A/N: For the record, Mr. Chow restaurant is a truly upscale restaurant chain (California, London, Miami, Las Vegas & New York). The food and service is PHENOMENAL (and so is your bill!). But BELIEVE ME, I had a great time, erm, 'researching' for this chapter! Lol. P.S. They don't have menus but I took the artistic license (yadda, yadda, yadda). Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Words With No Meaning

Three weeks later... Friday, Galleria de Veranos 6:00pm

"Faith, hey! I'm glad I caught you. I wanted to know if you wanted to do dinner, tonight?" Though Buffy's heart was racing at Olympic speeds, her voice was calm as a cucumber.

"I don't know, B. I'm kind of going through a crisis right now."

"Then, we have to go out. Get your mind off of it. Come on. Mr. Chow, eight-thirty. My treat." Buffy suggested.

Faith hesitated. Buffy heard her blow breath out of her mouth. "Uh, sure. Yeah. Why not? Only it'll be my treat."

"Okay. I'll meet you there." Buffy hung up and grabbed her bags. After locking up her office and the front door, Buffy headed home.

When she arrived, Buffy kissed her fiance and gave a little small talk. She told him what her plans were and vice versa, before heading to the master bedroom to shower. Afterwards, she blew her hair dry and then straightened it before putting on a pair of dark grey, pinstriped slacks and a white, chiffon top. Finally, Buffy applied a little eyeliner and mascara.

"You look beautiful, babe. Have a good time. Tell Faith I said hey."

"Will do." Buffy leaned over the back of the couch and gave him a quick upside down kiss. "I won't be out too late."

"I'll try not to miss you too much." He answered, smiling.

Mr. Chow, 8:37pm

Despite the countless celebrities dining in the elegant, dim atmosphere of the restaurant, Faith and Buffy were seated immediately. Although Faith didn't have any pull, 'Michelle Albany', in fact, did. They were seated at a private table where they wouldn't be disturbed.

"What? No dark sunglasses and fedora, Miss Albany?" Buffy asked, looking over the menu.

Faith just smiled at her dinner companion, chewing her gum. "The more inconspicuous you try to be, the more the paparazzi click away. Besides, I'm not a TV or movie star. Or a musician. Most people could care less about the art world."

"Most people are sheep."

Faith sipped from her lemon water, and nodded in agreement. "This is true."

"So, what's taking my Faith away from me? What's this big crisis?"

"I like your hair like that." Faith blurted out.

Buffy was speechless for a few heartbeats, trying to contain the inevitable blush that was approaching. "Thanks. Now, don't change the subject."

A sigh from Faith. "Apparently, my agent doesn't want to be my agent anymore."

"Why not?"

"She feels that she can get more money from an artist that actually gets paid to attend events."

"What's her percentage when you sell a painting?"

Faith gave a chuckle. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Yes, yes I would, actually."

"Let's just say my work paid for her family's summer home."

"Damn."

"So, now I've got to find another agent before I finish my next series or they'll just be sitting in my apartment, collecting dust."

"I doubt that. You're too talented for that to happen."

"Thanks."

"How are you ladies doing tonight?"

"Fine, thanks." Buffy answered.

"Good. I'm Tru and I'll be your server this evening. Tonight, the chef insists you try his fresh shrimp cakes for your hors d'oeuvres. Can I start you ladies off with drinks?"

Faith nodded at Buffy to order first.

"Belvedere on the rocks."

"And you?" Tru turned back to Faith.

"A continuous rum and coke, please." Faith told her. Buffy shot her a look.

"You got it. Do you know what you'd like to order or do you need a few more minutes?" Tru inquired.

"We'll start off with the fresh shrimp cakes and your rice paper wrap prawns. And we'll need a few more minutes to decide on everything else." Faith answered.

"Okay. Your hor d'oeuvres will be out shortly."

Once she'd walked away, Buffy crossed her arms over her chest and leaned on the table. Faith sat back, still chewing her gum.

"It's obvious you have something to say."

"You're damn right." Buffy leaned in, hissing, "A continuous rum and coke?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, mom."

"I'm not trying to be your mom."

"No, just my sobriety coach."

"Stop it. I don't want to fight with you." Buffy's voice was soft and child-like.

Faith sighed, chewing her gum a little more furious. It was true; her recent predicament had caused her to order alcohol that would be continued each time their waitress saw her glass empty. But Buffy was just trying to be helpful and supportive.

"I'm sorry."

Buffy raised a perfectly-shaped eyebrow. Faith reached over the table and pulled at Buffy's arm until she unfolded it.

"I'm sorry." Faith repeated. "I'm just... frustrated."

"Meaning your agent situation." It was more of a statement than a question.

Faith gave a mischievous grin. "Yeah. That too."

Buffy couldn't help but grin back. "Stop it. You promised you'd be on your best behavior."

"When did I promise that?"

"Oh, that's right. I didn't get you to sign that contract, did I?" Buffy said, tapping her head as if she'd truly forgotten something.

Faith snapped her fingers, feigning frustration. "Darn. You sure didn't." A server set their drinks down in front of them, the pair never taking their eyes off of each other.

Desire sparked and burned in Faith's light brown eyes. Buffy stared back at her, green eyes displaying a playfulness that Faith had never seen before. The brunette was careful not to say anything that would change that.

"Your fresh shrimp cakes and rice paper wrap prawns, ladies. Have you decided on your main course?"

"Uh, shark fin soup and drunken fish." Buffy ordered.

"And can I have the sauteed sea bass fillet and the fresh crab meat soup?"

"Absolutely. We'll have that for you in just a little while." And with that, Tru was gone.

"So, what can I do to help you with your situation?"

"You're doing it. Really. You were right. I did need a night out. It's better than angrily throwing paint cans against a canvas. Although, come to think of it, you could be pulling away from a potential masterpiece." Faith grinned.

"Well then, by all means, leave me here, sad and vulnerable." Buffy said, dramatically.

"Vulnerable, huh? I like that sound of that." Faith joked back.

"I bet you do."

Thirty minutes later, the pair dove deep into conversation and exquisite gourmet food, visited every so often by their waitress. Faith entertained Buffy with stories of her wild party life, gaining laughs and looks of shock from Buffy.

"You've done everything except have an affair."

Faith nearly choked on her fourth rum and coke. "I mean, it is on my bucket list."

"That's not something you should aspire to."

"I don't aspire to half the shit I've done in my life. It just happened."

"An affair doesn't just happen."

"Actually it does, B. People don't premeditate or calculate an affair. It just happens. You can't help who you fall for."

"Two people shouldn't start an affair if one or both of them are already in a committed relationship. It's cruel to their significant others."

"Humans aren't meant to be monogamous. We're meant to be polyamorous."

"That's animalistic. We're not animals."

"Sure we are. Isn't that all passion is? Isn't that was sex is? Returning to our animalistic nature. Just getting down and dirty." She unfolded the thin aluminum wrapper from a stick of gum and slipped it into her mouth.

"Is this conversation going somewhere? Or are you going to keep using words that hold no meaning?" Buffy inquired. As Buffy sipped from her condensing water glass, it was apparent to Faith that Buffy knew exactly what she was implying. Though, she was too much of a Goody Two-Shoes to admit it.

Faith sat back, chewing her gum calmly, rolling it around in her mouth with her tongue. Buffy found herself wondering what that tongue would feel like pressed against her...

"Let's do it, B."

"Do what?"

"Find ourselves entangled in a liason. What do the French call it? Affaire de coeur?"

"What?!" Buffy hissed as quietly as possible.

"I stuttered?"

"I'm sorry. I was just waiting for the goddamn punchline." Buffy was torn between a state of disbelief and one of utter intrigue. "Are you insane?"

"Some might say." Faith shrugged.

"I might say! Faith, I'm getting married in four months."

"So, we have plenty of time."

Buffy fanned herself. Suddenly, it had gotten quite warm in the restaurant. "I can't cheat on Lindsey."

"Won't."

"Do you have an answer for everything?"

"No."

That threw Buffy for a loop. "Faith, I want you in my life. I really do, but not at the cost of my relationship with Lindsey. And it's a good relationship. We're happy, healthy and, yeah, okay, sure, safe. But I like safe. What's wrong with safe?"

"Who said anything was wrong with safe?"

"Spike."

"Spike?" Confusion was written on Faith's face. "What did he say to you?"

Buffy sighed, rubbing her temples. "Nothing. Just... nothing."

"Tell me."

Summers-McDonald Residence, 10:10pm

Buffy walked into her loft, sighing. She hung up her jacket, and took off her pumps. Heading to the bathroom, Buffy shed her clothes and got into the shower, hoping to wash away her entire night.

Buffy sat down in the shower and brought her knees up to her chest. Her fingertips brushed her lips before her tears mixed with the warm stream of water.

Up Next: Flashback to what happened after dinner & Buffy ignores Faith on Valentine's Day.