disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters
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"You promise me that you'll call as soon as you get there?" Angel looked up from the box that he was taping closed and smiled, all he had heard since that morning was this; along with constant updates about the travel conditions he might face.
He stood up and wrapped an arm around her "Yeah mom, I'll call you… I'll even send smoke signals to you too" he kissed the top of her head the chuckled when she swatted him in the stomach and grumbled about him not being funny.
She busied herself folding up the last of his clothes that he was taking in the suitcase on the flight and sniffled back some tears, he dropped the shirt he was folding onto the floor and pulled her against him "I'm only an hour away on a plane, If you need me I can be here in a drop of a hat"
Katherine nodded mutely then shook her head "look at me; worrying about you, my son, you'll do well in your new job! And maybe you'll meet some of the friends you had at school!" she patted his stomach then went back to folding.
Angel hmm'd in response, yeah, maybe he would meet some school friends… that's if they still lived in Sunnydale, hell even if they still remembered him. The last time he was in Sunny-D was eight years ago, when he told his friends that they were moving out of state.
In the eight years since they had left, he had tried to keep up with everyone back home through letters and phone calls, gradually over time they became less and less until he called Philly his new home and no one back in California spoke to him.
It wasn't like everyone had fallen out, that wasn't the case at all; just life got in the way, working through all the exams in high school, applying for college and working towards his degree; that took precedence, as it did for all of them.
His best friends in junior year were Oz and Xander, they weren't part of the A-List but they weren't picked on either, middle ground and liked by all – that suited them well. He had truly missed the guys over the years and hoped that they were still around to catch up on.
Angel shouldered on his jacket and picked up the small bag that he was taking on the plane with him, the movers were ready to pack and ship his belongings on his behalf. Taking one last look around his home he smiled.
At the airport he had spent every minute until he really had to go with his mom and dad, saying goodbye. Other than when he went away to College, he had never been away from them; now he was moving back across the country to be in his childhood home.
The signs came on for them to put their seatbelts on and prepare for takeoff; Angel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Once the plane levelled out in the sky he got comfortable and pulled out a book to occupy his mind, which was unsuccessful.
When he applied for the job at the publishing company and heard that they were opening a new office in Sunnydale he jumped at the chance, not just to go back and see his old school friends… but also in the off chance that he might see her again.
Eight long years, they had tried to make something work but being all the way across the country and being as young as they were meant it was difficult; they had lasted only a couple of month to try and make their, whatever they were doing work.
The beautiful blonde in sophomore year caught his attention the moment she transferred to the school in blaze of glory. All everyone could talk about was the LA expat that could charm even the hardest willed teacher to her every whim.
He tried to act cool but felt like a doofus, and then things just clicked. By an off chance they had met, he worked up the courage to ask her out then they spent almost eight month being inseparable before his parents dropped the bombshell that they were moving.
Although they were only together for a short amount of time, their feelings ran deep, it had broke his heart to hear her cry uncontrollably and the promise that he would never forget her. He kept that promise; he never had.
Angel asked for a coke and rum from the flight attendant, he threw that back in one gulp then ordered another. His lip twitched in annoyance; he had never forgotten her – no matter how many girl friends he had had since her but she must have forgotten her side of the promise.
*Eight years earlier*
"Yo Angel… you listening?" Xander threw a scrunched up ball of paper that smacked him on the side of the face, he jerked out of his daze and growled, throwing one back that hut Xander on the nose "Hey!"
Angel chuckled then looked back to his friends, he had tried not too but he couldn't help but stare at the blonde goddess who was talking animatedly with her group of friends. Buffy was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in this school, or hell, ever seen in general.
His eyes flicked back to her just in time to see her scrunch her nose up playfully then laugh loudly, when he looked back to the table he froze then looked down to his food. It completely escaped Xander where his mind was but Oz had seen it all.
Thankfully the quiet of the bunch didn't say anything; he only kept the same casual look on his face then went back to eating his own food. Angel took a deep breath then took a bite of his lunch, he had yet to speak to her personally but he knew that he would like her.
Oooooooooooooo
He had been trawling through the stacks of books in the public library looking for one or two novels that he wanted to check out, he had lost sight over everything around him, too busy reading the spines of the hardbacks on the shelves when he bumped into someone.
"Oh Sorry! I'm such a klutz" his eyes went from the ground up, taking the time to appreciate her long tanned legs then up past the tight tank top that she was wearing; he cleared his throat and prayed that he wasn't blushing wildly.
Buffy bit her lip and gathered up the books that she had caused to drop to the floor, she felt like an idiot, even more so because she had bumped into tall, dark and handsome that she coveted from afar "H-Here's your books"
Thankfully his hands weren't shaking when he took the books from here "Thanks uh…?" these unexpected nerves were new, never before had he acted shy in front of a girl but there was something about her that made him feel anxious.
"Buffy, my name is Buffy…. and you?" she extended her hand to shake his, his large hand caressed hers softly, her full body tingled with delight as she stared into the dark chocolate of his eyes.
"I'm Angel" she repeated his name in a breathy sigh, like it was pure delight he had experienced, he shifted from foot to foot and smiled at her when she apologised once again "Don't worry about it… they're just books"
Buffy looked at the hardback copies and smiled "What do you need them for?" despite feeling like a nervous school girl she found the words easily, like they had been friends for a long time. Angel looked at the books then back at her, did he want her to know it was for enjoyment and not school?!
"Uh school work…" they weren't in the same year so she was less likely to know that he was lying about his intentions. She pointed to the shelf and pulled one of the books out that had in his and pulled it against her chest.
Instead of trying to act cool, she felt she could be herself "This book is my favourite" she flipped through some of the pages and smiled shyly at him "I love it, I just haven't had the time to buy my own copy of it"
Angel looked down to the title of the book and smiled, he loved that one too; it had been his favourite piece of literary genius that he had come across "Yeah me too" he didn't even feel silly for letting her know because the look he got in return was one of surprise.
"Wow, I've never met anyone who likes this… most of my friends wouldn't dare read a book outside of school" he nodded with agreement, he longed to discuss this with his own friends but one cared about comics and the other cared about music.
They smiled at each other for a few moments then he cleared his throat, the bubble had popped and now it just felt a little awkward. Angel looked at his watch then back to Buffy, he had to check these out then head home for dinner.
Getting over his earlier fear he stood tall "I gotta go Buffy… but if you'd like, we could head over to that new bookshop on Saturday and see if they have some copies?" when her eyes went wide he wanted the ground to swallow him whole, could he have been anymore lame?
It took her a moment for his words to sink in, Angel, the honey from the year above her was asking her out on a date… well not a date-date but it was a date in some way. She nodded slowly so not to look like an idiot "Yeah, that would be good"
Angel flushed with relief then chuckled, she pulled out a pen and scribbled her number on a notepad she had in her purse and tore off the paper to hand to him "Th-this is my number, call me tomorrow and we'll arrange to meet up"
He folded the scrap of paper up carefully and placed it in his pocket "I'll speak to you tomorrow" he smiled one last time and left her standing in the aisle. Once the books were scanned he made his way down the street to his house, unable to wipe the grin off of his face.
An unexpected patch of turbulence jolted him out of his thoughts, he took a deep breath as he let go of the arm rests that he had grabbed just a moment ago. Slowly he flexed his fingers then relaxed back in the seat.
Angel looked to the book that was lying on the tray table and sighed, it felt like he had been on this plane for hours and needed another drink. Seeing that it had only been fifteen minutes he paused on ordering another one so he wouldn't end up hammered for landing.
He had caught wind that a few years ago she had got married, as in tied to another man, till death do they part. The night he found that out he got drunk out of his mind and woke up feeling incredibly ill – that hangover lasted for days.
Not like he could blame the guy she married; she was wonderful, beautiful, charming and everything in between but they had promised forever. Somewhere over the years forever dissolved and they stopped speaking – he guessed he should he pleased that she found happiness.
His heart clenched for a moment, Buffy was a taken woman, he would never even consider trying breaking her and her husband up; that would be inconceivable so he would settle on being her friend if he could. Being her friend was better than not being in her life at all.