DISCLAIMER: Just borrowed them to play with.
SUMMARY: Buffy decides to go to a party on campus with some of her friends.
SPOILERS: Set in A2 and B5
FEEDBACK: Makes my day.so send it on.
RATING: R for situation and comments (Maybe even worse if you actually get some of what is going on).
DISTRIBUTION: My site (Destinies Entwined) and anyone else as long as they ask first and tell me where its going.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This whole situation actually happened to me the other night (well, most of it)..and it was a lot of fun . My name was that of Buffy's, and I actually did have guys offering me money..i refused, of course.
AN 2: Some of the names are actually reference to sexual terms, and I was actually told them by the guys of the party. I'm not going to go into what they actually mean, they're so gross.and for those of you who actually do know.you scare me < g >.

Buffy smiled at the mirror in front of her, the motions seemingly forced and tight to her, but that seemed to do a pretty accurate job of fooling everybody else. The door opened then and she turned to the person that entered, giving Willow a small, warm smile as she shut the door behind her.

"You almost ready? We're all getting ready to leave," she said, taking a quick glance in the mirror as she tucked a few stray hairs behind her ears.

Buffy nodded, grabbing a hair clip from the pile on her dresser and snapping it on her empty belt loop. Taking the small wad of money that she'd previously had out, she slipped in the fifth pocket of her khaki shorts, checking her other pocket for her key and tugging her blue tank top into a better position.

"Don't forget something to trade," reminded Willow, grabbing a fast food restaurant toy. "Xander said that they'll knock off a dollar if you bring something to trade."

Buffy sighed, having completely forgotten and looked around a moment before deciding that chocolate probably wouldn't be the worst thing in the room not to have. Grabbing the chocolate bar, she followed her roommate out of the room and joined the group of 4 other girls, Tricia, Sira, Katie and Laura, all girls that lived on the floor with them.

Xander had taken summer courses over the summer, to try and catch up with the others that had enrolled. He'd also decided that Ultimate Frisbee, would be a cool extra-curricular, and had joined the school's club team, subsequently moving in the team's house. Which is where they were headed tonight for their Show, Tell, and Trade party.

Buffy allowed her mind to wander as the small group traversed off campus and to Party Central, a street off campus that's houses were mostly homes to the college students. Only a part of her was aware, the stake tucked into the waist of her shorts, of their surroundings. Nothing seemed to be lurking however, and it allowed her the liberty to analyze the changes that had been made in just the few months that they'd been out of school.

Willow and Tara had broken up, and Willow was now seeing one of Riley's friends from the Initiative, Graham, who was pretty much eye-candy. They were good together, and Buffy found him a good friend, even though she'd broken up with Riley shortly after those First Slayer dreams she'd had at the end of second semester. Xander of course, had moved to the Frisbee house, and Anya, who didn't want to be away from her man, had joined the women's team.

Buffy didn't think she'd changed too much. She was single now, and was fully intent on keeping it that way for a good long time. The dreams of the First Slayer told her to rely even more on her instincts, and those instincts had been telling her for a long time that Riley was completely wrong for her and only one person would ever be good enough for her crazy life.

That wasn't going to stop her from having a good time tonight though. Xander had practically begged her to come and bring some of her girlfriends, because there wasn't probably going to be many girls there, leading to a complete sausage party. She wasn't looking for anything serious, but that didn't mean she couldn't have a few drinks (she was a lot more cautious about what she drank nowadays though) and chat up a couple of the hotties at the party.

Part 2

The house was easy to find, the noise level louder than that around them, but quiet enough to not immediately call the police in. Moving inside, they lost Willow as she went off to find Graham, but the rest of them quickly targeted the cup guy, who was standing in the kitchen by the back door, surrounded by people scrambling for a cup, and a Christmas stocking in the school colors attached to his belt. Buffy elbowed her way through, her friends behind her, and paid him the three dollars that was requisite to get in the party if you had a trade. The guy grinned at her, a name tag on his chest reading "Chico" and handed her a cup, then held out the stocking.

Buffy cocked her head. "What's this for?"

"Name tag. We all have them." He gestured toward a person nearby with the a tag declaring him "Minor".

Buffy shrugged and reached into the bag, pulling out a white name tag, with words declaring her name for the night written in red. Proudly she stripped it off the backing and stuck it on her top.

Tricia leaned over to look and promptly burst out laughing. "That is so you."

"You think?" Buffy grinned, then made her way onto the back porch where two kegs and a water cooler filled with Jungle Juice was located. Filling her cup, she made her way back inside, heading down the stairs where the beer pong was being played and where Xander and Spike were involved in a game. They had four cups on their side, their opponents only two. Anya was perched on a stool nearby, and Buffy went to stand beside her, sipping from her red party cup at the same time.

"Hey."

Anya smiled at her, then grinned at Buffy's name. "I like yours."

"Thanks, Dough boy," referring to Anya's.

Anya smiled. "Xander's is probably the best for the guys though. It's 'Plunging the Happy Hole."

Buffy almost spit out her alcohol, taking a quick swallow as she began to giggle. "And Spike?"

Anya grinned now. "Sweet cheeks."

"Hell yea," agreed Buffy, looking around the crowded basement. The guys were stooping, the ceiling was so low. Christmas lights were strung across the ceiling, lending only a little light to the party atmosphere.

Seeing a familiar face, she waved to Xander and Spike before heading off to talk with Mark, dubbed Malibu Staci for the night. A while later found her upstairs, waiting in line for another round of juice, and laughing as random guys like "Megaschlong", "Hot Carl", "Hot Lunch" reached for their pockets at reading her name.

Seeing Willow settled on Graham's lap in the main room, she slipped past a blonde bimbo aptly named "Lewinsky" and perched on the arm of the couch beside her friends.

"Hey Buffy. Where have you been?"

"Downstairs watching Xander and Spike win at beer pong."

Willow giggled. "He loves his name tag." Willow focused, a little unsteadily at her, and then began to laugh. "That's cute."

"Oh you should talk "Skinner"."

Willow got an indignant face. "I'll have you know that I think Skinner is very hot."

"Not as hot as me? Right?" asked Graham, rewarded with a small kiss. As they pulled away, the ex-commando smiled at her. "Hey Buffy. I like your name."

"Thanks. I like your's. But what exactly does "Dirty Sanchez" mean?"

Willow grimaced. "You so don't want to know."

"You can't tell me that and not expect me to get curious!"

Willow sighed. "You'll regret it. I've learned way too much about sexual terms than I ever thought I'd learn tonight."

"It can't be that bad, Wills."

Willow shrugged, gesturing for her boyfriend to explain to her roommate exactly what entailed a Dirty Sanchez. Buffy's cheeks had only stopped exclaiming just how disgusting that was when "Clear the Way" rang through the crowd, followed by the word dolphin being chanted.

Laughing, she watched as some chick allowed herself to be carried through the crowd, topless, a frisbee placed between her chest. She turned to Willow. "Think we can convince Sanchez here to Landshark for us?"

Willow giggled, looking expectantly at her boyfriend, who vigourously shook his head. "You couldn't get enough alcohol into me, and even if you did, I'd have to be passed out."

Buffy grinned and drained her cup, focusing her attention on a cute guy named "Rubber Nipple" who was leaning against the way nearby as Willow and Graham became very involved with each other. She sighed as she drained the last of the fruity liquid in her cup, looking back toward the kitchen, weighing the ups and downs of pushing her way to another serving.

Some internal system told her to get some more, and she weaved her way through the throng of co-eds standing in small clumps, making her way rather quickly to the back porch. Convincing the guy at the cooler that her name was embaressing enough that she shouldn't have to bend over to fill her cup, she carefully made her way to the backyard, closing her eyes momentarily at the slight chill in the air.

Part 3

Parties were good if you wanted to get your mind off of everything going on in your life. There was so much activity, movement around you that you didn't really rest for any one moment. Sometimes it got too much for her though, and she found herself relishing the darkness, so much a part of it was in her.

Xander, Spike and Anya suddenly appeared at her elbow, Spike's cigarette an angry red eye in the dark. Ignoring the guy pissing into the bushes just a few feet away, she was struck by a sudden reckless craving for a cigarette. Bumming one off of Spike, she took a long drag, watching idly as the smoke curled into the darkness. Taking a gulp of her drink, she paused, stilling as everyone else stopped activity and the night suddenly got quiet.

The word "police" was quickly passed around, and the dark shadows occupying the backyard moved toward the slat fence bordering a parking lot. Buffy drained her cup in one gulp, stomped out her cigarette, and moved with them, the cup lying forgotten on the grass along with everyone else's. Anya was beside her in the parking lot, Xander having moved inside with Spike to find out what was going on.

She and Anya stood talking until the police cruiser moved from the house, stopping by the lot. Stealing back into the shadows, they climbed the fence again, this time back into the yard. Buffy stayed out in the night as Anya moved off to find Xander.

She stiffened as her skin tingled, and she closed her eyes for a moment, relishing the feeling, thinking it only a figment of her imagination. With a sigh, she opened her eyes, suddenly finding herself face to face with the object of her so-called imagination. "Angel."

"Hi Buffy." He looked slightly uncomfortable in his dark clothes and duster, surrounded by drunk college guys in khaki shorts and brightly printed shirts.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, moving toward the back porch. His sudden appearance was throwing her, and she wasn't sure how to deal with it. Hoping the keg wasn't kicked, even if her taste for beer had diminished greatly since her last run in with the drink, she moved up the stairs, stepping to the side as a guy moved past her, asking if anyone had seen his shoes.

"I needed to speak with you."

"So you decided to crash the party I was at." She sneered, unable to control her reaction to him. It was one extreme or the other with him lately. "Making sure I know the frat boys will never measure up? I've known that for years."

"Buffy."

She sighed, running a hand though her hair and suddenly remembering the hair clip on her belt loop. "Sorry. Give me even a little alcohol and my mouth suddenly gets a mouth of its own." She stopped her ascent up the steps, and turned back to him, simultaneously pulling half of her hair up and back.

"It does that without any influence," he shot back, half joking.

Buffy smothered the giggle that threatened to rise, putting on her most serious face. "So what did you need to talk to me about? Some big demon that needs killing? How did you know I was here anyway?"

He shrugged, telling her that he'd followed the tingle they got when the other was near. "No demon…I found something out that I thought you should know…even if you're with Riley."

Buffy stuck her tongue out. "I haven't been with Riley since last semester Angel." She cherished the milli-second of relief that seemed to pass over his usually stoic face, before it was gone. "What was it you found out?"

"Huh?" he shook his head for a moment, then focused back on her. "Well, first I guess I should tell you about this prophecy that Wesley translated. It's about a vampire with a soul who is given his reward after seeking redemption. The scroll was talking about me Buffy. It said that when I'd earned my redemption that I'd be human." He continued quickly, correctly interpreting her look. "It hasn't happened yet…it may not happen for a long time."

Buffy's face fell. At the same time though, she was happy for him. "I'm glad you'll get your reward Angel. No one deserves it more than you." She paused, tilting her head downward. "I'm glad you felt that you should tell me."

Angel's hand was suddenly on her chin, looking into her eyes as he bent down slightly. "I wasn't finished. Wesley finished the last part of the prophecy today. My full reward, living, may not be until far in the future, but as I go, I'll earn a little bit more of that prize. My soul is mine, Buffy."

Buffy's eyes went wide, tears already starting to pool in their hazel depths at the deep meaning of his words. "You mean…?"

He smiled softly, nodding. "Nothing can happen to take it away. No spells and especially no moment of true happiness."

Buffy squealed and threw herself into his embrace, peppering his face and neck with kisses before finally focusing all her attention on his lips. He gave a small groan, wrapping his arms more fully around her slender waist and pressing her tightly against his body. Buffy's head was thrown back as Angel moved down her neck, sucking lightly on his mark. "This is more than I ever dreamed possible…I've missed you so much Angel."

Angel paused, letting her down so that her feet were once again on the ground, and brushed the stray tears of her cheeks. "I've missed you too, Buffy. I love you so much."

Buffy gave him a watery smile, reaching out to take his hand and giving him a soft kiss. "I love you too."

Angel brushed his knuckles across her cheek, his hand moving back to stroke down her hair. "I'm sorry for everything I've put you through…"

Buffy shook her head. "You're forgiven. You're always forgiven. Just don't ever do something like that to me again? Got it?"

Angel nodded. "You still my girl?"

"Always." Moving her grip on his hand, she started up the stairs where the sounds of guitars were coming from. "Come on, I want to tell Willow I'm leaving and that I'm going to be with you." She shot a look back at him. "You still have the mansion?" Angel nodded slowly, following her inside, stopping in the doorway leading to the living room where three drunk guys were playing Weezer's El Scorcho, accompanied by every single person who had braved coming back after the police had left.

I'm a lot like you
So please, hello, I'm here, I'm waiting
I think I'd be good for you
And you'd be good for me

Buffy glanced back at him, silently telling him to stay where he was as she took her hand back and moved through the crowd to a familiar redhead. They spoke loudly, trying to be heard over the yelling, and he gave Willow a small smile as she looked his direction. Willow grinned and waved, pointing him out to the guy whose lap she was sitting on. The two girls hugged, and Buffy made her way back through the crowd, looking expectantly up at him. "All right. Let's get out of here. We have a lot to make up for."

Angel wrapped an arm around her, looking down and suddenly seeing the white name tag attached to her tank top. His eyebrow arched, and a wicked grin played at his lips. "I hope you're not expecting me to pay that."

Buffy laughed, the first laugh in a long while that rang with complete happiness. "I think it's a pretty cheap price!"

Angel pulled her in tight, giving her a kiss that left her breathless. "I'm not going to leave you with enough time to even think about that."

Buffy laughed, pulling him close for a deep kiss as she pulled the name tag off, letting the white piece of paper flutter the floor. As the walked off, leaving the party far behind, too wrapped up in each other to notice yet another police cruiser approaching, the tag lay face up, the words "$1.25 ma'am" facing up.

(And yes, everything but the Buffy and Angel scenes pretty much happened as written)

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