...And Candy Corn Dreams

Look here's more! eat up

Part 3

‘Presto!’ what the hell kind of name is that anyways!? Buffy was seething as she nursed yet another drink from the insanely plush lounge of the VIP section. She glanced blurrily at her small collection of empty glasses on the table.

Was it some kind of magic reference? Like Presto change-o?! Was that the reason Faith was hanging all over him like some slayer shaped jacket?! A very sexy slayer shaped jacket?

God, Buffy couldn’t get over how absolutely stunning the dark slayer looked tonight. Buffy thought she’d been mostly successful in hiding just how much she’d noticed, but she had a feeling she may have slipped up a few hundred times.

Not that it mattered all that much now. No, Faith had this Presto guy, and he had definitely put a spell on her. Fuck, she had let him put his arm around her… she had KISSED him!

Buffy threw back the rest of her drink. It wasn’t anything too strong… she didn’t want to push it after that tequila.

Damn it, the night had started out so wonderfully. The joking the flirting all the way over here. Everything had finally fell into place, it had felt so completely right that she had actually worked up the courage to make a step forward.

The second their fingers had wrapped around each others Buffy got a major case of the butterflies. It was a feeling that didn’t fade until they had approached the wherehouse.

Then, she had started to think about why they were here, about the little smirk Faith had given when she’d said this ‘Presto’ guy was getting them in.

The fun little butterflies had been stomped by a big green monster.

She hated it. She hated that she was up on this balcony alone instead of tearing it up on the dance floor. She hated that she KNEW Faith had been checking her out, had ALWAYS checked her out, but never really did anything about it. She hated that she was doubting that now.

She needed another drink.

Buffy had just made the decision to try those blue sparkly ones she’d seen when an out of breath redhead dropped herself down on the sofa next to her.

“Whew! Buffy it’s hot down here!” Willow grinned and tossed her police cap onto the table in front of them. “I can’t believe we got in here!”

“Yeah its awesome.” Buffy had tried for excitement, it came out more like sarcasm.

“Hey why so blue Buffster?” The voice came from Xander as the rest of the group joined them, all taking seats in ‘their’ lounge area. It was almost like a little bubble, high above the dance floor, there was a perfect view of all the action, but nicely hidden from the rest of the balcony level by thick draping curtains.

There were several of these little private bubbles making up the VIP section. ‘Presto’ had led them to their reserved spot with a flourish and a cocky grin before Faith had dragged him off to the dance floor.

Buffy hadn’t seen her since.

“I’m not blue Xander.” She lied. “I’m just enjoying the VIP goodness… I feel special all the way up here!”

“It is a pretty sweet set up.” Oz spoke between gulps of his drink.

“Yeah but you should really make with the dance moves...” The elf-looking Xander said as he too attempted to hydrate himself on alcohol. They were gonna have some major hangovers Buffy thought.

“Nah.” She couldn’t meet any of their gazes. “I’m just gonna chill. It was so nice of Faith’s…date… to get us our own little private spot!”

At that Xander chuckled around the icecubes in his mouth. “I wouldn’t call Pres her ‘date’ Buff.” He said with a crunch.

Oh ‘Pres’ was it now? Like they were all so damn close?! Fucking Presto

“It’s kind of strange.” His girlfriend piped in “I think there may have been cloning involved.”

Ok, not that Buffy was thrilled about the topic of conversation, but what the hell were her friends talking about?!

“Huh?” Was her eloquent response.

“Well its like he’s a male version of Faith! The guy is all about the getting and the going.” Buffy was sure everyone else heard that chime of envy in her Xander’s voice, but it wasn’t something she could dwell on. This little bit of information had made her brain call up all sorts of possibilities. Would Faith be the one doing the giving?!

Damn it! She wanted another drink. Or at least some chocolate! What kind of Halloween party doesn’t have candy anyways… yeah Presto didn’t think of THAT did he… the fucker.

“Oh, I love this song!” Anya’s excited shriek saved Buffy from traveling down a very dangerous path… a path that led to naked Faith and fucking Presto… well, fucking.

“Well, ma’lady.” Xander did his duty and helped his girl stand. “You joining us this time Buffy? I am man enough to handle the both of you... despite what the green tights may imply!”

Buffy got the feeling her friend was only half joking. How many drinks had he had? Did he even notice the rabid snarl forming on his girl’s face?!

“Umm I’m gonna hold down the fort.” She said, only hoping that Anya wouldn’t go directly for the jugular.

“Ok, suit yourself, but again, I say dancing, ‘cause you know in that skirt—OW!” The rest of what Xander would have said was cut off by a solid backhand from the princess standing next to him. Buffy was thankful Anya had saved her the trouble.

“We’re gonna go dance now.” The chiffon draped ex-demon practically growled. A slow song had started up, and Xander allowed himself to be dragged.

Buffy turned her attention to the other couple in time to see Oz standing up as well.

“Officer?” He questioned the redhead with an upturned hand… his customary word quota for the night being met. Buffy ignored the stab of jealousy as she watched her best friend smile.

“I’ll meet you down there, sweetie.” Oz just smiled in answer, and the redhead turned to her friend once her boyfriend had moved through the curtains

“Ok, now tell me what’s going on with you?” Willow had her ‘expectant’ look going… one step below the resolve-face.

“Nothing!” Buffy quickly began pulling out the skills honed during half a semester of drama “I’m having a blast!” Willow gave her a look that reminded her exactly why she dropped that class.

Buffy finally sighed, giving up the act.

“It’s just… its hard being the third wheel… well seventh wheel actually.”

“Seventh? Buff what are you talking about, there is no seventh?!” Willow sounded emphatic. “We’re doing the group thing remember!”

“Yeah, but you have Oz, there’s Xan and Anya and Faith has… ya know, ‘Presto’” She tired really, REALLY hard to not sound bitter, but judging by the little grin her best friend was giving her, she had failed miserably.

“You know Buff, its not like Faith and Presto are actually here ‘together’.” Oh god the grin was getting bigger. “I mean it’s true what Xander said, Presto’s great and all but he’s kinda all over the place.”

What was that wink about!? Willow never winked!! Buffy could feel the blood draining from her face with each word officer Rosenburg spoke. “Ya know, maybe FAITH, could tell you more about him… ya know, if you and Faith, I don’t know, got TOGETHER and talked… or whatever…”

The smirking witch trailed off as she repositioned her hat and stood. Buffy opened her mouth to say something, but her brain had for some reason ceased to function. Willow was implying that… that she and Faith…

But that wasn’t even something SHE was ready to imply herself!! Let alone actually do!

She tried frantically to come up with some sort of denial. Why? Who the fuck cares why! She can’t have people walking around thinking she was crushing over Faith!

But she WAS crushing. Big time.

Buffy’s moment of realization felt much like relief. And with a sigh she met her friend’s eyes at last, her pale complexion turning more into a blushing one.

“Wh-what am I supposed to do now Wills?” She finally asked. As an answer the other girl pulled Buffy to her feet and they headed down to the floor.

When they reached the bottom tread, they were almost immediately swallowed by the crowd. Buffy hadn’t realized how many people were actually in here! Room to maneuver was at a minimum and she couldn’t go three feet without having to brush up against someone in a near-pornographic manner. Wills had found her boyfriend right away and they both soon disappeared in to the crowd… not before the other girl had flashed her an over-exuberant ‘thumbs up’ of course.

That left Buffy on her own. Luckily the crowd began to thin out a little as she made her way towards the edge of the dance floor… she could totally sense the other Slayer now, that unmistakable energy, that thrill was practically wrapping around her like a silken embrace.

She felt her pulse quicken, her heart speed its pace.

The lights of the club were flashing in slow-time to music. Flickerings of reds and blue. It was another slow song, the melody that was undeniably sensual, but Buffy wondered if she should be looking for the other girl at the bar. Faith was more about the driving fast tempos after all. But then, like something out of a dream, the crowd parted a bit, and there she was. She had lost the leather jacket that topped off her costume and now that shredded little tank was leaving so much skin exposed… Hips swaying, bathed in a circle of amber light… she looked absolutely stunning.

She wasn’t alone.

Faith had her arms around fucking Presto’s neck, her face was so close to his. Buffy could feel something tighten in her chest it was heavy and burned all the way up to her throat.

How could they be dancing so close when he had a meat hook sticking out of his chest!? Buffy watched as they tuned a little, moving to the slow rhythm until Faith’s back was to her. She couldn’t stand to see this anymore.

It shouldn’t even hurt this much right?! She and Faith, they weren’t together… they weren’t ANYTHING. Buffy swallowed hard as she watched fucking Presto’s hands move over Faith’s back.

Yeah, she’d had more than enough.

And Buffy was just about to turn away, to head back up to the balcony so she wouldn’t have to watch this anymore, wouldn’t have to feel like her heart was imploding in her chest. But she brought her eyes to rest on them once more, as if she couldn’t look away…

And fucking Presto was looking right at her.

At first she thought she was mistaken, that it was a trick of the flashing lights and too much alcohol. But then he winked.

The fucking bastard, WINKED at her. The absolute rage that hit Buffy was so intense and had sprung up on her so suddenly she almost didn’t catch the small gesture he was making with his hand… the one that wasn’t stroking Faith’s back.

He was motioning for her to come closer.

Buffy felt her brow knit together a bit, as her feet began to move on their own, taking her out onto the crowded dance floor, closer to the swaying couple. The edge of suspicion caused her Slayer senses to instinctually sharpen.

She could suddenly see fucking Presto nodding ever so slightly, could smell the captivating scent of Faith’s perfume, and even over the music she could hear her voice!

Quiet and breaking slightly over the words… did he want her to hear what Faith was saying?! Was that it?!

Of course that was it, god she could be slow sometimes.

Buffy took another step closer…

“…and I just don’t know what the hell is going on anymore ya know?” Faith sounded so dejected “I just wanna know where I stand with her. One minute she’s holdin’ my hand the next she’s freezing me out and I can’t fuckin’ keep up!”

Buffy felt her heart stop. Seriously, it was more like everything else in the world just froze and it was only the three of them

“Why do you stay? Ya didn’t have to come back here ya know.” Presto spoke to Faith, but his eyes were locked on Buffy, they looked both sad and expectant.

“I-I can’t leave her… I got so much to fix. I fucked it all up so bad.”

Buffy could feel her eyes burning, she wanted to rush over there, knock Presto out the way… gently… and take the younger girl into her arms.

“You can’t fix it someplace else? Do all your good deeds someplace where you wont take so much shit?” And at that Buffy got a raised eyebrow from the man she barely knew, but who was giving her so much.

“I can’t quit her Pres… I try. God I try so fuckin ha-hard” The dark slayer’s voice actually broke at that “But I need her. I want her ya know, I need her to want me!”

Buffy couldn’t stand it anymore. She’d heard way more than enough, and Presto was giving her a look that clearly said ‘Fix this. Now.’

Her feet were moving again, taking her further onto the dance floor until she was standing right next to them. Faith still seemed oblivious. So Buffy smiled at Presto as she spoke.

“Mind if I cut in here?”

TBC
Ok there are 2 more parts of this... you know what you gotta do if you want to see them! Review!