Chapter 11: Everything starts to fall apart
The sun was just starting to set when the unusual group of holiday makers reached LA. Willow had been like an excitable puppy leaning left and right, trying to see all the sights at once. She was the only one who had never been before and the gang all thought it was adorable to watch her eyes twinkling as they reflected the illuminations at the hotel.
It was the grandest hotel anyone had ever seen. Even Cordelia was impressed and her mother was a renowned hotelier. The hotel was at least thirteen stories high and surrounded by tall and healthy looking palm trees. Brilliant white marble steps lead to the entrance. The concierge greeted them as they entered through the revolving doors, the glass was as clear as crystal, so clear that Xander would have walked straight into it if Spike hadn't yanked him back. Inside, the lobby was a huge open plan space with wood panelling and marble pillars. Dotted around the reception desk were a few potted cacti and a large golden bell.
Buffy was mesmerised, she gazed at Spike, "How on earth are we going to afford this place and for two nights?" The group shared a nervous look, except Cordelia. Willow was about to suggest looking elsewhere, when a voice interrupted.
"Miss Chace,"
The group turned to see a tall, well-dressed man with greying hair and a pleasant smile.
"Henry!" Cordelia beamed as she went over to him, "I suppose it would be too improper for a hug?" she questioned.
The rest of the group watched in awe as Cordelia negotiated two rooms, with an ensuite, mini bar and breakfast reservations, all for the price of a peanut.
Once everyone had checked in, the group split off into their separate rooms. They'd made it in record time; it was 7pm on a Friday night, so instead of ditching the gang straight away Buffy had suggested a night out and everyone was up for that. As Buffy was the only one who had ever lived in the city, everyone voted her chief organiser and she thought she had planned the perfect night.
"8 ball, corner pocket," Xander exclaimed as he took his turn. The two boys had given up waiting for the girls to finish getting ready and sort sanctuary in the pool hall across from the hotel. The place was definitely an improvement on the Bronze. It was clean, the floor wasn't sticky and there was more than one pool cue.
"So you keep saying mate," Spike tormented as the ball missed spectacularly, hurtling across the table as if it were a pin ball machine.
Xander huffed, while Spike lined up his shot, and made his way over to the bar. The busty barmaid flashed him a smile and said she'd bring the drinks over.
When he returned he found a tall, skinny woman, wearing practically nothing draped around Spike's neck. Xander sighed dejectedly; he never got a look in when he came out with Spike. Spike had the confidence and the looks and Xander, well Xander unwanted sarcasm and a nervous laugh.
Spike however seemed far from interested, he made no attempt to touch the woman and his head was turned away from her, "sorry luv, I'm spoken for," he lied. The woman started to detangle herself, "that's too bad," she teased as she tiptoed her fingers across his chest. Spike grabbed her wrist, pulling it up and away from him, he was about to shove her away when he noticed the ring on her finger. Her pulled her hand closer, "Pretty luv, where'd you get it?" he asked as he studied it. He was almost certain it was the spitting image of Buffy's promise ring. Buffy's one of a kind promise ring.
Cordelia had spent the last 15 minutes pruning Willow. She'd been sheered, plucked, poked and prodded until she was almost unrecognisable.
"Wow! Willow, you look amazing," Buffy exclaimed as Cordelia presented her masterpiece.
"She does, doesn't she?" Cordelia said as Willow blushed as red as her hair, which now hung down to her shoulders in waves, "I dare him to refuse you now," Cordelia declared proudly.
"Who?" Buffy and Willow asked.
Cordelia rolled her eyes, "Oz, of course." Willow was about to protest when Cordelia continued, "don't think I haven't noticed you looking…he's looking to you know," she confirmed with a smile.
"How did you…" Willow began.
"It's a gift," Cordelia answered, "Ok, Buffy you're up, by the time I'm finished, Angel won't be able to keep his hands off you."
As Willow disappeared into the bathroom, Buffy looked at Cordelia, "I'm not seeing him until tomorrow night; he has to work Saturday's… Can I ask you something?" Cordelia nodded and Buffy continued, "What you said in the car, about…"
Cordelia's eyes lit up and she spun the chair round so Buffy was facing her, "going all the way?" she fished and Buffy nodded nervously. Cordelia sat on the bed opposite and asked gently, "Buffy is this your first time?"
Again Buffy nodded, "I…I think I'm ready. It's just we've been together over a year…"
"Hey," Cordelia interrupted, "your first time is special, but it's not special because of the time or place… the only thing that matters is the 'who' and Buffy if they really love you then it won't matter how long you wait. If you love and trust Angel and know that he feels the same then there is no need to rush because you'll have the rest of your lives."
"Wow," Willow said as she re-entered the room.
"Yeah," Buffy agreed, "who are you and what have you done with Cordelia?" Buffy chuckled and then surprised everyone, including herself by pulling her into a hug, "thank you!"
"Anytime," Cordelia smiled, "now stop crying or I'll have to start again and Spike and Xander's heads will explode!"
Spike sat at the table in the piano bar and glanced at the clock; 8.25pm. The girls should be here any minute and that would mean he'd have to tell Buffy about the ring, 'you'll break her heart, she needs to know the truth' both statements were true and both were at war in his mind.
"Hey," Willow said scooting in the booth opposite him.
Spike looked at her gone out, "sorry, err, this tables reserved."
"He didn't recognise you, did he?" Buffy said as she slid in next to Willow.
"Willow!" Spike exclaimed and did a double take, "what happened to you?!"
"I did," said Cordelia as she took the third seat on the other side of Buffy.
Willow blushed at the attention and changed the subject quickly, "where's Xander?" she asked as she scanned around. Glad of the distraction, Spike pointed towards the bar, where Xander was hopelessly trying to chat up some girl. "He seems to be on a mission," Spike clarified, "and he doesn't appear to be getting anywhere…who wants a drink?" he asked eager to get away and think.
"I'll get them," Cordelia offered and Spike glared at her as she stood and headed over to the bar. As she got there, she stood behind Xander's conquest and caught the tail end of the conversation.
"Look, what part don't you understand? You and I, not going to happen," the girl said as she looked Xander up and down in disgust, "I'm hot and you're, well I wouldn't…."
Cordelia caught Xander's face, he looked absolutely crushed and for some unknown reason she couldn't stand by and watch. She pointed the table out to the bar tender and then flicked her hair back, stood to her full height and put on her most flirtatious smile.
"Hello salty goodness," she said in her sexy whisper as she looked at Xander, who of course turned behind him to see who she was really talking to. He was gobsmacked when she snaked her arms around him and kissed him right on the lips.
She had only intended it to be a light peck but she felt Xander's hand brush up her arm and leaned in a little more. Just as he began to respond she pulled away and they stared awkwardly at each other. The girl he had been chatting up had wandered off feeling like she'd missed an opportunity and Cordelia's mission was complete.
"Err thanks," said Xander finding his mouth had gone dry.
"Come on," Cordelia said finding her confidence again, "you're my bitch now!" She teased as she headed back to the table with Xander following dumbly behind.
As they made their way through the crowd they passed Buffy and Willow on the dance floor. Cordelia noticed Spike was still sat at the table, his eyes fixed on Buffy a far off look in his eyes. She made her way over and sat opposite, "you like her," she said.
"Who?" Spike asked still not taking his eyes off Buffy.
"Err hello, the cute attractive blonde you haven't stopped staring at since we got here," she caught Spike's thunderous glare and put on a mock British accent, "oh shut up Cordelia, you bloody bint!" Spike's jaw flopped open and she dropped the accent, "fine, I'll drop it but I'll leave you with this, this is the happiest I've seen you in a long while and I'd bet my Gucci handbag that it's because of her. I just want you to be happy," she said as she began to stand.
"Why?" Spike asked.
"Because when you're not happy, you're an asshole and you give me a headache," she answered bluntly and headed back towards the dance floor.
Sighing frustratedly, Spike called after her, "Cordy, wait?" To his surprise she turned back.
"I knew it," she said her face lit up with a triumphant smile and an excited glint in her eyes, "you have to tell her and quickly before…"
"It's not that!" Spike said his temper flaring. He wasn't prepared to have that argument again, but he also needed some advice, "There is something I have to tell her but it's not what you think,"
Cordelia sat back opposite him and waited impatiently. Spike took a deep breath and explained about the predicament he was in with the ring.
"Geez, the guy sounds like a jerk." Cordelia exclaimed, "Poor Buffy," she sat in silence for a while processing it all and then a horrifying thought struck her, "Spike you've got to tell her, especially when she's thinking of…" she trailed off remembering her earlier conversation.
"Thinking of what?" Spike prompted a concerned look on his face.
"Forget it," Cordelia reprimanded herself, it wasn't her place to say anything, "Just tell Buffy." She urged as she dragged Spike to his feet.
"Tell me what?" Buffy asked, making them both jump.
Cordelia roughly pushed Spike in front of her. He took a deep breath and pulled Buffy to one side, "Come with me, pet." he said as he led her out of the bar and on to the street. His head was throbbing, as they walked past the bustling crowd queuing to gain entry. This was not going to be an easy conversation.
Once he found a relatively quiet part of the street, he turned to look at Buffy. She was looking at him; a mix of curiosity, concern and trust shining in her eyes, 'god, she'll never forgive me for this'. He almost considered not telling her, but his conscience and Cordelia nagging voice wouldn't let him.
"Buffy," he sighed as he calmly began to explain what happened at the pool hall and the ring he had seen on the girl's finger. He could feel her hands trembling as he held them.
"Ok, so you saw the same ring," Buffy said as confidently as she could, although she could feel the panic start to seep in, "that doesn't mean anything," she reasoned.
Spike sighed, his eyes darting skyward, "I thought he told you it was one of a kind?" he asked trying a different approach.
Buffy looked confused and shook her head to clear it, "well… maybe the guy in the shop told him that, she could have got it from the same place?" Buffy asked hopefully. Spike squeezed Buffy's hands in his and forced himself to look her in the eye, "she got it the same way as you," he started, "Angel gave it to her."
There was a brief pause as Buffy pulled away and stumbled back a step, shaking her head as she ran a hand through her hair, "No… no, he wouldn't do that, you're lying."
Those words cut Spike like a knife. How could she think he would ever lie to her? Buffy continued her mumbled rant, her upset turned to anger as she became defensive. The more defensive she became the more Spike lost control of his temper and soon the pair had erupted.
"For God sake Buffy! How can you be so stupid?" Spike yelled, throwing both hands in the air through sheer frustration, "He's stringing you along, has been ever since your birthday party."
"Excuse me! I'm stupid? Mr madly in love with a girl who drives him insane and never, ever puts him first. At least Angel loves me." Buffy screamed back as she paced the sidewalk.
"I knew what Drusilla was doing to me! Why do you think I bloody ended it? It was because of you! You were the first person I opened up to and you made me see the truth. That's what I'm trying to make you see. Angel doesn't love you Buffy."
"Of course he loves me, why else would he give me this ring? You know what I think? I think you're jealous!"
"Jealous! Of what?" Spike demanded.
"You can't stand the fact that he comes first, that in another year's time high school will be finished and I won't be at your beckon call anymore. I'll be in LA, marrying the man I love. That's what this is Spike," Buffy screamed, showing him her ring, "a promise."
"That's not a promise, it's a claim." Spike sneered, "You're just an accessory, his trophy. He'll only want you until he gets bored and considering he couldn't make the effort to drive 2 hours in a car to see the love of his life on his sodding anniversary, I'd wager he already has." Spike shouted. His words spilled out far more harshly than he had intended and it earned him a hard slap to the face.
"Arrrgghh! Spike you are such a... an asshole!" Buffy yelled as she began to storm off, determined not to let him see her tears.
"Yeah well, I may be an asshole, but I'm the only asshole here that gives a shit about you!" Spike called after her as she disappeared across the street and into the hotel.