6

"How was your date last night?" Cordelia asked pointedly when she found Buffy standing by her locker the next day.

Buffy smiled softly at the memory of her date with Angel. "It was nice. I had fun with him. And he seemed to enjoy the dinner I made."

Cordelia raised her eyebrows. "Really? So tell me, is Angel a good kisser?"

Unable to believe her friend's question, Buffy stood still in shock. 'How did she know?' She'd taken precautions in making certain Cordelia didn't find out she'd gone out with Angel. "What? How did…?"

"How could you do that, Buffy? Less than forty-eight hours ago you told me that he's not worthy of my time; that he and I have nothing in common. What makes you so different from me?" Cordelia questioned. "What do you two have in common that he and I don't?"

"Angel and I were assigned to work on a project for English class together and –"

"That's a load of bull and you know it. You had this planned, didn't you? You said all those things to me because you wanted Angel all to yourself. Am I right, Buffy? Did I hit the nail on the head?"

She nodded. "You're right. I did say those things to you so you'd forget about him. I wanted to be with him; I have since we were kids. We were assigned to work on a project for Mr. Giles' English class. I made some really nasty comments about him and Kelley and Angel got really angry with me. So I invited him over for dinner last night as a way of apologizing. And as for the kiss, it was completely unplanned. It sort of happened. I wouldn't worry too much about it, though. I don't think it made a big impression on Angel."

"From where I was standing, it looked like he was kissing you back," Cordelia said.

"I'm sorry, Cordy," apologized Buffy. "I didn't mean to do that to you."

She shrugged. "It's all right. At first it hurt, knowing you'd done that to me. But you can have him. I'll find someone else in the near future, I'm sure. It's pretty obvious that, after seeing you two kiss, you should be with him."

"You really think so?" Buffy asked.

"Oh yeah. He kissed you back, I'd say that's a good sign."

"I guess."

"When's the next date?" she wanted to know.

Buffy grinned. "After school. Angel's coming over to work on the presentation. Maybe hang out."

"You never did answer my question."

"What question?"

Cordelia laughed. "The kiss. Was it good?"

She sighed, a dreamy grin spreading across her features. "Made my knees weak. Does that answer your question?"

"Yep. Lucky you. No kiss has ever made me feel like that."

***

Xander nearly spit out his soda. "Are you serious?" he asked Melissa at lunch.

She nodded. "Dead serious. He told me last night when he got home."

"No way."

"Way. My brother and Buffy Summers engaged in a heated lip-lock. How gross is that? I had nightmares all last night from the mental images. Yuck."

"When? Why? How?"

Melissa shrugged. "Ask Angel. He's on his way over here right now."

They both watched as Angel walked over to their table to join them. It didn't escape his attention that Xander and Melissa were staring at him. "What? Do I have something on my face?" he wanted to know when he sat down.

"Are you on drugs?" Xander demanded, not very quietly.

Angel raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"Drugs. Are you on any?"

"Not to my knowledge," he answered. "What brought on that question, Xander?"

"Buffy Summers! You kissed her!" he shouted.

Angel's brown eyes glazed over with anger. "Not so loud! My god, the entire school doesn't need to know about it."

"Why? Is it supposed to be some big secret or something?"

"I don't know. But I don't want everyone knowing." He glared at his twin sister. "Missy?" he asked in a sedated tone. 'I should have known that she wouldn't keep it a secret,' he said to himself.

"Sorry. I had to tell Xander 'cause I figured you never would. Angel, it's only because we're concerned about you."

"This is my life, you know. And if I want to kiss Buffy Summers, I will. Frankly, I don't need your permission to do so," Angel defended himself.

Xander made a face. "Why would you even want to? Haven't you been tortured enough by the opposite sex this week? When did you become such a glutton for punishment? First Kelley, now Buffy."

"Did it ever occur to you that this is my life? I can do what I want and to whomever I want to do it to. I wasn't aware that I needed your permission. So just mind your own business. I don't spend my days and nights worried about who you're kissing. I'd appreciate it if you offered the same courtesy to me."

"Fine," Melissa agreed.

"Can I ask you one last question without you biting my head off?" Xander asked.

"What?"

"Why did you kiss her?"

Angel softly smiled. "It happened. I was leaving her house last night and when I turned around to say goodbye, Buffy kissed me."

"Was it a good kiss or a bad kiss?"

"A *very* good kiss. It threw me a little, though. I never expected it, but I liked it. A lot. I almost could get used to it."

Xander raised his eyebrows. "Are you going to go out with her again?"

"I wouldn't call it a date, but I am going over to her house after school today. We're going to finish up our English presentation.'

Melissa didn't want to hear any more about Buffy or her date with Angel. She knew that Xander and her brother would keep talking about it all through lunch, so she decided to end the conversation. "Can we talk about something else please?" 'Before I get nauseous.'

From three table away, Buffy sat half-listening to what Cordelia was telling her. She kept glancing in Angel's direction, hoping that he'd acknowledge her with a smile or a wave. But so far, no luck. He was engaged in a conversation with Xander and Melissa.

"Should I go with him? What do you think I should do?" Cordelia wanted to know.

Buffy looked up. "What?"

"I said Marcus asked me to the Prom. Should I go with him or wait for someone better?"

"It's up to you. Do what you want, Cordy."

"So what about you? Have you narrowed down the choices yet?"

She nodded. "I've got only one person on my list."

"Angel."

"Angel. I just don't know if he'll go with me," Buffy divulged.

"There's no harm in asking him. Do it when he comes over today. Besides, what guy could resist your charms?"

Cordelia was right. There would be no harm in asking Angel to go to Prom with her. The worst thing that could happen was that he'd say no. 'Then what? I'll be utterly heartbroken if he says no.'

***

Angel dropped the pen on the table. "That's it. We're done."

"The presentation's finished?" Buffy asked that afternoon.

"For the most part, yes. We just have to type it up, but I don't think that should take too long. Other than that, we're all done."

'Now there's no reason to invite him over anymore,' Buffy thought. 'What if we just go back to the way things were before? Me gazing at him from afar and Angel ignoring me.' "I guess that means you'll be going home now."

"Are you kicking me out?" he asked with a laugh.

"No!" she replied quickly. "Not at all. Unless you have to go, that is…"

"My shift doesn't start until five. So I've got another hour. Are you inviting me to stay for a little while?"

"If you'd like to. We could go upstairs to my room and listen to some CDs and talk," Buffy suggested.

Angel smiled at the invitation. "That sounds like fun. Lead the way."

With Angel only a few feet behind her, she led the way up the stairs to her bedroom. Buffy noticed his eyes widen when they entered. "You like?"

He nodded. "It's nice. Better than nice, actually. It's at least three times the size of my bedroom. You're really lucky."

"I guess. I have never considered myself lucky, though," Buffy admitted when she sat down on the edge of her bed.

Angel followed in suit. "Why not?"

Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. It's nice to have all these expensive things, but it all comes with a price tag."

"I don't understand." Angel couldn't believe that someone as wealthy and nice as Buffy could be unhappy with her life. She seemed to have it all.

She sighed. "I know what people really think of me, Angel; I know what they say behind my back when they think I don't hear it. They say I'm a bitch, a slut, that I'm stuck-up and snobby. That I live in this paper doll world, surrounded by maids and butlers. You think I don't know that everyone refers to me as the Ice Princess? It hurts to know that people can say those things about me without really getting to know me."

"None of those things they say about you are true, though." He himself had believed them but discovered how wrong he had been.

"Would you have honestly said that a week ago?"

"Probably not. But people are jealous of what you have. They don't hate you, they envy you."

Buffy lifted her eyebrows. "Even your sister?" It was common knowledge, even to her, that Melissa Riches hated her.

"I can't speak for Melissa, but I can speak for myself. Yes, I did envy you a little. And until yesterday, I believed all those things. I didn't want to give you a chance, I dreaded having to work on this presentation with you. Then I got to know you and I'm glad we were assigned to work together. Otherwise, I wouldn't have found out what a great, wonderful, lovely person you are."

Before she realized what was happening, Buffy felt Angel's lips on hers. They were warm and soft, pressing gently against hers. She instinctively moved closer to him and placed her hands on the back of his neck. Within a matter of moments, Angel pushed himself away.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I shouldn't have done that."

Buffy looked into his eyes. "Don't be sorry. I'm not. I'm glad you did it. Do you know how much I've wanted you to do that? How long I've waited for you to kiss me? You don't need to apologize for anything."

"Really? You actually wanted me to?"

She nodded. "Since we were five. You were my first boyfriend, remember?"

Angel laughed. "Yeah, I do." He glanced at his watch. "I think I had better get going."

"Do you want to come over tomorrow?" She knew she was being pushy and forward, but she didn't care. Knowing that she had a chance with Angel made her that way. His kiss had given her the confidence to ask.

"I can't. I have to take my mom to the doctor's for her checkup."

Buffy solemnly nodded her head. She remembered hearing that Angel's mother had breast cancer. "Okay."

"If you'd like, you can come with us. Keep me company. Missy has a softball game," Angel invited.

"I'd love to. As long as I'm not intruding."

"You're not. I'm sure my mom would like to meet you."

"Thank you for inviting me. What time should I be at your house?" she asked.

"Three-thirty?"

"I'm there."

He picked up his backpack. "Thanks for your help with the project. The internet information you dug up was a lifesaver."

"It's my project too. I couldn't let you do all the work."

They walked to the front door. "Um, Angel," Buffy started. "Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

She gulped. "I know it's short notice, but do you have a date for the Prom yet?"

"I was going with Kelley, but she'd rather go with Parker. So the answer is no, I don't have a date."

"H-How would you feel about going with me? As my date?" Buffy asked.

"I can't."

"Oh. Okay." She couldn't hide her disappointment at his refusal.

Angel immediately felt bad. "It's not that I don't want to go, I just can't. I signed up to work that entire weekend. I'm honored that you asked me, though."

"So, if you didn't have to work, would you have said yes? Be honest."

"Yes, I would have. We would have had a good time together. I'm sorry, Buffy. I really am."

"I understand." 'I'll find a way for us to go together if it kills me,' Buffy thought. 'And I know just the way to make it happen.'

***

7

Jason McKenzie sat in front of the company's computer, typing in the week's payroll. With the department store being slow, it was as good a time as any to get it done. A soft knocking on the glass of the door interrupted his work.

Looking up from the computer screen, he caught sight of the owner's daughter standing on the other side of the door. Saving his work, he waved her in, silently wondering what she wanted.

"Hi, Jason," Buffy greeted when she closed the door behind her. "I hope I'm not interrupting you."

He shook his head. "It's nothing that can't wait. What can I do for you, Buffy?"

"I sort of need a favor from you. You're in charge of the schedule, right? I mean, you decide who works what shifts, etc.?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm the manager. But I do more than that," Jason replied, trying to make his job seem more important.

"I'm sure you do. See, I have a problem and you can help me solve it."

"What problem would that be?"

"Prom. My Senior Prom is two weeks from tomorrow and I'm having a problem in the date department," Buffy said.

Jason raised his dark eyebrows. "You mean to say that a pretty girl such as yourself can't find a date? You're kidding."

"Kinda. I asked this guy I like to go with me, but he can't. It seems he signed up to work Prom weekend and therefore is unable to take me. And since you make up his work schedule, I was wondering if you could arrange it so he could have that weekend off," she explained. "You have no idea what it would mean to me if you could do that."

"Who's the lucky guy?" Jason wanted to know.

A small smile spread across her face. "Angel Riches."

Jason bit his lip. "If it was anyone else, Buffy, I'd say no problem, but Angel…I don't know. He works so many hours, it'll be hard to cover them. Even if it is only for a weekend."

"Hard, but not impossible. Please, Jason, it would mean the world to me to go with him."

"Friday I could definitely do, but the entire weekend? It's a holiday weekend. Memorial Day weekend. Big sale, it'll be crazy in the store. Not to mention that he's our best worker."

"I'm aware of that. But it's just Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I'll have him back to work on Monday afternoon, I swear. You guys can work short one body for a couple of days. Please, Jason. For me?" Buffy begged.

He relented. It could be done, everything Buffy suggested. Besides, the last thing he wanted to do was upset the owner's daughter. "Okay, I'll do it. I will make sure Angel gets that weekend off, even if I have to work his shifts."

She grinned. "Thank you so much. You just made my entire Senior year."

"Glad to help. But I have a question. Why the whole weekend?"

"I have a little vacation planned for the two of us." She noticed the expression on Jason's face. "Stop it. I didn't mean it like that. It'll be purely non-sexual. Do you think you can do me one more favor?" she asked.

"What?"

"Don't tell Angel. I want to tell him myself."

***

"Why is she going with you?" Melissa asked her brother a few minutes before Buffy was supposed to be at the Riches' home.

"Because I invited her, okay?"

"Buffy Summers is not family, she doesn't need to be going to Mom's doctor's appointments. Those are personal, family things."

Angel sighed. "If it's so important, then why aren't you going?"

"I have softball practice. You know that, Angel."

"Then skip it."

"Coach would kill me. The state championship is next weekend and you know how important that is to me," she defended herself.

"Do you want to know something? Mom's health and well-being are important to me, and Buffy's kind and caring enough to want to share in that. If you weren't so god-damned self-centered, Missy, you'd understand that," Angel shot at her.

Melissa folded her arms across her chest. "Whatever. If you ask me, she's just looking for an excuse to get in your pants."

"Then it's a good thing I didn't ask you." The doorbell rang. "Must be Buffy. Be nice to her."

"I'll try, but I'm not promising anything."

Angel opened the front door, greeting Buffy with a smile. "Hi. Come on in."

"Thanks." She stepped inside, trying not to show her shock at how tiny his house was. Even though she'd driven by it many times, it seemed smaller than she'd thought. "It's…"

"Small, I know. Well, at least compared to your house."

"I like it, though. It has that homey feeling. Like a real family lives here. And there's an air of comfort; the only rooms I feel comfortable in at my house are my bedroom and the kitchen."

He took Buffy's hand. "Why don't I introduce you to my mom? She's anxious to meet you."

"Should I be nervous?"

"Not at all," he answered, shaking his head. "I've told her nothing but good things about you."

She squeezed his hand. 'First we kiss and now hand holding. What does it mean? Is Angel starting to think of me as a girlfriend? Or am I just imagining it?' "Okay. Lead the way."

As they were walking down the hall, Melissa stepped out of her bedroom. She glared at them, but said nothing. Buffy took the initiative and spoke up. "Hi, Melissa."

"Buffy." Without another word, Melissa went back inside her bedroom.

Buffy frowned. "Your sister hates me," she said to Angel.

"No she doesn't. Missy just doesn't know you."

"Sorry, Angel, but she hates me. If looks could kill, I'd be dead right now."

"Then ignore her. It's her loss."

He knocked on the last door on the right. "Mom? Can I come in?"

"It's open."

The walked in Mrs. Riches' bedroom, where she sat on the bed reading a book. "This is Buffy Summers, Mom."

She grinned and held out her hand for Buffy to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My Angel's told me a lot about you."

"All good I hope," she replied, shaking her hand.

"Every last word. You're Hank and Joyce's little girl, aren't you?" Mrs. Riches asked.

Buffy nodded. "Yes. You know my parents?"

"I didn't know your mother personally, but she was a lovely woman from what I hear. But Hank and I go way back. We actually dated back in high school."

"You did?"

"For a few weeks before graduation; we went to the Prom together. But then he went into the army and I met Angel and Melissa's father," Mrs. Riches informed them.

"That is so cool. I can't imagine my father as a teenager."

Angel's mother smiled softly. "Hank was very handsome and very popular. I couldn't believe he was ever interested in plain old me."

"You're beautiful, Mom," Angel complimented. "Missy's really lucky she inherited her looks from you and not Dad."

Buffy couldn't help noticing the bitterness in Angel's voice when he mentioned his father. "What time is your appointment, Mrs. Riches?"

She looked over at her alarm clock. "In twenty minutes. We should get going."

***

"How long has your mother been sick?" Buffy asked in the waiting room of the doctor's office.

"She was diagnosed two years ago. It was a benign tumor in her breast and she had it removed, but the doctors are keeping an eye on her just in case it spread," he explained.

Buffy frowned. "It must have been hard on you guys."

"Mom…Mom handled it well; she's a real trouper. Missy went off and did her thing and ignored it for the most part. Sometimes I think she lives in the land of denial. But we've all pretty much dealt with it in our own way."

"Is that why you work all the time? To pay off all those medical bills?"

Angel nodded his head. "Yeah. The insurance didn't cover everything so I had to cover the rest. Along with our other monthly bills."

"That's horrible."

"I know. This month won't be so bad, though. Kelley's new boyfriend gave me back my limo money, so that'll cover this month's electricity bill. One less thing to worry about."

She cleared her throat. It was the perfect time to tell Angel the surprise since he had brought up the Prom. "Remember yesterday when I asked you to the Prom and you said no?"

"Buffy, I'd love to go with you, but I just can't."

"You can. I arranged it so you'd have that weekend off," she said.

Angel gaped at her. "You did what?"

"I went to the store yesterday and explained your situation to Jason McKenzie. After a bit of convincing, he agreed to give you the weekend off. Now there's nothing keeping you from going with me. My dad already agreed to pay for the limo and I can pay for your tux. And I thought we'd spend the weekend at my dad's beach house, and if you want, we can invite Melissa and her date to join us." Buffy was frightened when he didn't reply. "Oh god, you hate it. You're mad at me."

He blinked. "No, not at all. Just shocked, I guess. Nobody's ever done something like that for me. You really thought of everything, didn't you?"

"I want to go with you. Tell me you'll go." 'Please let him say yes,' she silently prayed to whomever was listening.

"How could I say no after you went to all that trouble?" Angel asked. He leaned over, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek. "I'd love to go with you."

Buffy beamed. It was really happening; her life-long dreams were finally coming true. "People will talk. They'll want to know what's going on with us; why we decided to go together."

"We'll tell them the truth, then."

She looked at him with questions in her green eyes. "What is the truth? What are we? Frankly, I don't have the answers to those questions. We've kissed, Angel, and we've held hands and I still don't know what's going on between us."

"Neither do I. I have these feelings for you that I never had for any other girl. It's been weighing on my mind for days now. To the outside observer, I would look like we're a couple. Dating, boyfriend and girlfriend. Is that how you see it?" Angel asked her.

"That's how I want to see it. But I don't want people to look at us and say that you're with me because you're on the rebound from Kelley. I guess I should know the answer to that right off the bat. Am I the rebound girl?"

"I don't think of you as the rebound girl, I couldn't if I tried." He sighed. "I just don't know what to do about this."

"Neither do I. But I don't want people to see us and think that it's out of pity or just because you're trying to get over Kelley. Maybe it would be better if we didn't tell anyone. At least until Prom," Buffy said. "What do you think?"

He didn't need to think about it for very long. For close to a week, he'd been getting looks of pity from his classmates and he was sick of it. Angel could only imagine the looks he'd receive if it became public knowledge that he was dating Buffy less than a week after being dumped by Kelley. Not to mention the looks Buffy would get, and he didn't want that for her. "That works for me. We'll go public at the Prom. Until then, it's a secret."

They sealed their decision with a tender kiss.

8

The next day when Angel made his way through the cafeteria, he saw not only Xander and Melissa sitting at their usual table, but Willow Rosenberg and Anya Emerson as well. It struck him as weird because the two girls never sat with them. 'I wonder what's going on,' he thought.

He caught sight of Buffy sitting a few tables away from Xander and Melissa, flanked on either side by Harmony Kendall and Cordelia Chase. Their eyes met briefly and they exchanged smiles.

"Angel! Get over here!" Melissa called.

Angel glanced at her with suspicious eyes. His sister was definitely up to something. And he wouldn't have to wait long to find out what it was. "What?" he asked when he reached the table.

"You remember Anya and Willow, don't you?" she asked.

"Yeah…I have classes with them. Hi, Willow. Hi, Anya," he said to them.

Willow smiled while Anya giggled. "Ever since that bitch dumped you, I've made it my personal mission to find you the perfect Prom date," Melissa informed her brother. "And Willow and Anya here don't have dates, so…"

Xander grinned, patting Angel on the back. "Your sister brought you a bushel of babes to choose from. Do you realize how lucky you are? I'd kill for that kind of treatment."

"I'm sorry, guys. I already have a date," Angel told them.

"It's okay," Willow said. "Oz asked me to go this morning so I think I'll go with him. I hope you have a good time, Angel."

Anya pouted. "Now I'll never get a date. Thanks a lot, Missy. You promised me Angel would go with me."

Melissa shot daggers at her brother. "Sorry. My twin brother here hasn't been keeping me all that well-informed about his social life."

Both girls got up off their chairs and left the table. Angel took a bite out of his grilled cheese sandwich, Xander busied himself with copying Angel's English notes and Melissa glared at her brother. He looked up at her. "What's wrong with you?"

"I should be asking you the same question. I worked hard and went out of my way to find you a date for Prom and you say you already have one. How the hell could you do that, Angel?" she accused.

"I didn't realize it was a capital offense to find my own Prom date. Sorry to ruin your plans."

Melissa narrowed her eyes. "It's her, isn't it? You're going with the Ice Princess."

"Don't call Buffy that. And yes, I am going to the Prom with her. She asked me yesterday and I eventually said yes."

"I thought you decided to work that night," she pointed out.

"She arranged it so I'd be off that weekend. So we're going together, followed by a weekend at her father's beach cabin. Which reminds me, Buffy asked me invite the two of you to go with us. We'll be back early Monday afternoon."

Xander's jaw dropped. "That is so cool. A weekend away from any parental control or supervision."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Melissa said. "You can tell your precious little Buffy to forget it. There's no way on God's green earth that I will spend an entire weekend with her. No way, no how."

"Missy…"

"No. You're not going to change my mind. And if I'm not going, Xander's not going either."

His eyes widened. "Huh? Why can't I go?"

"Because I said so. Do you really want to partake in a weekend-long orgy at Buffy Summers' beach house?" Melissa wanted to know.

"Yes!" Xander replied.

"Then you can find yourself another Prom date."

Angel shook his head. "You're not even willing to give her a chance are you? One of these days, Melissa, you'll have to get over it. I don't know why you hate Buffy so much, but from now on, I suggest you keep it to yourself because I do not want to hear it anymore. I'm sick to death of it."

She shrugged. "Fine. Do what you want. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Don't come crying to me when she tramples all over your heart."

***

The next week and a half went by without incident. Buffy and Angel managed to keep their relationship a secret from everyone except Xander, Melissa and Cordelia. To everyone else, the two of them were only spending time together because of their English project. And until Prom, that's how they wanted to keep it.

The closing credits rolled on the movie Buffy had borrowed from Cordelia. She and Angel lay on their stomachs across her bed in silence, letting the movie's events settle in their minds.

Angel broke the silence. "That was…well, interesting doesn't quite seem to fit," he commented.

"Was it supposed to be scary?" Buffy asked. "I think I laughed more than I was frightened."

"Sure. I saw you jump when the killer impaled that woman on the shower glass. Not to mention the iron scene."

"I didn't say it wasn't gory."

"Oh, it was definitely gory. But it was so predictable. I knew from the second that Adam guy stepped onscreen that he was the killer."

Buffy laughed. "Yeah, but he was pretty to look at. The movie had a moral, though. Don't make fun of the geek, because he'll end up being a total hottie and come back and kill you for rejecting him."

"God, didn't those people learn anything from SCREAM? You don't run up the stairs when you're alone in a house with the killer. You run out the door," Angel stated. "And what was with Denise Richards' character? The killer trapped her in the hot tub. When he took out the power drill and started drilling holes into the plastic cover, she should have known that he wasn't trying to create air pockets for her."

"It wasn't all that bad, Angel. Granted, it had some plot holes –"

"*Some* plot holes? You could drive a truck through the plot holes in that movie. Half of the stuff the killer did made no sense to me whatsoever. What was the point of killing that guy…Campbell? And the maid? And the rich lady? I'm sorry, but I just don't get it. They had nothing to do with the killer or the main plot of the story."

"You overanalyze things. It's a movie; it was meant to be entertaining. I don't know, I thought it was kind of sweet. I mean, he killed all those girls so he could be with the woman he had been in love with for thirteen years. It's kind of romantic."

"It's kind of sick," he disagreed.

"Where's your sense of romance?" Buffy asked.

Angel shook his head. "No way. That movie wasn't romantic, it was stupid."

"Well, I liked it and I thought it was sorta romantic."

She moved a few inches to the right and placed her hands on the back of Angel's neck, pushing his lips to hers. As it grew in intensity, Buffy's elbow slipped out from under her, causing her to lose her balance, falling onto her back. Angel fell with her, pinning her body to the bed under his. She took the opportunity to wrap her arms around him, holding him in place. It was right where she wanted him to be.

He reluctantly broke their embrace several minutes later. "Well," he said.

"I certainly hope you can say that it was more than interesting, Mr. Critical," Buffy remarked with a soft laugh.

"I would give it three out of four stars."

"Glad you approve." Buffy and Angel sat up and she fixed her mussed blonde hair. "I forgot to tell you earlier. I picked up my Prom dress yesterday afternoon."

"Are you going to tell me what it looks like or do I have to wait another week?" Angel wanted to know.

Buffy pretended to think it over. "You'll have to wait. This dress is preferential to the element of surprise."

"You're a tease."

"And you love it. Any luck with Melissa? She still won't come to the beach house with us?" she inquired.

Angel shook his head. "Nope. She absolutely refuses. Getting her to share a limo with us was hard enough."

"Maybe she'll change her mind," she said, hope resonating through her voice.

"Doubtful. Missy can be as stubborn as a mule. Looks like it's just going to be you and me next weekend."

"That's really going to suck. You and I alone all by ourselves for an entire weekend. Whatever will we do to pass the time?"

He smiled. "I'm sure we'll think of something."

"There's hiking," she suggested.

"Swimming."

"And then there's always this." Buffy leaned over again to kiss him.

***

The night before Prom, Buffy came home from Cordelia's house to find her father packing his suitcase in his bedroom. She narrowed her eyes in wonder.

"Dad?" she began when she stepped into the bedroom.

"Oh, Buffy honey, I didn't see you standing there, I'm sorry. How was your day? Anything exciting happen at school today?" Hank Summers asked his daughter while folding a pair of trousers and then placing them in his suitcase.

"It was fine, nothing overly exciting. What are you doing? Why are you packing?"

He reached into his closet and pulled out several shirts. "There's an emergency stockholders meeting in Seattle this weekend. A big takeover fell through and now all hell is breaking loose. I have to be there by noon tomorrow," Mr. Summers explained.

"But tomorrow's my Senior Prom," she reminded him. "You're supposed to be here and meet my boyfriend."

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do. I have to go to this meeting."

Buffy sighed. "You know how important this is to me. I've been looking forward to going to my Prom for years and now my own father isn't even going to be here to see me in my dress or meet my date."

"I can't get out of it. If I could, I would."

"Fine, do what you have to do," she said, dejected.

Mr. Summers sat down on the bed next to his suitcase and motioned for Buffy to do the same. "It's disappointing, I know. If I could be here to see you off, I would be. But I just can't. I *have* to be in Seattle."

She lowered her green eyes. "Mom wouldn't have missed it."

He smiled. "You're right, honey, she wouldn't have missed it for the world. Hell, Joyce probably would have made your dress herself. I really wish she were still alive, she'd be very proud of the beautiful young woman you've become."

"You really think so? She'd be proud of me?"

"I know so. But I also think she'd understand that I have to take care of this problem. It doesn't mean that I don't love you, I just have no choice in the matter. I hope you understand."

"Okay, yeah I do. I should probably get to bed. Big day tomorrow and all that," Buffy said.

Mr. Summers gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek. "Take lots of pictures for your old man."

"I will."

"And be careful this weekend. I don't want you or your girlfriends to get hurt at the beach house. It's isolated, remember?"

"I remember. And yes, Dad, we'll be careful." She'd never told her father that she and Angel were going there by themselves. Mr. Summers would never have allowed it; so she said it would be herself and a few friends from school staying at the beach house all weekend.

"I called John yesterday and had the refrigerator stocked with the list of stuff you left me. Eggs, milk, soda, chips, etc.," he told her.

"Thanks." 'At least he made an effort,' she thought.

"Have a good time."

"I'll try. And you have a safe trip. 'Night, Dad."

Buffy left her father's bedroom, heading for her own. It was almost eleven-thirty and she needed to get some sleep. She stripped out of the jeans and sweatshirt she'd been wearing and changed into a white tank top and a pair of flannel shorts. As she brushed out her shoulder-length blonde hair, her eyes fell upon a framed picture of her mother taken only three weeks before her death. Buffy put the brush down, picked up the picture and sat down on her bed. Tears filled her eyes at the memory of some of the conversations they'd shared over the years. She and her mother had always been close; she was the only person Buffy ever told about her crush on Angel.

//Buffy and her mother sat on Mrs. Summers' bed, flipping through the Sunnydale Middle School yearbook that Buffy had received that day.

"I can't believe how old you guys are getting," Mrs. Summers commented. "I can remember when most of these kids were just in diapers. Now you'll be starting high school in a year."

"Yep. I can't wait to start high school. Dating, driving and all kinds of fun stuff."

Mrs. Summers turned the page, glancing over the R's. "What's this?" she asked, pointing to what her daughter had written under a boy's picture.

Buffy quickly grabbed the book from her mother. "Nothing. It's nothing."

"If it's nothing, then why won't you let me see?"

"Because."

"All right then. I guess someone doesn't want any brownies for dessert after dinner tonight," Mrs. Summers threatened.

"Mom…" Buffy whined.

Mrs. Summers lifted her eyebrows. "Buffy…"

Frowning, she handed the book back to her mother. "Don't laugh at me."

"I'd never laugh at you, pumpkin." She read what Buffy had written. "'I love him.' That's so sweet."

"His name is Angel. He's really smart and funny and cute. And he's always nice to me. He smiles at me when everyone else is making fun of me or being mean to me. I love him."

"I'm sure you do. He sounds like a very nice boy."

"And I'm gonna marry him someday. We're going to get married and have lots of kids," said Buffy in a strong voice.

"Does he know you like him?" her mother wanted to know.

She vigorously shook her head. "No way!"

"You should ask him to the movies."

"He'll say no."

"You'll never know until you try. I bet if you do, he will say yes." \\

A tear fell out of Buffy's eye, landing on the glass covering her mother's picture. "He did say yes, Mom. Just like you said he would. And it only took me five years to ask."

She laid down on the bed, holding the picture to her breast. "I miss you, Mom. I miss you every day. You wouldn't miss my Prom like Dad is going to. You'd be here, all excited about meeting Angel. But you're not here. Why did you have to go away?" she asked. After what seemed like an eternity of crying, she fell asleep.

***

9

"This is the last day we have to hide from everyone," Angel commented the following morning. He and Buffy had met in the utility closet for an early morning rendezvous before the Senior Class Assembly.

"We go public in a few hours. No more making out in the janitor's closet for us," she replied. Reaching her arms around his neck, she pulled Angel down for another kiss.

They broke their embrace when the five minute warning bell rang. "I guess that's our cue," Buffy said, disappointed at the prospect of leaving their secret hiding spot.

Angel nodded. "Sounds like it." He reached into his jeans pocket. "I almost forgot to give this to you."

She knit her eyebrows together. "What is it?"

"Money for the limo and the tux. It's all I can afford to give you right now, but when I get paid on Wednesday –"

"I don't want your money, Angel. I thought I told you, everything's paid for. Don't worry about it."

"I do worry about it. I don't want you to have to pay for me to go to the Prom. I work, I should pay for myself." Angel handed her the money.

She simply looked at it. "I won't accept it."

He sighed angrily. "Why not?"

"Because you told me yourself that you need that money to pay your bills. Prom is paid for; use the money to pay off your mom's hospital bills or the utilities or something like that."

"Dammit, Buffy, I don't want your charity. Or your pity, for that matter. Just take the money," he ordered.

"No," she said defiantly. "Look, I'm sorry if me paying for everything is bruising your ego, but get over it. And it isn't charity or pity either. Let me pay."

Angel shook his head. "I believe that the guy should pay. Call me old-fashioned, but if the guy asks the girl, he should pay or at least be willing to."

"You seem to be forgetting something very important here, Angel. I asked you. So I guess that makes me the guy in this case."

"I can't–"

"Too bad. I'm paying, end of discussion. But if you feel that strongly about the issue, I'm sure you can find a way to make it up to me this weekend. Now get going before we're late for the assembly."

***

"Well, how do I look?" Melissa requested of her mother and brother when she entered the living room at five o'clock.

Angel and his mother grinned. Melissa looked beautiful. Her long brown hair was styled in a french twist with tendrils framing her pretty face. She'd chosen a simple black dress with a high neck and a hem that reached the floor.

"You look lovely, Melissa," Mrs. Riches complimented. "Just like I imagined you would."

Her brother nodded. "Like a million bucks. Xander'll go out of his mind when he sees you."

"That's the whole point. I spent six months saving my babysitting money to buy this dress. You don't think it's too much, do you?"

Angel shook his head. "Not at all. It's very sophisticated. Worth every penny, I assure you."

"What time is the limo coming to pick you up?" their mother wanted to know.

"Any minute now," Melissa told her. "It's picking up Xander and then Angel's date."

He groaned. "Her name is Buffy and I'd appreciate it if you called her by it."

"God, you are so sensitive when it comes to her. Geez."

"Missy, please, just be nice to her. She arranged for the limo and I think it would be nice if you were at least a little bit appreciative. Be civil, that's all I'm asking." Angel had mental images of his sister and Buffy engaged in a catfight on the way to the Prom.

"All right," she relented. "Only for you and *only* for tonight."

He rolled his eyes. "That's all I'm asking of you."

"Are you stopping at Buffy's house for pictures?" Mrs. Riches asked her son.

"No. Her dad was called away for an emergency meeting in Seattle. He left this morning," he informed her.

"That poor girl. Nobody there to see her off to her own Prom."

Melissa grimaced. "I'm sure the maid and butler and cook were there, though."

"Melissa…" Angel warned in a low voice.

"It was a joke. Calm down."

The doorbell rang three minutes later while Melissa and Angel were doing last minute hair checks. Mrs. Riches answered the door, eager to see her children's dates. "Xander Harris, is that you?"

"Hey, Mrs. R. I clean up good, huh?" he asked with a laugh.

"You certainly do." She couldn't help but smile. "Just don't let Angel hear you talk like that. He'll have a heart attack at your grammar. You know how he is."

"I think he's used to the way I talk by now. Is Melissa ready?"

"She definitely is. Isn't Buffy with you?"

Xander pointed to the limo. "She told me to go on ahead without her. I think she'll be inside in a couple minutes. Probably checking her makeup or something like that."

"Hey, Xander," Melissa greeted, re-entering the living room.

He had a hard time finding his voice when he laid eyes upon his best friend's sister. "I…you…wow," Xander stammered.

She giggled. "I'll take that as a compliment. You look pretty good yourself. Ready to boogie down, you crazy party animal?" she asked.

"Uh-huh."

Angel entered the living room and looked for his date. He'd heard Xander's voice and assumed Buffy had arrived with him. It both disappointed and scared him when she wasn't there. "Buffy's not here?" He was afraid that he'd been stood up. "Why isn't she here?"

"Relax, man. She's still in the limo."

"Nope, I'm right here," she announced, stepping into view.

Words escaped Angel when he saw her. She was utterly breathtaking; he'd never seen anything more beautiful in his life. Her Prom dress was antique white, accentuating her golden tan. It was off the shoulder, filling out slightly at the waist and flowing to the ground. She had brushed her hair straight, curling it only a little bit at the ends and a simple strand of pearls adorned her neck.

"Buffy," he managed to say. "You look incredible. Like a princess."

She blushed. "Thank you. You look great in that tux."

He reached over, picking up her corsage which he'd rested on the end table. "I hope you like carnations."

"I love them." 'A red carnation corsage. White is for friendship, pink is for like and red is for love. Does he love me? Oh forget it, Buffy.' "I have your boutonniere in my purse."

While Buffy and Angel were doing that, and Mrs. Riches was taking their picture, Melissa whispered in Xander's ear, "Does she look better than me?"

"Not a chance, Missy." Truth was, his eyes nearly fell out of his head when he first saw Buffy in her dress.

"Look at that dress. Could she have shown more cleavage? It's a disgusting sight."

Xander shook his head. "You can hardly see anything. It leaves a hell of a lot to the imagination."

"Spoken like a typical man," she scoffed.

Twenty minutes later, they were on their way out the door. Angel carried his overnight bag to the limo; he and Buffy were leaving for the beach house right after Prom ended.

"You have Buffy's cell phone number, I left it on the table. Call me if you need me or if anything happens," Angel told his mother. "I'll be home in less than an hour if you call."

"Nothing's going to happen. Have a good time this weekend, you two."

"We will."

***

Buffy gripped Angel's hand as they walked through the doors of the country club where the Prom was being held. 'This is it,' she thought. 'Now everyone's going to know about us.'

"Penny for your thoughts," Angel said.

"Save your penny," she returned. "It's not that important."

Xander and Melissa were already at the ballot table for Prom King and Queen. "Hey, Buffy, did you know you are nominated for Prom Queen?" Xander asked.

"I was? I mean, I am? Why?"

'I'm not voting for her,' Melissa said to herself. 'I'd rather see Harmony or Cordelia or even Kelley win.'

Angel picked up a ballot. "You're a shoo-in, Buffy. Hardly any competition whatsoever."

She looked over the ballot sheet. "Yeah, right. Let's see, head cheerleader, the most popular girl in school, me, the lead in the school play and your ex-girlfriend. I don't have a prayer."

"Well, you've got my vote," Angel promised.

"Mine, too," added Xander. "I'm putting a big fat NO WAY next to Kelley's name."

Buffy laughed. "You're too funny, Xander."

Angel put his arm around her waist. "Can I have the first dance?"

"You can have the first, the last and all the ones in between."

//Don't stray, don't ever go away
I should be much too smart for this
You know it gets the better of me
Sometimes, when you and I collide
I fall into an ocean of you
Pull me out in time don't let me drown
Let me down, I say it's all because of you\\

The couple found an empty space on the dance floor, ignoring the curious gazes cast their way. Buffy fell into his arms, cherishing the feeling of security she felt. Never in her life did she think she'd be there with Angel; in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, his hands around her waist. It was beyond heaven.

"I should probably warn you that I can't dance very well," Angel said. "I have two left feet."

"You're doing great so far."

//And here I go, losing my control
I'm practicing your name
So I can say it to your face, it doesn't seem right
To look you in the eye, let all the things you mean to me
Come tumbling out of my mouth and beat its time
Tell you why, you say it's infinitely true
Say you'll stay
Don't come and go like you do
Sway my way
Yeah, I need to know all about you \\

"Just as I suspected," Buffy stated.

Angel cast his eyes down at her curiously. "What?"

"Everyone's looking at us. I knew this would happen."

"They're just jealous because I'm dancing with the most beautiful girl in the building."

She wasn't convinced. "I can practically hear their thoughts, Angel. And they're all thinking the same thing: rebound. They all think I'm your rebound girl."

He held her tighter. "Who cares what they think? I certainly don't. Let everyone think you're the rebound girl. You and I know the truth." 'Truth,' he thought. 'I haven't even told Buffy the truth yet. How is she going to react when she finds out that I think I love her?'

***

"And this year's Prom King is," Sara DeMarco, head of the Prom Committee, announced, "Jeremy Masterson!"

The boy ran up to the make-shift stage to accept his crown. Winning hadn't come as a shock to the quarterback, he fully expected to win.

"And the Prom Queen is…Buffy Summers!"

She looked at Angel with shock written all over her face. "I can't believe it. I won. I really won."

He planted a kiss on her cheek. "Congratulations. I knew you'd win. Go get your crown, Miss Prom Queen."

Buffy walked to where Sara and Jeremy were standing, waiting for her. When she reached his side, Jeremy put the crown her head, grinning like an idiot the whole time.

"And now, your Prom King and Queen will share the spotlight dance."

Jeremy tried to take Buffy's hand, but she casually moved it from his reach. He took her in his arms as the words began.

/How do I get through a night without you?
If I had to live without you, what kind of life would that be?
Oh I, I need you in my arms, need you to hold
You're my world, my heart, my soul
If you ever leave
Well, baby, you would take away everything
Good in my life
And tell me now

How do I live without you?
I want to know
How do I breathe without you?
If you ever go
How do I ever, ever survive?
How do I, how do I, oh how do I live without you? \\

"You know, there was never a doubt in my mind who'd win tonight," Jeremy said to Buffy. "It had to be us."

"I never thought I'd win," Buffy admitted. "I never even expected to be nominated. This is like a dream or something."

"No, Buffy, it's very real. I knew you would win, that's why I asked you to be my date. Then this whole night would have been perfect," he lamented. "But instead, you turned me down."

She sighed. "Sorry, Jeremy, I didn't want to go with you."

"You said no to me, but yes to Angel Riches? Now see, that's what I don't understand."

"He's different from the other guys here."

"He's a loser. I expected better from you, Buffy. I always thought you had good taste, but I guess I was wrong."

"I didn't ask for your opinion, Jeremy. And I don't need your approval to go out with someone. Angel's twice the man you'll ever hope to be," Buffy retorted.

He laughed. "You don't have to get defensive. I just find it funny that going after the rich and pretty guys in Sunnydale isn't cutting it for you anymore, so now you've moved on to seducing the poorest of the poor. I hope he knows what he's getting himself into."

Rage built up inside of her until Buffy could no longer take it. "Fuck you," she hissed. "You don't know me or Angel, so just shut the hell up."

"You know, Buffy, I think it's my place to warn you. You're not going to get any from him. Rumor has it that's why his ex dumped him. Three years together and he wouldn't screw her…no wonder they broke up."

That did it. "Get your hands off of me," she ordered.

"Hey, I'm only telling you."

Buffy pushed him away from her. "Get away from me."

//There'd be no sun in my sky
There would be no love in my life
There'd be no world left for me
And I, well, baby, I don't know what I would do
I'd be lost if I lost you
If you ever leave
Well, baby, you would take away everything
Real in my life
And tell me now

How do I live without you?
I want to know
How do I breathe without you?
If you ever go
How do I ever, ever survive?
How do I, how do I, how do I live?\\

Buffy found Angel standing in the same spot he left him. Confusion was written all over his handsome face. "Buffy, what's wrong?"

"Dance with me," she requested. "Just put your arms around me and make me forget I ever had to dance with Jeremy."

He scooped her into his embrace just as she had asked, holding her as tight has he could. She was obviously upset; something had happened with Jeremy during their brief dance. "Tell me what happened."

Her lower lip quivered. "Nothing. I-I couldn't stand his hands being on me anymore. It felt wrong. Being here with you…this feels right. Hold me. Hold me and don't let go."

"I won't."

"I mean it, don't let go. I love you, Angel."

***

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