Lyrics from linkin Park's "Lying from you"

:When I pretend
Everything is what I want it to be
I look exactly like what
you had always wanted to see:

"Are you going to call her?" Krista asked eagerly.

"What?" I asked, somewhat horrified with the idea of speaking to Buffy again. Mostly I was terrified by the way just the sight of her name and the idea of her putting it in my phone was causing all the blood to rush in my head, imagining all the things I could do
with her. "No, I am not going to call her."

"Why not?"

"Um, Jess. And, Buffy wasn't worth giving up Jess," I stuttered to find reasons.

"From the look on your face I'd say she was plenty worth it," Krista grinned, and I blushed deeper.

"What do you mean?"

"I've seen the way you look at Jess. And no doubt, you like, maybe even love her. But you never look at her the way you are right now thinking about this Buffy."

"She was just so," I searched for the word giving up all pretense. "Captivating. I didn't want anything but to be with her forever."

"Call her then, dumbass," Krista tried to shove the phone to my ear. I pushed it back down.

"No, relationship of over a year on the line here," I pointed out.

"With a girl whose parents you haven't even met."

"Not the point," I glared.

"Faith, we need you for some reshoots," I twisted to look at the PA sticking his head out of the door.

"During lunch?" I gave him a tired look.

"Sorry," he looked apologetic.

"Okay," I sighed, pushing myself up away from the table. Krista grabbed my wrist.

"Cat's number?" She asked.

"Oh, yeah," I grabbed my cell starting to scroll back through.

"Faith, sorry, but they need you quick," I sighed again, handing the phone to Krista, then following the PA back towards the studio.

"Bring it back in with you," I called back as the door shut.

"Yup," Krista grinned, scrolling through Faiths phone with one hand as she pulled her own out of her purse. "Buffy Summers," she grinned copying the number into
her phone before getting Cat's number.

"Am I bad? Oh yes," she grinned to herself, standing to head inside.

Me and Krista stood side by side in the make up room, both trying somewhat uselessly to remove at least some of their make up. A few of the other actors were in and out chatting with the lingering stylists and PA's.

"Bright and early tomorrow for you?" Alissa, the head stylist ask, breezing through the room.

"Nah, not till three, thank god," I answered, pulling my hair back into a loose ponytail.

"Not till three?" Krista asked. "Well then, are you going to Luna's tonight?"

"Nope, I have strict rules about going out on Mondays," I answered.

"Jessica won't let you?" Krista smirked, leaning to the mirror to apply her own lip gloss.

"No," I glared. "I mean she doesn't like it, but that's not the point. Monday is just, too Monday to go out," I finished lamely and knew it.

"If you had balls," Krista shook her head. "Well Jessica would be wearing them around her neck. A nice compliment to the whip in her right hand." Krista made a sound like a whip.

"Ha ha," I answered backing out of the room as I slipped on my jacket. "Funny girl. Work on the routine and I will see you tomorrow."

"Okay, but if you change your mind we should be at Luna's by eleven."

"Don't wait up," I answered, letting the door swing shut behind me.

I headed to my car, thinking about stopping on the way home, it was time to get something nice for Jess. I needed to fix this rift between us before I did something stupid. Buffy's lithe waist came immediately to mind.

"Yep, gotta fix this," I muttered backing the car out.

Five hours, twelve dozen roses in various colors (none of the red), one bottle of Cristal, and one pound size bag of lindor truffles later I sat at home, alone. The roses were set in vases around the foyer, the chocolate and champagne at my side. I was sitting at the bottom of the stairs; hands clasped, and foot tapping as I glanced alternatively between the door, and my cell phone.

Finally it rang.

"Hello?" I answered quickly.

"Hey," Jess answered happily, I could hear traffic in the background.

"Where are you?" I asked, trying not to sound too annoyed.

"At coffee bean with Tia," she answered, then obviously not talking to me "the vanilla chai latte, thanks."

"So you coming home anytime soon?" I asked, knowing how annoyed I sounded, and not really caring.

"Hold on a second. Faith, we need to talk later," she sighed. That really didn't sound like anything I wanted to do. "Things have been weird, and I know you noticed."

"I thought we were talking later," I said snidely, I couldn't help it. "You know, when you're done doing whatever important thing you're doing."

"Faith," another sigh. I hated when she sighed. "Fine, I'll be home late." The phone clicked in my ear.

"Okay," I said slowly, closing the phone. I looked around at the flowers. "Fuck." I glanced down at the phone. Ten-thirty. I could change at be at Luna's by the time anything fun was going on.

I grinned, decision made, and stood, jogging up the stairs to slide into something a little hotter for the night.