oneafterme

****Here I go again, I promised myself I wouldn't think of you today.
It's been seven months and counting, you've moved on, I still feel exactly the same.****
Angel stared at the picture on his desk. It was of a petite redhead sitting on a hill of wildflowers, the sun streaming over her. He'd had it taken by a photographer friend of his, so he'd be able to see how beautiful she was in the sun. It was seven months, three days and four hours, since she had broken up with him. It wasn't working out, she said. He agreed, if only for her happiness. <I'd wanted it to work. I wanted to MAKE it work.> She had someone else now. Someone she loved, but Angel was still in love with her. He slid the photo back into his desk and grabbed his duster. Walking out through the streets of LA, he couldn't help but feel depressed.
****It's just that everywhere I go, all the buildings know your name, like photographs and memories of love. Steel and granite reminders, the city calls your name and I can't move on.****
<Willow's goddess, it hurts.> He couldn't imagine ever looking at LA the same again. Every single place he saw reminded him of her. Reminded him of his Willow. She was gone now, she belonged to another. With a heavy heart and sigh, he went back to the Hyperion. Angel barely bothered to remove his shoes and duster before crawling back into bed and switching off the light. <She's with him now, I bet. Having dinner or something else romantic. Maybe even...>He couldn't bring himself to think that though.
****Ever since you've been gone, the lights go out the same, the only difference is, you call another name, to your love, to your lover now, to your love, the lover after me.****
Angel woke up restlessly. Doyle had phoned him shortly after dawn. He had to go to Sunnydale, there was a new evil. He'd have to see Willow and her new boyfriend. As dusk fell, he started his drive.
****Am I all alone in this universe? There's no love on these streets, I have given mine away to a world, that didn't want it anyway.****
He was back in Sunnydale. It was hell to him. Not because the Slayer was there, no, they had moved on long ago. It was because he had to work with his witch. <No, not *my* witch, never again will she be mine. We're not together anymore.> It was twenty minutes after he should have arrived, but he'd had to postpone coming back for a few minutes.
****So this is my new freedom, it's funny, I don't remember being chained. But nothing seems to make sense anymore. Without you I'm always twenty minutes late.****
He wanted to turn and run. He couldn't do this.
****Ever since you've been gone, the lights go out the same, the only difference is, you call another name, to your love, to your lover now, to your love, the lover after me.****
He knocked and waited for what seemed like eternity before the door was opened.
****And time goes by so slowly, the nights are cold and lonely.****
His heart felt like it was breaking. He couldn't help but pray she still cared about him. The door opened and he was drowning in emerald green eyes. He couldn't help hugging her, but he pulled away reluctantly as she stepped back to allow him in.
****I shouldn't be holding on, but I'm still holding on for you.****
The meeting had been over for almost two hours. Angel had been wandering the streets, thinking, beating the hell out of any vampires he came across. He shook himself out of his reverie and looked around. He was on Willow's street, and suddenly he just had to see her. Walking quickly, Angel made his way to her door and rang the bell.
****Here I go again, I promised myself, I wouldn't think of you today, But I'm standing at your doorway, I'm calling out your name because I can't move on.****
The door opened and he found himself staring into two sets of eyes, hard ice blue and soft emerald green.
"What is it, Peaches?" Willow elbowed the blonde.
"Be nice," She hissed before turning to look into Angel's deep brown eyes. "Do you need anything, Angel? Would you like to come in?" He glanced at the pale arm around her waist and the relaxed way she stood in his Childe's embrace. Forcing down his sorrow, he smiled.
"No thank you, Willow. I just came by to see what the exact time our meeting is tomorrow. I don't want to be late again, and I'm afraid I didn't hear when it is." Willow smiled back at him.
"6:30pm sharp. At the SHS library." Angel nodded and stepped back into the darkness.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Wills." He glanced at the vampire beside her, "Spike."
"Peaches." With that, Spike pulled the redhead close and pushed the door shut behind them. A light came on in the upstairs bedroom a moment later and he walked off.
****Ever since you've been gone, the lights go out the same, the only difference is, you call another name, to your love, to your lover now, to your love, the lover after me.****
She was truly happy. He would not want to hurt her for anything in the world. A single tear slid down his cheek and he returned to the old mansion, just wanting to sleep and gain strength to fight his emotions the next evening. He would *not* show her he still loved her. He had to be strong, and let her be with her love.
****The lover after me.****