Author's Notes: Thank you to new readers, and old readers alike, for the amazing feedback this story is getting. I'm very happy with how it's progressing and that you guys are enjoying it. Now, for the first part of this chapter, it's going to focus on a flashback from a few years ago. Some of the events of this flashback are based on one of my real life experiences of meeting one of my favorite bands(At the time, but no longer) in the Chicago suburbs, though some of the story is tweaked and made up for this story. Rolling Stone is a real life record store that's still opened to this day, at least to my knowledge. And oh yes, in my part of the country, darkness falls much earlier during the beginning of November. Brr! The situation between Buffy and Angel, as far as I can tell, is going to become a bit complicated. I know Buffy's been a little weepy lately, but don't worry, that will change! All feedback is still encouraged and none of the characters belong to me. Enjoy chapter three guys!

Chapter Three

October 26th, 2006

The suburbs of Chicago. We were there braving it out in the frigid cold, along with sixty other fans who were attempting to shield themselves from the zero below wind chills. Willow, myself, and Cordelia were attending our very first concert together thousands of miles from the warm, sunny shores of Northern California, but we were more than willing to travel the distance just to see him. Angel's band were slowly becoming well known outside the area, and he had given us tickets, even backstage and meet and greet passes, to attend his very first performance in the Windy City.

He was more than gracious and had been insistent for us to come and enjoy the show, which at the time, thought was very sweet of him. Never mind in that I had developed a crush on him for over a year, so there was a bit of bias going on my part.

"Aren't you excited to be here?" Willow had asked me in a chipper voice, clasping her hands together to create some warmth. We were standing in a line directly outside the Rolling Stone record store in Norridge, waiting for the meet and greet attendant to allow us entrance into the shop as we were freezing our asses off. "I would be if it wasn't so fucking cold out. Will, I wanted to visit Chicago, but in the spring time. Not when it's super chilly out. Did you know it gets darker here more earlier than it does back home? It's almost night time and it's not even five thirty," I complained.

"Oh, come on, Buffy. Be a sport. You know you're happy to be here. Admit it. You're happy to see him again, aren't you? Your hormones are just, I dunno, going crazy. Does he give you that nice, fuzzy feeling? I'm not talking about the animal fuzzy kind either. Just you know-" Willow blabbed incoherently. I grinned in spite of myself. "How can I not be? He's been such a sweetheart to us. I can't help but like him, Will. I mean, really like him. How can I tell him about how I feel?"

Before she could speak, we were interrupted by one of the security guards, who was urging us to head on inside, with Cordy tagging along from behind, demanding that he'd keep his paws off her thousand dollar Michael Kors bag. As soon as I saw a glimpse of Angel perching on a bar stool in front of the shop, radiating confidence and dazzling smiles, my heart began to thump in rapid anticipation, my palms sweating despite the surprisingly cool air that hummed over the vents. "Looks like someone's in love," Cordy snickered over my shoulder with a sly grin.

"Cordy!" I muttered, feeling the heat rising to my cheeks. "It's okay, Buffy. You don't have to hide your deep dark secret. We are all aware that the first step to getting help is admitting that you have a problem. If there's any, I suppose. Which probably doesn't help."

"Gee, thanks for your dying support," I replied in a sarcastic manner. Minutes ticked on by and suddenly we were the next ones in line, my eyes facing Angel's before he responded by standing to his feet and taking my hand in his large one, killing any potential for moments of awkwardness. Immediately, I felt a sense of warmth and safety overflowing me, my finger softly grazing his. For the first time in weeks, I felt a sense of relief. I hadn't realize how much I had missed him. Tonight was the first time I had seen him since the start of his first small tour of the country."Buffy, you made it. I'm so glad that you're here." His chocolate eyes looked deep into mines with a sincerity that was familiar to his personality.

"It's good to see you too. It's been weeks. I missed you," I confessed, my words genuine. I hadn't realized that my finger were now tracing circles in his palm, fingering along the slim lines. I didn't care that there were other girls watching. I kept my gaze into his eyes, knowing that he didn't mind one bit. All traces of those smiles vanished from his angelic face then, his mood now a bit sullen. "I missed you too. More than you know. Anything you need for me to sign?" He pretended to cough, producing a grin to hide away his true feelings that only I had seen.

"Sure," I accepted, pulling out a band poster from my messenger bag. And that was when I saw her. The woman who was standing a few feet away from us. Tall, slim, blond haired. Beautiful. The woman who would end up taking Angel on a path that would end up destroying what was slowly developing between us. The one who would end up destroying him...

"Hello, Buffy! What's it like where you are?" Cordy interrupted, causing me to jump in my seat, her shrill voice startling me out of my reverie. I hadn't noticed that my left eye was slightly misty as my mind reluctantly returned to the present. "Oh, sorry, Cordy. I was thinking about the time we went to Chicago."

"I'm guessing Angel's been in your thoughts again? I could tell by the way you're moping back there. Care to share with the rest of the class?" Cordy pressed, hands clenching firming on the staring wheel. "No, not really, but I will anyways. I was thinking about what happened after the meet and greet. I hate that it's been years, but it feels like it happened only yesterday."

Willow's body faced towards me, sympathy morphing in her expression as her hand reached out to pat my leg in comfort. "We'll find a way to bring him back, Buffy. Don't you worry."

"Yeah. If not, we'll drag his ass if we have to. That skanky blond bimbo is so not good for him. We'll get him back," Cordelia assured. I couldn't help but produce a sheepish grin and a flash of gratitude for them both.

"Thank, Will. Thanks, Cordy."

We were on our way to the City of Angels, and I could feel exhaustion taking hold of me, even though it was only the mid afternoon. I glanced out over the open window in the back of the car, squinting furiously as I saw the sun beginning to set over the rim of the Pacific Ocean.

We sped pass the highway, overlooking the calm shore as I propped my feet underneath my legs, leaning my head against the pleather cushion behind me, feeling my eyes beginning to close.

There was a part of me that wanted to go back to Sunnydale and lay in bed all day and pretend that I wasn't feeling well. I didn't want to go anywhere near Angel, much less attend his show at the Whisky A Go Go, a club that was infamous for all kinds of debauchery, considering that it was located on the world famous Sunset Strip, but in the end, I couldn't say no to the two friends that were trying to support me.

What stung the most was the last memory of the Chicago trip that I hadn't told them yet.

As soon as we had left the Rolling Stone shop that night, I had accidentally turned to give Angel a word goodbye, only to witness him unhappily kissing the lips of the blond haired woman. Without attracting the attention of my two closest friends, I wept silently in the car, a deep worry settling in my thoughts: What if somehow, in his mind, Angel was secretly blaming me for the destructive path that he had taken?