No Angel

Again I only know so much about the music industry, so I’m taking a few liberties with the way things go. If you DO know for a fact that isn’t the way it goes and feel the need to inform me… that’s cool, I may even go back and change it. [Besides the fact that I like learning new things]

Chapter Nine – Death of Elizabeth

Lindsey was lounging on the couch flipping through a magazine listlessly as he waited for Lizzy to emerge from her self-imposed exile. When the intercom buzzed he was grateful for the unexpected visitor. Heaving himself off of the couch and heading over into the outer hall he asked the doorman who it was and was more than surprised to hear that it was Liam O’Roake and his baby sister Dawn. Curious as ever as to what they were doing at his doorstep he agreed to let them up.

Padding softly back over to the couch he picked up the t-shirt he discarded earlier. Although he could care less about Liam, he didn’t think it’d be a good idea to greet his fifteen year old baby sister at the door half naked. All too soon the gentle chimes of the doorbell sounded throughout the apartment and he was off to answer the door. Since it was the day time hours and it was Sunnydale he just threw back the chain and opened the door.

“Hello Liam…” he said stepping aside allowing the brother and sister to pass

He then followed them into the living room where Dawn was already wandering about poking and probing everything with the curiosity that could rival a kitten. Angelus however stood in the center of the room his hands in his pockets in what one would consider a relaxed posture, he was anything but relaxed. Signs of the young Elizabeth Summers were everywhere. Various family portraits and candid shots of she and Lindsey were scattered over the various spaces in the living space. A throw blanket that could only be hers was draped across the back of the couch along with a few other touches here and there that were just distinctly not Lindsey.

After throwing the chain back across the door and taking a calming breath, while somewhat mentally preparing himself for whatever battle Liam has decided they should be in now Lindsey slowly headed back into the living room.

“Hello Lindsey, I believe you’ve never met my little sister; Dawn” Liam introduced casually

“Oh no, I can’t say that I have. Hello Dawn, it’s nice to meet you” Lindsey said politely

Dawn merely looked over at him and gave him the once over before smiling brightly and nodding an acknowledgement before going back to looking over some of the pictures she’d found on one of the side tables. Both men just shook their heads in unison before Lindsey motioned for Angelus to follow him into the kitchen. The layout of the apartment was fairly open so they could easily see out into the living room.

“So what brings you here, ‘Liam’?” Lindsey asked with a smirk

“Why do you insist on calling me that?” he asked exasperated

“Well its, your name isn’t it? I mean I know you also go by Angelus but that’s not your given name. Besides I know it annoys the hell out of you. Now lets drop the pleasantries… what the fuck do you want ‘Angelus’?” he hissed

“What makes you think I want something?” he asked trying for innocent. The face Lindsey was giving him in response showed him that it was anything but. Sighing heavily he realized that he would have to try for the truth… or at least something close to it.

“Wesley wanted me to come down here and talk to you and Elizabeth, he saw her perform at Metamorphosis’s opening. I’m almost sure he wants to get her under contract with Slayer Records. Right now Addictive is huge and to have another singer like Elizabeth under his belt… let’s just say Slayer Records wouldn’t be seen as a two-bit label for much longer. You know how’s he’s been fighting for years to be recognized and respected by other companies in the industry.”

Before Lindsey could respond with the appropriate ‘fuck off’; Dawn’s surprised cry pulled them both from their own little world in the kitchen and back out into the living room.

“Oh wow… this is the girl we saw singing up on the balcony just before we come up here! She’s so pretty… Liam you have to look at this!” she exclaimed

Mahogany colored eyes widened when he saw the long forgotten album in the grips of this fifteen year old girl. Fate seemed to be going against him at the moment because before he could even make a move to take it back she was already on the hunt for a cd player. Lindsey turned desperately to the other male and was horrified to find him studying the album cover with a great intensity.

Though his heart stopped when he heard the first chords to a song that hadn’t been heard by anyone in about five years, it was then he knew there was no way that Elizabeth would ignore what the sounds going on outside her sanctuary that was the bedroom. Sure enough not a few moments later a somewhat hesitant Elizabeth emerged her eyes instantly settling on her long time best friend. Bounding over to the sound system the soft melody stopped abruptly and all that was left was a deafening silence.

Elizabeth padded softly over to the young girl now standing near the stereo with a slightly frightened look on her face. Popping open the cd player she pulled the disk from it and eyed it curiously before glancing over at toward Lindsey noticing that Liam seemed to have the case for said disk.

“I don’t know why you’d want to listen to this… its nothing but an instrumental” she said softly startling all in the room

“Is that you? I mean on the cover is that you?” Dawn asked hesitantly

“Yea that’s me… I think I was twelve or thirteen when that was taken. I wasn’t too much older than that.” She said smiling softly at the memory

“I didn’t you know you had an album out…” Liam intoned softly

Lindsey just rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically before falling none too gracefully onto one of the chairs knowing that this was just the beginning… of what he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

“I didn’t… I don’t, this was a product of a very persistent mother. She wanted me to have my dream and it was to have an album of my very own, though the closest she could get was an extensive demo tape” she finished with a laugh

“Well… do you have a non-instrumental version here?” Dawn asked

“Nah, I don’t even know where one is… Hell I didn’t even know Lindsey had this one” she accused though the smile on her lips and the laughter in her voice took the bite out of it.

After a few moments of a somewhat comfortable silence everyone was shocked back to the present by the words that Lindsey spoke next:

“Why don’t you sing with it?” he said softly

Green eyes snapped wide open and looked at him as if he’s lost his mind. Lindsey’s response was to drag himself up off of the chair and to put the cd back in the player before heading back to the chair. He knew that this was inevitable the second he saw the look on her face as she gazed longingly at the cd cover. This was what this girl was born to do… she just lost her way and it was about time she found her way back.

Elizabeth couldn’t help but smile as she heard the first rips of the guitar and sounds that could only be produced by a sound board. Letting her eyes flutter closed she let the music flow over her before she began to sing the songs she hadn’t let past her lips in about five years.

So I'm a little left of center
I'm a little out of tune
Some say I'm paranormal
So I just bend their spoon
Who wants to be ordinary
In a crazy, mixed-up world
I don't care what they're sayin'
As long as I'm your girl

Hey, you are on my side
And they, they just roll their eyes

Lindsey couldn’t help but smile softly as he was transported back in time almost five years. It was no secret that for the longest time Elizabeth had a crush on him and it seemed to only as she grew older. Though after some time it seemed she’d grown out of it, just when he was starting to really notice her…

You get me
When nobody understands
You come and take the chance, baby
You get me
You look inside my wild mind
Never knowing what you'll find
And still you want me all the time
Yeah, you do
Yeah, you get me

So what if I see the sunshine
In the pouring rain
Some people think I'm crazy
But you say it's okay
You've seen my secret garden
Where all of my flowers grow
In my imagination
Anything goes

Laughing softly at the words he could remember clearly the wild games her mind would come up with to keep herself and brother occupied for hours and if he was there he was more than welcome to join in on the fun. As she got older her parents began to realize that had a very intelligent girl on their hands. When tested, she tested well above average for children in her age group and that seemed to be a constant as Elizabeth got older. Singing, drawing and dancing anything that had to do with the arts spark her interest and imagination.

I, I am all you want
They, they just read me wrong

You get me
When nobody understands
You come and hold my hand, baby
You get me
You look inside my wild mind
Never knowing what you'll find
Still you want me all the time
Yeah, you do
'Cause you get me

Bright blue eyes stood back and watched in awe as the tiny thing before her belt out the notes as if they were just an extension of her. This girl who couldn’t have been a two or three years older than herself had the young woman entranced. Her eyes quickly darted over to her brother and she wasn’t too surprised to find that he too was enraptured by the tiny girl before them.

Hey, you are on my side
They, they just roll their eyes
Yeah, yeah, yeah

'Cause you get me
When nobody understands
You come and take the chance, baby
You get me

When none of the pieces fit
You make sense of it
You get me

You look inside my wild mind
Never knowing what you'll find
And still I want you all the time

Yeah, I do
'Cause you get me
Yeah, oh, yeah, oh

As the last chords faded out so did Elizabeth’s and all that was left was silence until the other three occupants in the room erupted into an excited applause. Elizabeth’s eyes snapped open suddenly remembering her audience and she smiled soft and did a bit of a mock curtsy before laughing with the rest of them.

“That was so amazing, I mean… just wow!” Dawn said as she bounced over to her still clutching the CD case to her chest

“Dawn’s right, that was amazing and lets not forget that I was at the opening of ‘Metamorphosis’ opening so I know you can dance also” Angelus said with a bit of a smirk curling on his lips

Elizabeth’s eyes widened slightly as a bright blush stained her cheeks and she suddenly found the floor very interesting. Shrugging off the attention she went to stop the CD player but again before she could get there she found a wide-eyed fifteen year old blocking her path.

“Oh please I know you must have a few more songs… sing a little more” she practically begged

Elizabeth looked like she was about to protest but when she caught the hopefully look on the girl’s face and similar yet subdued ones on the guys she shrugged and smiled and waited for the next track to start. She laughed openly when she heard the sounds of the guitar she began to dance around the room a bit stopping in front of Lindsey and began to sing directly to him.

I’m tugging at my hair
I’m pulling at my clothes
I’m trying to keep my cool
I know it shows
I’m staring at my feet
My checks are turning red
I’m searching for the words inside my head

(Cause) I’m feeling nervous
Trying to be so perfect
Cause I know you’re worth it
You’re worth it
Yeah

She smiled brightly and pushes back gently against his chest and began to move about the room once more a bright smile adorning her face.

If I could say what I want to say,
I'd say I wanna blow you... away
Be with you every night
Am I squeezing you too tight
If I could say what I want to see
I want to see you go down
On one knee
Marry me today
Yes, I’m wishing my life away
With these things I’ll never say

She plopped down on the couch and began to sing as if she were holding a normal conversation. Her eyes darting back and forth between Lindsey, Dawn and Angelus, she couldn’t help the bright smile that was still on her face,

It don’t do me any good
It’s just a waste of time
What use is it to you
What’s on my mind
If ain’t coming out

We’re not going anywhere
So why can’t I just tell you that I care
(Cause) I’m feeling nervous
Trying to be so perfect
Cause I know you’re worth it
You’re worth it
Yeah

Jumping up off of the couch she once again began to make her way around the room. She pulled gently on Angelus’s arm and began to dance with him a simple step feeling adventurous and a bit overjoyed she turned her back to him and rolled her hips against his just before pulling away to move about the room once more, never once noticing the murderous looks Lindsey was sending them.

If I could say what I want to say
I'd say I wanna blow you... away
Be with you every night
Am I squeezing you too tight
If I could say what I want to see
I want to see you go down
On one knee
Marry me today

Yes, I’m wishing my life away
With these things I’ll never say
What’s wrong with my tongue
These words keep slipping away
I stutter, I stumble
Like I’ve got nothing to say

(Cause) I’m feeling nervous
Trying to be so perfect
Cause I know you’re worth it
You’re worth it
Yeah

Laughing off the last of the chorus she jumped up into Lindsey arms and wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. Remembering this move all to well he began to move about the room as she continued the rest of the song laughter coloring her voice the entire time.

Yes I’m wishing my life away with these things I’ll never say
If I could say what I want to say
I'd say I wanna blow you...away
Be with you every night
Am I squeezing you too tight

If I could say what I want to see
I want to see you go down
On one knee
Marry me today
Yes, I’m wishing my life away
With these things I’ll never say
These things I’ll never say

Laughing loudly the two friends tumbled down onto the couch in a tangle of limbs. It had been a long time since the two of them had been able to enjoy the music that was created so close to such a dark time in their lives. As their laughter died down they were lost in each other’s eyes still caught in memories past until a very bouncy Dawn squealed in delight and began her ever running commentary. Sitting up Elizabeth patted the seat next to her so they could talk. Lindsey just sighed softly and sat back and watched the two girls’ extremely animated conversation. Looking over at his male counterpart the two silently agreed a drink was in order and they headed over to the bar near the kitchen

“What’s your poison?” Lindsey asked

“What do ya have?” Angelus countered

Lindsey merely rolled his eyes; both were Irishman for Christ sakes. What type of liquor didn’t they have? Extracting two glass tumblers from a lower cabinet he quickly poured a bit of whiskey into each. When Lindsey offered the other man ice he politely declined. The young lawyer just shrugged figuring that the spicy burn was exactly what the other man was looking for.

“She’s better than good Linds… she should be already knee deep in the industry, so what’s the deal?” Angelus asked getting straight to the point

“A lot has happened in the past five years… to both of us. I guess that dream kinda got pushed aside to one of the back burners. I mean I haven’t seen her singing and dancing like this in years” he said sighing heavily

“So when is she meeting with Wesley?” Angelus asked after draining his glass

When he saw Lindsey hesitate he rehashed the last ten minutes for him as if he weren’t there. Two sets of dark eyes were trained on the couch where the two young women were joking and giggling without a care in the world.

“Set it up” Lindsey said softly and with that he walked back out into the living room leaving a slightly confused Angelus behind him.

Shrugging it off he pulled his phone from his breast pocket and hit speed dial – 5

“Hey Wes its Liam; I’ve just witnessed the death of Elizabeth… and the birth of Buffy Summers…” he trailed off a smirk curling on his lips


End of Chapter Nine