sorry for the long wait! this is my last semester (ever!) of college so it's been hectic. i dont know when the next update will be, but i graduate in a little over a month so maybe after graduation or before? hang in there until then!

thanks xoxo dana

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I see Buffy at her locker. Holding my books close to my chest, I walk over to the blonde slayer. "Hey Buffy."

She turns and smiles. "Hey Lindsay. So, you and Angel looked really cozy last night. Was not expecting that from him of all men."

"I wasn't expecting it either. So, I'm sorry about last night."

Buffy gives me a look. "Lindsay, don't be sorry. I was the one who was late to my own date. I didn't even know if I was going to show in the first place. Don't feel sorry—you should feel great with what happened with Angel. Speaking of, what did happen?"

I bite my lip as we walk down the hall towards my locker. "Well, he told me how he's aware of his disappearing act, which he said he'd work on, but that there's something he's not telling me and he hopes I can respect that until he wants to tell me. So then I took him to a private corner and made out with him." Buffy laughs along with me. "It was nice. I needed it. He was surprisingly talkative."

"Angel? Talkative? Wow." Buffy laughs, but the morbid look on her face says she's anything but happy today.

"How are you feeling about last night?" I questions as we reach my locker.

"I can't take this anymore. I feel like everyone is staring at me, the big, hideous, dateless monster." She makes eye contact with a guy walking down the hall. "What? Yeah, that's right, I have no life, c'mon, nothing to see here, pal, move it along!"

"Buffy," I say, moving her attention away from the guy who is probably in a state of confusion as he walks away. "There are plenty of other guys."

Buffy sighs as she leans against the locker next to mine, "He's not any guy. He's more Oweny."

"Okay," I drag out as I get the books I need for my morning classes.

All of the sudden I hear Owen's voice. "Hey Buffy!"

Buffy takes a quick glance at me before looking back at him. "Owen."

"Look who it is," I cut in, shooting him a sickening nice smile in which Buffy can sense my distaste.

Owen returns my smile with one of his own, an awkward and uncomfortable one. "Where were you last night?" he asks Buffy.

"Oh, my—my watch broke and we have no clocks in our house so I didn't know what time it was."

"I thought I was the only one that happened to," he chimes in, which causes me to roll my eyes. "How about he try again for tonight? I'll even lend you my watch." Owen outstretches his arm to give Buffy a gold colored watch.

I shut my locker and look at Owen. "Are you sure you don't have any other commitments?"

Buffy shoots me a look as Owen shakes his head. "Tonight? You and me?" she asks him.

"Well, we could invite the chess club, but the drink and they start fights," he adds.

"Oh, no! It's just—well, I sort of heard that you and Cordelia were-"

"All over each other," I cut Buffy off, sending Owen a smirk as I cross my arms over my chest.

Owen looked between the two of us. "I danced with her a couple of times." He makes a face of discomfort. "She's kind of grabby."

"Well that's Cordelia for you," I mumble.

Buffy smiles at Owen, pretending she has other plans before finally saying, "Tonight will work."

"Great. I'll pick you up at seven?"

"Seven." Buffy nods her head.

Owen reaches his point finger out to show where the hand is on the clock he has given Buffy. "That's when the little hand's there."

"Oh, between the six and the eight."

"I'll see you then," he says before walking away.

Once he is a distance away where we can't hear, I turn to Buffy. "Is your day good now? Got the guy you wanted back."

Buffy grabs my arm and smiles as she no doubt is imagining how the date will go in her head as she looks off into the distance. "I can't believe that happened. Me and Owen."

"If he goes with Cordelia again though, he's getting a piece of my mind."

*****

I found Willow in the courtyard after school. Sitting down beside her, I drop my backpack on the ground. "So, we're all going over to Buffy's tonight to help her pick an outfit out?"

Willow nods, "Yup. Although I don't see why Xander is going."

I gave her a look, pursuing my lips. "It's because he has a crush on her. He'll probably try to talk her out of going."

Willow goes silent for a few seconds before saying, "Lets change the topic. So, how did the dinner go with your mom yesterday? Is everything better now?"

"It went just like old times. I have really missed hanging out with her. I just wish my dad isn't in the picture. He makes everything so much more complicated between me and my mom."

She touched my leg to help comfort me. "I know you hate your dad. I do too with how he makes you feel and how he treated you, but if your mom is happy right now maybe just focus on that. Try not to let him come between the two of you."

I sigh and lean back a little. "I know you're right. I haven't seen my mom this happy since before he left, but I don't want her to just forget how easily he left us. I don't want to see her hurt all over again."

"Your guard is up—that's a good thing—but don't throw your anger for your dad at your mom. She loves you so much, and the last thing she wants is you being mad at her for trying to be with the man she loved so years. Sometimes people do stupid things for the person they love."

My lips turn up into a small smile as I turn to my best friend. "Why are you such a genius?" I throw my arm around her shoulders and bring her in for a hug. "Thank you for always be here for me Will. I don't know what I'll do without you."

*****

"Okay, do I want to appear shy, coy, and naïve," Buffy says, as Willow holds her first outfit choice in front for Xander and me to see. "Or unrestrained, insatiable, and aggressive?"

I smirk as I lean back on her bed on my elbows. "You know I like the second outfit. That's more fun."

Xander turns to me and gives me a little glare before turning to Buffy. "You know Owen's a little homespun. He probably doesn't like the overly assertive look." Xander gets off the bed and starts looking in Buffy's closet.

"Well, I love that look," I add again.

"Maybe that's why Owen never gave you a chance," Xander returns with a little snap to his voice.

I raise my eyebrows in shock. "Ouch."

"Oh, here's something." Xander pulls out a long, thick winter jacket and a hat. "A nice comfy overcoat and a ski cap. The earflaps will bring out your eyes."

Buffy looks at Willow then me. "Okay, guys opinion," she says, walking passed Xander. "Which one do you think Owen will like better? The red or the peach?" She holds up two lipsticks.

"Oh, you mean for kissing you and then telling all his friends how easy you are so the whole school loses respect for you and then talks behind your back," Xander rambles on.

I roll my eyes, "Xander, stop."

"The reds fine," he then adds.

Buffy smiles. "Thanks, I'll go with the peach." She coats her lips with the lipsticks as Willow holds out an outfit for the slayer to put on.

"So, where is he taking you?" Willow asks.

"Oh, I don't know. Where do you suppose young kids go on dates these days?" Buffy asks.

Willow plays along. "I read somewhere once that sometimes they go to movies."

"Movies? Interesting," I chimes in. "Or they go to parties."

"Wow. Never knew being a teenager was so full of possibilities," the slayer adds.

Suddenly the doorbell rings and Buffy starts to panic, knowing it's Owen. As all of us go down the stairs, Buffy is the first at the front door. She swings open the wooden door and we see a man with glasses—Giles.

"That's Giles." Buffy's mouth is open in shock.

"We need to talk."

"Buffy's not home," the blonde slayer says.

As she goes to close the front door, Giles stops her and manages to get inside. "My calculations may not have been as far off as I thought." He shows as an article in a newspaper.

"Five die in van accident," I read from the title.

"Out of the ashes of five, shall rise the one. That's the prophesy. Five people have died," Giles says, tapping on the newspaper.

"In a car crash," Buffy adds."

Giles doesn't give up. "I know it doesn't quite follow, but it's worth investigating. Look!" He goes on to explain one of the ones who died and how the bodies are being taken to the funeral home.

All I want is one night of rest. I can't imagine what Buffy may be feeling.

"Giles, why do you want to hurt me?" she asks.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Hey," Owen's voice breaks the awkwardness as he stands in the doorway, smiling at Buffy.

Giles looks at Buffy. "You have a date."

"Yes, but I will return those overdue books by tomorrow."

"You're not getting off that easy."

Owen turns to Giles. "Man, you really care about your work."

"Owen," I say, dragging Willow and Xander will me as we go to him.

"Yeah, a couple of things about tonight," Xander adds as we take him into the next room so he can't hear what Giles and Buffy are going to talk about.

Us three stand in front of Owen.

"What? She doesn't like to dance?" he asks. It's kind of cute how he's so clueless about what's really happening.

"Well, it's a little too late to do anything about that," Xander answers. "You should probably know that Buffy doesn't like to be kissed."

I hit his arm as I see the look on Owen's face as one of confusion. "Xander is just joking. I'm sure she wouldn't mind kissing you all night long."

"Lindsay isn't the modest one," Willow adds, blushing.

"I can tell," Owen says before turning to walk towards Buffy. "Is everything cool?"

Buffy smiles wide. "All set." She turns to us. "Don't wait up."

We watch as the two rush down the driveway.

Willow turns towards Giles. "Is something going on?"

"Oh, well, probably not, no."

"That's reassuring," I add.

"I'll just go to the funeral home in case—just see is anything comes up." He leaves us three standing in the doorway.

Willow looks worried. "This is bad."

"I wish it was just bad," Xander adds.

I nod. "We should go along."

Xander agrees, waving his pointer finger. "Yeah, you're right. I don't trust that Owen guy. It's the eyes. Crazy"

"Xander not Owen! We should go with Giles he could be in trouble." I give my friend a pointed look. He really needs to chill with the whole Buffy and Owen date. It's starting to get on my nerves.

"Oh, he's gone," he says, waving his arm. "He's going to be alright. He's like Superlibrarian."

I put my hand over his mouth. "Stop. Just stop."

*****

The three of us come across Giles's car parked in front of one of the building in the cemetery. Just as we're about to make him know we're here, two guys surround Giles. As their faces contort, it's clear they're vampire. Giles pulls the cross, making the two vampires flinch back to give him time to run inside. We round the building and find a window we can look into. As we crouch and look, Giles's head pops up. He pulls back in shock at seeing us there.

"Giles it's us," Willow says as Xander pulls the glass window open, but there are still white bars blocking us from getting inside.

The librarian looks at us. "What are you doing here?"

"We saw the two vampires follow you in here," I say just as loud banging comes from the door Giles just entered.

Giles looks at the door before returning his attention on us. "Listen, you should get to safety."

I start pulling at the white bars. "If only these would budge—you could get out."

"Look, I hate to state the obvious, but this looks like a job for Buffy," Xander mentions.

"She has a—a beeping thing. No phone of course."

"We'll get her. Just hang in there," Xander says.

*****

The Bronze is packed as per usual. Just as I enter the club, I see Angel appear out of one of the back doors. My eyes narrow as I see Cordelia turn her gaze to him and practically drool over him.

"This girl I swear," I say to Willow and Xander. The two follow my gaze.

"Go get your man before the bitch sinks her claws into him and we'll get Buffy," Willow states before we break up.

Smirking, I walk with a sway in my hips towards Angel. When his dark eyes meet mine, I see his lips turn up to match my smile. Just as Cordelia is walking to get his attention, Angel makes his way over to me. Over his shoulder I send Cordelia my most triumphant smirk I can muster before leaning up against one of the beams at the start of the stairs that lead to the second floor.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"Probably the same reason you are. I was trying to give Buffy a warning and how she should be out there tonight."

"Then I guess we are here the same reason."

Angel reaches his hand out and touches my hip. "I was kind of hoping I'd run into you here too."

I smile and wrap my arms around his neck. I want to be close to him—as much as possible because who knows when I'll see him next. "I'm happy I get to see you."

His lips touch my cheek in a soft kiss before he pulls away and looks over his shoulder at Willow who is waving franticly to get my attention. I see her mouth how it was time to go and I sigh. Leaning forward, I rest my forehead against Angel's shoulder.

"I wish I had more time with you," I mumble into his jacket.

One of his hands cups the back of my neck, rubbing softly. His other hand comes up and cups my cheek, bringing my head to lean back so I'm looking at his face.

"I can see you tonight," he says. "After you help Buffy."

"Really?" I'm surprised. Angel has never offered that before.

He just nods and pecks my lips. "Now go."

I let out a happy laugh and grab his face to his kiss one last time before going to help save Giles.