In the Midst of Love

Chapter 1: First Love

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon has everything and I have zip. I just borrow the characters for my own fiction.

Rating: It's PG-13 so far b/c of the relationships this story has. it will be upped later when more adult issues come along.

Summary: As Elizabeth goes through life, she seeks out handsome guys that turn out to be failures. William lives above her, and yet she can't notice the perfect guy standing in front of her till it's too late. Based on a Korean TV program.

Spoilers: None, the story is completely A/U and everybody's human. It has nothing to do with the story line of the show.

Distribution: Don't mind it at all, just make sure to e-mail me before using it on a different site.

Author's Notes: Thoughts of the characters are expressed with '____'. Umm. not much else to say here except enjoy!

Feedback: Yes please! I crave it! Also be free to have CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, don't just cuss me out and tell me the story sucked. Write suggestions so I could make the story better. :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Young Elizabeth Anne Summers always enjoyed the company of guys better than girls. Since she was a tiny baby, she loved the comfort of her father's arms. However as she grew up, she had come to know boys as "annoying, little creatures." Not that she didn't dream about romance, which girl doesn't? It wasn't until she was in sixth grade that she harbored her first true crush.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was a wonderful winter and Elizabeth was skating around the ice rink. The guys from her school were occasionally torturing her. A final push from one guy did it. She went sprawling on the ice and couldn't get up.

"Ahhhh!!!! Jerk!" Elizabeth screamed across the ring. The boy just smirked and went along skating.

"Need any help?" Elizabeth looked up and gazed in wonder at the boy who so generously held out his hand for her. A look of pure happiness caused by the rush of a crush crossed her face. For a second, it seemed as if the boy had the same expression. But at that stage, Elizabeth was lost in her own world, thinking she imagined it.

"What's your name? I'm Angel O'Conner. I'm in the third class of the sixth grade, how about you?" the boy asked. Elizabeth said nothing but her jaw was dropped in astonishment. Therefore, her liking for boys grew from that point.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Days after the incident at the skating rink, Elizabeth would follow Angel around. Whatever motions he made, she made. If he sneezed, she sneezed. Angel would never notice she was there. She would hide whenever she felt as if he knew she was there.

Elizabeth sat in her bedroom, staring at a birthday invitation card. It was ornately decorated with lovely swirls of colors. She elapsed into a daydream. Angel would help her blow out the candles on her lovely cake. They would dance around her family's mansion, swaying gently to the music. It was the perfect date. 'Oh, I do hope he can come!' she squealed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next day, Elizabeth approached Angel's classroom with caution. She peeked inside the door to find him introducing souvenirs to his classmates. He turned around and saw her, a smile crept over his face. She ducked quickly, a crimson color was coming to her cheeks. Angel stood up to go talk to her, only to find her ungracefully running away. Confused, Angel looked down and picked up a bright blue envelope that was sent to Angel O'Connor.

Elizabeth came home to find her mom packing boxes, looking as if she was getting ready to move.

"Mom? What are you doing?" she asked with an incredulous look on her face.

"We have to move soon", Mrs. Summers languidly replied.

"When?"

"On Friday", came the short reply.

"On Friday?? But my birthday's on that day!" Elizabeth cried.

"Who cares about your birthday right now! We have to run, again! All because someone took advantage of your father's kindness, driving our whole family into a debt!" her mom sobbed. Elizabeth's shocked look was quickly erased as she ran to her room crying.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Early the next morning, Elizabeth went to Angel's house to say good-bye. He came out the door, not noticing her at all since she hid behind the family car. He briskly walked to school when Elizabeth was about to say something. It was too late, her hesitation caused her to miss her chance. She ran out from behind the car, tears streaming down her face. With a satisfied nod, she sullenly walked home.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was after school when the moving van came. They packed all of their things and transported them into the storage space. Sadly locking the door, the family left the house behind. Elizabeth's eyes were too full of tears to even notice Angel frantically running down the street at the sight of her leaving. His hand holding a gift-wrapped present and slowly he skidded to a stop as the moving van rolled out of his sight.