Gunpowder and Lace

1. The Heist





“Liz, let’s go! You’re going to be late for school!”



Liz clipped a red barrette in her hair, grabbed her backpack off her bedroom floor, and bounded down the stairs. “Geez, mom, chill out.”



“Well, Liz, you’re going to miss the school bus. If you have anymore tardies you’re going to get suspended. Mister Snyder isn’t the most lax principal that this high school has seen.”



Liz walked briskly to the kitchen and opened the cabinet above the stove. Grabbing a granola bar, she said, “I’m not going to miss the bus. Besides, I’m seventeen now, I should be driving myself to school.” At the face her mother made in response, she continued. “All my friends are driving now.” She pouted.



“Don’t give me that lip, Lizbeth Summers! It’s not your birthday anymore, you’re not always going to get your way. And besides, the one time I let you take the car, it came back with a dent in the front bumper!”



Liz smiled and conceded. “Okay, mom, you win for now.” She skipped to the front door and opened it. “See you tonight!”



Liz ran down the driveway and up to the bus before the doors closed behind her. She found one of her best friends Harmony Kendall, near the back and plopped down next to her as the bus began moving again. “Hey Harm, what’s up?”



Harmony slapped the compact she had been holding closed and put it into her bag. She turned to Liz. “Oh. My. God. You will never believe who I saw making out with Liam Angelus.”



Liz’s eyes widened. “Dish. Now.”



“Faith.”



“No way!”



“Way!”



Liz giggled. “What a total slut. Last year she was busted for making out with Riley Finn!”



“What a nerd.” Harmony chimed in.



“And now the big, bad Liam? That girl has got a lot of growing up to do.”



“I totally agree.”



The bus came to a stop in front of Sunnydale high. The girls gathered their belongings and stepped off the bus.



It was a gorgeous morning, the sun was shining, birds were chirping. Cordelia Chase was waiting for the two of them at the top of the steps that led to the high school. She pushed up her pink Chanel sunglasses. “Could that bus be any slower? I’ve been waiting here for like, five entire minutes.”



Liz smiled as they clasped arms with each other. “Begged my mom to let me get a car again this morning. Trust me, Cordy, I’m definitely trying.”



Cordelia shrugged. “No worries, girl. We’ll just have to soothe ourselves today after school and go shopping.”



Liz pulled a check out of her purse and waved it in the air. “And that’s what birthday money is for!”



The three of them giggled and Harmony looked from the front doors to the her girlfriends. “Ready, girls?”



Cordelia and Liz nodded in agreement and the three of them walked into school to begin the day.





School…sucked. That little phrase became Liz’s mantra throughout the entire day. As soon as she had stepped over the threshold, the glass had gone from half full to half empty.





If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. It was hard to be peppy and upbeat when Liam Angelus had Faith up against a locker. Yuck. And Mr. Giles, the librarian had given Liz a huge fine for her late books. Not to mention Kendra, her lab partner for science had given her huge attitude the entire class.

School sucked. School sucked. School sucked.





And then, the bell rang. Liz jumped out of her seat and giddily ran to meet her friends at Cordy’s car. Cordelia and Harmony were already waiting for her. Cordelia got into the driver’s seat. “Ready to go shopping, gals?”



Liz smiled and thanked the heavens above that school was over. Trying not to think about the fact that she had to be back at that hellmouth tomorrow, she said, “Yep! Just got to cash my birthday check!”



Cordy revved up the engine. “Quick stop at the bank and then it’s off to spend my father’s hard earned money!”

The car made the quick trip to the bank in record time. Cordelia only swerved into the other lane twice and got only three beeps and one finger from the other drivers on the road. They came to a screeching halt in front of the bank and Liz jumped out. “Be right back, guys.”



Cordelia pulled away to find a parking spot and almost rammed right into a black van. Cordelia gasped and Harmony looked towards the van and yelled, “Hey watch where you’re going!”



Liz walked into the bank and stood in line waiting for the next available teller, check in hand. She was looking around silently, watching the clock tick. She wondered what she might buy at the mall. She knew that Cordy would pretty much buy everything. And as stuck up and snobby as Cordy and Harm seemed, they weren’t so bad. Everyone seemed to like Liz and her friends. They were nice to everyone and even though Liz had to admit she was definitely one of the biggest gossips at school, she tried her hardest to be kind and caring to everyone.



And yet, as kind and as caring as she was, it apparently wasn’t enough for a boyfriend. Though if she was being honest, her choices were pretty limited. None of the guys at school really ever did anything for her. Liz looked back up at the clock and tapped her foot silently on the floor. What was taking so long?



“Everybody down on the ground, NOW!”



BANG! BANG, BANG!



A/N: Please review, guys! Let me know...what do you want to see? What are your thoughts so far? :)