Name: Two of the same

Author: N170017

Summary: AU Buffy and Angel both like the other but neither is willing to say it.

Note: Okay this chapter is kinda background info. I wanted to get it out of the way... but I promise next chapter Angel and Buffy will have some real fun!! Thank you for the reviews, you all rock. I hope to get the next chapter posted by Monday. I've just been really busy. Should I re-do this chapter? I ask that a lot... but I'm never really sure about a chapter until it's posted so... yeah I would really appreciate some feedback on it cuz I'm really unsure. I can't believe this is already chapter seven that makes it the longest story I've written, or posted anyway. Okay now that I've bored you time for the story (keep in mind this chapter in Angel's perspective (should I change the chapter and make it Buffy's (apparently I think too much about this))):

The day was already bright as I drove out of the parking lot. It was warm out, being the middle of October but since we lived in Sunnydale it never got very cold. The leaves from some of the threes were bustling around the air as I turned to Buffy and asked, "Do you wanna go home and get cleaned up?" She could never stand not having a shower in the morning and since she had been so late I was guessing that she hadn't had one yet.

"Do I stink or something?" Buffy seriously asked back. I laughed as I turned back to the road.

"Course not but I thought you might want to," I added while I turned my car in the general direction of her house.

"Yeah defiantly," she laughed back. "You know me too well."

"I just know what you like."

We drove in silence for about five minuets before Buffy stated, "So you never told me what you've been over-thinking about..."

How could I tell Buffy that I've been thinking about us? More than friends us? She'd think I was crazy. I let my smile drop. "Um just things..."

"Come on Ang I know something's up. Why won't you just tell me?" Buffy had to use my nickname. It was our little thing. No one else could get away with calling me Ang. But I still couldn't just burst out and tell her I love her. Or could I? I couldn't!

"Buffy it's really nothing. How about we discuss all that stuff later."

"How much later?" Buffy asked. When I didn't respond right away she added, "It's just that you and me... we talk. About everything and I don't wanna be a digger but I'm digging."

"You're not digging. It's just that I want today to be a normal, relaxing, skipping day. The kind we used to have last year."

"Back when mom wasn't so touchy." I turned towards Buffy just as she rolled her eyes.

"Back when your grades were in high honors?" I joked along as I turned back.

"Shut up," She laughed in her own 'hey it's not my fault,' way.

"Kay how about I don't talk about your grades and you don't press me about my stuff?"

"Deal and... Angel?"

"Yeah..."

"It's nothing cept you kinda missed my house."

"What?" I looked at the houses around us, "Oh sorry," Buffy laughed at me. I did a U-turn and parked on the street across from Buffy's house. We both got out and walked up to her house. I locked my car's doors as Buffy unlocked her house. "No one would be home right?" I asked.

"No way... Mom's at work and Dawn's at her own school. You know that."

"Yeah but I just wanted to make sure."

Buffy opened the door and we walked into the foyer. "Yeah, always a smart thing. Okay you wait down here as I get ready Kay?"

"Sure." Buffy took the stairs two at a time. God she was so beautiful. I smiled after her. Being left alone in the foyer was a major part of what I did. Not to say that Buffy liked to make me wait, no way, she always hurried for me. I can tell. If she weren't it would take about six hours for her to be down. Even though she did hurry standing nonchalantly was still super boring. I wandered into the family room and looked at the pictures of Buffy's family. I started at the far left. It was of Dawn, Buffy, and their mom. They were all sitting together. They looked so happy. Buffy and her mom used to get along a lot better but since Buffy 'forgot' about her studies they have been at each other's throats. Buffy just didn't care about family life and schoolwork after her father got married again. It was really hard on her.

The next picture I looked at was of Buffy and her father, speak of the devil. Her father used to live in Sunnydale but when he got a job in LA he was constantly coming and going. Eventually he bought a house there. Buffy and Dawn even tried to spend the summer with him there one year, which might I add sucked big time for me. It was 'fun!' Buffy told me and they planned to do it next year but by the time that rolled around her parents had separated and he was dating, get this, his secretary. Buffy confessed she had suspected that they were dating while her parents were still together but had no proof and didn't think her dad could have really done that. She and Dawn both decided it would be better to just stick around. At the end of the summer Joyce and Hank were divorced.

I moved on to the next picture. This one was of Dawn and Joyce. They were smiling. Buffy always told me her family wasn't all that great, they argued a lot. But the truth was, they were great, every supper, almost every anyway, they eat together and talk, even if it did lead to yelling. I really respected that since my family was always too busy for me. "Angel?" I heard Buffy call from around the corner.

"In here," I called back. Buffy walked in gracefully, smiling all the while. She was wearing a white summer dress that was just right for the temperature. She was so gorgeous.

"What cha doing in here?"

"Just looking."

"Fun," Buffy sarcastically countered. I glanced back to the pictures. One caught my attention; it was of her dad, mom, sister and her, they looked so... ?together?. I sighed as I returned my eyes on Buffy. She was even prettier in reality but she was looking at the picture too. Her smile collapsed and I felt guilty for causing it. I coughed and she turned back to me, "So we going?"

I blinked, "Ah yeah lets get going." Her smile returned but I could tell it was now forced. Why did I have to go into the family room? Wouldn't things be simpler if people didn't look into the past? Wouldn't everything be better?

We walked back to my car and got in. "So where are we going?" Buffy asked, her content self beating out the sad one. I would work hard to make today perfect. Maybe in the end I'd tell her I love her. She deserved to know. I was her best friend and I shouldn't be lying to her. If only it were that easy.

"It's a surprise."

"Come on tell me," Buffy pleaded.

Her eyes were so convincing that I had to smile and turn away from them. Buffy knew I always had a soft spot for her eyes, "You're just gonna have to wait."

"No fun," She giggled as we headed off.

Thank-you for reading!