Chapter 3. Up in the World. Long one just because I took long to update.
When the girls arrive downstairs, Buffy is staring at Tara, who exits the elevator not noticing Buffy is still in the elevator.
"What are you talking about?" asks Buffy.
"It's pretty obvious," says Tara. They exit the building and head to Buffy's car.
"Not to me it isn't. I mean, did he tell you?"
"No, I just figured it out."
"How?"
"It's the way he talks about you and the roach incident." Tara smiles as she gets into Buffy's car.
"How dare he tell that story. I'm so going to kill him."
"It was funny."
"Yes, it was. Did he say anything else about me?"
"Oh, he said that one time you had to pick up men on the streets to have dinner." Buffy glares at her. "You seriously can't take a joke."
"That's what Xander says to me all the time."
"You need to lighten up. It's good to laugh once in a while."
"I know and Xander does that a lot. Making me laugh. Why didn't he tell me?"
"I guess he thought you were too glamorous to notice."
"I guess I've changed. I can't believe it. All this time. It has to be now when I'm actually in a good relationship." Buffy sighs as she gets into her car. "I had a thing for him earlier on, but I didn't think that he would actually date me. Not that I wasn't glamorous and beautiful as I am now, but I thought he didn't seem interested."
"Maybe he was nervous to ask you or tell you."
"Maybe. Well, let's forget about this. It's not something that's going to happen. I'm happy with Angel and Xander seems to like him."
"He told me that he's good for you."
"He did?"
"Yeah, maybe I shouldn't have brought this up."
"No, it's okay. Let's just get on with what we are doing."
"Right."
The girls park next to a local furniture store. They enter and head over to the bedroom displays. All the displays are beautiful, but pretty expensive.
"I think I'm going to cry," says Tara.
"No, Tara," says Buffy pulling her back. "They have a no payments for two years. I'm sure in two years you could come up with money to pay them."
"I guess."
"Come on." They keep shopping around and head to a different place. There they saw more beautiful furniture. Then Tara turns around and sees the most beautiful bed display in the world. Quilt and all.
"You like it?" Buffy walks over to the display that Tara is staring at.
"It's perfect."
"Colorful, too." Tara looks at the price.
"It's not bad of a price. They might want a deposit. How much do you think that they will ask?"
"Don't worry. I got that covered."
"No, I couldn't, Buffy."
"It's fine." Buffy calls up one of the people that work there. They arrange everything. Delivery was set for a lamp table, a whole bed set, and dresser with mirror. They then paid for the quilt and took it with them. "Let's look for some curtains." Tara tosses the quilt in the trunk of Buffy's car.
They find a nice place near Tara's apartment, where they have beautiful curtains. The designs have bold colors, but have uniqueness to them.
"I like these," says Tara as she touches the fabric.
"Me, too," says Buffy with a smile. "They would look great on the living room windows." Tara nods her head.
They are finally done shopping and head back to the apartment. Tara can't wait to see what Xander has done to her apartment. She won't believe that he has completely changed it, but she will have to see for herself.
The girls enter the elevator talking about other things that they could get for the apartment. They head out of the elevator and walk over to the door. Tara takes her keys out and opens her apartment door. When they enter the apartment, it is a different place. Tara is taken aback at the sight that she almost falls backwards.
"How do you like it?" asks Xander as he comes over to her. He takes her hand and leds her into the apartment.
"Oh my gosh," says Tara in shock at how different the apartment looks. "It's beautiful. I love you." Tara hugs Xander real tight. Buffy looks at them and enters the apartment, with the quilt and then closes the door.
"Xander, you've outdone yourself as always," says Buffy with a smile that got ignored.
"Thanks," says Xander. "Hey, nice quilt." Xander sees the quilt that Buffy has. "So, you got a bed?"
"Tomorrow," says Tara. "A whole set." Tara starts to walk around her apartment.
"Great. I'll come by early and help you put it up."
"You've helped so much." Tara turns to him.
"It's no problem. Besides, I need to paint these walls. What do you think about color?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Hey, um, we've got curtains for the windows," says Buffy.
"Oh, yes," says Tara as she grabs the bag that has the curtains and rods to hang them with.
"That is a nice color," says Xander. "We can put them now if you want? Just to see how they look."
"Sure," says Tara with a smile.
"Let me go get my ladder." Xander passes by Buffy and heads out the door. Buffy sighs and looks at Tara.
"Well, um," says Buffy as she scratches her head. "I'm just going to go. I'll see you tomorrow. Okay?" Buffy heads out the door.
"Buffy, wait," Tara calls Buffy back. "What's the matter?"
"It's nothing. I'm just tired. Goodnight." Buffy heads over to the elevator. The front door closes and Tara is alone again in the apartment. She wondered what was up with Buffy and wanted to call her, but Xander returnee to the apartment with the ladder. Tara decides that she would call her later if it is not too late.
"Where did Buffy go?" asks Xander as he prepares the ladder next to the window.
"She had to go," replies Tara as she puts her quilt next to her inflatable bed.
"Why?"
"She was tired. Guess she has some things to do tomorrow."
"Oh. Well, I guess it's just you and me." Xander grabs the tape measure to measure the wall for the curtains.
The curtains are set and they look divine. Xander tells Tara that he had a real nice color picked for the walls that would go real well with the curtains. Tara is happy to have so much help to make her place look more homey and welcoming. The two got some take-out at a nearby Chinese restaurant Xander knew about.
"Hmmm," says Tara taking a bite of her chicken broccoli. "This is great."
"Yeah, and it's actually easy to make," says Xander.
"You have been so much help, Xander." Tara smiles at him.
"I'm glad to do it for you."
Meanwhile, at Buffy's apartment, she enters her bedroom and tosses her purse on the bed. She heads over to the bathroom and then she hears the front door open.
"Honey, I'm home," says Angel. He heads over to the bedroom and tosses his coat on the bed. Angel heads over to the bathroom, where Buffy is and puts his arms around her waist from behind. "What have you been doing today?"
"Oh, just a little shopping with Tara," replies Buffy as she grabs her face cleanser.
"You still mad?"
"No." Buffy bends down to the sink to wash her face. She then grabs her toothpaste and toothbrush.
"You're ignoring me." Angel sighs and pulls away though, he was happy in the position he was a second ago. He leans on the doorway of the bathroom.
"I'm not ignoring…" Buffy stops because she has toothpaste foaming in her mouth. She spits it out in the sink and faces Angel. "I'm not ignoring you. I just thought that maybe, just maybe you would show more often to our dinner dates. Especially last night." Buffy continues to brush her teeth and then washes her mouth and wipes it clean with her towel.
Angel rolls his eyes as Buffy passes by him and throws the towel at his face. She then starts to undress throwing her stuff on the chair next to the closet.
"You could have called or maybe told your boss you're having dinner with your girlfriend. Was that so hard?"
"Buffy, I was at a very important meeting and calling me the next day while I was headed to work was not good. I think the people outside my car could hear you screaming."
"I don't care. Just for once think about how I feel."
"Buffy, I said I'm sorry. What else can I do? I'll make it up to you. Please don't be this way." Angel sees Buffy enter the closet in her pink bra and underwear. "Buffy."
Buffy comes out of the closet in a pink robe and gives him a pout. Angel nods his head and grabs hold of her around her waist. He looks down at her green eyes.
"Give me a second chance. Arrange the dinner again. I won't miss it. I promise."
"Okay. You know you can't always do this when you're in trouble. I'm not going to always fall for it."
"I know." Angel kisses Buffy on the lips, sucking her lower lip which she loved. "How about that shower?" Buffy gives him a smirk and she pulls him into the bathroom.
An hour and a half later, they are snuggled up in the bed. Angel is reading a book and Buffy is reading a magazine. They are both wearing glasses to read.
"Oh my gosh. Jessica Simpson is divorcing Nick Lachey. How sad."
"That was so overdue. Come on, she's not his type."
"I hope that never happens to us whenever we decide to get married." Buffy covers herself with the magazine from Angel's stare.
"Nah, I love you too much. I'll never leave you." Angel smiles at Buffy and gives her a kiss. "You know I kind of felt like today is a day of second chances. I almost ran over some girl at the supermarket. I would have never forgiven myself if I had hit her."
"My goodness. Is she alright? She must have had a scare."
"Yeah, I gave her my card. I really want to make it up to her. Hey, she was cute. Maybe you can hook her up with Xander. You're always hooking him up with girls."
"I'll have to meet her first."
"Sure thing." Angel puts his book away and turns off his lamp light. He then pulls the covers over him and moves closer to Buffy, who is still reading her magazine. Buffy starts to giggle.
"Angel." She puts her magazine down and turns off her light and then goes under the covers with him. "Oh, Angel."