Thanks for the reviews, all I'm going to say is stick with it :) and Apolgies for the delay.
Angel made his way down to homeroom with his two friends in tow, he wanted to tell them that he had asked Buffy on a date but couldn't find the words. It wasn't that he was ashamed, she was beautiful and well liked… but he didn't want them getting the wrong idea.
He knew he had a slight reputation, he had been out with a good handful of girls over the past couple of years but they weren't serious. Any of the past few previous dates went out with full expectation that they would end up back in bed but it didn't happen.
None of the girls spread the word that they didn't get any, they tried to play coy and from there the lies spread like wildfire. Not that he minded right enough, it made him look more badass, a charmer, so it worked for him to get dates easily.
Considering Buffy was new to the school, he didn't want her hearing that he was taking her out just for one thing; she seemed like the type of girl that wouldn't appreciate that and most likely decline any offers of future dates.
From the furthest end of the hall, there she stood; she chuckled at what the brunette beside her said then shook her head. When she spotted him looking at her she wiggled her fingers in a shy wave and nodded towards him, unseen by the crowd.
Angel smiled back at her before entering the class; Oz caught the interaction and looked at his friend once they sat down in their seats. He flicked his eyes towards Oz then back to the front of the room with a shrug, he'd tell them after the date.
She wanted to speak to him, but nerves got the better of her. It was okay if it was just the two of them but if there was an audience no doubt she would act like an idiot and make a fool of herself; so all she could do was wave.
Cordelia nudged her with her elbow and raised her eyebrow, she stuttered a response which thankfully her friend accepted; she had no idea what Cordy had asked and no idea about what she'd agreed too.
With one last lingering look to the room that he had entered Buffy sighed lightly then smiled at Cordy as they made their way down to the class that they should have been in five minutes ago.
The rest of that day dragged in, each class she felt lasted for hours on end, same with lunch and once the final bell rang that day she grinned with excitement and ran home. The thing was, she asked him to call but didn't give a time, she hoped that he would take pity on her and call as soon as possible.
Oooooooooooooo
Angel picked up the phone and looked at the beautiful handwriting on the paper, he tapped the phone off of his head and chuckled; beautiful writing? God, he felt like an idiot, everything about her made him wound up.
He didn't even know her properly and he was smitten, never before had he felt like this, a year or two ago he would have laughed at the way he was acting. He knew he could get any girl he wanted and easily but he wanted to impress her.
Slowly he pressed the numbers and waited with bated breath as the phone began to ring, when he heard the voice on the other end he knew immediately it was her "Buffy… It's Angel" he bit his lip as he waited for her reply.
He heard her clear her throat then whisper his name "I'm calling you" he closed his eyes at how stupid he sounded, of course she would know that, burning with embarrassment he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
Buffy giggled on the other side "Yeah it's amazing what these new-fangled things can do huh?" although he was mortified he couldn't help but chuckle, at least she didn't make him feel any worse for the momentary brain malfunction.
"Yeah…" he paused for a moment "Uh, what time do you want to meet..." his stomach clenched, he heard her hmm then reply "I can do any time" Angel smiled widely, he didn't want to seem too eager and ask her out first thing in the morning.
"Say about noon… we can meet at the shop or I can pick you up if you want?" he felt a bit dejected when she said she would meet him there instead of being picked up but when she said that she'd be downtown at her moms gallery he was placated.
"That's great, I'll see you then" she said goodbye to him and hung up the phone, a grin spread across his face as put the phone down on his bed. He done a mini fist-pump then thanked the lord that no one was watching him, he didn't know why she made him act like an idiot but he liked it.
Oooooooooooooo
Katherine watched as Angel messed his hair up into messy spikes then take a deep breath and shake his hands nervously, she took a sip of her coffee then smiled; she had never seem him as nervous as this before "And where are we off to?"
Angel looked at her in surprise, he didn't realise that she was keeping a close eye on him; kicking himself for not doing his hair in the bathroom away from prying eyes "Just heading to meet the guys…" he looked away from her quickly.
She let out a chuckle "My boy, I know you're meeting a girl… you wouldn't be wearing that cologne if it was just your friends" her boy frowned then cleared his throat, she loved watching him squirm; having never acted like this before; the girl must be special.
"Yeah… I'm meeting a girl at a bookshop, that's it!" he looked around the room nervously, the look his mother was giving him meant she knew that it was more than just a jaunt down to the bookshop "She's nice mom"
Katherine patted him on the shoulder and smiled, she didn't have any reservations that he would mistreat her; even though the last couple of girls were only spoken of once and never like this; he still respected them and treated them well.
Angel picked up his wallet and waved to his mother as he left the house, originally he had planned to drive but the weather today was at least 5 to 10 degrees higher than yesterday so he decided to walk to meet Buffy.
On the way there he was hoping that she hadn't changed her mind and that she would be outside the shop waiting for him, it would more than bruise his ego if he turned up alone. When he rounded the corner he saw her nervously picking at the sundress she was wearing.
The smile that spread across her face when she spotted him lit up her whole face, Angel smiled widely at her "Hi" without thinking he took her hand in his and kissed it gently, once he pulled it way from his mouth he realised what he had done.
Buffy was looking at him with wide eyes, a blush creeping up her neck at the gesture "Angel" he cleared his throat then gently released her hand, she bit her lip then smiled kindly at him. When he nodded for them to go inside he held open the door for her to enter first.
To begin with the conversation was light, neither knowing what to talk about. They kept it about the book they were there to buy and about other ones they liked to read, all in all it was pleasant but didn't take too much time.
He didn't want it to end this quick so he glanced at the clock on the wall and went for it "Are you hungry?! Could go for some food?" he looked at her from the corner of his eye, he was ready to plead when it looked like she would decline but instead she nodded.
They made their way over to the quaint café that was across the road, like before he held open the door for her then pulled the seat out for her, it made her heart melt at how charming and chivalrous he was being.
The waitress took their order then headed for the kitchen, Angel picked at the corner of the menu wondering where to start; usually he would focus all the attention on the girl, tell her how pretty she was and make her drool over him.
"So…" he smiled kindly at her "You've been in Sunnydale for a couple of months, how are you liking it so far?" he thanked the waitress when she brought over their sodas and took a gulp. Buffy sipped carefully then smiled back at him.
"It's so different to LA but its good, my mom, me and Dawnie have adjusted" when he raised his eyebrow at her she smiled again "Dawn is my sister, she's just turned six… and uh, my dad's not around a lot, last I heard he went to New York"
The way her bottom lip jut out and the sadness in her tone made his heart ache for her, it was clear that they didn't get along and that he didn't care about his daughters or ex-wife; it annoyed him that he could just dismiss her like that.
To bring the conversation back on track he cleared his throat "You said your mom has a gallery that must be cool?" she took a moment to compose herself then smiled warmly, she placed the napkin on her lap when the food was placed in front of her.
"Yeah, she collects and sells art… has a hidden talent at painting too but she's not had much time for that lately with the move, it makes her happy and that's what I want for her" her eyes locked with his, they were like pools of melted chocolate, she took a moment to savour it "Have you always stayed here?"
Angel nodded then took a bite of food "Yeah I have, mom and dad moved here before I was born but they used to travel, Dad done research now he teaches at UC Sunnydale" Buffy watched him intently, a light smile on her face as she listened.
Buffy couldn't help but smile as they continued their conversation, they talked more about music, movies and what cool things there was to do in Sunnydale that she hadn't yet found out about. When she tried to pay for her half Angel declined and paid for their lunch.
They left the café then dawdled down the street, each time she giggled at something he said her nose would scrunch in the cutest way that made him smile even more. Buffy looked at her watch and frowned; she would have to leave his company but didn't want to.
"I'll have to go" the smile on his face faltered for a second but she caught it, her hand touched his chest lightly as she looked up at him "I have to let the baby sitter go home now, I'm sorry"
Angel shook his head and smiled kindly at her "Don't worry… I don't mind walking with you"
Buffy smiled widely and nodded, that sounded like a good idea, it meant that she didn't have to leave his company just now. She led the way down to Revello Drive to her house then stopped as they reached the porch "I had a good time Angel"
She stood still for a moment wondering what he would do, her eyes fluttered to his lips then back to his eyes; was he expecting to kiss her? Did he even want to and would she be sad if he had no intention of it?
Angel nodded "I had a good time too, I'd like to do it again sometime?" he gave her a charming smile and kissed the top of her hand again to seal the deal, Buffy nodded eagerly, she'd like to see him again; she'd had fun today.
"I'll see you later Angel" with one last kiss to her hand he held it for a moment longer than necessary then walked down the path with one last wave. Buffy waved back, once he was out of sight she bit her lip and let out an excited squeal.
When she entered the house Dawn ran up to her excitedly calling her name, she scooped her up in her arms and smiled "did you have fun with Faith?" Dawn nodded excitedly; Faith swaggered into the hall and smiled at Buffy when she got her money.
"Out on a date with Angel were we?" she didn't like the look that Faith was giving her, it was devious, like she was both annoyed and intrigued by the situation.
Buffy shrugged then placed Dawn back on the ground, holding her little hand in hers "Yeah I was out with Angel, why?" Faith smirked then ran her eyes suspiciously over her full body then chuckled "What?"
Faith ran her tongue over her lips and purred "A date with Angel huh?" she trailed her hand lightly from her leather clad thigh up to the band then hooked her thumb to pose "Have a good time?" she smiled deviously at her again, hinting at what they could have been up to.
Her stomach knotted, knowing fully at what the brunette was hinting at, not liking that it looked like Faith knew what his dates were like and what activities they could have doing "You know Angel?" Faith was at least a year older than Angel himself.
"Yeah I know the big guy, I know him well" she raised her eyebrow at Buffy then chuckled as she shifted her pose from one foot to the other "I'll see you later kiddo" she gave Buffy one last look then jumped into her car and left.
Buffy frowned as she shut the door over, she had never particularly liked Faith, she tolerated her as she was like by Joyce but now she decided that she didn't like her at all and it had nothing to do with being 'close' to Angel… nothing like that at all.