A/N: I'm glad you're all enjoying this. This chapter has a few surprises. Hope ya like em!

Oh, and another shout out to my lovely beta Iyimgrace who helped me refine this chapter a little. It was kinda rough in places. Now it's way better.

Chapter 6

It was getting close to the Spring Fling, Angela had her dress all ready to go and she was looking forward to talking to Lance again. He was in the next town with the team and wouldn't be back until the day before the dance.

When his team did return, with their hard won division title, he was happy to see her. He cornered her at her locker as he leaned against it. He'd just finished football practice so he was still in his uniform and still sweaty. "Hey, Angela. How's it goin?"

"It's good. Got my dress for the dance," she smiled proudly.

"Awesome. I'll bet you'll look amazing. Well, you do now anyway but...I've never seen you in a dress before."

"Because I don't generally like them. I'm a jeans and T-shirt kinda girl."

Lance shrugged. "Nothing wrong with that."

The bell rang and he smiled at her. "I gotta go change. I'll see you in Chem?"

"Sure."

He leaned over, quickly pecked her lips with a kiss and took off before she had a chance to say anything. All she could do was watch him run down the hall.

"Damn, I'm in trouble," she whispered to herself as she felt tingles through her whole body.

That girl who approached her the other day, whose name she later learned was Josette, came up to her.

"Are you guys going out?"

"Me and Lance? No."

"Huh. That's funny. Because he says you are. And I saw him kiss you."

"It was just a peck. So what? Next thing people are going to be saying is that we're sleeping together too?"

"They probably already are."

"How do they expect that to happen? Does he have a go-go gadget penis? He's been in Highlandtown for the past 2 days."

Josette shrugged. "Just telling you what I heard."

"Well thanks. I appreciate the head's up."

Later that day, in class, when Lance took his seat at the table behind Angela, she turned around and stared at him. It was such an intense stare that made him literally squirm and look away first.

"What's up?" he asked her.

"Nothing. We'll talk after class."

She continued to ignore him for the next hour until the final bell rang at the end of the day. Then she confronted him out in the hall. "Are you telling people we're going out?" she asked, getting right down to it.

"Is that a problem?"

"No, I just would've liked to be in on it."

Lance gave her his sweetest smile and she almost felt bad for getting upset. Almost.

"Sorry. I asked you to the dance, and then I went away..."

"Yeah that's just it. You've been gone. So how did people hear about it unless you said something?"

"Don't you like me, Angela?"

"Yeah I do. It's just..."

"What's wrong?"

"I...haven't had the best track record with guys. So forgive me if I'm a little wary of your motives."

He nodded. "I'll buy that. Look, I'm not a jerk. I do like you and I'm going to be very proud to walk into the dance with you on my arm. You're totally going to be Spring Fling Princess this year. Not many girls can say that."

"You think that's why I accepted the invitation?"

Lance cocked an eyebrow. "Isn't it?"

"No, it isn't," she sighed as she closed her locker and brushed past him. "Sorry if you got that impression, or felt the need to ask me because you thought that's what I wanted."

"Hey wait up!" he called out as he walked close behind her. "I'm sorry. I didn't know...I thought girls liked the whole Spring Fling Princess title."

She stopped and gestured to her T-shirt, faded jeans and Nike high top running shoes. "Do I look like I'd be into something like that? Are you blind?"

Lance sighed and shook his head. "No, I'm not blind. I've liked you for awhile but I didn't know you enough to talk to you..."

"Until I got my car," she added. "Amazing how everyone seemed to suddenly take notice."

"A pretty girl in a hot car would make anyone take notice."

Angela snorted. "Yeah because I was ugly before and nobody noticed me, and suddenly I'm not? Nice try."

"I never said you were ugly. The point is, I still want you to be my date. If you want to, that is."

She sighed. He seemed genuine. But that was the key word. Seemed.

"Okay."

He smiled that killer smile again and she felt herself weaken.

Then the other shoe dropped.

"So what time do you want to pick me up?" he asked.

Angela could've sworn she heard what sounded like a vinyl record skip and then slowly die in agony as she replayed his question in her head.

"Sorry...say that again? I didn't quite catch that. Did you say what time should I pick you up?"

"Yeah. The dance is at seven so..."

"No, that's not the issue. The issue is what gave you the impression that I would be driving?"

"Why wouldn't you? You're the one with the hot car. Wouldn't you want to arrive to the dance in style?"

Angela could just barely contain her anger. "And what's wrong with your car?"

Lance shifted uncomfortably and fidgeted. "I don't have one."

Suddenly everything seemed to fall into place. He only asked her out because he liked her car and wanted to be seen in it.

"Well you can just forget it, pal. Your ass will never touch the seat of my car, or anything else for that matter. You really only asked me out because of my car. I doubt you even really like me all that much."

"Angela..."

"Damn it!" she hissed. "You almost had me going. I thought you were different. But you're not. You're just like any other guy I've known. You're shallow, materialistic and stuck-up. All you care about is your reputation and how others perceive you. Well, perceive this," she shouted as she poked him hard in the chest, "you can damn well hitchhike to the dance because I'm not driving you, and I'm sure as hell not going to be seen there with you either. Now get out of my face!" She gave him a shove so hard that he almost fell and then she heard a round of applause from a few onlookers, including Josette.

Angela got into her car and drove home. She felt empowered and fearless for the first time in her life. It was as if everything was suddenly clear and she knew what she had to do.

When she got home, she managed to sneak past her mother and into her room. Luckily, she hadn't yet taken the tags off her dress for the dance, and she still had the receipt so she put it back in the garment bag it came in and was about to make a clean getaway when her mother caught her.

"Where are you going with that?"

"I'm taking it back to the mall."

"Why?"

"I won't be needing it anymore."

"Oh, Angela," Jennifer sighed. "What happened?"

Angela didn't want to see the pity in her mother's eyes so she looked away. "It doesn't matter. If anything, he did me a favor. I realized how much of a jerk he was before the dance. Don't worry. I'll be fine. I feel good, actually."

Jennifer was amazed at Angela's optimism and watched with pride as her only daughter got into her car and sped off to the mall.

X X X

Seven years later...

The phone rang several times before a hand reached out from the covers and hit the speakerphone button. "Sorentis."

"Angela?"

"Mmm..who is it?"

"It's your Uncle James."

Angela was suddenly awake. There was only one reason, and one reason only her uncle would be calling her. Her mother had taken a turn for the worse.

Within the last year, her parents packed up and moved to Princeton to be near the hospital where Jennifer could receive the best care possible.

"What's going on?"

"Can you come to Princeton? It's your Mom. She's..."

Angela wiped the sleep out of her eyes and sat up. "I'll catch the next flight out and be there tonight."

"Great. Give me a call when you get in and I'll come pick you up."

Her plane arrived on time, and she texted her uncle. However, he didn't reply. After waiting an hour, she took a cab to the hospital and took the elevator up to his office. She had only been there one other time before but she knew her way around. However, something caught her eye when she passed by the glass enclosed office on the way. The name on the door read: Dr. Gregory House. M.D. Department of Diagnostic Medicine.

No…oh no… she thought as she stopped dead in her tracks. It had been ten years since she last saw him. She'd heard about his infarction the year before and how his girlfriend of five years left him.

His back was to the door as he tossed a large red and grey ball in the air, and she moved along quickly before he could see her. After several hours on a plane and a crowded airport, she was in so condition to see Greg House.

Her uncle was seated at his desk talking to her father. "Daddy?"

"Angela!"

"Oh my God…" Wilson groaned as he reached for his cell and checked his messages. "I'm sooo sorry. I didn't get your text. I've been having connection issues."

"Well she's here now, and that's all that matters," David said as he embraced her. "I've missed you so much. How's L.A.?"

"Good. I'm actually between cases right now so it was no problem coming out."

"Jim, I want to go check in on her. Can you give Angela the news?"

"Sure. Go on ahead. We'll be down soon."

Once David was gone, Wilson sighed and looked regretfully at Angela. "I'm so sorry. We've done everything for her. There's nothing else to do. All I can do is make her last days as comfortable as possible."

Angela considered her uncle's words and nodded. Her eyes stung with tears but she held them back. She'd wait until she was alone to grieve the way she wanted. "I understand. How long does she have?"

"A few days at most. Angela, you need to prepare yourself."

"Uncle James, I've been doing that since her prognosis. I'm a big girl. I can handle it."

They hugged each other close, unaware of the thumping noise outside the door until it opened.

"Wow…the naughty nurses are getting younger and younger around here. Have you no shame, Wilson?"

"House!" Wilson scolded, still holding Angela close as she tried to compose herself.

Angela knew that voice anywhere, even though it had been ten years.

"She's not a nurse! She's…"

"No wait…don't tell me. Candy striper up in Peds?"

"Was there something you wanted?" Wilson snapped at his friend.

"It's quittin' time."

"I'm staying late tonight. I'll see you tomorrow."

House took one last glance at the woman in Wilson's arms. He couldn't see her face, but he took in her short cropped hair, long neck, tanned skin and tight clothing. She was definitely Wilson's type, nurse or not.

"Okee dokee. Nice ass kicker boots, by the way," he said to her before he turned and left, shutting the door behind him.

Once House was gone, Angela stepped back. "Does he remember me?"

Wilson almost looked sympathetic. "Angela, he's not the man you knew ten years ago. He's…changed a lot since the infarction. He's miserable, moody, and arrogant."

"If you're trying to scare me, Uncle James, it's not working."

"I'm just giving you a head's up. Don't expect a warm reunion."

"I'm not naive. I know the kind of man he is."

"He might surprise you. Come on, let's go see your mom."

Angela went to her parent's that night and slept like the dead. When she woke up, she hit the Starbucks near the hospital and waited in a long line.

"You almost have to go to Dunkin' Donuts to get a coffee while you wait in line for this coffee," House snarked, loud enough for anyone within range, including employees, to hear him.

Angela held her breath. She contemplated whether or not she should say anything to him. Would he even recognize her?

She hadn't changed all that much, but she was taller, her hair, which was once long down her back, was cut super short in a pixie cut with blonde streaks, and she was very well built and muscular. One had to be for the line of work she was in.

"They have all that coffee back there. Maybe they should drink some so they'll move it," she added, getting his attention immediately, and giving him a saucy grin.

She finally made it to the front, placed her order along with paying for House's coffee, and then moved over to the other counter to wait while it was made.

That's when she felt his eyes on her. It was a stare so intense it felt like it was boring into her soul.

She was grateful she was wearing her sunglasses so he couldn't see that she was checking him out. To her surprise, he still looked the same, if not older, with a few wrinkles and grey. He was dressed in a motorcycle jacket, his shirt was wrinkled, he wore jeans and Nike's. It wasn't exactly the image of a brilliant doctor to have, if the few days growth of stubble was any indication.

House leaned heavily on his cane as he watched her sprinkle cinnamon into her latte, put the lid back on the cup, and leave the store. Then he made it to the front to order.

"Your coffee is right here, Dr. House," the barista called to him.

"Wow, you're good."

"I can't take all the credit," she grinned. "The young lady paid for yours."

Angela waited for her turn to cross the street as House caught up to her. "I owe you a latte," he said.

She shrugged. "I'm just paying it forward."

"Do you usually buy coffee for strangers?"

"Not usually. But then, you're not a stranger."

The signal chimed, they crossed the street and she made her way to the front of the hospital. "Wait!" he called out.

"Yes?"

"Are you going to the hospital?"

"Yes. I'm visiting my Mom."

House cocked his head to one side and she wondered if he was figuring it out. Would he know enough that her Mother was in that same hospital? Did her uncle tell him? If he did, she doubted House would remember. House never cared about people's names. Only the puzzle about why they were brought to him.

The lobby doors opened and she walked briskly to the elevator, acutely aware that he was following her. For a guy with a cane, he could move pretty fast.

The elevator doors opened and Wilson was inside. When he saw the two of them, he smiled as they joined him inside the car. "Ah, there you are, Angela."

"Yep. Bright eyed and bushy tailed."

"Angela..." House muttered to himself, trying to remember why that name was so familiar.

"Your mom is sleeping. She's comfortable."

"Good."

"Angela?" House said a little louder as he looked at her and cocked his head to one side.

"Why do you keep saying that?" Wilson asked his friend. Then he looked at Angela with confusion. "Why does he keep saying that?"

Angela just shrugged as the elevator doors opened at the Oncology floor. "Here we are. Come on."

She turned and smiled as the doors began to close again. House cocked his head to one side to look at her one last time. "Bye House."

A/N: Annnnd I'm leaving it there. Muahahahaha. I so love my little torments. New chapter will be up tomorrow sometime so stay tuned!