Newspaper Meeting (16:00-20:00 fhs)

[courier-gavin.livejournal.com]

Jake is sitting crosslegged on the desks again, laptop in his lap. Next to him lies a piece of paper with a list on. Holiday Diversity is the title. A bunch of names are listed up as well. Jake's drinking coffee and regarding the laptop screen thoughtfully.

Comments

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Angela," Angel smiled. "Nice to see you again."

[chasingangela]

"Nice to see you, too," Angela says, a little startled. "What was going on with you and Marty in the library, anyhow? He couldn't actually form words about it."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Is he okay?" Angel asked. "I think I startled him. I was giving him compliments and he fell."

[chasingangela]

"Yeah, I think he's fine. Mostly. Just confused," Angela says. "What were you complimenting him on?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Oh, everything," Angel said. "He looked so glum. I wanted to try to turn that frown upside-down."

[chasingangela]

"Huh. I know he's worried about Belthazor and ... stuff. You don't strike me as the frown-upside-down type, but thanks for the thought. Even if it didn't work out."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"I'm turning over a new leaf," Angel said, demonstrating the motion with his hand. "I'm trying to show people that I care. Like you: I don't show you how much I value and appreciate your company."

[chasingangela]

"That's sweet of you," Angela says. "I mean, given that we've talked, like, three times since the souling."

"Hanging out last night didn't completely suck."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"That's exactly what I'm talking about," Angel said. "We should do that more often. You, me, Marty if he's comfortable with it. Just hanging out on the couch and, you know, being together."

[chasingangela]

"Maybe," Angela says, still trying to figure out exactly what's going on with Angel. But -- hey, he's being nice, and talking instead of threatening or acting like she'll break, and she said she wanted to try to get along, right? Maybe Parker was right about the lack of social skills, but she appreciates his attempt.

She smiles encouragingly. "We usually end up watching TV on the second floor a couple times a week. You're welcome whenever, if we're past the whole weird ... badness," she says, with a vague gesture pushing the badness into the past.

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"That'd be great," Angel said. "How about tonight, after Sociology? I know it's late but sometimes that's part of the fun."

[chasingangela]

"Sure, it's fun when we're there really late. We end up watching infomercials sometimes," she warns, laughing. "I should be around -- ask Marty if I'm not. Or I bet you can turn on a TV without us, even."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"It's not nearly as much fun if I'm doing it all by myself."

[chasingangela]

"Most things aren't," Angela agrees without thinking. "I mean, groups are ... good. You know?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Groups are good," Angel agreed. "As long as you like everybody who's in them. Like you and Marty and me? Good. You, me, and Buffy? Probably not as good. You know what I mean."

[chasingangela]

"I thought you were, like, ridiculously in love with Buffy and just couldn't be with her because of the loophole thingie," Angela says. "I mean, I don't know her much, but she seems nice, or whatever."

"But yeah, I see your point. Like, right now, Logan Echolls, Rory and me? Would be way awkward."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Logan doesn't want to hang around with me either," Angel lamented. "I tried reaching out to him in the men's room earlier today and got shot down. I think I scared him."

[chasingangela]

"You were reaching out to Logan in the men's room?" Angela asks. "Wow, you're just ... going for connections everywhere today, aren't you?"

"I can see why it would scare him, though. Don't guys, like, completely ignore each other in the bathroom? Or is that just what you tell us?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Depends on the guy," Angel shrugged. "I dunno. I just had this feeling that maybe Logan wouldn't panic at that kind of a location. I'm not normally wrong about that but... Anyway, not important. Logan can be comfortable with men's room conversations in his own time, and I can move on to trying to connect with people.

"Like you," Angel looked up into Angela's eyes. "I tried avoiding you and now I see that it's so much better to stop that. That it's okay for you and me to spend time together."

[chasingangela]

Angela rubs her forehead, trying to figure out if Angel is going where she thinks he's going with the stuff about Logan.

She lets it go, deciding she has a filthy mind.

"We should definitely spend time together," Angela agrees. "With Marty, right? Because I'm not sure he'd be crazy about us being together alone."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"I am completely open to that," Angel nodded his agreement. "I'm glad you are too. Though I had a feeling you might be."

[chasingangela]

Angela's eyes flicker to the ground, then back to Angel, as her face reddens.

She's pretty sure she knows what he means, and that hers is not the filthier mind in the conversation.

She decides to try to play dumb in hopes of ending the conversation without completely embarassing either of them.

"Um ... you mean as friends, right? The three of us watching TV or playing soccer or something? Because I'm definitely into, you know, that stuff."

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Oh, sure," Angel nodded. "Stuff."

[chasingangela]

"Right ... stuff," Angela says, pushing a piece of hair behind one ear. "No, um, reason to ask this, but ... are you feeling okay, Angel?"

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Totally fine," Angel confirmed. He frowned. "People keep asking me that today."