Willow opened her eyes and looked at the clock. It was 5 am. She yawned,
turning back over in bed. Suddenly, her eyes widened. She shot up in bed,
remembering that the last time she had looked at the clock it was five. She
got up, moving to the window. Pulling back her curtains, bright sunlight made
her blink. "Fuck," she hissed, turning and letting the curtains fall back in
place. She had spent hours sitting up and thinking. Feeling the stickyness
between her thighs, she remembered that it hadn't all been just thinking. She
had brought herself to orgasm several times, thinking about her being with
Spike, adding Xander and Angelus to the image yet again. She was sick and
twisted. That was the only way to explain this strange need she had been
feeling lately. She was feeling incomplete, lost in a way. The only time she
felt normal was when she was with Xander, and even then she felt as if
something, someone, was missing.
 

She found her watch, seeing that it was after nine. She'd missed her first
class. Disgusted with herself, she decided to hell with it. She'd just skip
class for once. Be naughty one night of the year. Who would it hurt anyway?
Thinking of being naughty, she began to smile. She went to her dresser,
digging in the top drawer until she found what she had been searching for.
She opened the Victoria Secret's catalog to the marked place, moving to her
bed and wondering if she could really buy something so daring. She also found
herself wondering who exactly would see her in it anyway.
 

She closed the catalog with a scowl, moving to light her candles. She spoke
the words softly, knowing it by heart. It was a small spell that usually gave
her peace of mind. It was supposed to balance her heart and mind, and it
always worked, making it one of her favorites. When she had finished with the
spell, she opened her eyes. She knew what needed to be done. She stood,
picking up the phone. "Hey Xan. I'm playing hookey from school today. You
want to go shopping?"
 

"Huh? Wills?" he asked, yawning. He sat up, glancing at the clock. "Yeah,
sure. Shopping. Oh, we can get costumes for tonight. Give me half an hour?
I'll borrow the car."
 

"I'll be waiting for you," she said, smiling as she hung the phone up. She
then picked it up again, dialing a familiar number. When she heard his voice
she smiled, "Hey you."
 

"Willow? Is something wrong?" Angel asked, wondering why the redhead was
calling so early.
 

"Does something have to be wrong for me to call my favorite souled vampire?"
she asked, her voice teasing.
 

He felt himself smiling, loving these always unexpected phone calls from her.
"No, and I'm the only souled vampire you know."
 

"Pity that," she said, feeling a twing of guilt. "Are you happy, Angel?"
 

"What?" he asked, startled by her question.
 

"Are you happy? Living there and being alone. Having the soul. Helping
people. Are you happy?" she asked, knowing that if he said yes and meant it,
she'd hang up.
 

"I uh, well, I haven't really thought about it," he said, sighing. "I'm not
unhappy. I don't deserve to be happy, Willow. This is my life now."
 

"Yes you do," she said, her voice sincere. She really did like Angel, despite
her comments about him being such a pussy. He was weak because the soul made
him weak. She hadn't been fond of Angelus much either, but knew from Spike's
frequent drunken mutterings that that Angelus had not been the same as the
one who had sired him either. "I was calling to invite you to a Halloween
Party. Just a private party tonight here at the old mansion. Buffy won't be
there and I'd really like for you to come."
 

"I don't know," he said, hearing her begging tone. "What time?"
 

"I'm thinking ten o'clock if you come," she said, knowing that would give him
plenty of time after dusk to drive to Sunnydale.
 

"Ok. I'll be there. You said its a small party?" he asked.
 

"Yeah, just you, me, Xander and Spike, if I can find him," she said softly.
 

"Just the four of us?" he frowned, "Spike? You're inviting Spike to a party?"
 

"Quit asking so many questions, Angel," she said, laughing softly. "Are you
still going to come?"
 

"I'll be there, Will." Even if only to protect her and that moron from Spike.
 

"Thanks," she said, hanging up. She stood, knowing she needed to get dressed.
Xander would be there soon.
 

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