… Bump in the night.
By Norwalker
Chapter 2
Summary: A little Halloween treat. Of course, what would Halloween be without its tricks?
Timeline: Season three, between " Homecoming" and " Band Candy"
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimers: Joss Whedon, Mutant enemy and Fox own 'em. Like, we didn't know that already?
Cordelia Chase made her grand entrance at the Bronze.
She knew without deigning to look that all eyes were on her. She was dressed as Marie Antoinette, in an elaborate costume that was accurate in detail and hand sewn. Cost Daddy a fortune, but it's so worth it! She even had the towering blonde wig, and pale makeup and press on mole on her cheek. She was stunning, and nobody knew it better than her. She made her grand tour through the Bronze, making sure everybody got a got a gander of her costume. I'm so a shoo-in for the prize… I don't EVEN know what Willow was thinking. Compete with me? C'mon, get real!
All eyes seemed to be on Cordelia… including those belonging to the three figures standing above the crowd on the catwalks. They seemed intent on every detail… and on everybody in the Bronze.
" This feels weird" The first male says, looking down at the crowd.
" Get over it. It's perfect. Nobody's expecting it. It's going to come as a total surprise… and just think of the rewards…" The female of the group, standing center, says.
" But it's tradition, " The third member, also a male, says, " We don't do Halloween. It's so… tacky"
" Tackier than that 70's shirt you're wearing? How 'bout joining the rest of us in the nineties, huh?" The female says, disparagingly, " Anyway, that's the WHOLE point. No one's going to be on alert… including the Slayer. This is going to be a night to remember. We'll be legends, and …" she licks her lips, "… just think of all the rich feastings."
" Yeah," The first male says, looking down, " but what if the Slayer does show up? I mean, she might come to the party."
" Thought of that. I've got it covered. As long as those morons we left in the alley do their job, it won't be a problem, " The female says, " and even if they screw up, we have enough bodies to take care of her. We're gonna rule this party, and… hey, slayer blood? Gotta be like totally rich. Wouldn't mind a little taste myself."
" I'm still not liking this. I think we should just not do it. I know something's gonna go wrong" The second male says, looking down at the group, " the slayer's gonna show, and we're gonna be dust…"
"Sweetie," The female vamp says, walking over to him and draping her arm on his shoulders " It's gonna be fine. Just think of the blood… there's gonna be more eating than you've had in month." She leads him to the edge of the walk, " Just look at them… all ripe and plump for the picking…". Before he can react, her arm tightens around his neck, and she grabs his head, twisting it sideways, breaking his neck. He turns to dust.
" What I really can't stand, " She says, brushing the dust off herself, " is some whining loser complaining when a feast is handed to him. So, what do you think?" She says, turning to her other companion.
The other vampire, suitably cowed, puts his hands up, smiling. " It looks great to me, boss" He says unctuously, not wanting to join his former associate on the dust pile.
" Good. As long as you morons do what you've been instructed, HOW you were instructed, it should come off perfectly," The female vampire turns back to the crowd, watching them party.
" Ah, I just love trick or treat!"
&&&&&&&&
Buffy, Willow and Faith approach the Bronze entrance.
Willow's steps have been getting slower and slower as they approach the Bronze. She is having a major case of the butterflies. Except, her butterflies are dragons, and her stomach is feeling like the inside of a convection oven.
This was dumb, dumb, dumb. Totally dumb. Why'd I ever do this anyway? Why'd I ever agree to this, anyway? ok, got so sick of Cordelia just thinking that because she enters the contest, she wins. But… She looks down at her costume, and her expression approaches panic… this is just too much. I mean, I look like the Slut Queen of the Witches here. This is so not me! Everybody's going to be staring at me. Xander is going to be staring at me! Xander! Yikes! Oh…and he'll get that cute puzzled look on his face… and his mouth will do that cute thing it does when he gets all flustered, and I'm going to so be a bowl of Jell-o and just want to melt into his strong, masculine arms… Oh, no, not good… no, not at all good! Bad, arms bad. Cute puppy dog smile, Bad. Bad, Willow, bad. No, I can't… I just can't do this! No way!
" Hey guys, " Willow speaks up, " I was thinking… do we really want to go to this party? I mean, it's gonna be all loud and crowded and … hey, not too late to get some spooky videos…"
"Will? What're you talking about? Weren't you the one that was all ' Oh, you gotta go Buffy, you gotta get out and get all socializey.' I just wanted to relax at home…now, I'm here…so…" Buffy's expression says no way.
" Well… yeah, I guess were all dressed up… we could go trick or treating! It's not to late… it'd be a blast!"
" You're kidding me, right?" Faith says, a sour expression on her face, " I'm gonna go up to Joe and Jane Sunnyhell dressed like this, and ask for candy. Yeah, sure Red…" Another no vote.
"C'mon, Will. We're here, we look hot, we're gonna be a smash." Buffy says, smiling to encourage her shaky friend." We're gonna make 'em sweat, Will. This'll be great!"
" Yeah, Red, " Faith says, putting on her sultry, smoky voice, "I gotta admit, you look hot in that costume. You're gonna make heads do 360's watching you." Faith comes over, licking her finger, touches it to Willow's hip, and goes " SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS"
Willow jumps out of nervous fright. She blanches, " I can't… I can't do this. Really… sorry, but I …I know I'm gonna go in there, and all eyes are gonna be on me, and I'm gonna get shaky, and then I'll spaz and do something stupid, like spill the punch bowl on me, then I'll freak, and everybody will be looking at me, and laugh, and then I'll run out, and get attacked by vampires, and get turned, and be evil and then you'll have to go and stake me and then will you be happy?" she turns and walks away quickly. " I just can't do this. I'm sorry, I let you down but I can't" She calls back over her shoulder as she walks towards home.
The slayers look at each other, then take off after Willow.
I'll go home, and do my homework, and take a bath, and floss and get into bed and pull the covers over my head and then I won't get all crazy and jones for Xander while watching him dance, and think about his lips… oh, god his lips are sooo sweet and cute… STOP IT WILLOW… and 'k, I'm in control here, I won't be the slut queen from hell and want Xander to… wait…what's going on here? Why'm I floating…
Willow notices her feet are no longer touching the sidewalk, and she's… floating… back towards the Bronze..
Being helped by two slayers who have an arm under each elbow and are carrying her back to the Bronze.
" No, please, guys… this is really a bad idea… I can't do this. I hate being in the spotlight… I get hives…please…"
"Hush, Will. This is for your own good. You gotta stop being such a…"
"Coward? Wallflower? Geeker girl? I can live with those names…"
" Red, shut up! You're smokin', guys are gonna be droolin' over you, you're gonna love it" Faith says, and punctuates her remarks with a pinch to Willow's bottom.
'Hey! HEY! No pinching…. NO PINCHING!" Willow squirms and blushes.
Faith starts laughing, and is still laughing when they enter the Bronze.
&&&&&&&&
Rupert Giles sits at the bar of the Bronze, nursing the shot of blended swill they call scotch, wondering why he came here in the first place.
No, I know why I came. That note I received, saying that there was going to be a vampire attack at the Bronze. Of course, it's probably some kind of hoax. No self respecting Vampire would be caught dead doing anything on Halloween. After all, it's anathema to the demon world, they consider this day crass and rude. Still, you never know when the odd chance may occur. I remember all too well Ethan Rayne's little trick or treat surprise last year. No, better safe than sorry. Still…
Giles looks again at the costume he's wearing. He only got the note this afternoon, and he had to take what was left in costumes. Unfortunately, in that case it meant the Zorro costume. He is dressed in black pants, boots and shirt, with a vest embroidered in gold thread. His hat, a flat sombrero, has black tassels adorning its brim. His waist is cinched by a red sash, and he has a sword sheathed at his hip. And, of course, a black half face mask. To say he feels utterly foolish would be an understatement. Well, better I suppose than the Bozo the clown outfit, the only alternative. But really, this is most undignified!
" Hey, tall, dark and serape. How about a dance?" A somewhat sultry voice floats over his shoulder. Giles, surprised, turns around and is amazed to see a rather fetching young woman with long dark hair dressed as a vampire addressing him.
"Excuse me, miss?" Giles says, feeling he's seen her somewhere before.
She looks at him intently, then a broad smile breaks out over her face.
" G? is that you?" Faith asks, a little surprised, " I thought you had that tweed surgically stitched to your skin."
" Faith?" Giles asks, somewhat taken aback, and feeling a little embarrassed." That's a rather… daring… costume."
" You like?" Faith grins, giving her hips a hippy, hippy, shake.
" I'm actually quite glad to see you, " Giles says.
" Really?" Faith says, pouring on the flirt.
" Yes. Have you seen Buffy?"
Faith rolls her eyes.
" Kinky, G. But not sure B is into that kind of thing."
" What?" Giles says, puzzled. Then he gets it, and flushes madly, " No, that's not what… oh, dear" He reaches for his glasses, to clean them, only to realize he's not wearing them because of the mask. Faith chuckles and pats his thigh.
" Chill, G, I'm only yankin' your chain," Faith smiles at him, " Yeah, I came with B. She's here somewhere…" Faith looks around, and sees Buffy and Willow chatting with someone a few yards away." Ah, there's our busy B… HEY, B, RED.C'MON OVER… YOU GOTTA CHECK THIS OUT!" Faith yells, raising her arm to wave them over.
" Couldn't you shout that a little louder, Faith?" Giles asks, acerbically, " I don't believe they heard you on the catwalks."
" G! I'm surprised. Don't tell me you're embarrassed looking all sleek and derring- do like you do" Faith says, smirking.
" I hardly look…how did you say? Derring-do? I look…ridiculous, " Giles says, shaking his head, the tassels shaking with it.
" Hmmm… that hat," Faith shakes her head. Before Giles can do anything, she takes the hat and slings it so it's on his back rather than on his head. " Yes, much better," she purrs.
Buffy and Willow walk up just in time to see Faith fussing with Giles' hat.
" Well, leave it to Faith to find her hottie d' jour," Buffy says, grinning.
" Faith," Willow says, " are you going to introduce us to your friend?" Then she does a double take, as does Buffy.
"Giles??" They say in unison, and in shock.
Their shock however is equaled by Giles', who is looking at them as if they just landed from a hell dimension. Buffy in the leather dominatrix outfit almost gives him a heart attack…it's almost as bad as finding out his daughter(if he had one) is no longer a virgin. And Willow! Dressed… like that… modest, shy Willow looking like the Witch Queen of … naughty thoughts, Giles. Just stop that!
" Yeah, aint it a gas, B? Giles in satin, looking all… swashbuckly… and so cute!" She reaches over and pinches Giles' cheek for emphasis.
" Please don't do that, Faith," Giles says, a little sternly.
" Yes, please, don't do that Faith, ewwww" Buffy says, grossed out.
" This is serious!" Giles says, showing the note to Buffy.
Buffy's brow furrows, " not really big on the specifics, is it, Giles?"
"No, actually it's not, " Giles agrees," But still… it does say there will be an attack here."
" But no when, or how, or anything! Gee, I thought you said that the underworld takes Halloween off, " Buffy complains, not really wanting to be on duty tonight. Geeze, not even one night of fun without the " your sacred duty" stuff. Do I ever get a normal life?
" True enough, Buffy, " Giles agrees, " but ever since last Halloween with Ethan's little tricks, I'm rather wary of surprises."
" Like Eyghon" Buffy says, quietly
"Exactly," Giles concurs.
"Who's Eyghon?" Faith asks, not in the loop.
" A demon from Giles' past, " Willow chimes in. " Lets just say we learned more about Giles than we wanted to know."
Faith is about to ask more, but sees the looks on the faces around her, and decides she doesn't really want to know after all.
" So, what do you want us to do, Giles?" Buffy says, all business.
" Just stay alert. There's no telling when the attack might come… if it comes," Giles says," I just wish I knew more about it."
" Don't sweat it, G. We'll find the vamps and dust 'em" Faith says . She grabs Buffy's wrist, and starts to pull her along.
" Hey"
" C'mon, B. lets take a sweep of the place, see what we can see!" Faith says, striding away , Buffy in tow.
" Hey, what about me?" Willow asks, feeling suddenly deserted.
" Mingle, Red. Show off that booty, babe!" Faith says, as she disappears into the crowd.
Oh, yeah, that's just what I need!
Sighing, Willow wanders off to 'mingle'
&&&&&&&&
Xander slouches by the punch bowl, trying his best to be inconspicuous.
It's rather hard to be inconspicuous when you're dressed up as an 18th Century court dandy.
It was the last costume HE would've picked, but Cordy insisted. Threatened, really. She said either dress like a pouf, or she's not going with me. I almost had a backbone and said, "fine", but chickened out. After the 'fluking' with Willow, really can't take a chance Cordy will get suspicious. But geeze, talk about humiliating. Wait, don't have to talk. He looks at his costume, and sighs.
He nearly jumps out of his skin when a pair of hands encircle his eyes and he hears " BOO"
" Boo!" Willow says, having snuck up on Xander from behind.
Xander, startled, turns, and almost has a heart attack. Willow…and… so … sexy. Oh, my god! Not good, not good… wonder how that dress comes off? XANDER! Down, boy…
" That wasn't very scary, Will" Xander says, a little shaky. God, she smells good… No, Xander, think baseball…think football… god, she'd be sooo cute in a cheerleader's uniform… DAMN
" I wasn't trying to be scary," Willow says. Hmmm… never realized he has such nice legs… WILLOW, control. Stay in control. But she trails a finger down Xander's chest.
" Then why'd you say " boo"?" Xander asks. Why is she doing that? 1x33, 2x36, naked girls… naked Willow. GULP!!
" Because I…" Willow stammers, realizing she wants to excite him. Damn, I'm acting so slutty. It's this dress. It's evil, and it's making ME evil, too!!! " … Uh… oh, just shut up!" Willow says, flustered, confused and angry. She crosses her arms and moves away a little.
" Hey, Will… I'm sorry, " Xander says, moving to her, " I didn't mean… look, it's just ever since homecoming, and the clothing fluking… been kind of…"
" I know, I know, " Willow says, guilt in her voice, " I was there too… bad, kissing bad!"
" Not bad… it was good… that's the problem!" Xander says, " And your so… sexy in that costume…" his voice softens.
" And you're so sexy in that costume…" Willow says, unfolding her arms, turning towards Xander.
" You think?" Xander says, " I mean, I thought I looked like a …."
" Oh, no… you look…" Willow says, feeling herself drawn towards Xander…moving closer….
"And you… you just look… Wow, " Xander says, leaning towards Willow… their faces getting closer… their lips getting closer…
"Yeah, wow, " Willow says, her voice almost a whisper… her lips almost touching his…
"Exactly what do you think you're doing with my boyfriend " A sharp voice comes between them.
Willow and Xander separate like an electrical shock hits them. Willow instinctively brings her mask up, and turns around. Cordy is standing there, giving Willow the once over.
" Cordy!" Xander exclaims, backing away from Willow, " We weren't doing anything!"
" Really, Xander? Looked pretty cozy to me!" Cordelia, in full bitch mode, snaps. She whirls towards Willow, moving in on her.
" And you!" Cordy says, lashing out, " Where do you get off putting the moves on my boyfriend?" She gets up into Willow's face.
Willow, cowering behind her mask, is about to reply, but thinks better of it, knowing no matter what she says it's just going to make things worse.
" Look at you, all sluttied up, thinking you're pretty hot, huh?" Cordelia rages on, " C'mon, bitch, who are you? Do you even go to Sunnydale high? If you did you'd KNOW better than to mess with Queen C's boyfriend!"
Willow realizes that Cordelia doesn't even know who she is. She looks at her, and sees something she's never seen before…fear. She's afraid of losing Xander!!! She's ready to fight for him!!! This does two things to Willow… first of all, it lets her know how utterly different she looks tonight, because there's no way in hell Cordelia would ever get this jealous of her, mousy little Willow. Secondly, it puts Cordelia in a wholly different light. One that Willow hasn't been able to see her in before. As a girl, just like her, with all the fears that come with it, and not some ice queen bitch user. It makes her feel even worse than she does about her little… no, don't even want to think about it. Just have to make it so it's not going to happen again. God, I feel like the biggest ho goin'.
Willow steps back two steps, and shrugs, gesturing an " I didn't know". She turns to walk away, but Cordelia catches her by the arm.
" Hold up, Slut. Not done with you yet. I'll let you go, only because that just shows how much better a person I am. But let me tell you, skanky ho… come near my boyfriend again, and I'm gonna scratch those green eyes of yours straight out!" Cordelia gives Willow a hard shove. Willow teeters for a minute, almost losing balance, but she manages to keep on her feet. As Cordelia turns away, Willow, a little angry at being handled, gives Cordelia a little mock curtsey, then turns away. She hears a few tatters of applause around the group that's formed to watch the fight… nobody minds someone getting a little back on Queen C. She nods her head, and starts to walk off. Over her shoulder she hears Cordelia tearing into Xander.
" Xander! I can't leave you alone for 5 minutes but you're cozying up to some little tramp. What's your problem? Did you forget who you're with?"
" I didn't…."
" I sure looked like you were going to, Xander. If I hadn't caught you , you'd probably still be in lip lock with that slut."
" Cordy, I'm sorry… "
" Going to take more than that. You better be ready for some major league groveling…"
Willow, despite feeling bad for Xander, letting him take the full brunt of a Queen C hissy fit, still can't help but feel a little… buoyant. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that one day she'd see Cordelia Chase jealous over something she'd done… or almost done. Having Cordy go into a jealous freak out was just … bonus. As she walked away, she felt a little thrill run through her body, as if finally realizing after all these years she is sexy, and can use it to her advantage. Willow!! That's just shameful! That's… sexist!
All the same, a new confidence comes into her walk, a brand new little swagger.
With a confident and enigmatic smile adorning her lips, she walks away.
&&&&&&&&
"Well, this is pointless!"
Faith is standing with Buffy, surveying the crowd. More like, surveying a mass of cattle, for all she can see. How the hell are we supposed to see anything with this joint with the wall to wall bodies? I've seen looser packed sardine cans. Faith sighs, trying to figure where she can get a better view of the action. She looks up and sees the catwalks.
"Hey, B. That's where we gotta get to, " Faith nudges Buffy, pointing to the catwalks. She looks around, and notices the stairway… at the other side of the club." Crap. It's on the other side. We'll never get through this crowd!"
Buffy looks up, and sees a low hanging pipe. She leaps up, grabbing it, and swings around, pulling herself up on the catwalk. She looks down at Faith.
" Hey, found a shortcut. " Buffy smiles, waving at Faith to come on up.
Faith takes a look at the pipe, and is about to leap… and realizes she's wearing a skin tight skirt. She looks up at Buffy, frustrated.
" What's wrong, Faith? Need a hand?" Buffy mocks her, reaching over and putting out her hand.
"Aw, screw that!" She mutters. She reaches over, and tears the dress slit all the way to the hip. Realizing the heels she's wearing are only going to make things worse, she kicks them off. Damn, kinda liked those. She leaps up, grabbing the pipe, swings herself around. Heh. Good thing no one's looking up, or they'd get quite a show! Faith thinks, as she swings herself up and over to the catwalk. Then she notices someone was looking… Buffy!
" Niiice form, Faith, " Buffy says, winking at her.
" Knock it off, Blondie, we're working here!" Faith says, feeling a little flustered. My, my. Did little miss goody good just flirt with me? Well, well!
" Uh-huh," Buffy says nonchalantly, starting down the catwalk. Faith follows, noticing Buffy's walk has taken up a little unconscious bounce. Hmmmm… maybe I misjudged blondie? She's a little distracted, and almost runs right into Buffy.
" Faith, down there… take a look" Buffy points.
"What? Where?" Faith asks, not seeing what Buffy sees.
" There! By the bar. They guy who looks like he just stepped outta Saturday Night Fever"
" Him? That might just be a costume, B"
" Please… that shirt's so tacky, it's even bad for the seventies. No way… that guy has Vamp written all over him."
" C'mon, B. Just because he offends your fashion sense… oh, oh."
"What?"
" He's taking that girl with him… and it looks like he's heading for the exit."
" Told ya, Faith!" Buffy says.
" Never mind now, B. Lets just go do our thing."
Faith and Buffy exit, following the vampire.
A form emerges from the shadows… the female from before. She's smiling.
" Well… two of them. How odd." She shrugs, " Oh, well… just give the boys a little something extra to play with." She turns back towards the crowd in the Bronze.
" Getting pretty close to party time!" she licks her lips.
&&&&&&&&
The lead singer to the band steps up to the mic. Tapping it with his finger, he speaks:
" Hey. Welcome to The Bronze's " Scare-a-Palooza 98 ". Is everybody havin' a rockin' time?"
A large cheer goes up.
" Yeah. Well, it's time to elect a winner of the Scare-A-Palooza's Costume contest. Now, the judges have narrowed it down to three finalists, and YOU, the audience, will elect the winner. How's that sound?"
Another large cheer goes up.
"Alright, then. First, lets bring up the finalists… is a Janie Mosley in the crowd?"
Amid claps and cheers, a young woman dressed as Cleopatra makes her way to the stage. She does an Egyptian walk ala the 80's group " Bangles" video. Everybody laughs, and she bows.
" Ok, Janie, if you'll just stand over here, please," The singer indicates center stage." Thank you."
" Now, is Cordelia Chase out there?"
Cordelia, knowing how to use the spotlight, makes her way to the stage, acknowledging the ' little' people around her with a smile and wave. She then mounts the stage, does a curtsy to the crowd, and makes sure to upstage the previous contestant by standing just a little in front of her.
Willow is at the back of the crowd, trying her best not to be noticed, hoping against hope she won't get called. After that little scene with Cordelia earlier, being the 'winner' all of a sudden doesn't appeal much. She got lucky in Cordelia not recognizing who she was, but if they call out her name, and she goes up now… Cordy's going to know… and then all the other stuff might come out. Please… please! Don't call out my name…please. Willow is just about made up her mind to leave, so there's no chance that she'll be discovered, when the lead singer makes his final announcement.
" Is Willow Rosenberg here?"
Cheers and applause go up, to encourage her to step forward. But Willow just tries to fade in the background.
" Willow Rosenberg? Are you out there?"
Still, Willow hesitates. She doesn't want this to be happening. She starts towards the exit.
" C'mon now, no need to be shy. Come on up, Willow!"
Cordy, speaking to no one in particular, but just loud enough for the mic to pick up, says, " Well, I knew she wouldn't show. She knows she can't beat me, so she's probably slinking out the exit right now. Well, just as I said… once a loser, always a loser." Cordelia, realizing that what she just said went out over the speakers, for a moment is a little flustered. Then, in typical Cordy Chase style, straightens herself up and pretends it didn't happen.
The crowd goes quiet, and Willow freezes in her tracks. She turns towards the stage, and stares at Cordelia. That… Biotch! How dare she? Where does she get off, anyway. Ok, that's it. Don't care anymore, I'm going up there and beating the pants…well, the skirt, off of her! Her face setting into its resolve mode, she starts towards the stage, head held high, walking tall and proud. The crowd, none too pleased with Queen C's previous remarks, start to clap…then it swells into a huge cheer. Willow, buoyed up by the crowd, mounts the steps, turns to the crowd, and out Cordelia-ing Cordelia, does a low curtsey, making sure her…well… attributes are properly exhibited. There are some appreciative whistles, and she takes her place with the others. She turns to Cordy, and brings her mask up to her face, and smiles. Cordelia nearly has a cow, but restrains herself.
"Ok… these are our finalists. Now, it's up to you… I'm going to stand behind each of the young ladies. When I raise my hand, you tell me how much you like their costume. The winner is the one getting the most applause. Everybody got it?"
The crowd indicates its assent.
" Ok, then, lets begin"
The singer goes behind Janie, and holds up his hand. The crowd gives an enthusiastic response, clapping loudly. Janie does a brief belly dance, and the crowd hoots and whistles. She smiles and waves to the crowd.
" Ok, contestant number two"
The singer goes behind Cordelia, and holds up his hand. For a brief moment, there's silence. Then a polite, but subdued applause, Xander being the only 'enthusiastic' clapper in the place. Except for a slight down curve of her brow, Cordelia makes no sign of her disappointment.
" Well, ok. Now, contestant number three"
Even before the singer can get behind Willow and hold up his hand, the crowd goes crazy. The applause and cheering is wild and enthusiastic. Willow, at first stunned by the response, is overwhelmed. I won… I WON!!! Going with it, overcoming her normally terminal shyness, she breaks out in a victory dance straight out of the " Rocky" movies. She starts bouncing on the balls of her feet, and lifts her fists high over her head. The crowd, getting into the spirit of the moment, starts to chant out " Willow!!--- Willow!!--- Willow!!!"
The singer returns to the mic. " Well, it seems we have a clear winner. Willow Rosenberg, if you'll step up to the microphone, please".
Willow starts to walk to the microphone, but feels a resistance, followed by a huge rip. Cordelia, not at all pleased with the outcome, has stepped on trailing train of Willow's costume. The skirt is ripped away, along with the cape and the back half of the bodice. Suddenly, Willow finds herself nearly nude up in front of …well, hundreds of people. Embarrassed as never before in her life, Willow desperately clutches at the remaining costume, trying to cover up anything revealing with her arms. She half sinks to the floor, turning beet red.
There is a lot of laughter, and some cat calls and wolf whistles from the crowd. Xander, seeing his best friend being humiliated, rushes up onstage, and taking off the cape of his costume, drapes it over the mortified Willow. Not realizing it's deliberate, he looks at Cordy for help. He sees her self-satisfied smile, and puts 2 and 2 together.
"Cordelia, " Xander hisses, clearly upset," how much of a bitch can you be? How can you treat her like this, anyway? What is your trauma?"
" Hey, don't take that tone with me, Xander Harris, " Cordelia snaps back, " It's her own fault. She should've known not to compete with me in a contest. And, exactly WHY was she putting the moves on you earlier? Want to explain that one?"
"No moves, no move making was going on, " Xander covers, " We were just goofing… pals, you know? But you got all jealous and…"
" Jealous? Of her? over YOU? Puh-lease, Xander, don't give her or yourself that much credit!"
" Well, if that's the way you feel, Cordelia, maybe you should find your own way home, " Xander exclaims.
" Moron, I drove us here, " Cordelia sneers.
" Oh, yeah, " Xander says, a little deflated." Well, then I'll find MY own way home… so… there!"
" God, what are you… like, six years old?" Cordelia, tired of the nonsense, walks offstage in a huff.
Xander turns to Willow, who's still cowering a little under his cape. "Are you ok, Will?"
" Yes, " She says, then " No" then, she starts to sniffle a little, " I just want to go home."
" Aw, c'mon, Will. Don't let Cordelia ruin the evening for you. You won, Will. You beat her."
" Too late, Xan. She already pretty much ruined it for me. God, I never knew she could be so…" Willow trails off, resisting the urge to call her something she would have to wash her mouth out after saying, " I'm half naked here, and humiliated… "
" Half naked? It looked like more than that to me, " Xander asserts
" Oh, god, you're really not helping, Xander, " Willow cries, " just take me home, ok?"
Willow pulls the cape tighter around herself, and she and Xander are just starting to leave the stage, when the lights go out.
&&&&&&&&
Continued in Chapter 3