Title: Sweet Sixteen Author: Pattyanne snapkik@yahoo.com Disclaimer: I only own the story Feedback: Yes, please Summary: AU. Everyone is human. Spike and Buffy are teenage neigh- bors meeting for the first time. A/N: As I've said before, this is my first AU (and my last if it doesn't go well), so please let me know what you think. Part Five ~~~~~ "They're really rockin' in Boston In Philadelphia, P.A. Deep in the heart of Texas And round the Frisco Bay.." ~~~~~ Angel cleared his throat. "Hi," he said to William, extending his hand. "I'm Angel O'Connor." William glanced up at him. He seriously considered leaving Angel's hand empty in mid air, then slowly stood up and faced him. Gripping the other's guy's hand briefly, he said, "William Darlington." Cordelia, who had been silent up until now, suddenly snapped to life. "I'm Cordelia," she said, yanking her hand out of Angel's grip and holding it out, not sideways, but palm down, obviously expecting him to lift her hand and kiss it as he had Buffy's. William had been raised to always be polite to a lady, so he took her hand briefly. "Pleasure to meet you, Cordelia," he said, then let go of her fingers. The little tableau remained in position for a moment and when it became apparent that Angel wasn't going anywhere, William reached for an empty chair and offered it to Cordelia. Angel, he left on his own. Sitting back down next to Buffy, he reclaimed her hand and was pleased when he felt her squeeze his warmly. He instantly returned the gentle pressure. Angel edged himself over and sat down next to Buffy, letting his leg press against hers. "Mind if I sit here, Buffy?" Before she could say anything, William moved further down the couch, pulling her along with him and creating a space between her and Angel. Wrap- ping one arm around her shoulder, he eased her back into his embrace and looked at Angel. "Plenty of room," he said. Buffy glanced up at him, then smiled and shrugged as she snuggled closer to the boy she wanted to spend all her time with. ~~~~~ "All over Saint Louis On down to New Orleans All the guys want to dance with Sweet little sixteen.." ~~~~~ Cordelia, seemingly displeased with the fact that Angel and William were jockeying for position around the new girl, suddenly leaned forward. "You have the cutest accent," she said, smiling at William as she gave him a view down the front of her dress. "English, right?" William nodded. "That's right." "I thought so," she replied, brushing a lock of her hair back over her shoulder and tilting her head. "Are you going to Sunnydale High...or are you in college?" Briefly distracted by the way the overhead lights danced in Buffy's honey colored hair, William gently picked up a strand of it and rubbed it between his fingers. "Umm..oh, sorry. No, I'll be at Sunnydale." Miffed by his lack of interest, Cordelia turned her attention back to Angel. "Hey, you said we were gonna dance," she reminded him. Angel shot her an irritated look. "We will, honey. I just wanted to be friendly to our new...friend." He pinned his gaze on Buffy. "How about a dance, Buffy?" William felt the hackles rising on the back of his neck at the thought of this low rent Romeo putting his hands on Buffy. She looked startled at the offer. "Oh, thanks...but I...I need to use the restroom." Excusing herself, she disappeared into the crowd. Cordelia waited a few seconds, then rose gracefully to her feet. "I think I'll go too." Xander and Anya exchanged a look. "Get ready," he whispered in her ear. She nodded, grabbing her purse. Angel leaned back against the sofa, eyeing William. "You and Buffy got something going on?" he asked. "Why do you want to know?" William countered. "You seem to have something of your own going with Cordelia." Angel chuckled and shrugged. "Cordy and me? We're friends. Not locked into anything exclusive. She's a nice kid and all, but...I'm not exactly tied down to her." ~~~~~ "Sweet little sixteen She's got the grown up blues Tight dress and lipstick And sportin' high heel shoes.." ~~~~~ Buffy left the bathroom stall and started the water in the sink. She was rinsing her hands when the door swung open and Cordelia walked in. Smiling pleasantly, she reached for a paper towel but found her reach blocked by Cordy's taller body. "Just so you know," the brunette said, "Most of the boys in school are up for grabs...except for Angel. He's mine. You stay away from him, and you and I won't have a problem." It took Buffy a moment to process this warning. She was more than a bit surprised at being spoken to this way by someone she barely knew, but when the other girl's meaning was clear, she let a small laugh burst from her lips. "No problem," she said, holding her hands up. "I haven't got the slightest interest in Angel." God, why on earth would she when the hottest guy in town lived right next door and was demonstrating the same feelings for her that she was having for him? Cordelia smiled condescendingly. "You might not feel that way if you knew who his father is." "Okay," Buffy said. "I'll bite. Who's his father?" "Only the senior partner of the most prestigious law firm in this part of the state...O'Connor, Marsh, and Davidson..." She let the words hang in the air, as though she expected Buffy to gasp in amazement. But Buffy just shrugged. "That's nice...still not inter- ested." Cordelia's eyes narrowed. "Good. Just keep it..." The restroom door swung open and Anya walked in. "Hi," she announced cheerily. "Did I miss anything good?" Cordelia didn't reply beyond turning her back and leaving the ladies room. Anya waited till the door closed, then turned to Buffy. "Was she giving you her "keep off the Angel" warning?" "Yes," Buffy said, chuckling at the way Anya put it. "Does she do that often?" "Only when Angel shows an interest in other girls," Anya replied, pulling her brush out of her purse and putting it to use. "So...yeah. She does it often." "He's that bad, huh?" "Oh, let's just say he's not known for his devotion to one girl. He comes right out and tells people that he and Cordy have this totally casual thing going on, but she follows right behind him and tells a whole different story." Buffy tossed her paper towel in the trash. "Well, I told her not to worry about me. I couldn't care less about him. He's kind of...pushy." Anya retouched her lipstick. "Well," she said, "his father's got position and money, and a lot of clout around here. Angel thinks that makes him the golden child." She tossed her her brush and lipstick back in her purse. "But, I can see one reason why you're not into Angel....and I think his name is William." Buffy smiled. "He's a pretty good reason." "He really is cute, isn't he?" Anya agreed. "And he's so sweet and nice too. Everybody likes him." She grinned. "But you're the first girl I've seen him with anywhere in town. I can definitely see the sparks igniting here." Before they left the bathroom, Buffy took a look in the mirror. Yep...definite sparkage. ~~~~~ "Well by tomorrow morning She'll have to change her trend And be sweet sixteen And back in class again.." ~~~~~ Cordelia finally managed to drag Angel out on the the dance floor and kept him there for the remainder of the evening. Buffy had a wonderful time after they disappeared. She liked William's friends, and they seemed to like her as well. As they stood in the parking lot, she made a point of inviting them to her birthday party. They accepted, then said goodnight and drove off in Xander's car...a beautifully restored 1957 Chevrolet, painted a soothing shade of blue and aquamarine. William was unlocking the door of his uncle's car when a garish red Trans Am pulled up beside them with a squeal of brakes. The drivers side window slid down, revealing Angel sitting at the wheel. "Hey, Buffy....it was real nice meet- ing you. See you in school?" Buffy nodded. "I suppose you will." Giving the little green Saturn an amused look, Angel winked at William. "Nice car," he said, laughing as he pulled out of the parking lot. Without commenting, William seated Buffy and drove her home. He walked her to her front door, smiling down at her when she thanked him, but when she turned to enter the house, he caught her arm and pulled her close, claiming her lips for several long, sweetly given kisses. When the porch light suddenly came on, he told her goodnight, then waited until she was inside before he went back to the pool house. Once he was home, with the door locked behind him, he checked the time. Nearly 8:00 a.m., London time. He waited fifteen minutes, then dialed the number he wanted. "Yes, good morning....is Mr. Travers in yet?....It's William Darlington....Thank you....Good morning, Mr. Travers....Fine, thanks....Yes, I got a letter yesterday...And the check as well....I'm calling to arrange a transfer of funds...You have the account number?....That's it....No, I'll be needing at least a hundred and fifty thousand...Amer- ican....That's correct....No, I don't mind at all....I've decided to buy a car." ~~~~~ "They're really rockin' in Boston In Philadelphia, P.A. Deep in the heart of Texas And round the 'Frisco Bay All over Saint Louis And down in New Orleans All the boys want to dance with Sweet little sixteen.." ~~~~~ TBC Comments are always welcome...