Buffy just sat on the hotel bed. For a long time. She looked around. The room was empty. It felt surreal. This was her life now. Working all day and checking in to an empty room. He hadn't called. Not even once. Not since...
Buffy pushed those memories aside. They made her stomach hurt. She wasn't ready to confront those. Not yet. Her phone rang, startling her out of her thoughts. Idly, she answered the phone.
“Hello?”
“This is the concierge. I'm afraid to say there's been a problem with your room.”
“Oh,” Buffy said. “I hope it's nothing serious.”
“Not to worry miss. It'll be taken care of in a day or two. In the meanwhile, could we offer you a replacement room?”
The voice was breezy and full of self confidence. A trustworthy voice.
“Okay,” Buffy said.
“Very well,” the voice replied. “We'll send up a porter straightaway. And once again, we'd like to offer our apologies for
the inconvenience.”
“It's fine,” Buffy said. “Really.”
An hour later, the porter ushered Buffy and her luggage into the elevator, then pressed the button marked 'P'. Buffy barely noticed. However, she did a double take when the young man led her into a room that looked fit for royalty.
“Erm,” she began. “I think there's been some sort of mix up. This is way beyond my budget.”
“Compliments of the management,” the porter said, waving her worries away. “Enjoy your stay Ms Summers-Pratt.”
“But this isn't...” Buffy called. However, the porter simply chose to ignore her.
“Okay then....” she said.
Fine. Whatever. They just better not be pulling some complimentary upgrade only to gouge me at check-out crap. Buffy made a mental note not to use the mini bar. She decided she'd order room service. After she had a hot shower. When Buffy emerged from the bath almost an hour later, she almost felt like her old self. Almost. There were moments she could even forget. But those were few and far between. She sat on the bed, drying her hair with a hand towel. Her eyes shut.
I love this hair, she could hear him whisper in her ear. So shiny. The way it bounces around when I.....
“Hello Buffy,” she heard.
Her eyes opened. No. Not him. Please.
She wheeled around. Her eyes breathing fire.
“You,” she spat. “What are you doing here?”
“I missed you too,” Xander smiled. “Lover.”
She flinched visibly at that word. Xander enjoyed the discomfited look on her face. Took pleasure in how her body tensed up.
“Don't call me that,” Buffy said. Harshly.
“Why not?” Xander asked. He seemed almost hurt by her words.
Suddenly, his tenor changed. At the drop of her hat.
“We're lovers Buffy,” Xander said, stepping closer. She didn't like the possessive tone in his voice. Or the look in his eyes. “You and I.”
“We are no such thing,” Buffy hissed.
“Fine,” Xander said, rolling his eyes. “We were lovers.”
“We made love Buffy,” he said. Imploringly. Then he smirked.
“More than once, if I recall. In fact, I counted at least....”
Buffy had had enough. Heard enough. She took a step forward, then punched him in the stomach. Hard. Enough to double him over.
“Get out,” Buffy said. “I never want to see you again.” She raised her fists again. Threateningly. She could see the surprise in his eyes. Guess his investigators missed out on her black belt in jiu-jitsu.
Xander took a step back, throwing his hands up. As if to say he'd had enough. But when he was at a safe distance, he seemed to reconsider.
“I can't stop thinking about it,” Xander said, still out of breath. “That night. The things we did......”
“Then I suggest you try harder,” Buffy said, gritting her teeth. “Because I haven't given it a second thought.”
“You're lying,” Xander said. “I know you Buffy. You're aren't the kind of girl who just jumps into bed with someone. That's not who you are...”
“You have no idea who I am,” Buffy said. Her voice shivering with rage. “None.”
“Okay,” Xander said. “You win. I have no idea who you are.
None.”
That seemed to take her aback. His next words shocked her.
“Would you let me find out?”
Buffy didn't understand.
“What?” she said. “Are you.....are you asking me out on a date?”
Xander was silent. For just a moment.
“No,” Xander said. Finally.
“Oh,” Buffy said. “Okay. Good.”
Thank god, Buffy thought. Whew.
“I'm asking you to be my mistress.” Xander said.
Buffy's face hardened.
Son of a bitch, she thought. Son of a motherfucking, cocksucking bitch.
“Excuse me?” she asked.
“I'd like you to be my mistress Buffy. My only mistress,” Xander said, as if pointing out that tiny detail would make all the difference.
“Don't get me wrong. I'll still be sleeping with other women. But I'll always come home to you Buffy,” he said sincerely. As if he were reciting his wedding vows. “And that's a promise. You'll be my number one girl.”
Buffy had no words. The words had left her. She just shook her head.
“At least until you hit 30,” Xander said. “But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. That's still years away. But I'll take care of you.”
Buffy wanted to explode. She managed to take a deep breath.
“Get. Out.” she said, rubbing her temples. God, she had a headache.
“Don't answer right now now,” Xander said. “Take some time. Sleep on it. Or better yet, sleep with me. Then sleep on it."
“Why can't you just leave me alone?” Buffy asked. God, she felt miserable. She sounded even worse. “You got what you wanted. Why can't you just....god. Why can't you just accept that this......”
“Whatever this fucked up thing was......it's over Xander. It will never happen again.”
“Why not?” Xander asked. Buffy looked at him. He really didn't understand.
“Because I'm not in love with you,” Buffy said. She felt exhausted. As if she were dealing with a seven year old. “Because I don't trust you.”
This time, she saw him flinch. She saw anger flash across his face.
“Because that worked out so well with William?” Xander sneered.
The words were a knife in her stomach. Buffy felt like she'd been stabbed. Like she was bleeding out. Slowly,
“Loving you didn't stop your husband from screwing your best friend that weekend when he thought you were screwing me,” Xander said.
“And it sure as hell didn't stop you from screwing me seven ways from Sunday,” he added. Gleefully.
“So tell me.....how's that whole love and trust thing been working out for you lately,” Xander.
Buffy was silent. Xander seized on the opening.
“You've tried love. Why not try something different? Something honest? Something real. I'm looking for a 'partner' Buffy. My equal. In each and every way. I've been looking for someone my
whole life. And I think....”
Xander took a deep breath.
“I think I finally found you.”
Buffy didn't say a word.
“I've made dinner reservations,” Xander said. “Booked the entire restaurant downstairs. For just us. I'll be waiting Buffy.”
He turned to go, then paused at the door.
“But I won't wait forever,” he said. And then he left the room.
Xander looked at the clock. It was 10 pm. He examined the menu. Checked his phone. Conversed with the waiters. He checked his phone again. He folded his arms over his stomach. He looked at the clock. 11 pm. His jaw tightened. The anger built inside of him. He held it back. He looked at the clock. 11.30 pm. He forced himself to wait. He looked at the clock again. 11.59 pm. He shook his head. Threw down the napkin and stood. And found himself face to face with her.
“Buffy,” Xander said.
She was a vision, he thought. An absolute vision.
Her golden hair was bunched up over her head for once. Although a few honeyed strands framed her face on either side, drawing even more attention to her flawless complexion, razor sharp cheeks and tiny perfect nose. And those lips. Xander could write a sonnet to those lips. So full. So shiny. So perfect.
“Hello,” she said. A bit akwardly. Her hands bunched up in front of her. Xander could see a shiny, bejewelled bracelet around her right hand. Noticed the hoops through her earrings. It took him a moment to realise where he'd seen the silver dress she was wearing. It struck him like a bolt of lighting. It was the dress. The one he'd laid out for her. On the weekend that never was. Well, not quite the dress, he noted. For one thing, this wasn't backless. But close enough. Her slim shoulders were still bare. It still hugged her curves in all the right places and showed an ungodly amount of leg. But best of all, it wound behind her back in an exquisite little knot. She had made herself into a shiny little gift. For him.
Xander couldn't help but grin when he remembered the words she'd said as she was fiddling with the raincoat.
Aren't you going to unwrap your present?
Yes I am, Xander thought. Slowly.
“Hi,” he said. Finally. Took a deep breath.
“I'm glad you came.”
“I almost didn't,” Buffy said.
Xander detected a flicker in her tone. He dismissed it.
Probably just nervous, he thought. Finally admitting what she wants. Still, it would be a nice ego boost for him to hear her say the words.
“What changed your mind?” he asked, pulling out the chair for her to sit down and gesturing to it.
“I guess.....” she began. She had to pause to collect herself.
“I guess I was surprised at how glad I was,” Buffy finished. “To see you.”
“Could have fooled me,” Xander said, giving her a little smile.
Buffy smiled back. Just a little.
“It's funny,” she said, fiddling with the glass on the table. “How you see someone....”
“And not really see them...” Xander finished.
“Exactly,” Buffy said. Xander could see a hint of sadness in her eyes. He knew she was letting go of her old life. Of the old Buffy. He was glad she'd begun to accept it. Accept she belonged to him. By his side.
“Wine?” Xander asked, eager to change the topic.
“I'd love some,” Buffy said.
Xander clicked his fingers and the host scurried over.
“Your most expensive bottle,” Xander said, never taking his eyes
of Buffy.
“Oui monsieur,” the host said, bowing.
Buffy looked around. The restaurant was empty. Just as he'd promised.
“It's quiet,” Buffy said. “I like quiet.”
“I know,” Xander said. He enjoyed the surprised look on her face.
“I told you Buffy. I know you.”
“Are you sure about that?” Buffy asked.
Xander could have sworn she was flirting with him. He smirked.
“I'm pretty sure I have you down,” Xander said.
“Think so, do you?” Buffy said, as the maitre de filled their cups.
“I do,” Xander said. “Or I will. Soon enough.”
“Oh?” Buffy said, taking a dainty sip of her wine. “Got a timetable for that?”
“I was thinking by the end of the evening,” Xander said, mimicking her sip. “Unless you'd prefer to skip dinner and go upstairs right now. Because I'm just dying to get to desert”
Buffy fixed him with an inscrutable look.
“Dinner first,” she said.
“And then?” Xander asked. A little too eagerly.
“We'll see where the evening takes us,” Buffy said. Casually.
“To the evening,” Xander toasted. “And wherever it takes us.”
Right to my bed, Xander thought. Again.
Buffy brought her glass forward, letting it brush his and make a soft clink.
Later, Xander insisted on walking Buffy to her room. They'd both had more than a few sips of wine and he was determined to, as he put it, get her to bed safe and sound.
“Well,” Buffy said. “This is me.”
“I know,” Xander said. "Got the credit card bill to prove it."
“Yeah,” Buffy said. “I figured."
When Xander leant in for a kiss, he found Buffy's arm holding him back.
“Come on,” Xander said. “Don't I get to unwrap my present?”
“Who said anything about a present?” Buffy said.
Then she turned on her heels and walked inside, shutting the door in his face. She made sure to lock the door. Twice. And then she latched it.
“I won't wait forever Buffy,” Xander said. Loudly.
“Yes,” Buffy said softly. “You will.”
She waited until she heard his footsteps fade, then took a cleansing breath.
When Buffy sat down to brush her hair in front of the mirror, she let herself ponder the question again. The question that had been haunting her since she'd found herself face to face with him.
How did Xander know Spike was with Faith that weekend? I
never told him that.
And as Buffy examined the past year of her life, she couldn't help but wonder. Was she being paranoid? Or had someone been pulling their strings along the way? Buffy wanted, no she needed answers. At any cost.
[Reviews - 43]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Chapter or Story |
Chapter or Story | 
Chapter or Story
Has been viewed 941 times
- Text Size +
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Chapter or Story |
Chapter or Story | Chapter or Story - Text Size +