Title: Lipgloss And Letdown
Author: Charisma Brendon
Disclaimer: I can't think of anything witty. Sorry.
A.N. - Yes, it's time for an update! Just when most of you thought I'd disappeared into the abyss, I return with a peace offering. Kind of. :p I'm just mysterious like that.
Chapter Summary: Picks up with the carnival. There's more B/A interaction, some L&S bantering, a X/C fight and...fuck, why am I telling you?! :p
Special Thanks: Suhra for the songs "How" by the Cranberries and "23" by Jimmy Eat World and for "Whore-delia"; Tyger (-pinches Tyger's cheeks-) for ordering me to write - so, you have her to thank for a much longer update than usual -- Oh! And she also told me a little bit about Starbucks since I know noooothing.
- Chapter Ten -
It wasn't like anything had happened. One minute, Buffy was having a pleasant, playful conversation with Angelus and the next, she was practically running away.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
How hard is it to carry on a conversation? Was finding Liz and Star really so important? Would they have cared if she had hung around and talked to Angelus? No, probably not. In fact, they would have pushed her at him.
She shook her head and her steps became decidedly angrier. God, I'm so stupid.
The sound of splashing was the first thing that drew Buffy's attention.
The second was the obvious crowd heckling going on.
The third was the fact that said heckling was coming from two very familiar voices.
Looks like I found Liz and Star.
She walked closer, searching for the origin of the splash - much easier to find than her friends; which led to the fourth thing she noticed - the mob-like crowd - as she nudged her way through.
"Liz! What are you two doing?" Buffy asked when she finally located the source of the mayhem.
Liz pointed off to her right. "Just having a little fun."
Buffy followed the gesture and saw Star taking tickets to dunk - "Is that Snyder?"
"Yes, yes it is," Liz said as she turned away and looked at the soaked man. "Bastard."
"Is this what you've been doing this whole time?"
Liz frowned thoughtfully. "Yes. Why? Did we miss something interesting?"
Buffy shrugged. "Just Owen."
"Oh," Liz dismissed before watching Snyder go under again and grinning.
Buffy grinned at the sputtering sound that followed, "Well, I did see Angelus."
Liz's head almost did a full-on Exorcist twist and grimaced in pain. "What? What happened with that?"
"Well, if your Royal Highness of Whiplash really must know, nothing happened. He was just working one of the booths and we chatted a little."
"Which booth?" Liz cocked an eyebrow.
"The . . . kissing one."
Liz's eyes widened. "Kissing? There's a kissing booth? What happened? Did you kiss him? Was there kissage? God, Buffy, I need answers!"
"Liz, calm down! Yes, there was a kiss involved but, it wasn't a big deal."
"You kissed him?" Liz squealed.Somehow, Star managed to hear her. She materialized, seemingly out of nowhere. "Kissing?"
Buffy felt her right eye twitch slightly.
"Irritation isn't a good look for you," Star informed her with a slight smile. "What happened?" she asked Liz with a grin.
Liz pointed a finger at Buffy. "She kissed him!"
Star's mouth dropped open in shock. "Who?"
"Angelus!"
Star's eyes narrowed in confusion. "I repeat, who?"
"Remember that day at the Temple?" She waited for Star's nod, "And there was that blond guy that had it out with Xander?"
"Him? Ew! Buffy, you could do so much better!" Star hugged Buffy. "We'll get you through this!"Liz sighed impatiently and rolled her eyes. "No, not him. His tall friend with the dark hair."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh? He's . . . really hot."
Buffy growled, "I don't have to take this, you know."
"You're right," Star agreed.
Liz nodded. "But, we're going to keep talking about it anyway."
Buffy exhaled loudly before wordlessly walking away.
Star tilted her head to the side and watched her. "I think you pissed her off."
Liz shrugged.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
"Stupid, evil, mean Liz and Star. Who do they think they are anyway?" Buffy grumbled, staring at the ground and ignoring everyone that got in her way.
"Damn it," she cursed when someone bumped into her. "Watch where you're going!"
"What? You bumped into me."
She froze before looking at her surroundings. She was right back where she started from, standing in front of the booth that would earn her teasing from all of her friends. "Oh, hey again," she said as she tried to fight the embarrassed blush rapidly working its way across her face.
Angelus tried to not smile at the look on her face. "So, what was it you were mumbling about?"
He watched in amusement as her face reddened further. "I . . . it's nothing. I just found my friends," she explained, rolling her eyes.
He nodded as if that all made sense. Sadly, it did. "Hey, um, tomorrow, I have to find something for my cousin's birthday and . . . I was wondering - if you didn't have plans already - if I could get a girl's opinion."
"Sure, I don't remember having any plans," she laughed.
"Maybe we could get coffee," he suggested, grabbing the over-filled jar (that was currently the reason he was silently cursing Harmony's name) and walking around to Buffy's side.
Buffy frowned. "How early are you planning on going?"
"I meant now. If that's okay," he hastily added.
She opened her mouth to answer before closing it again.
"I understand, it's late and al-"
She cut him off, "Coffee seems like a good plan, actually."
"I . . . really?"
She shrugged. "Why not? Plus, I get the added bonus of being all wall-bouncy when I get home."
"'Wall-bouncy', eh? I've heard worse words in my day."
"Why am I talking to you again?" Buffy asked with an exaggerated sigh and eye-roll for effect.
"I'm just so darn cute?" He tried to bat his eyelashes.
She tried to cover her laughing. "Yes, that must be it."
"Did you just laugh at me?" He asked in mock-outrage.
She haughtily stuck her nose in the air, and looked down - or in this case, up, but that really wasn't the point - her nose at him. "My dear sir! When a lady laughs, do not always assume it is your doing."
He gave her an odd look. "You're not like most people."
She sighed, "I know. It's a curse."
--- --- --- --- --- ---
As the laws of bad timing state, it's just not fun for Karma if those that are most likely to mock don't witness semi-embarrassing exchanges.
Willow stood a few feet away with her mouth agape in shock.
"Did . . . Buffy just leave with . . . Angelus?" Willow asked her friend.
"I think she did," Faith laughed despite her confusion.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Faith tapped her forehead with an index finger. "We tell Buffy we saw her, ask when the wedding is, and start suggesting baby names?"
Willow faltered slightly. "I was going to say that there's something going on that we're all un-loopy about but, yes, I like your plan better."
A decidedly evil smile slid across Faith's lips, "I think that tomorrow would be the perfect time to start."
--- --- --- --- --- ---
There was only so much noise Xander could take when he wasn't the source.
He walked warily through the crowd, glancing around to make sure he was actively avoiding the clowns he'd noticed on his way in.
He repressed the shudder and continued forward.
A shrill, tinkering laugh forced its way into Xander's ears. I know that sound...
He turned slowly, his horror growing as he found the one person he could have gone without seeing tonight. There stood Cordelia Chase with . . . What's-his-face?
Clowns or Cordelia?
He smiled suddenly and felt his mood lift as he walked closer.
"What kind of car do you drive again?" Cordelia asked, twirling a section of dark hair around her finger.
"Um, Toyota?" The boy - Matt? - leaned closer to her. "But, my dad has a Mustang."
"Oh? Well then, it's yo-"
"Whore-delia! Just the hooker I was looking for!" Xander interrupted with a sly grin on his face.
She gritted her teeth, turned slightly and threw the iciest glare she could muster in his direction. "Harris, what have I told you about talking to me in public?"
"Not to. Yeah, sure, whatever. I just wanted to know how those crabs were doing."
"Crabs?" He - Scott? - asked with a confused look.
Xander nodded slowly. "Yes. Not the crustaceans like you're thinking though, Sparky," he answered with a condescending tone in his voice while shooting Cordelia an incredulous glance. How does this girl pick 'em?
"Don't you have an elsewhere to be? Hanging out with those loser friends of yours, maybe?" Cordelia un-subtly hinted.
"I just had to make sure you're using the creams the doctor gave you. We don't want the whole basketball not being able to play just because some skank gave them crotch-bugs," he justified with a shrug.
The boy - Bobby? - turned away and almost ran from Cordelia.
"Wait! Billy!" she shouted before she turned back to yell, "You're disgusting!"
"I try," he smiled graciously.
She glared one final time before walking away.
He just stood there and watched her with a satisfied simper on his face before sighing, "I feel better."
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Angelus held open the door to Starbucks for Buffy, smirking slightly as she once again threw her head back in a lofty gesture and walked through. He herded her towards a booth by the window. "What can I get you?"
"Peppermint hot chocolate."
He scowled. "What happened to the coffee idea?"
She grinned sheepishly. "I smelled peppermint and everything else flew out the window."
He bowed his head slightly and went to the counter to order.
What the hell am I doing here? Buffy sighed and reached for a napkin to tear while she waited.
She hadn't even told her friends she was leaving and now, here she was, miles from where she saw them last.
Her gaze turned from the tiny shreds of paper to the door. She supposed that she could just run out. After all, his back was turned and he'd never know . . . .
Until, he turned around with her hot chocolate . . . .
And, then he would probably be at least slightly upset and wouldn't talk to her for awhile.
She frowned slightly at the large, paper cup in front of her.
"I thought that's what you wanted," his face was scrunched slightly into a reflection of the puzzled sound in his voice.
That's a cute look on h-
Oh no, she couldn't get all Whordy on him. She really should make an excuse then just get up and walk out before she ruined whatever relationship they had by trying to make everything out to be more than it was.
He leaned forward and whispered in the same conspiratorial voice she was almost sure she'd used with him at one point, "I got you a surprise."
She looked around warily before leaning closer and whispering, "What kind?"
He held up a small plate. "Peppermint brownie? The girl recommended them."
Ah, what the hell. Peppermint was her favorite.
"Okay !" She beamed before glaring. "Don't think this means you can keep me out late."
He gasped in indignation. "I would never dream of it! Besides, it's not even ten yet. So, about Owen . . . "
She just rolled her eyes and took a sip of her hot chocolate.
Boys are funny creatures.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Thank you list (in no real order)
Weasy - Well, I'm sorry to say that Dork!Angel might not exist much longer. :p Congratulations on Buffy Survivor! :O Anyway, are you ready to start counting? :p Oh! I express gratitude. :p
Jenn - Merci Beaucoup, Mme Jenn. ;p You're so nice! That (blonde moment from hell thing) made me feel a lot better. :p
Anna - Yay! Glad I didn't disappoint. ;o
Shady S - I had forgotten that you left such a long review. It's okay though, because I like long reviews. :) It would be cool but, in case you hadn't noticed, I'm broke too. I can offer cookies though. :p Nah, I can think of grosser things (Spongy love -winks- at Doc :p) You didn't embarrass yourself! I may have laughed but...it was with you? I could balance it out with something soul-crushing later? ;o ;p
Buff - Thanks.
Never Look Back - Dank u (Blame the translator on :P). Sammi didn't agree. :( Oh well!
Esme - Yo! Merci! I always love getting first-time reviewers. :D I know I promised never to say "yo" again...but I lied. :)
Sokkerblondie005 - Nooo, you weren't annoying. Actually, it's nice that someone went through and reviewed all of the chapters. Danke. :)
Jess - Yay! I finally managed to not piss you off. :D (I give thanks to you. ;p)
BAshipper101 - Grazie.
Biscuit - It was Liz's suggestion to do that to him, actually. We seem to like being slightly evil. :p Ooh, and Jenn's idea for the kissing booth/carnival thing. What would I do without them? :o I have to use those words though! Obrigado.
Brittannie - Gracias. :
B/A Always - Well, every now-and-then we have to humanize him a little. :p I am indebted to you for reviewing this drivel. :P
Sammi - Heeey, didn't I see your name on Lea's tagboard? ;o -shrugs- Thank you for reviewing and for the nice comments about my writing style. However, it bothers me that you said those things regarding appearance because I never said she was ugly and I also never said that Faith, Xander or Willow were either. It just seems as though you didn't read any of the ANs in the other chapters. No worries though. :)
Leandra3 - -shrugs- Eh.