I know that a few of you have complained that Buffy's too pathetic and believe me, I wholeheartedly agree. I was starting to make myself sick at how spineless she was, but it was needed to move the story along. This is the chapter where Buffy finally grows a pair (not literally), so enjoy…
"That sounds so romantic…" Willow gushes. I just had to tell her about our anniversary date, it's not everyday that— actually, it's almost never that Faith is romantic.
"It was," I gush back.
"I didn't know she had it in her," Will teases, "way to light a fire under her ass."
"To be perfectly honest, I really don't think her ass is where I lit the fire," I smirk. She thinks about it for a minute and then goes wide-eyed, understanding my innuendo.
"Oh," she blushes.
"Although, she's been acting a bit odd since then," I tilt my head to side a little, Faith just hasn't been herself since our anniversary.
"How so?" she asks, curiously.
"She's been…" I pause, trying to come up with the right word, "nice."
"Nice?" Will asks incredulously, "She's been acting nice and you're worried?"
"Yes," I'm very worried.
"Why?"
"Well, for starters, she's not bringing home that club trash anymore…"
"Maybe she's tired of them," she suggests, optimistically.
"She stayed home with me yesterday and watched a movie…"
"Maybe she was tired," again, with the optimism.
"She cuddled me after sex…"
"Maybe she—"
"No. And yesterday, she even bought me flowers. Flowers, Will. Flowers! She never buys me flowers."
"Buffy… don't you think you're being a tad bit… unreasonable?"
"Look Will, I know her and she isn't that nice to me unless there's something going on."
"Maybe she's had a change of heart…"
"Yeah, and maybe,just maybe, pigs can fly and elephants can walk on their hind legs."
"Um, Buffy, elephants can walk on their hind legs," she corrects.
"Okay fine, but this is Faith," I snort.
Will looks thoughtful for a moment, then gives up, "Yeah, you're right, sorry. So what do you think she's up to?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out."
"You don't think it could be Cordelia, do you?" I do, but, for her sake, I certainly hope not.
Then, a thought crosses my mind – a thought that only kinda hurts. Faith's home. Faith's home alone. Alone, without me. Faith doesn't stay home.
"Sorry, Will, I gotta go, I uh, left the stove on," I lie horribly.
"Buff, you don't cook."
"I know…" think something, something good, "…which is why I left the stove on. Gotta go, bye." With that, I run and hop in the nearest cab. I don't have time to wait for the limo driver.
When I get home, Faith is still there and unexpectedly, she's alone. Hmm… maybe she has changed for the better. I walk over to her bedroom door, she's on her cell phone, hmm… I can hear her side of the conversation, but I don't know who's on the other end.
"…no, she has no idea… she doesn't suspect a thing… I know, I've been playing her like a violin… no, not a clue… yeah, make sure you call me on this number… okay, I'll be over later…"
"Faith, baby, I'm home," I call out sweetly, as if I just entered.
"I've gotta go," she mutters quickly and flips the phone shut as I walk in, "Hey kitten, you're uh… home early, I thought you were gonna be with Red today." I stroll over to her and graze her lips with my own.
"I was, but then I missed you. You've been so sweet to me lately, I thought I'd come home and thank you properly," I smile seductively.
"Oh," she gives me dimpled grin.
"So, who was that on the phone?" I ask offhandedly, taking off my top and pushing Faith onto the bed. I slowly start trailing kisses down her throat, making her breath hitch.
"I, er, it was… no one, just a telemarketer," dirty liar. I know she's lying – not just 'cause I was eavesdropping, but she just got that phone, and nobody has that number yet, but me. There's no way a telemarketer can have that number yet. But I pretend to accept her answer anyway.
…
I rummage though her clothing, which is now lying on a pile on the floor and quickly find her cell phone. Let's see who you were really talking to… I pull up the last call and it says: "C"
Cordelia.
I knew it.
Dammit Faith.
…
I've put on my clothes and packed a bag, I'm standing in the living room waiting for her when she comes out to look for me.
"Hey baby," she leers, walking over and trying to kiss me, "I wasn't done with you yet." I push her away.
"Faith, we need to talk," I say with no hint of emotion in my voice.
"Aw crap, this is gonna be one of those talks isn't it?"
"I'm leaving."
"Oh, where are you going?"
"I'm going to stay at the Waldorf for a few days."
"Why? I know the beds there are nice, but—"
"No, you don't get it," I emphasize the last part slowly, "I'm leaving you."
"What? You can't just leave me."
"Why not?" I hiss.
"Because..."
"Well, that's a wonderful reason," I retort sarcastically.
"Baby... c'mon, don't leave," she tries to hold my hand, but I pull away.
"I put up with so much from you, I let you sleep with whoever you want and all I ask is that you stay away from Cordelia and you—" I'm yelling now and I can't stop, I didn't want my anger to get the best of me, but I can't help it.
"I haven't been with Cordelia."
"Maybe not yet, but you were going to," I accuse bitterly.
"No, I wasn't," wow, she truly manages to sound sincere.
"So you're telling me that wasn't Cordelia Chase you were talking to when I came home?"
"What? No."
"Then who were you talking to?"
"I can't say."
"Why not?"
Silence. She looks down at the ground.
"Yeah well, then I can't stay," I walk towards the door.
"I love you," she calls after me desperately, her voice actually cracks a little and I turn around to face her.
"No, you don't," I hiss angrily, I whirl around again walk to the door, "And that's the problem."
"No baby, I mean it, I love you." How dare she?
Regaining my composure, I turn and look her in the eyes, "Faith, in all the time that I've known you, do you honestly expect me to believe that?"
Her mouth moves a bit, but no sound comes out, then she says, "Well, no. But it's the truth."
I sigh, "No, Faith, the truth is, you just want to possess me. You don't want me to love anyone else, but you certainly aren't ready to love me yourself."
"I..." her eyes are downcast.
"Look me in the eye and tell me that what I just said isn't true."
Silence.
"That's what I thought," I slam the door behind me and run into the open elevator. I hit the button for the first floor and sink against the back wall, crying.
TBC?
I know should make this a happy ending, but...