"It must be pretty lousy that you moved so close to the end of the
school year." Willow said, trying to make conversation.  She was glad
for the distraction; she didn't want to think of the stranger with
silver eyes.
    "It's not so bad. I move around a lot." Cassandra said.  <Does
she know?> Cassandra wondered. This was the Hellmouth after all, she
must have some idea of what she is.
  "Here. I just have to stop at my locker and then I'll introduce you
to some of my friends." Willow said, putting in the combination. As
she was getting out some of her books, a whole herd of jocks came,
all  rallied up for a game. Almost all of them bumped into Willow,
none of them apologized. <Jerks.>Willow thought as all her books
spilled to the ground. Cassandra helped picked them up.
    "Demon Incantations?" she read.
 "Well you see, um, I am, um, doing this project and, well, I have to
get that book. Cause I never read stuff like that, it's evil and-"
    "I've been looking all over for this book! Where did you find
it?" Cassandra asked.
          "Really? You like this stuff?" Willow asked, glad to have
found another potential witch.
    "Well, I've only been practicing for a few years now." Cassandra
said.
 "Me too. Have you done anything in soul restorations?" Willow asked
and from there they talked and a friendship developed within a few
minutes.
  "Hey Willow!" Amy said, coming up to them.
       "Amy this is Cassie, she's new and she's a witch." Willow
said.
 "Welcome to Sunnydale. Being a witch you'll be right at home here."
Amy said.
   "Yes, I've heard about Sunnydale being "special".  Cassandra said
as the three girls walked down the hallway.
   "Ms Rosenberg, can I have a word with you?" Principal Snyder said.
 "Well I kind of have to-"
     "Good, come in." Snyder said, closing the door. Willow took a
seat.
    "As you know due to the unfortunate accident Ms Calendar had,
you've been taking over her class. We've been unable to find another
teacher to teach for the summer so I submitted your name as a
replacement. I just wanted to let you know. I'm sure you can find
time in your "busy" social schedule." He said. He didn't sound sorry
when he mentioned Ms. Calendar like everyone else did; he didn't even
care. Not only that, he just assumed that she had nothing to do all
summer but teach the delinquents who couldn't pass the first time.
Snyder just wanted someone who didn't have to be paid. Teachers for
Sunnydale were
 hard to come by because of the high "accident" rate.
      Odette wouldn't stand to be treated this way, and Savathri
certainly wouldn't.  <Why should I? > Willow thought.
   "No Principal Snyder, I will* not * be making room in my busy
social schedule so you can have a free teacher.  I happen to have
plans over to summer, and while I am * so * sorry they don't coincide
with yours, that's just something you'll have to deal with." Willow
said, getting out of chair and walking out the room.
     "Willow, what happened?" Amy asked.
 "Nothing. That asshole just wanted a free teacher for the summer."
Even Willow was surprised at how hard her voiced sounded.  Still, she
was very proud of herself for standing up to Snyder.
    "I feel like Bronzing it tonight, Cassie you can meet the rest of
my friends there." Willow said. Amy smiled.
   "Okay, I'll tell the others. I have to go now, bye." Amy said.
 "Are your friends like you, witches I mean?" Cassandra asked.
 "No, they're much more strange."
 

 * * * *  * * * * * * * * * * * * *  * * * * * * * *  * ** ** * * * *
* * * * * ** * * **  * * *
 

 <I will not think about that. I won't, I refuse to. I will not think
about the guy with silver eyes who killed me twice and might do it
again-damn! > Willow thought.  She was alone in her house, without
anyone to distract her. Every time she looked at her schoolwork, all
she could think about was the man with the silver eyes. The man who
killed her twice. She remembered the fear, how it felt to know that
your life was ending. The feel of cold silver in your body, the blood
all over, escaping your body and finally the silence of death.
 <He has to be some kind of demon, Odette and Savathri lived
thousands of years apart. He might even be a vampire; he only killed
me at night.> Willow thought. Should she run and tell the others?
 <No, this is my problem, I'll fix it. The gang has enough to worry
about with vamps and the Mayor.> Willow thought. She nearly jumped
three feet out of her chair when she heard a knock at the front
door.  <That can't be him. He never knocked before. He usually comes
out of the shadows and kills me, never bothers to knock.> Willow
thought as she nervously got out of her chair and went downstairs to
open the door, stake in one hand. <What if I'm wrong? What ifit is
him and he's going to kill me again. If he is a vampire he needs an
invitation.> The thought stopped her at the door.  She stared at the
door, which was possibly the only thing that stood between her and
her killer.
  "Hey Red. You gonna let me in?" Faith said.
 "Faith." Willow said, smiling in relief as she opened the door. She
had never been so glad to see the brunette Slayer.
 "Ready to go?" Faith asked.
    "Yeah, let's go." Willow said, eager to be out of the silent
house.
 "Not in that outfit. Upstairs, Cordy's going to be there and you
don't want to be dealing with the Commissioner of the Fashion police,
now do you?" Faith asked as she dragged Willow upstairs.
   "Here, wear this." Faith said, holding up a red tank top with
spaghetti straps and a leather skirt that went up to mid-thigh. Any
other time Willow would have argued, but now she just wanted to be
somewhere, where there were lots of people, somewhere to be
distracted.       "There, now you look better." Faith said
approvingly when Willow came out of the bathroom changed.
 "Can we go now?" Willow asked.
    "Why are you in a rush?" Faith asked.
 "I made a new friend. Her name is Cassie and she's a witch. I told
her to meet us the Bronze." Willow explained.
 " You sure that's all? You look a bit jumpy." Faith said.
    "I'm sure. Let's go." Willow said, already down the stairs.
 The walk to the Bronze did not help ease her fears.
     It only seemed to make them worse.  Every movement, every shadow
might be him.  <Maybe I should tell.> Willow thought.
   "Is there any reason why you're grabbing my arm so tight?" Faith
asked, prying Willow's hand off her upper arm.
  "Sorry" Willow muttered not, even looking at her. She kept looking
around, constantly aware of everyone and every noise on the street.
<No, I'm not going to tell. I'm not a baby. I'll figure a way out of
this.> Willow thought, entering the Bronze with Faith.  The gang
minus Buffy was there. Cassie was there too.  She was talking to Amy
and Cordelia, and looking like she had been friends with them for
years. She fit in perfectly with them.
     "So, you're from New York. I would love to do some shopping
there." Cordy said, and Cassie laughed.
    "Hey Cassie, this is my friend Faith, I see you've already meet
the others." Willow said, trying to sound normal.  The vision of
silver eyes still haunted her. She felt like the man could jump out
of nowhere and attack her, or worse her friends. Even now she felt
like someone was staring at her.
 "Don't look, but there's a man staring at you, he coming towards you
now." Cassandra confirmed. Willow froze.  <Maybe it's not him. He
always comes when I'm alone. Oh goddess, please don't let it be him.>
                  "Deadboy, long time no bite." Xander said.
 "Angel!" Willow turned around and hugged him, relief pouring over
her.
   "I'm * so * glad you're here." She said and to her surprise he
returned the hug.
   "I'm glad to be here, little one." Angel said softly, inhaling her
scent so he could remember it for future fantasies.
    "Is there something wrong?" Angel asked, pulling himself from the
hug.
    "Wrong? No, what could be wrong?" Willow asked a little too
brightly. Now that Angel was here she felt safe and protected. It was
odd, the effect his presence had on her. She wasn't afraid, all she
was worried about now was making sure Angel stayed, instead of
disappearing off into the night like he always did after he delivered
his information.
   "Dance with me." Willow said impulsively, and led him to the dance
floor.
   "I love this song." She said and because Willow was in his arms
right now, so did Angel.
    He stared into Willow's bright green eyes and was once again
reminded why he just didn't leave. He couldn't abandon her; she would
never do that to him. Angel tried to live by the same standards she
did. Willow was his inspiration, she was what he fought for.  The one
and only example of purity in his life. <She will never know how I
feel.> Angel thought. He couldn't say the word love, he wouldn't
allow himself to love her. If he did, he wouldn't be able to let her
go once the song ended. He was glad the song started out slow, he had
an excuse to hold Willow close.
 

 She rolls the window down
 And she
 Talks over the sound
 Of the cars that pass us by
 And I don't know why
 But she's changed my mind

 Would you look at her
 She looks at me
 She's got me thinking about her constantly
 But she don't know how I feel
 And as she carries on without a doubt
 I wonder if she's figured out
 I'm crazy for this girl

 The song became faster now, but Angel still held Willow close and
she didn't seem to mind. She put her arms around his neck, her body
moving slowly against him. Their bodies moved in time against each
other. <Wow I'm dancing with Angel! And I'm good at it.> she thought.
Willow would have never done this before. She would never have had
the confidence to. Odette did, she knew how to flirt, how to dance
and how to make a man want you. Willow didn't, she was just a brainy
wallflower. She knew Cordelia and Faith were commenting about her
dancing with Angel.
  <Well, they always encouraged me to be more outgoing.> Willow
thought, and leaned forward so her head was resting on Angel's
shoulders when the song went slow again.
 

 She was the one to hold me
 The night the sky fell down
 And what was I thinking when
 The world didn't end
 Why didn't I know what I know now

If Angel didn't need to breathe he would have held his breath anyway.
He didn't want anything to ruin this moment.  A moment he would
relive over and over again for the rest of his un-life. Willow fits
so perfectly in his arms, he could feel her warmth, count her
heartbeats. Angel wished the song would last forever.

 Would you look at her
 She looks at me
 She's got me thinking about her constantly
 But she don't know how I feel
 And as she carries on without a doubt
 I wonder if she's figured out
 I'm crazy for this girl

 Right now
 Face to face
 All my fears
 Pushed aside
 And right now
 I'm ready to spend the rest of my life
 With you

 Would you look at her
 She looks at me
 She's got me thinking about her constantly
 But she don't know how I feel
 And as she carries on without a doubt
 I wonder if she's figured out
 Yeah, I'm crazy for this girl

 The song was over, no more reasons to hold onto each other. Angel
stepped back and looked at Willow, who was slightly blushing. She
looked so beautiful. She * was * beautiful. And for one moment she
was his.
      "Guys, we're leaving." Xander announced.
 "What? We just got here." Willow turned around to see her friends
getting their jackets.
 " Well, it's late and Xander has a test tomorrow. Come on Cassie,
I'll give you a ride." Cordelia said.
      "Actually, Oz and I would like to spend sometime together
before he goes on tour tomorrow, I'll see you later." Amy said.
  "Bye Willow. Have a nice night." Cassandra said, following the
others. It was obvious how the vampire felt about her, he wouldn't
let any harm come to her, but from what she had heard from Willow's
friends, Alaric might come at any time now. She had to make
preparations.
  "It's not like you're all alone, Faith's here somewhere and you've
still got company." Cordelia said, glancing at Angel before she left.
  "Why did they leave? It's only nine thirty." Willow wondered out
loud.  She then looked for Faith who was dancing with some guy.
  "I for one am happy they left." Angel said.
     "You are?" Willow asked.
 "Yes I am, that way when we dance again there'll be no one to
interrupt us." Angel stepped closer and took her hand.
 "Would you like to dance again, Kitten?" Angel whispered in her ear.
His voice made Willow melt inside.
 "I um I- Cordleia's purse!" Willow blurted out and ran towards the
table.
 "Cordelia left her purse. I better see if she's still out." Willow
grabbed the purse, and hurried out of the Bronze.
  <Why did I do that?>  Willow asked herself.  Odette wouldn't have
done that. <I just can't let myself hope that he would actually be
interested in me, especially when he had Buffy. I wish I were Odette
or Savathri, they wouldn't worry at all, they would go after what
they wanted. Why can't I be like that?> Willow thought as she looked
for Cordelia. They were all gone.
 < Oh no. I'm alone.> Willow realized. When she was with Angel she
forgot all about the man who killed her. Now that she was all alone,
she was frightened.
She heard a noise.
    <Don't stop, just go back inside>  Willow bolted for the door.
She never got there. Something pulled her back, pushing her against
the wall. Willow looked up.
   The stranger with silver eyes.
 She could have called a spell, she could have ran,she could have
fought. She didn't, she just sat there frozen in her own fear. As
usual the sword came up, it would be done in one blow.
   "Why?" Willow didn't know where she got the strength to ask this
time.  Alaric looked at her strangely. She never talked before. Oh
well, this would be the last time after all.
      "You were born."

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