Chapter 5: Not As Perfect

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. :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"We really need to design some more new clothes for those poor children", Elizabeth suggested as she sat down. Willow, Elizabeth, and Jeff had visited the orphanage in LA as representatives of the church. They made sure that the children's needs were met and were called affectionately "brother and sisters" by the little ones.

"Yeah, I saw that the sleeves weren't even long enough to cover the full arms of the older ones. We should go back and tell the seamstress to make new clothes", Jeff sighed as he thought about the poverty those orphans must have gone through. Elizabeth looked at him with such affection in her eyes that Willow inwardly smiled, glad that Elizabeth's heart has finally opened to someone.

Just as the metro train was pulling to a stop, Jeff spotted a beautiful woman with long black hair walking briskly to the escalators. Her short mini skirt showed off her perfectly tanned legs and her tight tank top enhanced her curves. The hoop earrings dangled from her ears as she moved, causing a mesmerizing trance for all males.

"Umm. I just remembered I have to get off here. See you later!" Jeff lied as he frantically got off the train.

"Huh?" Elizabeth ran off the train with Willow close behind, only to see that Jeff had run up to the woman and was shyly talking to her.

"Elizabeth, wait! Let's just wait here and listen", Willow shushed her friend and pulled her behind a column so both were partially hidden.

"Isn't that eavesdr.", Elizabeth's question was cut short as her keen ears started to pick up the conversation.

"Who are you and why are you talking to me?" the woman had said in a huff, ignorant of Jeff's apparent shyness.

"Well, I. uhh. don't you remember me from the Haunted? We were dancing together on Thursday night?" Jeff asked, avoiding looking at the woman in the eye.

"Oh! That was you? Why are you coming up to me now? I mean, we're not like best buds or anything", the woman questioned with a look of annoyance. Elizabeth took one look at Jeff's face when she said that and the truth struck her, Jeff had a crush on this woman. She looked down at her own body, still dressed in her plaid skirt and navy blue vest. 'Oh! How am I going to compete with that girl?' she moaned silently.

"I see", the woman smiled and all-knowing smile before taking out a pad of paper and a pen. She quickly wrote something down and ripped it off before handing it to him. Elizabeth couldn't believe what that woman did next. She pinched Jeff's cheek in a flirting way and whispered to him seductively, "11 o'clock on Friday night, be at the Haunted."

Jeff smirked as he watched her move up the escalator, blowing a kiss to him. Meanwhile, Elizabeth watched all this in rage. Her arms were shaking; her fists were continuously clenching and unclenching; her jaw was set in a determined angle; her green eyes burned a dark emerald as she sent a glare towards the woman's direction. Willow watched her friend desperately trying to reign in her temper and stepped back, knowing an enraged Elizabeth is not very easy to be around without getting harmed in some way.

Slowly, Elizabeth's temper was pulled in as she took deep breaths, trying to control her anger. Gradually, the disappointment and sadness settled in. Her eyes watered with tears as she slid down the column, oblivious to her surroundings.

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

Elizabeth and Willow were on the way back to the apartments. Willow noticed Elizabeth's sad face as she walked along despondent, not really knowing where she was going. All too soon, they arrived at the doorway into the place. They bumped into Drusilla, who was taking the trash out for the next morning.

"Hey, Elizabeth! Guess what? You know the brother I was talking to you about? He came here today! I can't wait for you two to meet up, you'll be such good friends. And. uhh. Elizabeth? Are you all right?" Drusilla asked, finally noticing Elizabeth's unawareness through her rambling.

"She's a little off tonight, Drusilla. Sorry, it has to do with Je." Willow explained, only to be stopped by Elizabeth's sudden gasp.

"Oh! The Haunted!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she ran in the door, not even bothering to say goodbye to Drusilla.

"Elizabeth! Excuse me, I'll just go up with her. I'll see you soon Drusilla!" Willow shouted as she frantically ran up the stairs with Elizabeth.

"Huh?" Drusilla stood there confused as ever. 'Oh well, I'll talk to Elizabeth about it later', she thought as she hummed a lively tune while walking in and locking the door behind her.

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A/N: Hope you liked it! Yeah, the Haunted isn't in Sunnydale but I needed someplace besides the Bronze. Look forward to the next chapter where you find who this mysterious woman is!