Disclaimer: See chapter one

Feedback: PLEASE!

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

REMEMBER WHAT I SAID

Angel walked out of the college building, wanting to go home. He'd just had the worst day ever and he wanted to just go home and sleep.

Then he saw a small blonde standing next to his car. Darla was waiting for him.

"I just when I thought it couldn't get worse," he muttered. "I really need to get this over with."

"Hey," Darla said smiling. "My dear boy, are we going out tonight?"

"No," Angel replied simply. "Darla, I have too many things to do."

In his head, he thought, "Above all, avoid you."

"Oh," Darla whispered, stroking his arm. "I was hoping we'd have some fun tonight."

"Ok," Angel replied, brushing her hand off his arm. "I need to tell you something."

"What?" Darla asked, suspicious.

"I don't think we need to see each other anymore," Angel stated. "I'm just, I need some space. You're too clingy and actually, I don't have time for a girlfriend. I have too many thing s to worry about."

"But-"

"No buts," Angel replied, getting into the car. "It's over."

He drove off, leaving Darla standing in the parking lot. He knew she would get over it, she was always messing around.

He really did have to many things to mess with right now. He was having trouble on his job because someone was screwing with his files, he was falling behind in classes because of it, and he hadn't been sleeping much trying to get it all sorted out.

Plus he was worried about Buffy. Last time he talked to her, she had broken up with Spike. She didn't tell him why, and he didn't push, but she also told him that he had trashed her room and was practically stalking her. He was just worried.

He walked up the stairs to his apartment and tried to find his key. Then he heard the phone ringing in his apartment.

"Oh, crap," Angel said and he slid the key into the door. It wouldn't turn. He pushed it again three more times, and the phone continued to ring. Finally the key turned and he ran into the kitchen, throwing his bag and laptop on to the couch as he passed.

He picked up the phone as it rang for at least the tenth time. He had to start remembering to turn the machine on.

"Hello?" he asked.

Then he heard a small voice, full of tears say, "I need you."

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =