Title: Happy Ever After
Summary: Happy ever after is a lie. C/B
Disclaimer: Don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or any of the other characters.
Rating: PG
A/N: Angst, angst and more angst. 'Jack' is a reference to Jack Daniels, malt whiskey. FEMSLASH.
It's just a stupid book. A stupid book about stupid happy people in love. Yeah like happily ever after exists after the last page.
When the tears start she scowls and tries to wipe them away before anyone can notice. She tries her best to carry on reading; she has to finish it for her book report. 'And she could still feel the warmth of his lips pressed against her own and taste him on her.'
She licked her own lips subconsciously and thought of hot, soft lips pressed against her own. And then she thought of the bitter cold air that kissed her lips the night she gave up. The night she went back to him. Back to her Angel.
Cordelia's tears finally fall freely and are accompanied by sobs. The others around the table look at her oddly as she sniffles. When her eyes land on the curious and worried gaze of her ex lover she forces herself to stop crying.
"Damn trashy romance novels." She laughs and gets to her feet, quickly gathering her things. "I think I'll finish this at home with the comfort of chocolate." She rushes out and Xander's gaze drops in guilt. He still thinks it's about him.
She knows differently. Obediently she follows the young cheerleader out of the library and stops her in the hallway. "I'm sorry." That makes everything better. The heartache, the misery and the lonely nights with only good old 'Jack' for company. Maybe in a fairytale, but this is real life. The pain is real.
"Forget it. I did." Cordelia keeps her head high as she walks off but she loses all grandeur as Buffy grabs her arm and pulls her close and suddenly soft lips Buffy is all too familiar with are all too close.
"I don't want to forget." Buffy whispers. Always in whispers and secret glances or in friendly touches if she's had too much to drink. It's not enough. Not anymore. Buffy's lips creep closer to her own but she pulls away and sighs. Her own lips are cold and ache for the warmth the slayer can provide, but she doesn't give in. After all, just like 'Jack', the comfort Buffy brings doesn't last long enough.
"Angel's leaving." Buffy blurts out as though she'd just given the answer to the meaning of life. "He's leaving after graduation…and we're not going to be in high school anymore, we'll be freshmen in college…maybe we could…we could be together, in public, no more hiding-"
"I'm leaving too." With that she turns her back on the girl she loves and walks away from her like the blonde had done to her only a few weeks earlier. As Cordelia walks away she hears Buffy's stifled sobs and smiles weakly.
Buffy had finally learnt the lesson she'd taught Cordelia. Happy ever after was make believe, like the Santa Clause and true love.
End.