AN: I know, I know. I keep promising faster updates. Sorry guys. I will only say this one more time. THIS STORY IS NOT THE END!!!!!!!!! Those of you wanting things like Faith and the rest of their lives, just coz I'm completely messing with the storyline doesn't mean I can skip stuff. Prom, graduation etc. everything in it's time J

Luv ya's MWAH xoxoxoxoxox

Angel didn't call till nearly 10 O'clock that night. Buffy had been sitting by the phone since she came home. Not even moving to make herself dinner. By the time ha called, she had just about given up. She answered before the end of the first ring.

"Angel?"

"Sounds like you've been waiting for me."

"Only for hours. Where are you?"

"I'm in LA, I had some business to attend to."

"You didn't tell me you were leaving."

"It just sort of came up."

"Well are you okay? Is anything wrong."

"Nope, nothings wrong. Don't worry yourself with anything."

"Um, okay."

Buffy was frowning; he was being so distant and cryptic – more so than usual.

"So, when are you going to be home? I picked out my dress today."

"Your dress…oh, Prom. Well, I'm not to sure when I'm going to be getting home."

"You'll be here by Friday right?"

"I'm not sure. I'll be home when I can. I don't know if it'll be by Friday though. I'll try but I can't promise."

Buffy was more than a little upset at how Angel was disregarding her, they should be able to tell each other anything; including this secret he was so obviously hiding.

We're married, in one country at least. Why is he brushing me off like this?

Buffy was about to say something when she heard a girls voice in the background.

"Buffy I have to run; I'll call you later okay." Angel rushed

"Um alright, I guess I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Sure, bye."

Buffy heard the click of the phone and placed her end back in the cradle. Sitting back, she ran the phone call over in her head. Each time she replayed the conversation, her mind traveled to darker places. Within minutes her head was screaming. She picked up thew phone again and dialed Willows number.

Unable to make any sense of her friend, Willow told her to get a goodnights rest and she would stop by on the way to school. Buffy hung up walked restlessly around the room. Eventually she became tired but couldn't will herself to sleep. She crawled out onto the roof-top and stayed there until the sun rose.

On the other end of the line, Angel put the phone down and sighed. He hated what he knew he was doing to Buffy, but it had to be done. He turned and smiled at the woman behind him.

"Sorry about that, it couldn't wait."

"That's quite alright sir, now may I suggest this. The claws are hardly noticeable.

The next day, Willow went by Buffy's on the way to school. Willow didn't know what to expect as she knocked on the door. The only thing she managed to get out of their talk the night before was that there was something wrong, possibly with Angel.

When the door opened, Buffy looked almost catatonic. Willow took the blond by the hand and led her upstairs. Once there, Buffy poured it all out.

"Last night, Angel called me just like Giles said he would. But something's wrong. He told me he would be fine and I shouldn't worry about him and that I shouldn't try and contact him. He'd be home when he could but most likely not this week. Willow, he was so distant and I know he was hiding something from me."

Willow sat in silence, a thousand thoughts playing in her mind, not all of them good.

"Buffy, maybe it's nothing. You could just be blowing this way out of proportion."

"That's why I didn't over-react on the phone. But as he was saying goodbye, I heard another girl in the background."

"Well you didn't happen to hear when she said did you?" Willow was quite scared for her friend.

"Sh…she asked him a question."

"And?"

"She asked him to look at something, something nice."

"Oh sweetie, I know what you're thinking but he wouldn't. He loves you too much."

"Does he? You know, last week he told me he would do anything to be with me again but since he became human, he's hardly touched me."

"Well he's a fool. He's a big dumb jerk-person if you ask me. And he's a super maxi-jerk for doing it right before Prom."

"It's not his fault, he's 243 year old. He doesn't exactly get 'prom'. And it's not like I'm full of experience."

"Well he should, ah get Prom I mean, and if all he's after is experience then you're better off without him."

"Will its okay. You don't have to make him the bad guy."

"But that's a best friends job. Villianising and grousing"

"Usually, yeah. But I never want him to be the bad guy…again," Willow gave a small smile, "I still love him. God I love him so much. But in the long run. I think he's right. You know, to find someone else. What could I ever give him?"

"Oh Buffy. I tried to hope for the best but…It must be horrible."

"I think Horrible is still coming. Right now I'm trying to keep from dying."

Buffy broke down and tried to find comfort in Willows arms. The Wicca just held her.

"I can't breathe Will. I feel like I can't breathe."

I swear, Angel is going to pay for this. I wonder what Oz is doing this full moon."

After what seemed like hours, Buffy stopped crying enough for Willow to help her get ready for school. They were running quite late but neither of them cared. Willow was trying to understand what had happened while Buffy was trapped in her own private nightmare.

Reviews

Dreamergirl18: Thanx sweetie. luv ya :)
Rayne StarDust: I just had to have a Good Lord in there somewhere & i always thought Cordy should say what she thinks...she nearly always did anyway :P
Melluvben: thanx, and u will find out not 2 worry :)
Slayerchick33: Thanx heaps, cool is a good thing 2 hear :D

Words Of Meaning

urangel( ): Thankyou so much. ur wonderful :D