It was over.
Words shouted and doors slammed and giant military helicopters departed.
Tears slipped out of exhausted eyes and were hurriedly wiped away on a sleeve. Didn't have to be so stupidly dramatic.
Buffy stared unseeingly at the crowd of the Bronze, watching happy couples dancing together. Near the front Willow and Tara were swaying on the dancefloor, eyes only for each other in a way that made Buffy's heart feel all the more bruised.
So unfair…
She pinched her eyes closed to stop more tears from coming. She was practically dried out from crying as it was. Every time she swallowed it felt like there was glass in her throat.
Something clanked down on the table in front of her and she opened her eyes.
She raised an eyebrow at the tall glass of what looked like cranberry juice and ice, garnished with an orange slice and a cocktail cherry skewered by a little umbrella.
"And that is?" she asked with a weary look at Anya who was beaming proudly.
"It's a cocktail!" Anya exclaimed, deftly missing the not-in-the-mood scowl Buffy was trying to eviscerate her with. "It's called 'Sex On The Beach'. But it'll be better than sex because of the peach schnapps." She stopped to consider. "Well, better than sex with Riley anyway which was no doubt dry and unfulfilling, unlike sex with Xan-"
"YEAH- hey, we also bought beer!" Xander interrupted as he plonked down a pitcher onto the table.
"I'm so not in the mood," Buffy mumbled, leaning heavily on her hand.
"Because of Riley getting chewed on by vampires, or because of Riley running away to the jungle?" Anya asked before Xander could shush her.
Buffy was still staring intently at the cocktail, her lips pressed into an angry white line.
The cherry almost looked like a heart from the way it had been de-stoned. A bright red heart burst open. Staked by the wood of the cocktail umbrella.
"...Because of Spike," she said coldly, letting her anger rest there. It was easy to be angry at him. It was natural. God, sometimes it was like she was built to be mad at him.
It was so much easier than being hurt and heartbroken about Riley.
The cherry practically glowed. Seemed to weep with syrup from the wooden puncture.
"What did Spike do this time?" Xander asked, but she hardly heard him.
I'm going to fucking kill him, that angry little voice in her head said, and the vindictive revenge-ness made her feel a milligram better. I'm going to put a stake right through his stupid heart this time, then he won't keep messing up my life.
He just keeps coming back and turning up and being all there and annoying and INFURIATING!
And I've So. Had. ENOUGH!
She pulled the cherry with its umbrella out of the glass, and with hard teeth yanked it off the pick, letting it burst on her tongue as she downed the glass, chugging back the taste of peaches and cranberries, before she slipped off her stool and left, leaving Xander and Anya blinking at her goodbye-less departure.