A/N: Forgive me for reusing "Re-birth Day Girl" from my previous story "Starcrossed Lovers: Berlin Blues". Call it, a creative plagarism. (: Enjoy!
PS. PLEASE Review guys and gals. It keeps me going. If I don't know what you think, I'll assume it's not worth continuing and I'll delete it. ):
Chapter 2: Private Viewing
Wednesday, 9:10am
Twelve days had passed. Buffy had not seen Faith in nearly two weeks. No more run-ins at the mailbox which meant no more distractions for Buffy.
After all, that's what Faith was. Wasn't she? Just a distraction from Buffy's soon-to-be perfect life.
Buffy and Lindsey sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes Faith with those totally adorable dimples and...
"Ugh!" Buffy deleted everything she'd written on her computer out of frustration.
"Buffy?" A concerned Jasmine was standing the door to her office. "Is there anything that I can help you with?"
"No. Unless you can give me a surprise lobotomy." Buffy quipped.
Jasmine smiled. "Ah, fresh out of those, but I could make some coffee."
"You're a saint," remarked Buffy in a dreamy voice.
Jasmine's banter had allowed her a few moments of not drowning in her own thoughts. Nevermind the mountain made of paperwork that needed her signature, Buffy had nine days to organize a gala for Autism Awareness. There were florists and caterers and brilliant puzzle piece paintings to be moved for exhibition. She also had to call the bridal shop and see how far they were with her wedding dress alterations. Not to mention, the dry cleaners had destroyed yet another of her Gabana chiffon tops.
"Get to work, Buffy." She scolded herself.
And then she was off. Faith was now pushed to the dark recesses of her mind. Buffy was so good with compartmentalizing that she was sure she'd made Faith up in a dream she once had.
By five-thirty, Buffy had sold two paintings -though for modest amounts-, sent out the finalized RSVP list and confirmed with both the caterer and florist. She had called the bridal shop around noon but they were closed for lunch. Buffy would try again later.
"Damn, I'm good," Buffy murmured. As her MacBookPro was shutting down, she slipped on her tailored suit jacket.
"And so very modest."
Buffy's head shot up in alert. Jasmine had went home an hour ago. Hadn't she remembered to lock the door?
Faith was looking around Buffy's office, analytically, yet unimpressed. Clearly, the finer things in life didn't mean much to Faith. Light brown eyes made their way to where Buffy was standing.
"I hope you don't mind. The door was open." The brunette's dimples were prominent, though there was only a simple smirk on her face.
"Not at all. What brings you here?"
"A work of art." Faith answered, looking Buffy in the eyes.
"Cryptic." Buffy commented. Her computer and its charger slid easily into the case.
"Honest." Faith shot back, her dimples deepening.
"Hm." Buffy nodded. She took the clip out of her hair and shook her head, allowing the golden romance curls to fall around her face, neck and shoulders.
"Look, B, I know the gallery close at five but is it too late for the Buffy Summers' tour?" Faith asked, hopefully.
Buffy smiled. "Of course not."
Fifteen minutes later, Buffy walked Faith into the final show room.
"Now, this," Faith said, stopping in front of a thirty-five-by-thirty-five canvas, "this is real art. Who is this by?"
Buffy made a show of looking at the gold-plated, engraved nameplate. "Buffy Summers."
"Get the hell outta here. No way." She nudged Buffy with her elbow. "That's awesome."
Buffy shrugged, nonchalantly. Inside she was beaming with pride at the compliment from the girl from 4C. "Thanks. It was nothing, really."
Dark, smoky colors along with hues of blood red took up the left half of the painting. The shadows were taunting. Menacing, even. On the right half, swirls of bright colors -yellow, orange, eggshell white- took up the rest. The two sides, however, came together in the middle where a figure formed, hugging itself. Wrapped in both sets of colors. The painting was an abstract viewing of the battle between good and evil; something that Buffy had been going through during the painting process.
"It's... powerful."
"Thanks." Buffy said, nudging Faith back.
Summers-McDonald Residence, 7:27pm
"Babe?" Lindsey called out. He placed his suit jacket on the back of the sofa. "Buff?"
"Yeah. I'm here." Buffy walked from the bedroom to the living room and kissed her fiance.
"How was your day?"
"Let's see: there was a beginning, a middle and an end." Buffy replied, matter-of-factly.
"Sounds fascinating." He smiled and held up an envelope. "This was taped to the door. I'm guessing it's for you."
A whimsical 'B.'was writing on the front of the envelope. Buffy took it from Lindsey and opened it. It was an invitation to an art exhibit. Buffy smiled.
"What is it?" Lindsey opened up the electricity bill and gave it a once-over.
"An invite for a gallery exhibit."
"Who's it from?"
"The girl in 4C." Buffy answered. She sounded preoccupied, dazed. And she was. Preoccupied with rereading the invite. She walked back towards the bedroom. Lindsey looked up in time to see Buffy's retreating form. A big question mark hung overtop of his head.
When Lindsey stepped from the shower, Buffy had dinnerware and food on the dining room table. She had ordered Thai takeout, Lindsey's favorite. As he walked into the room, Buffy was opening his favorite red wine.
"Whoa. The good stuff." Lindsey swooned. He lifted the bottle of 1967 Cabernet Sauvignon red wine and inhaled the scent deeply. "What's the occasion?"
Truth be told, there wasn't a special occasion. Buffy had no idea why she'd chosen Lindsey's favorite food. His favorite wine. And even his favorite music? When the hell did she put on David Garza? Subconciously, Buffy catered to her man in order to keep her thoughts from a certain charming brunette. Uncertain of her chemistry to Faith, Buffy didn't understand her own infatuation. After all, she had only seen Faith four times. Faith had never really given her any hints that she was a lesbian. Nor had she contested to the fact that she was interested in being more than just a good friend to Buffy.
Jumping out of her thought pool, Buffy replied, "Nothing major. We just never got to celebrate our new place. Just the two of us."
The two sat down at the table across from one another. "That's true. We haven't." Lindsey picked up his wine and Buffy followed suit. "To us."
"To us." Buffy smiled.
Yep, Faith had definitely been made up from dream dust.
Lindsey was all she needed.
Right?
Saturday, 6:44pm
Each with a glass of champagne in their hand, Buffy and her best friend, Willow walked around Tabula Rasa, another local art gallery. Faith had invited her and, though there had been no sign of her, yet, Buffy allowed herself to enjoy the exhibit. She would, however, make sure to thank Faith. After all, Buffy had had the pleasure of a private viewing of a few new pieces by her favorite artist, Michelle Albany.
"So, if this Michelle Albany character never comes to her own shows, who does she call to get her paintings around the world?" Willow questioned.
"I have no idea but if I ever met her, I'd probably leave a trail of drool when I left." Buffy admitted. They both tilted their heads sideways to examine another angle of a sketch. The naked man had been sketched with a red wax stick.
"Drool, huh?" Faith's voice said, in her ear. Buffy bit her lip and smirked.
"That turn you on?" Buffy joked, turning around.
"Oh, totally." Faith laughed. Whereas everyone else were dressed in their most stylished, expensive clothing, Faith was dressed in black, fitted cargo pants, a white v-neck Polo Ralph Lauren t-shirt, and a dark gray, silk scarf draped just enough to show her two small, gold necklaces. It was then that Buffy finally noticed Faith's tattoo. The thin, dark ink barely went halfway around her arm, three inches above her elbow.
"Faith, this is my best friend in the universe, Willow Rosenberg, private investigator. Willow, this is Faith Lehane, artist extraordinare." Buffy introduced.
"Just Faith." Faith said, shaking Willow's hand. "Private investigator, huh?"
"Just Will. I've always been good at research. It's nice to put a face to the name. I've heard quite a lot about you. Your hair's amazing." Willow responded, admiring Faith's dropped romance curls.
"Thanks, Red." Faith was genuinly pleased.
"Hey, thanks for the invite."
"Thanks for coming. I hate coming to these things, not to mention being alone, surrounded by the posh and the privileged."
"Not a problem. Where's William?"
"He's sick." Faith answered omniously. She smirked and turned towards the painting.
"Send him my well wishes."
"Will do."
"Catch up, Faith. We're both on glass number two." Willow told her.
"Ah. I'm not a drinker." Faith said. She shoved her hands into the front pockets of her pants.
"And I've officially put my foot in my mouth."
"Don't feel that way. What do you guys think of Michelle Albany's work? She's dope right?" Faith segued.
"The work is really interesting. Every piece is radical and different from the next." Willow observed.
"She's only the most amazing artist to ever exist in the art world. Since I was in college, I've admired how each series of her works are themed. Destruction, creation, love, hate, art, sex, music."
"Buffy's pretty much a groupie for Michelle Albany." Willow explained. "Forgive her for hyperventilating."
"Totally forgiven, B."
A silverware fork tapped against a champagne flute four times and the room quieted down. "Can I have everyone's attention, please?" A woman in a skin-tight, strapless cream Christian Dior dress spoke into a very sleek, 1920s-styled microphone.
"I'm Bridgette Blake, curator here at Tabula Rasa and tonight, we have been honored to be the first to view Michelle Albany's new series entitled "Re-birth Day Girl". This is the second series that she's given us the pleasure to view privately before it goes, well... viral. Bridgette cleared her throat before continuing. "Drink up and enjoy the pieces because next week, they'll be sent to the Galleria de Veranos. Oh, my God. Is that Mich-?"
Faith inconspiciously shake her head 'no', cutting Bridgette off.
Bridgette cleared her throat. "Uh, Galleria de Veranos is owned by Buffy Summers who has graced us with her presence tonight." She outstretched her arm towards Buffy's direction.
Everyone turned to look at Buffy, who smiled graciously and gave a small wave while everyone clapped.
"Hey, that's awesome, Buffy. Your favorite artist is sending her pieces to your gallery!" Willow squealed.
"I know. I don't think I can breathe." Buffy muttered out of the side of her mouth once everyone had stopped staring at her.
Later that night...
Willow and Buffy left the gallery and gave the valet their tickets. Willow's car was first up.
"Text me and let me know you got in safely," said Buffy. She gave her best friend a hug and kissed her cheek.
"I will. Later, alligator."
"After awhile, crocodile." Buffy quipped. The two shared smiles as Willow got into her car and pulled off.
"Ma'am?" A red-vested valet held open the door for her car.
"Thank you." She said, slipping him a twenty dollar bill. Before Buffy got in, someone's hand grabbed hers.
"Hey, I was hoping I would catch you." Faith said.
"What's up?"
"I just wanted to tell you again that I really appreciate you coming out."
"Are you kidding me? It was my pleasure. The art was phenomenal."
Faith's hand, still on Buffy's, gently pulled Buffy towards her for a hug.
Just as Buffy's mind had comprehended the hug, Faith pulled away and smiled. "I'll see you around, Summers." Faith started down the street.
"Faith, do you need a ride?"
Faith spun on her heels and started walking backwards. "Nah. I take the bus after these things. They help me remember who I am. Inspiration is everywhere, B." She spun back around and kept walking, her hands in her pockets.
Up Next: Lunch Hour.