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"If you read the homework you should know the two ways that ants communicate," our teacher Mr. Gregory says, walking down the row to stand next to mine and Buffy's table. He turns to me, seeing me with my face resting in my palm and my attention more on having hot fantasies about Angel then ants, and his lips purse together. "Miss Bennett."

Leaning back in my stool so I'm sitting straighter I turn to the aging teacher. "The ways ants communicate," I repeat, trying to come up with a bullshit answer that sounds at least somewhat along the lines of what Mr. Gregory is looking for.

He nods. "From the homework."

"Um," I stammer, looking past our teacher to see Willow waving her hands in order to get my attention. I see Willow petting Xander's back. "Um, touch."

Mr. Gregory nods his head.

Next I see Willow smelling Xander. Cocking an eyebrow, I say the first thing that comes to mind. "B.O?"

A guy sitting at the table in front of me says, "Thank God someone finally had the courage to mention that."

Mr. Gregory does not look amused. "That would be touch and smell, Miss Bennett. Is there anything else Miss Rosenberg would like to tell you?"

Sighing, I run my fingers through my hair as he dismisses us. I give Xander an apologetic look as he leaves the class.

Mr. Gregory turns around to look at me. "Can I see you for a moment?" Nodding, he waits until all the students left the classroom before speaking. "I know you've gotten in trouble for fighting and coming to school drunk on a few occasions."

Leaning against one of the lab table, I bite the inside of my cheek. "Yeah, well, not my best moments."

Mr. Gregory swipes away some prints on his glasses. "You have a first-rate mind and you can think on your feet. Imagine what you could accomplish if you actually did the-"

"The homework," I finish, pursuing my lips together.

"I understand you probably have a good excuse for not doing it. Amazingly enough, I don't care. I know you can excel in this class, and so I expect no less. Is that clear?"

Nodding, I say, "Totally. I am sorry, and I will work on doing the homework next time."

"Don't be sorry, be smart. And please don't listen to the principal or anyone else's negative opinion about you. Let's make them eat that permanent record. What do you say?" He actually smiles.

I can't help but smile back. "Thank you." I grab my book bag.

"Chapters six through eight."

I nod before leaving the classroom.

                                                                                         *****

Walking down the stairs in The Bronze, we wear Xander behind us. Us three girls turn, and are immediately engulfed in his arms. Willow and Buffy under his arms, while I'm mushed in the middle.

"What are you doing?" I ask Xander, wiggling my way out from the sandwich I was in between Buffy and Willow.

"Work with me here. Blayne had the nerve to question my manliness. I'm just gonna give him a visual."

I roll my eyes. "Well, Willow and Buffy can help you out on that one."

Willow tightens her hold around him, gripping his tee shirt. "We'll show him!"

"I bet you will," I mumble so only Willow can hear me. I can feel her glaring at me from beside me, but all I can focus on is Angel. "I don't believe it," I say before leaving my friends to walk over to Angel who is currently leaning against the wall by himself, not wanting to draw attention to him.

Walking up to Angel, I can't help but have a glance over. Wearing, a white tank top with black pants and a black leather jacket makes his appeal ten times hotter. When my eyes meet his, he has an eyebrow raised and the corners of his lips are turned up in a smile.

"Yes I checked you out," I roll my eyes, but I can't help smiling as well.

Angel chuckles softly. "Hi."

I take one step closer to him. "Hi. So, what brings you out here? You don't seem like the type to hang out in crowded places."

His facial expression turns serious. "I won't be long. I have to tell you something to warn Buffy."

My lips turn down in a frown. "Why don't you tell her yourself?" I ask, spite seeping into my tone of voice. "All you do is give a warning then disappear until some random moment where I'm alone. It's creepy, and I'm sick of-," I catch myself from admitting any types of feelings for this mysterious man. Shaking my head at myself, I turn away from him, intending on dancing away my sorrows, when a rough hand captures mine. His touch is gentle as he moves his fingers along my hand to intertwine our fingers.

Angel brings me back to where I was standing before, only about an inch away from his body. "You're cold," he states, and before I can say anything Angel is shrugging off his jacket and wrapping it around me.

My hands grip the sides, holding it closer to my body. "It's a tad big, but thank you." My eyes travel to his arm where there's three long gash marks. "Oh my gosh, what happened?" I ask, my hand touching his wrist.

"I didn't pay attention."

"Who did this to you?"

"He's coming," Angel says, looking serious. Angel turns his head to something over my shoulder. I turn, and see Buffy standing behind me with her hands resting on her hips.

"Who's coming?" I ask.

Angel's eyes move back and forth from Buffy to me. "Don't let him corner you. Don't give him a moment's mercy. He'll rip your throat out."

"Well then," I mumble, tightening my hold on Angel's jacket, wrapping it more firmly around myself. The smell of a spicy yet smooth cologne radiating from the jacket.

"Okay, I'll give you improved marks for that one. Ripping a throat out, it's a strong visual, it's not cryptic!" Buffy adds.

Angel sighs, his attention on me once again. "I have to go."

Angel flees, leaving me with his jacket. Turning to Buffy, I make a rash decision and follow Angel through The Bronze. Catching him right as he goes to exit, I grab his hand. "Wait." Angel turns his head. "Please." His posture sags, and I pull him so we're until the darkness of a corner by the door to The Bronze. "Why do you always leave? Maybe I wanted to say goodbye—give you something."

The corners of Angel's lips turn up in a smile. I see his hand come up to start playing with the ends of my hair. "Give me something?"

My hands run up his chest, resting on the sides of his neck. Smiling, I lean up a little on my tip toes, bringing my lips closer to his. My eyes meet Angel's for a split second before he closes his eyes, me following. I feel Angel lean in the rest of the way, his hands running down my sides to rest on my hips. The first touch of his lips is light, like a feather, before we both apply more pressure. My hands move back to the nape of Angel's neck, playing with the hair there before slowly moving away.

"See you soon." Turning, I walk away. I had to do something to make him come back. I don't regret a thing.

                                                                                *****

Sitting on the bench beside Willow, I look at my redheaded friend. "Yes, I kissed Angel."

"But you barely know the guy."

Sighing, I cross my right leg over my left. "So? I don't know what it is, but I'm comfortable towards him—and attracted."

"Because it's just sexual frustration?"

"Willow, you know the feeling you always get looking at Xander? Where your stomach has butterflies, and you're both excited and nervous all wrapped up into one?" Willow nods. "Well, that's why I feel towards Angel, and believe me I don't get why. Like you said, I barely know the guy." Willow just smiles at me. "What?"

"I think you like the guy. Like really like him."

I roll my eyes because I know it's true. He isn't someone I see myself just making out with or doing more with to pass the time. Angel is different.

Buffy plops down beside me. "Did you guys do Mr. Gregory's homework?"

Willow shakes her head, lifting the book on her lap. "Doing it now."

"I read it last night. It's not too bad." Both Buffy and Willow stare at me. "Seriously, what's with all the staring?"

"You actually did the homework?" Willow asks.

"Yes," I deadpan, resting my forearms on my thighs.

A few moments later, Xander comes walking up to us. "Guess what I just heard in the office? No Mr. Gregory today. Ergo, those of us who blew off our science homework aren't as dumb as we look," he says, leaning over and shutting Willow's textbook.

"What happened? Is he sick?" I question, having to quint my eyes to look at Xander thanks to the bright sun.

Xander shakes his head. "They didn't say anything about sick, something about missing."

"Missing?" I sit straight up. This can't be good.

"Well, let me think. Um, the cheerleaders were modeling their new short skirts, that kinda got—Yeah! Yeah, they said missing." Buffy and I exchange a look. "Which is bad?" Xander questions.

"If something's wrong, yeah!" Buffy exclaims.

"He's one of the only teachers that doesn't think Lindsay's a felon." Willow chimes in. I glare at Willow, which she just shrugs in response.

Xander purses his lips. "I'm really sorry. I'm sure he'll," Xander doesn't finish the sentence, but instead stares at something to the left of where we're sitting. We all turn our heads to see what Xander is almost drooling over while making unnecessary sounds. Seeing a woman walking our wearing, wearing a skirt that is bound to draw some affection, I roll my eyes.

The woman steps in front of Xander. "Could you help me?"

Xander draws out an um sound before responding, "Yes!"

Buffy and I exchange an unamused look, and I can't help but chuckle.

"I'm looking for Science 109." The woman states.

"Oh! It's, um," Xander stammers before letting out a laugh. "I go there every day." The woman laughs at Xander before he stares to us with a plea in his eyes. "Where is it?"

Us girls just shrug, and watch as Blayne, the guy who was questionings Xander's manhood the other night, walks up behind the woman, letting her know where the science room is before walking there with her.

Xander follows them until he turns back to us. "It's funny how the Earth never opens up and swallows you when you want it to."

I bite my lip to contain my laughter as us girl just look at one another.

                                                                                     *****

Buffy and I walk side by side into the science room, Willow and Xander already taking their seats. Buffy's eyebrows furrow as she looks down to the ground. I follow her movement as she crouches to pick up Mr. Gregory's glasses. "Why wouldn't he pick them up if he dropped them?" I shrug, and Buffy sets the glasses on the desk before we take our seats.

"My name is Natalie French, and I will be substituting for Dr. Gregory," the woman who asked for directions from Xander earlier today says.

"Do you know when he's coming back?" Buffy questions.

Ms. French looks down at the seating chart. "No I don't, um, Buffy. They just call and tell me where they want me."

Blayne, sitting in front of me, murmurs, "I'll tell you where I want you."

Pretending to gag, I see Blayne turn to glare at me.

"Excuse me, Blayne?" Ms. French asks.

Turning forward, Blayne answers, "I was just wondering if you were gonna pick up where Dr. Gregory left off."

The teacher smiles. "Oh, yes. His notes tell me you were right in the middle of insect life." She picks up a clear plastic box with what looks to be a mantis inside. "The praying mantis is a fascinating creature. Forced to live alone. Who can tell me why? Buffy?"

Buffy's head snaps up. "Well, the words bug-ugly kinda spring to mind."

Ms. French's lips purse. "There is nothing ugly about these unique creatures. The reason they live alone is because they're cannibals!" Everyone in the class cringes, and Buffy lets out a disgusted noise. "Oh, well, it's hardly their fault! It's the way nature designed them: noble, solitary and prolific. Over 1800 species worldwide and in nearly all of them the female is larger and more aggressive than the male."

Blayne turns to me, his eyes traveling down to my chest then back up to my face. "Nothing wrong with an aggressive female."

Seeing the teacher not paying attention, I flip Blayne the middle finger.

Ms. French starts walking down the middle; her eyes seem to be glued on Xander. "The California Mantis lays her eggs, and then finds a mate," she says, and Xander's mouth is agape as he notices her attention on him also, "to fertilize them. Once he's played his part, she covers the eggs in a protective sack and attaches it to a leaf or twig out of danger. Now, if she's done her job correctly, in a few months she'll have several hundred offspring." Ms. French walks back to the front of the class, smiling. "You know, we should make some model egg sacks for the science fair. Who would like to help me do that after school?"

All the boys in the class raise their hands—pigs.

Ms. French is all smiles. "Good!"