A Day In The Life (3/4)
Restive Nature (aka Bavite)
Disclaimers & Notes- See part 1.
A/N- When last we left, the fair Miss Chase was upset when her date slipped off to buy some drugs.
I hurry out of the Bronze, just in time to see Gregory wander into the end of the dark alley with his friend. I chase after them, furious. As I reach them, I realize that I still have the shrimp fork that came with my cocktail clenched in my fist. I was about to drop it, when Gregory's friend whirled around. In game face. Great! My stupid date was buying drugs from a Vampire. Only on a hellmouth, I tell you. I reacted before I thought, stabbing the fork into the hand that was reaching for me. Wouldn't do much, I know but I had to keep him back from me somehow. Where the Hell was Buffy when you needed her? Probably off selfishly spending some me time, avoiding her sacred duty.
Thank God she was no longer the only one anymore. I mean, I always knew that was her mantra for an added boost of sympathy. But Faith had appeared out of nowhere, to dispatch the Vamp. She almost seemed to play with the thing, as if she were testing herself. Strange. I watched dispassionately, having seen Buffy fight before. I can really see the difference in their styles. Not that I care, but I can't help comparing it to my own style. Mine was more of the catch the Vamp off guard and hope like hell that we'd get a lucky stake in. But then, I didn't have super strength to fall back on. So I guess that makes my sacrifices all the more important, since I was doing it out of the goodness of my heart. Or well, because Xander and Willow wanted to. Gregory watched this all, hysterical giggling pouring from his mouth. It was a good thing he was stoned. How else would we explain what he'd just seen? I so did not need it getting around that freaky things invaded my life, putting said life in danger.
But now, I have Faith to deal with. She's giving Gregory quite the appraising stare. Have to nip that in the bud immediately. I don't care what kind of loser he may be, at the moment he's my loser. "Thanks Faith," I try to inject as much sincerity into the words as I can. "At least you're out doing you're sacred duty. Unlike some badly bleached blondes I could name."
Faith jerks her chin up, acknowledging my thanks. "I'm meeting B. later," she lets drop.
"What's so important that she's not out here doing her job?" I demand. Because really, she never is around when you need her.
"Hot date with a cold vamp," she smirks. I get her immediately. Another round of the Buffy/Angel merry-go-round. That is getting so old. She gestures to Gregory, still giggling once in a while, between sniffles. "So what's with frat boy here?"
"I have no clue," I shrug. On reflection, it's much more important that people don't think that I willingly hang out with drug users. "Maybe you could take him along as bait," I suggest. She raises an eyebrow at me.
"Drug the bastards via stony here?" she grins, then shakes her head. "Not my style. I like a little rough and tumble."
"I guess I'd better see if I can get him home then," I sigh. It's a good thing my car is close by. I kneel down, thankful that the alley isn't as dirty as some I've seen. "Hey!" I yell in his ear. He seems to have finally passed out. Not good, as again, regular strength here, not good for hauling guys around. With not quite all my strength, I deliver an ear ringing slap to his face. Huh? That woke him up good. His head rolls around as he tries to focus on me. "Get up!" I instruct loudly. "We're going." I turn and see Faith watching with an amused smile. "Help me get him to my car." With a shrug, she grabs one of his arms and yanks. If he hadn't been so pliant, I think she might have pulled his arm right out of the socket. Not that he wouldn't have deserved it, after subjecting me to the date from hell.
Between us, well more Faith than me, we manage to dump him into the passenger side of my car. There's really nothing else to say, so she leaves as I move around to the driver's side. As I start the vehicle, I realize that neither Gregory nor I paid the tab at the Bronze. Oh well, it was a date, he should have paid. Maybe they'll ban him and this humiliation will never get around. Since it was Faith that rescued him, I have some hope that it won't. She and I were never close, especially after those stories she kept luring Xander in with.
As we near the frat house, I realize that Gregory has passed out again. Should I just open the door and shove him out? Argh, he'd probably just become another vamp's snack. Because I am so sure that his frat brothers couldn't give a flying gnat about him. Unbuckling my seat belt, I reach over and give him a good hard shove. It's enough to rouse him out of his stupor. He comes to with a leering grin on his face.
"Hey baby," he slurs a little, glancing around. "Are we home?"
"At your home, yes," I remark pointedly. "Now get out, so I can go to my home."
"Are you sure you want to do that?" he mumbled. "Come on up, we can have a party in my room."
"Ew! I don't think so," I almost yell. "I am not into that party scene." But my words are falling on deaf ears. It looks like I'm going to have physically rid myself of him. With a cautious glance around, never can be too careful. I mean anyone could see me, I move around to help him out of my life. He isn't quite as bad as before and can stumble a little on his own. I was going to ring the doorbell and alert one of his brothers's to help him, but the door was ajar. Really smart here people. Just because Vamps are the major concern around, does not mean we don't have thieves as well. But it's to my benefit tonight, their stupidity. So I push the door open further with my foot, as my arms are full of Gregory.
He tries to give me directions up to his room, but I'm having none of it. The couch I spy in the main room will have to do. If he wants to get anywhere else, he can do it on his own. "Well, thanks," I mutter sarcastically. "It's been a great date, but I have school tomorrow." I try to get up, but his hand clamps around my wrist. "Hey! Let go!"
"Come on Cordelia," he slurs, leering up at me once more. "I heard all about you from some friends last year. How about a little goodbye kiss?" He pulls me down so suddenly, that I lose my balance, falling onto him. His slimy little lips are on me before I can stop it. Well, there's one way to take care of this. I can't quite get the leverage I need, but it's still enough to actively discourage him. I scramble back from him as he yells in pain, cupping his crown jewels. "What the hell did you do that for?" he yells at me. Me? He's actually got the nerve to be offended. This time I put all my weight behind the slap. Wow, I think I slapped him back into sobriety.
He stares at me, his hands undeciding of which part of his body needing the most care. Oops, jewels win. I push off the couch, and move to stand over him. "I'd explain it to you Gregory, but I don't waste time on people stupid enough to risk their lives all for the sake of a little high. Or to people too ungrateful to even thank me for saving their worthless hide." Okay, well maybe it was more Faith than me. But hey, I was the one who distracted the Vamp long enough for Faith to get there. That counts for something, right?
"Huh?" is all he can manage. Typical. It seems all my good deeds end up going unnoticed.
"You know what Gregory?" I smirk at him, looking at the face I'd thought so handsome. Now it just seems twisted and pathetic. "You need to grow up. Get over this rich little boy playing around with mindless rebellion thing. Get it out of your system. You aren't worth much as you are now and if you keep heading down this road, you won't be worth anything but the groundskeepers fee at the cemetery." I artfully twist around on my heel and stalk towards the door. I glance back once for my parting shot. "So do everyone a favor and grow a pair already."
This whole day was turning into a nightmare. And I realized that once I was back in my car, I'd forgotten my purse and coat at the Bronze. How humiliating was this going to be? I mentally reviewed how much cash I had in my purse. Probably enough to cover my drink. But certainly not for my date's munch-fest. But there was no way I could leave my purse there. It had my make-up, essentials, and oh, my license. I could only pray I didn't get pulled over by a cop. Normally I could flirt my way out of a ticket. But with the way this night was going, I didn't want to have to chance it.
So I pulled back around to where the humiliation started and crept my way back in, hoping that I could avoid the waitress that had served us. I made it in and back to where we'd been sitting, but everything was gone. I felt a hand on my elbow and with a startled gasp I couldn't hold in, I let out a little shriek and turned around. Thank God it was only Oz. Holding my purse and jacket.
"Looking for these?" he asked mildly. I nodded and held out my hand.
"Thanks, so much," I offered, actually sincere this time. "I was afraid someone had made off with my original Italian-!"
"No problem," he interrupted. "Your date okay?" Hmm, was he asking how Gregory was, or how the date was going? "Cause I noticed you kind of ran out during one of the sets."
"Oh," I nod slowly. "Just your run of the mill Vamp, luring him out for an alleyway appetizer," I shrug.
"He okay?"
"Yeah." But before I can say anything else, I muffle a groan. Our waitress has me in her sights and is making a beeline straight for me. I wonder if I can borrow money from Oz. God, how much worse is this going to get? But I'm pleasantly surprised when she smiles at me.
"Everything all right miss?" she asks.
"Yes, great," I steal a glance at her little nametag, "Molly."
"I noticed you had to leave in a hurry," she continues, holding something in her hand out to me, "and I didn't get a chance to get this back to your friend." I look down and see with relief, a credit card. Okay, so maybe Gregory did have some sense to pay as he went. But really, who leaves their card behind? Oh, that's right, drug-heads. I take it from her and slip it into my coat pocket.
"I'll make sure he gets it back," I assure her. And I will, after all, I can mail it. She smiles again and moves back to work. The crowd has thinned out quite a bit and I notice that the Dingoes have packed all their gear. I really do not miss being Devin's girlfriend. I could never stand the repetitiveness of their nights. Which reminds me of Oz. I turn back to him. "Boy, you guys sucked tonight."
"Yeah, a little," he agrees.
"Not just a little," I scoff. "Even I could tell you were screwing up the songs and everyone knows I have no musical inclination. What was that about?"
"Not sure," he shrugs. "Walk you to your car?"
"Yeah thanks," I nod and make sure there was nothing else that I forgot. But I have it all.
It's just a short walk and we say goodbye to each other pleasantly. I am so ready to get home and just go to bed. As, I pull to a halt at a red light, my mischievous little fingers itch to get a better look at Gregory's card. Is it platinum, I wonder? It seems like so long since I've had my own. If I were a lesser person, I'd hit some late night shops. But really, nothing is open this late and yeah, it's kind of be stealing. But, I argue with myself, not seriously, that the creep kind of does owe me. But it seems to be my day for goodness, so in the morning, I will mail it back to him. I notice that the light has changed to green and I begin to pull away. The tires squeal just a little in my haste. But, oh crap, hit the brakes!