Title: Friendly Reflection
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. Never will. I do make claims to Lexia whom I thought up all by myself. No help from nobody. Ok! Yes I made her up as a like, "fellow-demon-child-type" to relate to Connor, but that's all mine. Yep....anyways....
Summary: Set before Rain of Fire, as if Cordy had never left the hotel and ran back to Connor's place. Connor's coping with living alone when he meets someone who has something in common with him.
Raiting: Pg-13
Chapter 5:
Lexia placed the book she had just finished back on her already crammed shelf back in its place. Then she stretched tiredly from sitting and reading for an hour. Lexia was surprised she'd been able to sit long enough to read. After her date with Connor last night she could hardly get to sleep. Today had been torture as well because all she wanted to do was go and see him.
Guys don't like that though, she reminded herself. They need space after a date. She had never understood why, but learned to give them their space over the years. How many guys had told her as much? Well not that many, but enough to learn.
Then her phone rang. Thankful for the distraction Lexia went to the beat up old black phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey."
Lexia almost swallowed the gum she'd been chewing. Connor! Why was he calling? Guys never called the next day! It was against the "code", or whatever.
"Umm. . . Hi," she finally managed. "What's up?"
"Well you gave me your number so I thought I'd see if you were up to anything today?"
"Not really," Lexia said trying not to smile. "Had something in mind?"
"Well. . ." Connor hedged. "I was hoping you might have an idea. The dating thing is not really my deal."
"Well. . . Do you like the beach?"
"I guess. I've only been a couple of times."
"You live in California and you've only been to the beach a couple of times?" Lexia asked dumbfounded.
"Yeah..." Connor told her.
"Well that settles it. We're going to Venice Beach."
+ + +
Connor moved through the large mass of people warily. Big crowds of people unsettled him. He used to solitude and quite. Not big groups of sweety loud people moving around to see who could get to their favorite ride fastest. And screaming children. That was starting to get on his nerves.
Then he saw her. Lexia. She looked so beautiful with her long hair free and waving in the wind, and in her white peasant top and short jean skirt. Just like a normal girl. No one would even know that she fought the forces of darkness on a daily basis.
She turned and smiled when she saw him. Connor refrained from shivering. When Lexia smiled it was brighter than the sun itself.
"Hey you," Lexia said trolling up to him.
"Hey. You look nice," he told her.
"Aww. Don't make me blush. Isn't this place great?" she asked looking around herself.
"It's very. . . active."
"Not a people person are ya?"
Connor didn't reply. He looked down and shuffled his feet. Why did people have to make him so nervous?
"Hey," Lexia said grabbing his hand. "It's ok. People are overated anyway. But you shouldn't let that ruin a good time."
Connor looked up at Lexia. She smiled at him and squeezed his hand supportively. He looked at their entwined hands and smiled back.
"C'mon," Lexia said tugging him along the boardwalk.
+ + +
Lexia smiled as Connor handed her a corn dog. She loved coming here. As a child her "Uncle" Davis would bring her here. He was also half demon, like her, so he could get away with walking around people. Anytime her father wasn't around he would sneak Lexia away and they would spend the day at Venice Beach. It was one of the only fun things she got to do when she lived in the colony.
"Are you sure this things are good?" Connor asked looking doubtfully at his.
"They're great, with mustard," she told him and held out the little cup of mustard she had.
Connor dipped his corn dog and took a small nibble. Lexia smiled waiting for his reaction.
"Mmm. . ." Connor murmured.
"I told you."
The two walked along the boardwalk munching on their food. They watched the jugglers, singers, and other acts as they walked passed. Then they came to the body builder area and Connor stopped.
Many large sweaty men were lifting barbells. They strained and sweated and people "woo'd" and "awed" at the display at manliness. Connor made a "pfft" sound.
"What?" Lexia asked seeing Connor's look of disgust.
"I could lift those no problem."
"I don't think it's about being able to lift them, it's about how big you are when you do."
"That's dumb."
"I believe that's why they call them dumbbells," Lexia quirked.
Connor looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. Then he gave he a playful shove. Lexia kicked some stray sand at him. Connor again raised an eyebrow. Then he took a menacing step forward.
"Ooh. . . whatcha gonna do now?" Lexia asked stepping back.
"I'm going. . . to bury you in the sand!" Connor declared and reached for her.
Lexia laughed and dogged him. The two ran out onto the sand away from the crowd. Connor made a grab for Lexia again and she dogged so fast Connor fell but he continued to roll and right back up on his feet. They stopped for a moment and summed each other up. They were both fast, and strong. This could take a while.
Lexia ran past Connor again. Connor chased and now they were both running down the beach a blur to everyone else. Lexia looked back momentarily to see Connor laughing and she knew he wouldn't catch her. Then she tripped. And felt Connors arms lock around her body.
The fell to the sand laughing. The rolled and finally stopped with Lexia on top of Connor, his arms still locked around her. Lexia lifted up to look at Connor still laughing. She fell silent when she saw Connor had. Two sets of blue eyes locked and held.
"You're good," Lexia finally commented.
"So are you. Ya know, until you tripped."
Lexia smiled but didn't reply. Her view fell to Connor's lips. His nicely shaped lips. She could still remember the feel of them from the night before. Lexia closed her eyes and felt Connor lean toward her.
"OH MY GOD!" a woman screamed nearby.
Lexia and Connor jerked apart. The looked up and saw what the woman was screaming at. A ten foot snake crawled out of the sand next to them. The two teens jumped up and looked around. All around them snakes of all sizes crawled from the sand. People ran everywhere, away from the beach. Except Connor and Lexia who were surrounded by them.
"Oh God. . . Connor what-. . ."
Connor didn't let her finish. He scooped her up in his arms, and took several steps back, avoiding the snakes. Then he took and running start and leaped up into the air, over the beach and onto the boardwalk. Lexia was stunned as he set her down. Then he grabbed her hand and pulled her along, running away from the beach.
+ + +
"An uprising of demons, roaches, and now SNAKES," Lexia said shuddering. "Something's up."
"Yeah. Really up," Connor agreed walking a few steps ahead of Lexia.
"Ok. Hey," Lexia said causing Connor to stop. "You're being extra non-talkative. Do you know something?"
"No, but I may know someone who does."
"Who?" Lexia asked perplexed.
"My dad."
(Dun, dun, dun!!! Sorry it took me so long to update. But it finally hit me! :) )
