Chapter 9

"Hey guys!" Buffy greets Willow and Kennedy and hugs Willow, "Hi," she squeaks.

I really, really want to be Willow right now, even though she's three shades of red and that's not including her hair. Kennedy doesn't seem to like this, I think I've mentioned that she's the jealous type, but even I can tell that it's just a friendly hug. A hug that I really want in on. While their hugging, yeah they're still hugging, I just nod to Ken as a greeting.

"Kill me now, you invited the Dixie chicks?" Cordelia, I think that's all I need to say.

Buffy glares at her.

"Yeah, yeah, be nice," she says, "What are we even watching?"

"We haven't picked yet," I supply, might as well be civil to Buffy's best friend, no matter how much of an evil bitch she is.

"How about… She's the Man," every single one of our faces are pretty much the picture of stunned, "Channing Tatum is hot," she supplies. Huh, I could've sworn I heard her talking to Harmony about how much of a low life he is, I ain't complaining though, been wanting to check it out. Apparently there's a bit of lesbian subtext, I'm all for that, since there never seems to be any actual lesbian content.

"Okay, as long as everyone else agrees," I look to the others, they still seem eerie of the Queen Bitch, but nod their heads nonetheless.

As soon as we get in line for tickets, the group separates into two. I think you know whose where. Me and mine are discussing the hotness of the blonde chick in the movie, while Cordelia is just trying not to interrupt us, I can quite literally feel her inner turmoil. I have to say one thing though; even if she's a bitch to us she seems to be a hell of a friend to Buffy.

"Can you guys please keep the homosexual conversations to a minimum? Not everyone is comfortable with talking about hot girls in the middle of a movie theatre," she gestures to herself and Buffy. That whole being a good friend thing… Well I take that back now.

"Actually, I don't really mind Cordy, I saw the promos and she isn't even that hot, I'd do Amanda Bynes though," take that Cordy.

"Listen, I understand that not everybody shares the same point of view as us, I just ask that you respect it," I'm talking directly to Cordelia, believe it or not, it still hurts like hell when people insult me or any other gay person solely because of our sexual orientation.

She seems to understand where I'm coming from when she answers me with a "fine." It's our turn, Will and Ken get their tickets first, I let Buffy and in turn Cordelia go ahead of me, such a gentleman. I forgot to mention how throughout my speech to Cordy, Buffy was looking dreamily at me. Score.

"One ticket to see She's the Man," Cordy asks the ticked dude, what are they even called? She starts ruffling about in her purse, "Dammit! I can't find my stupid wallet,"

"Did you leave it in your car?" I ask.

"It can't be I never opened my purse. I must've left it at home," she raises her voice by the end. I feel a bitch fit coming on. I'd do anything to stop that from happening, "No worries, I got ya," I ask the dude for another ticket and pay for both of them.

"Faith, you didn't have to," she has this indescribable look on her face; I know she knows that I ain't the most fortunate.

"It's cool, just keep the bitchy remarks to yourself tonight alright?" she just nods and joins Buffy, not even a thank you.

"Did I really just see you pay for Cordelia's ticket?" Kennedy asks as we walk to hall 7, where the movie is being shown. "Yeah, she like forgot her wallet at home," Kennedy is sporting a funny look on her face.

"Do not tell me you're looking to get into Cordelia Chase's pants," she yells a little bit too loudly, and I think my eyes have just popped out of my head.

"The fuck! No I don't. Why in the hell would you think that?" seriously. Now I'm imagining me and Cordy together… Huh. That's pretty hot. Wow there Faith, back track, you like Buffy. No, you love Buffy; blonde, short, tanned beautiful Buffy, not bitchy sexy brunette.

"Last month, you didn't want to go anywhere with me or Willow, because you were trying to save some cash, now you're buying one of the richest girls in Sunnydale a movie ticket. Hello? That screams repressed crush to me," but, what, huh.

"No, just no Ken, I'm going to make this very clear to you. Cordelia may be one of the hottest girls in school, but she's also the most horrible, heartless, bitchiess and most disrespectful person I have ever known. I would never even think about being with someone half as bad as her, I'm only being nice for Buffy," why is she wincing? It's not like I was insulting her.

"The movie is about to start," I hear a low broken whisper behind me, that sounds a hell of a lot like Cordelia's voice, I turn around to see and hope that she didn't hear everything I said even though Kennedy's wince was enough of a clue.

She throws me, what I'm guessing was her way of paying me back (Extra large popcorn combo) and walks off to hall 7. Buffy just shakes her head at me and follows her friend.

"It's just Cordelia," Kennedy says.

"Faith," Willow starts.

"Yeah, I know I have to apologize," why do I have to be the good guy? I mean, most of what I said was true. I don't even know why she reacted like that, normal Cordy would have just thrown back an insult and life would be good. Just as long as she doesn't start crying, I'll okay. I hope Buffy isn't pissed.

My hopes are crushed, when we walked into the room I went to sit next to Buffy and she said that she'd rather sit next to Willow and Kennedy, all the while having a stone cold face on. Come on! It wasn't even that bad, Will and Ken are sympathetic enough, Kennedy even attempts giving me a pat on the back, but I just shrug it off.

I glance over the couple to try and catch Buffy's eye, but she's staring straight ahead at the blank screen, as I look over though I can clearly see Cordelia's tear stained face. I knew this night would never work out. Why did she have to cry? Now I feel all bad and stuff. I've never even seen her cry before, this is really not my day with the ladies.

The movie is okay I guess, too much heterosexual context, not enough lesbians if you ask me. It would be better if I could be next to Buffy though, she's completely ignoring me. You know how when you're watching a movie and something you find funny happens, you laugh and look around to see who else found it funny? Well every time I look towards Buffy she snaps her neck back to the screen, she should be careful wouldn't want her breaking her neck. I guess were about halfway through the film when my stupid bladder starts acting up, two large cokes in two hours is not good. Not good at all.

"I'm going to the washroom," I whisper to the others, they all seem to ignore what I say.

Ahh, relief. I finish washing my hands when, you guessed it, Cordelia pops up in the mirror behind me. The washroom is completely empty seeing as it's the middle of all the movie showings.

"Listen Cor-" I'm cut off by her lips. Her lips on my lips. Cordelia Chase's lips on my fucking lips, this is just so wrong. Why haven't I pushed her away yet?

Right when my brain starts working and I'm about to push her off she stops kissing me.

"Don't tell," and she's gone. Did that really just happen, yeah it clearly did seeing as I have some of her lipstick on. I wipe it off, all I can think of is that she's playing some sick joke, I mean hello, she's Cordelia no way does she like me. Even if she did, which I doubt she does, I'm never going to do anything with her. That kiss doesn't count, she surprised me. I was about to send her on her way, but she stopped before I had the chance. I'll just go and watch the rest of the movie, and never ever tell anyone about what just happened. If they were to find out, I would just tell them that it was horrible. Because it was, it was not at all good. Nope. I should really head back, they're gonna be thinking I'm taking a dump or something, it's not like I can tell them I practically made out with Cordelia in the bathroom. What is it with me and bathrooms? My first kiss with Buffy better not be in a bathroom or I'll seriously start wondering if I have a problem. I really should stop implying that Buffy and I even have a future.

Great, I'm back in my spot and now Cordelia keeps glancing over at me, I thought I was supposed to forget about the kiss. She told me not to tell. What is it with women? On top of it, she keeps smiling. Oh geez, this really isn't going to end well, I can feel the apocalypse on the horizon. Maybe Cordelia and Rachel will kill each other fighting over yours truly, and leave me to have Buffy all to myself. I wish.

This movie is turning out to be way worse than I thought, the soccer scenes are cool, but she's totally faking it. I bet Amanda Bynes couldn't even kick a soccer ball without falling flat on her ass. I'm pretty sure Willow and Kennedy agree, why you ask? Well because they are all over each other, I don't even want to see Buffy's face right now because even I'm disgusted, and not just because they're my friends but because, well, I can't exactly see Ken's hand right now and it's freaking me out.

I clearly hear the pop sound of Will and Ken's lips disconnecting as soon as the lights turn on, thank God it's over. We rush out of the hall, and form an awkward circle outside of the building. No one really ever knows what to do after a movie.

"Do you need a ride home Faith," Kennedy asks me, she must have picked up on the fact that Buffy is giving me the cold shoulder, it's not even like I insulted her, I insulted her best friend.

"I'll drive her," the person I least expected to ever offer me a ride states, she doesn't even ask, she states pure Cordelia-like, "It's on my way..." she explains. Buffy's eyebrows look like their about to meld together, I can see the wheels turning in that blonde head of hers. There's no way she knows about what happened, I don't even know what happened.

Before I even get a chance to protest, Cordelia is dragging me out the door like rag doll. I didn't even get to say bye to Buffy, she would have just ignored me. Maybe I can ask Cordy to get me back on Buffy's good side. What am I even thinking? I am not asking Queen C for anything, ever.

When Cordy notices that she's still holding my hand she drops it, more like flings it, yeah flings it to me, and walks to her car. She hasn't even addressed me yet when I open the door and get settled inside. She doesn't talk until the car is stationary, and this so isn't my apartment building. We're in the middle of nowhere, I wasn't paying attention to where we were going, too busy thinking about all the crazy shit that's been going on lately, and the fact that I was in Cordelia Chase's car, and it wasn't grand theft auto.

"Wha-," not good, not good, her lips our on mine again. That's when I realized that we're parked in Sunnydale's most famous teenager make-out zone. I should have known, I've been here more times than I can count. Cordy's lips our on mine for the second time of the night, and god dammit, for once I'm gonna man up and not let my hormones get to me. I push her off of me.

"What the hell is this!" I yell out.

"Exactly what it looks like," she leans in to reconnect our lips again, hell no.

"Do you... do you like me Cordelia?"wow that sounds weird coming out of my mouth.

"What," she scoffs, "No," I'm trying to make eye contact with her, but her eyes are wandering around everywhere, it's making this quite difficult.

She finally relents and looks me in the eye, oh god no, I can already feel what she's about to say, "I've kinda, well, I've wanted to do that for awhile. I always thought that you saw through all my bullshit," I have honestly never heard Cordelia talk so timidly before today, "but when I heard you talking to Kennedy, I finally realized that things would have to change if I wanted to be with you," I'm going to have to do this very gently if I want a chance with Buffy, "Listen Cordy," this is the second time I get a wide, hopeful, teary-eyed look directed at me today, "the things I said before, they were just, you know, me mouthing off, you aren't... all that bad," I'm trying hard not to touch her right now, did I mention that I hate when girls cry and I can very clearly tears forming. Not only that, but she's my ride home.

"Maybe we can start off by being friends or something, before jumping into... this," I gesture to the predicament we're in. I know I probably dug myself a bigger grave by giving her hope of a future relationship, but hey, you guys already know I'm a jerk.

"Pfft, you're dreaming if you think I want to be friends with you," she scoffs, and starts up the car again.

"I thought,"

"Well you thought wrong," she snaps. Guess Queen C doesn't handle rejection very well. My guess is confirmed when she starts ranting while driving, "You know Faith," I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die, "every single person in our school would do anything to have a piece of this, I have everybody wrapped around my finger. But as soon as I start really liking someone, I realize that all they want is my body. You don't even want that, I offer myself to you and no, you just have to reject me. Why? I ask myself,"

"I don-"

"Shut up!" okey dokey, as long as she keeps her eyes on the road, "well, I think you're rejecting me because you're afraid of actually loving someone," she doesn't even know the half of it, "I know you want me Faith," what is it with people assuming that they know what I want? "I get it though, you've only ever been with a bunch of bimbos," Hey! They weren't bimbos. Well most of them weren't.

"I'm going to make it my personal mission to get you to open up to me," oh crap.

"Emotionally," she puts her car in park, we're at my building. How did she know where I lived? "and physically," Gulp.