Chapter Three: Hit the Beach
A/N: This chapter was written by Willowzlilsecret. Both Willowzlilsecret and Ozlover would like to thank everyone who gave us encouraging reviews so far- This chapter is for you. Enjoy! Also...about the fic being Bangel or Spuffy...:In a sing-songy voice: We're not telling...;)
"Well, looks like Willow and Buffy are dead to the world," Dawn stated, glancing back at her sister and Willow.
"Yeah, and I don't know where I'm going." Cordelia said.
"Do you want me to wake Willow up?" Dawn asked, turning to wake the older girl.
"Nah, I'll figure it out, no worries, I have the directions right here…somewhere." Cordelia said smiling.
"Well, try to stay in the Carolinas…also the directions are right here." Dawn joked.
"Oh, don't worry." Cordelia said. They drove in a rather awkward silence for about five minutes.
"So…do you know if we're sharing rooms?" Dawn asked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah I think so, seeing as how there are like ten of us and like four bedrooms." Cordelia answered.
"Oh…cool." Dawn said and they lapsed into another silence. Long Pause. "Would you share a room with me?" Dawn asked, finally.
"Don't you wanna room with Buffy?" Cordelia asked. It wasn't that she didn't like Dawn, she just didn't know her very well.
"Not really…she didn't want to bring me in the first place, and I don't want to ruin her trip even more…" short pause "Now that I think about it, you'd probably want to share a room with your friends or sleep along…yeah never mind." Dawn babbled, suddenly feeling nervous. She didn't want to pressure Cordy into ruining her vacation.
"No, it'd be cool if we shared a room; I just always kinda thought you didn't like me. And I thought you'd rather be with your sister." Cordelia explained. 'Maybe we could become friends…she strikes me as the type that can keep a secret,' Cordelia said to herself.
"You mean it?" Dawn asked excitedly, and to that Cordelia smiled and nodded. She suddenly made a sharp turn into the driveway of a big house.
"We're here!" she announced joyously and Dawn turned around to wake Buffy and Willow up.
"Just five more minutes!" Willow complained. Buffy didn't say anything, she just sorta growled.
"Guys, we're here." Dawn repeated, this time with less enthusiasm.
"We are?" Willow asked. "Oh thank God, I've had to pee for like five hours!" Willow unbuckled her seatbelt and Cordelia opened the trunk. Willow grabbed her stuff and stretched. She was so glad they were finally there. She could smell the salt water and hear the ocean in the background. She stretched as she waited for everyone else to catch up. Cordelia stopped the car and grabbed her stuff along with Buffy and Dawn. All the other cars were already there. Cordelia locked the car and they knocked on the door.
A woman, Willow's aunt, opened the door. "Hi, Aunt Jenny!" Willow exclaimed. She gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then announced that she'd introduce everyone after they picked their rooms. Aunt Jenny nodded. The four girls headed up to their rooms.
"I'm sharing a room with Dawn." Cordelia announced. Buffy was a little hurt that Cordelia would pick her sister over her, but at the same time she was glad that she could hang out with Willow without worrying about her little sister.
"Ok, we'll take this one and you guys can take the one next to us." Willow said. "Just set your stuff down and then we'll meet everyone, then we'll unpack and just do whatever the guys are doing." All the girls agreed and went into their rooms.
Both of the rooms looked exactly alike. Two twin beds with blue "ocean waves" covers. On the top of the bed there were about seven pillows. Some matched the bedspread and others were solid blue. There was one closet in the corner and two dressers. Both dressers held the same amount of clothes, but one was shorter. The shorter one had a mirror behind it and a TV set on it. Everything was painted an off white, except for the TV. There was a nightstand between the beds and it held a lamp. The base of the lamp was blue-stained wicker and the lampshade was white. There were only two windows in the whole room, one behind the nightstand, and one randomly on the wall next to that.
Dawn picked the bed on the right and Cordelia picked the bed on the left. They also claimed their dressers and decided to share the closet. Cordelia chose the shorter dresser so that she could use the mirror to put on her make up easier. That left Dawn no choice but to take the big one. Not that she cared, but she didn't have a mirror behind hers.
Willow and Buffy decided on dressers first. They agreed that anyone could use the closet, it didn't matter. After much deciding and agreements, Buffy got the littler dresser and the bed on the left. Willow got the bigger dresser and the bed on the right. All four of the girls left their pillows from home on the bed with the other pillows. Cordelia and Buffy both put their bags in front of the dresser, but Dawn and Willow put them on their beds. They all headed downstairs together to meet everyone.
"Hey Aunt Jenny, Uncle Giles!" Willow said as they went down the stairs. She gave them each a hug. When all four of the girls were down the stairs and standing in the kitchen, Willow started the introduction.
"This is my uncle, Rupert Giles." Willow said and pointed to a middle-aged man reading the newspaper and sipping tea.
"Oh, hello." the man said with a British accent. He removed his glasses and stuck out his hand. "You all can call me Giles."
"Cordelia…Chase." Cordelia said and shook his hand.
"Buffy Summers." Buffy said, also shaking his hand.
"Dawn Summers…I'm the little sister." Dawn said and also shook his hand.
"And this is my aunt, Jenny Calendar-Giles." Willow said. "Hi guys…don't worry…we're not all as stuffy and British as Rupert." she laughed. The girls nodded, unsure of what to say.
"So where's Xander and the guys? Are they down in the basement?" Willow asked.
"No, actually, since it their first time here, Xander took them down to the beach." Jenny informed her.
"Oh, ok, then we're just gonna head down to the beach and join them." Willow told her. Jenny nodded then went back to her 'People' magazine. The girls headed back upstairs.
"Ok, so let's unpack, get in our swim suits, and meet these hotties!" Buffy said. Everyone agreed and started giggling. Buffy and Cordelia started unpacking, moving faster than lightning. Dawn and Willow on the other hand…let's just say they weren't as excited.
Within five minutes, Cordelia was almost totally unpacked and was putting on her bathing suit. Buffy was moving a little slower, and Dawn even slower still. But Willow was moving slowest of all. And so they finished in that order. They grabbed their towels and ran downstairs, and when they were halfway out the door, Jenny called to them…
"Do you guys have sunscreen on? You'll fry if you don't!" All the girls stopped in their tracks and began groaning. None of them had sunscreen on and none of them wanted to wait any longer before they met the guys.
"Ok, Aunt Jenny." Willow said, annoyed. They all walked up to Willow and Buffy's room and started helping each other put sun block on. They finally finished five minutes later, and Dawn, Buffy, and Cordelia pretended to be mad at Willow.
"I'm sorry!" Willow said putting her hands up, "But just be glad…you don't want to look like a lobster for the guys."
"Oh, my, God." Cordelia said. "You are sooo right!" The four girls tried for the second time to go down to the beach.
"Willow, honey, could you do me a favor." Jenny asked. Willow turned around and practically growled at her aunt.
"What is it Aunt Jenny?" she asked through gritted teeth.
"Well, the boys have been down there for a while, why don't you have Bunny over there carry down some bottled water—"
"It's Buffy." Willow corrected.
"Right…so have Bunny get the water, Dawn bring some extra towels, Cordelia take down the umbrella, and you take these sandwiches." her aunt finished.
They all did as they were told and hurried out the door before anyone else could ask them to do anything.
"My God your aunt is annoying." Cordelia said.
"How in the world did she get 'bunny'?" Dawn asked, laughing.
"Ugh…I get the feeling this might be a long summer." Buffy said as they walked down the boardwalk.
Then Cordelia spotted Xander. "Or maybe not!" she exclaimed.
"Xander!" Willow yelled and ran down towards him, flinging herself into his arms.
"Willow! It's been forever!" he said and hugged her. The two stood hugging and Cordelia, Buffy, and Dawn approached from behind Willow and three guys approached from behind Xander. The cousins let go of each other and Xander started checking the other girls out.
"Who are you and why didn't I meet you until now?" Xander asked as he circled Cordelia. She posed for him and blew him a kiss.
Willow smiled and hit him lightly on the arm. "Xander! That's my best friend, Cordelia." she informed him. He smiled a goofy smile and winked at her as he stepped away.
Unfortunately Cordelia wasn't interested in Xander. She was interested in the tall brunette standing behind him. The guy made no move to talk to her, but she did notice that he and Buffy had made eye contact and he was obviously mesmerized by her. Oh well, Xander's pretty cute! she told herself and smiled.
"So, Willow, you've met Connor and Angel," Xander said gesturing to the two brothers, "Now meet the infamous Oz."
All of the girls looked to where Xander was pointing. There stood a rather short guy. He had reddish blond hair and emerald green eyes. The same color as Willow's bathing suit. He had a slight build, nothing too 'WWE' buff. But good enough. Willow fell in love.
"Hey." He said and put his hand up in a small wave. All of the girls were beautiful, but one caught his eye. The redhead. Xander's cousin. She was just…whoa. Oz leaned over to Connor and said softly. "Remind me to talk to the redhead."
Connor smiled and nodded. Then he walked up to Buffy. She was really out of it. She and his brother were having a staring contest. It was really intense. I wonder if she knows he has a girlfriend…Connor said to himself.
Dawn's breath had quickened. She had decided which one she liked the best. Now, he wasn't the one that Janice would've picked, but she liked him. He had longish brown hair and blue eyes. He was kinda small and girly, but he did have muscles. He didn't have full-blown abs like Angel or Xander, but he was soo cute. Like Snoopy. And she had to have him. Then he went over to Buffy. And her heart literally fell a thousand feet.
Of course he'd like Buffy. But then…
He walked up to Dawn and held out his hand. "I'm Connor, Angel's brother."
"Dawn." she said, sounding more nervous then she wanted to. He smiled a little half smile and grasped her hand.
"Let's swim." he suggested, letting go of her hand. She bit her lip and nodded. The two ran off towards the water together…Dawn only slowed to see how cold the water was.
Willow and Cordelia smiled at eachother, glad to see that Dawn's vacation was going to be so bad after all. Now, by this time Xander, Oz, Willow, and Cordelia had caught on to Buffy and Angel's staring thing.
Xander put his arm around Willow and whispered to her. "Angel has a girlfriend…Darla…you might want to tell Buffy that…cause Darla's gonna stay with us for a week very soon."
"Oh no." Willow said, afraid to hurt Buffy. She wasn't sure if Buffy liked him, but if she did…well…
"Yeah, so me and Oz are just gonna go and swim. Cause that's what you do at the beach. Join us if you want." Xander said and shot Cordelia a 'you especially' look. She smiled brightly at him.
"I think me and Willow are gonna throw a Frisbee. And you two can join when you're done swimming." Cordelia said.
The guys walked away.
"OH MY GOSH! I THINK I'M IN LOVE!" Willow said excitedly.
"With your cousin?" Cordelia asked. Both of them had forgotten that Buffy and Angel were still standing there. It's not like either of them were tuned in to the world.
"EW! NO!" she shouted, then lowered her voice… "With Oz!"
"You two would be so cute together." Cordelia observed. "Plus he's short!"
"Hey!" Willow objected, laughing. Buffy finally snapped out of it and turned away. Angel turned around and ran towards the guys shouting for them to wait up.
"What's so funny?" Buffy asked.
"I like Oz and Cordy called him short." Willow said, summing the conversation up.
"Ha, ha?" Buffy asked.
"So…Buffy…you and Angel were kinda…you don't like him do you?" Willow asked, having trouble talking.
"No…I don't like him…why would you think that?" Buffy lied. She hated lying to Willow but she usually waited a while before she told anyone who she liked. And she especially didn't want to tell Cordelia.
"I don't. I just had to make sure, cause he has a boyfriend." Willow said.
"A boyfriend?" Cordelia asked, appalled. Something as hot as that…just…no…
"GIRLFRIEND! I meant girlfriend. And Buffy, she's staying with us for a week next week." Willow said.
Buffy was crushed. "Oh...that's cool…I guess. I'm just gonna take a nice little nap on my towel…don't leave me here." She sat down and curled up into a little ball. She couldn't believe she thought he liked her too.
Willow and Cordelia exchanged concerned looks, but decided they should probably leave her alone. They picked up a Frisbee and went near the water to begin throwing it.
Angel watched as Connor and some young girl played around in the water. He was amazed at how the two had an instant connection. Connor would let the girl dunk him under the water…he wouldn't let anyone else do that. And the girl let him pick her up and throw her into the waves. They looked like they had known eachother for years where in reality it had only been minutes.
Angel watched them and briefly wished he had a connection with a girl. A connection like theirs. But you did…with Buffy, he told himself. But he couldn't think like that…he had a girlfriend and that girlfriend was coming to visit them in only two weeks. He sighed and was taken by surprise as Oz and Xander attacked him from behind. They pushed him under the water, and, yes it did take two of them to get him under.
Dawn wrapped her arms around Connors neck and kicked her feet so that she could keep from going under. Connor was about six inches taller than her and could easily keep his head above the water, seeing as he was standing on his tip toes.
"I know that we're only going to be together this summer but…do you wanna go out with me." Connor asked, sounding shy. Dawn smiled brilliantly and nodded. And she was the first of the four to have a boyfriend that summer. She hugged him close and they stayed there hugging for what seemed like forever.
Buffy was still sitting on her towel and she watched her friends. They were all happy and smiling and she was down. She had the feeling that her summer would've been better if she had just stayed at home. Back home she had a guy that wanted to date her, and lots of junk food. Here she had…well lots of junk food and a guy that didn't want to date her. She sighed and closed her eyes.
Cordelia and Willow threw the Frisbee back and forth endless times. And then it went in the water, landing close to Xander.
"I'll get it." Cordelia said. She was beginning to form a small crush on Xander, but she didn't want to tell Willow. There was the whole ick-factor of them being cousins. But she didn't know who she would tell.
Half An Hour Later
The sun was setting and it was getting dark and the eight teens headed back to the house.
They were all tired from their long days of driving, swimming, and just running around and hanging. They let all the dogs in with them and ate dinner in almost complete silence.
Dawn and Connor sat next to each other and held hands under the table…they wanted to keep everything a secret, although it was bordering on rather obvious.
Buffy and Angel sat across from each other, glancing at each other every now and then. Both of them felt something but neither of them wanted to say anything.
Xander and Cordelia shot each other smiles, but no one else saw them. So I guess they could be considered secretive smiles.
And Willow and Oz just glanced at each other, neither of them really noticing the other looking at them. And if they did get caught then they'd smile and go back to eating.
And Giles and Jenny just ate…oblivious of the goings ons around the table. Giles drinking his tea and occasionally wiping his glasses, and Jenny just eating and occasionally throwing scraps to the dogs.
All of them went to their rooms. Willow and Buffy changed into their pjs and sat on Willows bed.
"He's just soo handsome and I hope he likes me too cause I think I'm in love!" Willow gushed.
"Will…we have a situation. Buffy might like Angel." Buffy said softly.
"Oh no…well he likes you!" Willow said.
"He has a girlfriend, Will." Buffy pointed out.
"Yeah…but maybe if you show him that you guys are meant to be, he'll dump his girlfriend for you." Willow said hopefully.
"I guess…" Buffy sighed.
"I know it! Come on, and put a smile on. Your smile is something no one can resist!" Willow encouraged.
"Ok…thanks Will." Buffy said and the two girls hugged. Buffy returned to her own bed and literally fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. It had been a long day and she had a new one ahead of her. And she would get Angel.
Dawn and Cordelia both were still up, sitting on Dawn's bed. Dawn still hadn't changed out of her bathing suit…just because.
"So…what'd you do today?" Dawn asked.
"Well…I played Frisbee…and…I have a secret…" Cordelia said.
"Who else knows your secret?" Dawn asked.
"Me." Cordelia answered. "And now you're gonna know."
"Really?" Dawn asked, amazed that Cordelia would trust her. "Cause I have one too."
"Yeah…I think I like Xander." Cordelia said. "What's yours?"
"Well…me and Connor are gonna like…date eachother…is it obvious?" Dawn asked.
"A little." Cordelia said, smiling weakly.
"Will you give me a lesson on how to be more secretive?" Dawn asked.
"Sure…but wait till tomorrow morning." Cordelia said. "I'm gonna get to sleep, I want to see the sun rise over the ocean and take a walk."
"Can I come?" Dawn asked.
"Sure if you can get up early enough." Cordelia answered.
Dawn agreed and they both fell asleep. And the house was silent except for a little bit of barking and doggy nails scraping against the floor as they ran around.
