LA Present Day

I will never know or fully understand why Cordelia hated me. We were apart of the same group. All the other people in Angel's circle of friends accepted me immediately, thanks to Angel, but Cordy always remained distant. Everyone knew she wanted to be close to Angel, possibly had a crush on him even, but she had no reason to be jealous. Angel and I were only friends.

4 Years Earlier\

It was the night of O'Connor Elementary annual Valentine's Day Dance. Angel had been bugging Buffy about going for weeks. She didn't want to go but he kept encouraging the idea. Cordelia had asked Angel months in advance, this was to ensure Buffy didn't steal him away she told everyone. Little did she know, but Buffy didn't even want to attend the Dance let alone ask anyone, including Angel.

But day after day Angel pressured her to ask someone. Teasing her about her crush on Parker, a sixth grader. Even at that age Angel never had problems with the opposite sex and didn't comprehend the danger of pushing Buffy towards a guy let alone an older one. But he finally convinced her to ask Parker Abrams to go to the dance with her, and the only way he was able to do that was because it was the day of the Dance and it was rumored that Parker still didn't have a date. So Angel used guilt and convinced Buffy to ask Parker that day at lunch.

Angel wasn't able to be at lunch that day, his teacher asked him to say and help with a project so he had no idea how it went with Parker. When he tried looking for Buffy after school he couldn't find her and hadn't seen her all day.

"Hello Aunt Joyce," Angel said loudly to announce his presence. In the previous three years Joyce and Kalie became so close that the children were like family. Buffy and Angel entered into each others homes as if they were their own and referred to each other's mothers as aunts.

"Hello Angel," Joyce responded with out leaving the kitchen, "Buffy is in her room."

Since working at the Gallery Joyce was able to earn enough to move Buffy and herself out of the apartment and into a beautiful house.

When Angel entered the room, Buffy was sitting on her bed staring out the window. As he walked closer to her bed he noticed her eyes were red and puffy.

"What's up Buff," he asked using his little nickname for her that he knew drove her crazy.

"Nothing," she said a little to curtly for his liking, and turned away from him. Angel knew he had done something wrong but he couldn't think of what that was.

"Are you angry with me, Buffy," he asked while gently putting his hand son her shoulders as he sat on her bed. Unfortunately that only set her off more.

'It's all your fault," she screamed. "Why are you even here, you should be with Cordy, your Valentine on Valentines Day?"

This mention of Cordy surprised him, "First, Cordy can wait. You're my best friend and will always come first with me. Second where is YOUR Valentine? And third, what is all my fault" he finished.

"I never wanted a Valentine. I never wanted to go to that stupid dance, but you wouldn't take no for an answer. You convinced me it would be a good idea to ask someone, not just any someone, but Parker Abrams a SIXTH grader! Do you even know me at all," Angel didn't know what happened but that last question stung him to his core. But Buffy continued, "Yes, I asked Parker during lunch, just like you said to do, and he made a huge loud deal and got everyone in the cafeteria to turn their attention towards me. He made puking noises and went running from the cafeteria. EVERYONE laughed at me and it is ALL YOUR FAULT!" she finished in tears and collapsed into his chest and open arms. He held her close feeling extremely guilty.

"I am so sorry, Buffy," Angel whispered, "I had no idea any one could be so mean, I never should have pushed you into doing something you didn't want to."

Where were you, you promised you'd always stay at my side," she cried.

An hour later she had stopped crying and was curled up with him on her bed. She was asleep when Angel remembered the Valentine's Dance. He uncurled himself from Buffy with out waking her and went downstairs.

"Aunt Joyce, can I use your phone"

"Sure Angel"

Angel started towards the phone before he hesitated, "oh yea, and can I spend the night?"

"You know you don't have to ask, but after you are finished on the phone let me talk to your mom."

"Ok"

With that Angel went into the study to call Cordelia. He tried apologizing for not being able to go to the Valentine's Day Dance, but he had to stay with Buffy. To say the least she was not happy. Then he called his mom to confirm his evening's plans. Finally he crawled next to Buffy and proceeded to watch her sleep.

"I promise I will never leave your side again," he swore, "forever that's the whole point."

LA Present Day

I apologized over and over again to Cordelia for Angel missing the dance, but she never did forgive me. And in the following year before I left, she seemed to make it her personal mission to make my life a living hell.

AN: Thank you all sooooo much for your reviews. They are so encouraging and flattering. As for those of you that are anxiously awaiting Buffy and Angel's older years they are two or three chapters away, but no more I promise. I am ready to start writing them as teens, but the kid stuff is important to set up feelings for future years! Keep reviewing and I will keep writing.