Part 7
Buffy sat in Geometry class staring at the board and trying her best to pay
attention. This was made difficult by the fact that math was the last thing on
her mind. When a folded up piece of paper landed in front of her, she gave up
trying and opened the note.
~So you decided to stay in LA~ Alonna's perfect script questioned.
Completely zoning out her class, Buffy replied, *Yes, I told Mom and Dad this
last night.* Making sure that the teacher wasn't looking, she quickly sent the
note back to her friend.
When it came back to her, she sighed when she read, ~Good, you'll be able to go
to the dance on Saturday.~
*I don't know if I'll go. It's not like I have a date or anything,* was her
reply.
~I bet Angel would go with you if you asked him~ Alonna countered.
*I don't think so.*
~Why?~
Buffy thought about her response. Why didn't she want to ask Angel to go with
her to the dance? Also, and possibly more importantly, why hadn't she told
Alonna about her possible romance with Angel?
The truth was that she was very confused about where things stood between
herself and Angel. For months now, he had been her friend, possibly the best
friend she had ever had. Now she didn't know what her was to her and that scared
her.
When they were together, they usually laughed and talked, but now she had no
clue how she was supposed to act around him. She had finally gotten what she
wanted and had waited for, but she didn't know where they were supposed to go.
Did he really want them to be a couple? Would he want to do something like go
to a dance with her?
Deciding not to go into all of that, Buffy pushed the thoughts aside and simply
wrote, *Just because.* Decided to change the subject she wrote, *Remind me to
tell the guys that we all need to meet at Angel's after school. He has some
news about Lothos.*
As she finished reading Buffy's statement, Alonna noticed that the teacher was
watching her closely. Quickly stuffing the note inside of her book, she merely
nodded at Buffy, then both girls turned there attention back to math.
~~~~~
"So what's the news on our resident big bad?" Pike asked as the all
settled into their seats. Over the weeks since their initial meeting, Angel's
apartment had become the official meeting place for Buffy's 'gang'. Therefore,
they had all gone there after school to find out what Angel had discovered.
"Well I've talked to some of my contacts and they all say the same
thing." Angel answered, then looked at Buffy, "You've been causing
serious to damage to Lothos' numbers. It looks like he is planning something in
retaliation. The best I can tell, it's set for Saturday."
"Saturday," Alonna questioned quickly.
"Do you think he would try something at the dance?" Gunn asked,
directing his question towards Angel.
Angel in turn, looked at Buffy, "What dance?"
"There's a dance at the school Saturday night," she answered.
"Would he try it?"
He considered this for a moment before nodding his head, "That sounds like
Lothos, he likes to make a scene."
"I guess we all need to be there then," Buffy sighed in resignation.
She really hadn't planned on attending.
"That's not a problem, we're all students, but how's Angel going to get
in?" Alonna asked innocently and shot Buffy a look.
At this, Buffy sighed again. A forced date was not exactly what she had been
looking for. "Well, I don't have a date, you can come with me," she
said to Angel.
"Ok," Angel answered, but not without noticing Buffy's reluctance.
While the others continued to talk, Buffy slowly approached Angel. After a
moment she said, "If nothing happens, you don't have to stay. I mean being
at a school dance probably isn't your idea of a great time."
Suddenly her attitude made sense to him. When Gunn had first mentioned the
dance, Angel had wondered why Buffy hadn't mentioned it to him; she was usually
so excited about that kind of thing. Now he knew why. She didn't think he would
want to go with her.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and nothing will happen." He smiled as she
tried to cover her hurt expression, "Then we can spend the whole time
dancing."
A wide smile split her face as said, "Yeah, maybe."
From then on, all spare time was spent training and readying themselves for
what could possibly be the battle of their lives.
Things between Buffy and Angel were more relaxed, but they hadn't been able to
find enough time alone to discuss their relationship. The remaining tension was
making them both edgy and feeling as if it would never end.
Finally thought, the night of the dance did arrive. The theme of the dance was
'Fairy Magic' and the gym was decorated accordingly. Everything was done in
glitter covered pinks and blues, which sparked under the lights. Puffy clouds
hung from the ceiling, giving the entire room a 'floating in the sky' atmosphere.
Being in the room was like being inside a dream and slowly Buffy discovered
that she was enjoying herself. She was actually having a great time, having
danced with Angel, Gunn, and Pike.
After one of these dances, she announced that she was going to get some punch.
Just as she was about to return to her friends, she was approached by Tyler and
Jennifer.
"Buffy, it's so good to see you," Jennifer said with false sincerity
"I bet," Buffy replied, giving her a half smile.
"I am!," Jennifer insisted. "I didn't think you were going to
come, it's so embarrassing to show up stag."
At this comment, Buffy had to laugh, "I wouldn't know, I'm not here
alone."
"Oh so who did you pay to bring you," Tyler asked, speaking up for
the first time.
"I don't need this," she sighed and turned to leave, causing her to
run squarely into Angel's broad chest.
"Hey, I was wondering what happened to you," he commented.
"Sorry, I just ran into some *friends, * Tyler and Jennifer," she
introduced.
Angel glanced at the two people standing nearby and quickly recognized them as
her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend. "Hi," he said. "Sorry to
interrupt, but I'm going to steal her away for a dance."
Without waiting for their response, Angel grabbed Buffy's hand and pulled her
onto the dance floor. As they began to sway to the music, Buffy said,
"Thanks."
"Anytime," he replied. "You ok?"
"I'm perfect," she answered as she snuggled deeper into his embrace.
"You know, this does seem perfect, except for one thing," Angel said
after a moment.
Buffy looked up and was about to question him when his lips captured hers in a
gentle kiss. Pulling back slightly, he smiled, "Now it's perfect."
"You're right," she agreed. Then, without hesitating, she pulled him
into another kiss.
As the song ended they broke apart and slowly moved off the dance floor toward
Pike and Alonna. They were both fully aware that their friend were not
oblivious to the kissing session that had happened on the dance floor, but they
were going to play it cool.
"Have a nice dance?" Alonna questioned, eyeing the arm that Angel
still had around Buffy's waist.
"Sure did" Buffy answered in the same tone.
"So any sign of evilness?" Pike asked, in an attempt to keep his
girlfriend from embarrassing Buffy. He knew that she was feeling very proud of
herself for being right about their friends, but he wasn't going to let her rub
it in.
"Nothing so for, but you..." The rest of Angels answer was lost in
the sound of shattering glass.
They all whirled around as the gym began to flood with vampires. Gunn who had
been on the other side, quickly crossed the room to join them. As he went, he
yelled for the students to stay away from the windows and doors.
"Looks like they want to party after all," he said upon arrival.
"Good thing we're ready for them," Buffy responded as she grabbed the
bag of stakes that they had stashed under a nearby table. She quickly opened it
and began to distribute it's contents. Once armed, the five of them spread out,
trying to form a barrier between the students and the vampires.
As the battle lines were drawn, both groups simply stared at one another. Then,
as if acting on some sort of signal, the vampires attacked.
Most seemed to focus mainly on Buffy and Angel, as if the considered them to be
the biggest threat. This idea worked against the vampires, however, because it
left them open to attack from the other three teenagers. Therefore, many had to
leave the main battle in order to protect themselves.
Though they were outnumbered, Buffy and Angel were holding their own. The stood
in the middle of the group, back to back, both completely trusting the other to
protect them. When the numbers finally began to lessen, they began to move away
from one another, still making an effort to keep the intruders away from the
students who where all huddled together in one corner of the room.
Angel had just staked his latest victim, when he saw Gunn get tackled from
behind. Running in his friend's direction, Angel kicked the unsuspecting
vampires feet out from under him. Dazed from his fall the vampire only had time
to growl before Angel's stake once again found it's mark. Gunn quickly picked
himself up from the floor and turned to thank his savior, but before he could
say anything, Angel was hit from behind.
Game face surfacing out of reflex, Angel shook off his disorientation and
punched his attacker squarely in the face. A mystified Gunn watched as the man
he knew to be his friend continued to pummel his opponent. He could do nothing
but stare at the ridges than now disfigured his friends face.
As the dust of his latest conquest settled, Angel slowly turned to face his
young friend, fully expecting to see horror and hatred written on his face.
Because of this, he was surprised when Gunn simply shook his head and turned back
to the battle, calling over his shoulder, "Man, you have got a lot of
explaining to do."
Before he could stop himself Angel laughed in relief, "You got it."
He was just about to go after a near by vamp, when he felt power roll over him.
As if everyone else also felt it, all activity in the gym ground to halt and
they all turned to face the being that had just entered the gym.
He was a tall, regal looking man with pale skin and black hair, wearing an
expensive looking suit. To top it all off, his shoulders were covered by a
flowing black cape. He simply stood in the door way for a moment, but after
giving the assembled crowd a once over, his gaze turned to Buffy and Angel who
had moved to stand side by side in front of him.
"So you are the little girl who has been causing me so much trouble. And
Angelus, I expected so much more from someone with your potential. Are you
really turned so easily by a pretty face?"
"As opposed to yours?" Angel shot back.
Lothos chuckled and turned back to Buffy, "You have a date with destiny,
little girl."
"Yeah well, destiny's a bitch, so I think I'll pass," she returned,
and without pausing, attacked. Angel tried to follow her but was quickly
swamped by Lothos's remaining minions.
As Buffy moved towards him, Lothos reaching inside his cape and pulled out a
very dangerous looking sword.
"Do you really need that bid old thing for little old me?" Buffy
taunted.
Lothos laughed in return, "This will get the job done quicker. I have no
more time to waste on you."
"Too bad," Buffy replied, before throwing a complicated series of
punches and kicks at him.
Thus began their battle. Buffy would dart forward and attack him, then jump
away before he could inflict any major damage. This tactic kept her fairly
safe, but was quickly tiring her out.
After several minutes of this, he was finally able to catch her off guard and
knock her to the floor. She quickly tried to climb to her feet, but found that
sword at her throat made it impossible. Looking down at the slayer, he laughed
at his easy victory.
"Say goodbye, Slayer," he said as he drew the sword back to deliver
his final blow.
"BUFFY!" Angel yelled, finally free of the minions. When she looked
at him he hurled a something in her direction.
Lothos who had been distracted by Angels call, never saw Buffy's hand shoot out
to catch the stake, therefore the fatal strike to his heart was something that
he never saw coming. Shock was the only thing that could be seen on his face as
he began to crumble to dust.
Running to her side, Angel wrapped Buffy into a crushing hug. After a few
moments he pulled back and asked, "Are you ok?"
She nodded, "Yeah you?"
"Yeah," he responded before pulling her close.
This kiss was different from the others they had shared. There was no shyness
in it, only the emotions that neither could find the words to express, the main
one being happiness at the fact that they were still together.
Once they finally separated, they found themselves looking directly into the
relieved and happy faces of their friends.
"Everybody in one piece?" Buffy asked as she placed her head on
Angel's chest, still holding him close.
The three teenagers looked at one another before nodding.
"What now?" Alonna asked.
Angel looked down at Buffy, and then said, "I don't know about you guys,
but I'm tired. Lets go home."
Everyone laughed and then moved towards the exits, glad that they would be able
to see the next day.