After finishing up the rest of her classes, Buffy waited on UC Sunnydale's front lawn for Xander and Willow. Oz was planning on picking them up, but she knew he might be a little late due to band practice.
Her thoughts slowly drifted to her mysterious literature teacher, Angel. She was pretty certain that he wasn't married but wasn't sure if he had a girlfriend or not. Just because I couldn't see a ring doesn't mean he's not taken…and jeeze, when did I reach the age where stalking out territory also meant checking out ring fingers?!
Chalking it all up to the college life, she sighed and hoped for a lust-free semester. She didn't want her whole school life to be dedicated to chasing Angel, contrary to the plans of many of the students including Cordelia. As smart-like as it sounded, she actually wanted to learn something, to experience something new.
Like experience a mouthful of Angel goodness…or…ugh! Control!
A few minutes later, Buffy spotted Xander and Willow through the mass of students and professors.
"Hey Buffster," Xander greeted casually as the trio made their way to the faculty parking lot, where Oz was bound to pick them up. "Long time, no see."
Buffy smiled. "Likewise."
"I hear someone has the hots for their professor," Willow said knowingly.
"Not true," Xander jumped in defense. "I said Professor Milikan had a nice body, Will, not that I had the hots--"
"I was talking to Buffy!"
Xander blinked. "I knew that."
Willow rolled her eyes playfully at her best friend. "Anyways, how is he? Professor Angelus?"
"He's alright," she answered teasingly. "I mean, most girls seem to be into him, and maybe I would, too…if I were into that kind of guy."
"That kind of guy?" Xander asked, unaware of the joke.
"Yeah, that kind of guy," Willow answered. "You know, the kind with the hair--"
"And the eyes--"
"And the face--"
"And the as--"
"OK, I get it!" Xander interrupted, causing the two girls to laugh. "Sheesh, I don't see anything special about him."
A new voice entered the conversation, causing Willow and Buffy to stifle a laugh. "About who?"
"About this new professor," Xander said blindly before turning around. He grinned sheepishly and offered a tiny wave. "Uh…hi, professor."
Angel smirked. "Hello, Xander."
Buffy could have died in heaven because of Angel's face, but thanks to her confusion she just looked at the two suspiciously. "You know each other?"
Xander looked down at the ground and Angel laughed. "Yeah. Your friend consistently attempts to bicker with me in my class. He doesn't give up easily…at least not until someone puts him in his place."
"Yeah, that's our Xander," Buffy laughed, not realizing that Xander was Angel's student.
Angel looked over to Willow. "You were in my class for a few moments, weren't you?"
Willow shot Buffy a panicked look, one that clearly said "I-told-you-so" through her eyes. "Me? I think that maybe--"
"She was just accompanying me," Buffy blurted out. "I needed…to find out where the class was."
Angel grinned. "I take it Willow's much more familiar with the campus, then?" Willow nodded as Angel extended his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Same." Willow shook his hand. "I've heard a lot about--"
"Angel!"
The group looked in the direction Angel's name was called. Buffy groaned as she spotted Cordelia nearing them.
"What are you doing over here?" Cordelia asked as she neared the group, obvious distaste in her mouth.
"Well, if you want to leave…" Buffy grumbled quietly.
Angel interrupted her sentence with a glance.
He knows me to well, she told herself as she calmed down. Is that a good thing?
"I was talking to my students," he told her. "Plus one non-student."
"You're in his class?" she questioned Xander disbelievingly.
"English is generally educational," he answered with a shrug. Everyone except for Buffy gave him a weird look.
"Inside joke," Buffy cleared.
"Hmm, what do you know," Cordelia spoke up. "Inside joke for outside losers."
Buffy fumed on the inside. If only I had trusty Mr. Breakface, my old baseball bat…
"Hey!" Xander yelled a few seconds too late. "You just insulted me, and I don't even know you."
"Nor do I want you to," Cordelia replied blatantly. She turned away from Willow and Xander's unbelievable looks and gave Angel her full attention, who was apparently uncomfortable. "So I heard you live on Crawford Street," she said happily.
Angel was taken back. "…how do you know where I live?" he asked wearily.
"Internet," she answered. "Anyways, I live right across from that street--"
"So does Buffy!" Xander boldly interrupted.
"--and I was wondering if you could give me a lift?" Cordelia finished sweetly, ignoring Xander's outburst.
Angel hesitated. Conflicting emotions crossed his face for only a brief second, and only Buffy noticed that he didn't know what to do. As fast as his confusion shown on his face, it disappeared. "Do you desperately need a ride, Cordelia?"
"Cordelia?!" Xander practically yelled, recognition shining on his features. He quieted down after more weird looks from the group and a pleading face from Buffy.
"You can't expect me to take the bus, can you?"
"All right." The professor ran a hand through his hair
Don't moan…no signs of interest…wow, I love his hair
and looked at Buffy. "Do you need a ride, as well?"
Knees! My knees are dying on me!
"Um…"
Xander spoke up. "Unlike Queen C over here, Buffy can take care of herself--"
"But there's not enough room with Oz!" Willow interrupted, nudging Xander in the ribs. "Yeah, so you might as well take up the offer, Buffy."
Speak, Buffy. Speak.
"Right, Buffy?" Willow persisted, trying to snap her best friend out of her daze.
Buffy blinked, trying to get her thoughts in order.
OK, rationality: Hot male: check. Hot -adult- male has just asked me if I need a ride.
Cons? Cordelia.
Pros? Hotness…Angelness…oh God, someone shoot me!
"Uh, yeah. Yeah! That would be great." She smiled at Willow and Xander (who was currently confused) before looking at Cordelia with fake generosity plastered on her face. "You wouldn't mind, would you?"
Buffy waved goodbye to her friends before heading in the same direction as Angel and Cordelia. Despite the evil daggers glaring from Cordelia's eyes, Buffy was pretty much taking everything in as a good sign.
"My car's right up ahead," Angel said, pointing to a red convertible.
Red, Buffy thought. He likes red.
As they neared his vehicle, Buffy heard Cordelia's heels click a little faster behind her. Arrogantly, she pushed past Buffy as she called out "shotgun!" for the all of the world to hear. Groaning, she put her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes.
"Tired of me already?" Angel smirked.
Buffy's eyes fluttered open. "What?" Her hands dropped from her forehead and she looked at him. "Oh, no...never. Just a little tired due to the fun, lovable ball of godliness we all like to call Queen C."
Angel laughed, causing Buffy a full blown smile. "I hope we grow have this much fun," he said. Quickly, he added, "in the classroom, I mean.
Glad to know he wasn't entirely serious about Cordelia, Buffy thought to herself. Like Xander said…he is just a guy.
A little while after the drive was in session, both Buffy and Angel continued to joke around, leaving a confused Cordelia asking too many questions.
"I already explained it to you, Cordy," Buffy said, tears in her eyes. "It's the psychological effect of trying to attract the male species. It may be something as unconscious as…puffing out your chest whenever a hot guy is around"
Angel chuckled, causing Buffy to laugh as well. Cordelia stared at the two, bewildered at what was happening. As the pair's humor died down, she said, "OK. First of all, it's not Cordy. It's Cordelia, Cordy to friends. Only. Next, I still don't see why girls shouldn't flaunt what they have if they have the right stuff! If it gets the guy, use it!"
Buffy briefly noticed Angel had stayed silent during the entire conversation.
Probably some teacher tactic: observe student, learn strengths, defeat during class.
She smiled faintly at the thought, keeping it in mind. In the next second, Buffy turned to serious debater mode. "All right, Cordelia," she said, stressing her name
Ignorant fool
"but that's not the point. It shouldn't have to be about good looks and great sex appeal for both genders."
Cordelia was angry. "Then what should it be about?"
"It should be about internal beauty," Buffy stated. "Something you can't touch but can feel…" Angel glanced at her from the rear-view mirror. "It should always be about the things that never change, not what you're constantly being bombarded with in the media and stupid magazines like Vogue and what not."
"I happen to love Vo--"
"And I mean sure, people change in growing aspects, for instance, I'm proud to admit that I no longer cry over bad hair since the sixth grade, but seriously? Who needs makeup to survive?"
"Obviously not you," Cordelia huffed. "You're doing quite well without it."
"I'm not sure if that's a compliment or insult," Angel said, looking to Cordelia.
She didn't seem to hear him in her dislike of a certain blonde in the backseat. "Then again, how well have you been doing without it? In loser terms, how long has it been since you've got laid, Buffy?"
A quick, awkward silence settled across the group. Buffy looked out the window and rolled her eyes.
What was the use?
"Thanks for the ride." She unlocked the car door. Angel slowed down the car.
"Buffy, wait--"
Buffy opened the door and grabbed her backpack before slamming it with a strength she had never seen before. She didn't even feel like sneaking a look back to see the confusion on the two's faces
She ran her hand through her hair and started walking towards Crawford Street.
Great. Another couple miles and I'll be home.
"Buffy!"
It was Angel. Surprising herself, she kept on walking.
"Buffy!"
The sound was closer now, but it wasn't like she cared.
No, really--I don't.
She felt firm hands grab her shoulder. Expecting who it was, Buffy didn't even let out the smallest cry as she turned around and saw Angel.
"You can't walk," he murmured, looking into her eyes. "It's too far."
Her eyebrows lifted in questioning. He laughed in response. "I didn't mean it like that. I know you're a strong and independent woman, Buffy…but I'm also a strong and reliable man who has promised a certain someone a free ride."
"I'll take the free ride in college not life, if you don't mind," she answered, caught off guard. She half expected him to be apologizing like a madman on Cordelia's behalf, and even half wanted to hear that Cordelia was wrong. Since he didn't, though, she felt a little let down and she knew it showed in her eyes.
Sensing this, Angel put a hand on her shoulder and said softly, "don't let her get to you, okay?"
A shiver went down her spine, and she nodded.
As he walked her back to his car, she couldn't stop smiling. Nothing could phase her now, not even Cordelia. And even in her dazed state, she didn't recognize anything except the feel of his arm around her shoulder.
Yet not even this good feeling couldn't suppress the ever-rising thought that plagued her heart from the beginning:
…
But isn't he your teacher?
Willow was practically screaming over the phone.
"He WHAT?"
Buffy giggled. "Will, relax!"
"Are you insane?" she said in a shocked tone. "This is big! Like, bigger than college big! Bigger than Cordelia's ego big! Which, actually, shouldn't be that big since you squashed it like a bug."
Buffy shifted the phone to the other ear as the sound of Oz's guitar sounds were heard through the phone. "I don't really like being an ego-smasher, though."
"Don't worry," Willow commented, "you did it for a good cause. Congratulate yourself! I do, and I think Oz approves from what he's heard."
She smiled. "So are we keeping up with the Bronzing? Or are we too old to be doing all of that dagnabbit young stuff?"
Willow sighed. "Not only too old, but also too busy. I have to get started on a research paper."
"Research paper or an essay?"
"Heavy duty research paper."
"Suckage." Buffy paused. "Well then, I'll let you go. I've got a few things I need to work on, too."
"Any assignments from Angel?" Willow asked with a teasing voice.
"Yes, from my English TA." Subconsciously, Buffy smiled at the thought. "I want to make a good impression."
"You already did."
"Thanks, Wills. I'll talk to you later. Tell my cousin no funny stuff after nine!"
After hanging up, she looked through all of the handouts she was given. Her English syllabus stood out brightly out of all of them, along with the written assignment. The paper dictated a thorough essay on the goals and expectations of college for the young freshmen
and women
in his class.
"Sounds easy enough," she told herself with a grin. "Now, just to make it a little more complicated."
