A/N: You guys have been really cool with the reviewing and all. I so owe all of you major hugs. Now sit back and relax with this chapter. Enjoy!
CHAPTER 22
Dru sat on a headstone in the cemetery she, Spike, and Angel had been in before. Friday had managed to come so quickly that week. The night air was fresh and gentle as it batted Dru's hair lightly. Abruptly, a hand popped up from below the headstone Dru sat on, slowly rising hire to reveal a vampire fledgling. The newborn vampire turned around, ready to strike Dru.
Suddenly, Dru reached back and decked the vampire in the face, making him fall backward. "Poor effort," Dru commented. Spike and Angel ran up to the scene then, stakes ready. "You know, boys, I do get the visions. I shouldn't have to sit here all night waiting for these weak fledges to awaken."
"I would do it, baby, but I don't have the patience you do," Spike explained.
"Yeah," said Angel. "I would do it, too, you know, if I actually wanted to."
Before Dru could reply the vampire from before leapt onto her back. The teenaged girl immediately tossed him off, causing him to land flat on his back once more. Spike made a chivalrous attempt to stand before his girl before the young vamp got up again. Angel dashed up next and swung his stake downward, attempting to stab the younger vampire in the chest. Taking hold of the stake before it could make contact, the vampire managed to toss Angel off. Finally, Spike stepped up to the plate and got the hunk of wood right through the vampire's chest, immediately dusting him.
"I could of done that," Angel said, going to rejoin them. "I just chose not to."
"Right, mate," Spike said with an eye roll. "Nothing broken?"
"All four limbs," Angel replied. "But I did notice something."
"That I shouldn't have to sit around and wait for the vampires to awaken?" Dru asked hopefully.
"Fred," Angel called. Spike and Dru exchanged a look. What was he talking about? "Fred! I know you're there. Come out."
Slowly, Fred's head poked out from behind a large stone casket. She gave the three vampire teens a sheepish smile before getting up and walking out to approach them. Angel folded his arms and gave Fred a stern look, clearly showing that he wasn't too pleased.
"Hi, y'all," Fred greeted, her southern accent coming out fully. "See, I was just walking home and funny how I just run into you all. Isn't that funny?" Fred let off a hysterical laugh while the other three teens stayed somber. "All right, not the funny," Fred muttered.
"Well, as much as I'd like to stick around for this I have somewhere to be," said Dru, turning and walking off.
Spike headed after her. "Where you off to, pet?"
"The game at school," Dru replied. "I'm going with Charles Gunn."
Spike stopped in his tracks and took a moment to digest the information. "Charles Gunn?" he repeated. "You mean that larger than life, bald headed wanker?"
Dru giggled softly. "Do you hear yourself, Spike? Listen, I'm just going to the stupid game with him. It's nothing to get your knickers in a twist about."
"My knickers are not in a twist," Spike said mockingly.
"Well, guess we should leave them to argue, huh?" Fred suggested to Angel then started to walk.
Angel immediately grabbed hold of her wrist. "Stop," he said simply.
"OK," Fred sighed. "What?"
"What?" Angel repeated. "Fred, you can't follow us on these jobs. It's dangerous."
"Well, I just want to see what makes you tick is all," Fred explained. "I mean, let me into your world, OK?"
"My world is too risky for me to even be living in."
"Angel," Fred pouted. "Come on. How bad can it be?"
"What if I think about it?" Angel offered.
"All I ask," Fred smiled in triumph.
"Now come on," Angel said. "Let's get you home."
"I thought that maybe we could go to the school game," said Fred. "Come on, Angel. It'll be fun."
"Fine," Angel sighed grudgingly.
Meanwhile, at the school gym the basketball game was starting and everyone was filing in. Buffy sat warming up with the other dance squad members, all clad in uniform. Gunn entered the large gym through the smaller one, glancing at Cordelia, who was with the other cheerleaders. The brown haired girl shot hit a sneer, which Gunn immediately shrugged off. Lindsey entered next and immediately spotted Buffy, shooting her a large smile and a wave. Buffy unwillingly waved back and forced on a smile.
"Hey, Wes," Gunn greeted, sitting next to his friend on the bleachers. "Feeling better?"
"Well, I don't feel worse," Wesley replied with a little grin, obviously still thankful for Gunn spending the whole weekend with him.
"Hey, Dru," Gunn called down as the sixteen-year-old girl entered the gym.
Dru slowly made her way up the bleachers and took a seat on the other side of Gunn. "Hi," she greeted then noticed Wesley. "Hey, I'm Dru Dunn."
"Wesley Wyndam-Pryce," Wesley returned the greeting, holding out his hand formally.
Dru shook Wesley's hand as Lindsey came up to the bleachers and sat below Gunn and the others. "Hey, guys," said Lindsey then saw Dru. "And who's this?" he asked as if he didn't already know.
"Dru Dunn," Dru addressed. "Are you Lindsey McDonald? I hear you're on the baseball team. Do you do OK?"
"Pretty good," Lindsey shrugged modestly. He suddenly frowned. "What's he doing here?"
Dru, Gunn, and Wesley glanced to see whom Lindsey was talking about. Angel had just entered the gymnasium with Fred. The two of them took a seat at the far end of the bleachers.
"Well, it is their school, too," Wesley reminded everyone.
"I would have to agree there," said Dru.
"Angel got some real nerve," Gunn said. "Coming up in here after what he did to you, Wes."
"You still have that theory that Angel put Spike up to that thing on Friday?" Wesley asked his friend.
"Shoot, I wouldn't put it past him," said Gunn. "Look at him. All tall, don't talk to nobody except pale, frail Fred. The brother is hiding something."
"What's this about Spike?" Dru asked, wondering what all the negative conversation about her boyfriend was about.
"Spike did that to Wesley," Gunn said, pointing at the bandage Wes wore on his forehead.
"It was an accident," Wesley said at the same time Dru stated, "Wasn't that an accident?"
"Shh," Gunn hushed suddenly. "Buffy's coming on."
Buffy and the other dance squad members ran out to the middle of the gym and stood in position; the captain stood in front, Buffy and another girl stood behind her, and three more stood in the back. The five of them began their dance routine, which was pretty precise, considering the amount of practice they constantly put in. Cheers and applauds came from the audience, especially from the male members of the student body.
When they were in the middle of the routine, Buffy noticed Angel, who was staring right at her. Thinking now would be a good time to prove what she was made of; Buffy stepped up in her routine, going better than ever. All of a sudden, the girl gasped and toppled over, landing front first. The entire gym became quiet with that and the other dance squad members stopped to see if Buffy was all right. Buffy sat up, her cheeks completely red. Now what would Angel think of her?
Once the game finally ended, everyone began to track out of the gym. Buffy remained where she was on a bench while the other dance squad members headed out. Cordelia and the other cheerleaders passed by next.
"Great routine, Buff," said Cordelia dryly. "Really blew 'em away." The other cheerleaders let off laughs at the joke, but Buffy said nothing.
"Don't even listen, Buffy," Wesley's voice sounded as he, Gunn, Dru, and Lindsey went to gather around her. "You were marvelous out there."
"Thanks," Buffy smiled at him weakly. "You're really, really lying, but thanks."
"Don't even listen to Cordelia Chase," said Gunn, dropping down next to Buffy and putting an arm around her. "The girl's a hater. She knows you are all that, a bag of chips, and a juice on the side."
Buffy giggled at that. "Thanks."
"I don't think we've met formally," said Dru. "I'm Dru Dunn. Buffy Summers, right?"
Buffy nodded. "Yeah. Nice to meet you, Dru."
"Buffy," Lindsey spoke up, getting the blonde girl's attention. "If you're ready I can walk you home if you like."
"Oh. Lindsey, I…" Buffy trailed off, watching as Angel and Fred were heading out of the gym. "I have to go."
Buffy shot up from her seat and sped off after Angel. Gunn called after, but she just kept going. Lindsey watched as Buffy dashed away, a disappointed throb making its way into his heart.
"Angel," Buffy called, catching up with him in the hallway of the school, causing he and Fred to stop in their tracks. "Hey. Hey, Fred."
"Buffy," Angel acknowledged. "Hi."
"Hi, Buffy," Fred smiled cheerfully at the blonde. She watched the two older teenagers before her, holding an awkward silence yet never taking their eyes off each other. "Um, right. Angel, I'll be in front of the school, OK?"
"OK," Angel nodded at Fred then watched her go before turning back to Buffy. "I noticed you at the game." Buffy's face fell, completely ashamed. "No, no. You were good. Really you were."
Buffy smiled at him. "Yeah. I think I overdid it just a little with the practicing."
"Maybe just a little," Angel returned her smile.
The two of them let off a light laugh then continued to talk.
Unknown to either of them, Lindsey stood staring at them from the doorway leading into the gym, anger radiating off of him in heavy waves.