PART 9
Buffy was as beautiful as ever on stage. This was the last scene before the sappy one. Mitch walked off the stage and Buffy did a number where she was singing and dancing about meeting Mitch that night. Faith rolled her eyes. Suddenly, Faith heard a crashing noise followed by a yelp. Faith glanced on the stage and Buffy was fine, dancing away. Faith made her way on the other side of the set as Jessica's voice came over the headsets.
"Shit! Faith get here to the hall way now!" Jessica screamed into the headset. Faith made a sprint for it.
In the hallway, on the floor was Mitch. Various cast members and crew surrounded him. He looked like he was trying not to scream. Mitch's leg was bent in an odd direction. Then Faith noticed the water on the ground that she passed earlier that no one cleaned up. Jessica walked over to her.
"He slipped on the water...Faith, his leg is broken! What are we going to do?!" Jessica whispered panicking.
Something had to be wrong. Buffy saw from the corner of her eye, the crew running around everywhere while she was on stage. Buffy finished her number and the lights dimmed. She didn't need a costume change. All she had to do was wait for the crew to change the set. Buffy kind of wished she did have a costume change so she could see Faith. Buffy was nervous about the last scene but Faith some how always made her feel better. Faith should have been on stage to help with the set change but she wasn't. Buffy frowned. But she couldn't talk as she waited for the set to change.
Crewmembers were running everywhere. They seemed to be panicked. What was going on? One crewmember...Jessica was her name, tried to talk to Buffy but they didn't have time. Buffy got in position and the lights went back up. Buffy noticed that Ms. Calendar wasn't in her seat any more in the front. Now Buffy knew something was wrong. Ms. Calendar would never leave her seat for any reason unless if it was really important.
Mitch was supposed to enter but he didn't. Buffy was getting really nervous and felt stupid sitting on the stage waiting. Whispers could be heard through out the whole theater. Now the audience knew something was wrong. Buffy started to panic. She had to do something!
"Where could that boy be?" Buffy said out loud on the stage getting up. She had to improv.
"I hope he shows up. He promised he would. He s-should be here any minute now," Buffy said standing out to the side. She said the last part really loud to the side of the stage to get the guy to come on out. What was taking him so long?
Whispers went through the theater again. Buffy felt so stupid and mortified. She didn't know what to do. She turned her back and started to walk back to the other side of the stage. All of a sudden there were gasps and whispers that really broke out through out the theater. Buffy turned, and there in Mitch's costume...was Faith.
Faith looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Buffy was really surprised and almost laughed at Faith.
"What are you doing here?" Buffy said out loud. She forgot she was acting in front of a live audience. Faith looked at her and managed a smile.
"Well B...err uh Jane, sorry I am late. This one guy...Mitch...he kind of fell...um...and uh his parents I think left the play they were seeing to go see him in the hall way," Faith said looking to the audience. Buffy could faintly see a man and a women rising from their seats and half running half stumbling out of the theater.
Faith was nervous....
A few moments earlier,
"...What are we going to do!?" Jessica said panicking. Faith shook her head and pressed the speaker button on the head set.
"Ms. C? Sorry but this is extremely important," Faith announced into the headset. There was a moment of silence before Ms. Calendar's voice was heard.
"What is it Faith?" Ms. Calendar asked.
"It's Mitch. He fell...his...his leg is broken we..." Faith was saying. Ms. Calendar cut her off.
"I'll be right there," Was her reply.
"Did someone call and ambulance?" Faith asked Jessica. Jessica looked at her wide-eyed.
"Y-yes," Jessica stuttered. Ms Calendar rounded the corner.
"Oh my!" She said going to Mitch's side.
"Ms. C? What are we going to do? He can't go on!" Faith exclaimed. Ms. Calendar looked over her shoulder at Faith for a moment and rose. She pulled Faith to the side as the others tended to Mitch.
"Here's what we are going to do...we are going to put Mitch's costume on you and have you go on," Ms. Calendar said.
"WHAT!? But no...no I can't Ms. C..." Faith started. Ms. Calendar shook her head and cut Faith off.
"But you have to. Listen to me," Ms. Calendar said placing her hands on Faith's shoulders and looking straight in to her eyes, "You have done so well. No one else knows this play like you and Ms. Summers. You both know every line, every song, every dance, and more. You’ve seen it done a hundred times. You see, it has to be you. No one else can do it. The show has to go on. We can't just stop. Ok Faith? So please, I ask you, will you do this?"
Now, on stage...
Faith stood awkwardly on stage. She had on Mitch's baggie jeans and muscle shirt. Buffy did think she looked good in it, she wouldn’t deny that. She about laughed though. Faith's breasts were duck taped to look more like a guy. Faith's stage make up was broader and put on carefully.
Dawn about died when she saw Faith on stage. It was rather funny. Dawn stole a look at Cordelia who had a smile on her face amused. Faith took a deep breath, clearly nervous.
"Alright then Mitch. Let's get on with it," Buffy said sitting back down. Faith sighed. This was it. She had to do it. That was the cue line to start the orchestra that was in front of the stage. Music started to rise and be played for Mitch's song.
Buffy looked at Faith catching her eye and gave her a look that hopefully reassured her. Faith then smiled feeling better. She was glad that she was on stage with Buffy. Faith didn't need to act, she realized. She was already in love with Buffy.
Faith gave Buffy her best all knowing grin as she started to...well...tap. I can do this Faith thought.
Tap tap
"I'm here to stay
Don't run away,
Cuz you're my star ar!"
Tap
"Your loving grace
Makes my heart race
With your beautiful faaaaaace!"
Faith taps her way over to Buffy who is clearly impressed and shocked at her voice and talent.
"Can't you see that I love you
I always have
And always will, yeah!
I noticed you
Long before you knew."
Faith caresses Buffy's face and Buffy leans into it.
"Can't you see
How I feeeeeel, yeeeeah,
You make me feeeeeel yeah yeah."
Buffy raised her eyebrows. That wasn't a line in the song. Faith winked at her and danced around her.
"Before you
I thought one was enough
But it's not true
It takes two of us."
Faith walks over to Buffy and bows raising her hand and offering it to Buffy who accepts it and rises from her chair. Faith wrapped her arms around Buffy and began dancing with her singing at the same time.
"Without you
My life would be gone
Without you
There wouldn't be two of us
You've formed my heart
And taught me to love again."
Buffy looked into Faith's eyes and was blown away. Faith wasn't acting. What she was saying, singing and doing was real...the look in Faith’s eyes and how she was acting told it all. Faith was being gentile with Buffy as she moved. Faith was pouring her heart out. Buffy made her feel so many things...she loved her.
"Your warm embrace,
Makes my heart race,
I will admit,
I tried to hide my feelings,
And push you away,
But now I'm here to stay!"
Faith wrapped Buffy in and spun her out again as she danced. Buffy knew she had to stick with the song and act. She was mesmerized by Faith. What did all of this mean? What did she feel? Was she really meaning it? Was she acting?
The song ended and Faith and Buffy stood in the middle of the stage as the last notes of the song drifted away lightly. Faith gazed into Buffy's eyes and smiled, lifting her hand.
Dawn looked over at Cordelia who narrowed her eyes. Dawn couldn't figure out if Faith was even acting at all.
Faith caressed Buffy's face lovingly, moving her thumb over her lips. Her heart beat sped up and was ringing in her ears. This was it. The whole crowed was silent. Buffy looked into Faith's eyes, totally submitting her self. She saw love, admiration, hope, care, and longing in Faith's eyes.
Faith's eyes shifted to Buffy's lips. The same lips that she fantasized kissing. Faith placed her one arm around Buffy's waist pulling her closer and basking in the warmth of the other girl as her whole body tingled.
"I love you," Faith whispered leaning into Buffy.
Buffy couldn't even form a thought as Faith's soft lips captured hers. Several hollers, whoops, and cheers could be heard all through the theater. But neither Faith nor Buffy heard any of them. All Buffy knew was that Faith was kissing her and she was drowning in her.
They didn't even notice when the curtain went down. Buffy tangled her hands in Faith's hair pulling her closer as Faith's tongue ran over Buffy's bottom lip. Faith's hand still caressed Buffy's cheek. Jessica snorted.
"Faith, Buffy, come on! Let's go!" She yelled snapping them out of it. Buffy pulled away dreamily as various people lined up on the stage to do bows.
"Faith!" Jessica whined pulling her away from Buffy. Faith just stared at Buffy. Her eyes never leaving Buffy's as Jessica pulled her away. Faith's fingertips gently left Buffy's face, as she stood transfixed.
"Buffy! Bows! Hello!?" A cast member said bringing Buffy to reality. People had already started to holler and clap before the curtain even went up for bows. Buffy went back stage and let go of the breath she didn't even know she was holding.
"Alright, you bow last, Faith." Jessica explained to Faith. "Are you even listening to me?" Jessica asked annoyed. Faith just smiled at her. Jessica couldn't help but smile back. She had never seen Faith smile like that.
