Murderer Too Young
Chapter 2: Saturday night gone wrong, so horribly wrong!
The bell for lunch sounded through the halls of Sunnydale High School. Doors swung open, teenagers spilling out. Angel walked out with Buffy from physics class, trying to avoid the madness.
"So where do you want to go for lunch?" Buffy asked, stopping at her locker and putting a couple books inside. Angel shrugged.
"It doesn't matter. Wherever you want to go," he replied. "Uh so listen, Buffy. I, uh, wanted to ask you something.... important."
"Sure, what is it?" Before Angel could continue, they noticed someone walk up to them. Riley Finn, captain of the Sunnydale High football team stood in front of Buffy.
"Hey, Buffy. How are you?" he asked. Angel stood patently, hoping the creep would go away. During PE last year, he would always overhear Riley and his buds boasting about all the girls they slept with. He was going to be damned if he was just going to stand there and let Buffy be his next victim.
"Good, I'm good. So, what's up Riley?" Buffy asked. Angel tried to interrupt but his mouth wouldn't move. Riley looked down, looking like he was working up courage. Angel didn't buy it.
"I was wondering if we could talk. I need to ask you something," he replied. Buffy nodded. Riley glanced over at Angel as if he just realized he was standing there.
"Oh, you don't mind do you Angel? I know you wanted to ask me something but could it wait until later?" she asked. Angel nodded. "Ok then. I will see you later. 6th period ok. You can tell me then." Angel again nodded. Buffy closed her locker and started to leave with Riley.
"Wait!" Angel called out. Both Riley and Buffy stopped and looked back. "What about lunch?" he asked. Riley looked like he was going bust up laughing but Buffy didn't seem to notice the dumbness of the question.
"I'll have to take a rein check on that. Maybe tomorrow 'kay," she apologized nicely, so nicely that it broke Angel's heart. Nodding, he slowly turned around and started to walk away. He could hear her laugh at something Riley said. With clenched fists, he mentally kicked himself for blowing another chance, quite possibly his last chance. He knew if Riley pushed the right buttons and said the right things, Buffy would be taken by the end of the day.
"Well, it looks to me as if someone got in your way," Spike quipped from a corner in the hallway.
"Why are you always rubbing everything in at the worst possible moment?" Angel asked. Spike ignored the question.
"Got your knickers in a twist because Buffy wants to hang out with Macho Man and not you?"
"Is there a sign on my chest letting everyone know what I'm thinking?" Angel asked. Spike chuckled.
"Look, don't be so glum mate! I know Buffy pretty well now and I reckon that she ain't gonna fall for that American Hero crap." Angel sighed.
"You really think so?" he asked. Spike patted Angel's shoulder.
"No, I really don't," he replied. "How 'bout this. We go out and grab something to eat, your treat, and that'll get your mind off of your bird."
"Fine, whatever," Angel replied, following Spike to the parking lot.
9:30. He couldn't take it anymore. Picking up the phone, Angel punched in the seven numbers stored into his brain and waited.
"Hello?"
"Buffy? It's me," he spoke, sitting down on his bed. "You're home?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" she asked.
"Well, you weren't in 6th period today. I thought something was wrong. I was worried." He could just see her smile through the line.
"Angel, that's so sweet of you to worry, but I'm ok. I just went out to lunch with Riley and we lost track of time so I just decided not to go back." Angel frowned. It was Riley's fault she was not there. 'What a jerk', he thought.
"So, I wanted to ask you something earlier and-"
"Can I ask you something first before I forget?" Buffy interrupted. Angel nodded and when he realized she couldn't see him, he spoke.
"Uh, sure."
"What are you doing tomorrow night? Saturday?" Silently, he thanked whoever gave him this gift.
"Uh, nothing. Why?" he asked.
"Well, Mom is out of town and I was wondering if you could watch Dawn," Buffy replied. Angel was confused now.
"Wait, you want me to come over tomorrow to help you watch Dawn?" he asked. Buffy laughed.
"No, I'm going out tomorrow and you're the only other person Dawn wants to watch her."
"Where are you going?" he asked her.
"Riley is taking me to a movie. Isn't that great? I mean, I'm going with Riley Finn. Who would have ever thought?" she said. Angel went back into his brooding mode.
"I sure didn't," he replied monotonously. Giving up, he sighed. "Yeah, I'll watch Dawn for you."
"Thanks so much Angel. You have no idea how much this means to me," she thanked.
"No problem. See you tomorrow night," he said and hung up. Getting up, he went to his nightstand and opened a drawer. He took out two tickets. They were for Icecapades tomorrow night. Buffy loved to ice skate and he was going to ask her to go with him. With a final sigh, Angel tore the tickets in two and threw them across the room.
Señora Garcia didn't show. It was her turn to watch the students present for Saturday school and her parrot was sick. The sub told the class to sit. Pretty soon, he was asleep. Angel sketched silently while most of the class decided to talk instead.
"Now what did she do? You look like hell hit you in the face," Spike asked, sitting in an empty chair next to Angel.
"Again, why do you do that?" Angel asked.
"She's going out with the Ken doll huh?" Spike said. Angel looked over at him. "Great thing about the boy's locker rooms, you hear some interesting things. Riley was gabbing to all his little pals."
"Yeah, so what? I quit Spike ok. I just don't want to even think right now," Angel replied, going back to work on his drawing.
"Lucky for you, I know a way to get rid of the ponce and you get the girl," Spike said. Angel snickered.
"Oh really? How's that?"
"Show Riley how much you love her by knocking his lights out." Angel stopped sketching.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"The team has practice Saturday nights. I reckon that afterwards, he'll take Buffy out. You wait until he's alone, beat the hell out of him, and then Buffy is left all alone. She thinks he stood her up; you take the chance and show her your feelings. And wham! You take her for yourself," Spike explained. Angel thought for a minute.
"That could work. But wait, why are you helping me do all this?" Spike shrugged.
"What are friends for?" he replied.
Angel walked up to the front door. He whistled happily and knocked. Buffy opened the door, already dressed and smiled.
"Hey Angel. Come on in. Dawn's watching TV in the living room," she greeted. Angel walked in and went over into the living room. 12-year old Dawn Summers was sitting on the couch and looked up when the two walked into the room.
"Hi," she greeted. Angel smiled at the young girl.
"Dawn, be good for Angel," Buffy ordered.
"So, Riley's coming down here?" Angel asked. Buffy shook her head.
"No, I'm going to meet him at the school later. I just have to go do something before and then I'm going to head over there," she said.
'Everything is still in place,' Angel thought to himself. "Cool. Well, have a good time then." Buffy grabbed her purse and walked towards the door.
"Thanks, I hope to," she replied. Then looking to her sister, "Dawn, be in bed by the time I get back." The younger Summers nodded, rolling her eyes. With that, Buffy closed the door behind her.
"Ok kiddo, what do you say to Spike coming down to watch you?" Angel asked Dawn. The girl's eyes brightened.
"Really?" she asked. "Spike's coming down?" Angel nodded. As if on cue, the doorbell chimed through the house and Angel went to open it. Spike stood there in his black duster.
"Hey Lil' Bit. Heard you could use some company," he said to Dawn. The pre- teen got up and walked over to the bleach-haired man.
"I got this new movie that we can watch. It has a whole bunch of action and gore," she told him. Spike chuckled.
"Yeah, we can check it out," he said. Dawn was obviously trying not to jump up and down with excitement as she walked back into the living room. Spike grinned at Dawn.
"Ok Spike, I'm going to head over to the school now. I'll call if anything goes wrong. Otherwise, expect me back in a couple hours."
"Right. Hurry though, you don't want to miss the git." Angel took a deep breath and left.
The Sunnydale High School boy's locker room was silent except for the running water coming from the showers. Angel crouched behind a towel bin. He could hear Riley humming some off beat tune. He jumped a mile high when he felt someone tap his shoulder.
"Spike? What the hell are you doing here? You're supposed to be watching Dawn," he said when he saw who it was. Spike looked over toward the showers.
"I got Xander to watch her. I'm here to make sure you don't screw up and get your ass kicked."
"Well be quiet. He's showering right now. The other guys left 10 minutes ago. I'm going to wait until he's done and then jump him," Angel said.
"I've got a better idea. Listen, you go to the cafeteria and wait in the kitchen. I'll lead nancy boy over there," Spike told him.
"Why the cafeteria?"
"This bloke is a football player. If things get really nasty we'll at least have weapons there. Now stop asking questions and go," Spike replied. Angel sighed and headed over to the door.
Kitchen
Angel waited by some pantries. It was ghostly dark, save for the only light coming from the frosted windows. Hearing footsteps, he went on defense mode and could see bright blonde hair walking towards him. Spike came into full view and looked back behind him.
"Is he coming?" Angel asked. Spike nodded. He was breathing fast and kept looking behind him.
"Yeah. He's comin' all right. Stole his wallet."
"Ok, so now what?"
"When he comes, knock him out with this," Spike replied, handing Angel a little wooden club. He handed him the wallet. "I'll be in the shadows. Best he thinks it's just you he's facing." They both heard another pair of footsteps coming and Spike retreated to a hidden corner.
"I'm gonna find you Spike. I don't have time to play games," Riley yelled. He saw Angel standing in the middle of the kitchen and chuckled. "O 'Connor."
"What's so funny?" Angel asked.
"You are," Riley replied.
"Want this?" Angel asked, raising up the wallet. Riley's smirk turned into a glare.
"Like I said, I don't have time for this shit. I'm meeting someone." Angel frowned.
"I know," he replied.
"Oh, I get it now. This is about Buffy isn't it?" Riley stated.
"Buffy is mine. You stay the hell away from her," Angel warned.
"Really? I don't see your name on her. Clearly I'm the one she wants."
"And how would you know that?" Angel questioned. "You haven't even gone out with her."
"Well, she agreed to meet me tonight right? And you've known her, what, 12 years? And not once have you gone out," Riley replied.
"You're not taking her out tonight," Angel said.
"Come and stop me."
"You're not getting her," Angel said, lunging at Riley. He threw his fist toward Riley's skull but Riley easily dodged Angel's punch and instead slammed his fist into Angel's middle section.
"Come on! You want her?" Riley yelled. Angel was curled up on the floor clenching his stomach. Tired of waiting, Riley grabbed Angel by his shirt collar and threw him towards a food cart. Now bleeding from a gash on his forehead, Angel struggled to stand.
"Alright, I think it's time for me to have a go at you," Spike announced to Riley. He pulled a cigarette from his duster pocket and lit it, the noise from his lighter clicking loudly. Letting out a drag of smoke, he pulled out a pocket knife from another pocket. Riley took a step back while eyeing the sharp blade.
"You wouldn't," Riley said. Spike tossed his burning cigarette into a nearby trashcan.
"No, but I will," Angel came from behind Riley and jabbed the back of his head. Loosing balance, Riley fell forward right onto Spike's knife. Yelling in agony, Riley looked down at his arm where the blade was embedded. Spike pulled out his knife and watched as Riley passed out. Angel stared in shock at the whole scene then glared at Spike. After gaining his senses back, he bent down to check Riley's pulse.
"He's still alive. Oh, and what the hell Spike?! A knife? You pulled out a knife? This is not a remake of The Westside Story. We were supposed to knock his face in, not almost kill him!" he yelled. Taking off his sweatshirt, he ripped it into long strips.
"What are you doing?" Spike asked. Angel looked up at him. Trails of crimson dripped downward from Angel's gash.
"I'm keeping him alive. Just because I hate him doesn't mean I want him dead."
"Why not? Not like he's much of a human being anyways," Spike asked.
"Let's get out of here," Angel said, standing up.
"We can't do that mate," Spike said.
"Why not?"
"Do you think he's not going to tattle on us when he wakes up? Use your brain Angel. We have to finish it," Spike said, getting out his knife again.
"Wait! You can't kill him!" Angel yelled.
"Yeah, I can. Wanna see?" Spike replied.
"I can't let you. There's too much evidence." Spike looked at Angel for a few moments before sighing. Going to the sink, he rinsed off Riley's blood, dried it, and returned it to his pocket.
"Fine. But we can't just leave him out. Help me put him in here," he said, nodding toward a metal storage. Angel nodded and the two picked up Riley and put him inside.
"Go clean up. Won't do too well to return all bloody," Spike told Angel.
"Yeah, good idea. Try to clean up this place ok. Make sure things are in place," Angel instructed. When he left, Spike lit up another cigarette and went to the freezer where Riley was. Going behind it, he plugged it into the outlet. Coming back around to the front, he put the latch on and snapped the lock shut.
"Ok, everything in place," he said. With that, he left the kitchen.
Angel ran full speed to the Summers house. Halfway there, he remembered his car was sitting in the parking lot but it was too late to turn back now. When he arrived, the driveway was still empty, which meant no Buffy but he did see Xander's car parked out front.
When he got to the door, he stopped and tried to even his breathing. He put his hand to his cut to check for blood but it had dried already. Giving one last deep breath, he opened the door and entered. The house was dark save for the living room. He spotted Xander.
"Hey man, what's up?" Xander said when he came in. It was well past 10 o'clock and he saw Dawn asleep on the couch.
"Long story," Angel replied.
"Whoa! What happened to your forehead? Get into a fight or something?" Xander asked.
"I, uh, fell. Down the stairs," Angel replied.
"Ok then. Gotta watch out for those stairs eh?" Xander said, raising his eyebrows to match his sarcasm.
"Go head and go if you want. I'll watch Dawn until Buffy gets back."
"Naw, it's ok. Willow's in the kitchen making popcorn. We were going to watch a movie," Xander said. "Wanna join us?"
"Sure, why not," Angel replied.
"The door burst open and Buffy stood there for a moment. A small frown was etched on her face but it disappeared when she saw Xander and Angel.
"Xander, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I'm your sister's third babysitter. Angel had to run out and called Spike. But he had to run too and here I am. Oh, and Will's here too," he explained. Buffy nodded.
"Oh ok. But, I'm not going to have to pay all four of you am I?" she asked.
"No, don't need to pay me or Spike," Angel said.
"Same here. You know I love watching the Dawnster," Xander said. "So Buffy, care to join us in a classic viewing of Apocalypse Now?"
"No, I'm just not up for it tonight Xand," she replied.
"What's wrong?" Angel asked, knowing exactly why his friend was so glum. "Your date go ok?" Buffy frowned again.
"No. Riley totally stood me up. I went to the school and waited by the gym like he told me to and he never showed up. I waited for an hour," she replied.
"What a jerk!" Xander said. Willow came into the living room at that moment, bowl of popcorn and some cokes in her hands.
"Hey Buffy! Have fun?" she asked, usual cheery smile on her face.
"Buffy was telling us how Riley blew her off," Xander told the redhead. Willow opened her mouth in shock.
"Oh Buffy. I'm sorry. You really liked him huh?" she asked, giving her best friend a hug. Buffy nodded. Angel was drowning in guilt with every second. He prayed the topic would change soon.
"I'm just going to go upstairs and go to bed. Angel, could you carry Dawn to her room?" she asked.
"Yeah," he replied and went over to pick up the sleeping girl. He walked to the stairs and took her up.
"Well I guess we'll leave too," Willow said, and headed back to the kitchen with the snacks.
"No, go ahead and stay the night. Xander can have the couch and Will can come up to my room," Buffy told them. "Are you staying too Angel?" she called to him. A few seconds later, he came down.
"No, I have to get home. I'll see you guys on Monday," he replied, heading to the door. He left with the saddened face of Buffy in his mind.