Summary: You really should.
Disclaimer: Not mine, never have been, never will be. Stop reminding me.

Angel walked into the shop. He was here on a mission: Buy Xander a birthday present. His goofy best friend was a music freak, he liked everything and anything that had a tune. Well, except for heavy metal or anything around that area. He looked around, trying to figure out which CD Xander would like best. Of course, he'd love almost anything, but still.

He looked up at the counter, expecting to see his other best friend, Willow Rosenberg. Instead there was only a blond girl. A very beautiful blond girl, at that. He stared at her, his mouth hanging open. Willow straightened up from behind the counter and handed the girl a piece of paper. She noticed Angel. "Oh, hey, Angel." She called. Angel quickly shut his mouth and went over to her. Willow noticed Angel's gaze on Buffy. "Oh, Angel, this is Buffy. Buffy, Angel. She just moved here." Buffy held out her hand. "Buffy Summers." Angel took it. "Angel McAden." "I'm gonna quit working here. You know that kid Dawn, who keeps following Xander around? Well, I got a job tutoring her, and it pays a lot better than here, so it's bye-bye to this place." Willow told Angel. He nodded, still stealing glances at Buffy.

"So, you here for Xander's b-day gift?" Willow asked. "Yeah, I was gonna ask you for some help." Angel said, tearing his gaze away from Buffy. "You know he'll like anything you get him. You could buy him Bach and he'd like it as much as getting N Sync." Willow smiled. Angel chuckled also. "Yeah, but still. It's his birthday. Should be special." "He likes all music?" Buffy asked. "Yeah. Well, except for anything like heavy metal or stuff. Not really into hip-hop and stuff. He needs melody." Willow explained. "Well, I should get out of here. I just came here to show Buffy the ropes and get some of my stuff. If you need help, ask Buffy." Willow said, pulling on her coat. "Yeah." Angel nodded, waving as she left.

An awkward silence settled after Willow left. Angel made a go at some conversation. "So. uh, what would you recommend?" He asked Buffy. "Well. personally I think the Corrs are great." Angel made mental note of the fact. "Great, then. I'll take it." Buffy smiled. "Are you sure your friend will like it?" Angel chuckled. "Yeah, pretty sure." "OK, then." Buffy quickly found the CD and gift-wrapped it for him. "Thanks." He smiled awkwardly and left.

Every day after that, Angel went to the store. Just to see her. Of course, being naturally shy, he couldn't very well just tell her that, so he bought a CD every time. He didn't even open them, just stacked them up on his shelf. Sometimes they'd talk a little, stuff like "Hot, huh?" or "You seen Willow these days?" and sometimes he'd help her out a little, carrying boxes and stuff, but mostly it was just go in there, pick out any random CD and get outta there. Angel was much too shy to tell her his true feelings. He didn't know he was the hottest guy on campus. He didn't know most girls, including Buffy, thought he was incredibly cute. So everyday, it went on.

Until one day, Angel finally decided he needed to let her know. Only he couldn't tell her to her face, so he slipped a short note into the cash. "I'd really like to go out on a date with you." He left even more hurriedly than usual, and he didn't notice Buffy smile at the note. The next day, Buffy said nothing. She just smiled at him, and handed him his CD. Angel was surprised, he'd thought she'd say something. He went to his dorm, perplexed, and tossed the CD onto the huge pile of CD's he had. The next day, he went back again, but again she said nothing. And eventually, he concluded she hadn't seen the note. As the days went by, Buffy grew colder, more distant. Angel was taken aback, he didn't understand why. And all he could do was go to the shop everyday and buy a CD.

Exactly a month after he wrote the note, he left the store, more puzzled than ever at Buffy's behavior, and he bumped into somebody. He apologized just as absent-mindedly and picked up the CD he'd dropped, and found it was broken. It was exactly the 120th CD he'd bought from Buffy. He went to his dorm and opened the CD. Inside it, he found a note. "I'm leaving the country. I've been chosen as an exchange student, and I'm going to England. The flight's at seven." Angel stared at the note, then hastily picked up the CD he bought the day before. "It's already been a month. Was your note a joke?" He hurriedly went through his stack of CD's. The first note was in the one he'd bought just after he gave her the note. "I'd like go out on a date with you too." Angel stared at the note for a while, then hurriedly looked at the clock. It was already six. "Dammit." He muttered to himself, flying out of his room.

Angel ran into the one airport in Sunnydale, panting. Six thirty. He asked where the flight to England was taking off. Gate 9. When he got there it was already six thirty-eight. Oh crap. Where was she? He looked around, running a hand through his spiky hair. Finally, five minutes before seven, he spotted her. "Buffy!" He ran up to her and pulled her into a fierce hug, pulling back almost immediately, surprised at his own boldness. "I'm sorry. I, uh. I. I never opened the CD's, I just." He stopped, taking a deep breath, while Buffy looked at him, very shocked to see him there. "I. this is about the most embarrassing and stupid thing I've ever done, but I went to the store to see you, I don't even really like music. I just. I'm sorry." He finished, inwardly kicking himself for stuttering like that. *Jesus, was that the lamest thing I ever said or what?* "I just. I was just wondering, if. when you got back. would the offer still be on the table? About our date?" Buffy smiled hesitantly. "Uh. yeah. Sure." Her smile turned into a full-blown grin. He returned it. "Great. Thanks. I'll wait." He said awkwardly, now that his outburst was over, he was feeling more embarrassed than ever. She turned and walked towards the gate, looking back once to wave. He waved back. As soon as she was out of sight, he pumped his hands into the air, yelling, "YES!!!" The airport suddenly became very quiet, as everybody turned to stare at him, and he blushed a deep red, and hurried out of the airport. Buffy heard his cry and smiled to herself. Yes, she could definitely wait.

2 years later

Angel walked into his dorm room, sighing. Jesus Christ, would Harmony just leave him alone? He had told her time and time again he wasn't interested, but would she listen? He rummaged through his CD's, picking out the first one he'd ever bought. The Corrs. Their third album, In Blue. Buffy's favorite. He smiled, popping it into the player. It had already been two years, and they hadn't been in touch at all, but he'd wait. He could wait. He poured himself a glass of water, enjoying the music. He checked his answering machine. 1 message. He pushed play and sank back into bed, only to shoot up again when her voice filled the room. He hurriedly turned the CD player off and rewinded the tape. "Hey. It's Buffy. I'm coming home. Tomorrow, the flight lands at six." It was short, and to the point. He listened to it about a hundred times, just to hear her voice again, after two years, it was heavenly. He went to sleep listening to her voice.

Buffy looked around nervously. *That's ridiculous, there's nothing to be nervous about* She told herself firmly. Actually, she was kicking herself for calling Angel. *A guy that cute, and you think he's gonna be waiting around for you? After two years, in which you haven't even called once?* She thought, sighing. So, she was considerably surprised to see Angel waiting for her outside the gate, smiling. Her stomach did a nervous flip-flop.

Angel waited patiently. While checking his watch about every thirty seconds. *Very patient. Grow up, McAden* He told himself. Finally, people starting streaming out of gate 5. He looked around, craning his neck, trying to find her. When she walked out, looking around herself, his face broke into a child-like grin. "Buffy!" He called, waving. Her eyes lighted up when she saw him. "Angel." After spending the entire night thinking of what he was gonna say to her, he didn't remember a thing. "Uh. hi." Eventually he settled for that, inwardly kicking himself. *Hi? HI?? Could you be more lame?* "Yeah." Buffy breathed, still not believing he was here. "Is. is our date still good?" Angel managed to say, his heart going like a trip-hammer.

"Yeah." Buffy smiled up at him. He smiled back, relieved more than he could say. "Don't you. need to get your stuff?" He asked. She nodded. Angel took a deep breath, and took her hand, squeezing it a little. She didn't pull back. He grinned, looking and feeling very much like a kid at Christmas, and pulled her over to get her luggage. He grinned, thinking how he'd learned a very valuable lesson from all of this. You should really open what you buy.

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