Americana 7/27

Title: Americana
Pairing: Faith/Cordelia
Summary: Five friends come of age.
Rating: PG 13
Notes: First kiss scene written by 'Norwalker'.


“CORDELIA.” Brian says in a sing song tone and leans his tall frame against the kitchen entrance.

“BRIAN.“ Cordelia replies in the same tone, closing a carton of juice. She opens the refrigerator door and places the carton onto the shelf.

“Question,“ He raises a finger to his lips in mock thought.

“Shoot,” She looks at the food in the refrigerator noting which items are creeping up on their past due date.

“Do you remember that conversation we had about all that stuff we had in the attic collecting dust?“

She closes the refrigerator door and runs a hand through her hair. “I completely forgot about that.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “You were the one that said it was time to clear out some of our old stuff and donate it to the Good Will.”

“I’ve got a novel idea.“ She saunters over to him and wraps her arms around his neck?

“Oh, yeah?” He wraps his arms around her waist.

“Yeah,“ She presses her body against his. “You could do it.”

“Well, I'd do it --” He trails off.

“You would. Huh?” She arches an eyebrow.

He grins, showing off his dimples. “Yeah, but, I'd just be in the way. I don't know what goes and what stays. God forbid, I give away your prized collection of stuffed animals.”

She laughs and taps his chest with her finger. “I plan on giving them to our daughter.”

He makes a face. “Grace?”

“Yes, Grace.”

“Our daughter the tomboy.”

“We've got an attic to sort through. I'll tell you what stays and what goes. And, I’d like to see you try and get out of helping.”

“I think I can.”

“I'd like to see you try Mr. LeHane.”

“I've got to pick up Grace from soccer practice.” He laughs.

She hits his chest lightly. “You win this round.” She pulls back.

“You need me to pick up anything for you while I'm out?”

She shakes her head.

He walks over to her and kisses her softly on the lips. “I love you.”

“I love you.”

He walks out of the kitchen.

“Brian!” She calls out.

He pops his head back through the doorway. “You rang?”

She crosses her arms over her chest trying to look stern. “Just don't let Grace talk you into driving the car again. She's only thirteen.”

“Cordelia,” He grins, sheepishly. “it was only a block away from the house, and she's a pretty good driver for thirteen. Who knew?”

“Brian.” Her expression remains serious.

He holds up his hands in defeat. “Okay, okay, no more driving until she's of legal age.” He disappears out of view.

She rests her hands on her hips. The sooner I do this the faster it gets done, and I won't look at that attic again for at least another five years. She walks into the hallway and stops at the bottom of the stairs.

She picks up Grace's basketball, sneakers, and grabs her sweater hanging on the banister railing. “I'm going to have to have another talk with her about picking up after herself.” She sighs and walks up the stairs.

Grace's bedroom is a disaster, clothes, comics and sports equipment cluttering the floor. She drops the basketball, and sneakers on the carpet.

She folds Grace’s sweater, and placing it in her dresser drawer. She looks around the messy bedroom. “I don't get it when I was Grace’s age --”

When you were Grace's age? I guess you have grown up.

Well, I am…34...34...I'm 34!

She shakes her head.

Where did all the years go?

34...ISN'T old!

Oh yeah you're right. 34 is the new 21. NOT!

She picks up clothing from the floor.

You know if you keep picking up after her. She's never going to learn.

She drops the clothes back onto the floor. “I'll just have a talk with Grace when she gets home about responsibility, and picking up after herself.”

Yeah right that's what every thirteen year old wants to hear, a lecture on responsibility.

Okay I'll just tell her to pick up after herself or no t.v. for a week.

No, that's not gonna do it. Grace doesn't care about t.v. She's more about being outside, and playing sports no sports for a week that oughta set her straight.

She almost trips over a lacrosse stick on her way out.

She opens the door to the attic and the dusty stale air hits her on her way up.

She maneuvers her way through the cluttered mess and opens up all of the attic windows.

She claps. “Okay, Cordelia, lets get this place organized.” She sighs and looks around at the mess she has to sort through.

She grabs a box and sets it down on a card table. “What do we have here?” She asks herself, and pulls out her Sunnydale High School year book. She runs her hand over the faded gold lettering. She opens up the book, and flips through the pages.

“Buffy,” Her hair was perfect, and her makeup flawless. She was always perfectly put together.

She skims through the long list of Buffy's activities. “was there a club she didn't belong to?”

‘You know, Cordy, people with money. The families in Sunnydale that make things happen. The Summers, the Chases, The Logans, The Rileys, and all the other ones. We have a responsibility here, Cordy.’

She frowns, remembering Buffy's callous words before the start of high school.

You got what you wanted though, Buffy. I wonder if you're happy.

Those things were never important to me, but they were always so important to her.

She looks up another friend. “Xander” She smiles, warmly, at his picture. He had a goofy grin on his face, his hair was a tousled mess, and his tie crooked.

He was a cutie. She laughs. He could ALWAYS find a way to make me laugh.

She smiles, fondly. He always finds the time to mail Grace each issue of his comic 'The Slayer'.

“Where is Willow?” She flips a couple of pages, and finds Willow, with dreadlocks, a look that she pulled off well, and a mellow smile. She was always off doing her own thing.

Cordelia finds her senior picture, and begins to laugh. “God, was I ever that young? Were we ever that young?”

She pulls out a photograph from in between the pages. Her light hearted trip down memory lane suddenly takes a somber turn.

It's a candid shot of her and Faith. We were inseparable. Faith has her arm around Cordelia's shoulder. She has that trade mark dimpled grin on her face.

Cordelia stares at the picture, trying hard to remember the day it was taken.

What she does remember is Faith's unmistakable scent, a mixture of grease from working in her father’s auto body shop; sweat from playing soccer.

She touches the picture, stroking Faith's face with the pad of her thumb, remembering the softness and warmth of Faith's skin.

The way that Faith looked at her with those warm dark brown eyes, that made Cordelia melt.

The way Faith laughed with entire body, and those perfect dimples. Cordelia inhales sharply eyes filling with tears. “She was only seventeen and never got a chance to live.”

“Cor!” Brian calls out walking up the steps leading into the attic.

She wipes her tears away with the back of her hand.

“I went to pick up Grace, but she’s playing a pick up game with a few of her friends. So, consider me your personal mover for the next hour.” He gets closer to Cordelia and notices her teary eyes. “You okay?”

“I was just --” She holds the picture in her hand.

“Faith,” He nods his head in understanding. “You two were like this,” He crosses his fingers. “I miss her too.” He smiles fondly. “She was pretty cool for a kid sister.”

“I think I’m going to save straightening out for another day.”

“It’s a great picture of the two of you, Cor. You should get a frame for it.” He suggests.

“I think I will.” She looks at the picture in her hand.


****


Cordelia had stopped off at the store for a frame and then headed to the park to pick up her daughter.

She spots Grace across the soccer field with a group of friends, but her daughter seemed to be paying extra attention to the blonde haired girl next to her.

She couldn’t count the number of times she had watch Faith at soccer practice. And, afterwards Faith would walk her home.

We had our first kiss at this park.

It was a beautiful summer day in Sunnydale. The weather was perfect. The sky was blue, almost cloudless. The air was warm, and the sun had painted the day in rich, bright colors.

Cordelia didn't see a bit of it.

Her whole focus was on one person, practicing with the soccer team on the field. She watched intently as Faith player went through her paces, kicking, running, facing off against an intra squad team.

Everything else seemed to fade into the background, and all she saw in almost painfully sharp detail is Faith. She watched her run, watched as her hair, pulled back in a pony tail and dappled by the sun, swung from side to side as she played. She saw the way she seemed to revel in the sheer joy of moving and breathing and being alive.

She was perfect. Everything she did, every way she moved is perfect. Everything about her was perfect. Her hair, her body; even the sweat that stained her jersey and beaded on her brow is perfect. She is perfection personified.

She was Faith. She was magnificent. And in that moment, she stole Cordelia's heart like a thief.

"HELLO!" Buffy, seated next to Cordelia in the stands prodded her. "Is anyone home? Earth to Cordelia, Buffy calling!" She snapped irritated that she didn’t have Cordelia’s attention.

"Huh?" Cordelia responded absent mindedly.

"Are you like ever going to answer my question?"

"What question?" Cordelia still wasn't turned to Buffy. Her gaze was locked on Faith.

"Well, duh, girl. Aren’t you like excited we're FINALLY going to be in High School? I mean, this is our time, Cordy."

"Oh, yeah sure.” She shrugged. “It's going to be fun," Cordelia turned to her friend, and smiled. She turned back to the field.

"What is so interesting down there? I mean, it's just like soccer practice."

"Isn't she great?" Cordelia's voice was excited and happy. "Look at her!"

"Who?"

"Faith! Gosh, are you even paying attention?"

"To soccer practice? Please, like, who gets excited over soccer?" Buffy shruged. "Frankly, sports like bore me."

Cordelia turned to her friend, and looked a little surprised. "Bore you? Ok, I'm not getting it?

“You don't particularly like sports, but you're going out for the cheerleading squad?"

"Well, yeah."

"Ok, maybe I'm dense. If you don't like sports, what's the point, Buffy?"

"Cordy? Where's your head? Cheerleading isn't about sports."

"Excuse me?"

"God, we went over this Cordy. Like, dozens of times. It's not cheerleading, I mean, that's just what you have to do. It's about being popular." Buffy looked straight into Cordelia's eyes. "That's what the real deal is. Being popular!"

"Buffy, you're still losing me. You don't have to be a cheerleader to be popular. You just have to … well, be friendly and all…"

"Yeah, if you want to be popular with the losers and geeks," Buffy shook her head. Her tone took on a 'explaining it to a slow child' tone. "The way you get popular with the right people, the people that mean something, is being on the cheer squad. You're on, and you're in. You're not, and… well, you live your life in Loserville."

"The right people? What're you talking about? We've got friends, lots of them…"

"You're talking like Xander? And Willow? And … Faith?" Buffy made a particularly pained face on the last name.

"Well, yeah. They're our buds, and we're their buds and we all hang. We're like a group."

"Cordy, Cordy, Cordy," Buffy shook her head sadly. "The only group we're with is the Nobody group. The Loser group. Once we hit high school, things have got to change."

"I like Xander… ok, he's a goofball sometimes, but he's ok. And Willow. She's funny, and sweet. And Faith… I really like Faith."

Buffy frowned. " Cordelia Chase," Buffy said, using her full name to grab her attention. "Do you ever like think about the future?"

"I guess, sometimes?" Cordy shruged. "Geeze, what's the big?"

"The 'big' as you put it, is that we only get one, count it, one shot at high school. And high school determines where you go to college. And where you go to college determines exactly who and what you can expect in life. You have to have a plan, Cordy. You can't just float along, and at the last moment, hope you get into like Sunnydale Community College, or … god, worse, UC Sunnydale. You have to work towards a goal. To get into the right college, meet the right guy, and marry well.. and rich."

Cordelia looked at her with wide eyes. "Ok, Buff. Now you're beginning to scare me." She laughed to lighten the mood.

"Cordy," Buffy's eyes and tone softened, "believe me, it's scary for me too. Really. But this is like important to people like us. We don't have the luxury of just floating, just getting by. We're the future, you and me and people like us. We're the ones who'll be doing the big stuff, shaping the way things are, in the future." She gave Cordelia a sidelong glance. "You get that, right?"

Cordelia put on a neutral, or what she thought was a neutral, expression.

"People like us?"

"You know, Cordy, people with money. The families in Sunnydale that make things happen. The Summers, the Chases, The Logan's, The Riley's, and all the other ones. We have a responsibility here, Cordy."

"You‘ve really thought about this," Cordelia involuntarily moved away.

"Cordy, look. Thing is, you and me? We gotta be like the top. This is gonna be our time, and we gotta make the most of it, ok?" Buffy smiled brightly, "And anyway, don't you want to like hang with the cool kids? Go to the cool parties, and stuff?"

"Yeah…" Cordelia didn’t sound so sure.

"Well, being a cheerleader is like a free pass to that. And that's why you and I gotta like, go out for it, see? You and me, bud. We gotta hang together. 'k?"

"Yeah, sure Buff," Cordelia agreed, but still was a little wary.

"So, ummm… what's the deal with Faith? I mean… ?"

"Nothing," Cordelia felt suddenly shy about talking to Buffy about Faith. "I just thought she was really doing good today. In practice."

"Oh yeah, sure," Buffy smiled. Inside, she was burning. "Faith has her moments." She looked out on the field. "Looks like they're breaking up practice…"

"Huh?" Cordelia swerved her head towards the field, and saw practicing breaking up.

"So, I thought maybe we could like… go to the Espresso pump? Get some mochas?" Buffy suggested, glad that practice was finally over. "Whatcha think?"

"Ummm…my dad wanted me home early today. So, great as that sounds, Buff. Gonna have to take a pass."

"Oh," Buffy felt disappointed. Very disappointed. " Ok, I get it. Moms and dads, they can be so… " Buffy shrugged. "Another time?"

"Yeah, sure, another time, Buffy," Cordelia was on her feet. "That'd be great. I really gotta go now…" She started down the stairs towards the field.

"Yeah, ok… another time, Cordy" Buffy called out to her, and waved.

"Ok, Buffy. Bye!" Cordy waved, and turned, and trotted down the stairs.

"Bye! Call me!" Buffy called out.

She sat there, and looked puzzled.

Faith was glowing.

She was basking in the praise of her teammates. She had to admit, she was on fire today.

"Faith! Great practice today," Coach LeFevere came over, and congratulated her. "You did great today. Now, think I can see some of that fire in our next game Saturday?"

"No worries, Coach. Gonna wipe the field with the Ravens Saturday. The Pythons RULE, Coach!" Faith did an air pump with her fist.

"Now, that's just what I mean. Hold onto that fire, girl, for Saturday. Gonna be watching you!" The Coach smiled. She patted Faith on the back, and walked away.

Faith was nearly bouncing around on her feet. She was good… no, she was GREAT today, and she knew it.

" Faith!"

Faith turned to see Cordelia Chase. She smiled. "Hey, Cor! Wow, what's up girl? Whatcha doing here?"

"Ummm.., kinda waiting for you," Cordelia smiled, a little shyly. "I watched your practice today. You were good, really good."

"Really? You think so? I thought I was a little off…" Faith fished for a compliment.

"Oh, c'mon, Faith Lehane. You were on fire today, and you know it!" Cordelia said, and snapped that fishing line. "Don't even look for more praise. I'm pretty sure your teammates did a good job of swelling your head.

Faith nodded, and smirked. "Yup, It's you all right. I know because no matter what, you gotta burst my bubble, don't ya?"

"Faith, I didn't mean it like that," Cordelia came over to Faith. She stood close to Faith; really close. "I just wanted to tell you I was watching, and thought you were really good, you know? And… well, I wanted to thank you, too…"

"Thank me?" Faith looked a little puzzled. "For what?"

"For… well, that time you took the blame for me, you know? That fight? You so could've like narked on me, and gotten out of it. But you didn't. You took detention for me. And well, that was the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me… and well, thanks."

"Aw, forget it," Faith waved her hand. "Not a big. I mean, with my record? One more detention's not gonna do jack. Couldn't see why we all had to get in trouble, you know?" Faith was very suddenly aware of how close Cordelia was standing. Very aware.

"Still," Cordelia casually put a hand on her shoulder. "It was totally sweet. Thank you…" She squeezed Faith's shoulder.

"It… really… it was nothing…" Faith suddenly felt a little woozy.

"It was more than nothing, Faith. It was really…" Cordelia smiled.

Faith felt her throat go dry.

"Yeah, well… like I said, no big. So… I guess I should motor…" But she didn’t move.

"Do you have to? Right now?" Cordelia looked, and felt, disappointed. "I was hoping… well, I was wondering… I wanted to show you something… if you've got a few minutes?"

"Huh?" Faith said, distractedly. She suddenly noticed how large Cordelia's eyes were… large… and dark.

"Do you got a couple of minutes?" Faith simplified it.

"Sure… yeah, I'm … yeah." Faith suddenly didn't want to hurry off. If you asked her why, she couldn't explain. "you wanted to show me something?"

"Not here… it's kind of private."

"Hmmm… Oh, private. Uh… where, then?"

"C'mon!" Cordelia grabbed Faith's hand, and started to pull her along.

Faith followed along after Cordelia like an obedient puppy followed its owner.
Willingly, if a little confused.

"Here?" Faith asked, and looked around.

They were under the bleachers. Out of sight.

"Why here?" She continued to look around.

"Better than anywhere else, right now," Cordelia said.

"Not so sure about that," Faith noticed the trash, and some discarded drug paraphernalia laying around. "This isn't exactly the greatest place to hang."

"Don't be a baby, Faith."

"Well, ok, you got me here, now what?"

"Well, This…"

Suddenly Cordelia had her arms wrapped around Faith's neck, and was kissing her. Not a friendly, sweet friendshippy kiss, either. This was full on, lips to lips, no fooling around kiss.

Faith, taken by surprise, doesn't resist for a couple of seconds. Then, she pushed Cordelia away.

"Whoa. WHOA!" Faith said, and backed up…except she can't back up. Cordelia had her arms wrapped around her neck. "What's the what here, Cor? What're you doing?"

"Uhhh… kissing you?" Cordelia looked at her with lidded eyes. "Couldn't you tell? Did I do it wrong?"

"I don't get it? Why?"

"Cuz…" Cordelia cocked her head, and smiled sweetly. "… I wanted to?"

"You don’t know? I mean… you're not sure?" Faith was totally confused. Very warm, very …interested, but confused.

"Oh, I know. I wanted to," Cordy looked at her, then frowned. "Didn't you like it? Was it bad?"

"Noooooo… not bad, not bad," Faith swore, " It was… nice…"

"Just nice?" Cordelia pouted a little. "It wasn't hot?"

"Cor, that's not what I mean… I'm just wondering… mmmmphhhh…" Faith's speech was cut off when Cordelia kissed her again.

Faith, befuddled, confused, but definitely felt her motor purr, didn't fight the kiss. She just stood there, arms at her sides, being kissed.

"What's wrong?" Cordelia looked at her, a little hurt, "Why aren't you kissing me back?"

"Cordelia, I'm just not getting this," Faith said, confused. Also, kicked herself for asking too many questions. But she couldn't help it. This was totally out of the blue.

"What's going on?"

"Why are you asking so many questions?" Cordelia pulled away. "Why can't you just kiss me?"

"Because this is making like zero sense."

"I like you Faith. A lot. What's to make sense of? I just wanna kiss you? Is that so bad?"

"No, actually, it's totally great. But I don't get it. You never showed that much interest in me before!" Faith shook her head. "Not like that!"

"Oh, just forget it, ok?" Cordelia suddenly felt cheap and dirty. "This was a totally stupid idea. Sorry."

She started to leave, but Faith stopped her and grabbed her arm.

"Let go of me, Faith. Pretty obvious you don't want to be here with me, so let me go so I can just forget all about it."

"That's it? You're just going to forget about it? What if I don't want to?" Faith asked.

"Well, you had your chance, Ms. Lehane!" Cordelia said, coldly." Too bad!"

"Cor! Dammit, tell me what the hell is going on!" Faith barked at her, frustrated with Cordelia and herself.

Cordelia tried to pull away, but Faith wasn't letting her go. She started to hit on Faith with her free arm.

"Let me go! You let me go, Faith Lehane! I hate you! You're nothing but a big fat loser!" Cordelia slapped at Faith, and Faith grabbed her other hand. She now had Cordelia held tight

Cordelia struggled, but couldn't get away. Defeated, she just stood there, not looking a Faith.

"Ok, happy now? I'm upset! This was supposed to be nice, but you ruined it, Faith!" Cordelia grumbled, her lips quivered.

"No, I'm really not happy, Cor. You're acting… weird. You've been acting weird for like a couple of months. Cutting class, getting in fights… now this. Something's wrong. What is it, Cor?"

"Nothing! Let me go! I wanna go home, Faith!" Cordelia yelled at her. "Let me GO!"

"No, I won't let you go, Cor. You're hiding something. Tell me, what is it? What's bugging you?"

"What do you care?" Cordelia looked at her, face red. "You don’t care about me. Nobody cares about me! Just leave me alone! I HATE YOU!!!!"

"I care, Cor," Faith said, perfectly sincere. "I care a whole lot. You're my friend."

"You don't care! You're lying! You just want me to tell you, so you can make fun of me like all the rest!"

"That's not true, Cordelia. And if you know me at all, you know that!"

Cordelia looked at Faith, really looked at her. She stared into her eyes. And suddenly, the walls broke. The tears started to flow down her face, and she started to sob. She almost flung herself into Faith's arms.

"Cor.. Cor… ," Faith forgot everything else except this girl was crying her heart out in her arms. "It's ok, Cor, really… it's going to be ok."

"Not ok, nothing's ok," Cordelia cried, and clung to Faith tightly.

"What is it? What's wrong, Cor?" Faith held her, and stroked her hair.

Cordelia looked up into Faith's face. Her eyes were huge, and shiny with tears.

"M-My mom and d-dad.. .they're splitting up. They…oh god…"

Faith is beyond surprised. The Chase's had always been the model of the perfect marriage. Everyone talked about it. Even her own mom and dad were saying how much they belonged together.

"I… don't understand? Splitting up?"

"M-Mom left Dad… for another guy…she just left… a note… saying she couldn't
stand it anymore… she hated her life… with dad… and me… and she… oh god, Faith! She hates me! It's all my fault… they were so happy… I must've done something…said something bad… to make her want to go away…"

"Cor," Faith held her, and stroked her, and let her cry on her shoulder, literally.

"I'm sure it didn't have anything to do with you."

"You don't know… why would she do it? Why would she leave?" Cordelia looked at her.

"She doesn't want me. No one wants me. My dad won't even talk to me…I'm so alone, Faith. And somehow. Amy found out, and was saying stuff about her… how she was a slut, and then she said more stuff, and I got mad, and shoved her, and she shoved me and…"

"Shhh.. it's ok, it's ok" Faith held her.

"Then you just stepped in, and protected me, and took the blame… and I was watching you today, and you're so fantastic and I think I love you…" She started to cry again. "Then you started asking all sorts of questions and I thought you didn't like me at all and … do you, like me? A little bit? A tiny itsy bitsy bit?"

"Yes, I like you, Cor. You know that."

Cordelia clung tighter to Faith.

"I just want someone to love… someone who loves me back…"

Faith knew she could easily take advantage… and doesn't want to. Cordelia was upset, and vulnerable. Now was not the time to decide things like that. Instead, she was just quiet, and just holds her.

Cordelia, after awhile, recovered herself. She looked at Faith, and blushed.

"God, I'm such a baby sometimes. I needed so much to tell someone…"

"Why didn't you talk to Buffy. You hang around a lot with her."

"Tell her? God, please!" Cordelia shuddered. "I like Buffy, but… I couldn't tell her. I couldn't tell anyone… but you…" She looked into Faith's eyes. "You won't tell anyone, will you?"

"Hell no!" Faith declared, "god, I would never do that to you."

Cordelia saw the sincerity in Faith's face, and sighed, and buried her face in Faith's shoulder.

"I know… that’s another reason why I think …I really do think I'm… falling for you…" she looked up at Faith through her lashes.

She looked at Cordelia and saw the light in her eyes, and kicked herself. Because she knew she has to do the right thing, not the thing she wanted to do.

What Faith wanted to do was kiss Cordelia til her lips were tender. She had a thing for the brunette all year, maybe longer, but hid it because, well, frankly, she didn't want to freak her out.

Now, here she was, almost giving herself to her, and Faith knew if she let it happen like that, it would be wrong. Very wrong.

"Cor, I care about you, a lot. A lot more… than I ever think I cared about anyone. But right now? It's not right… I mean, it's right, but not… look, I want more… but I want to be sure that's what you really want…see?"

"You don't…. oh…" Cordelia pulled away. "You… gosh, I'm so sorry, Faith. I … sorry…" She moved back, and tried to compose herself. "I guess I'm just…"

"Cor…?"

Cordelia stared at her.

"Did you mean that? I mean, about caring about me?"

"Yeah, a lot… for like… a long time."

"Really? How long?" Cordelia looked at her strangely.

"I dunno… a year? More?"

"Really… and you never told me? Why?" Cordelia asked, softly.

"Cuz, I thought… well, it's not exactly normal, you know… what I'm feeling about you…and I thought… you'd freak, and then hate me, and then never want to see me again… "

Cordelia started to laugh. A giggle at first, then stronger… and stronger.

"What?" Faith looked and felt hurt. "What???"

"So stupid… so stupid… I've so had this crush on you, but couldn't say anything… cuz I thought you'd hate me…" Cordelia laughed. "We're bone heads, you know? Totally boneheads!"

"I'm so not a …" But then she chuckled, and soon she was laughing as hard as Cordelia.

"God, I'm so a bonehead! Hello, Mrs. Bonehead!"

"Hi, Mrs. Bonehead!" Cordelia giggled.

Somehow, they moved together, arms around each other, and tried to hold each other up.

They were laughing so hard now, they could barely stand.

"You… you're the… bigger… bonehead…" Faith hooted, and laughed crazily.

"N-N-Nooo… you… you're the biggest boniest of boneheads!" Cordelia guffawed, and leaned against Faith. " Bony McBonehead, that's you!"

"Shut up!"

"You shut up!"

"No, you shut up!"

"You!"

"You!"

"Gonna shut you up!" Faith declared.

"Yeah? How?" Cordelia rejoined.

Then it goes very, very quiet when Faith pulled Cordelia roughly to herself, and kissed her. Cordelia’s arms snaked around Faith's neck.

The kiss seemed to go on and on, and finally, they broke, panting.

"Bonehead" Cordelia whispered, her eyes shined.

"Big bonehead," Faith murmured, and smiled.

They stared into each other's eyes, and slowly their lips came together for another long
kiss.


****


Grace and her friend part from their group of friends and walk across the field.

“Mom, this is my…friend Ashley.” Grace says.

The fog of memory lifts over Cordelia and she smiles. “Hi, Ashley. Do you play soccer? I‘ve never seen you here before.”

Ashley smiles, shyly. “No, Grace, invited me to watch her play.”

“I’m going to walk home with Ashley.” Grace says.

“Oh, okay,

“Bye, mom.”

Cordelia watches them walk away, and notices how almost unconsciously their hands seek each other's out. She smiles a knowing smile.