The Bronze was slow that night. There was a live band called "The Screeching Cats" that wasn't too popular with the towns people. As Autumn listened to the band screaming out lyrics of "Come back to me!" she could see why not many people were here. She glanced around and finally she saw Galen, and Damon sitting at a table by themselves. She approached shyly.

"Hey guys."

They glanced up and both smiled.

"Autumn! Hi! When did you get here? Take a seat." Damon offered her a chair.

"Where is everyone tonight? Faith? Camille?"

"Camille should be her in about a half hour, Faith had to work on some article for the paper. I heard you got stuck with the cafeteria lunch menu. Lucky you. Hang tough though they always give new staffers the lousy articles just to see how creative you can write." Damon looked thoughtful for a moment and then added. "Besides I'm sure you're a great writer."

Autumn shrugged modestly.

"So Autumn, what made you come here tonight?" Galen asked.

"Oh I just wanted something to do. I was hoping to catch Faith or something. She um, seemed kind of distracted all day. Is there something wrong?"

Galen smirked. "Faith always gets "absorbed" when she gets a great idea for the paper. She told me she had a good idea for an article so now she's obsessed with finishing it."

"How long have you two known Faith?"

"I've known her my whole life, we were in preschool together." Damon said.

Galen shrugged. "Since I was in 4th grade. I moved here later."

"Oh."

The three were silent for a moment.

"So um, Autumn want to dance?" Galen asked.

"Well..." The band was playing a head banging thrashy song. "Umm."

Galen grimaced. "Not the best song to dance to. Man I hate "The Screeching Cats" Why do they let these guys play?"

Damon smirked "Well since it's no cover tonight they like to torment the non-paying customers."

Galen groaned. "I'll pay them to STOP playing. Right now, I swear it!"

Autumn laughed. "I'd like to take a rain check on the dancing maybe some other time when umm there's more talent happening?"

Galen nodded. "Sounds great to me." Just then the band stopped playing. A collective sigh of relieve could be heard around the club, from the few people who were there.

"Looks like the band's taking a break. Damn." Damon observed.

Galen sighed dramatically. "I am so disappointed! I really wanted to hear more of them! In fact maybe now is the time to go collect autographs! Yoo hoo! Excuse me Screeching Cats, can I have your autograph? I think you're the beeeest!" Galen began to scream just like an excited fan.

The band on stage glared at the teenager.

Galen and Damon gave each other high five's and then stood.

"Like us to get you something to drink Autumn?" Damon asked.

Autumn shook her head smiling. "No thanks guys, I'll just wait for you here."

Galen and Damon wondered up front towards the counter, and Autumn leaned back in her chair closing her eyes.

"Come with me." a voice whispered in her ear.

Startled Autumn eyes flew open and she jerked up right. "What?"

She glanced around and saw no one close to her. When she glanced up she saw the stranger who had been watching her the previous night. He was under the stair way again looking at her and then he turned and slowly walked out a back door.

Feeling uneasy Autumn stood up and followed.

Once out in the alley way the darkness seemed to swallow the light. What little light there was glowed dimly making it hard to see.

"Hello? Who are you?"

He stepped out of the shadows into the dim light. It cast shadows over his face making him appear hollow eyed.

"The name is Angel. I'm here to help you."

Autumn looked confused. "Help me? Do I know you?"

"No, but the important thing is I know you. You're the new slayer. I tried to contact you yesterday but some things came up."

Autumn felt a rush of adrenaline kick in. "You. You're a vampire." She was sure of it. She backed away looking frantically around for a piece of wood.

For a moment Angel looked startled and then his expression sobered. "I'm a vampire. But it's not what you think."

"What am I thinking?" Autumn asked still looking around for something she could use. 'Shouldn't he be trying to kill be by now?' she thought.

"I'm not evil. I know this sounds totally strange to you, but I have a soul."

Autumn laughed. "Oh right, that's impossible."

"No, I swear it. I was cursed. Look it's a long story, but you got to believe me. I'm here to help you. I'm not going to hurt you."

For the first time Autumn looked at him. She studied his face and felt a flash of trust. 'No this is ridiculous. He's a vampire, there's not such thing as a vampire with a soul. Your intuition is wrong!'

"Look I know it's hard to believe. She didn't believe it either."

"She?"

"The last vampire slayer I helped."

"Oh.."

"Look here take this" He held out a slip of white paper. "I'm not asking you to trust me yet. Just call that number. Then you'll know I'm not lying to you. Then I can help you."

Autumn frowned her face full of distrust. What could she do though? She didn't have a stake, and he hadn't tried to hurt her... Slowly she reached out and took the slip of paper.

"Just call that number and then I'll get in touch with you again."

Autumn unfolded the paper and glanced down at the scribbled hand writing.

Xander Harris

(555) 555-4380

"Hey who's this?" She asked but when she looked up he was all ready gone.

She managed to avoid the library the rest of the week. Every time she saw Maggie she headed the opposite direction. Faith kept asking about her "strange" behavior, but she just denied it. Saturday evening she was supposed to meet Faith and the rest of the gang at the Bronze. She moved slowly through the streets unaware of her surroundings. She wanted everything to work out here. Ever thing to be perfect, perhaps her sister would even forgive her this time. It was then that she heard the low growling. 'Then again perhaps not.' Autumn sighed. Seeing Angel, had made her get her bearings back. She may not want to be the slayer but that didn't mean she would go around again unarmed. Turning around she saw him. A vampire wearing leather with a long feather earring. "So much for a relaxing evening." she told the vampire. His answer was to leap to attack. She through a weak punch at him stopping him momentarily from ripping her throat out. 'I'm really out of shape' She thought. She pulled out her stake and charged at the vampire. The vampire's response was to grab her by the arms and throw her into the brick wall behind her. Groaning she looked up through a curtain of hair. The vampire came towards her bearing his fangs and hissing. She tried to stand but her ankle collapsed on her. The vampire grinned seeing the weakened position she was in. "Come on Autumn get yourself together." she muttered. But the truth was she was tired. She hadn't had a lot sleep that week, and she hadn't fought a vampire in months. She wasn't prepared to fight now. So all she could do now was close her eyes and except the inevitable. And so she did.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" Came a low voice.

Startled Autumn jerked her head around. It was Angel.

"You, the traitor." The vampire hissed.

Angel's reply was a tight smile and then a swift kick to the vampire's gut.

The vampire groaned and fell to one knee. Angel took the opportunity to grab a stake out of his jacket, and swiftly stake the vampire through the heart. A cloud of dust seemed to briefly cover the moon and then dissipated into the air.

Angel looked down at Autumn and offered her his hand. She took it and stood. "You okay?"

Autumn looked embarrassed. "Ya, thanks to you. I guess I'm sort of out of the running right now."

Angel smiled. "That's why you need to be training with Maggie."

Autumn looked surprised. "You know Maggie?"

"I know of her."

Autumn thought about that for a moment. "Why didn't you try and help that vampire?"

He sighed. "I told you, I'm a good vampire. As unrealistic as that sounds, it's true."

She frowned. "I don't know what to think anymore."

Angel looked at he for a moment and then shrugged. "I got to go now. You be careful okay?"

"Hey wait! Why do you always disappear like this? Can't I ask you some questions? Wait!"

Walking into the shadows Angel looked over his shoulder and smiled. "It's what I do." He disappeared.

Autumn took out the slip of paper from her pocket. 'Okay it's time I found out what's going on.' She headed for nearest pay phone.

She was nervous dialing the number with shaking hands. She didn't know what results she would find with this person. And she wasn't sure they would be good ones. The phone began to ring. After about 5 rings Autumn was about to hang up when there was an sharp click.

"Hello?" A woman's voice answered.

Autumn cleared her throat. "Umm yes hel-hello, can I please speak to Xander Harris?"

There was a pause. "May I ask who's calling."

"My name is Autumn."

The sound of screaming little kids could be heard in the background. "Mom!"

"Hold on a moment."

Faintly Autumn could hear the woman. "Shh! Quit Brian! Go get your father tell he has a phone call."

Finally there was the click of another extension. "I got it Cordy."

"Hello?"

"Umm hi, you don't know me. My name is Autumn Steven's. Look I know this sounds totally strange, but I got your number from this guy. And he told me to talk to you."

"Guy?"

"Ya his name is Angel. He said you could explain a few things. And uh."

Screaming in the back round. A little kid crying.

"Wait, wait. Hold on a moment."

"Cordy, can you calm then down, I'm on the phone here! I'm sorry who did you say?"

"His name was Angel. Anyways this sounds totally strange I know it-"

"Angel? Did you just say you spoke to a guy named Angel?" Xander interrupted.

"Well, yes... Umm."

There was a brief pause on the other line. "What did you say your name was?"

"Autumn Steven's."

"Why did Angel contact you?"

"Well this is really hard to explain, look I probably shouldn't have called." Autumn was beginning to feel stupid. "I'll let you go."

"No, wait a second. Are you a slayer?"

Autumn's mouth dropped open. "How in the world did you know that?"

"I knew a slayer once. A while ago. Angel contacted you? Wow, I thought he'd dropped off the face of the earth. I'm assuming you're in Sunnydale then."

"Yes, where are you living by the way?"

"Northern Ca. San Jose. What did Angel say?"

"Well I know he's a vampire, and he claimed to a good one, but I don't know... he asked me to call you to confirm..."

She sensed him hesitating. "He's good. You can trust him. Look I'd like to come down there. If you don't' mind. I'd like to talk to Angel. Maybe I can explain some things to you as well?"

"Well I guess so. I mean if you want to come down here."

"Great. I can buy a plane ticket tomorrow. I could probably be there by Wednesday. But why don't you give me your phone number. I'll call you back. We can set up a meeting place."

A little confused Autumn gave him her phone number.

"Thanks, I'll call you soon."

"Wait-Can you tell me-" The sound of the dial tone reached her ears. Autumn sighed. 'What is it with all these guys disappearing.' she thought annoyed. She put the phone back in its cradle and headed back towards the Bronze.

Comments, flames, encouragement? Email me (PLEASE) at AutumnSun@aol.com