Surprises

Disclaimer - see part one

Thanks for the feedback. I was up late, so please forgive any typos.

Part 7
Faith looked around the room. Dawn was still talking to the same, big-handed brute, and actually giggling, which gave Faith a sudden wave of nausea. She continued. Willow and Kennedy were suspiciously missing for a moment, until she spotted the two girls also giggling and kissing in a dark corner. Andrew was drinking something fruity and pink, though he wasn't giggling, but looking around the room longingly. Said girl, just as B had predicted, had pretty much laughed in Andrew's face, and left. Not that he cared, he was busy scanning the room, looking for someone, Xander probably.. Oh well, she thought, too bad for him, as she ducked out of his sight, just as he turned around.

Faith leaned over andspoke to Buffy, who was staring at the crowd of dancers, "All this giggling is getting on my nerves."

Buffy turned and looked at Faith, a gloss in her eye, "huh?"

"Look," Faith said, spanning her hand dramatically around the room, "everyone is freaking giggling. What the fuck do they think is so funny? And why," she said turning to face Buffy, "would they not let us in on it?"

Buffy stared at Faith for a moment, and shook her head, "Where's Xander?"

Faith turned back around and rolled her eyes, "Gone B. Xander went bye-bye, remember?"

She got a vacant stare and a shrug for her humor, seeing as Buffy obviously didn't remember.

Xander had actually left an hour earlier, telling Buffy and Faith, that he was going back to the hotel. Faith found it hard to believe that he was going there alone, seeing as the vacuous hottie was in tow. Faith wondered, how drunk Buffy actually was, since she had asked the question twice already.

Fuck this is getting boring, she thought. She turned to watch the people on the dance floor. It was about that time of night, where people started pairing up and going home. She knew the scene. The first few hours people would socialize with each other, but it was becoming couple time, and she felt a small wave of panic. I am alone in this club, she thought, turning to look at Buffy, who was twirling Faith's lighter in tiny circles on the table. She's so beautiful, was her next thought, followed quickly by shut the fuck up, dumbass she would never want you. She knew it was the alcohol, making her so emotional, but she found, that sitting there, in the silence, she couldn't take her eyes off the girl. Buffy looked up and smiled at her, before turning to survey the crowd. Faith wanted to turn her around, make her look at her. She wanted Buffy to smile at her like that again. She wanted to be one of these people on the dance floor, pressed against the blond beside her. So she screwed up her courage.

"Buffy you wanna dance?" she asked turning again to face her.

Buffy didn't answer her at first. Again she smiled at Faith. Faith felt her breath catch in her throat. All of sudden she knew, it was this moment. This would decide everything. She waited, not wanting to breathe, not wanting to disturb Buffy. She was almost afraid when Buffy finally did answer her.

"Not really, Faith." she looked in her face, and most likely seeing disappointment there, quickly added, "I'm just tired."

When Faith did exhale, such a minimal reflex Buffy didn't even notice, she felt a pain so deep within her stomach, she thought that she may actually cry. In this fucking smoky, godforsaken club, in front of B. No fucking way, she thought. She swallowed the knot that was forming in her throat.

"I think I'm just gonna go dance," Faith said, "if it's cool?'

Buffy just nodded and looked away. Faith knew she should leave, move her legs and go, but she couldn't. She stood there, looking at Buffy, willing her to turn around. But she didn't.

Faith wiggled her way through the crowd and onto the dance floor. Dancing for all of two seconds, she was unable to find any rhythm, and her head was swimming, so she backed back off. She didn't want to go back to Buffy, not at the moment, not yet. She felt humiliated. Logically, she knew, it wasn't that big of a deal, but to her it felt huge, and she didn't want to deal with it. So instead, she made her way to the bar and ordered another drink. She lit a cigarette, and smiled at the woman sitting next her.

"Hi," the girl said.

Faith tipped her head in acknowledgement, and turned around.

"Are you okay?" the girl asked, and then quickly apologized, "God. That's none of my business. I'm sorry."

Faith turned to her more fully and looked at her. She was tall, about 5'8". All in all, quite attractive. Not that that matters much, she thought, cause she ain't Buffy.

She finally answered her, "It's okay. It's just kinda been one of those nights. You know? Where you think things are going one way, and then they do a complete turn, and reality smacks you in the face?"

The girl nodded, "Actually I do know. I'm sorry you're having a rough night too. It seems to be the night for rejection," she sighed, turning up her own drink, "Name's Carmen."

Faith smiled at her, "Faith."

Faith and the girl were busy talking, engrossed in a conversation as to why unrequited love sucks ass, when she felt a very persistent tap on her shoulder.

"Fuck off," she said, before turning around, "Oh B, umm sorry."

Buffy looked from her to the girl, and back again, "did I interrupt something?"

Faith looked at the girl who smiled and answered for her, "No, of course not."

Buffy put her hand on Faith's upper thigh, "Have you been here the whole time. I've been looking everywhere for you."

Faith was staring at the hand on her leg, "Yep B, been right here. Guess you weren't looking that hard," she said turning, and dislodging her hand, before turning her back to her and facing the bar.

Buffy scooted in between her and the girl, "Well, it's time to go," she said turning Faith back around on the bar stool.

Faith didn't budge, "Woah B, I'm not ready to go."

Buffy stood still staring at Faith for a few seconds, "I don't remember asking if you were. But we're tired."

Faith turned back around, "Go, if you're ready. No one is stopping you."

"Obviously you are."

Faith rolled her eyes, "Look B, I am a big girl. I can get back to the hotel on my own," Faith looked around the room, and then back at Bu "I' "I'm having fun."

Buffy's face was turning somewhat red. She put her hand on Faith's arm again, "I'm not leaving you here by yourself."

"Why the fuck not? Scared I'm going to hurt someone. Go all, psychoslayer again," Faith growled.

"Shut up Faith, that is not what I meant," Buffy said.

"Then stay here with me. You didn't even dance. Come on B, just you and me," Faith said, uncharacteristically swallowing her pride yet again.

Faith could see Buffy contemplating whether or not to stay. She looked back at her friends, standing at the door, waiting for her. Andrew was shoving Dawn, who in turn, stepped on his foot. Buffy looked at Faith and sighed. "I think I'll just go," she said, sounding a little defeated. "I'm tired, and they're ready to go. Just go ahead and stay," she peered over Faith's shoulder at the girl beside her, "I don't want to spoil your fun." She turned and left.

Faith watched her leave the club, smacking both Andrew and Dawn in the back of the head on the way out. All of sudden she didn't feel much like staying, but she didn't want to go back now. She turned and ordered another drink, for herself and her new found friend.

To be continued...