy's after the same thing that I'd be if I," he took another look at him and sulked slightly. "…Looked like that - not that I be chasing yours, I mean you're my best friend but you get my babble…"

Willow sighed. If he remembered correctly, the girl looked disappointed. "Uh huh,"

"Well hey it's the Lone Ranger. How's Tonto?" Xander asked as he strode over.

"Name's Angel," he replied, only a shade stern. "Xander – short for Alexander?"

"Yeah," Xander said quietly. "Now let's get things straight pretty boy, nobody hurts my Willow…"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"Look, all I did was walk 'er here," Angel said with a smile. "She's a sweet kid – I've got no other plans 'cept maybe hanging out a little okay Dad? 'Sides rescuing her from a bunch of jerks on PCP isn't my idea of getting somebody in the sack…"

Xander eyed him hard.

Alright kid, fair enough…but don't push your luck too far…

"Oh look, here comes Willow with the coffee!" Xander exclaimed.

"Here we go, uh black, no sugar for Angel and two mochaccino…" Willow announced.

"Of course! Angel drinks black coffee…" Xander chided under his breath.

He couldn't help his inward smirk.

"Thanks…" Angel replied, taking a sip of his beverage.

"Ditto," followed Xander.

Willow sat down – they drank their coffees, Xander made the odd witticism that he actually managed to find funny, and they had their conversations.

And he barely listened. He was going to kill Willow Rosenberg and given time he would probably teach her to kill Xander and whoever else might have been her friends in life.

Time to get the show on the road, Angel thought morbidly as he walked out the back of The Bronze. He'd sat quietly for what must have been half an hour while Xander and Willow enjoyed each other's company: now it begun, no looking back. Funny thing was that although he'd planned everything, he almost felt like he was walking out for Xander's sake. Once he started with Willow, she was never going to be the same as she was now. Maybe it wouldn't make things right but he'd give them some time to themselves before she changed…

Such was the memory of Drusilla's madness.

As he stepped out, he took time to give Willow a long, lingering glance. If she caught sight of it, she would follow.

Just as all the lambs followed…

"Oh yeah, the hat!" Willow shrieked with laughter.

"It's good to see you back Will," Xander said affectionately. "I missed you."

Willow smiled and nodded. She'd missed him too, more than she could ever really say. It felt good to laugh for a change. Thanks Angelhuh? Angel?

Willow shifted her attention to an empty seat. "Angel?"

Now she felt guilty. She and Xander had got so wrapped up in their own little world that she'd completely forgotten about the guy…then she turned her head…

He was standing at the back exit, staring straight at her…staring at her askance with those dark, brooding eyes of his…

"I'll be right back," Willow told her friend.

"Sure,"

Willow sped up as Angel moved out of sight.

He wanted her, but why?

The alleyway behind The Bronze was long, cold, and dark – that was it. You kept it simple and you could walk along all fine and dandy. When the shadows moved reaching out for you, you told yourself that they didn't. They were shadows; shadows weren't alive - simple, easy enough to believe.

Even when they took you…

Rubbing her arms for warmth, Willow thought back to the last time she walked through there. Three guys - all plug ugly – just started hassling her and Xander for no reason, growling and hissing like they were all wild animals or something. At least they did until he came.

He strode though the shadows, long coat moving like a cloak.

And his name was Angel.

She'd recognised him right from the word go, but it wasn't as if he'd paid much attention to her all those other nights at the Bronze as he sat at the bar, surveying the crowds before storming out back into the night. She was probably just another girl in hundreds.

Or at least that's what she'd thought.

"Angel?" she called anxiously.

Willow narrowed her eyes; something stirred against a wall until she was able to make it out. "Why'd you leave?"

"You guys just seemed to having a good time," the form replied, a touch sullen. "Sides I needed a little fresh air."

"Sorry Angel," Willow said sweetly. "What do you want to talk about?"

"You. I wanna know all I can about you; what you like, what drives you crazy."

"Me? Why me?"

"Because I like you."

Willow felt her body shaking slightly. He 'liked' her? "Gee, you really don't like to take your time do you?" she mumbled frantically. "I uh…I…"

Angel walked in front of her. "Too forward right? I just meant I like you as a friend…no wait…I really don't mean that…"

He was close to her now, pressing his body against hers, holding her hands in his. "Angel…"

"I'm scared too…"

Willow Rosenberg had been kissed many times - in her dreams. Xander was always so passionate in her imagination; he took her breath away in a heartbeat. But this was real life and Xander was too busy thinking about the 'girls of his dreams' that she downloaded for him sometimes, to look at her in that way.

In an instant she felt the same kiss she had always longed for…

The kiss of an Angel…

Suddenly, he pulled away from her. "I have to go," he said, stroking her cheek.

"No wait…"

He kissed her lips again softly. "I'll be here again…I'll always be here…"

Willow sighed longingly as Angel left her. He'd been so sweet, so passionate. He was everything; he was her Xander.

The one she'd dreamed about.

The man she loved…

Striding through the alleyway, Angel pulled a stake from his sleeve – he needed a kill.

The seduction always easy, you made the girl feel as if she was blessed. Willow would feel her heart beat faster than she would ever have thought possible. She would be happy. Soon though, that wouldn't be enough.

Soon he would break her heart.

Forever…