Chapter 36

"I need to get out!" Buffy declared as she walked into the living room.

Willow and Tara looked up from their position curled up on the sofa. Buffy was stood at the entrance to the room, obviously determined to carry through her announcement. She was dressed in tight black trousers and a backless, dark red top, her freshly styled hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders and down her back.

Willow and Tara looked at each other.

"Well, we'd kinda planned a quiet night in..." Willow said hesitantly.

"Oh, please Will, Tara – I've been stuck in all week so far. I need to get out before I get a serious case of cabin fever!"

"It's hardly our fault that you've been all Miss Mopey-pants since you got back from Spike's," Willow replied.

"I know, I know – I've been hell to be around, but don't you see – that's just why you have to come out with me. I've decided that the best thing for me is a night on the town – just what I need," Buffy declared.

"I don't think I have the energy for clubbing," Tara put in, apologetically. Buffy looked crestfallen for a moment, then the cheery smile returned to her face.

"Well, how about just going into town for a drink then? We could be home early – not a problem. Pleeease?" she wheedled.

Willow and Tara exchanged a look again and Tara nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Okay, okay – you win! But we leave when the pubs close, okay? Don't event think about trying to get us to go clubbing 'cause it's so not gonna happen, Missy!" Willow said, mock-sternly.

"Yes Ma'am," Buffy conceded, grinning inanely at her win.

They managed to find a quiet table in the corner of the moderately busy pub and settled down, happy to sit and watch the other people in the bar.

"Oh my God!" Buffy exclaimed in a stage whisper, discreetly pointing out a girl who had just walked up to the bar and was now leaning against it, trying to attract the attention of the barman.

She was dressed in what could possibly be in line for the world's most tarty outfit – the amount of cleavage the scoop neck of her near-transparent, iridescent purple top revealed was matched by the shortness of the tight, black mini-skirt she was wearing.

"She's underage – I guarantee it!" Buffy declared authoritatively.

"What makes you say that?" Willow asked curiously.

"Oh, come on, I mean – I'm big myself on the short skirts and all, but that's taking it a step too far. We all know full well that no girl dresses like that unless she's trying to get something and I think she's trying to get served – look at the way she's leaning across the bar. Betcha she's underage!"

"I think she might be right, Willow," Tara said as she nudged her lover and pointed towards the bar where the barman was shaking his head at the girl. Buffy smiled in triumph as the girl tossed her hair angrily and stalked out of the door followed by a small group of equally heavily made up girls.

The three settled back down to their drinks and quiet conversation, focused mainly on people-watching as groups drifted in and out of the pub.

"Oh, look who's heading your way, Buff," Willow said a couple of hours later, pointing out the tall, dark man heading their way through the crowd which had now gathered in the bar.

Buffy looked in the direction her friend was pointing and groaned quietly as she recognised Liam walking towards them.

"Oh, God. I was having such a nice time as well," she mumbled to herself. Willow looked at her and frowned.

"Oh, come on Buffy, give the guy a chance – he's actually quite nice. Might surprise you."

"I know, I know. It's just..." Buffy started, before being interrupted by the arrival of the subject of the conversation.

"Hi guys, Buffy," he said, as he took in each of them, his gaze finally landing on the petite blonde as he smiled hesitantly. "Sorry I missed you last weekend, Willow said that something came up."

"Oh, yeah. Erm, yeah. Something – came up, yeah," Buff stammered, blushing slightly as Willow held back a giggle. Liam looked perplexed, wondering what he was missing before Tara came to the rescue.

"Liam, why don't you sit down?" she asked sweetly, shooting a glare towards Willow as the two other girls fought to regain their composure.

"Thanks," he said gratefully as he managed to find another chair and pulled it up to the table.

"So, how are you?" Buffy asked politely, cringing inwardly at the question and the fact that she had to make small-talk with this guy, instead of simply being able to spend a night out with the girls.

Buffy sat listening to her friends talk and smiled to herself. The night hadn't turned into quite the nightmare she'd imagined when Liam, or 'Angel' as she'd discovered his nickname to be, had first appeared. He was actually good company and definitely attentive towards her.

Now the evening was drawing to a close, last orders had been called and they were all finishing their drinks. She knew that Angel was going to ask to see her again and that she'd have to be able to give him an answer.

And there lies the problem, she thought as the smile faded from her face to be replaced by a slight crinkling of her forehead as she turned her thoughts towards what she would say to him.

Willow had been right, As usual, Buffy thought. Angel did seem to be a nice guy, and he was definitely good-looking. Who wouldn't be attracted to the whole 'tall, dark and handsome' thing?

Her mind turned to Spike, not for the first time that night, and she thought about what they had. Then she shook her head almost imperceptibly and dismissed the thought. Spike, she thought with a sigh, as she returned to her previous conclusion – that she just couldn't give him what he wanted. She just wasn't ready to give her heart away as she knew he'd want, And like I know would be so easy to do, she let herself admit before firmly quashing the thought.

But Angel, Angel was another matter entirely. Maybe with Angel, she could have the kind of casual relationship she thought she could cope with right now. And it would be a good way to let Spike down gently, she thought sadly.

Thrusting any doubts aside, she made up her mind. If he asked to see her again, she'd say yes.