Chapter Six: We'll Still Have Each Other

Anya was sitting with Xander and the rest of the gang when it came lunchtime. She was very quiet, which wasn't Anya at all. Normally, you couldn't shut her up. She was just listening to Harm babbling about something or other. They were without Spike and Buffy, of course, and Angel was also being quiet. This wasn't unusual for Angel, though, they expected it from him. He was a quiet and stoic guy. Anya didn't know why he and Xander were best friends, because the two of them were complete opposites. She wasn't too pressed about it, however, and stopped dwelling on it.

Faith, who was practically sitting on Oz's lap, said, ''So where do you guys think Buffy and Spike went this morning?'' She ate some of her fries.

Anya shrugged. ''I don't know. Probably somewhere remote, and they'll most likely be spending the entire day together. You know, I woke up this morning, and I didn't get a call from Cordelia, complaining that Spike hadn't noticed her yet. I really missed that.'' She sighed.

Harmony chimed in. ''Me, too. She always used to call me after she called you, and I missed that, too. D'you know that Amy chick that came with whoever to the dance, I think she's trying to take Cordy's role as Queen Bitch of the year, because she was really nasty to Willow and Tara this morning.''

Faith said, ''She was? I can personally guarantee that Will and Tara are fine. They never put much stock in anyone else's opinion. They'll be fine.''

Harmony said, ''Yeah, but that wasn't cool. I know we always used to make fun of them, but you and Buffy are so cool, Willow and Tara have to be just as cool. I almost said something to her, but then Riley came to give me my good morning kiss.''

Oz ate some more of his fries, then volunteered, ''Amy started going out with John Jacobs, that new guy from Pasadena, and he is about to usurp Spike as the coolest guy in school if we don't do something.''

Xander said, ''Spike'll always be cool. He's the biggest man on campus, and that's how it's been for a few years now. I don't care if this John guy is the coolest guy ever, Spike will always be cooler.''

Angel sipped his Pepsi, and then said, ''You guys, Oz is right. I've been listening to some of the other groups on campus, and a lot of them are questioning Spike's decision to date Buffy. I don't think that they knew I was listening, but some of them don't think it's the best idea. I mean, they still wouldn't dispute it in front of Spike, or anything, but they are slowly starting to not like him.''

Xander said, ''Well, what can we do? I've gotten used to being in the coolest group on campus, and I'm not giving it up. There has to be some kind of plan we can come up with.''

Faith sipped her own soda. ''Guys, I know I have only been in this group for a short time, but maybe you shouldn't worry so much about what other people think. I mean, you guys are always going to be close friends, no matter what, so who cares if you're popular or not?''

Riley said, ''Faith's got a point. I mean, I know that if this John Jacobs guy suddenly becomes cooler than Spike, he and I are still going to be best friends when it's over, so who cares? And Xander, you'll still have Angel and Anya, Oz, you'll still have Devon and Faith, Spike will still have me and Buffy, and Harm, you'll still have Anya and me. So what are we worrying about?''

There were nods all around the group. None of them were truly worried about Spike getting replaced as the coolest guy on campus, but if it had to happen, Faith and Riley were right. They'd still have each other.

Later that afternoon, after school, Harmony and Faith met at Faith and Angel's to work on some homework. Angel went up to his room and was quiet. Harmony watched him go. ''I'm worried about him.'' She commented. ''He's been really quiet since Cordelia, you know, and I think he's hurting a lot more than he lets on.''

Faith looked out the open door towards her brother's room. ''I don't know. Angel doesn't usually tell me things, even though he's my twin and we hang out with the same crowd now.''

Harmony said, ''You could try talking to him. It wouldn't hurt and you guys could actually end up being friends.''

The two girls got down to business with their homework, and didn't hear a peep from Angel for hours. Faith finally thought it sounded too quiet and got up to check her brother's room. She screamed when she saw what was inside. Angel had slit both his wrists, and there was blood everywhere.

After she had called the ambulance, she called Buffy, who gladly came, bringing Spike with her. They and Harmony sat with the brunette beauty while the paramedics carried out Angel's body, covered in a sheet. Faith pushed Buffy and Harm's arms off her shoulders and went into her brother's room. It was immaculate, which was unusual for a teenage boy. There were only a couple of things out of place. She wiped tears from her face. ''It's so sad.'' She finally said. ''And in some ways, terribly romantic. He obviously did this because he couldn't be with Cordy.''

Buffy entered the room and put her arms around her best friend. As she was hugging her, she spotted a blood-spattered notebook sheet sticking out from underneath the bed. She leaned down to pick it up. ''It's a suicide note!'' She said breathelessly.

Dear Gang, and Faith,

I decided to take my own life because it was agonizing pain not being with Cordelia. I loved her so much, and then she was taken from this world after we got into a humongus fight. I just, I couldn't live anymore with the pain that she never knew how much I truly loved her, that our last words were a fight. I'm no longer in pain now. I will see you all in heaven, and Faith, know that I truly loved you, too. You were the best sister a guy could ask for. I tried to protect you, and I think that I did it all wrong. Think of me always.

Love, Angelus Daniel Davenport

Faith cried after Buffy had finished reading the note. ''Oh my God. I can't believe that he wrote this wonderful letter.'' She sobbed on Buffy's shoulder, then abruptly stopped and left the room, mumbling something about Oz.

They held a memorial service at the school, and asked Spike to speak. He stood numbly at the podium, and ruffled the pages he held. He had written down everything he was going to say, it was easier. ''We're here to remember Angel Davenport. He was my best mate through most of my life. He was there for me through everything. I can't remember a time when he wasn't there for me. I'm going to tell you the reason that Angel killed himself. I know there's tons of rumors going around. Angel killed himself because the woman he loved had died recently. Before Cordelia Chase died, he and she had had an arguement. He couldn't live with the pain of her being gone and the added pain that she never knew that he was sorry that they had quarreled. I think Angel was stupid to care so much about Cordy. She didn't care about him at all. He was a complete parp to even care that she and he had fought.''

Spike paused, knowing the looks he must be getting, especially since he was saying disparaging things about Cordelia. ''I know what you all are thinking. Both Angel and Cordelia are dead, and I shouldn't be saying such things about them. But you didn't know Cordelia as I did, and you didn't know Angel as I did. Cordy treated Angel horribly, and he let her. Now he left this world because of her, and for that, I hope her soul will be rotting in hell. She took the one other person on this planet besides my girl Buffy and my other best mate Riles who knew me the most.'' He touched a hand to Angel's coffin. ''Angel, rest in peace, mate. I'm sorry we both knew her.'' He left the stage and took his seat next to Buffy.

Over the next week or so, Spike's group was tormented because of the things said about Cordelia at Angel's service. They didn't seem to mind, however. They knew that they had each other, and that was enough for them.

The End.