Chapter 17

After three weeks of pretending that nothing was wrong and she was fine the pressure was starting to ease. Buffy poured all her energy into her Uni work and was starting to get on top of things for once. She ate lunch with Willow, Xander, Spike and the rest, she pretended to be fine and they pretended they didn't know any different. So in many ways things were better than they had ever been even though she hadn't spoken to any of her old friend since that day in the stairwell. The only person who had even approached her was Cordilia, of all people. It was no secret that they had been in tight competition for years over everything from academics, to cheerleading to popularity but she had come over, not ten minuets earlier to apologize for not saying something sooner, for thinking that Buffy already knew, for everything. What surprised Buffy most was the fact that Cordilia clearly had no idea that Angel, her best friend of more than a decade was desperately in love with her. Maybe Angel hadn't even realized himself yet? Buffy shook her head quietly. How could you be falling in love with someone and not even know?

Buffy was jolted abruptly from her thoughts as a grape flew through the air hitting her on the shoulder. She glared at Spike who was eating his lunch so seemingly innocently. That jerk! Who else would do something so annoying and juvenile?

"What was that for Spike, and don't give me that 'who me?' look."

"I haven't the faintest idea what you're on about pet."

"Well since no one else here is eating grapes, nor do they have the maturity of an eight year old I believe this is yours."

Spike ducked as the stray grape missile passed over his head and connected with an approaching lecturer who shook her head disapprovingly at them all. As the laughter subsided Xander joined the group.

"Was that Cordilia I saw leaving as I passed by earlier?"

Willow quickly filled him in and he nodded.

"Do ya think she's figured out she loves him yet? Bet Angel has no idea the big lump. I wonder if they'll end up together?…ouch! What was that for?"

Xanders musings were cut short has Anya pinched him and someone, probably Willow, kicked him under the table.

"For being tactless you git"

"No look, I'm fine. Angel was seeing other people even before we broke up. Why should it bother me now?…….one thing though, how do you lot know that they have something if they don't even know?"

"You see a lot more when people don't notice your existence. Plus it's easier to see clearly if you're not emotionally involved."

Willow gave Buffy a reassuring smile. One that Buffy was beginning to really find a comfort.

"So. I think the obligatory period of self-pity and sympathy has ended. Time for a party!"

"What was that?"

"I think what Xander was trying to say is that you have been a little down but now it's time to cheer up. So that means it's time for a sleep over!"

The light in Willows eyes left no room for arguments but still received the obligatory, yet futile groans from the men at the table.

"Don't start with me boys, you know the rules. When a friends heart gets stomped on we have to spend quality catch up time to cheer them up!"

Buffy wasn't sure exactly when she had moved into the friend category but she liked the idea more than she cared to admit. Especially since Faith was spending more and more time commuting to spend time with Wes. Buffy smiled the first real smile she had mustered in weeks.

"So where is this sleepover, what should I bring and what do we do?"