CHAPTER ELEVEN - 'The Beat'

Buffy walked back from the canteen to her desk where at the moment she had very little to do she had finished telling Willow the story of her great romance but it still felt very unfinished.

As she opened up the file containing the plans for the launch of the new 'FrannyB' line her mind wandered back to the night of Angel's party.

"Funny how drama always seemed to start at his parties." Buffy giggled to herself.

~~~ FLASHBACK ~~~

Buffy checked herself in the mirror of the passenger side visor noting that she looked good. A few days a go she would have never of dreamed that anything like that would ever happen between them but then that phone call from Anya had really made her think about she wanted from life.

"Well maybe not what I want, but it's what I need right know." Buffy said to her self as she opened the car door and stepped out.

She walked up the path and reached the door, her heart was pounding and all she wanted to do was get a little drunk so that she would have the confidence to do what she needed to do. But that was not going to happen Buffy had promised her self that this was the start of the new her and that included no more getting drunk.

A second or two after she'd knocked the door began to open and there he was - the face of her salvation.

"Hi Buffy come in." Angel greeted her.

"Hey thanks for the invite." She replied with her best mile wide bright smile.

Buffy walked past Angel and looked around it wasn't the party she'd expected from Angel. Normally his partied included numerous people that no one really knew drinking until they were sick and loud music blasting from every speaker they could get together. This was defiantly different, low music with Lindsey, Riley, Gunn, a random girl and Anya sat on his sofa's chatting.

'Boy am I glad that I didn't over do the outfit' Buffy thought to herself as she noted the casual feel of the house.

"Good Buffy you're here, come and sit down." Anya beckoned.

"Why didn't you get a ride with me?" Buffy asked her friend.

"Your car smells." Anya replied bluntly.

Buffy's face screwed up in confusion, "Huh?" Then she lifted her head a little higher, "No it doesn't."

Buffy looked around at the people in the room, it felt so strange to back with them after a year of no contact. She didn't know the girl with Gunn and was slightly puzzled why no one had bothered to introduce them.

It was with that Angel came up behind her and filled in the blanks, "Seeing as how it looks like no one else is going to do it, Buffy this Winifred Gunn's girlfriend."

"Fred if you don't mind Angel." Fred spoke up with a shy smile.

"Hi Fred I'm Buffy."

"Yeah I've heard a lot about you from Angel." Fred said.

Buffy arched one eyebrow and turned to Angel, "Oh yeah and what have you been saying about me?" She asked jokingly sounding just a touch defensive.

"All good stuff." Angel said with deep smouldering smile aimed right at Buffy.

"As if it would be anything but good!" Lindsey chimed in earning himself a glare from Angel.

It was then that the air in the room became slightly uncomfortable, Buffy had decided that she would give Angel a try because he was a good guy and he wouldn't hurt her the way she'd been hurt before.

~*~

Over an hour had passed off general catching up and chatting and Buffy was frustrated her normal care free confidence had disappeared and she hadn't been able to give Angel any 'special' attention.

'I've got to get him on his own' she thought as she watched him change the CD in the player.

"I'm just going to the bathroom." Buffy announced loud enough for Angel to her hoping that he'd take the opportunity to follow her so they could get to grips with this situation.

Walking up the stairs she could feel her heart pounding, her eyes desperate to turn around and see if he'd taken her cue. He hadn't so she closed the bathroom door and sat on the toilet seat for a moment because she didn't really need to pee but had to make it look that's what she'd been doing.

'Oh well looks like I need another plan!" Buffy noted as she opened the door ready to head back down stairs.

It was the moment she stepped forward that her body came into contact with a large obstacle, lifting her head her eyes came into contact with Angel.

Her breathing became heavier and her heartbeat became faster and she really didn't know what to say, "Sorry." She mumbled.

"It's ok."

Taking a deep breath she opened her mouth, "I had an interesting conversation with Anya the other day."

"I was wondering when you'd say something about that." Angel said.

"Well it's a joke right?" Buffy asked wanting to make sure she had all the facts correct before making a fool of her self.

All signs of hope crumpled from Angel's face, "It was just a thought but I understand." He said sounding really disappointed and it was at that point that Buffy realized how what she had just said must have sounded.

"No, no I didn't mean it like that Angel, I just meant that well you know I thought it might be a cheap joke at my expense." Buffy rambled not able to look into his eyes.

"So you mean" Angel started but before he could finish Buffy had lifted herself up onto her tip toes and leaned into kiss him.

TBC.