CHAPTER THREE - 'Starting From Scratch'

Buffy was sat at a table for three in 'Papa Mario's' Italian restaurant with Willow and Xander later that evening. She had picked them up and driven them into the centre of Sunnydale for the best cuisine the town had to offer.

She felt usually comfortable with the strange situation.

"I like your ring." Willow said commenting of the ring that now lived on Buffy's right hand.

The smile that had been firmly fixed on Buffy's face all day fell immediately, "Can we get another bottle of wine? House white please." Buffy said catching the attention of the waiter.

"Where did you get it?" Willow continued not noticing how uncomfortable Buffy now looked.

"Oh that, it was my engagement ring." Buffy answered glancing down at the diamond ring.

It was then that willow picked up Buffy's vibe and felt like an idiot for even mentioning it, "I'm sorry."

Buffy looked up at the young women who now looked upset, "Don't be sorry it's not you're fault that he left me." She said as she threw another glass of wine down her neck.

The whole time Xander just watched the scene knowing far too well that when women started having conversations like this it was best to just stay out of it, especially when the conversation involved being screwed over by a man.

Buffy felt a rush of emotional release as the subject was approached, she had spent all day not wanting the new people in her life to know about Angel but it felt good to actually tell them.

Willow really wanted to ask Buffy what had happened, it intrigued her to meet a woman of twenty one who had found the time to get engaged.

Buffy could feel Willow looking at her, she could feel the young woman's eyes wondering what had happened so she decided to take the leap and actually talk about Angel.

"His name was Angel and we were together for just over two years. It was really serious but then one day he decided he didn't love me anymore." Buffy said pouring herself another glass of wine not able to look at Willow or Xander.

"God Buffy that's awful, was there a reason?" Willow asked not wanting to push her too much.

"Well if there was a reason he wouldn't tell me, I did ask him but he said that people change and he couldn't explain it. Thanks Angel." She raised her glass into the air as if to toast her ex. There was an angry edge her voice.

"When did you split up?" Willow continued.

"About two months ago, it was three days after my twenty-first birthday." Buffy said trying to stop her self from crying.

They sat there quite for a moment, and Buffy reflected on what had just happened. For the last two months family and friends had tried to get her to talk about what had happened and she refused and now after knowing these people a day she was pouring her heart out to them. It felt good.

"We'd known each other a long time." Buffy added as she started to think about when she met Angel.

~~~FLASHBACK~~~

Cordy pulled Buffy down the street, "Come on Buff you've got to meet him he's so cute."

Cordy was talking about the man who she had meet only two days earlier but had already decided was going to be her new beau.

"So what's he called?" Buffy asked wondering if the guy had any cute friends she could be set up with.

"Angel, and yes there are plenty of good looking friends for you to get your mitts on." Cordy said as she dragged Buffy into the Bronze.

Before either of them had chance to look around a tall handsome dark haired man was in front of them, "Cordy." He said with appreciative grin.

"Hey Angel, this is my friend Buffy." Cordy said introducing the two.

Buffy looked the guy up and down, he sure was good looking but not really her type he was a little tall and a little too big built but she was please for Cordy he was just her type.

As they were talking two other men approached, and they were both far more Buffy's type. One had dark hair and the other had shocking white bleached hair. Angel looked from the one to another.

"Buffy this is Lindsey." He said motioning to the dark haired man out of the two, "Oh and that's Spike." He said not even sparring a glance at the other man.

Buffy looked up at Spike, he was just her type bright blue eyes and a slender build, she would have to get to work on him.

~~~END FLASHBACK~~~

"Didn't you say it was Angel who you were with?" Willow asked slightly confused at the way the story was going.

"Yeah." Buffy answered.

"Well how did he get from being your friends new beau to your fiancé?" Willow asked still confused.

"Now there's a really long story, we were just friends to start with he helped me out a lot when I was kinda messed up and then things changed for us." Buffy explained her face animated from storytelling.

"So let me guess you and Spike had a thing?" Xander said finally joining the conversation.

"Less of a thing and more of a saga!" Buffy said, "We were together but it was never plain sailing."

Buffy stopped herself from even thinking about Spike, he had been another one that she had fallen for only to find herself left heart broken.

"Look I'm really sorry you guys, we were meant to coming out for a pleasant dinner and I end up giving you the romantic history of my life. It's just that all the things in my life seem to interconnect so there's never a short story!" Buffy said laughing slightly at the situation.

"That's ok Buffy, it all sounds kinda interesting, you'll have to tell us all about when you feel ready." Willow said sounding like she was going to become the best friend Buffy ever had.

"You know what I think I am ready, for the past two months I've been scared to talk to anyone because I thought it would hurt too much but I never guessed that it would feel good to say it all out loud." Buffy commented taking another sip of her wine.

"Well we've got all night go a head." Xander said giving her the go ahead to get it all out.

"Ok then, well after that night....."

TBC.