Angel turned around to face Buffy, she looked beautiful as usual, her soft blonde hair framing her face. Angel looked closer into her eyes, he saw her shiver and noticed she seemed a little uneasy.

'Something wrong?' he asked

Buffy gave him a half smile and flipped her hair behind her shoulder

'I wish everyone would stop asking me that, I'm fine'

Angel felt her eyes digging into him

'But are you?' She asked curtly, looking as if she was daring him to reply correctly.

Angel frowned, Where was this conversation leading, he felt eyes on him and turned, just in time to see Xander spin back around quickly, obviously covering the fact that he'd been watching.

'I'm okay' he paused 'Why?'

'Oh no reason. So' Buffy said 'What have you been doing?'

'nothi.' Angel thought about what to say after he remembered last time he'd told Buffy he'd been doing nothing, she'd made the crack about him ceasing to exist, that was when Buffy found out about Dru. Angel breathed in quickly did Buffy know?

'Well?' Buffy asked looking at him impatiently

'Buffy why the third degree?' Angel asked pained

Buffy looked at him shocked

'What are you talking about' she snapped 'I asked you what you've been doing, is that a crime?'

Angel looked at her, searching her eyes for some sign she knew what was going on, he knew there was something different there but he couldn't make it out.

Buffy gave a small laugh but it was humourless

'Why the stall Angel, stop wigging unless you have something to hide'

Angel gritted his teeth

'I'm not….wigging, I'd just rather talk about you'

'Yeah well in relationships you're meant to share not everything is one sided you have to give a little you know give to get you've gotta be in it to win it'

Buffy took a breath as she finished her pause-less sentence, she brought her hand up to her head as if she had a headache.

Angel sighed 'Buffy I've got to go' Angel said not seeing a way out of this conversation without having to actually lie to Buffy, it hurt enough now not to be able to tell her everything in his life.

'Why?' Buffy said her eyes wide 'is it because I said the word relationship?'

Angel flinched he hoped Buffy hadn't seen it, one look at her and he knew she had.

Buffy leaned in close to him, right up to his ear, Angel knew he should move but he couldn't make him self.

'Relationship, relationship, relationship' Buffy whispered angrily to Angel giving the last word a little more emphasis

Angel didn't say a word, just slid from his place at the bar and walked out.

Buffy didn't turn to watch him go, she rested her elbow on the bar and held her head in her hand

'Hey' Xander said beside her 'Dead boy being a downer?' he asked

'Huh?' buffy said 'yeah I'm fine'

'Okayy, that's good but not what I asked' Xander quipped 'Earth to Buffy'

Buffy felt all the noise in the Bronze starting to get on top of her, she felt hot, bothered and unequipped to deal with a room full of teenage angst and hormones.

'I'm going' Buffy said to Xander 'tell Willow bye, I'll see you guys later'

Buffy began to walk off she heard Xander say behind her

'But you only just got…'

Buffy walked out of the Bronze and the cool air hit her, she felt the wind stinging her eyes, it was quite strong.

Buffy shoved her hands in the pockets of her jacket, and started the walk home.