Author: Emba
Disclaimer: Not mine. And if it were, you would know it.
Authors Note: This is in Buffy's POV again, I'm still thinking about writing in Angel's. Maybe in the next chapter.
*
It's finally my senior year of high school at Sunnydale High. It's not the best high school by far, especially to me. Do you know how many times I've been called Bunny? My name is Buffy, Buffy Summers. Its not a common name but who has a common name these days?
I'm walking up to school, searching for a familiar face.
"Hey, Buffy! Over here!" I turn around to see my second best friends Willow Rosenburg and Xander Harris sitting on a stone bench.
Willow beams at me as I sit beside her. "Hi! Aren't you excited? It's senior year! SENIOR year! We're seniors, I mean actual seniors...we're no longer lowly freshmen or sophomores...or juniors! I can't wait to find out what our first assignment is!" Willow is a great example of your classic bookworm. She loves school and anything research related. If I'm in dire need of a study buddy, Willow's always there.
"Have you ever heard the word 'senior' used that many times..." Xander pauses, "Ever?" Xander is almost the exact opposite of Willow, he's not interested in school as much and he likes to crack inappropriate but still funny jokes. It's why we all love him. "No I don't think I have." I say, smiling at them. "What'd you guys do all summer? How was New York, Will?"
"Oh, it was great! There were lots of museums! And some people there, like the few cab drivers I met, were not as cheery as I thought they'd be." She replies gravely, shaking her head at the memory. "How was your summer? And when did you get your hair cut and why was I not informed?"
I unconsciously lift one hand to feel my short, shoulder length blonde hair. "I got my hair cut...a few weeks ago. And my summer was boring, as every Sunnydale summer is."
"Hah! What'd you do all summer? Play cards with Angel?" Xander laughs. I scowl at him, my eyes narrowing. "Maybe. Maybe not. Just because Angel isn't your favorite person doesn't mean you can make fun. And, why again, don't you like him?"
Xander shrugs and shakes his head. "Because."
Willow rolls of green eyes at him. "You just don't like him because--" She stops when she sees Angel is approaching us.
"Hey, guys. What're you talking about?" He asks, curious at our silence in his presence.
"Hi, Angel!" Willow squeaks, nervously.
When Willow gets guilty, nervous, or drinks too much coffee, she gets jumpy. She almost acts like that weird bar owner down in bad part of town...Willy, I think his name was. Once, I dared Angel to prank call him and--
Digression again. I need to stop it with that.
When I return back to reality, both Xander and Angel are sharing menacing glares and Willow looks worried. And me? Well, I'm wearing my usual expression of confusion. I really should stop going off in to my own world and missing a, most likely, important conversation.
The bell rings and the sound of feet shuffling to the front doors interrupts our silence. Willow brightens visibly; smiling so hard you'd think her jaw would break. "Ah! The first bell of senior year!" She links our arms and drags me toward the door.
"Buffy, you gotta tell me everything about this summer. Like, if anything with Angel happened!" I swear I think the screamed that last part. Sheesh!
"Shhhh!!!!" I hush her, and bring my index finger over my mouth for a dramatic gesture. "Maybe we could be a little more secretive about that, Will." I say in a low voice.
It's finally my senior year of high school at Sunnydale High. It's not the best high school by far, especially to me. Do you know how many times I've been called Bunny? My name is Buffy, Buffy Summers. Its not a common name but who has a common name these days?
I'm walking up to school, searching for a familiar face.
"Hey, Buffy! Over here!" I turn around to see my second best friends Willow Rosenburg and Xander Harris sitting on a stone bench.
Willow beams at me as I sit beside her. "Hi! Aren't you excited? It's senior year! SENIOR year! We're seniors, I mean actual seniors...we're no longer lowly freshmen or sophomores...or juniors! I can't wait to find out what our first assignment is!" Willow is a great example of your classic bookworm. She loves school and anything research related. If I'm in dire need of a study buddy, Willow's always there.
"Have you ever heard the word 'senior' used that many times..." Xander pauses, "Ever?" Xander is almost the exact opposite of Willow, he's not interested in school as much and he likes to crack inappropriate but still funny jokes. It's why we all love him. "No I don't think I have." I say, smiling at them. "What'd you guys do all summer? How was New York, Will?"
"Oh, it was great! There were lots of museums! And some people there, like the few cab drivers I met, were not as cheery as I thought they'd be." She replies gravely, shaking her head at the memory. "How was your summer? And when did you get your hair cut and why was I not informed?"
I unconsciously lift one hand to feel my short, shoulder length blonde hair. "I got my hair cut...a few weeks ago. And my summer was boring, as every Sunnydale summer is."
"Hah! What'd you do all summer? Play cards with Angel?" Xander laughs. I scowl at him, my eyes narrowing. "Maybe. Maybe not. Just because Angel isn't your favorite person doesn't mean you can make fun. And, why again, don't you like him?"
Xander shrugs and shakes his head. "Because."
Willow rolls of green eyes at him. "You just don't like him because--" She stops when she sees Angel is approaching us.
"Hey, guys. What're you talking about?" He asks, curious at our silence in his presence.
"Hi, Angel!" Willow squeaks, nervously.
When Willow gets guilty, nervous, or drinks too much coffee, she gets jumpy. She almost acts like that weird bar owner down in bad part of town...Willy, I think his name was. Once, I dared Angel to prank call him and--
Digression again. I need to stop it with that.
When I return back to reality, both Xander and Angel are sharing menacing glares and Willow looks worried. And me? Well, I'm wearing my usual expression of confusion. I really should stop going off in to my own world and missing a, most likely, important conversation.
The bell rings and the sound of feet shuffling to the front doors interrupts our silence. Willow brightens visibly; smiling so hard you'd think her jaw would break. "Ah! The first bell of senior year!" She links our arms and drags me toward the door.
"Buffy, you gotta tell me everything about this summer. Like, if anything with Angel happened!" I swear I think the screamed that last part. Sheesh!
"Shhhh!!!!" I hush her, and bring my index finger over my mouth for a dramatic gesture. "Maybe we could be a little more secretive about that, Will." I say in a low voice.
She nods, "Oh, right. Sorry." I sigh and shake my head. "And notta on the Angel front. What do you think would happen?" Willow is the only person I have ever told about my long time crush on Angel. She understand, having once had a crush on Xander.
"I'm not sure. But, I thought he'd get the hint or something. Because, you know, you two were alone all summer." She replies, frowning.
We walk toward our lockers, stopping to open them up. "Believe me, I've dropped anvils. I've dropped freakin' pianos! But, obviously, that only works in cartoons."
"Ooh! Like that road runner one, when the coyote orders that anvil from Acme and...." She stops, seeing the look I'm shooting her. "Right, back to the subject: Angel is bad with hints."
I frown and nod, soaking in that fact. Then force a smile to cover up my obvious sadness. No way am I going to bring Willow down on the first day of school. "But, moving on, how was your summer? New York good?"
She smiles her usual bright, girlish smile. Sometimes, Willow really amazes me with her enthusiasm and zest for life. She's always been cheery, ever since I met her. We've known each other since fifth grade, when we both bumped in to each other, causing us to bang heads. We were both sporting bruises for a week. After that, I had had my first girl best friend. Angel was always my best friend, but I could never share with him girl stuff. For instance, like me liking a guy. Or hmm...let me think...me being in love with...*him*!
Willow went on about how New York was fantastic. She described each museum she went to in full detail. Believe me when I say 'full'. She told me the colors of walls, the names of her tour guides, and each sculpture that stuck in her mind. I love Willow, really, but I almost fell asleep. Museums just aren't my thing...I guess.
"Anyway, the exhibit of--"
"Oh, Will, I gotta go. To class. So, I will see you..uh, later!" I blurt out and dash to class. That was a close one, maybe she'll forget about the how thing at lunch... or maybe Ozzy Osbourne will paint the town red. Notice my sarcasm.
*
"Have you seen Angel yet, Harmony?" Is what I hear whispered in the back of the room. I turn to find Cordelia Chase leaning across a desk, talking to Harmony Kendall.
Harmony shakes her nothing-but-air head. "No! Why?"
Cordelia smirks at her, "Because, I was right! A tan does look *wonderful* on him." They both giggle and I feel like getting an axe and....well, maybe I shouldn't finish that thought.
Cordelia has had her eye on Angel ever since our first year of high school. She hasn't asked him out yet, probably because she doesn't like how he hangs out with 'losers'. Anyone who doesn't wear practically the same thing as Cordelia or the rest of her brain washed bunch, are classified as a 'loser' or a 'freak'. I bet you Cordy is wishing and hoping he'll ditch Willow, Xander, and I. She's probably counting the days.
"But, anyway, I'm planning on asking him to join us at the Bronze tonight. Ya know, a get together. Maybe then he'll find out he likes us better than the rejects he calls friends." Cordelia continues, grinning like the Chesire Cat.
I sigh, and stare at the board in front of me. What do I have to be worried about? Angel's my best friend, he would never ditch me. Not even for the most popular girl in school. Not even to hang out with the captain of the football team... Not even-- Oh, what's the use?! I am *so* worried about this! Maybe Angel will restore my faith in him and reject Cordelia, and instead tell me his undying love for me....
When did I get so sarcastic and delusional?
Eh, well. Maybe I better start paying attention to class. Emphasis on maybe.
*
Sunnydale High's cafeteria meals are almost gourmet...except it's totally not. They're not even close. Not that many high school cafeteria's are wonderful when it comes to food, but here in Sunnydale, if you think you're looking at mashed potatoes you may really be looking at the 'surprise' of the week. Don't even ask me what the 'surprise' is or what it has in it because, no one has ever figured it out. There's a new surprise every week. Xander and I test it out, and try to narrow down the options of what it could be made of.
"What's the surprise this week?" I ask, moving along the lunch line next to Xander.
"Don't know. Something with a vegetable back round. Or...that could be food coloring." Xander answers, eyeing the food warily.
We both sit down at a table with our trays. My tray only has jello (I think it's jello) and an apple. Xander's tray is quite different. He has everything on it. A hamburger, a soda, some carrots, burnt fries, and more. It's a wonder that he doesn't gain large proportions of weight every week.
"Buffster, aren't ya gonna eat?" He asks, already munching on the 'surprise' of the week that looks like shriveled up onions. I look down at my food, and take a bite of the apple, and try to give Xander an encouraged smile. He smiles back, with something else in his eyes that I can't quite recognize.
Maybe it's... "Hey you guys! How were your classes? Were they good? Mine were good! Ms. Calendar asked me to fill in for her next week because she's going on vacation with..some guy. I think it was the librarian. Ya know, the one with the British accent? The guy that we always see in the teachers lounge but we didn't even know he worked here, 'cause we NEVER see him, but I did and--"
"Will! Calm yourself. You know you can take a breath every now and then." I say, interrupting Willow's ramble. I give her a smile to take off the edge in my voice. It doesn't seem to work because she frowns at me. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing! I'm cheerier than..." Think! What's REALLY cheery? "...a chipmunk!" Oh, yes. Good thinking, Summers. That was in no way humiliating and stupid.
Willow eyed me cautiously as she pondered something for a moment. "You lack a guy."
"Gee, that wouldn't be painfully obvious, would it?" I say, my voice full of sarcasm and gloom. This is so depressing. Maybe I should get a dog...
Xander just finished polishing off his third jello (one of them mine), and finally throws in a comment. "Yeah! A guy that's always there for you. Who makes you laugh and sits in front of you in biology." He says quickly, "Or something like that."
Xander said that a little too quickly...good thing I don't know what he was talking about. Right now, Willow is jabbering about how I can look around at the senior men, and choose one, because she thinks each one would love to go out with me. "I can't just ask someone out! I'd like to stay out of public humility, thank you." I say incredulously.
"Yeah! She can't ask *anyone* out. At all. Ever."
Willow goes on, choosing to ignore Xander. "Come on, Buffy. Look over there! It's Scott Hope. He's been moonin' over you for years. Ask him out!"
I sigh heavily. "I'm perfectly fine just the way I am. Single and hanging out with my friends. That's just fine with me." I shoot back at Willow.
"See, Will? She's just fine with being single! Just like me. I'm so single it's weird. I mean, you could just write 'SINGLE' on my head for uh... information for others who are single. Like you and me, Buff!"
Willow shakes her head at me, as she frowns. "Come on, you have to move on. He's stupid. He's very...very stupid. He's a big stupid guy! You have to get over him." I knew exactly whom she was talking about.
Apparently, Xander does not. "Willow, have you been drinking coffee again? What are you guys talking about?"
"Angel." Willow replied, simply. My eyes widened instantly, and I gaped at her. What happened to 'secrets'? They're there to be secretive. That's why they're secrets, dammit! Oh, I can't wait to hear what Xander has to say about this. He's either going to laugh or scowl the rest of the day. Angel has that effect on him...Strange.
Willow glances at my apologetically and we both look at Xander, who replies. "Yeah, there's Angel walking over here now... But, I don't see what that has to do with any of this. Jeez! Do we have to announce his arrival all of the time?"
I finally breathe a sigh of relief. That was the closest my secret ever came to coming out. Good thing Xander's mind only concentrates on food and naked women. "Hi!" I greet Angel, patting the seat next to me. He smiles gently in return and says in his 'I've-been-brooding-forever' voice, "Hey."
"Something wrong, Angel-pie? Are all those girls making googly eyes at you finally annoying you? Because, gee, how horrible it is to be the object of everyone's affection." Xander says, his voice taunting Angel.
I've never figured out why Xander hates Angel so much. Is it because he's so *incredibly* hot? Or because when you look in his brown eyes, it just makes you crave chocolate? Possibly it's because... Never mind. The list could go on 'til the cows leave home...or was it come home? Whatever, the point is, the list could go on forever. And yet, I still don't understand. Maybe I'm just incredibly dense.
"How would you know about being the object of *anyone's* affection, Xander?" Angel asks, smirking slightly. Ha! That was a pretty good comeback.
Xander glares at him and frowns because he can't think of a comment on that one.
Willow to the rescue... "Anyway! How was your day so far, Angel?" She asks.
He sits next to me and shrugs. "As good as school ever is."
Suddenly, I hear the clunk of huge high heels approach us. Oh crap. I know the sound of those heels. It's Cordelia. "Angel!" She says as she comes closer, almost looming over our table. "I have a question to ask you."
Angel's eyes narrow in suspicion, but curiosity obviously has won him over when he asks, "What would that be?"
This is the moment I have been dreading ever since.well, forever.
"How about you go to the Bronze with me and my friends tonight?"
TBC.
PLEASE REVIEW! Thank you to Meg (I'm glad you enjoyed my first chapter, hopefully this one is even better), Anne, Julie, Andrea, Amanda, Emy Bear, and Angel Davis! You have no idea how much your encouragement means to me!
Disclaimer: Not mine. And if it were, you would know it.
Authors Note: This is in Buffy's POV again, I'm still thinking about writing in Angel's. Maybe in the next chapter.
*
It's finally my senior year of high school at Sunnydale High. It's not the best high school by far, especially to me. Do you know how many times I've been called Bunny? My name is Buffy, Buffy Summers. Its not a common name but who has a common name these days?
I'm walking up to school, searching for a familiar face.
"Hey, Buffy! Over here!" I turn around to see my second best friends Willow Rosenburg and Xander Harris sitting on a stone bench.
Willow beams at me as I sit beside her. "Hi! Aren't you excited? It's senior year! SENIOR year! We're seniors, I mean actual seniors...we're no longer lowly freshmen or sophomores...or juniors! I can't wait to find out what our first assignment is!" Willow is a great example of your classic bookworm. She loves school and anything research related. If I'm in dire need of a study buddy, Willow's always there.
"Have you ever heard the word 'senior' used that many times..." Xander pauses, "Ever?" Xander is almost the exact opposite of Willow, he's not interested in school as much and he likes to crack inappropriate but still funny jokes. It's why we all love him. "No I don't think I have." I say, smiling at them. "What'd you guys do all summer? How was New York, Will?"
"Oh, it was great! There were lots of museums! And some people there, like the few cab drivers I met, were not as cheery as I thought they'd be." She replies gravely, shaking her head at the memory. "How was your summer? And when did you get your hair cut and why was I not informed?"
I unconsciously lift one hand to feel my short, shoulder length blonde hair. "I got my hair cut...a few weeks ago. And my summer was boring, as every Sunnydale summer is."
"Hah! What'd you do all summer? Play cards with Angel?" Xander laughs. I scowl at him, my eyes narrowing. "Maybe. Maybe not. Just because Angel isn't your favorite person doesn't mean you can make fun. And, why again, don't you like him?"
Xander shrugs and shakes his head. "Because."
Willow rolls of green eyes at him. "You just don't like him because--" She stops when she sees Angel is approaching us.
"Hey, guys. What're you talking about?" He asks, curious at our silence in his presence.
"Hi, Angel!" Willow squeaks, nervously.
When Willow gets guilty, nervous, or drinks too much coffee, she gets jumpy. She almost acts like that weird bar owner down in bad part of town...Willy, I think his name was. Once, I dared Angel to prank call him and--
Digression again. I need to stop it with that.
When I return back to reality, both Xander and Angel are sharing menacing glares and Willow looks worried. And me? Well, I'm wearing my usual expression of confusion. I really should stop going off in to my own world and missing a, most likely, important conversation.
The bell rings and the sound of feet shuffling to the front doors interrupts our silence. Willow brightens visibly; smiling so hard you'd think her jaw would break. "Ah! The first bell of senior year!" She links our arms and drags me toward the door.
"Buffy, you gotta tell me everything about this summer. Like, if anything with Angel happened!" I swear I think the screamed that last part. Sheesh!
"Shhhh!!!!" I hush her, and bring my index finger over my mouth for a dramatic gesture. "Maybe we could be a little more secretive about that, Will." I say in a low voice.
It's finally my senior year of high school at Sunnydale High. It's not the best high school by far, especially to me. Do you know how many times I've been called Bunny? My name is Buffy, Buffy Summers. Its not a common name but who has a common name these days?
I'm walking up to school, searching for a familiar face.
"Hey, Buffy! Over here!" I turn around to see my second best friends Willow Rosenburg and Xander Harris sitting on a stone bench.
Willow beams at me as I sit beside her. "Hi! Aren't you excited? It's senior year! SENIOR year! We're seniors, I mean actual seniors...we're no longer lowly freshmen or sophomores...or juniors! I can't wait to find out what our first assignment is!" Willow is a great example of your classic bookworm. She loves school and anything research related. If I'm in dire need of a study buddy, Willow's always there.
"Have you ever heard the word 'senior' used that many times..." Xander pauses, "Ever?" Xander is almost the exact opposite of Willow, he's not interested in school as much and he likes to crack inappropriate but still funny jokes. It's why we all love him. "No I don't think I have." I say, smiling at them. "What'd you guys do all summer? How was New York, Will?"
"Oh, it was great! There were lots of museums! And some people there, like the few cab drivers I met, were not as cheery as I thought they'd be." She replies gravely, shaking her head at the memory. "How was your summer? And when did you get your hair cut and why was I not informed?"
I unconsciously lift one hand to feel my short, shoulder length blonde hair. "I got my hair cut...a few weeks ago. And my summer was boring, as every Sunnydale summer is."
"Hah! What'd you do all summer? Play cards with Angel?" Xander laughs. I scowl at him, my eyes narrowing. "Maybe. Maybe not. Just because Angel isn't your favorite person doesn't mean you can make fun. And, why again, don't you like him?"
Xander shrugs and shakes his head. "Because."
Willow rolls of green eyes at him. "You just don't like him because--" She stops when she sees Angel is approaching us.
"Hey, guys. What're you talking about?" He asks, curious at our silence in his presence.
"Hi, Angel!" Willow squeaks, nervously.
When Willow gets guilty, nervous, or drinks too much coffee, she gets jumpy. She almost acts like that weird bar owner down in bad part of town...Willy, I think his name was. Once, I dared Angel to prank call him and--
Digression again. I need to stop it with that.
When I return back to reality, both Xander and Angel are sharing menacing glares and Willow looks worried. And me? Well, I'm wearing my usual expression of confusion. I really should stop going off in to my own world and missing a, most likely, important conversation.
The bell rings and the sound of feet shuffling to the front doors interrupts our silence. Willow brightens visibly; smiling so hard you'd think her jaw would break. "Ah! The first bell of senior year!" She links our arms and drags me toward the door.
"Buffy, you gotta tell me everything about this summer. Like, if anything with Angel happened!" I swear I think the screamed that last part. Sheesh!
"Shhhh!!!!" I hush her, and bring my index finger over my mouth for a dramatic gesture. "Maybe we could be a little more secretive about that, Will." I say in a low voice.
She nods, "Oh, right. Sorry." I sigh and shake my head. "And notta on the Angel front. What do you think would happen?" Willow is the only person I have ever told about my long time crush on Angel. She understand, having once had a crush on Xander.
"I'm not sure. But, I thought he'd get the hint or something. Because, you know, you two were alone all summer." She replies, frowning.
We walk toward our lockers, stopping to open them up. "Believe me, I've dropped anvils. I've dropped freakin' pianos! But, obviously, that only works in cartoons."
"Ooh! Like that road runner one, when the coyote orders that anvil from Acme and...." She stops, seeing the look I'm shooting her. "Right, back to the subject: Angel is bad with hints."
I frown and nod, soaking in that fact. Then force a smile to cover up my obvious sadness. No way am I going to bring Willow down on the first day of school. "But, moving on, how was your summer? New York good?"
She smiles her usual bright, girlish smile. Sometimes, Willow really amazes me with her enthusiasm and zest for life. She's always been cheery, ever since I met her. We've known each other since fifth grade, when we both bumped in to each other, causing us to bang heads. We were both sporting bruises for a week. After that, I had had my first girl best friend. Angel was always my best friend, but I could never share with him girl stuff. For instance, like me liking a guy. Or hmm...let me think...me being in love with...*him*!
Willow went on about how New York was fantastic. She described each museum she went to in full detail. Believe me when I say 'full'. She told me the colors of walls, the names of her tour guides, and each sculpture that stuck in her mind. I love Willow, really, but I almost fell asleep. Museums just aren't my thing...I guess.
"Anyway, the exhibit of--"
"Oh, Will, I gotta go. To class. So, I will see you..uh, later!" I blurt out and dash to class. That was a close one, maybe she'll forget about the how thing at lunch... or maybe Ozzy Osbourne will paint the town red. Notice my sarcasm.
*
"Have you seen Angel yet, Harmony?" Is what I hear whispered in the back of the room. I turn to find Cordelia Chase leaning across a desk, talking to Harmony Kendall.
Harmony shakes her nothing-but-air head. "No! Why?"
Cordelia smirks at her, "Because, I was right! A tan does look *wonderful* on him." They both giggle and I feel like getting an axe and....well, maybe I shouldn't finish that thought.
Cordelia has had her eye on Angel ever since our first year of high school. She hasn't asked him out yet, probably because she doesn't like how he hangs out with 'losers'. Anyone who doesn't wear practically the same thing as Cordelia or the rest of her brain washed bunch, are classified as a 'loser' or a 'freak'. I bet you Cordy is wishing and hoping he'll ditch Willow, Xander, and I. She's probably counting the days.
"But, anyway, I'm planning on asking him to join us at the Bronze tonight. Ya know, a get together. Maybe then he'll find out he likes us better than the rejects he calls friends." Cordelia continues, grinning like the Chesire Cat.
I sigh, and stare at the board in front of me. What do I have to be worried about? Angel's my best friend, he would never ditch me. Not even for the most popular girl in school. Not even to hang out with the captain of the football team... Not even-- Oh, what's the use?! I am *so* worried about this! Maybe Angel will restore my faith in him and reject Cordelia, and instead tell me his undying love for me....
When did I get so sarcastic and delusional?
Eh, well. Maybe I better start paying attention to class. Emphasis on maybe.
*
Sunnydale High's cafeteria meals are almost gourmet...except it's totally not. They're not even close. Not that many high school cafeteria's are wonderful when it comes to food, but here in Sunnydale, if you think you're looking at mashed potatoes you may really be looking at the 'surprise' of the week. Don't even ask me what the 'surprise' is or what it has in it because, no one has ever figured it out. There's a new surprise every week. Xander and I test it out, and try to narrow down the options of what it could be made of.
"What's the surprise this week?" I ask, moving along the lunch line next to Xander.
"Don't know. Something with a vegetable back round. Or...that could be food coloring." Xander answers, eyeing the food warily.
We both sit down at a table with our trays. My tray only has jello (I think it's jello) and an apple. Xander's tray is quite different. He has everything on it. A hamburger, a soda, some carrots, burnt fries, and more. It's a wonder that he doesn't gain large proportions of weight every week.
"Buffster, aren't ya gonna eat?" He asks, already munching on the 'surprise' of the week that looks like shriveled up onions. I look down at my food, and take a bite of the apple, and try to give Xander an encouraged smile. He smiles back, with something else in his eyes that I can't quite recognize.
Maybe it's... "Hey you guys! How were your classes? Were they good? Mine were good! Ms. Calendar asked me to fill in for her next week because she's going on vacation with..some guy. I think it was the librarian. Ya know, the one with the British accent? The guy that we always see in the teachers lounge but we didn't even know he worked here, 'cause we NEVER see him, but I did and--"
"Will! Calm yourself. You know you can take a breath every now and then." I say, interrupting Willow's ramble. I give her a smile to take off the edge in my voice. It doesn't seem to work because she frowns at me. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing! I'm cheerier than..." Think! What's REALLY cheery? "...a chipmunk!" Oh, yes. Good thinking, Summers. That was in no way humiliating and stupid.
Willow eyed me cautiously as she pondered something for a moment. "You lack a guy."
"Gee, that wouldn't be painfully obvious, would it?" I say, my voice full of sarcasm and gloom. This is so depressing. Maybe I should get a dog...
Xander just finished polishing off his third jello (one of them mine), and finally throws in a comment. "Yeah! A guy that's always there for you. Who makes you laugh and sits in front of you in biology." He says quickly, "Or something like that."
Xander said that a little too quickly...good thing I don't know what he was talking about. Right now, Willow is jabbering about how I can look around at the senior men, and choose one, because she thinks each one would love to go out with me. "I can't just ask someone out! I'd like to stay out of public humility, thank you." I say incredulously.
"Yeah! She can't ask *anyone* out. At all. Ever."
Willow goes on, choosing to ignore Xander. "Come on, Buffy. Look over there! It's Scott Hope. He's been moonin' over you for years. Ask him out!"
I sigh heavily. "I'm perfectly fine just the way I am. Single and hanging out with my friends. That's just fine with me." I shoot back at Willow.
"See, Will? She's just fine with being single! Just like me. I'm so single it's weird. I mean, you could just write 'SINGLE' on my head for uh... information for others who are single. Like you and me, Buff!"
Willow shakes her head at me, as she frowns. "Come on, you have to move on. He's stupid. He's very...very stupid. He's a big stupid guy! You have to get over him." I knew exactly whom she was talking about.
Apparently, Xander does not. "Willow, have you been drinking coffee again? What are you guys talking about?"
"Angel." Willow replied, simply. My eyes widened instantly, and I gaped at her. What happened to 'secrets'? They're there to be secretive. That's why they're secrets, dammit! Oh, I can't wait to hear what Xander has to say about this. He's either going to laugh or scowl the rest of the day. Angel has that effect on him...Strange.
Willow glances at my apologetically and we both look at Xander, who replies. "Yeah, there's Angel walking over here now... But, I don't see what that has to do with any of this. Jeez! Do we have to announce his arrival all of the time?"
I finally breathe a sigh of relief. That was the closest my secret ever came to coming out. Good thing Xander's mind only concentrates on food and naked women. "Hi!" I greet Angel, patting the seat next to me. He smiles gently in return and says in his 'I've-been-brooding-forever' voice, "Hey."
"Something wrong, Angel-pie? Are all those girls making googly eyes at you finally annoying you? Because, gee, how horrible it is to be the object of everyone's affection." Xander says, his voice taunting Angel.
I've never figured out why Xander hates Angel so much. Is it because he's so *incredibly* hot? Or because when you look in his brown eyes, it just makes you crave chocolate? Possibly it's because... Never mind. The list could go on 'til the cows leave home...or was it come home? Whatever, the point is, the list could go on forever. And yet, I still don't understand. Maybe I'm just incredibly dense.
"How would you know about being the object of *anyone's* affection, Xander?" Angel asks, smirking slightly. Ha! That was a pretty good comeback.
Xander glares at him and frowns because he can't think of a comment on that one.
Willow to the rescue... "Anyway! How was your day so far, Angel?" She asks.
He sits next to me and shrugs. "As good as school ever is."
Suddenly, I hear the clunk of huge high heels approach us. Oh crap. I know the sound of those heels. It's Cordelia. "Angel!" She says as she comes closer, almost looming over our table. "I have a question to ask you."
Angel's eyes narrow in suspicion, but curiosity obviously has won him over when he asks, "What would that be?"
This is the moment I have been dreading ever since.well, forever.
"How about you go to the Bronze with me and my friends tonight?"
TBC.
PLEASE REVIEW! Thank you to Meg (I'm glad you enjoyed my first chapter, hopefully this one is even better), Anne, Julie, Andrea, Amanda, Emy Bear, and Angel Davis! You have no idea how much your encouragement means to me!