DISCLAIMER: I don't own anybody.
TIMELINE: Totally AU. Sequel to Who's That Guy?
SPOILERS: None.
DISTRIBUTION: Anyone can have it. Just let me know, kay?
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is a sequel to Who's That Guy, so you might want to check that out first if you want to understand this. It's not finished yet, and I don't normally post until it's finished.
FEEDBACK: Please let me know what you think of it so far!
RATING: Some innuendoes and bad behaviour.

Part One

Manhattan, 1998.

Angel dragged heavily on the cigarette. It wasn't that he particularly enjoyed smoking, but it made him look cool, like Marlon Brando. Brando was the man Angel Driscoll aspired to be. Now, as he leaned against his motorbike decked out in leather, he pictured himself as Brando in The Wild One.

"Angel!" A high pitched female voice shrieked. A tall, willowy girl with black hair came out of the swish apartment building. Angel's lips curled up into a smirk.

"Courtney." He nodded. She kissed him quickly, before getting onto the bike. Then, they rode off into the Manhattan evening.

Sunnydale, 1999

"Angel!" A voice called. He grinned when he saw the blonde girl running towards him.

"Hey!" He called to her happily. He was sitting on the beach with Spike and Dru and now that Buffy had arrived, the day was perfect. The sun was shining and he was with his friends. The blonde arrived and threw down her bag.

"Mom was antsy this morning." She explained her lateness. "Sorry."

"I forgive you." He deadpanned. She swatted him lightly on the shoulder as she spread her towel on the sand next to him. She then sat down beside him.

"Angel?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you put suntan lotion on my back?" She batted her eyelids flirtatiously.

"For you madam, anything." He grinned, and took the bottle of lotion she proffered. Slowly, gently, he rubbed it into her back. She giggled.

"What's funny?" He demanded lightly.

"Nothing, carry on." She said, still laughing. When she didn't stop laughing, he stopped.

"What?" He asked. She sat up.

"It's just funny. The idea of big bad Angel Driscoll sitting on a beach doing something as cutesy as this." She explained. Spike and Dru began to laugh, and Angel joined in.

"I'm glad I'm a source of such humour for you all." He said, mock-hurt. Buffy sat up.

"Aw. Poor baby." She said.

"Well, precisely." He told her, sticking his bottom lip out. She giggled and kissed him. The kiss escalated until they heard laughing. They broke apart, to find Cordelia, Xander, Willow and Oz standing there.

"Hey." Buffy said, laughing.

"Please Buffy." Xander admonished. "This is a public place. There are children around."

"So close your eyes." She retorted as he sat down. But inside, she was glad to hear Xander talking to them. It had been hard when her friends had hated Angel and his friends. Now, they were all one big happy family.

"Sod off and get your own!" Spike said as Xander took a sneaky drink from Spike's bottle of water. Buffy smiled. Definitely like a family. A bickering family.

Manhattan

"Angel? I want to talk to you." A stern male voice called. It was almost four in the morning, and Angel had only just arrived home. But it seemed that his father was still awake. Angel mooched into his father's study.

"Hi." He mumbled.

"What kind of time do you call this?"

"I don't know, I'm not wearing a watch." Angel retorted.

"I'm getting tired of your attitude young man." William Driscoll told him.

"Yeah? I'm tired too. Can I go now?"

"I'm not finished with you. I want to know what is so important that you arrive home at four. On a school night."

"Well, it's a school morning, but I get your point. I apologise heartily. Won't happen again." Angel said in such a dismissive tone it was impossible to believe him. The elder Driscoll stood up.

"You are this close to being expelled, do you understand? And do you know what will happen if you get expelled? You will be in so much trouble with me that you won't know whether you're coming or going." His voice was quiet but betrayed the anger he felt.

"OK. On board, got ya. Good night dad." Angel left the elder man almost trembling with rage.

**

"Angel Driscoll! You're late." The principal of St. Cyril's Academy was standing at the top of the staircase like an SS Officer. It was nearly ten in the morning, and Angel was only just strolling through the front door of his expensive private school. He had slept in late that morning, and was still tired. Yet he pulled together to be polite to Sir James.

"I do apologize, Sir. I haven't been well recently." He said politely. Sir Ronald James was a British Knight of the Realm transplanted to New York to teach young New York society like Angel.

"I have my eye on you young man." He said in his cultured accent.

"Yes sir."

"Get to your class. Now." Angel nodded and walked briskly up the stairs.

**

He arrived in French class to applause from his friends. They had a bet running to see how late he would be. Ignoring the teacher, Angel sat down at the back with his friends.

"Hi Angel." Courtney drawled. He smirked at her. "I had a great time last night." She told him. His friend Byron leaned over.

"So, how was last night?"

"OK." Angel said in a non-committal tone. Courtney, however, was less restrained.

"It was great. We went to Abyssinia and then rode down to the Battery." Abyssinia was the latest, most exclusive club in Manhattan.

"You got into Abyssinia?" One of the girls asked. Angel nodded.

"How did you manage that?"

"I told them that I was Angel Driscoll." He said smugly. They all looked at him in awe and wonderment.

**

The class dragged on, but finally, it was lunchtime, and they all headed for the roof, with its great views of Manhattan and lack of teachers.

"So, what did you and Angel get up to last night?" Bebe Thomas asked her older sister. Courtney's mouth curled up in a sly smile.

"Lots of things."

"Like what?"

"Hello ladies," A smooth voice crooned to them. Angel was standing over them.

"Hi Angel." Bebe breathed. She was only a lowly sophomore compared to the junior Angel and always felt a little nervous in his commanding presence.

"Bebe." He nodded quickly, before turning his attention to her sister.

"Courtney, I was thinking that I might go for lunch in the Village."

"Sure." She stood up.

"But you can't leave school! It's the middle of the day. You'd never get back in time." Bebe told them. They smirked at her, before leaving.

Sunnydale

There was a new girl. Nobody knew anything about her, but they waited in anticipation. Or, at least most of the class did. Buffy and Angel, sitting towards the back, had eyes only for each other. A tap on Buffy's shoulder courtesy of Cordelia told them that the teacher was outside the door. Reluctantly, they broke away and turned their attention to the front of the classroom. Ms. Davis came in, followed by a girl with long, shiny black hair and violet eyes. Angel's mouth fell open. Cordelia looked shocked and surprised.

Part 2

"This is Bebe Thomas. She's joining us from New York." Ms. Davis announced. Bebe smiled and sat down at the only available desk- next to Angel.

"What are you doing here?" Angel hissed as Ms. Davis turned her attention elsewhere.

"I moved here." Bebe crowed.

"You're not even the right age to be here." Angel said. "You're a year below us."

"Nope. I was pushed up a grade at the end of last year. Didn't you know?"

"No." Angel said tightly. Ms. Davis left the room, and Buffy and Cordelia turned around. "Why didn't you tell me you'd come to Sunnydale?" Cordelia demanded.

"It was a surprise. I'm coming to live with you too. Didn't your mom tell you."

"No." Cordelia said.

"How is New York?" Angel asked.

"Not nearly as fun since you left. So, tell me Angel, baby, where do we go for kicks around here?"

"I don't know what you mean Bebe, but you should know something. I'm reformed." Angel said. Bebe laughed harshly.

"Yeah right. The great Angel doesn't get up to naughty things anymore? Pull the other one. It's got bells on it."

"It's true." He told her, looking towards Buffy, who was looking a little uncertain about what was going on.

"This is my girlfriend, Buffy Summers." He told Bebe. She cast a look over Buffy.

"Well, she's... wholesome, isn't she Angel?"

"Hey!" Buffy objected to Bebe's tone.

"Don't, Bebe." Angel said in a low, warning voice. Ms. Davis appeared again, and the conversation was forced to end.

"I don't know." Cordelia said quietly. "She doesn't seem like the Bebe I remember."

"She's not." Angel said. They had found a quiet classroom to discuss the girl.

"She seems more like..."

"Courtney." Angel said hollowly.

"Absolutely. I should probably speak to my parents when I get home. Or my aunt. Maybe she's come to Sunnydale in exile."

"Like me?"

"I guess." Cordelia smiled in support of him. "We should go. Don't want Buffy thinking I'm trying to steal her boyfriend away from her." She laughed as they went out.

**

"Really? Thanks Aunt Helene. You've been a great help. I promise I'll look out for her. See you soon." Cordelia put the phone down. She'd been right. Since the death of Courtney, the previously more responsible Bebe had taken on her mantle and was doing her best to out-Courtney Courtney. She picked up the phone and called Angel.

"Ello?" Spike's voice said down the phone.

"Hi, it's Cordelia. Is Angel there?"

"Well..."

"What?"

"He's with Buffy."

"Oh. I don't want to disturb him. Will you tell him that..."

"Is it about Bebe?"

"Yeah. Will you tell him that I just spoke to my aunt, and she is doing a Courtney." Cordelia told him.

"OK. See you Cordelia."

"Bye Spike."

**

The knock on the door interrupted them. Buffy pulled away from Angel reluctantly.

"What?" Angel asked, his voice harsher than intended. Spike came in.

"Oh, did I interrupt something?" Spike said with a sly grin. "Anyway, just got a call from Cordelia. She told me to tell you that you were right."

"About Bebe?"

"Yeah."

"Damn."

"What's going on?" Buffy asked.

"It doesn't matter." Angel said, leaning in to kiss her. Buffy, however, pulled away.

"No, it does matter. What's going on that you can't tell me?"

"I..." Angel sighed. "Cordelia spoke to her aunt. It sounds like Bebe has decided to take on her sister's mantle."

"Oh." She whispered. Angel looked so sad and conflicted that Buffy wished she hadn't asked. "It's going to be OK, Angel." She tried to reassure him.

"I don't know." He said. "I... I don't..." He stopped.

"You don't have to explain." She said gently.

"I... I just worry that I'll go back to the way I was." He said.

"You're different now, Angel."

"No I'm not. Sometimes I wish I could go back because life was easier then. You've no idea how hard it is just to be... Well behaved, I guess. It's easier to be bad. Sometimes... I just want to give up and be what I was before."

"I understand. I do." She took his hand and kissed it softly.

"Yeah." was his only reply.

**

The Bronze that night was packed to bursting. It was the Dingoes first gig there in weeks, and everyone was anxious to see what they'd been up to in those weeks. As always, Buffy and friends held court at their usual table. Buffy and Angel being Buffy and Angel were more interested in each other than anything else in the room. Or the county. Willow sat, her eyes already fixed on the stage waiting for her Oz to turn up. Spike and Dru sat deep in conversation with Xander about some television show while Cordelia preened herself in her mirror. Then the band came on the stage and began to play. And they were good. Actually good. Devon had dressed up much like Jim Morrison, while Oz had spent their break from performing learning some new chords, including that elusive E Flat Diminished Ninth. The drummer seemed to have channelled Keith Moon and was thumping away like the Who madman. All in all, an electrifying new sound. Willow sat watching, a proud smile on her face. Most of the crowd there went straight up to dance, but Angel and Buffy sat together, not really wanting to move. Ever.

**

She wasn't tall, but she was commanding. The crowd parted instinctively for her as she walked in. Dressed in a black cat-suit, the girl looked intimidating. Her black hair was pulled up into a harsh, extreme ponytail and her make up was designed to contrast her pale skin with her dark hair and clothes. It worked. She walked with ease on her black stiletto heeled boots and she was headed straight towards Angel.

Angel had paled considerably. He had torn his eyes away from Buffy for just a second. He looked, actually, like he'd seen a ghost.

Manhattan.

She wasn't tall, but she was commanding. The crowd parted instinctively for her as she walked in. Dressed in a black cat-suit, the girl looked intimidating. Her black hair was pulled up into a harsh, extreme ponytail and her make up was designed to contrast her pale skin with her dark hair and clothes. It worked. She walked with ease on her black stiletto heeled boots and she was headed straight towards Angel. He was leaning against the wall in Abyssinia and he was smirking at her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him slowly. When she pulled away, the smirk was still there.

"Glad you made it Courtney."

"So am I. Why don't you buy me a drink?"

"Sure. What do you want?"

"Smirnoff. Straight up." She said. Angel nodded. Clearly Courtney was playing hardball this evening. Well then, so would he. He returned a few minutes later with her drink. She finished it quickly, before asking for another. Angel grinned. He liked girls who could hold their own.

Sunnydale.

"Hello Angel," Her voice was low and husky.

"Bebe." He said coldly, now over the initial shock of seeing her dressed as he had once seen Courtney. In fact, she looked so much like Courtney that it was hard for him to recall the mousy girl she had once been.

"How are you?" She said, sitting beside him, consciously ignoring Buffy.

"Fine, Bebe. Just fine." He said, his eyes darting to Buffy, who looked a little concerned, but was trying hard not to look concerned.

"You remember Buffy, right?" Angel said pointedly. Bebe cast a condescending eye over Buffy, a look worthy of Courtney at her best, and replied simply.

"Yeah. Great to see you again Bunny."

"Buffy." Buffy told her through gritted teeth. Bebe stood up.

"Whatever." She said breezily, before walking away to the bar. It didn't escape Buffy's attention that Angel's eyes followed Bebe all the way to the bar.

"Angel? This mouth wide open thing. You know how attractive that's not?" She said, annoyance in her voice. He returned all his attention to the blonde by his side.

"Sorry. I just... It's all very weird." He finished lamely. Buffy didn't need to know the full story. Not if he wanted her to speak to her ever again.

Manhattan.

Courtney was the centre of attention in a club full of people who spent their entire lives being the centre of attention. And she only had eyes for Angel. It was an ego-booster, that was for sure. Then, at around three, they stumbled out of the club and into the parking lot.

"Did you come on your bike?" She asked. He looked at her with a sly grin. Then, he whispered in her ear.

"Not yet." Her eyes gleamed as they got onto the bike. Angel had sobered up enough to be seeing only one of everything, and did a passable job of guiding the bike through New York City's streets. Finally, when they arrived at the very bottom of Manhattan Island, he stopped the bike. It was absolutely deserted by now. That morning, Angel and Courtney had sex together for the very first time.

Sunnydale.

Try as he might, the memory of that rather cold morning in the Battery wouldn't leave his mind. Angel tried in vain to listen to what Buffy was talking about, but Bebe's entrance in those clothes had stirred up memories he'd tried so hard to repress.

"You're not listening to me, are you?" She said finally. Angel looked at Buffy. She did look mad.

"I'm sorry Buffy. I..."

"I don't know what's gotten into you tonight, but whatever it is, sort it out." She said a little impatiently.

"I'm sorry." He squeezed his eyes shut tight, trying to get the image of him and Courtney on his bike out of his head.

"Look, Angel, why don't you go home?" Buffy suggested. "You look exhausted. Get a good night's sleep and I'll see you tomorrow, OK?" She smiled at her boyfriend. Angel smiled back. He did have the greatest girlfriend ever, he told himself. He put his jacket on, kissed her softly, and made his way out of the club. Buffy sighed. She knew it was something to do with Bebe and her ridiculous entrance. She knew then, that it had something to do with Courtney. That scared her. There was a part of Angel that she couldn't touch, didn't want to touch, that she knew he tried to suppress. But parts of her wondered about him and how much he didn't tell her. She couldn't begin to understand his life in New York, and she didn't really want to. But sometimes, they would be sitting, talking or something, and he would get a faraway look in his eyes that she could never fathom.

The problem was that Buffy would never understand Angel's previous life because she had never lived like that. She would never know how Angel had felt before, as someone entirely out of control, who didn't give a damn about the rules of society. More than that, she didn't know what it felt like to deliberately go against the rules of society. That was what Angel had done for a long time and now, although he was now happier and more content than he ever had been before, sometimes he would remember the feeling of freedom he had then. He remembered the high he would get simply from riding his motorbike up and down Manhattan island. He remembered how much he actually enjoyed flouting authority. Even now, he bristled under orders at school, or from his father in New York. But Buffy, who had always been a good girl, would never understand that.

**

Angel drove around for hours once he'd left the Bronze. He couldn't believe that Bebe was back and Courtney-fied. He tried so hard to be a good boy now, for Buffy, for his father, for himself. But sometimes he just wanted to break out like he used to. Then, he would remember Courtney as she was and want to break out even more. Then, he would remember Courtney as they pulled her out of the river and his world would come crashing down. He didn't want to break out, he knew that in his heart. But sometimes he would feel so restless he just wanted to go crazy. And that scared him more than anything.

Part 3

The next few days passed agonisingly slowly for Angel. Every day at school Bebe came in wearing Courtney-style clothes. He was sure, in fact, that some of them had actually been Courtney's clothes. But if it was just clothes, he could have ignored it. Bebe had entirely assimilated everything that Courtney had been into her own personality. Angel wondered, in fact, if there was anything left of Bebe inside the girl. But what made it so hard was that Angel had always been drawn to Courtney like a moth to a brightly burning flame. He could only hold out so long to Bebe, and he knew it.

"Angel!" A sharp voice called him back to reality. Buffy was sitting beside him, it was the school cafeteria and he had no idea what they'd been talking about.

"Hmm?" He asked. She glared.

"Were you listening to a single thing Cordelia was saying?" She asked. He looked up, not having even noticed Cordelia sitting there.

"Uh...." He paused, playing the dumb card. Buffy sighed.

"I swear, I don't know what's gotten into you recently." Her voice was strained. Clearly, Buffy had no idea what was going on, except that there was something going on. Cordelia looked at him, having a slightly better idea. She was concerned for her friends. She knew Buffy too well to expect the blonde to simply take all this lying down. They were headed for a fight, and Cordelia knew it. She just didn't know when.

**

The fight came at the Bronze on Thursday. Angel had tried so hard to focus on Buffy and Buffy only, but it was hard. To compound his troubles, Angel's father had been calling to check up on him. So it was a very distracted Angel who escorted Buffy to the Bronze that night.

Buffy was trying to be understanding, she really was. But the fact is, she didn't know what was going on. She knew that Bebe was making Angel edgy and she didn't like it. Buffy was jealous, certainly, and Angel wasn't doing a very good job of persuading her otherwise.

"Angel!" She said sharply. He was off with his thoughts again.

"What?" He said, much harsher than he intended.

"Do you even want to be here?" She demanded. He wasn't quick enough in answering.

"Yes." He didn't sound too sure.

"What is the matter with you?" She shouted.

"What are you talking about?"

"Why are you even here? You obviously don't want to be here with me, so just go!"

"Buffy..."

"Don't Buffy me, Angel. I'm tired of coming second place to whatever it is that has you so preoccupied. I'm bored of it!" She screamed. From their place on the dance floor, Xander and Cordelia watched in concern. They knew to stay away when Hurricane Buffy was in residence.

"Do you have to be so self-absorbed all the time?" Angel snapped at her. Xander and Cordelia exchanged worried glances. It was a brave person who stood up to Buffy in one of these moods. Brave, or stupid.

"Self-absorbed! You're a fine one to talk! I don't ignore you all the time!" She yelled. Now, the Dingoes had stopped playing, and everyone had turned to watch.

"When did you turn into a old nag?" He shouted back.

"An old nag! How dare you! When did you turn into a crazy idiot? Why don't you just ask daddy to let you go back to New York!" She screamed.

"Don't get my hopes up!" He yelled back. She stood, her eyes filled with fire. She finally noticed the gaping crowd. Trying to muster all the dignity she could, she picked up her coat and her bag and walked out, leaving Angel to slump back in his seat.

Manhattan.

"Angel! You're here at last!" Byron called warmly to his friend. Angel smirked at the group, before sitting down. Courtney moved from her seat and placed herself in Angel's lap.

"Hello, baby." She purred. He smiled at her. She looked stunning as always.

"Where are we going tonight?" She asked.

"I thought we'd go to my place."

"Your house?" She sounded disappointed.

"Yeah. Driscoll Senior's off at a benefit tonight."

"Really?" Her interested was piqued.

"Yeah. Come over about eight?" He grinned at her. She nodded.

Eight o'clock arrived, and so did Courtney. Angel opened the door to find her standing there wearing very little.

"Hi," She smirked at him. He pulled her inside and slammed the door, before kissing her forcefully.

"Hi yourself." He snickered, leading her into another room.

**

William Driscoll was displeased, if not entirely unsurprised to see lights still burning brightly in his home when he returned from the benefit at two in the morning. He opened the front door, wondering what his son might have done this time. How many young people might he find in his home this time? He went inside, closing the door quietly. There was no sound, which had to be a good thing, surely? The door to his study was slightly ajar, and light came from within.

William's lips turned up into a hard scowl. His son was not to go in there, and he knew it. He pushed the door open. The door to Mr Driscoll's drinks cabinet was wide open, and amid the scattered empty bottles on the floor lay his son and the dark haired girl he recognised as Courtney Thomas. He slammed the door noisily, and both shot up. Courtney had the grace to at least pretend to be embarrassed. Angel, for his part, merely smirked lasciviously.

"Hi dad." He said.

"Get out Courtney." Mr. Driscoll said in a low, forceful tone. The girl picked up her clothes and stumbled out of the room. Angel's smirk disappeared. Had he gone too far this time?

"Dad..."

"Don't even try." William's voice was cold. "Don't even try and get out of this." He said, turning on his heel and walking out of the room. For the first time, Angel actually felt guilty.

Sunnydale.

Angel stayed at the Bronze, ignoring the curious stares. He sidled up to the bar, wondering if he could get a beer. But the barman, seeing Angel's look, shook his head. Angel nodded and slumped further down against the bar. He was so deep in thought that he never even noticed Bebe slither next to him.

"Hello," She purred. He turned, and for a brief second he truly thought that he was back in New York with Courtney. But no, he was sober.

"Bebe." He said simply, his thoughts still with Buffy. Then, he felt a weight slide off his shoulders. If there was no more Buffy, if his father was across the country in New York, what exactly was stopping him from doing exactly what he wanted? He smiled at Bebe.

"What are you up to Angel?" She asked.

"I'm bored." He told her. She smiled wickedly.

"Want some fun?"

"Hell yes." He said. She stood up.

"What are we waiting for?" He took her arm and together, they walked out of the Bronze for all to see. Or more importantly, for Buffy's friends to see.

**

"He left with her?" Buffy asked, angry and a little despondent. The next day at school, in fact, all anyone could talk about was Angel, himself strangely absent, the fight and the new girl.

"Not five minutes after you left." Cordelia told her gravely. Buffy slid into her chair in the English class. She had noticed that the chair behind her was vacant.

"Fine. I don't care." Buffy told her. Cordelia merely nodded. She'd seen Buffy angry before, but never like this. She actually didn't seem to care.

Part 4

Angel's eyes opened slightly, then immediately slammed shut again. His head ached. He hadn't felt like this for a long time. He tentatively opened his eyes again. Yes, he was in his own bed, which he supposed to be a good thing. Then, he turned. Lying on the floor, cocooned in a blanket, was Bebe Thomas. His head sank back against the pillow. He racked his brains trying to remember what happened. It started to come back to him. They had gone off to a bar in the decidedly seedy part of Sunnydale. Bebe was unlike Courtney in one respect. Bebe really wasn't good with drink. Angel, even in his inebriated state, had managed to get her back to the mansion. Why he was in his bed and she was on the floor, he couldn't quite remember. Then, he checked the clock. It was already one in the afternoon. He'd missed most of Friday, and strangely or not, he didn't care.

"Angel?" Bebe murmured. He looked down at her.

"What?"

"Do you have aspirin?" She asked. He grinned. Courtney had never asked for aspirin, saying that she could take anything.

"No, I don't." He said. It was true. Since becoming a good boy, he'd had no use for such things.

"Oh well." She sat up, smiling broadly. "I can take anything." She declared. Angel smirked. That was more like Courtney. She got up onto her feet.

"Well, see you tonight." She said.

"Tonight? What's tonight?" He asked. Bebe smiled at him coquettishly.

"We're going to a new club just outside town. We decided last night."

"Oh yeah." He didn't really remember, but that was a detail he didn't care about.

She went to the door of his room. "See you later," She told him. He nodded. Once he heard her leave, he put his head back on the pillow to sleep some more.

**

Buffy had contemplated going to see Angel, but when she thought about it, she wasn't exactly sure what she wanted to say, or what she wanted him to say. She would just let it be. When Cordelia had told her that Angel not only left the Bronze with Bebe, but that Bebe had never returned to the Chase mansion that night, Buffy didn't know what to think. It made her angrier than she'd ever been, and it wasn't a feeling she liked. So, she decided to just leave Angel alone. If he wanted to speak to her, well, she might just listen. Maybe.

Manhattan.

"Angel? Angel, are you here?" A soft female voice called. His head was heavy on his pillow and his mind was foggy.

"Angel?" The door opened and out the corner of his barely open eye, Angel saw a small, finely dressed woman come in.

"Angel, sweetheart, are you awake?" She asked softly. He sat up.

"I don't feel well, mom." He said in a weak voice.

"Oh... What feels bad?" She asked. Inside he rejoiced- She bought it!

"My head feels bad."

"Well, maybe you shouldn't go to school today. What do you think?"

"Well, I have a test today...."

"Nonsense! You stay in bed today." His mother demanded. He sank back into his pillows.

"OK." He told her. She smiled at him, before going out of the room and shutting the door silently. He sat up and smirked. She bought it totally, and now he had a whole day without the burden of school to worry about. He waited in bed until he heard the car roar away into the distance. The house was now his. He jumped out of bed and picked up the phone. He hit speed-dial #1.

"Hello?" A crystal-cut voice asked down the phone. He recognised the voice as Lorena Thomas, mother of Courtney.

"Is Courtney there please?"

"Who is it speaking?"

"Angel."

"Angel." She didn't sound pleased. "What do you want?"

"It's about French class." He said.

"Fine." She put the phone down. He waited until it was picked up again.

"Angel?" Courtney asked.

"You want to come over?"

"It's school time."

"I have a day off sick."

"Really?" She asked.

"Yeah. I'll call Byron and the others." Angel told her.

"Great. I'll be over soon." Courtney blew a kiss down the phone before hanging up.

Soon enough, Courtney and his best friend Byron turned up at Angel's house. Because it was a warm, sunny day, they went to the back garden and sat by the pool drinking cocktails.

"Angel, man, how do you do it?" Byron asked.

"What?"

"Get days off school at will?"

"It's my natural charm with women." Angel said dryly. Byron grinned, before glancing over at Courtney. She was lying on a lounger, sunglasses shading her eyes. Byron smiled over at her. Angel noticed the smile and was about to comment, but suddenly, a shrill voice called out across the finely landscaped garden.

"Angel!" He looked up sharply. Standing at the French windows fresh from a shopping jaunt into the city was Anne Driscoll. She looked much more shocked and disappointed than she did angry. Strangely, this made Angel feel much worse than his father's anger ever had. Mrs Driscoll looked genuinely betrayed.

"Angel, I thought you were sick."

"I am mom, I am." He feigned, falling back onto the lounger he was on.

"You don't look sick." She said. "And am I to believe that Courtney and Byron are also sick? Not sick enough to stay at home, of course." Anne was shocked. No matter what stories her husband would recount about their wild son, she wouldn't believe them. Now she was confronted with the truth so bluntly, she didn't know quite what to do.

"Mom, I really am sick. I thought sitting outside in the fresh air would help me feel better. Byron and Courtney came to make sure I was OK." Angel said. He was a remarkably good actor and she seemed to buy it.

"Well... Perhaps your friends should be getting back to school?" Anne remarked. Taking the hint, Courtney and Byron got up and left. Anne followed them back into the house, apparently appeased by Angel's explanation. But in her heart, she didn't believe him. Whether her brain had registered it consciously or not, she'd noticed the cocktail glasses. But Anne wanted to believe that her Angel was a good boy.

Sunnydale.

Blitz was the newest club to be built in Sunnydale. It had been built on the outskirts of town in order to attract a more grown up clientele- one that could drive and had money- over one that would walk and had no money. But it was full of high school and college kids on it's Grand Opening night. Perhaps it was simply the advent of an alternative to the Bronze, or perhaps it was the minor league boy band scheduled to play. It was decorated in the old Manhattan loft style, all exposed steel beams and bare wooden floors. A balcony ran the length of the building, and it even had it's very own chill out room, separated from the main by two perspex walls, between which was a waterfall which changed colours according to the lights at the top. Perhaps though, it's biggest asset was the beautiful, charming, extroverted host by the name of Echo.

**

Had Buffy known Angel and Bebe were planning to attend, she'd never have let Cordelia wheedle her into submission. If she'd known that Angel was going to be there, she would have stayed at home and watched Ever After. If she'd known that Bebe was going to be there, she would have brought a sharp object along. But she didn't know, and so was utterly unprepared for the sight which was about to assault her.

"See? Aren't you glad you came? Isn't this so much classier than the Bronze?" Cordelia asked the little blonde in a voice so perky that it was obviously forced.

"Oh, absolutely." Buffy said in a thickly sarcastic tone.

"Buffy, it's really not that bad." Willow told her.

"No, the club is great, classy and.... All. But I'd rather be at home."

"No you wouldn't." Xander told her. "You'd only sit and watch Ever After." Buffy shot him a look.

"How do you know?"

"We know you Buffy. You watch Ever After when you feel bad." Willow said gently. Buffy nodded. It was true.

"I like Drew Barrymore." She defended herself.

"Hey, you don't have to justify yourself to us. We're your friends." Xander said.

"I'm not trying to justify myself. I don't have to. Ever After is a..." Buffy trailed off, her mouth still open, her eyes frozen on the door.

**

Angel and Bebe swept in. They did look magnificent, in a dark way. He had dressed for the occasion- his red velvet shirt was buttoned up only halfway, leaving bare neck and chest exposed and his black leather trousers gave him a Jim Morrison look which was one part devilish, one part Dionysus, two parts rock star and several parts distilled sex appeal. His hair was it's usual spiky style, but much wilder than Buffy had ever seen it. Indeed, Angel himself was much more like a predator. Buffy had once thought of Angel as like a big cat, graceful and sleek. But before she had thought of him as a tamed feline, now she realised he was like a black panther, prowling the room for prey. Except, she realised with a rather heavy heart, he already had his prey hanging on his arm.

Bebe was dressed to kill, just like Angel. She was wearing another of her sister's old outfits, a short black dress with a plunging neck line so low it was a marvel of modern engineering that the thing stayed together. Her hair had been expertly curled and styled and her face was caked in make up to make her skin pale and her lips the colour of fine rubies.

"Ever After is what, Buffy?" Cordelia asked, her back to Bebe and Angel. She noticed Buffy's stunned expression and turned to see Angel and her cousin. She almost snarled at the girl in black. Family obligations didn't matter to Cordelia right now- her friend did. She got up and stomped over to where Bebe and Angel had set up by the bar.

"What the Hell do you think you're doing Bebe?"

"I'm out for a good time." Bebe said, her voice slurring slightly already. Angel smiled slyly at Cordelia.

"She doesn't need chaperoning Cordelia." He said.

"Oh, I'm not worried about her. I'm worried about you when Buffy gets her hands on you."

"She's welcome any time." Angel smirked at Cordelia, who glared at him again, before turning away. She wasn't going to get through to Bebe or Angel this way. She had her ways, however.

"That is IT!" Cordelia fumed as she sat down again with her friends.

"What?"

"I'm calling her mother."

"Right now?" Willow asked.

"When I get home. Then my aunt Helene will call Angel's father." Cordelia crowed triumphantly. At the mention of Angel's father, Buffy snapped out of her deep thoughts.

"No! Don't do that."

"What? Why?"

"If Angel's dad finds out, he'll kill Angel." She said, unable to stop herself from standing up for Angel.

"Buffy, that would be a good thing." Xander said.

"No, I don't think so. I...."

"I know you hope he'll snap out of this weird phase." Cordelia said. "But I have a feeling that the good boy thing was the phase, and this is normality for Angel. Come on, Buffy, all it took was for Bebe to come and next thing, Jim Morrison's ghost is back."

"I know." Buffy looked defeated. She stood up, putting on her coat. "I think I'm going to go home."

"How are you going to get home? It's too far to walk." Willow pointed out.

"I can take you back." Oz offered. They had all arrived in Oz's van.

"Really?" Buffy asked.

"Sure. I can drive you and come back."

"No, really Oz. That's too much."

"Buffy." Oz silenced her with a look.

"We don't want you walking. It's much too far." Willow added.

"OK."

"I know! Why don't we all go? This place is pretty lame tonight anyway." Xander suggested. Willow and Cordelia agreed, knowing that the en masse departure of the coolest kids at school would be noticed by most. Or more importantly, Angel and Bebe would notice. Indeed, as they walked past, Cordelia glared at her cousin one final time.

Manhattan.

"Courtney, I'll see you later, right?" Angel asked. Today he'd actually gone into school and now he and Courtney were sitting on the school roof soaking up the Manhattan midday sun.

"No." She said. Angel looked like a little boy who wasn't getting his own way.

"Why not?" He asked petulantly.

"I've got things to do."

"What things?"

"Things that are nothing to do with you." Courtney smiled at him sweetly. He didn't know why she was being so coy, but he knew he didn't like it.

"Courtney..." He whined. She relented.

"I'm only putting in mother time. She's taking me to the Met."

"Oh." Angel's scowl melted from his face.

"Exactly. I'm not really looking forward to it myself." Courtney said. She rose to her feet. "I should be going. I want to stop in Saks before I go." She kissed him, grabbed her bag and headed down the stairs.

*

Courtney was becoming increasingly elusive. If she did it to keep Angel interested, it was certainly working. If he called her at home, she was never there. If he waited for her at the end of school she'd already left and she was only rarely to be seen at group gatherings.

"What's up with Courtney?" Angel demanded. He practically had shy Bebe Thomas pinned up against a wall at school early Monday morning.

"What... What do you mean?" Bebe stuttered slightly. Angel intimidated her. He was tall and strong and unpredictable.

"Where has she been all the times I've tried calling? I don't like chasing people." He said.

"I don't know. She's at home less and less recently." Bebe told him. The hall was beginning to fill with people and Angel forced himself to appear more relaxed. Then, Courtney herself came down the hall. She looked a mess. She had dark circles under her eyes which even Max Factor couldn't cover up and she was looking pale in a sick way rather than a fashionable way. She was becoming even thinner than usual and even inside she wore her sunglasses to keep the strong rays of sun off her eyes.

"Courtney!" Angel called impatiently. She smirked, coming over.

"Hello, baby." She drawled. Even her usually strong voice seemed weak.

"Where have you been?"

"When?"

"Any time!" His voice began to rise.

"Oh, here, there, everywhere." She giggled. Angel's friend Byron appeared, also looking a little the worse for wear.

"Hey Angel. Hi Courtney." Angel was so busy wondering what was going on with Courtney that he failed to notice the sly smiles exchanged between Courtney and Byron.

"Will I see you tonight?" He asked her.

"Sure you will! It's Byron's birthday party, remember?"

"Yeah. So you will be there?" He asked her. She nodded, kissed him on the cheek and then went off down the hall.

Sunnydale.

Despite his pounding head that Monday morning, Angel forced himself out of bed. His father had called that Friday to check up on him, having gotten a call about an absence from school. Angel had persuaded the elder Driscoll that he'd been genuinely sick, but knew he couldn't get away with much more. Hauling himself into the shower, he sighed. He didn't remember his hangovers back in the old days being so bad. He didn't remember ever feeling so run down, even during the worst days. Every bone, every muscle in his body ached from the weekend long party he and Bebe had embarked upon.

"Angel!" Drusilla's voice called out. "Are you coming to school today?"

"Yeah." He said, loud enough for her to hear.

"Good. You want breakfast?" The thought of food made his stomach churn."No, I'm fine." He said. One thing was becoming clear- he was not fine.

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