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Part Two
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"So...?" Cordelia whispered to Willow. She raised her
eyebrows questioningly.
"So....what?" Willow smirked. She knew exactly what
Cordelia was asking. "Oh. How did things go with Angel
last night?" She had waited in Angel's study, reading
through one of his many old texts, for him to return
from the station the night before. When he had
returned they had talked for hours, about anything and
everything. Getting to know each other further.
"Of course!" Cordelia could barely contain her
curiousity.
"Well..." Willow deliberately drew out the word,
enjoying the torment Cordelia's nosy mind was going
through. "We talked."
"You...talked? You're practically glowing this
morning, and all the two of you did was *talk*?"
Cordelia groaned. She had been hoping for something
more interesting.
"Sheesh Cordy, you act like you thought we'd end up
in bed!" Willow laughed. Then she noticed the look on
her friend's face. "You did?!?" Willow blushed.
"Just trying to live vicariously through my friends."
Cordelia laughed. "So...you two talked...any plans for
a date?"
Willow couldnt help but smile. "Yep! We're going to
dinner and the movies tomorrow night. He wanted to go
tonight but he already had plans."
"Plans?" The brunette echoed curiously. "What kind of
plans? Brood all night?" Cordelia laughed. The idea of
Angel having plans was just too absurd.
"I didnt ask." The witch smiled at her friend.
"Doesnt matter. Tomorrow night I make my move. I just
hope I dont end up embarassing myself." During their
conversation the night before she had thought she saw
more than just friendship in his eyes, but she wasnt
sure. Her heart hoped for it, but her traitorous mind
whispered that it was just wishful thinking.
"I have the perfect thing for you to wear!" Cordelia
jumped up. "Watch the office while I run to my
apartment?" In her mind the brunette was picturing the
slinky green slip dress she had bought and never worn.
It hadn't looked right on her but would be stunning on
Willow she was sure.
"Sure. Hurry back though. I dont know what I'd do if
an actual customer came in." Willow snickered, shooing
the brunette out of the office. She was happy Cordelia
was helping her try to win Angel. If anyone knew how
to get what she wanted it was Cordelia. She turned
back to the computer in front of her, looking to
finish what she had started the day before.
The hacker had just managed to restore all of Angel's
backup files when she heard the door open. "Welcome to
Angel Investi-" She snapped her mouth shut as she saw
who was standing in the doorway. "Nice to see you
again, Kate."
"Willow." The blond replied cooly. She had finally
learned the red head's name after she got to the
station with Angel the night before. {What a pretty
name for such a plain girl.} She thought. "Angel
around?"
"Sorry. Hes not up yet. He had a long night." The
witch congratulated herself on the catty tone of voice
she used, hoping that Kate would assume the worst
about the statement.
"Really?" Kate glanced around the office, noting that
it was only her and the girl. "Listen to me, little
girl. I have worked too hard getting on Angel's soft
side to have some little college girl ruin it for me!"
The blond's face twisted into an ugly sneer and Willow
wondered briefly if she had been possessed. Green eyes
rolled sarcastically as the woman continued. "So why
dont you crawl back to whatever hell you came from and
leave him to a real woman?"
" *Hell Mouth* " Willow emphasized, glaring at the
woman. {What a BITCH!} Her mind roared.
"Excuse me?"
"You told me to go back to whatever Hell I had come
from." Willow smiled sweetly. "I come from the *Mouth*
of Hell...not hell itself. Really should get it
straight." She stood, getting eye level with the
jealousy enraged woman in front of her. "Now *you*
listen to me." The red head kept her voice calm and
cool, making her words seem that much more powerful.
"I have known Angel alot longer than you. I owe him my
life and he owes me his. We have been through more
together than you could ever even *dream* of. So why
dont *you* go back to whatever *hole* you crawled out
of." With another smile she resumed her seat.
{You little...} If looks could kill Kate was pretty
sure Willow would be dead by now. Matching the smile
on the red head's face she said aloud, "Fine. Have it
your way. I will win though." She turned to leave,
calling over her shoulder. "Tell Angel I'll be by at
seven to get him for dinner." Then she was gone,
leaving the red head stunned.
* * *
Angel was bored. He couldnt believe he had agreed to
go to the charity dinner with Kate. {Its for the
kids.} He reminded himself. He listened to her ramble
on for the thousandth time about one of her cases,
barely stopping himself from yawning. He tuned the
sound of her voice out as he lost himself in his
thoughts, nodding occaisionally to make her think he
was still with her. Those thoughts, like many of the
past few days, turned to the red head who was waiting
at his apartment for him.
Willow. He was definitely starting to feel something
for the girl he was proud to call his best friend. And
if the looks he had caught her giving him were
anything he was pretty sure she felt the same way. She
had seemed sad when he left for the night, though. And
he was anxious to get home and make sure she was okay.
If only Kate would shut up and eat.
"Angel." Kate shook his arm lightly. "Are you okay?
You've barely touched your food." He gave her a long
look, raising his eyebrows at her obvious lapse in
better judgement. She blanched. "Oh. I forgot."
Angel sighed. That was one of many reasons he had
never considered the blond haired woman as anything
other than a friend. She was either unable or
unwilling to accept him for what he was. {Unlike
Willow...} His mind offered. {Argh! Shes talking
again!} Forcing his face into his trademark blank look
he tried his best not to fall asleep.
* * *
"I had a lovely time tonight, Angel." Kate cooed,
walking with the man up to the entrance to his
apartment building. She was wearing him down, she
could tell. Something moved in front of one of the
windows, a small female silhouette looking down on
them. {Willow.} She could tell Angel hadn't noticed
his little friend yet. "Well. I guess this is
goodnight." Reaching up, Kate pressed her lips to his,
forcing him into a kiss. Through half shut eyes she
saw the girl back away from the window, disappearing
back into the apartment. {Take that, little girl.}
Angel pulled back suddenly, looking at the woman in
front of him as though she'd lost her mind. "Kate...
what was that for?" He choked out.
"Just saying thank you..." She mistook his choked
voice for one of passion, leaning up to kiss him again
before returning to her car. "Thanks again Angel..."
* * *
Willow fought back tears of rage. Kate had kissed
Angel. {But did he want it?} Her mind whispered
rationally. It didnt matter. The older woman had
stepped up the game to a new level. {He's just a prize
to be won to that skank} Willow thought venomously.
{She doesnt deserve him.} Willow looked in the
bathroom mirror, splashing some cool water over her
face. Angel would be up any minute and she didn't want
him to suspect anything. No need for him to know that
the blond he thought was his friend was just a
coniving little tramp. Smiling at her reflection the
red head whispered fiercely. "Round two - Kate.
Tomorrow night I break our 'tie' and claim what is
mine."
***
End Chapter Two