When I woke I found that I was still on the floor. I sighed and got up and put the book on my nightstand. I pulled my jeans on and then I pulled my green long sleeved shirt on. I sighed and began my way to the main lobby. I stopped just short of going around the corner when I heard voices.
"… You just need to giver her time. She's going through a lot right now. She lost everything and is still trying to cope with that." It was Lorne. I heard a sigh and knew that I had to be Angel,
"I know… I haven't exactly been there for her either."
"You handle grief differently than her. She faces it head on and alone you don't like to face it as much and you handle everything alone." I smirked seeing that Lorne was right. I took that moment to enter. I walked down the stairs and made my way past the two and headed towards the front desk where Fred was,
"Hey." She looked up at me and smiled,
"Hey, how are you?"
"Alright, I've had better days." She gave me a sad smile but I shook it off,
"We've missed you the last few weeks."
"Yeah, I know. I've been at the demon bar every night for the last few weeks."
"Wow. I'm sure your head must hurt."
"Nope. I'm dead remember. Drinking's more of a game really." I let out a sigh. Dad was still standing there talking to Lorne but he kept looking in my direction so I decided to help Fred, "So, what can I help you with?" She looked shocked for a moment but then recovered,
"Um, well I could use some help with translating some of this ancient text. And do you think you could possibly make a run for me later tonight?"
"Mhm, sure. Why not." She smiled,
"Thanks. This really helps." She handed me the text and I began to read. The more I read the more I loved it.
"Fred, where did you find this?"
"A vampire had it. We collected it when we killed him. Why do you know what it says?" Angel and Lorne stopped talking for a moment and turned to us,
"Oh yes I know what this is. It's an old, actually ancient text." My eyes were skimming across the pages and I was loving what I was reading. "It's very well written. Beautiful actually. Wesley would-" I didn't finish my thought and my eyes never flickered from the page but I felt the fear rise from the others and a slight anger from Angel but it was all drowned out by my own sadness.
"You know what it is then?" I looked at my father,
"Of course, but it won't do you any good."
"Why?"
"It's a poetry book." They all looked at me dumb struck. Fred was the first to say anything,
"Really? Why would a vampire have an ancient poetry book?" I shrugged my shoulders,
"May I keep this?"
"I don't see why not. Angel?" I looked at him and he nodded. I gave him a small smile,
"Thanks." He knew I loved poetry and I guess this was sort of like a gift. I sat there in the lobby and read and read and read. It was captivating and mystical and all together beautiful. I had to show this to Wesley I just had to. Plus… I missed him. It had been a few weeks since I had seen him and… I needed a friend.
Night fell and I found Fred in the back, "So what's my assignment?" She smiled and picked up a folder,
"There's a group of vampires down by," She looked around to make sure that no one was around to hear, "Down by Wesley's place. We've been getting complaints about pets going missing and just the other day a old lady went missing."
"I'll handle it." She smiled,
"Thanks." I went to the weapons closet and opened it up. I ran my hand across all the different weapons. My hand finally rested on a sword and a couple of stakes. I suited up and picked the book up. I knew he was there, up in the balcony, but I didn't face him. I looked to Fred who gave me a small smile,
"Don't wait up." And with that I left. It wasn't long before I reached Wesley's place. I sat the book just inside the door of his complex.
"Hey pretty lady…" I turned around to see a red haired guy who looked about 23 years old and a blonde haired one that was probably the same age,
"What's a girl like you doing out so late?"
"And all by herself too?" They came closer and another one appeared. A brunette and then a blonde haired girl appeared,
"Ooo, new meat." I let the red head get close. Really close. I put my hand on his chest and pushed a bit,
"Listen, I'm not your type of girl. Sorry but it just won't work between us." And with that I staked him. He turned to dust and the others charged at me. Their face contorted and their teeth ready and waiting to rip me to shreds. My own face became contorted as I fought them off. Punches were thrown and I had staked the blonde boy. "Which one of you wants to go next?" They looked at each and then turned and ran the other way. I smirked and went back inside. I picked up the book and my weapons and proceeded to move up the stairs. When I got to Wesley's door I stopped only for a second before knocking. There was a long pause before the door was opened to reveal a tired looking Wesley. His eyes brightened at the sight of me.
"Angela…" I smiled at him. His face was scruffy and he didn't have his glasses on. He actually looked rather…I shook my head. Can't think like that about my friend. Too weird.
"Hey Wesley." He opened the door,
"Come in." I did and he shut the door behind me, "So…what brought you here?"
"A couple of vampires I had to stake." I looked up at him and my eyes locked with his, "And… I wanted to see you. I… I need a friend. You are my only friend. Dad and I fight more than anything. I can't talk to Gunn about it and Fred and Lorne try but… They're not you." He gave me a sad smile and held his arms open. I didn't hesitate. I fell into his arms and wrapped my arms around him as well. Tears didn't fall but I felt the pain in my chest all the same. He held me for a long time before I finally pulled away, "Oh! Fred gave me this earlier this morning. It's a book. It's ancient poetry." I handed him the book and opened it delicately. His hands skimmed across the pages.
"It's beautiful… It's magnificent." I smiled as he sat down on the couch to read more of it. I sat down beside him, "The more I read it…"
"The more you love it." He looked up at me and smiled,
"Yes. Very much so." We read a lot of them and we ended up eating left over Chinese and for a time, I forgot that there was anything wrong. That there any tension. Everything just melted away. I sighed and leaned my head on his shoulder as he read. Slowly I felt myself loose consciousness as I listened to his voice. I let out a sigh. For once I felt at peace. Even if it was for just a moment.