Sunnydale 9 years earlier
The next night Buffy's mother, Joyce, phoned up Angel's number, much to Buffy's dismay. It wasn't that she didn't like Angel; she just wanted to avoid being in big groups. When Buffy had gotten in the car the day before Joyce had noticed the writing on Buffy's arm immediately. Unable to lie to her mother Buffy explained about Angel's party, hoping she'd be unable to go.
"Honey, I know you don't like crowds but this is the perfect time and place for you to meet the kids here and find new friends," Joyce exclaimed!
Joyce and Angel's mother, Kalie O'Connor, hit it off on the phone right away. Joyce was invited to stay for the party to mingle with the adult guests. This made Buffy feel a little better, if it was that bad she could pretend to be sick and have her mother take her home.
Saturday morning came too early for Buffy and she had a nervous stomach. Around 2:30 her mother herded her to the car to ride to Angel's house. The directions Mrs. O'Connor had given Joyce took them slightly outside the city. Joyce began to think she had missed the turn when she came upon Crawford St. Crawford St. was really a tree-lined driveway to a mansion.
At that moment realization dawned on Joyce. It hadn't occurred to her until that moment but O'Connor Elementary School, O'Connor Park, O'Connor library, O'Connor Art Gallery, there people were not only wealthy, but they seemed to own half of the town. As she stopped the car she had the fleeting thought that if Buffy married this Angel boy, she would never have to worry about her daughters well being, before pushing such thoughts away.
Buffy immediately pulled into her shell at the sight of the house. She couldn't believe the size, especially in comparison to the little apartment she and her mother rented. As she was thinking these thoughts her mom rang the doorbell and Angel instantly answered.
"I was hoping you would come," he said as his mom came to the door.
"Hi, I'm Angelus' mother Kalie," she announced pleasantly.
"Hello Kalie, I am Joyce, it is nice to meet you face to face"
"I agree, and you must be Buffy. Angel has talked about you all week, come in.
Angel instinctively grabbed Buffy's hand and took her to the group. Meanwhile Kalie and Joyce went to bond in the kitchen.
As Buffy and Angel ran down his hallway Buffy stopped him.
"Angel, I'm scared, what if they don't like me?"
"They will, and I'll be with you the whole time, I promise"
Then they walked hand in hand into the next room. Buffy was greeted by a large group of people. Angel began to introduce them.
Buffy recognized many of the kids from class. The girls were introduced first. Cordelia was the brunette with the great clothes, Kendra had the long black hair (and Buffy thought she talked funny), Faith had the lipstick, Fred was the shy bookie, and Anya (who Buffy hadn't noticed in class) was really loud. Last was Willow, the red head, and Buffy felt comfortable with her right off the bat.
Next were the boys. There was Gunn and Wesley. Spike who had funny blond hair, Oz who was really quite, Xander who seemed really goofy and Doyle who seemed to be Angel's closest friend.
Once Angel finished his introductions (during which he never left Buffy's side) two more people ran in. Angel introduced them as his two younger siblings Connor and Kathy.
The entire group were planning to go swim in the O'Connor's huge pool, but Buffy was feeling extremely overwhelmed. Angel could sense her discomfort and told the others to go on ahead, and that he and Buffy would catch up.
"You didn't have to do that, go with them, I am fine," Buffy said once the others had left.
"I said I'd stay with you," Angel responded as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Lets go to my room."
Buffy allowed him to lead her away. When they reached his room on the second floor, she was once again amazed at the size, but she quickly snapped out of it.
"I got you something, for you birthday."
"Really, what!"
"Here," Buffy got the package from her bad.
Angel opened it. It was a royal blue baseball cap for the LA Dodgers.
"I moved here from LA and that is their baseball team," she explained.
"I know of them, I love baseball. Thank you Buffy," he leaned over and kissed her cheek, "Thank you."
Then he showed her how there was a slide out of his bedroom into the pool if she felt like going swimming. With Angel by her side she had more confidence and agreed. They got on the slide - Angel with his arms around her - and slid down to join the party.
Joyce and Kalie were really hitting it off. It turned out the O'Connor's owned the art gallery in town (hence it's name) and Kalie ran it alone. When she discovered Joyce's love for art she offered Joyce a job at the gallery, to which Joyce happily agreed. They talked well after the other party guests left. When Joyce was ready to leave Kalie led her to Angel's room in search of Buffy. The mothers found their children curled up together on Angel's huge bean bad chair fast asleep.
"Let them sleep, I will bring her home tomorrow," Kalie offered.
Joyce happily accepted the offer; just happy her child had a friend here, after the difficult divorce.
Present Day LA
My mother never thought anything of us sleeping over at each other's houses, and neither did his parents. We were best friends and grew up together; the idea of anything more would utterly disgust us. I still believed boys had cooties, never did I conceive Angel as anything other than my best friend. How my father could so badly misconstrue that I will never know.