Two days later, Buffy had a hard day at school. Guys were coming up to her practically every minute, telling crude jokes or offering to help her out now she wasn't with Parker. But Xander, Willow, Kathy, Faith (a part timer who was a friend of the group) and most of the other girls surprisingly, were supportive. She learnt she wasn't the first high school girl to be used by Parker. And she doubted she'd be the last.

But when she got home, the day got a lot worse. Spike knew.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me that prick had touched you?! I had to hear about it from Devon! I'm gonna kill him the son of a bitch!"

"Spike, please, don't do anything."

"Don't you anything?! How the bloody hell can you say that?! He touched you! Then he broke up with you. I told you not to go out with him, but you never listen to me, I told you -"

Buffy cut him off, shouting, "YES! I know you told me Spike! I know everyone told me! I know I was stupid, and naïve, and dumb, I know all that! But it's done, and I can't change it, so lay off!!"

She stormed upstairs and lay on her bed, crying. She looked over at the bedside table and saw a photo of her and Parker. She felt fresh tears rush her eyes, then blinked them away as her face hardened. She wasn't the one who should be sorry, he should. He hurt her more than anyone ever had, but he didn't deserve her tears. She took the picture out the frame, ripped it up, and threw it in the bin.

She was sitting on a bench at school when Parker pulled up in a car, got out and walked up to her. The others stood up, ready to pounce, but she held up a hand to stop them, and stood up in front of him.

"What do you want Parker?" She noticed, with more than a little satisfaction, that his nose was swollen and bruised. She wondered who was responsible for that.

"Buffy, I, I dunno how to say this. I'm sorry for how I treated you before. It was wrong of me and I'm sorry. I might not deserve this but do you think that you could forgive me?"

She looked at him in disbelief for a second then drew back her hand and slapped him as hard as she could on his cheek. He yelped in pain, before turning wide eyes on her. He opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off.

"You dated me for a month and when you finally got in my pants, you broke it off with me. You were probably cheating on me for the entire time. You brag about it to everyone you know; and then you expect me to forgive you?"

She shook her head, looked down at the floor, then drew back her fist and punched him in his already broken nose before he had time to react. He cried out and clutched at his nose, blood already free-falling from it.

"How about no?"

He quickly retreated back to his car and drove off. Buffy turned to her friends and they rushed at her, hugging her tightly and congratulating her. For the first time in almost a week, she felt happy.

When she got home, she found Spike in the living room and confronted him about Parker's injuries.

"I thought I told you not to do anything to Parker. I saw him earlier, he had a broken nose."

"I don't know who did that, but it wasn't me. Wish it had've been though. I went to the campus to have a little chat with him earlier but I heard he wasn't there. There was a rumour going round that you'd beat him up. So I decided to leave it. Guess the rumour was wrong."

"No it was right. But someone beat me to it too."

A realisation struck her and she told Spike she'd be back soon before making her way to Angel's house. He opened the door and let her in, and she immediately noticed the bruised on the knuckles on one hand. She was right.

"So I was right. It was you." She gestured to his hand and he met her eyes, unwaveringly.

"He had no right to do that to you. I was letting him know." She gave him a small smile and stepped closer to him, taking his hand in both of hers and inspecting the bruising.

"You shouldn't have done that. But thank you."

"I heard someone else gave him a beating too." She looked down sheepishly before giving him an impish grin and nodding. "Good."

She was aware that she was still holding his injured hand and dropped it quickly, coughing slightly. He placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her to him, holding her tightly. "I'm glad you're alright."

She pulled away and looked up at him, her eyes turning serious. He was staring down at her with such intensity that she found it hard to keep eye contact, but impossible to turn away, all at the same time. She was aware that his hands were still resting lightly on her shoulders and the heat from them seemed to warm her whole body. His hands moved down her arms, rubbing lightly before letting go. He stepped away, running a hand through his thick hair before looking back at her.

He opened his mouth to speak when Giles walked in carrying his briefcase and a big pile of books. Both Angel and Buffy ran to help him, taking the books off him. Buffy set them down on the coffee table, quickly made her excuses and left, wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible.

She didn't know what had come over her. Angel was like a brother to her, he had been for the past eleven years. When he'd moved to Sunnydale when she was six, she idolised him, and she still did. He was the strong guy who'd always been there for her. She'd grown up around him and Spike, the two protectors who'd do anything for her. Angel had proved that when he'd hit Parker. And sure she'd always noticed he was attractive, she wasn't blind. And there was that time when she was twelve that she had the biggest crush on him. But now…surely not? She was just hurting, right?

Angel didn't know what to think. He'd always looked out for Buffy. She was his best friend's cousin, and Spike asked Angel years ago to look after Buffy if he wasn't around. He'd stuck to his word. And he knew Buffy was pretty. More than pretty, she was beautiful. But he didn't see her like that. She was four years younger than him, too young, and he'd never let himself see her as anything else other than a sister. He was just feeling protective, right?