Sorry for the lameness, guys.... I think that my muse had run away from me. Either that or I spent too much time with my family- that no one (not even my b/f) saved me from..... :-(

Part 9 of

Virtual Heartache.... Or Is It?

Phoebe ran a damp rag over the bar top. It had been a long night, serving customers and dealing with the lude comments that she knew she would of had to deal with. And throughout the entire night, her eyes were glued to the entrance, awaiting Cole's arrival. But he never came. She didn't want to admit that she had fallen into a stranger's trap of leading her on, but she knew that she shouldn't have trusted him....

Her thoughts were disturbed when she saw a waitress who had left come walking back down the steps.

"Hey, Annie... What happened?", Phoebe asked as she started cleaning some glasses and throwing away beers that were only half gone. "Forget the key to your place?"

"Actually, no.... I have it. But someone was just pulling up when I was leaving. I told him that we were closed, and he said that he was here to see you. Says his name is Cole." She walked in some more to reveal the man behind her. "You want to see him?"

Phoebe smiled, glad that he was there, but quickly scowled when she remembered that they had made plans for about six and a half hours ago. But when he smiled to her and sat down, she couldn't help but forgive him for everything. "Cole... Annie, Cole. Cole, Annie... See you tomorrow? Bye, Annie." Just before Annie left, Phoebe mouthed the words, "Thank you." to show that she was grateful.

"Look, Phoebe, I'm sorry. I couldn't get out of work and then I called and someone said that you were unreachable and I asked them what time they closed and they said they start clearing people out at around two. So I started driving here, hoping I would make it just before you closed. I got lost... I really did try, I swear."

Why was he explaining himself? He was a demon, he shouldn't have to explain himself. Then again, he shouldn't be liking this woman, either. He was so confused... This was the first time in over a century that his mortal half and his demonic half fought over what he should do and what he wanted to do. It was usually his demonic half that had control, he was a lot stronger then 'Cole' could ever be. His demonic half almost had control over him until he heard her speak.

"It's ok... Although, I could of used you when David and my sisters were yelling at me."

"What? Why? Were you being a bad girl?"

"No.. I just wasn't concentrating...", Phoebe lied. She couldn't tell him that she had spent the entire night thinking about him. It was like it was "The Cole Channel- All Cole, All the time!" (Where can I get that?) "On some school work..."

"So it was really some cute guy?", he asked, a little upset. He had hoped that if he came to explain himself that she would accept him into her life and maybe he could take her out...

"Yeah, you could say that." She leaned on to the bar accross from where Cole sat. Her face seemed just inches away, yet she felt as if they were miles apart. The whole time that they had this nice moment, she had an annoying song stuck in her head. Her head threatened to bounce to the beat, as if she didn't have enough to worry about. She was seriously hoping that she didn't seem to be fifteen years old in his eyes then. A colloge student who lived with her sisters and spent her time thinking about boys... "Why? Jealus?"

"Only a little..", he admitted in a joking tone. It was the truth, but it had just enough sarcasim to pull of a joke. "So you forgive me?"

"Only if you don't ask me about this afternoon. Or yesterday's afternoon, as the case may be..", she added, slightly confused with what she was trying to mean. "I don't know... Ask Piper, she seems to be a tense whiz."

"And what whiz would you be, Miss. Halliwell?", he asked seductivily. "Perhaps a computer whiz... A dating goddess.... I know you, you have the ability to charm your way into any guys' heart."

If it hadn't have been for his smile, she would have freaked like earlier that afternoon.... Yesterday's afternoon.... (Oh, go ask Piper!) She looked at his lips, which hers threatened to touch. Instead, they played a smile and not a kiss. She had a lack of courage problem, something that had never happened to her before. But it seemed to her that Cole was different. However, the kiss that she wanted so badly ended up happening because of his lust for her.

Her lips had been just the way that he had pictured them to be, which was hard for him to admit, also (Damn Pride!); soft and gentle yet forceful. Despite her small body and quiet yet sex-ridden reputation, she had a lot of passion bottled up in her. There was no doubt that she didn't have the oppurtunity to set it free, but he took comfort in the fact that she had been waiting for someone special. And that someone special had turned out to be him.

She tore away unwillingly, remembering that she was alone with bar therefore giving her the wonderful task of closing up only to call a cab to bring her home. But then a wicked idea fell into her mind. "So I need a ride home tonight.... You think you can handle that?"

He pretended to think abou the task, playing along with her little game. "I think I can handle it... If it'll be worth my while."

"Oh, and believe me... It will. I will pay you back, greatly."

And so Phoebe locked up P3 and instead of going home they made a stop at Cole's place where she fell into bed with him. It seemed to be hours before she got to sleep that they had so much fun together. And she didn't mind at all that she would be in big trouble for staying out all night (without phoning and/or telling them......). It was well worth both of the couple's time.