Title: Runaway

Cahpter 2: New Found Friends

Disclaimer: okay I really cannot be bothered with the disclaimer this time, so if you're absolutely desperate to read a disclaimer then see chapter one.

Author's Note: Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who reviewed. That's basically Piper, Drake and Music.

In reply to Music's question: yes, Angel is going to be in this fic. *hears muttering and groans from somewhere on the back row and glares in that direction* anyone who doesn't like Angel is just gonna have to live with it. He's not gonna to make an appearance until pretty late on though 'cause he's in hell. Please review cause I really want to know what people think and hear any advice. Well enough of my ramblings and on with the story.

Buffy had been working in the diner for just under two weeks and had to admit that it was going pretty well. On top of the wage that Stan was giving her (which was alright anyway) she was making a load of money in tips. And, best of all, she didn't have to wear some stupid uniform. She just wore a black mini skirt and white blouse, normally with the top button undone. She was finding it quite hard to remember her new dress code.

The frequent visitors were always nice to her she already knew quite a few by name. There was just one small, teensy, weensy problem. The schools in LA had broken up for the summer. She didn't know why it bothered her so much, the jocks didn't bother her at all saying that she was pretty but not really their type. She supposed that it was because if someone from Hemrey High came in there was still a chance they'd recognise her.

Buffy was cleaning up behind the counter when an annoying little ditty played. She glanced up and saw a boy and a girl, each around her own age walk through the door, laughing and joking. The girl had shortish black hair and slightly unnerving green eyes, she was pretty but didn't go out of her way to flaunt those looks. The boy, who Buffy guessed was her brother, was tall with brown hair that flopped into his eyes.

He's cute. Probably the Xander Harris of their group. With a slight grimace she quickly yanked her mind back from that area and slapped it sharply over the nose.

The teenagers walked straight over to her and took one of the seats at the counter. Buffy was just about to ask what she could get them when the girl spoke.

"Hi, I'm Sam and this is my brother, Alex. We're looking for jobs for the summer and someone told us that this was the place to go. Is that right?"

"Yeah, Stan's looking for another waitress and a cook for the summer. If you want I can go and get him for you."

Alex smiled at her. "That'd be great. Thanks."

"Just hold on a minute." Buffy walked to the door at the back of the diner marked 'Employee's Only' and pushed it open. "Hey Stan!"

"Yeah?"

"There's two people looking for jobs just out there."

"I'm pretty busy right now, Angela. How do they seem to you?"

"They seem nice. I think they'd do a decent job."

"Fine. Go and tell them that if they still want the jobs they start tomorrow at nine."

Buffy's mouth dropped open. "So you're going to give them the jobs? Just like that?"

"I did the same for you and that turned out great."

"Sure, I guess." A little dubious she walked back out into the front and found Sam and Alex still seated at the counter. "Okay, Stan's pretty busy but he says that if you want the jobs you start tomorrow at nine."

"Really?" exclaimed Sam.

"Really, truly. I talked to him and he said the job's are yours."

"Yes! Thanks . . . ." she paused, looking at Angela expectantly.

"Angela."

Alex grinned at her. "Thanks, Angela."

"That's okay. Just don't prove me wrong and show up late or something."

~

In the week since Sam and Alex had shown up at Stan's Diner Buffy had become good friends with them. Alex didn't show any interest in her other than as a friend, which was fine with her, and Sam was basically a best friend. She found out that they were twins, each soon to turn seventeen. Buffy had lied about her age slightly and said that she was eighteen instead of seventeen. They had also introduced her to two other people who they had been friends with since they'd been born, Jean and Liam, who Buffy was also pleased to call friends.

She was talking to Sam while they waited for Alex to finish cooking the orders for table seven.

"Angela, you know how you're a bit older than us?"

"Yeah," she replied cautiously.

"Well, have you ever met anyone who, you know. . . ." Sam blushed.

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "I know?"

"Yes. Who you don't just like or have a stupid crush on, you really, really like them. Maybe like love."

"Have you?"

"Maybe. I just really like Liam."

She smiled. Playing matchmaker could be fun. "Well, if you have to really think about it then you probably don't love him, but if you don't think about it, you just know. . . Then maybe you are." She shrugged.

Sam seemed to think this over and then smiled. "Thank, Angela. But you didn't answer my question properly."

"I didn't?"

"Nope. Was there anyone you loved?"

"Well, there was my family," she teased.

Her friend gave an exasperated sigh. "Now your just being difficult."

"There, was this guy who I really like."

That single sentence seemed to renew Sam's interest. "Really?"

"Yep." Buffy sighed. "I probably won't even see him again, but he was really nice."

"Why won't you see him again."

"I moved." Well, that's basically true. I just left out the whole me sending Angel to Hell thing.

"That's sad. You know, Angela, you should come to the Gold with us tonight."

"The Gold?"

"It's a really cool club around here. Definitely the scene. It's a couple of dollars to get in and they have a live band that's pretty good."

What is it with clubs around here and metals? I mean what's there going to be next, The Silver? The Aluminium? The Zinc Oxide with Lead Nitrate? She paused. Wait a minute. Now where the hell did that come from?

"Sure, I guess I'll show if I have time. I've got some stuff I need to do though."

Oh yeah, right. Like you've got anything more important to do than buy some decorating stuff if Mrs Dale doesn't mind. Your just afraid that going to a place like that will bring back memories of Sunnydale and Angel.

Seriously annoyed with her mind for implying that she was too much of a chicken to show up she decided that she would.

~

okay I know this is going pretty slow but I really need to set the scene. In another chapter, actually probably two Spike'll show up and then things will start to get interesting. Who knows, maybe next chapter we'll check up on things in Sunnydale. Oh yeah, last thing I'm going away so don't expect anything until sat at the absolute earliest. After that I'll try and update quickly.