This idea came to me when I was watching the Friendzone on MTV. I thought it would be fun to have Buffy AND Angel friendzoning each other out of fear. Emilie Brown is my amazingly amazing beta. I don't own Buffy. And just to clear a few things up that won't be said outright in the story: Buffy is 15 and a freshman in high school, along with Willow and Xander; Angel is 17 and a junior in high school. Enjoy the story! Feedback is welcome.

The Friendzone

Chapter One

She said, I was seven and you were nine. I looked at you like the stars that shined in the sky, the pretty lights. ~Taylor Swift, Mary's Song (Oh My My My)

They had been friends since the very day she moved to Sunnydale. They grew up together, right next door to each other. They never expected to fall in love, but they did. Too bad they'll never know that they both feel the same way. They'll never know just how much it breaks the other's heart when they start dating someone new to ease their own pain….

"Buffy!" the tall brunette boy pounces on his best friend's bed, trying to wake her up. The petite blonde rolls over and grumbles something under her breath, cracking her eyes open just slightly.

"Go away," she groans, flipping back over and burying her face in her pillow. The boy smirks before tickling her sides, causing a squeal of annoyance mixed with amusement to rip out of the blonde's throat.

"Get up! Get up! Get up!" he pokes her in the side several times and she pushes him away.

"Angel!" she whines, annoyed at being woken up so early, even if it was by her best friend, aka, the man she has been secretly in love with for…well, forever.

"Come on, Buff! It's your first day of high school! We're gonna be in school together again," he whines back, annoyed that she won't get up. She rolls back over, opens her eyes, and grins up at her neighbor.

"It is exciting, isn't it?" she asks, sitting up. He grins back at her. She doesn't notice the way his eyes roam over her body in appreciation of the tight tank top and shorts she wore to bed. She'll never realize how much he loves her. And even if she does, she'll never love him back. He wishes he could wake her up with kisses instead of words but knows it'll never be. He shakes his thoughts away as she gets out of bed, stretching her tiny body like a lazy cat and smiles softly at her back. She looks over her shoulder at him.

"Out," she states, pointing to the door. His eyebrows crease in confusion.

"I have to get dressed, moron," she teases and he smirks, kissing the side of her head as he leaves the room, going downstairs to talk to Joyce. Buffy sighs, wishing he would wake up and smell the roses. She wishes he could love her the way she loves him. She walks to her closet, pulling out a pair of skinny jeans and a purple flowery blouse. She dresses quickly and then slips on a pair of black heeled booties. She grabs her school bag and hair brush and heads downstairs to grab some breakfast. She drops her bag by Angel's at the door and brushes her hair out on the way to the kitchen.

"Morning, mom," she greets her mother, kissing her cheek.

"Good morning, sweetie," Joyce replies. "Are you two ready for the first day back to school? I made pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Have a seat."

"I am so ready. High school took forever to get here," Buffy tells her mother, plunking down into a chair. Angel chuckles, sitting next to her.

"Always so impatient," he teases and she glares mockingly at him. Joyce smiles to herself while fixing plates for her daughter and her friend. She knows in her heart that they will end up together; it was obvious from the moment they met, nearly ten years ago.

"So, I'll show you to all your classes, then meet you at your locker for lunch. We can eat in the library so we don't have to sit at a super crowded table; that's what I always do, anyway," Angel excitedly tells Buffy, thrilled to be able to see her more often. She laughs at his obvious excitement and pokes him in the side.

"It's only been two years since we've been in the same school. Did you really miss me that much?" she taunts, still giggling.

"We should head out. Thanks for breakfast, Joyce," Angel states, standing up and kissing Joyce's cheek. Buffy follows, glad she doesn't have to take the bus or walk to school since Angel has his own car. They talk about stupid things on the way to school, laughing the whole time. When they pull into the parking lot, Buffy notices a slutty looking blonde girl perk up and narrows her eyes. Buffy and Angel get out of the car and the girl lets out a high-pitched squeal, launching herself at Angel and kissing him on the lips. Buffy's heart sinks down to her feet, realizing this must be Darla, the girl Angel started dating at the end of last year. She grabs her bag out of Angel's car and starts to walk towards the school. She doesn't notice Angel shove Darla away and whisper harshly to her that it was over a long time ago. Then he sees Buffy walking away and runs after her.

"Buff! Hold up. I promised to show you around," he caught up easily to her much shorter stride and put an arm around his shoulder.

"Well, you looked a little busy so I thought I'd find Willow and Xander," she answers, a little curtly.

"Buff, don't be that way," he whispers. She glances at him out of the corner of her eye.

"Don't be what way?" she snaps, much harsher than she intended.

"The way you're being," he sighs, huffily. "You always get like this when you see me even talking to another girl. God, are you jealous or something?" Buffy looks away from her crush and refuses to answer. He grunts at her lack of response but doesn't push either way.

"Buffy!" a small red-head calls, waving at her friend. "Hi, Angel." She rushes to their side and hugs Buffy, giving Angel a small wave.

"Hey, guys," Xander greets, stepping in next to Willow.

"Will, Xander," Buffy grins, hugging her other close friends. They head into the school and Angel helps the three of them find their lockers and classrooms before walking to her own class. Since they're in different grades, the only classes they have together are lunch and study hall. Buffy frowns as she watches the blonde girl from the parking lot saunter up to Angel. It's going to be a long day.

Review? Pretty please? *hopeful puppy dog eyes*