"Angel!" Buffy exclaimed happily as the vampire walked up to the small group gathered around the tiny table in the Bronze. The Slayer wrapped her arms around him in a large hug, and he returned it half-heartedly, keeping his eyes on Willow.
"Hello, Buffy," he greeted. "Willow," he nodded; the redhead gulped slightly as he raised an eyebrow at her suggestively.
"A-Angel," she replied meekly as he pulled a vacant stool up from the table behind them and sat next to Willow. Buffy looked over at her friend strangely.
"So, Angel, wanna dance?" the blonde asked, bouncing in her seat as one of her favorite songs began to play over the speakers.
"Not really," he replied, smiling slightly; Buffy pouted a little. "Why don't you dance with Xander?" The boy, who had been previously glaring invisible stakes into Angel's heart, looked up in surprise.
"What did you say?" he asked, not quite sure if he was hearing things; Buffy looked over at the vampire, narrowing her eyes but finally shrugged and grabbed Xander's hand.
"C'mon, Xand, they're playing our song." The two of them quickly made their way onto the floor and were lost in the writhing crowd.
"Alone at last," Angel sighed, placing a hand on Willow's thigh. She growled softly and pushed his hand off of her. He cocked his head at her and placed his hand back in its original position.
"Hands to yourself," she hissed, removing his hand yet again. He shrugged and slid his arm around her shoulders. "Arms to yourself, too," she ordered, shrugging his arm off of her. Before Angel could move again, she held up a finger. "Keep other parts of your body on your side of the table," she demanded, moving to a chair on the opposite side of the table.
"You don't want to play?" he pouted.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, throwing her hands up in defeat.
"'Cause I want to," he replied, letting one of his hands drift over to her arm and trace circles on it. She pulled out of his grasp and glared at him. He just grinned.
"We've been over that. Just because you want to do something doesn't mean you can," she replied, crossing her arms across her chest to keep them out of Angel's reach.
"Why not?"
"Because you're Buffy's--"
"Buffy's what?" Angel asked, "Lapdog?" He shook his head. "I don't want to be in her lap anymore." He scooted around the table until he was next to her again. Angel lowered his head and pressed his forehead against hers. "I like your lap better," he grinned.
"Angel! Get off me," she ordered, pushing against the vampire's chest. He backed away slightly, still grinning.
"Someday, Red, you're gonna beg me to stay on you," he teased just as Buffy and Xander exited the dance floor and made their way back over to the table.
"Are you guys playing musical chairs?" Xander asked.
"What?" Willow asked, looking away from Angel.
"You were sitting on the other side of the table, Will," Buffy clarified. Willow opened her mouth to explain, but she couldn't think of anything to say. Finally, she just made a thoughtful noise in her throat, and Angel laughed softly.
"I better go," he stated, rising to his feet. "See you around," he offered, staring at Willow.
"Yeah, yeah, be waiting with baited breath," Xander replied, and all Willow could do was swallow heavily.
"He's acting strange," Buffy observed. "Isn't he, Will?"
"Why would I know anything about it?" Willow exclaimed nervously, jumping to her feet. "I-I don't know anything about Angel." With that Willow hurried out of the Bronze.
"They're both acting strange," Buffy commented.
"Caffeine high," Xander commented as the door slammed shut behind Willow;
Buffy nodded in agreement.