As promised, Buffy spent lunchtime with Xander, Willow and Oz. They organised to meet that night at the Bronze.
When she arrived at the Bronze that night, Willow, Oz and Xander were already there. She went and seated herself next to Willow. Willow and Oz were indulging in smoochies while Oz was on band-break, so she and Xander just sat there chatting about nothing in particular. A few minutes later a new song started up.
"Oh, I love this song" Oz said, "let's dance". He grabbed Willow's hand and they went to the dance floor. After sitting there for a few moments Xander notice Buffy gazing at the dancers. He got out of his seat and held out his hand to Buffy.
"C'mon, we may as well join in the fun."
She took his hand and they walked onto the floor. Just as they were about to start dancing, a slow song started. Buffy looked alarmed. Xander saw her reaction.
"We can sit this one out, if you like."
"No...it's ok"
Xander took her in his arms and they began swaying in time to the music. She began to relax and rested her head on his shoulder. His musky scent filled her nostrils, and she began to lose herself in his embrace. When the music stopped she looked up and her eyes connected with Xander's. Just as they were about to kiss, she broke from his arms.
"I need to go to the ladies room, be back soon."
Xander watched her weave her way through the crowd and towards the bathroom. He returned to the table and waited for Willow and Oz to finish dancing. Fifteen minutes later they joined him.
"Will, uh, Buffy's been in the ladies' 15 mins, could you check on her?"
"Ok," she started heading for the bathroom.
"Oh, and Will" he called after her. "Tell her sorry, but I had to go."
"I will" she watched Xander head towards the exit. *What's happened now*, she thought as she went to track Buffy down.
********************
She found Buffy splashing water on her face.
"Buffy"
"Yeah...oh, hi Will."
"You ok? Xander sent me to check on you."
"He did?"
"Yeah. What's going on?"
"I don't know...we were dancing and almost kissed again."
"So you ran...again?" Willow asked incredulously. "You really need to sort out what you feel for Xander, Buffy."
"I know, it's just, I don't think I can face him again tonight."
"Well, what were you going to do? Stay in here all night?"
"No, well, I don't know. I guess I didn't think about it."
"He left anyway, Buffy. He told me to apologise to you."
"Oh." she was disappointed.
"Buffy, I know it's really not up to me, but my advice to you is to go home and think about your feelings, both for Angel and Xander, and see where it takes you."
"You're right Will, thanks."
********************
Buffy left the Bronze and headed towards her home. The mansion Angel had lived in stood out on the hill, silhouetted in the moonlight. Her gaze was drawn to it.
*Maybe Xander's right. Maybe I do need closure.*
She started towards the mansion, and once inside, she headed to the spot where she, herself had sent Angel to hell.
"I'm sorry," she said softly, tears welling in her eyes, "I had to do it."
She removed the cross Angel had given her, from her neck, and placed it and the claddagh ring on the ground.
"You'll always occupy a place in my heart Angel, but I have to say goodbye."
She slowly got up and headed to the door. Taking one last glance, she left, heading home.
When she arrived at the Bronze that night, Willow, Oz and Xander were already there. She went and seated herself next to Willow. Willow and Oz were indulging in smoochies while Oz was on band-break, so she and Xander just sat there chatting about nothing in particular. A few minutes later a new song started up.
"Oh, I love this song" Oz said, "let's dance". He grabbed Willow's hand and they went to the dance floor. After sitting there for a few moments Xander notice Buffy gazing at the dancers. He got out of his seat and held out his hand to Buffy.
"C'mon, we may as well join in the fun."
She took his hand and they walked onto the floor. Just as they were about to start dancing, a slow song started. Buffy looked alarmed. Xander saw her reaction.
"We can sit this one out, if you like."
"No...it's ok"
Xander took her in his arms and they began swaying in time to the music. She began to relax and rested her head on his shoulder. His musky scent filled her nostrils, and she began to lose herself in his embrace. When the music stopped she looked up and her eyes connected with Xander's. Just as they were about to kiss, she broke from his arms.
"I need to go to the ladies room, be back soon."
Xander watched her weave her way through the crowd and towards the bathroom. He returned to the table and waited for Willow and Oz to finish dancing. Fifteen minutes later they joined him.
"Will, uh, Buffy's been in the ladies' 15 mins, could you check on her?"
"Ok," she started heading for the bathroom.
"Oh, and Will" he called after her. "Tell her sorry, but I had to go."
"I will" she watched Xander head towards the exit. *What's happened now*, she thought as she went to track Buffy down.
********************
She found Buffy splashing water on her face.
"Buffy"
"Yeah...oh, hi Will."
"You ok? Xander sent me to check on you."
"He did?"
"Yeah. What's going on?"
"I don't know...we were dancing and almost kissed again."
"So you ran...again?" Willow asked incredulously. "You really need to sort out what you feel for Xander, Buffy."
"I know, it's just, I don't think I can face him again tonight."
"Well, what were you going to do? Stay in here all night?"
"No, well, I don't know. I guess I didn't think about it."
"He left anyway, Buffy. He told me to apologise to you."
"Oh." she was disappointed.
"Buffy, I know it's really not up to me, but my advice to you is to go home and think about your feelings, both for Angel and Xander, and see where it takes you."
"You're right Will, thanks."
********************
Buffy left the Bronze and headed towards her home. The mansion Angel had lived in stood out on the hill, silhouetted in the moonlight. Her gaze was drawn to it.
*Maybe Xander's right. Maybe I do need closure.*
She started towards the mansion, and once inside, she headed to the spot where she, herself had sent Angel to hell.
"I'm sorry," she said softly, tears welling in her eyes, "I had to do it."
She removed the cross Angel had given her, from her neck, and placed it and the claddagh ring on the ground.
"You'll always occupy a place in my heart Angel, but I have to say goodbye."
She slowly got up and headed to the door. Taking one last glance, she left, heading home.
