Chapter 17

Girls

The 8 friends met in the hallway.

"We missed dinner," everyone said at the same time. Then they broke out laughing.

"It's okay. There's a nice diner down the road we can stop in," Faith said. Cordelia put Copper back in the hotel room with the fan and TV on then they were on their way. They walked along the roadside, watching cars and trucks pass them by. It was a nice cool night, the high going to be around 70, the low around 56. A slight breeze was blowing towards them making the air temperature just right. A few convertibles drove by with the hoods down. Fred linked arms with Cordelia and rested her head on her shoulder as they walked. A green slug bug convertible drove slowly by, blaring its music. Fred recognized the song immediately and started to happily sing along.

"The girls need a break, tonight were going to take the chance to get out on the town!" Cordelia also recognized it as Shania Twain.

"We don't need romance, we only wanna dance!" Willow joined Fred. Cordelia giggled and couldn't help but sing along too.

"The best thing about being a woman is the perogative to have a little fun!" the three sang out.

"Oh, oh, oh go totally crazy. Forget I'm a lady!" Faith joined in. Together Cordelia, Fred, Faith, and Willow linked arms and sang into the night.

"Oh, oh, oh I wanna be free yeah. To feel the way I feel. Man! I feel like a woman!" The car was long gone but the girls didn't care as they sang until they reached the restaurant.

"Thank the good lord in heaven," Spike said as they opened the door of the restaurant.

"Zip it!" Willow scolded. The 4 new girlfriends sat next to each other at dinner and chatted up a storm about random things.

"At least the ratio from girls to boys is the same now," Wesley whispered.

"How is that even remotely close to being an upgrade?" Xander hissed. "All we attained was 2 more giggly, bubbly, freaky girls."

"I totally heard that one Xander Harris!" Faith cried tossing a piece of ice from her glass Xander's way.

"Come on you guys. Settle!" Angel cried.

"Now, we are going camping tomorrow and we'll be gone for the whole weekend. The bus route doesn't leave until Monday afternoon where we'll be spending even more time with each other. So now is totally not the time to start a ruckus."

"Sheesh. I thought I'd be off the hook once I turned 18, but I guess I was wrong," Faith said shaking her head and smiling. They left the restaurant at around 9. Cordelia entwined her arm with Spike's and held his hand.

"You always dress in yellow but you wanna dress in gold!" Fred started up the Hilary Duff again.

"God. Somebody get her off of the teen icons for a while!" Xander covered his ears.

"Instead of listening to your heart you do just what you're told!" Spike finished. Faith, Willow, and Cordelia giggled as Wesley joined in to and the two men sang the rest of the song the rest of the way to the hotel.

"Oh god. Oh god. Oh GOD!" Xander cried.

"Angel, I'm begging you to please let me stay in your room. I have to share a room with Wesley and Fred! I thought you were on my side Wes, but Fred took you over!" Wesley just smiled as Fred brought him in for a kiss. Cordelia smiled at Spike and copied Fred.

"Okay, stop the tonsil hockey and let's wait until were in our own rooms to do that okay?" Faith said prying Spike and Cordelia apart as Angel did the same with Fred and Wesley. Xander put his hands together ready to beg.

"Please Angel. Now I have to sleep in your room!" Angel sighed.

"Fine Xander." He did a little hop like an excited little boy. Faith groaned.

"Wonderful, just wonderful."

Up in the bedroom Cordelia continued to hum Shania. She giggled realizing Spike was too.

"You're too much mister," she said lying down next to him.

"That was never a down grade before," he teased kissing her on her bare shoulder.

"Nor is it now," she whispered.

"Cordelia?" Spike questioned.

"Yeah?"

"I love you. More then anyone could every love another human being," he said, stroking her hair.

"I already know that babe. Where is all this coming from?" she asked.

"I just wanted you to know that before I asked you my next question," he said.

"Spike, what is it?" Cordelia asked.

"I want us to take our relationship to the next level. I love you Cordelia and I want to show you," he breathed down her neck and kissed her under her ear.

"But Spike," she said gripping his wrists. "I...I mean I've never done something like that with anybody. You know I was waiting until I found the right person before I lost my virginity." She saw the disappointment in his eyes and lifted his chin up. "I have though. Baby, I've found that right person," she kissed him on the lips and felt him react.

"Are you sure Cordy?" he asked. "I don't want to pressure you into anything." She ran her fingers down his chest giving him chills.

"I have complete trust in you."