AN: Buffy notices Angel… again. But this time Spike isn't there to catch her.

Revenge chap. 10

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"Do you know that guy?"

"What?"

Buffy and Riley had been talking for hours and there weren't much customers anymore. They were ready to head home when she heard him say the words.

"Someone in the back… the kitchen, I think. He was there a minute ago, he looked at you funnily."

"I've never been here before so I don't think anybody knows me here. Maybe I'm a double to someone… everybody has their double on this world."

"Oh, now you're coming into my field!"

Riley smiled and the two of them started a conversation about psychology as Angel ducked away in the kitchen. It hadn't taken a lot for him to follow the entire exchange between the two, but he had been stupid enough to lean forward in the window so that young man saw him.

"Good thing she didn't look up." He whispered as he went to wash the dishes. He had seen enough. Riley was no match for Angel, that much he knew. Even the Englishman had only gotten off with a lot of luck. He would pay them a visit when he got the chance.

He would get that chance much sooner than he anticipated, because the young couple stayed for a lot longer than they intended. Both caught up in each other, they talked until the bartender began to look at his watch and tried to tell them with a lot of body language it was time to go home.

"I haven't told mum I was going out today, I don't think she'll like it."

"Aren't you staying on campus? I thought you shared a room with someone."

"I used to."

Buffy didn't want to talk about the period after Spike had gone to Britain. He had started university together with her, but after a few weeks he had taken up the courage to talk to her about everything. He missed his homeland and this was the perfect opportunity to go back. He would miss her, of course, but going to Oxford had always been his dream.

"Willow, a friend of mine, hires the room from me. It's not very far from home and after Spike… well, I was glad to be with my mum."

"That's understandable."

Buffy was glad Riley didn't say anything more. He just stood up and paid for the both of them. Again he felt like someone was watching him, but this time he let it slip. He just wanted to get out of there and get home. He had always found this a cool place, but this was creepy.

"Good night."

They went out the door and headed towards Buffys house. They didn't walk particularly fast, as the nightly streets of Sunnydale didn't form a bit of a threat. The weather was nice in California, like it was all the time, and they weren't in a real hurry.

"It's strange that I haven't noticed you sooner though… Normally I don't miss such beautiful girls."

"Oh stop it!"

"Seriously."

Riley even startled himself by the honesty in his words. Normally it took him weeks to even talk to a girl. He had admired Buffy from a distance for months already now, but he knew she had a boyfriend, although he had never seen them together. With her explanation he now understood that Spike had studied in Oxford all these years.

"He was stupid to give you up."

"Don't Riley… please."

"Alright, I won't say another world about it, but I still know I'm right."

Buffy glared at him, but she didn't say anything against it. She might have broken up with Spike, but she didn't want to hear a bad word about him.

Angel had wrapped up his work at top speed when he heard they were about to leave. He was about done anyway, since the other customers had left hours ago. The bartender would lock up and Angel left through the backdoor, yards behind Riley and Buffy. He walked perfectly at ease, his head in the collar of his coat.

He heard most of what they were talking about and smiled to himself when he heard how and why Spike had broken up with Buffy. It would do him so much good to say that to her face, that it was all her fault and that she would always be the one to make the mistake in a relationship.

And then she looked behind her.

"Oh my god, that's Angel." She whispered.

"Who?"

"Angel, the one who… never mind, I have to call Spike."

"Buffy."

She kissed him quickly on the cheek and went inside her house.

"I'm sorry, Riley, but this is important, you wouldn't understand."

When she got inside, she hurried to the phone and dialled the number of the aunt and uncle of Spike. It took them a while to answer, since it was the middle of the night.

"Who is this?"

"Hi, it's Buffy. I'm sorry I call so late, but it's important. Can I speak to Spike?"

"He's not here, Buffy and he doesn't want to talk to you… I'm sorry."