The X-Project

Manny manages to grab Angel to ask her the question that caused Julian such distress. Obviously, someone's amused.



Having decided her usual haunts were, well, usual, Angel had actually broken down and slipped into the library. She was the type of person who could study anywhere and didn't normally seek out the (usually) quiet aspect of the library. She left that to Yvette. But now she was happily ensconced in the back with a table to herself - for Tabitha's benefit, Angel had made sure she was drip dry when she came in but the smell of pool water and soap lingered on.

"Hello Angel," Manuel said from a table nestled inbetween books shelves. He was attempting to steer clear of a pair of glaring eyes belonging to a specific blond woman. The Lord's Day sat face up in front of him, a book of political power and oddly enough, it only dawned on him at that exact moment that she might think he was overly religious, considering teenagers tended to flee from faiths. As he sat, his calculating eyes followed her and invited her to sit across from him with a gesture.

She grinned and plopped down across from him, taking her stuff from the other table with her. "Hey Manny," Angel replied before the title of the book caught her attention. Her eyebrows rose a little bit. "Are you hiding behind that or actually reading it?" Not that it bothered her considering the small gold cross that she wore most of the time when she didn't think she was going to go up in flames.


"I am reading it, however, it is not what you think." He turned the book over, reading the back outloud.

"Once a year, the Queen, the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the judges, the bishops, leaders spiritual and temporal, assemble in the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament. On this day, the Lords' Day, the gathering is still more impressive, for sitting beside his mother is the heir to the throne and up in the galleries are the sons of both the US President and the British Prime Minister. But they are all about to be taken hostage. The siege will lead some to selfless sacrifice, others to lose the respect of those they love most dearly... "

He finished and turned it back over. "A terrorists most ideal hostage drama."

She tilted her head and her eyes grew wide. "Oh yeah, that was so not what I was thinking. Not exactly my kind of reading. But then again, I only read the bible in church so the other one I was thinking of wouldn't have been my pick for casual reading."

Angel squinted at the book. "Are there explosions in it?"

"Possibly, I have not finished yet." Nor had he started despite the page hundred and twenty six it was opened on. Few asked him about his book selections and when they did, he detoured them to a subject that would catch their interest and stopthem from exploring whatever he decided to 'read' that day.

"I have a question for you," he started, gaging her reaction.

"But Manuel, I'm far too young to give you my hand in marriage!"

"I suppose I will have to settled for second best," he countered.

Angel waved a hand at him as she settled back in her chair. "You'll recover some day," she sighed and then laughed, trying to keep it down or else they'd face the wraith of the librarian. "Seriously, ask away."

The corner of his mouth twitched upwards but he smoothed it over immediately, judging her reaction. "It is assumed you are going to prom with Julian, is it not?"

She shrugged one shoulder. "Well, he hasn't asked me outright but since we're dating I'm assuming yes. Why'd you ask?"


"One of the stepfords, Esme, is depressed. Her sisters advised me that it would be to her benefit to attend prom with a young man that can maintain being a gentleman. Julian comes to mind, however, I believe it is common courtsey to seek your permission first."

"Oh." Angel blinked in surprise, completely taken aback by what the question actually had been. Her first gut reaction was pretty much "Uh, no?!" but that's why she didn't say that aloud. She didn't know the sisters well but the idea that Esme was depressed was really sad. And it was just a dance...

Angel squinted at him. "If I say yes, which I might not, then you'll owe me a favor. And I'll have to take SOMEONE to the dance." She couldn't really say no, not if someone was really upset and this would help.


Manuel thought about this for a moment, silently fingering the corner of the book, his thumb grazing the edge. It was better to owe the spit fire than be under a trio of watchful eyes, waiting for their payment. "I'll take that as a yes and find you a suitable date. Perhaps if you could address this with Julian, that would save me the trouble of having to assure him that you will not set him on fire."

"Boys smell awful when they're on fire," Angel replied absently, thinking about who could actually take her to the prom. It would have to be someone that there was no chance of kissing because, yeah, though her boyfriend was taking someone else she had no interest in that. Someone amusing, someone she could bully into taking her, someone...

"Ahahaha, no, John! I'll get John to take me!"

Manuel was about to say 'poor John' but a devilish smile replaced any words he had and he nodded his satisfaction. "Good." Women were far more persuasive, especially when heart strings were pulled. Except..."Dare I ask what you want in return?"

"Oh, you can ask but I'm not going to tell you -" Angel tried to go for the devilish look but just ended up giggling madly. "Mainly because I don't know. So, about this whole setup..."