Randon Acts of Romance

Chapter Three

 

Buffy sits back and glares at the clock. She takes a deep breath and picks up her pencil. She stares at the noticeable teeth impressions around it’s middle. She shakes her head and looks back at the book in front of her.

Buffy: Soldier is to Army as……

The faint tinkle of the bell causes her to look up in delight. She glances at the tall well dressed gentleman. At this point, any interruption is welcome. She watches as the man scans the room quietly.

Buffy: Can I help you?

Man: Is Mrs. Summer’s here? She called to say she had my painting in.

Buffy: She is in the back unloading a shipment. I can get her.

She gets up and rounds the small desk.

Buffy: Can I tell her who’s here?

Man: Carter Chase.

Buffy turns and runs to the storage room door. She jerks the door open and darts in.

Buffy: Mom. Mom. Mom, where are you?

Joyce: Right here honey. What is wrong?

Buffy: Wrong? What is wrong? Just my whole life.

Joyce: Calm down. What happened.

Buffy: Mr. Chase is here.

Joyce: Oh, why didn’t you tell me? I have the painting he ordered.

Buffy: Tell you? Why didn’t you tell me he was coming. I look awful.

Joyce: Honey, relax. My customers don’t care what you look like.

Buffy: But its Mr. Chase. This is not how I expected to look when I met his father. I thought I might be wearing a dress. And maybe even heels. And my hair.

Joyce: Father? Whose father?

Buffy points frantically toward the front of the store.

Buffy: Angel’s father. That is Angel’s father out there.

Joyce: Mr. Chase? He is Angel’s father?

Buffy: Yes. This is awful.

Joyce: It is not. Relax. Come on.

Buffy: Uh, Uh. I am so not going back out there.

Joyces sighs and leaves as Buffy begins pacing back and forth across the storage room. Joyce enters the gallery.

Joyce: Hello Mr. Chase.

Carter: Hello, Mrs. Summers. I got your message.

Joyce: Wonderful. I have the painting right over here.

She turns around a frame leaning against the wall.

Carter: Looks wonderful. I was concerned there was a problem after your assistant’s reaction.

Joyce: My assistant? Oh you mean my daughter, Buffy. Well she was just upset at meeting you unexpectedly.

Carter: Meeting me?

The bell tinkles as the front door opens. They both glance toward the sound.

Angel: Dad? What are you doing here?

Carter: I was just about to ask you the same thing. I came to pick up a painting.

Angel: Well I came to pick up my girlfriend. We are going rollerblading.

He glances around the space.

Joyce: She is in the storage room. Why don’t you see if she is ready to come back out?

He nods and opens the back door.

Angel: Buffy?

Buffy: Angel, you’re here.

Angel: Yes. We have a date I thought.

Buffy: Uh, huh.

Angel: Why don’t we go out front, my father is here. I want to introduce you.

Buffy: Uh, uh. No way. He already saw me once. I am not going out there so he can get a better look.

Angel: You met him?

Buffy: Met? No. Not really. But he saw enough to get an impression. And so not the one I wanted to make.

Angel: I am confused.

Buffy: I had hoped when I finally meet your mom and dad, I would be dressed better than Joe Shit the Rag Man.

Angel looks her over and smiles.

Angel: You look beautiful to me. As always.

Buffy: You are sweet. But…

Angel: No but.

He takes her hand.

Angel: Come on. He won’t bite.

He begins pulling her to the door.

Angel: Your mom will have a fit if we stay in here alone.

Buffy sighs and follows him out the door. She glances over at her mom wrapping the painting in paper.

Angel: Dad, I want you to meet someone very special. This is my girlfriend, Buffy Summers.

She steps forward nervously.

Carter: Hi there young lady. Son, how come you always find the prettiest girls in town?

Angel smiles as Buffy blushes.

Carter: Buffy, I am sorry if I upset you earlier.

Buffy: No, no it wasn’t you. I well I……..

Carter: Was not expecting me. I understand.

He looks over at Angel.

Carter: So now, when can I expect you two to the house for dinner?

Angel: I’m not sure. With school we are both busy and well our time together is limited.

Buffy: Nice way of saying my Mom is strict.

Joyce: I am not strict.

Carter laughs.

Joyce: I just like to know where my child is and with whom.

Carter: Very commendable, I must say. I wish I knew where mine were more.

Joyce: It isn’t always easy.

She glances at the couple.

Joyce: Weren’t you two going skating?

Buffy: Yes.

Joyce: Then get your stuff. Dinner is at six.

Buffy moves toward Joyce’s office.

Carter: How long you two been seeing each other?

Angel: Just over a month.

The bell tinkles to announce new arrivals.

Clarissa: There you are Carter. I knew that was your car out front. And Angel. What a pleasant surprise.

She moves forward and hugs Angel. She pulls back and looks at the two women with her.

Clarissa: This is just perfect. Wanda and I were heading for a late lunch at Maxwell’s. We were hoping Carter could join us but now Angel can come too. Then Darla won’t be so bored.

Wanda: Or why don’t we just let the kids go find their own fun?

Clarissa: That would work too. Darla?

Buffy walks out from the office area in time to see the pretty petite blonde saddle up beside Angel and take his arm. Angel steps back away pulling his arm free.

Angel: I have plans.

Darla: Oh come on. You are not going to stick me with them all day. We can find something fun to do.

Carter: Darla, we can be fun. Why don’t the four of us go on to Maxwell’s.

Angel notices Buffy and quickly moves to her side as she steps back in the office.

Angel: Sorry, baby. Seems like my family is suddenly coming out of the woodwork.

Buffy: Family?

Angel: My mom and her best friend Wanda.

Buffy: And the blonde?

Angel: Wanda’s daughter. She and my mom decided when we were in diapers that we belonged together. Problem is no one asked me.

Buffy: Oh. She seems to like the idea.

Angel: Who cares what she likes? I prefer a much prettier, and much smarter blonde.

He tries to coax a smile from her. She plasters a lame resemblance of one on her face.

Angel: Can you stand to meet another parent?

Buffy: Do I have a choice?

Angel: Yes.

Buffy: Let’s do this.

He wraps his arm around her waist and propels her forward. They walk out of the office. Buffy glances at her mom’s concerned face.

Clarissa: There you are. Who is this?

Angel: Mom, I want you to meet Buffy Summer. My girlfriend.

Clarissa: Girlfriend? Since when?

Carter: He has been hiding this beauty for over a month. I think he wanted to keep her all to himself.

Clarissa: Oh. Well it is nice to meet you, uh Bunny is it?

Angel: Buffy.

Wanda: Where did you two meet the Junior High dance?

Angel: At the Bronze actually. Cordy introduced us. Buffy and her mom moved here from LA.

Clarissa: So you go to school with Cordelia. Are you a senior?

Buffy: Yes, ma’am.

Clarissa: And your mother approves of you dating a college senior.

Buffy: Not exactly.

Clarissa: So she doesn’t know.

Joyce: I know.

Clarissa glances at the proprietor.

Clarissa: I see.

Joyce: As long as they stick to our agreement.

Buffy: Mom.

Angel: It’s okay.

Buffy: But.

Carter: I thought you two had plans.

Angel: We do. Ready, sweetheart?

Buffy nods as Angel picks up her skates.

Joyce: Have fun.

He places his hand on the her back and guides her to the door. Darla stands with her arms crossed over her chest watching.

Carter: What say I take you three pretty ladies to lunch?

Clarissa: Sounds nice.

Joyce hands him the painting and he escorts the ladies out the door.

 

The Park

Buffy sits on the bench lacing her skates.

Angel: You are not mad at me are you?

Buffy: No. Well not really. I just imagined when I met you mom and dad it would be different.

Angel: Me too. But it’s not that important. They will like you no matter what.

Buffy: Your mom already hates me.

Angel: She does not. She just didn’t know I was seeing any one.

Buffy: I was wondering about that. Am I some big secret?

Angel: No. My parents are not like your mom. They don’t really have the time to sit and talk unless it is truly important. Not that you aren’t important to me. You are. But…..

Buffy: I get it.

She stands up and tests out her blades. He joins her and takes her hand. The cooler weather has begun to deter the usual crowd. They begin to slowly move along the paved path. The sound of their wheels making a steady rhythm as they move along. Buffy looks over and smiles. His eyes twinkle delightfully at her. They continue on along the path until they have made a complete circle. Buffy steers to the bench and plops down. Angel maneuvers beside her.

Buffy: This feels so good. I love getting out and moving around.

Angel: I know what you mean. I don’t see how the guys at the house can sit around all day every day. I need to get out and use my muscles.

Buffy: Well they move nicely.

He smiles.

Angel: Why Miss Summers are you flirting?

Buffy: Yes.

He reaches his hand out and gently grips her chin. He draws her lips to his and softly captures her mouth. Her hand wraps around his bicep as her lips part allowing his tongue entry. Her sigh of contentment is muffled by his skilled movements. Eventually he pulls back and looks into her content face.

Angel: Want to go another round?

Buffy: Huh?

Angel: Around the park.

Buffy: Oh yeah. Uh, sure.

She quickly jumps to her feet. The movement throws her off balance. He reaches out and steadies her.

Angel: Be careful, baby.

Buffy: I’m okay.

He reaches out and takes her hand as they again move down the path.

 

Later

Summer’s House.

Buffy and Angel help Joyce straighten the kitchen.

Joyce: Why don’t you two go on in the living room? I can finish in here.

Angel: Actually, I need to get back to the house. We are having the annual meeting on new members.

Buffy: You have to go.

Angel: If I want any say in who joins, I do.

Buffy: Oh.

Angel: I will call you later if we finish before ten.

She follows him to the porch.

Angel: I wish I did not have to go so early.

Buffy: Me too. But we had a nice day. Well all except the surprise parents that is.

Angel leans in and gently kisses her before stepping off the porch.

Angel: I will try and call later.

Buffy: Nite.

 

Fraternity House

Angel walks in the front door. He looks around the living room.

Riley: Angelus, nice of you to join us. Thought you decided Saturday nights with your brothers was beneath you.

Angel: No. I just have things I like doing better.

Riley: I know. I heard you were doing some high school girl. Gave up on the real women, huh.

Angel bristles but ignores the irritating comments.

Angel: Call me when the meeting starts. I will be in my room.

He turns and heads up the stairs. He enters his room and locks the door. Shrugs off his jacket as he hit’s the button on the answering machine. Listens as his mother request he call. He glances at the clock. With fifteen minutes to go before the meeting, he picks up the phone and dials.

Consuelo: Hello

Angel: Hi Consuelo. It’s Angel, is my mother there?

Consuelo: One moment please.

Angel sits down at his desk as he waits.

Clarissa: Angel?

Angel: Hi mom.

Clarissa: I am so glad you called.

Angel: Well I got your message.

Clarissa: Good. Listen, I was talking to your father and we both want you and your new girlfriend to come to dinner tomorrow night.

Angel: We can’t.

Clarissa: Oh come on dear. I know you don’t have plans you can’t change.

Angel: No, but tomorrow is a school night and her mom does not want her going out.

Clarissa: Tomorrow is Sunday. There is no school.

Angel: There is on Monday.

Clarissa: Oh right. I see. Well we will eat at six. She can be home in plenty of time.

Angel: Mom, It is not that simple. When Mrs. Summers agreed to our dating, she set specific guidelines and I am not going to ask her to bend them.

Clarissa: I see. Why don’t I call her? She will have to agree.

Angel: Please, mother. We can do this next weekend

Clarissa: But, Consuelo has already baked her cheesecake. You can’t ask her to make another next week.

There is a knock at the door and a voice announcing the meeting.

Angel: Mom, I have to go.

Clarissa: Just give me the number. I will call her and it will be fine.

Angel: If she says no, please don’t push.

Clarissa: I won’t.

He hurriedly gives her the number and heads downstairs.

 

Later.

Angel enters his room and drops in the bed. He glances at the clock. The red numbers glare 9:46. He quickly reaches over and picks up the receiver and dials. He relaxes against the pillows as he listens to the rings.

Buffy: Hello.

Angel: Hey sweetheart.

Buffy: Hi. Your meeting over?

Angel: Yes.

Buffy: And?

Angel: I got the guy in I wanted and convinced enough others to vote against Parker again.

Buffy: Parker? Is he the one who tries every year?

Angel: Yes. He is a junior and this was his third try. Not sure why he keeps coming back.

Buffy: Well I am glad he was voted out if he is such bad news.

Angel: He is worse than that.

Buffy: And who was this guy you really wanted?

Angel: He is a freshman. He is actually from Sunnydale too. Name is Daniel Osbourne.

Buffy: So he will be moving in?

Angel: No, not until next year. The freshmen have to live in the dorms if they don’t live at home.

Buffy: Oh. So Daniel is in?

Angel: Oz. Everyone calls him Oz.

Buffy: Okay. I will try and remember if I ever meet him.

Angel: I’ll remind you.

Buffy: Oh your mom called.

Angel: She did? I was hoping she would change her mind. I hope your mom did not get upset. I told my Mom it was a school night.

Buffy: No actually mom was cool about it. She said as long as I was home by nine it was okay. Well that is if you want to go.

Angel: Want to? Of course I do. Besides mom already mentioned Consuelo’s cheese cake. I would wrestle a bear for a slice of her cheesecake.

Buffy: That good huh?

Angel: Only thing better tasting is your sweet lips.

Buffy giggles.

Angel: It is almost ten, I better let you go. I will call you tomorrow and let you know what time I will pick you up.

Buffy: Kay.

Angel: Sweet dream, love.

Buffy: You too.

He listens until he hears the click as she disconnects. He places the phone in the cradle and sighs looking at the ceiling.

Angel: I hope I don’t blow this.

Chapters:
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]