Chapter 10: A Visit from LA
She dragged her light green flip-flops through the hall absentmindedly. The memory of last night's event kept bugging her. She still didn' t have the answer as to what came over her when she left the Bronze abruptly. Unconsciously, she dug her nails into her textbook and started peeling the chipped edge of it.
"Hey, pet!" Spike panted after catching up with her. He draped an arm around her shoulder but she shrugged it away. He was a bit taken aback by her dismissal. She never rejected his embrace, alternatively she usually responded it by putting her arm around his waist. It was a habit when both of them were single. People kept mistaking them as an on and off couple. Not once in their mind, they thought that was just the way the two blondes showed their affection to each other. Buffy walked a little faster and a few feet ahead of Spike. He frowned at her reaction but soon jogged as he caught up with her again. The memory of last night suddenly came across his mind.
"Are you okay, Buff? Your mom said you weren't feeling well last night." He had been frantic when Willow and Xander told him about her hasty departure. He called on her house but her mom said that she wasn' t feeling well. He could hear a worry in Joyce's voice, which was enough reason for him to visit her that night. But once he got there, Joyce told him that she was already asleep, an apologetic look on her beautiful aged face.
He put a palm on her forehead to check if she'd gotten a fever, his palm moved to her cheek, caressing it lightly and finally landed on the crook of her neck. She leaned against his touch as she closed her eyes for ten seconds. She flipped her eyes open when she realized what she was doing. Quickly, she grabbed his hand from her neck where a shred of scarlet started spreading, flooding her face. "I-I'm fine," Buffy started as she recalled the reason she'd given her mom when Spike called. She told her that she had a headache and was going to go to bed immediately. She pretended to sleep soundly once her mom checked on her and was going to announce that Spike was in their house, worried as hell.
Buffy set her eyes on her feet as they shifted nervously. "I know it's not my business…well, yours wasn't that long…" She looked up to him, her hazel orbs inquired for some permission to intrude with his love life. Spike was clearly confused when he drew his brows together and tilted his head to the side. "Although mine was more recent but-" She started to walk, leaving him to catch her up again. "Do you think it's wise to…yes, it probably is…" She stopped her feet and tilted her head, looking back at him as if waiting for his response.
The young man in front of her hadn't had a single clue what she was babbling about. He came to a halt, tilting his head as well. Confusion was still marred across his façade. "Uh…Pet, You know I've never used this word but nothing can describe my confusion besides 'huh?!?'"
Buffy twisted her lips a little when she realized her words didn' t make any sense at all. She pondered for a moment, whether she should ask what the hell he was doing, coming on to that blonde girl. "Never mind." She resumed her walking process, but soon stopped again. Spike almost bumped into her, he stepped back a little to prevent further collisions.
"I'm sorry for leaving so suddenly last night, I-I had a headache. Did…did you have a good time with um…with that blonde girl?" She didn't feel comfortable at the mention of his companion last night.
"Oh, you mean Anya?"
"Anya?" Buffy repeated her name, it was unfamiliar to her ear. "Yeah, Anya Jenkins, the girl I talked to at the Bronze. I'm telling you, that girl blew me away!" Spike chuckled, shook his head a little. Buffy widened her eyes.
She felt that tinge again…that tinge of jealousy. She held her head down when she managed to squeak her response, "Oh. Really…" "Yeah, she amazed me more every minute." His voice showed some enthusiasm, he chuckled again. Buffy's nails dug deeper into her book, she gritted her teeth and was tempted to rip her own hair violently while he continued complimenting that Anya girl.
"Glad you enjoyed your time so much," she said between her clenched teeth, sarcasm dripping dangerously.
"Well, I don't think 'enjoy' is the word for that." Her eyes shot up to him, puzzlement replaced her annoyed expression. "What do you mean?"
"I didn't say 'amaze' was a good thing, luv. You see, Anya was one sodding blunt chit. She was too bloody honest, even for me. And she kept telling me how she loathed bunnies and wished that every one of them in this bleeding planet would be sliced and diced." He grinned and shook his head slightly, still in astonishment.
Buffy was perplexed at his explanation. She never expected this Anya girl actually scared him away, by the look of how they enjoyed their conversation last night and flirted shamelessly with each other. She burst into giggles and for some weird reason his explanation truly relieved her.
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Buffy sat on the couch, remote control in one hand flicking through channels and the other feeding her mouth with a bowl of popcorn. A knock on the door brought her mood down immediately. She tried to ignore it a few seconds, wishing whoever was at the door would vanish right this second, but her mom wouldn't let her have it. "Buffy, would you answer the door please! My hands are full right now," Joyce demanded. 'My hands are full too! With popcorn and remote control obviously' Buffy mentally complained.
But she reluctantly dragged herself off of the couch and headed to the front door as the knock pounded harder and more frequently. "I'm coming, I'm coming! Will you stop pounding the door, it'll collapse any sec-" Buffy swung the door open and hung her tongue in the air when she saw a figure standing in front of the door, smiling brightly at her. Regaining her consciousness, she blinked twice and started screaming.
"CORDY!!! I can't believe you're here!!...Why are you here?" Buffy beamed as she hugged the short haired brunette, but she soon pulled back and looked at her skeptically.
"What, can't a girl visit her beloved cousin sometimes?" Cordy looked surprised, acting like she was hurt.
"Oh, please. The last time you sent me a postcard was when you were in Venice, only saying 'Hi, I'm in Venice right now'. So you won't be possibly JUST visiting us," Buffy mimicked mockingly the message her cousin had written in the postcard that she got a few months ago. She raised her eyebrows, crossing her arms across her chest.
Cordelia Chase was Buffy's closest cousin. She moved from Sunnydale to LA five years ago as soon as she graduated from high school to pursue a modeling career. Ever since she moved, Buffy felt like she lost one of her best friends, although they kept in touch once in a while, what with Cordy's schedule, flying around the planet.
"Buffy, who is that by the door? And why are you screaming?" Joyce's voice came closer as she headed to the front door as well.
"Hi, Aunt Joyce!" Cordy greeted her as she gave her a bear hug and a kiss on her cheek.
"Oh hello, Cordy! What are you doing here in Sunnydale?" Cordy rolled her eyes when she heard the same question coming from her aunt.
"See, that's what I asked her too! She won't come here unless there was something to interest her, which I doubt was us, Mom," Buffy chimed in, raising an index finger in the air as she accused her cousin.
"What?!? Of course not. I come here to visit you guys because I love you, AND because I miss you all a lot." Cordy put an assuring look on her pretty face. Buffy folded her arms across her chest and cocked an eyebrow again, still not believing a word she said. "Uh-huh. Is that right?"
"Yes, it IS! Why is that so hard to believe?" Cordy threw her arms in the air, exasperated. Joyce turned her around and gave a stern look. "Cordy...is that why you came here?" Cordy sighed and paused for a second. "Okay, I came here on a business trip but-" Cordy finally gave in but she was cut short by Buffy's squeal.
"A HA! See, I was right, wasn't I!!" Buffy gave her a triumphant look.
"Yes, but I did want to see you guys. Besides, it's been a long time since I've had a slumber party with you, Buff." Cordy grinned wickedly. Buffy's eyes widened and she grinned back from ear to ear. "You mean you're going to stay with us! Arghhh....this is so cool! I'm sooo happy you're here!!" Buffy squealed again as she jumped and grabbed her cousin for a tight hug once more, so tight Cordy couldn't even breathe.
"Err...Buffy...I uhh can't breathe…" Cordy's voice came as a squeak.
"Oh...sorry Cord!" Buffy let her go and smiled sheepishly as her cousin tried to breathe normally.
Joyce only stared at the two young women, smiling to herself as she silently thanked god that Buffy would not be home alone for a while. Feeling her aunt's intent stare, the brunette turned her head to look at her. "Oh. If that's alright with you, Aunt Joyce," said Cordy, finally realizing that she hadn't asked for her permission to stay.
"Of course, dear. You're always welcomed to stay here anytime you want." Cordy smiled thankfully at her.
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"You have your own key??" asked Cordy incredulous, eyes widening when she saw Buffy rummaging her bag for a key and jamming it inside Spike's front door's lock as soon as she found it. "Yep. Giles gave it to me three years ago and Spike didn't mind at all." Buffy pushed the door open and walked inside the house with Cordy trailing behind. "Spike, you're home?" Buffy called upon the empty living room. Nobody answered. They walked further inside heading to the open dining room.
"Wow. This place is exactly the same as when I left Sunnydale years ago," Cordy commented, amazed at her surroundings. She then walked to the cabinet full of trophies and picture frames. She stood in front of it for what seemed like forever, studying the pieces one by one as if they were the most precious art sculptures. Buffy on the other hand, had already gone inside Spike's room trying to find something that she left there.
Spike entered his house quietly just in case his dad was already home and asleep. But it was still 8 pm, so Giles couldn't be sleeping at this time. He shrugged the thought off and strolled inside the house until he reached the dining room. Spike stopped his feet instantly when he saw a slim tall rear form standing in front of the cabinet.
"Uh...hello, there! Are you lost, pet?" said Spike blatantly. The brunette girl turned around and squinted her eyes as she tried to recognize the young man in front of her.
"Spike?" She asked in awe, not believing what she saw. The boy she used to know years ago was a nerd. I mean, REALLY a NERD with thick glasses and a brown tousled curled head. He was thin and not so tall for average kid at his age. But now, this boy turned into a sexy, hot, muscular, gorgeous, delicious you-name-it man with the glasses evidently already thrown off and bleached spiky hair, still curly somehow.
"Cordy?" Spike managed to find his voice at last as he regained his perception, though he was still mesmerized by the beauty of the young woman in front of him. 'God she's beautiful, as always' Spike thought.
"Yes, it's me. God, you've changed so much. I mean look at you, you've become a hot sexy hunk. I bet every girl's just drooling all over you, am I right?" Cordy gave him a wink and wide smile.
"Well, not every girl. You're not drooling all over me. So that's an exception, right." A hint of sadness engulfed his face but he soon shrugged it off. He then gave her his sexiest smirk as he took a step closer. He could see her blush slightly, making his pride run wild.
Buffy, hearing a conversation, left Spike's room.
"Oh, hey Spike! I see you made a move on my cousin already." Buffy teased, but that tinge appeared in her heart again. She had known that Spike had had a crush on Cordy since he was ten years old. But being five years younger dragged his hopes down after Cordy had stated that she didn't go for a younger man with more than 2 years difference. He was crushed when Buffy told him that Cordy was engaged a year ago with some British man working in the fashion industry. Now she wasn't sure if Spike had gotten over his crush just yet.
"Wha'?!? No, I did not...although, if you were interested, pet, you still can call your engagement off and leave your worthless fiancé for me." Spike gave Cordy another smirk. Buffy groaned and rolled her eyes at the same second as she walked off to the kitchen. Cordy let out a rich and clear laughter. She brought her hand to pat Spike's cheek.
"I'm sorry, Spike. You know, I can't. And I WON'T leave Wesley for you. But if I hadn't known him before, I would've fallen all over you. Besides, you're too young for me, remember!"
Spike groaned, rolling his eyes at her last statement. 'Here we go again. She won't fall for me if I'm not less than two sodding years younger! This is not bleeding fair!' Spike mutely grumbled.
"Oh well, tough luck eh, pet! Gotta give a bloke one last go before you marry that git." Spike gave a wicked wink and mischievous grin at Cordy.
"Oh, come on Spike! There must be a girl somewhere out there that will capture your heart and make you fall for her head over heels. Don't worry, you'll find her!" said Cordy, giving some hope and courage.
"Well, I did actually. I mean after you, there's this girl at school, an exchange student in fact. But I don't really wanna talk about her today. Right now, I wanna talk about you. So what are you doing here in good ol' Sunnydale?" Spike tried to cheer himself, changing his mood to a pleasant one.