By: Jaide
Buffy awoke with a yawn on a bright Saturday morning. She rolled over and glanced at her clock. It read 11: 27. She's been out all night and part of the morning with her friends, so she still felt a little sleepy. Pushing her covers away she stood up and stretched. She though about Angel and how she wouldn't get to see him at school today. No matter, she could visit him at his apartment! With that happy though in mind, she headed for the shower.
She decided to wear black pants and a white halter top with butterflies across the chest. She put on a blue jacket and clipped part of her hair back, leaving the back down. After 10 minutes of carefully applying makeup and accessories, she was ready to roll.
Her mom was already at the gallery, so she grabbed some toast and OJ. Once out the door, she felt the warm sunshine hit her face and her thoughts turned to Angel once again. They had such a great relationship. She remembered a little while ago when they'd avoided each other and never talked without arguing. Now, everything was smooth and they got along perfectly.
The walk across town was short and she soon found herself in front of Angel's door. Lifting her hand, she was about to knock when the door opened by itself. He stood there with a slight smirk wearing only his black pants. "What the..." she asked confused.
"I can sense when you're around," he explained. "It's a good thing sometimes. Come in."
She smiled and walked past him. His place was kind of dark. He must have been sleeping. She noticed the table she and Kendra had broken was now gone, with nothing in it's place. He closed the door and wen over to her.
"Sorry 'bout the table," she apologized, for about the 10th time since it had happened. He shook it off.
"The table can be replaced, but you," he kissed her hand. "Cannot be."
She sighed. He was so sweet. "Yeah, but I still feel bad. Hey! Why don't we go get you a new one tonight? It would make me feel so much better."
He thought about it for a minute. "All right, sounds good." He had no idea what he was getting himself into.
After pending a day together talking, reading the rest of Alice Through The Looking Glass (which Buffy thought was pretty good, especially because it had pictures) and Angel teaching her chess, they had arrived at the Sunnydale Mall. Angel had intentions of buying a new table, and leaving.
Buffy had intentions of buying a new table for Angel, checking out 5 of her favorite stores, visiting Claire's, catching a snack, maybe a movie, and then heading to The Bronze. Angel, of course, did not know this.
"So where's the furniture place?" he asked, unfamiliar with the mall layout.
Buffy thought a moment The furniture place was only a few stores away, in the opposite direction of all of her favorite stores. So, she could tell a little fib.
"Um. I think it's that way," she lied, pointing to the left. He nodded and followed her down the large hall. They passed the food court and the Disney store, and were about to pass the shoe store when Buffy stopped. "Uh, hold on a minute, I'm going to buy something in here."
Angel, not knowing any better, agreed. He thought that when she said she was buying something in here, she already knew what she wanted. Well, she had a pretty vague idea...
Ten shoe pairs later, Angel was getting a little impatient. The chair he was sitting in was not very comfortable, and he was bored to death. "Buffy, I thought you knew what you wanted."
She smiled sweetly. "I never said that, I said I wanted to buy something, not anything in particular. Just hold on, it won't be much longer."
He sighed, beginning to regret this trip to the mall.
Buffy was finally satisfies with black heels with straps. They were so cute! She put her regular shoes back on and headed to the counter. On her way down the aisle she passed Angel who was dozing in the chair. She smacked him lightly on the head. "Wake up, were going."
He rubbed his eyes and stood up, stretching. "It's a bout time." He was feeling better knowing they were going to leave this store, when they reached the line. They were about the tenth person in line, and the first person was arguing with the cashier. They were a French-Canadian family with no American money.
Angel sighed heavily.
Fifteen minutes later they were once again on their way. "Are you sure the store is around here, Buffy?"
She mumbled a reply and took off in the direction of Mariposa. "Oh, let's go there." She handed her bag of shoes and he took it, following her to his death sentence.
Buffy found a new belt with butterflies she just had to have, 2 halter tops, jeans, and a jacket. After purchasing the items she went to look for her boyfriend. He was sitting in another chair by the dressing rooms, half asleep. "Angel! Time to go!" He grudgingly got up.
"Buffy, aren't we here for a table?" He asked, rubbing his sore neck.
She sighed and grabbed her boyfriend by the hand. "Angel, we can have a little fun, too. Oooh! Look over there! I love those candles, come on!" She practically dragged the vampire into Body & Bath Works.
Buffy picked up a yellow rounded candle with designs on it. "This is so kewl, don't ya think?" she asked Angel.
Angel felt very out of place in his dark clothes and brooding looks. Everyone else in the store was wearing pastels. "Umm, yeah, can we go?"
She rolled her eyes. "Don't be so lame."
He tried to look as casual as possible, but a group of teenage girls were gawking at him and giggling. Buffy recognized them as Harmony and the rest of the sheep. They were standing outside the door. They hadn't noticed Buffy, since she was standing a little ways away from him. She heard Harmony speaking to her group.
"Look at that honey! He is so mine, girls, watch and learn!" With that Harmony started to make her way over to Angel who was glancing at some soap dishes.
Buffy smirked. She followed Harmony over to Angel. Just as Harmony was about to open her big mouth, Buffy spoke.
"Harmony, I haven't seen you in a while."
Angel turned to Buffy and the unfamiliar girl in front of him. Buffy's voice sounded too cheery. It was obvious she didn't like this girl. He realized that Harmony must have been trying to make a pass at him, and Buffy was going to mess with her mind. He smiled and watched.
Harmony turned towards Buffy and frowned. "Buffy. Well, I guess the mall is a public place, meaning freaks like you can romp around all you like."
Buffy smiled. "I guess the same goes for sluts like yourself."
"Buffy, would you excuse me? I was trying to have a conversation."
Buffy smiled sweetly. "Fine. Angel? Let's go get what we came for." Buffy sauntered up to Angel pulled his face down and kissed him firmly on the lips. Then grabbing his hand she pulled him out of the door past Harmony's shocked friends.
Angel grinned at his girlfriend. "Let's go find that table, shall we?"
Buffy nodded. "Okay, let's go."
Angel started to walk towards the left, but Buffy stopped him. "It's this way," she said slyly.
Angel gave her a look. "But you said you thought it was that way."
Buffy grinned. "That's because that was has all my favorite places to shop. It's to the right, come on."
Angel stared open mouthed at her. That beautiful slayer had used her own mind games, to get what she wanted, on him. HIM! He was the one who had messed with others minds for a hundred years, how did she do it? He shook his head and laughed. God, he loved her.
Wow, I have gotten a lot of good feedback. I guess you guys like this story. I also got great feedback on Eclipse of the Heart, which, to tell you the truth, I didn't think was going to be very good. "The Substitute" is very fun to write, and it's even better with all of the positive feedback. I don't mind if you tell me errors that need correcting, also. -- Girl Jaide aka Sha