Angel's graduation quickly approached, leaving him and Buffy enjoying what time they had left together. Angel was accepted to Columbia, he had planned on staying in Sunnydale, but he couldn't pass up such an opportunity. He just couldn't bring himself to tell Buffy. 'She depends on me in more ways than one, I'm going to break her heart.' That being the last thing Angel wanted to do, he put off telling her to the last minute.
Graduation Night, Angel's House
Angel and Buffy had just come back from Angel's graduation party, that his mother happened to remember, and were now back in Angel's room watching movies, like many other nights. Angel was beating himself up trying to find a way to do this, she is going to be heartbroken and there was no stopping that. Noticing the change in Angel's posture, Buffy looked up at him.
"Angel, what's wrong, something's been bothering you all day."
"I have to talk to you about something, and I've been trying to figure out a way to tell you this without killing us both." Angel replied slowly.
"Angel, what is it you're scaring me." Buffy said, turning around to look Angel in the eyes.
"I got accepted to Columbia." Angel said, just spitting it out. Waiting for the inevitable explosion from Buffy.
Buffy just sat there trying to take in what Angel was telling her, knowing that he was leaving her. Minutes passed by slowly and they both sat in an uncomfortable silence.
"You're leaving." She inquired softly, tears already starting to fall.
"I have to, this is an amazing opportunity for me, believe me a part of me wants to stay with you more than anything, but the logical part of me is saying I have to go, for me." He answered, trying to look anywhere but her crying face.
"I understand Angel I really do." She said, crying softly to herself, trying to hold herself together. "I love you Angel, goodbye." She managed, kissing him softly on the cheek, before running from his room.
'Gods what have I done?' Angel wondered to himself, as he saw Buffy appear in her room next-door, sobbing none to quietly into her pillows.
A Week Later:
Angel was packed and ready to go, he hadn't spoke to Buffy in the last week, she didn't want to see him, and Angel didn't blame her. He looked up from his boxes only to see Joyce standing there with a grim look on her face.
" She loves you ya know." She inquired.
"I know, I love her more than anything, but I have to do this, I want more than anything to stay here and be with her, but I can't pass up something like this."
"I understand Angel, and she does too, she is just upset, what time are you leaving?" Joyce wondered.
"In about three hours." Angel answered.
"Go up and stay with Buffy, she needs you right now, just like you do."
"Thanks Joyce, I wanted you to know, that if anything ever is wrong with Buffy or anything, please call me." Angel said handing Joyce a piece of paper with all his info on it.
"I will Angel. Now go."
Angel climbed the Summers' stairs slowly, like he had so many times before, taking in all the pictures and things littered around the walls. He reached Buffy's door and stood there for a few minutes until he heard a tiny voice mumble
"Go away Angel."
He opened the door, surprised to see a very disheveled Buffy, sitting next to the window, crying.
"Sorry love, you know me better than that, it takes a helluva lot more then that to get rid of me. " He answered
"I'm serious Angel, I can't do this again, please leave." Buffy replied starting to cry all over again, putting her face in her lap, shaking slightly as sobs wracked her small body.
In two long strides Angel was beside Buffy pulling her into his lap, rocking her gently as she cried. They sat like that for long minutes; Buffy's sobs muting slightly as she pressed her face into Angel's chest.
"Will I still get to talk to you?" She asked in a small voice.
"Of course, I love you, and I'm not moving to get away from you, I would be quite offended if I didn't hear from you." He smiled slightly seeing her brighten.
Buffy pulled away from Angel looking him in the eyes.
"Is Spike going with you?" She asked, Angel startled by the question looked down at her.
"What the hell difference does that make?" He snapped angrily.
"Angel, Spike is a friend, I just wanted to know, if it helps I'll miss you more." She teased slightly.
"Yes he's going with me, and you better miss me more." He smiled, taking her hands in his. "I have something for you." Pulling out a small silver ring that she had never seen before. "It's a claddaugh ring. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty, and the heart represents love, wear it on your hand like this." He said holding his hand up to her, showing the same ring. "It means you belong to someone, because you do, you're mine."
"I love it thank you, and I am you know, yours. No distance changes that." She smiled up at him. Leaning over to kiss him like she had so many times before, but savoring it knowing this was the last time she would be kissing him for what could be a long time. Angel kissed her back with fervor also knowing that this would be their last.
"How about you get some sleep, you look like you've been to hell and back." Angel said reluctantly breaking the kiss.
"It's been a pretty hellish week, hold me till I fall asleep?" She queried softly.
"Of course baby."
Angel settled on the bed with Buffy curled into his chest, holding him tightly, as though she was holding on for dear life. But she was in way, she was holding on to the one thing that ever meant anything to her.
"I love you Angel."
"I love you too baby, sleep." He answered, Buffy knowing that those would be the last words she heard from him for a long time.
When Buffy woke up, she woke to an empty bed except for a box at the end of her bed. Leaning over she looked at the box that had a note accompanied by a red rose reading
'In this box you'll find every reason why
I ever loved you, and why I still do.
Keep these things and remember, but don't dwell
Move on with your life, but never forget.
Gráim thú go síoraí mo anamchara
Always, Angel'
Buffy opened the box and smiled at what she saw. She pulled out a large photo album, flipping through the pictures she saw Angel and her together since the day she moved here. Digging deeper in the box she found their favorite movie, 'Never Been Kissed', and Angels leather jacket. She folded up the note and the box and drifted off into a dreamless, but lonely sleep.
Gráim thú go síoraí mo anamchara= I love you forever, my soulmate
CH. 3 Soon!! Please Review….