Note: Thank you for reviewing
Note: Thank you for reviewing!! You guys made me want to go on with this! And I'm sorry it took that long, really…
I edited one small thing in the first chapter: Buffy and Cordy don't work at Starbucks, but at "Chez Laura", a small coffee shop held by a french woman named, you guessed it, Laura.
o o o o o o o
Without music life would be a mistake. – Nietzsche
Around thirty-one hours later…
"So, one latte, and two mocha… I'll bring them to you in a minute!" Buffy said to the customers, trying to ignore the lump in her throat. She quickly turned away and almost sprinted to the counter.
She was sure it was never going to end. She was doomed to work in that coffee shop for the rest of her life. She would eternally be Buffy Summers, waitress, employee of the month every two months, since Cordy was the one to get that incredible title the rest of the time.
She had never known that tiny detail before, but it appeared that when rain started to fall, people had that tendency to go hiding in the nearest coffee shop they could find, and staying there until it was safe for a human being to set a foot on the pavement without risking an untimely death by drowning in a puddle of water the size of Kansas.
It was the beginning of the Fall in New York, and as it could happen sometimes at this time of the year, the weather was a nightmare. Only, ten times worse. Rain, wind, cold… and according to the weatherman, it wasn't going to improve anytime soon. The climatic situation on the east coast of the United States was definitely of the dramatic variety, and the New Yorkers were currently going through a storm the likes of which happened only every ten years or so. Which meant, rain, rain, and a side of rain thrown in for good measure.
Buffy was usually fine with it, really. She liked the rain, oddly enough… She'd been raised in California, she was used to the sun and warmth, so, storms and snow tended to amaze her, somehow. Not that she would ever tell this to anyone, they'd probably think she was insane.
But on this particular day, this particular week, it did bother her. Not because her feet were constantly wet, and not because she couldn't keep her hair silky and smooth. It bothered her because it meant that people wouldn't stop coming to grab a hot coffee to try and escape the pouring rain.
And it also bothered her because she was running late. Really late. It was past seven thirty, people kept coming and coming and she could never leave. She was on her own that day… it was Wednesday, and usually, Wednesdays were quiet. Cordy was off to God knew where, and Buffy couldn't leave Laura on her own with the impressive amount of customers that kept walking through the door.
So she stayed. And she bravely tried to smile to everybody, firmly decided not to let her panic get to her.
Because she was really panicking. She had an appointment at eight, and she was now sure she would never be there. She would never get her chance to shine, she would never sing anywhere but in the bathroom she would share with Cordy until they were both old and grey and bitter.
She loved Cordy to bits, really, but she had a little more ambition than that.
The more minutes passed, the closer she got to tears. She was praying for a miracle… anything to let her leave.
Laura had told her earlier that she could leave, but Buffy really didn't have the heart to abandon the older woman.
Seven forty.
She was about to give every hope that she might have had away, when a shrilling voice rang up in the shop.
"What on earth are you still doing here? I've been waiting for you in front of Caritas for twenty minutes!"
Buffy whipped around, startled, only to find herself face to face with… Cordy.
A very angry Cordy at that.
Struggling to keep her anger at bay, she took a deep breath.
"What do you think I'm doing, Cor?" she asked, gesturing to the occupied tables around her.
Cordelia finally took a look around, and sighed, shaking her head.
"Give me your apron" she ordered, her hands on her hips.
Buffy gave her a strange look. "What?" she asked. Was Cordy offering to finish her shift?
"I said, give me your damn apron!" her friend replied, raising her voice.
Apparently, she was, Buffy thought.
A few heads turned around to look at her, but she didn't care. "You want this too much for me to let you give it up. You still have around fifteen minutes, so, move your sorry ass out of this place and run!" she told the panicked, but somehow relieved, blonde.
Buffy only hesitated a second. She handed her apron to a resigned but still willing to help Cordy, and ran to grab her coat, not even bothering to change into her regular clothes.
"Thanks" she told her friend, before giving her a quick hug.
"You'll thank me when you're famous" the brunette replied. "Good luck".
Buffy only nodded, stormed out of the store and ran under the pouring rain.
o o o o o o o
Miles Lornan, or Lorne as he liked people to call him, watched as what seemed to be the hundredth girl he had heard tonight – when it was only really the tenth or eleventh one, finished her song and climbed down the stairs that led to the small scene in the middle of his club.
This wasn't going to be easy, he thought. Some of them had been good… Most of them were only pretty faces with more or less decent voices, aspiring actresses who just wanted to start what they hoped would be a shiny career, but a few of them had actually been decent enough to get the job.
Well, granted, this last one had been a complete disaster, but he still had hope for the few that remained. None of those that he had heard had really… clicked. He hadn't found his singer yet, he was sure.
"Thank you Miss… uh" he looked down at her form "Kendall. We'll call you". Mindless of the slightly sarcastic edge to his voice, she gave him a huge smile and stormed out of the club, flipping her bleached hair behind her shoulders, an air of victory on her face. If only she knew…
Lorne shook his head and called for the next one. And as Katie Johnson stepped on the stage, he had to admit that she was breathtaking. Beautiful, graceful, and she had a pretty voice… But something on the way she looked around disdainfully just set him off. He listened to her carefully as she followed the pianist's lead and sang Peggy Lee's 'Fever' without stumbling on any word, and wrote a timid 'yes' on her form. If he didn't have any other choice, and despite his bad feeling about her personality, she would be the one. After all, everything had been fine for all those years with Darla, despite the woman's rather harsh personality. And besides, he'd heard enough for one night… or possibly one life.
Concentrated on the blonde, he didn't hear the door open as another beautiful girl stepped in, ready to beg if she had to for a chance to sing.
o o o o o o o
Buffy finally entered the club as silently as possible, after a five minutes run under the storm, a short journey in the city's subway, and another ten minutes run. She was drenched to the bone, her teeth shattering and her heart beating wildly in her chest. She couldn't miss that opportunity.
Trying to convince herself that she was ready to take over the world, she took a few steps toward the slightly eccentric guy who seemed to be the one who judged the singers. His eyes were set on the stage, listening carefully as one of the candidates sang her piece.
Raising her face to take a look herself, Buffy felt her breath catch in her throat in sudden despair. The blonde on stage was beautiful… She was wearing a long dress that hugged her body perfectly, she wore perfect make-up, had perfect hair, and a pretty voice.
Buffy looked around at the other girls, all dressed to kill, and then down at her own appearance. Her coffee shop uniform was soaked, and clinging to her body, making her feel like she was naked. Her coat wasn't exactly the most fashionable thing she had ever worn, and her shoes were functional but not especially pretty. She didn't even want to know what her hair and make up must look like, after her journey under the rain. Biting her lower lip hard enough to draw blood, she tried not to cry. She should have been more prepared… She was never going to get that job.
The other girls looked at her with mocking looks on their faces, looking her up and down in disdain.
She thought briefly about turning around and leaving, but something stopped her. She had to fight to get what she wanted… And boy, did she want it. She just knew she could have that job, she could do it. She hadn't come that far to just give up, she was better than that. She would prove them all wrong. Unfortunatly, she knew that optimistic state of mind would soon fade away, and she would be back to moping mode before she could blink... might as well enjoy it while it lasted.
As the girl on stage finally finished her song, the guy at the table, who Buffy now assumed was Lorne – the proprietor of the club, smiled at her and thanked her. Katie smiled back and headed out, pausing only to raise her eyebrows at Buffy's appearance.
Lorne stood up, in his yellow suit, and turned towards the remaining candidates.
"Ladies, we're gonna take a little break. Feel free to drink a cup of coffee, it's on the house" he announced brightly, though his eyes betrayed how tired he was of all this.
The girls smiled and stood up to head for the bar. Buffy decided to take her chance, and walked towards Lorne before he could disappear behind the scene.
"Sir?" she called softly. When he didn't stop walking, she picked up her pace and called more forcefully "Sir?"
He finally turned to look at the source of the voice… and stopped, startled, as he took in the appearance of the girl before him, who looked for all the world like a drowned mouse.
"Can I help you?" he asked with a smile.
"Yeah, I, uh…" Buffy started, then took in a sharp breath and released the pressure that had been building up in her by getting all the words off her chest at once. "I'm here for the audition, and I'm late, I'm so late, I'm sorry, I was working, and I just couldn't leave the shop, and I really want to have a chance, I'll understand if you don't want to hear me out, but…"
Lorne's eyes widened as he raised a hand to stop her. "Wow, slow down here, sugarplum, you're gonna have a stroke" he said with a chuckle, interrupting her babbling.
She closed her mouth, and felt a blush creep up her cheeks. She finally smiled sheepishly "Sorry…"
He shook his head slightly, and looked straight into the desperate pair of hazel eyes in front of him. Something about that girl just made him want to protect her - though in the meantime he had a feeling she didn't need that at all, starting with giving her a towel and a hot chocolate. She was gonna catch her death in that state.
He sighed. Usually, he wouldn't do this, but he just couldn't say no. He felt like it would be like hitting a puppy… just inhuman. He looked down at the list of candidates he still had in his hands. "What's your name, cupcake?"
"Buffy. Buffy Summers," she replied in a breath.
"I see…" he said, scrunching his brow, studying the sheet intently. "Ah, you were already signed up, and your turn passed about twenty minutes ago. But I guess you can still try out, you'll just be last, okay?"
Her whole face immediately brightened, and he didn't regret his words. She gave him the most brilliant smile he'd ever seen, and looked like she would cry in relief. "Thank you, I… thank you" she just said.
He shook his head again. "Don't thank me just yet, I didn't give you the job."
"No, but you gave me a chance. That's more than I hoped for" she replied.
He smiled warmly, and pointed a finger towards the scene. "See with our pianist what you want to sing. He can play just about everything." He said with a wave of his hand before walking away.
Buffy nodded, and quickly made her way to the large black piano.
o o o o o o o
As the other girls sat down on the stools near the bar to chat around their mochas, Buffy climbed the three steps that separated her from the instrument, trying unsuccessfully to fix her hair. Her coat was dripping on the floor, the sound of the droplets hitting the wood sounding to her like a sinister march to her defeat. She couldn't believe she had a chance, but she also didn't believe she would get the job at all… she wasn't like those other girls, who had nothing to do but make themselves pretty. She had a job, a full time one, and a complicated life, and… Shaking her head at her own pessimism, she took a deep breath and tried, like her best friend had told her, to think 'positive'. According to the brunette, it was the only thing that had kept her from starving a few years earlier, so, surely Buffy could use it now.
She could only see the top of the guy's head. She smiled, it looked like the pianist wasn't a woman after all – take that Cordy.
A tuft of dark brown hair moved above the piano as the artist was obviously busy with something. Pushing all thoughts of stress and fear of singing in public away, she cleared her throat as she approached him, wanting to announce her presence; she already knew what she wanted to sing, she just hoped he would be up to it…
The moment he raised his face and met her eyes, her breath caught in her throat as she did her best to hold back a gasp. That was the last blow to her already fragile balance, she tripped over her own feet and had to grab the first thing she could find in order not to hit the wooden floor, a chair.
Sheepishly, she stood back on her feet only to find the most handsome man she'd ever met staring at her with his mouth slightly open.
Great, now he thought she was the most pathetic klutz he'd ever seen.
Which wasn't that far from the truth, now that she thought about it.
"Hi" she managed to utter. She mentally patted herself on the back for that little victory, and the knowledge that her vocal chords still worked perfectly fine.
Way to go, Buff, she thought. Make a fool of yourself in front of that hunk, just before making a fool of yourself in front of a small crowd. That way, you would be prepared…
God, she was her own persistent pain in the ass.
He seemed to catch himself as well, and closed his mouth before standing up. "Hi" he told her, and Buffy melted on the spot, before chastising herself. She wasn't a schoolgirl anymore, was she?
And besides, she and men just… didn't mix. No need to even go there.
But still, she had eyes, and she used it. He was tall, and well built, dressed in black from his shoes to his sweater…
And those eyes…
She cleared her throat again. "I… I come for the audition, and…" she started, doing her best not to look at him in the eyes.
"And you want to tell me what you want to sing." He stated with a small smile.
Since when had she been the kind of girl to swoon?
Well, since about two minutes ago, apparently.
She smiled at him. "Yeah, uh, I wondered if maybe I could sing L-O-V-E… you know-"
"Nat King Cole, yeah, sure, good choice" he replied, already turning away and walking towards his piano.
Buffy only nodded "Okay then, see you later" she said, and almost ran out of the stage.
All thoughts of jobs, songs and stress had flown from her mind, only to be replaced by a pair of dark brown eyes and a word: Wow…
o o o o o o o
Angel watched as the strange blond girl walked away. Trying to force his heartbeat to slow down. There was something about her, that…
No. Don't go there, he thought.
But he couldn't help the strange feeling the sight of her had invoked in him. She was soaked to the bone, she had obviously run under the rain to come here, but even in her rather dishevelled state, he could see she was pretty. Beautiful, even, he would say… Blond hair that, even wet, shone under the light and a pair of expressive hazel eyes he wished he could have seen longer…
He had barely exchanged a few words with her, but he felt like everything in him craved more. He wanted to warm her, get that chill out of her, take her in his arms and never let go… It was violent, instantaneous, and especially insane, and he knew it, but he couldn't help it.
He already knew what desire was. Lust, heat… he had had his share of women, and of one night stands… but this, was an entirely different thing.
Something he couldn't really decipher, and something he should probably push aside, knowing this was the kind of relationship he should avoid at all costs. No strings attached, it was better that way…
He sat back behind his piano, and let his fingers wander along the keys, lightly brushing the wood. He could hear the music in his head even before starting to play. It invaded his brain, his mind, running like honey down his eardrums… This was the life he had fought for, this was his freedom… he didn't need anything else.
As the girls came back from their break, and the audition started again, he went back to his role. He played his part, listening absently as every young woman sang her heart out, some better than others… after what felt like hours, it was time for the last one to climb on stage. He had almost forgotten about the blonde angel he had met earlier, or so he tried to convince himself.
She was last, still soaked but still pretty. He watched as she took the microphone, and from his place a few feet behind her, he could see she was shaking… pushing back his sudden urge to walk towards her and hold her hand, he waited for her nod, and started to play.
As the music started to fill the room, the girl whose name he still didn't know began to sing.
o o o o o o o
Lorne watched, mesmerized, as the girl who presented herself as Buffy Summers sang her piece. She was the last one to try out, and if the first lines of L-O-V-E were any indication of what she could do, she would be the one, definitely.
Sure, she was no diva. She was no Aretha Franklin, and no Darla, but she had that thing… that thing he had so desperately searched in every other candidate. That tinge of emotion, that feeling, and that capacity to carry you away with her words and her melody… She had a pretty voice, something he could work with… she was beautiful, despite her attire, and he just knew she would be perfect. The perfect team with Angel, the miracle pianist he had found by chance…
As the song ended, he almost regretted it wasn't longer. He stood up immediately, and clapped his hands as Buffy reddened.
She put the mike back where she had taken it, and started to climb down the stairs. "Thank you" she said, before grabbing her coat.
Before she could leave the room, Miles Lornan cleared his throat. "Miss Summers?" he called out. She looked at him expectantly.
"Are you doing anything Friday night?"
He smiled as the blonde's eyes widened. She was clearly trying not to hope he meant what she thought he meant… "No…" she replied in a weak voice.
"Good!" he told her "because you have a job to do here".
Before he could even finish the sentence, she did something he really hadn't expected.
She took a step towards him and engulfed him in a bear hug. He stood still, and it was over before he could even realize what was happening.
"Thank you" she almost shouted, and realising what she had done, she stepped back and grinned broadly. "See you on Friday then?"
Lorne just nodded and smiled. "See you on Friday…"
The moment she walked out the door, both boss and pianist heard a squeal of delight from outside the club.
The eccentric tenant of the club shook his head, his smile never leaving his face, and winked at Angel… this was all gonna be… interesting.
o o o o o o o
Is it just me, or did that chapter suck?
Well, I'm just coming back to the fandom, so, I guess I need some time to really get the inspiration back! Tell me what you think, please, and constructive criticism is really welcome!!
)