Disclaimer: Me no own Buffy.

Ch 5: The Announcement

Buffy:

The day started off so good, how could it end like this? I'm leaning against the wall near the bathroom of the club just thinking to myself. Angel came into the club after I was done dancing and I immediately went to him. I've been meaning to continue our conversation from Sunnydale before it blew up and now seemed as good a time as any.

"Angel." I let out as a sigh when I stood directly in front of him.

"Buffy." His brooding slipped a bit from his face and he had a softer look, but it still looked so tortured. I sensed that his next words would not be happy so before he could say them I pulled him down and kissed his cold lips. I don't know what it was but this kiss felt so different. It was almost like it was...empty.

I pulled back when I felt something was wrong, seriously wrong. "Why are you here?" I asked worriedly.

"Just came by to get some information about a case from a connection, but it doesn't look like he's here."

"Is that all you came here for? Maybe you could stay with me for a while." I say hopefully.

"Maybe that's not such a good idea." His brooding tortured face went back on in full affect.

And then from there, in layman terms, he broke up with me. We weren't in an active relationship or anything, but in Sunnydale the last time I saw him there was a definite possibility of us getting back together. But he very thoroughly explained to me that because of his curse we could never really be happy together. All he wants for me is my happiness and if our relationship is in the way of that then we shouldn't be in one. After that he left.

I should feel heartbroken, like my world is over, like there's nothing worth living for. I should but I don't. The most I feel is foolish for believing things could work between us and for thinking that I was still madly, deeply in love with him. The truth is I'm not, maybe I was once but that was a long time ago. I've been lying to myself for so long that I don't know what I should feel anymore.

So I'm just leaning against the wall near the bathroom alone wondering what to do now. I let out a deep sigh and prepare myself to face my friends. I walk back to the tables and find everyone laughing about some joke that Xander told. I take my seat next to Will and she looks surprised.

"Buffy, where've you been?"

"Oh just the restroom, long lines and all." I give a small white lie, I was close to the restroom.

"I thought you were with Faith." That's when I realize Faith isn't here.

"No, where is she?"

"I don't know, haven't seen her for a while but Kennedy said she was looking for you."

"I didn't see her, where could she be?" I really didn't see her and she wouldn't disappear on us, right?

"Don't worry Buffy, this is Faith we're talking about. She's probably somewhere taking care of her um, 'business'." Will said with air quotes and all.

Faith's 'business'. I felt a pang at that thought. She's probably out back near the dumpsters taking care of her uuughhh with the last guy that looked at her. I can't believe her, she ditched me to screw some jerk. Just when I thought Faith had changed into a sweet, caring individual she reverts back to her selfish, slutty ways. That's just the icing on the cake of this roller coaster day.

Around me people were unaware of my plight and were having the time of their life. It was sickening and I was getting tired of it. I couldn't get into a good mood or even attempt a smile if my life depended on it right now.

"Willow." I called.

"Yeah Buff?" She answered innocently.

"I'm going to go back to the hotel, I'm feeling pretty tired." I'm not lying, I do feel tired.

"You want me to come with you, cuz I could." She said only because she's my best friend and obligated to. I could tell she didn't want to leave her girlfriend's side.

"No Will, that's ok. Stay and have a good time."

She looked to consider it for a while. "If you say Buff, good night."

"Night Will." I say and smile then head out hoping no one stops to question me.

It took me only a couple of minutes to walk back to the hotel and I entered quietly, wanting to take a shower and crawl into bed so I can forget this day. But when I got inside I found Giles talking to a roughed up Faith. The was no blood anywhere but she was covered in dust and the strings that held her top secure looked like they were about to snap.

"What happened?" I asked alarmed.

Giles looked up and saw me, "Faith just ran into some vampires, shouldn't you be with the others?"

I didn't answer so I could frown at Faith. "I was just about to ask Faith the same question." She was probably ambushed while she was doing her 'business'. Faith didn't look at me and didn't even answer, she kept facing Giles.

"So could you do that for me G?" She asked him.

"I don't agree with your decision, Faith, but I respect it. So yes, the arrangements will be made and everything ready in the morning." What the hell were they talking about?

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked looking between the both of them.

"Faith, I believe you should at least tell Buffy."

I look expectantly at her and for the first time since I got here she look at me. I don't know what I did but in her eyes it looks like I betrayed her or something. She holds her cold, angry stare with me. Less than an hour ago weren't we just dancing together? Now it feels like we're enemies the way she looking at me.

"I've decided that LA just isn't the place for me so tomorrow morning I'm leaving to Cleveland." I just stood there dumbstruck. She's...leaving. What? That can't be, why would she leave me?

After her announcement, Faith went outside to have a smoke and I followed her soon after. The cold, night air that hit me when I stepped outside was refreshing. I found Faith a few feet away, leaning against the wall as she smoked. I approached her but she didn't acknowledge my presence. Even when I was right in front of her she refused to look at me.

I quickly became irritated with her ignorance. "Why are you leaving." I said in the calmest voice possible for me at the moment. Right now I was in no mood for any of her bullshit.

She finished her cigarette and flicked it to the street before answering, still not looking at me. "Because I can't stay here."

What kind of answer is that? "And why can't you stay here?"

She took a deep breathe and exhaled. "Its complicated." She said before pushing off the wall and walking down the street away from the hotel.

I wasn't about to let her escape that easy. "Where the hell are you going?" I ask on the verge of yelling as I followed behind her.

"Somewhere."

Well now isn't she the talker. "Faith, WAIT!"

She turned around abruptly and faced me so fast that I almost ran into her. "Look B, just let it drop ok? I just need to leave and that's that. I don't want to or have to explain myself. You wouldn't understand anyways." She turned and power walked her way into one of many allies in LA.

What did she say? That I wouldn't understand? I'm a very understanding person, what the hell is she talking about and why won't she just tell me? So I run right into the ally after her. It doesn't take me long to catch up with her. I grab her arm tightly and force her to turn and face me. She is breathing hard and her eyes flash with anger and frustration.

"What the hell, B! Why the fuck can't you leave me alone?" She accuses and yanks her arm out of my hold.

"All I want to know is the reason why you are leaving and then maybe I'll let you go where ever you want!" We both are heated up and if things get out of hand both of us are going to be seriously injured.

She started to chuckle a bit and I really hoped she wasn't having a relapse in the psychotic. "You want to know why, B? You really want to know?" I kept silent and waited for her to continue. "Fine, its cuz of you. I can't stay cuz of you!"

Because of me? Why? Did I do something wrong? I thought we were finally becoming friends. "But why? I thought we were friends."

Now she was right out loud laughing and it was starting to scare me so I took a few steps back. "You see B, that's exactly why! I don't want to be your friend, I can't be your friend."

Why is she saying these thing? It hurts me more with each word she speaks. I feel my chest tighten up and eyes getting moist. "But..."

"B, you drive me crazy!" She is on a rampage now, "You always find a way to screw me up, even if you don't mean to! When I'm around you I could feel like I'm on the highest mountain, then all you have to do is say a word and I feel like the lowest scum that walks this earth. But what sucks most of all is that you don't even realize it! You have no clue what I'm going through because your eyes are always set on you God damned, undead, Prince Charming!"

She ceased her tirade and eyed me. Her eyes were cold and chills went down my spine. There is something dark about the whole atmosphere now and I can't help but step away a little more from her. "And after spelling it out for you, you still don't get it." She says almost to herself.

I'm about to say something but I forget it when I see her taking a step towards me. I want to move back more but I stand my ground, I refuse to be intimidated. Slowly, I look up from the ground to her face and inhale sharply as deja vu decides to play tricks on me.

Her eyes are dark with lust and stare straight through my soul. Suddenly she pounces on me, pushing me roughly back against a wall. I gasp to catch my breathe but her mouth instantly devours mine and her tongue invades me. I can taste the nicotine on her lips but it is mixed with another taste that I can only describe as Faith. Oh my God, I can't believe this is really happening. I attempt to push her away but she grabs my wrists and slams them above my head and holds them there.

Suddenly her mouth is no longer on mine and I'm panting for air. Her right hand then slowly snakes its way down my arm, over my shoulder, and up my neck to cup my cheek. I look up into her eyes once again and lose my breathe. There is so much emotion showing that its too much to comprehend. Those same eyes that I only caught glimpses of when I was actually awake and stared into every night. I pull my gaze down from her powerful stare and find her lips just as I've always done. They are slightly parted and puffy and every breathe she takes sounds labored. I am mesmerized by how full they are and how soft they look.

I'm expecting her to say those words that I've heard her say repeatedly at night but I don't.

"I love you." She whispered so low that I barely heard it.

Time stopped and my body froze. I held my breathe and panicked. That can't be right, she can't mean it, she can't. "No." I said to myself and shook my head, this can't be happening. "NO!" I said louder and successfully pushed her away so hard she crashed into the dumpster on the opposite side. Without a second look I ran back to the hotel.