Afterthoughts - The Prom

By Isa Bedigian

SPOILER: Season 3 Episode: The Prom
DISCLAIMER: I don't own these characters, Joss Whedon does. If he ever decides to give them to me, that would be nice. =) 'Don't Speak' is by No Doubt, and I just want to take this time to ramble on and on for no reason. Usually, when I write a fic, I play whatever song I'm using in the fic a few times beforehand to get the full feeling of the music. I usually am totally sick of the song by the time the fic is written, but I'm not sick of 'Don't Speak'. I'm going back to my little nook in the back of the library now. Giles, if you need me I'm putting the Shakespeare in alphabetical order.




	"Attention seniors," the DJ said in his annoying voice.  "I want to 
take this moment to congratulate all of you on a job well done.  You should 
all be very proud of yourself and give yourself a big round of applause." 
everyone clapped, but Buffy kept her arm linked through Angel's.  She smiled 
at the people in the circle around her.  Xander, Willow, Oz, Giles, Cordelia. 
 She wasn't going to question the fact that Wesley was standing thisclose to 
Cordelia.  She was just happy to have her Angel back, even if it was only for 
that one night.

	"I just want you to know that Principal Snyder is very sorry he 
couldn't be here with you tonight." the entire class yelled happily at that 
announcement.  "And we dedicate this, the last song of the night, to you, the 
seniors.  This, after all, will be your last dance at Sunnydale."

	The gang broke into their couples and Giles stood back, happily 
watching the children he was so proud of dance.  He could see the hurt in 
Buffy and Angel's eyes, but he had to give it to them for both being mature 
enough to realize that they could never realistically be together.


	You and me
	We used to be together
	Everyday together
	Always

	I really feel
	That I'm losin'
	My best friend
	I can't believe
	This could be
	The end

	It looks as though
	You're letting go
	And if it's real
	Well I don't want to know

	Don't speak
	I know just what you're saying
	So please stop explainin
	Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
	Don't speak
	I know what you're thinkin'	 
	I don't need your reasons
	Don't tell me 'cause it hurts

	Our memories
	They can be inviting
	But some are all together mighty
	Frightening

	As we die
	Both you and I
	With my head in my hands 
	I sit and cry

	Don't speak
	I know just what you're saying
	So please stop explainin
	Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
	Don't speak
	I know what you're thinkin'	 
	And I don't need your reasons
	Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
        
        It's all ending
	We gotta stop pretending
	Who we are

	You and me
	I can see us dying
	Are we?

	
	"This is it," Angel said softly.  "Our last dance."

	"You can still stay," Buffy said with only a glimmer of hope in her 
eyes.

	"Buffy,"

	"I know, I know, I just had to hope." she laid her head back on his 
shoulder and cried as the song ended.  The lights went from dim to overly 
bright as the music faded off and everyone began to seperate.  Buffy pulled 
away from Angel to kiss him, and their lips met in one sweet kiss.  She 
closed her eyes for just a moment, and when she opened them, he was gone.

	"Buffy," Giles came up beside her.  "Are you all right?"

	"No," she shook her head.  "But I will be.  Someday."

	"So," Xander came up to them, clapping his hands and snapping his 
fingers.  "Whadda ya say we go out?  Go bangin'?  Hit the party scene?"

	"This is why I hate high school." Anya put her hands to her head.

	"You don't have to come!" Xander said hopefully.

	"You okay?" Willow asked, putting her arm around her best friend.  
"Do you want to go home?  Wanna do the girl bonding, male trashing thing." 
she glanced at Oz, Xander and Giles who all looked a tad stricken.  "No 
offense."

	"None taken." Oz replied.

	"No, I'm fine." Buffy wiped away tears.  She took her award from 
Giles and smiled.  "It's prom night.  Time to party."

	"Party like it's 1999." Oz added.  "Which, of course, it is, but 
still."

	Buffy put another arm around Cordelia, and albeit reluntantly, she 
put hers around Xander.  They muttered their goodbyes to Giles and left as a 
group, the five of them against the world the way they had more or less 
started out.

To the Book Room