Chapter 2: Suppressed Feelings
A knock at the door made Faith jump. Calm down, damn! "Come in!" she called, hoping her voice hadn't sounded as squeaky in reality as it had in her ears.
It was Buffy, of course – as she might have realized before, if she hadn't been to deep in thought to notice the tingling of their Slayer-connection – and the blonde looked … stunning. Faith couldn't help but stare. Wow …
The older Slayer's smile was soon replaced by an confused frown when her cheerful "Hi!" was met by no reaction. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
"What? No, no, you got nothin' …" Internally, Faith was cursing herself. Could I be any more obvious? "It's just …"
"What?"
Faith's heart was beating double-speed suddenly. "You look beautiful." she said quietly, not looking at the other girl. That's why she missed the small blush that crept up her cheeks. "Thanks, Faith. You look … great yourself."
"Ya think?" The dark-haired girl looked down at herself. She felt strange wearing something else than her usual leather, and just like everything else she'd only agreed to this because of B. If she asks me to wear somethin' different, I'll do it … But she had felt a little stupid nonetheless. "Ya don't think it's stupid or …"
"It's certainly unusual", Buffy interrupted her quickly, "but … I like it." All of a sudden, Faith did feel a lot better, and somehow it seemed difficult to stop smiling. "It shows a different side of you, Faith, and … I really like it!"
For some seconds, there was a rather awkward silence, none of the girls seemed to know where to look or what to say. Then Faith blurred out – not aware of having decided to do so: "Look, B, I … I got something for ya, but I … I'd rather give it to ya now, ya know … without everyone watchin' …" Internally, she cringed with embarassment. I behave like a lovesick teenager, damnit! Maybe I should just declare my eternal love an' get it over with … stupid, fuckin' idiot! Even worse: She was blushing now – and she knew it.
"Oh." Buffy unsuccsessfully tried to hide her surprise – about the request and the other girl's obvious embarassment. "Uh, yes, of course …" And while Faith fumbled with the little velvet box, the blonde added: "You know, I've got something for you, too … beside the thing you'll get from all of us combined, and … I'd also prefer giving it to you in private, so … maybe after the party, okay?"
"Yeah …" Faith was much too preoccupied to register much of what Buffy had just said. She'd managed to extract the small box from her pocket and now gave it to the other Slayer without looking at her. She felt B's fingers brush against hers when she took it … then there was a small clicking noise and a gasp – and nothing else.
Then the silence lengthened, Faith couldn't help but look. B was staring wide-eyed at the necklace, tenderly touching the charm with her fingertips, as if she couldn't believe it was real. When now she looked up, the dark-haired girl was shocked to see tears in her eyes. She felt her heart drop. "I … I'm sorry … I thought you'd like it … but it's stupid, we can …"
"I …" Faith fell silent at once, anxiously waiting for the verdict. I knew it was a bad idea! Now she's freakin' out an' … "I love it." B's voice was trembling a little, but her smile brightened the room, and the gratitude and warmth that shone from her eyes made the younger girl shiver. "It's … it's beautiful!" Just like you … Faith thought – and then she stopped thinking at all, because B was hugging her. "Thank you, Faith …" she whispered.
Their hug lasted a little longer than strictly necessary, but Faith wasn't the one to complain. B's close proximity, her scent and her warmth, the feeling to hold her in her arms … it made her head spin and left her rather dizzy when they parted.
B stayed rather close to her, looking up at her through her eyelashes. "Help me putting it on?" she asked quietly.
"Sure …"
The older girl turned round and exposed her bare neck, holding her blond hair together with one hand. Faith clumsily fumbled with the necklace, unable to concentrate on what she was doing. She wondered what it would feel like to kiss that sensitive skin … to leave love-bites on it … to nibble B's cute little earlobes … God, B … When she at last managed to close the clip, her fingertips brushed over the bare skin, and … was Buffy shivering under her touch? It can't be … stop dreamin', Faith! Ya maybe just have cold hands or somethin'! "Done."
When Buffy turned round, she stood so close that their bodies were almost touching. "What do you think?" she whispered.
Truth to be told, she wasn't thinking anything at the moment … which maybe was the reason for her mouth acting on its own accord: "It's perfect …"
"Yes … it is …"
And suddenly Faith found herself leaning towards the other girl, and Buffy wasn't pulling back, and then there lips were only millimeters apart and she could feel the blonde's breath on her face … She closed her eyes and found herself thinking: I'm about to kiss … And when that thought made its way to her consciousness – she jerked her eyes open and quickly stepped back. What the hell … I can't … I'm gonna screw this up, scare her away, an' I can't lose her …
"Uh … we better go … don't wanna be late …" she stammered, embarrassed. Again, she missed the blush in the other girl's face, and the look of disappointment in her eyes.
"Right … let's go."
---
Please review – you'll make my day!
