Summary: The school is a buzz... with the sound of gossip!
Yep. My chapter dedicated to gossip. Here, there, everywhere...
Dedication: To my reviewers' & readers!!!! Keep on R / R ing!!!!! :)
HAPPY NEW YEARS' everyone!!!! :)
I'm here in sunny southern CA; went to my bff's house last nite to celebrate. Fun!!
As Buffy walked into school that morning, she could tell the looks she got were different from the day before. In awe, in lust, even some in hatred, but they were different all right. Which most obviously had something to do with her dancing with Angel last night. Angel... she smiled giddily. Whenever he crept into her thoughts - about every ten minutes - she had chain-reactions that varied from a heated blush all the way down to her toes to complete shivers to the ear-to-ear smile she wore now. If she hadn't known better, she would have thought she had the flu. The happy flu.
She reached her locker the same time Willow reached hers. Buffy hadn't realized their lockers' were one over from each other. Willow perkily said, "Hi!" Then she did a double take. Peering at Buffy's smily face, she asked mock-suspiciously, " Something happened last night that you're hiding, missy! Aren't I right?"
Buffy giggled. Trying to put on a straight face, she replied, "Why nothing happened last night, Willow! How dare you suggest such a thing!" Willow took a shot in the - well, slightly dark - and said, "Well... what are you doing tonight?"
Buffy's face instantly dissolved into laughter as the shiver took over. " We're going out for coffee!!!"
Willow screeched and grabbed Buffy. As soon as they reached the girls' bathroom, they began screaming and jumping up and down. "Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! He asked you out!" "I know! But Will, that isn't even the best part! Last night, when we left the Bronze, where do you think we went?" "I don't know... you didn't - " "No! He asked to go back to my place. To - get this - meet my family." Buffy sighed happily. "And after my mom and sister went to bed, we kissed."
Willow squealed. "He kissed you! Oh my God! This is so great! So," she said as she began the interrogation, "You like him, right?"
"Like him? I - well its just a little early for love, right? But there's ... a connection between us... something there, even on a deeper level, ya know?" Willow nodded. "I know. I always thought there was one with Xander and I. But..." Buffy interrupted. "He'll come around. And if not, there are plenty of guys in the world - not to mention our school - who would be great with you. Don't worry about it."
As they headed out the bathroom door, they were unaware of a figure stepping out of a stall, a wicked smile on her lips. "So thats' the girl Angels' so crazy about. We'll see about that."
She checked her lipstick and walked into the hall.
*****
Buffy was daydreaming in History class. Again. Ya think the fascinating ancient Eblans would have broken the spell, but...no. As Ms. Snyder recited notation after notation, she apparently realized one student wasn't listening. "Who can tell me where the Eblans lived? Ms. ...Summers?" she said, checking her roll book. She looked at Buffy questioningly. Buffy had the deer-caught-in-the headlights look going on. She stuttered as she tried to reply. "Where the Eblans lived." Ms. Snyder nodded. "The ancient ones." Nod. " Well, they lived in --- Eblan?" she said desperately, reaching for an answer. Ms. Snyder sighed. "It's Ebla, Ms. Summers. Ebla." She turned back to the board. Blaine Mall snickered and said, "Buffys' just having trouble focusing 'cause of her date tonight." The class laughed. But Buffy wasn't listening. She was daydreaming again, staring at her paper with pencil in hand.
Her paper was doodled all over with B + A.
*****
At lunch, Angels' gaze once more lingered at Buffys' table. She noticed, and as he looked on, she told her friends' something and began walking towards him.
God, she looks so beautiful in the sun, he thought.
She finally reached him. "Angel. Hi."
He smiled down at her and gently brushed her hair with his fingers. "Hi yourself."
Drusilla laughed softly as Spike guffawed at the exchange. Angel narrowed his eyes' good-humoredly and turned to face them. "Well, aren't you going to introduce us, mate?" Spike asked. Angel sighed.
"Buffy. This is Drusilla," he gestured to the raven-haired, soft-featured girl who smiled and wiggled her fingers at her, waving. Buffy smiled back. "And this...this is William." Spike growled at him. "But everyone calls him Spike," Angel finished. Spike smiled cockily. "How do you do, Buffy?"
Buffy looked amused. "Fine, thanks. And, the both of you?"
Spike answered. "Peachy, pet. As long as we don't have to hear this wanker go on about you as much as he was!" Angel, surprisingly, blushed. "Shut up Spike."
"What? Where I come from we tell ladies when we fancy them."
"Spikes' from England. So's Dru. I came back with them after my Mother...I was living in Ireland at the time. My sister Kathy stays with us too," Angel informed Buffy. Spike was amazed to find she seemed unfazed by most of the news, and had nodded and simply rubbed his arm comfortingly when he had mentioned his mother.
The blokes' told her it already, he thought. He trusts her. Known her for twenty-four hours, but he trusts her. Amazing.
He looked the girl up and down. She seemed real, somehow, different than Darla or Cordelia. She had a sense of innocence about her, and yet she understood Angels' many, many problems. No wonder he's in love with her.
Spike spoke up. "Why don't we do something tomorrow? Buffy could come over and meet the herd, Angel." Buffy looked to Angel. He nodded. "Sure, I suppose. I'll pick you up at ten, say?"
"Great," replied Buffy. His friends - family, more like - were quite nice, she reasoned. She was going to meet, she guessed, Angels' sister and Spikes' parents. But she was wondering about something. "How old is your sister, Angel?" Spike responded for him. "His sis is eleven. My brothers' twelve. Why, you got a little bit at home yourself?"
"Yes, I do. That's interesting. I wonder if Dawns' met them yet. They all go the middle school down the street, right?"
They nodded. Spike chuckled. "Well, maybe they'll hit it off. Drus' little brother already goes with Angels' sister of course, but my brothers' free..."
Angel interrupted his cousin. " We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, okay Spike?"
All of a sudden a loud voice came from the quad. Spike, Dru, and Angel all groaned. As one they spoke: "Cordelia."
Buffy nodded. She still hadn't met this girl, but she thought it might be quite interesting when she did.
"Attention students!!! Fall 1998 cheerleading tryouts will be held in just two days! All interested should come to room 56
at lunch or afterschool tomorrow to sign up and to receive detail on exactly what you are trying out for!" the voice "ahemed" and continued. " Cheerleading is a year-long commitment. It is a - " Dru, Spike and Angel finished her speel with her -- " true sport that deserves to be respected, honored, and feared. If you think you can take it, I'll see you at tryouts," they chorused. Angel looked to Buffy. She realized they were all staring at her now and asked bewildered, "What?"
Turning to Dru she asked anxiously, "Is there something in my teeth?" Dru shook her head. " It's just, that Angel told us you were thinking of trying out when he came home last night."
Buffy finally understood. " Well, I guess I am. My mom wants me to do something normal. I was cheerleader for three and a half years in LA. Captain for two of them." Dru started laughing. She turned to Spike. " Could you just imagine the look on Cordelias' face when she finds out she has competition! Especially if you made Captain here!" she exclaimed, focusing on Buffy again.
Buffy tried to protest, but to no use. Spike joined in. "Now you got to try out, pet, just make Cordelia mad!"
Angel growled and got in his face, his eyes burning. "She doesn't have to do anything." Buffy tugged on his arm.
"Angel," she said softly. Almost magickically, he calmed down. Spikes' wonder at this girl increased as she talked softly to him, as to sooth the wild beast. Angel was normally reposed, sure, but when he got angry, he was a... demon.
Buffy cleared her throat. "I'm trying out, don't worry. She'll get a run for her money."
The bell rang.
Turning to Buffy, Angel asked her, " Where's your next class?"
Buffy groaned. Peeking at her schedule, she replied, "Room 64. Why?" she asked curiously.
Angel smiled and offered her his arm. " So I can escort you to class, milady. Shall we?"
Buffy took his arm. "We shall." With that, they left. Spike turned to Dru. "Baby. You want to stay here?"
"Yes," Dru responded.
Spike lit up a smoke.
*****
Gossip abounded throughout the school.
Angels' Trig class was right next to Buffys' Geometry. Absentmindedly, he tapped his pencil.
A shadow stood in front of him, but he barely looked up. In truth, he didn't want to look up.
"Angel," a high-heeled shoe tapped impatiently on the linoleum of the tan- tiled classroom floor. The warm sunlight that had been streaming onto his desk only a moment ago was gone. In its place was the same annoying figure as always.
"Yes Cordelia." "So your little toy is trying out for cheerleading, huh? I knew you were just using her to try and make me jealous," Cordelia spat.
Angels' eyes practically turned red, but he kept his cool. " She isn't a toy Cordelia. She's a girl who I happen to enjoy being with, someone I want to know. Someone I could, and do, love. Unlike someone who stands before me, even now."
He resumed tapping his pencil.
Cordelia straightened and hissed down at him, " You're mine. We belong together. It goes against the entire social system for you to do this to me!!! How can you -- "
Angel was growing tired of this game. "I don't give a damn about your little social system. I never have and you know it. And you know if my relationship with her happens, and it will," his voice dropped deadly low, " You'll be kissing her ass like no tomorrow. And I, I will simply be kissing her. All in a matter of days. So," he continued, brightening, " Get the hell away from me, and leave me, my girl, and our friends in peace." Cordelia huffed back to her seat.
Angel happily tapped his pencil.
Willow smiled in her seat in front of Angel.
The rest of the class quietly worked on the assignment, unaware of the heated exchange that had taken place.
*****
Xander sat next to Buffy in Geometry class. Their teacher droned on. And on. Trying to ease the boredom, they talked.
" So, heard you got a big date tonight."
Buffy blushed. "God, everyone knows, huh?"
Xander nodded in confirmation. "Yep. And, I heard it from Willow earlier. " Curiously he asked, "So where's he taking you anyway?"
Buffy sighed dreamily. "Coffee. I guess Starbucks, according to your information, am I right?"
"Sadly, yes. There's the Bronze, but you'd have unwanted viewers there. Oh, but I heard there's a new coffee shop being approved by the city as we speak! Should be open in two or three years. Called the Espresso Pump, I think." He frowned. "And that doesn't help much with your date, does it."
"Sadly no. But when we're seniors, we'll go to the opening of the Espresso Pump. You, Will, me, and hopefully, Angel."
"So you really like the guy, huh?" Xander asked. Secretly, he'd really liked Buffy when he had first seen her, but it was Angel O' Connor. What's a guy to do? At least they were friends, which was more than what possibly the population of the entire school excepting himself and Spike had. Angel had her heart.
"I do," Buffy said smiling. "It's like there's a connection, you know? And we have quite a lot in common, too. He plays football, I --"
"You play football too?" Xander interrupted. Buffy was so tiny! How could she -
"No, silly! I was a cheerleader. Doing the cheer stuff, dance stuff.. all the stuff. There's a lot of stuff," she informed him. Continuing, she said, " But seriously. Both of our dads' are always in Los Angeles, working. We never see them. God. it seems like they don't even care about us," she trailed off. The teacher glared at them. They proceeded to shut up.
*****
The last bell of the day rang.
Remembering Dawns' words from the previous night, Buffy quickly packed up her stuff. Bypassing her locker, she hurried out of the school. She ran into Willow and Xander outside. " Hey Buff! Going to get ready for your date, huh?" Willow smacked him in the chest. " Of course she is, Xander." In truth, Buffy was happy to see them. Maybe...
"Hey, do you guys think you could come over to my place tonight to help me get ready? I could get the girls' and the guys' perspective!" she said brightly. Willow nodded. "Sure, Buffy! Xander, you're coming too, right?"
Xander seemed distracted. "Yeah, right. Of course." He turned to Buffy and grinned. "Wouldn't miss it for the world!"
Willow smiled too. "I'm bringing the camera."
Buffy saw her moms' Jeep outside the school. "Okay. My moms' here, so I'll see you guys later?"
"Definitly."
"Great. Bye!" Buffy ran to her car and got in. After weaving through the traffic, it was gone.
Willow and Xander began walking home.
Cordelia, however, was forming a plot.
What do you think? R / R!!! Please! ;)
Yep. My chapter dedicated to gossip. Here, there, everywhere...
Dedication: To my reviewers' & readers!!!! Keep on R / R ing!!!!! :)
HAPPY NEW YEARS' everyone!!!! :)
I'm here in sunny southern CA; went to my bff's house last nite to celebrate. Fun!!
As Buffy walked into school that morning, she could tell the looks she got were different from the day before. In awe, in lust, even some in hatred, but they were different all right. Which most obviously had something to do with her dancing with Angel last night. Angel... she smiled giddily. Whenever he crept into her thoughts - about every ten minutes - she had chain-reactions that varied from a heated blush all the way down to her toes to complete shivers to the ear-to-ear smile she wore now. If she hadn't known better, she would have thought she had the flu. The happy flu.
She reached her locker the same time Willow reached hers. Buffy hadn't realized their lockers' were one over from each other. Willow perkily said, "Hi!" Then she did a double take. Peering at Buffy's smily face, she asked mock-suspiciously, " Something happened last night that you're hiding, missy! Aren't I right?"
Buffy giggled. Trying to put on a straight face, she replied, "Why nothing happened last night, Willow! How dare you suggest such a thing!" Willow took a shot in the - well, slightly dark - and said, "Well... what are you doing tonight?"
Buffy's face instantly dissolved into laughter as the shiver took over. " We're going out for coffee!!!"
Willow screeched and grabbed Buffy. As soon as they reached the girls' bathroom, they began screaming and jumping up and down. "Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! He asked you out!" "I know! But Will, that isn't even the best part! Last night, when we left the Bronze, where do you think we went?" "I don't know... you didn't - " "No! He asked to go back to my place. To - get this - meet my family." Buffy sighed happily. "And after my mom and sister went to bed, we kissed."
Willow squealed. "He kissed you! Oh my God! This is so great! So," she said as she began the interrogation, "You like him, right?"
"Like him? I - well its just a little early for love, right? But there's ... a connection between us... something there, even on a deeper level, ya know?" Willow nodded. "I know. I always thought there was one with Xander and I. But..." Buffy interrupted. "He'll come around. And if not, there are plenty of guys in the world - not to mention our school - who would be great with you. Don't worry about it."
As they headed out the bathroom door, they were unaware of a figure stepping out of a stall, a wicked smile on her lips. "So thats' the girl Angels' so crazy about. We'll see about that."
She checked her lipstick and walked into the hall.
*****
Buffy was daydreaming in History class. Again. Ya think the fascinating ancient Eblans would have broken the spell, but...no. As Ms. Snyder recited notation after notation, she apparently realized one student wasn't listening. "Who can tell me where the Eblans lived? Ms. ...Summers?" she said, checking her roll book. She looked at Buffy questioningly. Buffy had the deer-caught-in-the headlights look going on. She stuttered as she tried to reply. "Where the Eblans lived." Ms. Snyder nodded. "The ancient ones." Nod. " Well, they lived in --- Eblan?" she said desperately, reaching for an answer. Ms. Snyder sighed. "It's Ebla, Ms. Summers. Ebla." She turned back to the board. Blaine Mall snickered and said, "Buffys' just having trouble focusing 'cause of her date tonight." The class laughed. But Buffy wasn't listening. She was daydreaming again, staring at her paper with pencil in hand.
Her paper was doodled all over with B + A.
*****
At lunch, Angels' gaze once more lingered at Buffys' table. She noticed, and as he looked on, she told her friends' something and began walking towards him.
God, she looks so beautiful in the sun, he thought.
She finally reached him. "Angel. Hi."
He smiled down at her and gently brushed her hair with his fingers. "Hi yourself."
Drusilla laughed softly as Spike guffawed at the exchange. Angel narrowed his eyes' good-humoredly and turned to face them. "Well, aren't you going to introduce us, mate?" Spike asked. Angel sighed.
"Buffy. This is Drusilla," he gestured to the raven-haired, soft-featured girl who smiled and wiggled her fingers at her, waving. Buffy smiled back. "And this...this is William." Spike growled at him. "But everyone calls him Spike," Angel finished. Spike smiled cockily. "How do you do, Buffy?"
Buffy looked amused. "Fine, thanks. And, the both of you?"
Spike answered. "Peachy, pet. As long as we don't have to hear this wanker go on about you as much as he was!" Angel, surprisingly, blushed. "Shut up Spike."
"What? Where I come from we tell ladies when we fancy them."
"Spikes' from England. So's Dru. I came back with them after my Mother...I was living in Ireland at the time. My sister Kathy stays with us too," Angel informed Buffy. Spike was amazed to find she seemed unfazed by most of the news, and had nodded and simply rubbed his arm comfortingly when he had mentioned his mother.
The blokes' told her it already, he thought. He trusts her. Known her for twenty-four hours, but he trusts her. Amazing.
He looked the girl up and down. She seemed real, somehow, different than Darla or Cordelia. She had a sense of innocence about her, and yet she understood Angels' many, many problems. No wonder he's in love with her.
Spike spoke up. "Why don't we do something tomorrow? Buffy could come over and meet the herd, Angel." Buffy looked to Angel. He nodded. "Sure, I suppose. I'll pick you up at ten, say?"
"Great," replied Buffy. His friends - family, more like - were quite nice, she reasoned. She was going to meet, she guessed, Angels' sister and Spikes' parents. But she was wondering about something. "How old is your sister, Angel?" Spike responded for him. "His sis is eleven. My brothers' twelve. Why, you got a little bit at home yourself?"
"Yes, I do. That's interesting. I wonder if Dawns' met them yet. They all go the middle school down the street, right?"
They nodded. Spike chuckled. "Well, maybe they'll hit it off. Drus' little brother already goes with Angels' sister of course, but my brothers' free..."
Angel interrupted his cousin. " We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, okay Spike?"
All of a sudden a loud voice came from the quad. Spike, Dru, and Angel all groaned. As one they spoke: "Cordelia."
Buffy nodded. She still hadn't met this girl, but she thought it might be quite interesting when she did.
"Attention students!!! Fall 1998 cheerleading tryouts will be held in just two days! All interested should come to room 56
at lunch or afterschool tomorrow to sign up and to receive detail on exactly what you are trying out for!" the voice "ahemed" and continued. " Cheerleading is a year-long commitment. It is a - " Dru, Spike and Angel finished her speel with her -- " true sport that deserves to be respected, honored, and feared. If you think you can take it, I'll see you at tryouts," they chorused. Angel looked to Buffy. She realized they were all staring at her now and asked bewildered, "What?"
Turning to Dru she asked anxiously, "Is there something in my teeth?" Dru shook her head. " It's just, that Angel told us you were thinking of trying out when he came home last night."
Buffy finally understood. " Well, I guess I am. My mom wants me to do something normal. I was cheerleader for three and a half years in LA. Captain for two of them." Dru started laughing. She turned to Spike. " Could you just imagine the look on Cordelias' face when she finds out she has competition! Especially if you made Captain here!" she exclaimed, focusing on Buffy again.
Buffy tried to protest, but to no use. Spike joined in. "Now you got to try out, pet, just make Cordelia mad!"
Angel growled and got in his face, his eyes burning. "She doesn't have to do anything." Buffy tugged on his arm.
"Angel," she said softly. Almost magickically, he calmed down. Spikes' wonder at this girl increased as she talked softly to him, as to sooth the wild beast. Angel was normally reposed, sure, but when he got angry, he was a... demon.
Buffy cleared her throat. "I'm trying out, don't worry. She'll get a run for her money."
The bell rang.
Turning to Buffy, Angel asked her, " Where's your next class?"
Buffy groaned. Peeking at her schedule, she replied, "Room 64. Why?" she asked curiously.
Angel smiled and offered her his arm. " So I can escort you to class, milady. Shall we?"
Buffy took his arm. "We shall." With that, they left. Spike turned to Dru. "Baby. You want to stay here?"
"Yes," Dru responded.
Spike lit up a smoke.
*****
Gossip abounded throughout the school.
Angels' Trig class was right next to Buffys' Geometry. Absentmindedly, he tapped his pencil.
A shadow stood in front of him, but he barely looked up. In truth, he didn't want to look up.
"Angel," a high-heeled shoe tapped impatiently on the linoleum of the tan- tiled classroom floor. The warm sunlight that had been streaming onto his desk only a moment ago was gone. In its place was the same annoying figure as always.
"Yes Cordelia." "So your little toy is trying out for cheerleading, huh? I knew you were just using her to try and make me jealous," Cordelia spat.
Angels' eyes practically turned red, but he kept his cool. " She isn't a toy Cordelia. She's a girl who I happen to enjoy being with, someone I want to know. Someone I could, and do, love. Unlike someone who stands before me, even now."
He resumed tapping his pencil.
Cordelia straightened and hissed down at him, " You're mine. We belong together. It goes against the entire social system for you to do this to me!!! How can you -- "
Angel was growing tired of this game. "I don't give a damn about your little social system. I never have and you know it. And you know if my relationship with her happens, and it will," his voice dropped deadly low, " You'll be kissing her ass like no tomorrow. And I, I will simply be kissing her. All in a matter of days. So," he continued, brightening, " Get the hell away from me, and leave me, my girl, and our friends in peace." Cordelia huffed back to her seat.
Angel happily tapped his pencil.
Willow smiled in her seat in front of Angel.
The rest of the class quietly worked on the assignment, unaware of the heated exchange that had taken place.
*****
Xander sat next to Buffy in Geometry class. Their teacher droned on. And on. Trying to ease the boredom, they talked.
" So, heard you got a big date tonight."
Buffy blushed. "God, everyone knows, huh?"
Xander nodded in confirmation. "Yep. And, I heard it from Willow earlier. " Curiously he asked, "So where's he taking you anyway?"
Buffy sighed dreamily. "Coffee. I guess Starbucks, according to your information, am I right?"
"Sadly, yes. There's the Bronze, but you'd have unwanted viewers there. Oh, but I heard there's a new coffee shop being approved by the city as we speak! Should be open in two or three years. Called the Espresso Pump, I think." He frowned. "And that doesn't help much with your date, does it."
"Sadly no. But when we're seniors, we'll go to the opening of the Espresso Pump. You, Will, me, and hopefully, Angel."
"So you really like the guy, huh?" Xander asked. Secretly, he'd really liked Buffy when he had first seen her, but it was Angel O' Connor. What's a guy to do? At least they were friends, which was more than what possibly the population of the entire school excepting himself and Spike had. Angel had her heart.
"I do," Buffy said smiling. "It's like there's a connection, you know? And we have quite a lot in common, too. He plays football, I --"
"You play football too?" Xander interrupted. Buffy was so tiny! How could she -
"No, silly! I was a cheerleader. Doing the cheer stuff, dance stuff.. all the stuff. There's a lot of stuff," she informed him. Continuing, she said, " But seriously. Both of our dads' are always in Los Angeles, working. We never see them. God. it seems like they don't even care about us," she trailed off. The teacher glared at them. They proceeded to shut up.
*****
The last bell of the day rang.
Remembering Dawns' words from the previous night, Buffy quickly packed up her stuff. Bypassing her locker, she hurried out of the school. She ran into Willow and Xander outside. " Hey Buff! Going to get ready for your date, huh?" Willow smacked him in the chest. " Of course she is, Xander." In truth, Buffy was happy to see them. Maybe...
"Hey, do you guys think you could come over to my place tonight to help me get ready? I could get the girls' and the guys' perspective!" she said brightly. Willow nodded. "Sure, Buffy! Xander, you're coming too, right?"
Xander seemed distracted. "Yeah, right. Of course." He turned to Buffy and grinned. "Wouldn't miss it for the world!"
Willow smiled too. "I'm bringing the camera."
Buffy saw her moms' Jeep outside the school. "Okay. My moms' here, so I'll see you guys later?"
"Definitly."
"Great. Bye!" Buffy ran to her car and got in. After weaving through the traffic, it was gone.
Willow and Xander began walking home.
Cordelia, however, was forming a plot.
What do you think? R / R!!! Please! ;)