Chapter Eight

Space

By the time Buffy had made it home she was all cried out and was so confused she didn’t know what to do. What she did know was that he had touched her heart and soul so deeply and so soon that she was afraid.

She didn’t think she was capable of loving again. Then he shows up and worms his way in, breaking down her defenses, she was absolutely petrified to open her heart to him.

She dropped her body on the bed; her eyes heavy and swollen from crying started to drop when her phone rang. She wasn’t going to answer it she didn’t want to talk to anyone. She heard the click of the machine picking it up.

“Hey you know who this is and you know what to do, so do it!”

Beep

“Buffy?”

Her eyes shot open “Angel?”

“I just wanted to call and make sure you got home alright.” She could hear him take a deep sigh “Listen I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you away or push you into something your not ready for. I didn’t want it to end the way it did. I just want to spend more time with you, cause I...”

He paused and she could almost see him running his hands through his head collecting his thoughts. “I don’t know. I just I’m sorry I hope we can see each other again.”

He sounded so sincere that she couldn’t resist talking to him; she grabbed the receiver off the phone “Angel?”

“Buffy? Thank God are you alright?”

“I’m ok Angel.”

“Buffy I’m sorry I didn’t mean what I said.”

Buffy sounding dejected “You didn’t?”

“No, I mean I did mean it, every word. I’m just sorry I was pushing. I guess it does seem kind of soon to be saying things like that I… well it was just how I was feeling and I wanted to be honest.”

The wall cracked again and warmth seeped into her heart “Angel it’s ok, maybe I overreacted.”

“No you had every right to act the way you did, I mean we’ve only know each other for two days and here I am spouting shit out of my big mouth.”

“Angel really it’s ok. I…I like what you said it’s just…it seems a little fast.”

“I know I’m sorry. I understand that you need some time to figure us out. And I want you to know that I will give you all the space you need.”

He was so sweet “Thank you Angel, I appreciate that. I do like you, a lot. It’s just I’m not very good at this relationship thing and I think I need some time to think about it and us.”

He was glad that she was being honest with him and not flat out refusing him.

“Space is good. I can do space.” She giggled because she felt so relieved that he wasn’t going to push her.

There was silence on the both ends as each was trying to sort out their feelings.

Angel spoke first “I’d like to see you again soon, if that’s ok?”

Buffy didn’t answer right away and Angel started to get nervous “I’d like that Angel.”

“I don’t suppose you’d be interested in going out tonight?’ He knew he shouldn’t ask that so soon but the need to see her again was so great he couldn’t resist.

Buffy who was feeling good with the way their conversation was going, suddenly felt like a noose was put back around her neck.

“Ummm, I don’t know Angel…” She trailed off not knowing what to say.

“Don’t answer that I’m pushing again, sorry. So I um guess I’ll give you a call sometime then, if that’s alright with you?”

She smiled “I’d like that, very much.”

“Ok great! Bye Buffy.”

“Bye Angel”

Angel hung up the phone with a smile on his face. All was not lost. He would give her time to get used to the idea of them. He wouldn’t push her again he would give her all the space she needed. He’ll call her tomorrow.

**

One week later…

Buffy was dreaming, she was slowly licking her way up Angel’s hard sculpted chest when she was rudely awakened by Faith jumping on her bed.

“Rise and shine cupcake?” Buffy grabbed the nearest pillow and buried her head in it “Ahhh go away!” She was so tired she had worked till 3AM and then just when she was about to fall asleep Angel had called and they talked on the phone till about 5AM.

After their initial phone conversation a week ago he had called her a couple of times and they had spent the time talking to each other, getting to know one another a little better. He never asked her out he always ended the conversation with a ‘goodbye Baby I’ll talk to you soon’, which made her feel comfortable. But last night he asked if she would go out without him.

She had really wanted to but she was deathly afraid that she wouldn’t be able to resist him and that she would find herself once again getting thoroughly loved by a man who wanted it all. She wasn’t sure if she was up for that battle yet. So she had declined.

He wasn’t too happy with her answer. He grumbled something about whatever and then abruptly hung up.

She couldn’t deny that she enjoyed her time with him way too much and that she could feel something else besides cold and indifference in her heart for him. But love?

God that word scared the shit out of her. She couldn’t love him she barely knew him!

Faith kept right on jumping “Ah come on B its 1PM the sun is shining it’s a beautiful day, I’m thinking beach what say you?” “I say hit the road!” Buffy’s muffled voice came out from under the pillow.

Faith grabbed the pillow away from Buffy’s head and threw it across the room. She then started to peel the covers off of Buffy. “Now, now, who’s a grumpy bumpy this morning?”

Buffy made some more undistinguishable sounds that sounded like ‘fuck off’ while trying to keep the covers up. But Faith already up since 10AM and on her second cup of coffee was a spitfire ready to go.

“C’mon B up, up, up, time to catch some rays and spot all the honeys on the beach. You jump in the shower and I’ll get your coffee ready.” Faith walked out of the room expecting Buffy to do as she said. “If you don’t get up I’ll come in with the bucket of cold water!” She shouted.

“I’m up!” Buffy jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom.

Faith giggled her way to the kitchen. She’d spent the last week in Cleveland so she hadn’t seen Buffy since that night at the Whiskey and she was dying to know what had happened.

She couldn’t wait to find out all the juicy little tidbits of what went on. She would of course have to tell Spike, her partner in crime, who was supposed to be hounding Angel for info too.

The way she figured it they would have these two together permanently in no time at all.

**

Spike hadn’t had the opportunity to grill Angel yet since they were working all day. But when he finally did get his chance he jumped all over him.

They were walking off the set of their newest project toward their trailers “So enlighten me man, I’ve been gone for a week what’s been going on with the beautiful Buffy?”

“What’s with the sudden interest in my love life?

“Because you’re my best mate and I want you to be as whipped as I am.”

Angel looked at Spike and answered honestly “Well you can stop your worrying because I’m already whipped.”

Spike grinned like a fool and slapped his knee “I knew it! So when’s the next big date?”

Angel scowled “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know, didn’t you ask her out again?”

“Yes and no.”

“What the bloody hell does that mean?” Spike screamed.

“Well after a quite enjoyable day spent together in bed I said a few things that scared her off and she ran home.”

“Well what did you say?”

“I might have mentioned how I liked her and wanted more of a relationship with her.” He mumbled.

Spike cringed and fell to the chair holding his head “No, no, no! Are you that much of a putz?”

Angel took offense “Putz? How the hell was I supposed to know she’d run like a scared rabbit! It’s not like my BEST MATE told me she had relationship issues!” He screamed into Spike’s face.

Spike jumped out of his chair “Where the hell have you been its 2005 EVYERONE has relationship issues!” Spike screamed back.

They stood toe to toe staring each other down. Finally Spike backed off and sat back down “Alright so what are you going to do now?”

Angel turned around and stared at his calendar “Well I called her the next day and we talked about it and I agreed to give her some space.”

Spike nodded “How much space are you talking about here?”

Spike could feel the tension radiating off of Angel and he looked ready to kill someone “Well I haven’t seen her in a week. But I called her a couple of times and it was good…we’re getting to know one another.” That last part sounded to Spike like Angel was not a happy camper with the ways things were going.

“So why do I sense some underlying rage?”

“Because I asked her out tonight and she blew me off.”

“What do you mean she blew you off?”

“She said it was too soon.” He ran a hand through his hair extremely frustrated.

He started pacing violently around the room “Damn it Spike I don’t know what to do. I mean I call her we have these really great get to know you conversations. I think everything is going good so I ask her out and what does she say? She says no! I’m losing my mind here! My cock is constantly hard because I can’t stop thinking about her. And then to top if off, I was so angry I hung up on her and called Eve.”

“What! Eve that skanky ho?”

“I know, I know. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. I just don’t know what to do anymore. And I can’t take the pain in my crotch anymore. So I figure some warm body is better then none.”

Spike didn’t think Angel’s idea was such a good one but then again they weren’t actually a couple yet, so who says Angel can’t see other women. In fact, Spike grinned evilly, this might actually work in his benefit.

“Yeah, yeah mate good plan!” He got up and started to follow Angel. ”Hey did I ever tell you the one about Eve and Lorne in the broom closet?”

**

Meanwhile, Faith was absolutely bewildered by Buffy who was at the moment flirting with some schmuck down on the beach. She just didn’t understand it Buffy was so tightlipped about what had happened.

The only thing she said was that it was good and they had a good time. Good! Faith couldn’t believe that Buffy didn’t have the time of her life I mean look at Angel for goods sake he’s like a walking God. Someone with that much body surely knows how to use it? Besides she had heard plenty of stories from Spike that would suggest that he did, so what the fuck was going on?

Faith had known Buffy for two years now and loved her like a sister. They had spent hundreds of nights just talking about each other’s pasts and their regrets about those pasts, so she knew all about Buffy’s cynical look on love.

When she had mentioned it to Spike one night after a good romp he had suggested that she meet Angel who was also having some problems in the love department. He had told her all about that whore Darla and how Angel swore he would never fall victim to love again. In their eyes it was a match made in heaven.

Faith shook her head at her own optimism. She had never thought much about love either, having her own problems. But since she met Spike the way she viewed love changed. Her heart felt lighter and fuller then she ever thought it could have, and she wanted Buffy who she loved with all her heart, to find the same peace and feel the same contentment.

Faith was brought out of her thoughts by the arrival of Buffy and her new boy toy.

“Faith, this is Riley.” Faith looked up at Riley and almost gagged.

God what is Buffy thinking? I mean he’s ok looking his bods pretty tight. But he’s got that stupid goofy look on his face that just screams asshole!

“Hey” Faith nodded

“Hi. How you doing? Enjoying the sun?” Riley tried to be nice but ended up sounding more like a dufus then Faith first thought.

Faith annoyed that the dufus was blocking her sun sarcastically answered “Ya…trying!”

Buffy looked at Faith with her eyebrows raised. Ok Faith was annoyed and she guessed it was because she didn’t tell her about her time spent with Angel.

She had wanted to talk to Faith about what happened, but she wasn’t here. Then when she did get back and asked her she didn’t know what to say. How could she explain what he had made her feel? She couldn’t even explain it herself and she was too scared to even think about it.

She had worked to hard to get her life back on track. She didn’t want to lose herself in another guy only to have him rip her heart to shreds, which is what they all did. And she knew as she watched him sleep that given time that’s what would have happened. She would end up kissing the ground that he walked on for just a look or a smile from that gorgeous face.

No she was not going down that road again. And that’s exactly what she was thinking when Riley walked up to her. He seemed nice and he was kind of cute in a country boy way. But he didn’t stir her soul, he didn’t set her body on fire with just a look. The blue eyes seemed cold compared to the warm chocolate eyes that she had gazed into last week.

And that’s when she decided that she would go out with him. Because she was thinking way too much of Angel and that was not good. She had to go out with other guys to prove to her self that “He” was nothing more than a one-night stand.

“Riley’s a stuntmen with Paramount Pictures” Faith looked at Buffy her eyes saying ‘are you kidding me?’ But said to Riley “no shit, imagine that”

Riley was baffled by both girls’ actions but decided it didn’t matter because the moment he had seen Buffy on the beach he wanted her. He had recognized her from the calendar that his buddy Graham had hanging on the wall and he’d been lusting for her ever since.

“Yeah we’re going to go to The Palms tonight, want to come with?” Riley praying that she would say no waited anxiously.

Buffy also waited anxiously but only because she wasn’t sure about being with Riley herself just yet. There was something odd about him that kind of gave her the willies so she wanted Faith along as back up.

“I don’t know B I might have plans.” Buffy looked disappointed at hearing her answer. She looked to Faith with pleading eyes. Faith saw the look Buffy was giving her and reconsidered her answer. Maybe she should go. Tag along just to keep an eye on things and make sure Riley didn’t go anywhere he’s not supposed to. Because for some reason there was just something about this guy that she didn’t trust.

Riley looking like the king of the world at her answer missed the byplay between them and then was shocked when she said, “Alright B, The Palms it is.”

Buffy was relieved, Riley was depressed, and Faith was thinking of all the evil things that she could do to Riley to get rid of him.

Chapter Nine