A lot of people have said that Xander only lusts after Buffy, whereas Angel truly loves her. At first I thought that was okay. Xander's feelings for Buffy are up for debate and that was your opinion. Then I thought about it some more and I'd have to disagree. Xander's feelings towards Buffy is more than just lust.

Disclaimer

    First of all, let me start by saying that I have never (I think) questioned Angel's feelings for Buffy. I know he has feelings for her. Whether or not they are genuine is up for debate. Even so, the reasonings behind why somebody cares for someone is irrelevant. NOBODY knows why people care for certain people more/less than other people. You might think you do, but at most it probably defines the reasonings behind YOUR feelings. What makes you so sure that this applies to everyone else? People fall in love for money, convenience, security, etc. Who's to say that any of those are correct or incorrect reasons to care for someone? I digress.

Actions

    I don't understand why people think Xander lusts after Buffy and Angel doesn't. What has Angel done that Xander hasn't or vice versa? Both have fought alongside her. Both have openly expressed their interest (Xander had asked Buffy to the prom). The only thing I can think of is that Angel gave Buffy a ring, but what exactly does that prove? Last time I checked every bride gets a diamond ring. Then why is divorce so popular? Also, Xander did resuscitate Buffy when she "died". I hope that counts for something. Angel's actions havent been any different than Xander's. So what makes you say that he "truly loves" Buffy and Xander doesn't?

Lying

    People say Xander lied to her. One person even said that he lied to her on many occasions. I can only think of one. Anyway, I'm not going into the reasons why he lied to her, because that's another debate. Just because someone lies to you doesn't mean they lust after you. If you want to talk half-truths and lies, I seem to recall Angel "avoiding" Buffy's questions concerning Dru and his past.

Buffy's looks

    People say that Xander only cares about Buffy's looks. Let's look at the facts. If Xander was superficial, then why was he not "content" with Cordelia? Despite how S.M. Gellar really looks, Buffy is supposedly the weirdo outcast of the school. Cordelia is supposedly the prettiest and most popular girl in school. The fact that Xander still pines for Buffy even though he already has Cordelia makes me believe that there is something more there. If Xander's feelings were purely superficial then he would have accepted Buffy's present in "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered".

    If you think that Xander only cares for Buffy's looks, let's look at Angel. Doesn't it bother anyone that when Angel first saw Buffy, she was still in L.A. and was how old? 14? Let's see, Angel didn't talk to her, he just looked at her after school and peeped in her bedroom. She's this young teenager, which all men are said to fantasize about all of the time. He follows her to Sunnydale before even speaking a word to her. If you say that this is love at first sight, then why can't that apply to Xander? If you say that they are just meant to be together or fate brought them together, then why can't that apply to Xander? Fate didn't bring Angel and Buffy together, unless his name is Whistler.

Conclusion

    How anyone can say that Xander's feelings are lust and Angel's isn't is beyond me. I think that you are just being biased somehow. How can you know what someone else is feeling? The only way to tell is by their actions. Angel hasn't done anything that Xander hasn't. I haven't even mentioned the things that Angelus has done (because that opens up another huge debate). Even if Xander only lusts after Buffy, which I don't believe, I still feel that Buffy is better off with him than with Angel. She can have her fun now and get rid of him when she wants something more in life. She is after all just a teenager.