Chapter 6
"So what time do you want me to pick you up?" Angel asked, smirking slightly at the sight of Doyle trying to get his hair to sit right
"I don't know, I'll phone a cab or something" Doyle answered, still worried about the state of his hair.
"You're hairs fine" Angel said
"Really?" Doyle said hopefully, adjusting the wing mirror for a better look
"Yeah, it's the shirt I'd be worried about."
"Great, just great" Doyle muttered, wondering what Cordelia's reaction would be if that was Angel's.
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Angel finally pulled up outside Cordelia's apartment after what seemed to be the longest ten minutes of Doyle's life. He looked at his watch, before remembering it had stopped. He had kept it on out of habit and decided to let it remain on his wrist for now anyway. He glanced at the dashboard and saw he was still a few minutes early. He swallowed, his mouth feeling suddenly dry.
"I don't think I can do this" he said. Angel laughed, before seeing the look of panic on his face. "What if she hates the necklace?"
"She's going to love it" Angel assured him.
"What about the shirt? She's going to hate that. And what if she didn't really want me! What if she wants you to come instead? What if I go in and she just goes off with some other guy? What would I do then?"
"Doyle! It's going to be fine, okay? And she's not going to ditch you. She wants you there. She wouldn't have asked you otherwise."
"Okay" Doyle sighed, taking a deep breath and letting it out again, "Okay. It's going to be okay. Right?"
"Right." Angel agreed, but secretly wondering what was going to happen when Cordelia saw his shirt. He watched Doyle take another deep breath before getting out of the car and walking determinedly towards the door. He saw him pause, before going inside towards the stairs that would lead him to Cordy's apartment. Then he noticed the long, blue box lying on the passenger seat. He opened it and saw the necklace that Doyle had been planning to give to Cordy nestled in it. He grabbed it quickly and jumped out of his car, racing towards the stairs, hoping to catch Doyle before he met Cordy. However he reached Cordy's floor and saw Cordy already talking to Doyle and that Doyle was blushing slightly. He was convinced they were talking about the shirt. As he neared them, his sharp ears picked up parts of the conversation,
"Well I was out saving the world an' all Cordelia, I didn't think you'd be that bothered by the shirt." He heard Doyle say. Angel grinned in spite of Doyle's nervousness. He slowed his pace from a sprint to a brisk walk and called out,
"Doyle! You left this behind" He threw the necklace box at him. Doyle fumbled with it and nearly dropped it. Angel stopped beside them
"Hi Angel" Cordelia said, sounding surprised, "What are you doing here?"
"I was just giving Doyle something he left behind. I've got to go now anyway. Evil to fight"
"Can't you stay for a while?" Cordelia asked him. Angel turned and saw the pleading look on Doyle's face.
"I can't." He lied, "there's a demon I need to deal with"
"Oh. Okay" Cordelia said, "I guess I'll see you at work tomorrow" Angel just nodded and smiled when he saw Doyle's grateful grin. He walked to the end of corridor and turned around to see Doyle place a hesitant hand on Cordelia's shoulder and lead her inside to the New Years party. Angel smiled again. He had a feeling that everything would go alright for Doyle tonight.
