A.N. - Thank you Lara but, unfortunately, asking doesn't always work = (. Ah well.

Chapter 11

" How It Happened"

Kate Summers knew she was attractive - stylish shoulder-length hair and icy blue eyes like her sister Darla, but with an innocent glow that could only come from hanging around someone like her cousin Buffy. She had just turned 20 and wanted nothing more than to be out clubbing but instead she sat in her living room, surrounded by members of her gang.

*Her* gang.

God, she loved those words.

Angelus, Ryan, Paul, and Spike lounged on the couch across from her while Buffy, Kendra, and Faith sat by her. *Like loyal puppies,* she thought with a smirk. The boys were joking about something perverted and Faith and Kendra sat with Buffy in between them, braiding her waist-length hair.

Kate squashed the feeling of resentment she felt rising. *Everyone loves Buffy.* She knew that if Buffy were a little older than her 14 years, she'd have been chosen as the new leader. As it was, Kate only got the job because no one was old enough to have a weapon or whiskey in their possession. Fifteen-year-old Angelus was the closest but, thankfully, he still had two years.

She sighed and looked in Angelus' direction and was surprised to find him staring back. She licked her dry lips and turned a little, unconsciously thrusting her chest outward to try and make him share the feelings of lust she'd had for him. She was willing to overlook the five-year age difference if he was.

He mouthed 'kitchen' to her and she found herself walking away from the idle chatting.

He pressed her against the fridge, "I've been thinking . . . and I think I may be in love with you," his face was unreadable, completely devoid of expression except for an odd gleam in his dark eyes.

*Hope? Love,* she wondered as she gazed starry-eyed at him.

He leaned forward as she tilted her head back . . .

Buffy had chosen that moment to walk in, interrupting them and hadn't noticed the look of relief Angelus had sent her.

****

Angelus had been their "contact" guy. But while he was busy romancing Kate for some ungodly reason, Buffy and Faith had worked at building their own contacts. Over the months, things between Kate and Angelus seemed to be heating up but the relationship that seemed to spring up overnight left a queasy feeling in the pit of Buffy's stomach.

One day, he'd shocked everyone but her by announcing that he was breaking away from the gang to form his own . . .

Kate was blubbering on the couch when Buffy and Kendra walked in carrying shopping bags.

"What's the matter," Buffy rushed to her side while Kendra stayed close to the door.

"Angelus . . . he . . . he . . . he . . . he broke up with me," Kate bawled and clung to Buffy.

"Maybe he was tired of being with someone old enough to be his mother," Kendra muttered.

Buffy shot her a disapproving glare but continued to try to comfort Kate, "Did he say why?"

Kate stopped sniffling, "He said that he wanted to keep me occupied so that I wouldn't find out that he planned on leaving to start his own gang. And . . . that he was tried of hanging around someone so much older than he was."

"That bastard," Kendra faked outrage.

"Is that all," Buffy asked sympathetically.

"Yes," Kate resumed her sniffling.

Of course, she managed to leave out that he also wanted an excuse to be near Buffy. And that he believed having power was the key to impressing Buffy.

Kate hadn't realized that by feigning a broken heart for attention, she'd hurt the only person that thought highly of her. Nor did she realize that she'd planted a deep-rooted hatred for Angelus in Buffy's heart. But then, she wouldn't have cared.

But, luckily, the dislike only lasted three years . . .

****

Next up...An explanation for the chaos that is Liz =P

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease review!