"Urgent...Urgent...Emergency."

Buffy. Buffy bein all cute and nostalgic.

I rewind the machine and listen to it again...and again...

And yeah...again.

And then I sigh. For a couple of reasons, really.

First, because it brought back memories of when things were still good with us. When we were both still in the same headspace and would cut it up at the Bronze; laughin and dancin and gettin sweaty as hell...before she said I moved like a major spaziod and started bitchin about her toes. And second, it was right before this 'love' thing fucked us both in the ass.

Like, hard.

Cus I don't feel that way anymore. I want more than just sex with her now. Don't get me wrong, the sex is hard-core, but what I really want is her.

She had dragged me into the club one night when they were havin an 80's cover band, convincing me that Heavy Metal was on their play-list and not any of that other shit.

I told her if I even heard the beginning of "I Think We're Alone Now" by some wannabe Tiffany mall-rat, she was in for a shitload of trouble.

"I'll risk it." she had smiled, grabbin my hand and pullin me in.

It fuckin rocked. Head-Bangers from all over the place showed up, not just from Sunnydale. It wasn't entirely Heavy Metal, but even the cross-over stuff was good.

We were there for a coupla hours already, drinkin, dancin and gropin the fuck outta each other. She had split for a few and then came back grinnin like a lunatic and started draggin my ass to the dance floor.

"Whooa, hold up a sec, B. Lemme just suck down this Bud."

But she snatched the bottle from my hand and stuck it on a table nearby.

"Later." she breathed.

We wove our way to the middle of the floor and then she pressed herself up on me, rubbin her tits against mine and nuzzlin my ear.

My nipples still get hard just thinkin about it.

When the next song came on, she pulled back smilin and sang it to me.

Foreigner. Urgent. She had requested it.

She was lookin in my eyes and runnin her hands all over me...man, I was so fuckin gone.

"You're not shy, you get around
You wanna fly, don't want your feet on the ground
You stay up, you won't come down
You wanna live, you wanna move to the sound
You got fire in your veins
Burnin hot, but you don't feel the pain
Your desire is insane
You can't stop until you do it again."

I grabbed her ass and pulled her into me. I sang to her

"But sometimes I wonder as I look in your eyes
Maybe you're thinkin of some other guy
But I know, yes I know, how to treat you right
That's why you call me in the middle of the night."

And then we sang the next part together.

"You say it's urgent
So urgent so oh oh
Urgent Urgent Urgent
Just you wait and see
How urgent my love can be
It's urgent."

She went to sing the next part but I put a finger to her lips. I sang it to her.

"You play tricks on my mind
You're everywhere, but you're so hard to find
You're not warm, or sentimental
You're so extreme, you can be so temperamental."

Then she kissed my finger and sang the next part to me.

The part I hate. I didn't then, but I sure as fuck do now.

"But I'm not lookin for a love that'll last
I know what I need and I need it fast
Yeah, there's one thing in common that we both share
That's the need for each other, anytime, anywhere."

And I remember smilin at her. So urgent...I wanna tell you it's the same for me...

I even sang the rest of the song with her. But even as I sang it, I already had a Slayer sized knot in my stomach.

What the fuck was my problem? I wanted in her pants, she wanted in mine, and that should have been the end of it.

But it was actually just the beginning.

After she realized my ridiculous lust for hardcore music -old and new- she started usin that fact to lure me in. She'd go MIA and then leave me notes by my front door or she'd play a snippet of the song on my answering machine, lettin me know she wanted back in.

Back inside my pants, not my heart...but she wound up doin that as well.

One time it was a double whammy. She left me a note and a snippet of the song.

Scorpions. No One Like You.

"Girl, it's been a long time that we've been apart
Much too long for a man who needs love
I've missed you since I've been away
Babe, wasn't easy to leave you alone
It's getting harder each time that I'm gone
If I had the choice, I would stay

There's no one like you
I can't wait for the nights with you
I imagine the things we'd do
I just wanna be loved by you
No one like you."

Of course she left the next part out. Because that would be my part. The part she banks on, counts on, but doesn't want to be responsible for. She's such a head fuck.

"Girl, there are really no words strong enough
To describe all my longing for love
I don't want my feelings restrained
Ooh, babe, I just need you like never before
Just imagined you've come through the door
You'd take all my sorrow away."

'There's no one like you.' And I wish to fuck there was, cus this girl is killing me.

Fuckin with my head, crawlin in my heart, and then kickin my ass to the curb.

My sad, sorry, pitiful ass...

...the ass that belonged to her.

I shake my head to clear the cobwebs and press 'Erase'. I don't need another reminder of how things used to be, cus as fucked up as it was, it was way better than it is now. She had left that message two nights ago, and when she came over later, we feasted.

But the next day was a fiasco.

"Eee-yaw, eee-yaw." Cordy had murmured, spotting the hickey on my neck.

"Shut your hole." I whispered, scowling at her. Giles and the Scoobs had pretended not to notice. Buffy just smirked.

"Okay, Jack-Ass." But that didn't stop her finger from pullin down my collar and spottin the other ones.

"Really Faith, you're such a tragedy." she had sighed, shakin her head and forgettin to shut her hole.

"Uh...is there a reason you're running your fingers all over Faith's neck and looking down her shirt?" Buffy asked, not smirkin anymore and raising an eyebrow at Cordy.

"Just playing connect-the-dots, nosy, but I'm familiar with the pattern and where this path is probably leading."

"Is that right?" Buffy replied, raising her eyebrow higher.

"Yes, it is right, nosy, and I'm not just talking about the pattern on her neck or where that path is leading, either."

I pulled Cordy's finger off my collar and shifted uncomfortably in my chair. I shook my head at her, willing her to stop.

"Although that connect-the-dot picture is a tad more acceptable than the other one." Cordy continued, anyway.

"What other one?" Buffy asked, annoyed.

"Oh god. You figure it out. As for you, Faith, get a grip. There's other fish in the sea, for god's sake, just throw this bottom-feeder back."

That was yesterday. It wasn't fun. B and C got into it and the rest of us left. There really was no point in stayin there. I mean, it was about me, but it wasn't about me anymore. So I offered to take Giles and the gang out for lunch.

And they let me.

"Fish tacos?" Xander grinned, nudging a surprised Tara. She made a face at him and then looked over at me apologetically.

"Just not bottom-feeders." I mumbled, a little embarrassed.

"No, I'm sure you get plenty of that already." Red said, actually sympathizing for me.

And you'd think that would make me feel better, right?

Wrong.

I mean, if B's best friend thinks she's giving me the shaft, then that's nothing short of fucked-up depressing.

"Let's stay away from seafood completely, shall we?" Giles suggested, clearing his throat.

So we ate at some Indian place that Red and Giles liked.

Not that I was expecting chunks of buffalo meat and dried up ears of corn, but that shit was spicy.

"Hair of the dog that bit ya, huh, Xan?" I joked, givin him a wink.

"What's that, slick?" he asked, helpin himself to seconds.

"Wasn't it some Indian that made your dick drip?"

Giles started chokin on yogurt lamb and Red almost spit out her sag sumpthin...spinach and cheese, I think...and Xander's eyes started to well up.

"That's some spicy shit, huh?" I asked, nodding at him.

"No, he wasn't eating Indian it was an Indian, and that was different kind of Indian, and I think he's just tearing up from the memory." Red explained, emphasizing too many words.

"Uh, yeah, Faith. 'Thanks for the memories'." Xander punned, singin Bob Hope and squirmin in his seat.

"A different tribe, huh? Well, that's good. So you had sex with an Indian?" I asked, super impressed. "Go, Xander. Pocahontas is hot!"

Tara giggled at me and I grinned at her. Red sure got herself a good one. I hope she treats her right. Maybe Red should read "The Joy of Lesbian Sex" cover-to-cover just to make sure.

I winked at Tara and then leaned over to whisper in Xander's ear.

"Condoms, my friend. Condoms."

He just groaned at me.

I know, I know, it's not always as much fun when you're wearin a jimmie, but if it's gonna get wet, ya need to bring a raincoat.

Everybody knows that.

Anyways, we ate up, I paid up, and then we headed our separate ways. Like I said, we've all tried to put the past behind us.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't...this time it did.

I didn't expect to see Buffy until later for patrol, but when I got to the motel, she was inside waitin for me.

"Hey, what's the what, B?" I asked, surprised.

"Thanks for bailin on me."

"What? You wanted me to hang around while you two discussed my neck?"

"That's not what we were discussing and you know it...well, okay, maybe, but then that led to the other thing."

"What other thing?" Giving my best stupid look.

"Don't give me that stupid look, you know what I mean. She called me a bottom-feeder and you let her."

"I let her?"

"Well, you didn't argue."

"Anyone who argues with Cordy, Buffy, is an idiot. She always has the last word."

"So that's your excuse? That she always has the last word?"

"Well, she did, didn't she?"

"That's not the point."

"Ha! Well, it's sure mine. Look, I've told her to back off, Buffy, but she doesn't think you're good for me. You know that."

"And you agree with her."

"Did I say that? Stop puttin words in my mouth. If you're usin this as an excuse to leave again, then by all means, sweetheart, be my guest."

"It's just that easy for you, isn't it?"

"No, it's that easy for you."

"You know what, Faith? I'm on to you. You're so used to being a victim and a martyr that you've become extremely comfortable being up on that cross."

"I am not a victim! Fuck you. You're the one with 'martyr' written on her forehead! Actin like slaying is a burden and the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Well, guess what? It's on my fuckin shoulders too!"

"And you've got such strong shoulders, haven't you, Faith? So strong, in fact, that the added weight of a girlfriend is enough to make them collapse."

"My shoulders are plenty strong, Buffy. I've been puttin up with your crap, haven't I?"

"If that's what you call it."

"Shit, let's call it shit."

"My shit or yours? Cus my shit doesn't compare to the shit you've been carrying around for years."

"You have no idea."

"No? And why is that? Certainly not from lack of trying. But you have the whole I'm-so-fucking-badass-no-one-is-EVER-getting-into-MY-head bullshit down, that a thick skull is the least of your worries."

"Let's not talk about my head, let's talk about yours. What are you thinkin, Buffy? Goin MIA again?"

"See? You're doing it again. You always do that, turning the conversation back around to me whenever it finally gets to you."

"Go cry me a river, Buffy."

"Go climb off the cross, Faith."

"Dammit! I am not a victim! But you're tryin to make me one by leavin all the time. Well, it ain't gonna fuckin happen, Buffy. Just leave, I really don't care."

"See? There you go again."

"Yeah? And there you go again." I nodded at the door.

"Are you kicking me out?"

"Hell no, just showin you the way, although you should have it memorized by now."

"Victim."

"Coward."

Yeah, she hated that. She looked at me with such rage in her eyes, such anger, that she looked like she was about to choke from it.

So then, yunno...I goaded her.

"Coward."

She was seething. Yeah, any minute she'd be walkin out that door. She was just waitin for an opportunity to make a dramatic exit.

So I thought I'd help her along with it.

"Chicken." I taunted.

Her face reached radioactive red before it finally cooled down. She narrowed her eyes at me and then slowly started to smile, shakin her head.

"I may be a coward and you're definitely a victim, but do you know what else we are?"

"Go ahead, Buffy, tell me. I'm waitin with baited breath, here. In fact, there's a gigantic worm hooked to the end of my tongue just waitin for your answer."

"No, Faith, 'bated breath' not 'baited' breath."

"That's what I said, 'baited'."

"Bated."

"Fuck, Buffy, so you're an English professor and I'm some stinkin moron? I said 'baited', didn't I?"

"Forget it, Faith."

"No, tell me what else we are, Professer Summers. I know you're dying to."

"Fine. Liars. We're both liars."

"Ha! Right, Buffy. I don't think so. The only one lying right now is you. Pretending that this 'relationship' means sumpthin to you when all you really wanna do is bail out that door."

"And you'd let me, wouldn't you?"

"Damn straight. You want me to beg? Sorry, B, that's not my style."

"No, you're right. Your style is to suffer nobly in silence; to wallow in it, revel in it, so you can be the victim once again. Replaying some old tapes in your head, Faith? Proving again how everyone leaves and there's no point in getting close? You never even tried once to stop me from walking out that door."

"Blah blah blah. Does the shit ever stop flowin? Jesus Christ, B, spare me the fuckin sermon and leave already."

"Why, Faith? So you can continue your belief that the world is out to screw you? So that way you're still more owed than owing?"

"Shut it, B. You don't know dick about it."

"Because you won't tell me! You'd rather me walk out that door than get close to me!"

"Get close to you? Riiight. Kinda hard when you're walkin away all the time. This is your drama, you deal with it."

"And I do. Alone. Whenever I get confused or scared, you retreat. You hide behind this wall of indifference while I'm riddled with insecurities. People freak out, Faith. Everyone freaks out. We all just deal with it differently. I have no problem admitting I have issues, Faith, but so do you. I really thought we could make it work it this time, but I can't do it alone. I need you, Faith. I need you in so many ways. I need you to open up to me. I need you to stop me from running whenever I get freaked. I need you to tell me that it's gonna all be okay, that we're gonna be okay, and that you're gonna be there for me. Good times and the bad. But you're so busy feeling sorry for yourself that instead of helping, you're making it worse. Do you know what it feels like? To wake up at night and you're gone? To watch you put on your clothes and leave during the day after we just made love? It makes me feel used, Faith. Used, abused, and confused. God, you're not only a victim, Faith, you're such a fucking liar."

"Whatever you say, Buffy. It's all a crock of shit, but whatever. And how does that make me a liar?"

"We're both liars. I'm one too. Because even though I try to convince myself that I don't want a relationship with you, I always keep coming back. And even though you try to convince yourself that you do want one, you're always letting me go. I swear, if I wasn't the one crawling back all the time, you'd just go on with life as normal."

"I tell ya what. Take your psycho-babble bullshit and cram it back up your ass. Go ahead and blame it on me, you always have and you always will. And you know what? So has everyone else for that matter! Whenever shit goes down it's Faith's fault. Well, I'm sick of it. Take responsiblity for your own actions, Buffy, and grow the fuck up."

"You really don't get it, do you? That was a victim statement if ever there was one."

"Oh, I get it all right. I heard you. Blah blah blah. Need need need. Quit bein so fuckin needy, Buffy, it's really not healthy. Need gets you nowhere...need gets you shit. Take it from me, because I know. I've learned it, I've lived it, and I've left it...So now I don't fuckin need anybody and I'm fine. There, are ya happy? Did ya get inside my head? Now, how about you come up with some clever little come-back line so you can make your dramatic exit."

And she did too.

But it wasn't with words or cryin or slammin the door like I expected.

It was with a sad little face and a small kiss on the cheek...

...and it rammed my gut like a fist.

"So you think she's right?" I question Cordy for the hundreth time. We're out shoppin for clothes and runnin some errands.

Well, she's out shoppin for clothes and we're runnin her errands. I'm mostly holdin the bags.

"Um, no. I think I like the leather better. Not everyone can carry it off, Faith, but you can. In fact, I've never even seen a heifer look half as good in leather chaps as you do."

"Uh, no, Cor, I was talkin about Buffy."

"So was I." she smirks. She looks at me for a moment and then sighs.

"Kidding. Really, Faith, I don't know what to say. I think most of the babble that comes out of her mouth is inane anyway, but in this instance she may actually have some merit."

"So I'm a victim, huh?"

"That depends. Do you feel like one?"

"She makes me feel like one."

"But that doesn't make you one, Faith."

"Do you think I'm one?"

"I think you're one patient puppy, Faith. Having a relationship with Buffy can't be easy. She has extremely high standards, sweetie, none of which, if I may add, she adheres to herself. Battling vamps and demons must feel like a cool breeze on a hot sweaty night compared to being with her."

"She is pretty hot, though." I grin, wiggling my eyebrows.

"Ugh. Don't even make me go there, Miss-I'm-Horny-24-7. You two may have the Tango down in bed, Missy Muff-Meister, but outside of that, you're both nothing but a tangle of arms and legs."

"We get pretty tangled up in them sheets too, Cor."

"Again, enough with the visuals. Faith, I get that the sex is hot with her, but I daresay the sex would be hot with anyone you sleep with. The common denominator being you."

"Yeah? Well, I always sucked at fractions. So how come you never took me up on it?" I tease.

"Anyone but me. Hot wouldn't even describe it."

"Super hot, huh?"

"Scorching. But I think we'd all miss those expressive eyebrows of yours if they got singed away."

"Wooooo-hoooo." Wiggling my eyebrows even harder.

"Very sexy, Groucho. But seriously, I really don't know what to say."

"Me neither, Cor. But I think she's way off on the victim thing. I'm a fuckin saint puttin up with her."

"A lot of saints are martyrs, Faith."

"Whatever. So you think these chaps look good on me? Gonna let me ride you later?"

This conversation has really been helpful. She just confirmed everything I already knew. Buffy's a hypocrite, I'm a saint, and we'll forget about the martyr thing.

I'm glad I brought it up.

"I'll ride your ass if you keep stepping on my toes. Let's find you a nice sexy outfit to wear so my eyes can water in appreciation and not from pure pain. Must you insist on wearing steel-toed boots?"

"Must you insist on wearing open-toed heels?" I ask, irate. Buffy said the same thing to me.

"Calm yourself, cowboy. I'm just kidding."

We have some serious plans for some Bronze action tonight. Cordy and I have been workin on my dance moves at various clubs outside of Sunny D for a coupla months now...and now it was time to bring it all home.

Buffy and I haven't really spoken since that day at the motel. After she kissed me on the cheek and let herself out, she kinda stopped comin around. Not that I expected any different. I mean, our three weeks were up already. In fact, she actually stuck around a few weeks longer this time. I guess her tolerance level of me must be increasing.

Lucky me.

"Okay, Cor. So, you want me to pick you up or you wanna pick me up?"

"How about I pick you up and then you can drive us over? We really need to get you mobile, Faith. Save your money, honey, and stop spending it on Buffy."

"My dollars, my decision. Besides, I'm not spendin money on her anymore."

"Uh-huh. I see that. I'm assuming that mini-skirt in your hands is for you and not for her, then."

Damn. Busted.

"No, I thought it would look good on you."

"Nice try, slick. Put it back."

I scowl at her and return it to the rack. I'll just come for it later. It's short, plaid, and would look super wicked with those white knee socks and loafers.

Who cares if I already got her a couple...a girl can never have too many...and what's up with those Catholics anyway? They sure are a funny bunch.

I mean, always preachin abstinance and then makin nasty with the uniforms.

It makes a person wonder, yunno?

We stopped off at a few more shops and then she took me home. Cordy made me buy a new outfit, cus she says it would make me feel better. Showin others that I 'looked good enough to eat' and that I was 'the best thing on the menu'. She says she does it all the time and that it's a real confidence booster.

But I just wanted to look good for Buffy.

I toss my keys on the bureau and walk over to the blinking answering machine. I smile. There's my girl. About fuckin time, too. It sure took her sweet ass a good while before comin back. But I guess it's all relative, considering she took longer leavin this time, too.

I hit Play.

"Buffy? Buffy, it's your mother. The gallery asked me to stay longer in New Mexico since their curator is still picking up artifacts in Mexico...Mexico, Mexico...not new. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I'm not coming back tomorrow. I'll see you this weekend, okay, honey? Be safe, don't slay too hard, and make sure you and Faith take good care of each other. Give her my love, baby. Bye." Beeeeep.

Buffy's mom is out of town and she's been alone...

...and she hasn't called me??

That's not like her. Whenever Joyce has left before, Buffy always had me stay over. We like gettin nasty in her mom's bed and every other place Joyce has probably been. Her closet, her bathroom sink, the laundry room, her car...yunno, places like that.

Cuz there's just sumpthin so wrong about it.

What the fuck is goin on?

I wonder how long Joyce has been gone already? This is ridiculous.

I pick up the phone and dial Red.

Tara picks up on the third ring.

"Yo, T. It's me, Faith."

"Oh. Hello Faith, how are you?" I hear her cover the mouthpiece and whisper sumpthin.

"Pretty good, actually. Hey, Red around?"

"Sure, she's right here. Hold on, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks, babe."

I hear more whisperin and then Red finally comes on.

"Hey, Faith. What's up?"

"Uh...nuthin. Just wonderin how the meeting went today."

"Oh. Uh...well...just the same old same old. Why?"

"No reason. Just wonderin if there's a new big bad in town or sumpthin."

"Well, if you actually came to the meetings you'd know."

I roll my eyes. Uh-huh. Same old same old is right. The same old shit.

"Been busy. So nuthin new, huh?"

"No."

"Nuthin at all?"

"No."

"What about other stuff?"

"Dunno, Faith. Whatcha got in mind?"

"Nuthin."

There's an awkward silence. Then she says

"Well, okay...I guess we've got it covered, then."

"Yeah, Red. I guess we do. Catch ya later, 'k?"

"Okay. Bye, Faith."

We hang up.

Well, that was a lame.

Now it's gonna look like I was askin around for Buffy...which I'm not...but it's sure gonna look that way...

...what a dick!

I look at the phone and shake my head...dick dick dick dick DICK!! Why'd I do that??

I eyeball the phone and decide to call Xander.

He answers on the second ring.

"Yo, bro, what's the what?"

"Faith?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Funny, I was just thinkin about you."

"Yeah? How so?"

"Well, I haven't seen Buffy today and...oh, hold on, I'm getting a call." He puts me on hold.

I raise my eyebrow. Oh?

I wait for an eternity and he clicks back.

"Faith?"

"Yeah, still here."

"Oh...hold on, okay? Be right back." And he puts me on hold again.

Great. It's probably Red tellin him to keep his yap shut.

I wait another century and he finally clicks back.

"Faith? Sorry. It was my...uh...orthodontist."

"You gettin braces, Xan?" Yeah, it was Red.

"Oh, did I say orthodontist? Sorry, I meant to say-"

"-proctologist? Pull your own head outta your ass, Xan, it'll save you some money."

"That's a helpful tip, there, Faith. Nice one. So what can I do you for?" he says, sarcastically.

"Actually, you were just tellin me sumpthin about Buffy."

"I was? Oh, it wasn't important. So how ya been? Whatcha been up to?"

"Nuthin."

"Okay."

"You?"

"Nuthin."

"Well, okay. Good talkin to ya."

"You, too."

Super-cala-fraja-lis-DICK-ix-pee-al-a-doe-cious. I slam the phone down.

I rewind the message and listen to it again. I pick up the phone and dial Cordy.

It's busy.

I hit redial.

Busy.

I hit redial six more times and it's still busy. What the fuck? Is she even home yet? And what about Call Waiting? In a burst of anger I yank the cord from the wall and heave the set across the room...and the answering machine goes with it.

"MOTHER FUCKER!!!!!!!"

Fuckin low-life...playin me like that...where the hell is she?? Her mom's out of town, her friends are coverin for her, and I have no idea where she's at. She really is MIA this time...

...but I'm no Prisoner Of War.

I straighten my spine and square my shoulders. I run a hand through my hair.

Fuck it. I've been through worse. Much worse than any dyke drama that you can dish out. And I'm not like those other guys either.

Cus my name's not 'Loser', baby.

My name is 'Faith'...

...and there's plenty more fish in the sea.

"You having fun there, Faith?" Cordy asks loudly, amused.

"No, Cordy. I'm cryin in my beer over here. What's it look like?"

"Hmmm. Well, I'm not too sure about the 'crying' part, but you sure had enough of them." Looking at all of the bottles on the table.

"They're not all mine, Cor. Some are yours."

"No, Faith. One was mine, and you drank it."

"Oops." I grin sheepishly.

"That's okay. I don't like beer anyway, remember?"

"Yup." I answer, suckin down another.

"How about we set you up with a keger in a nice quiet corner instead?"

I laugh. Quiet? In here??

"Nah, that's okay, Cor. I kinda like the noise."

The music was wicked loud. I mean thumpin. There were tons of people dancin and drinkin and gettin down with their bad selves.

I was, too.

"Ready for more action, Cor?" I yell at her, excited.

"Whenever you are, baby. Just waiting on you."

And she was, too. Fuck, she should be by girlfriend.

"You wanna be my girl tonight?" I ask, pullin her into me.

"Baby, I'm your girl every night. I thought you knew that."

"Then why won't you have sex with me?" I whisper, nuzzlin her ear.

"Because I don't swim that way, Faith." she gasps softly.

"But ya could." Trailin my tongue under her chin. She pulls back her head and looks at me.

"What?" I mumble.

"No, Faith. If I did swim that way, I would definitely spawn with you. But I don't and you don't want me anyway."

"Do too."

"Well, of course you do, cus I'm hot. But you know what I mean."

"What do you mean?" Playin stupid.

"Stop playing stupid. You know what I mean. Now shut up and show me those moves." She pulls away and leads me to the floor.

Okay.

She goes to pull me to the middle again, but I stop her. I mean, why hide? I haven't been practicin all these months for nuthin.

"Here's good, Cor."

"Of course." she smiles, winkin at me.

God, I really do wish she was my girl...but she's not, so whatever.

We start movin.

Cordy took some dance lessons on a cruise she was on. Some Latin stuff. It was a bit too structured for my tastes so we tailored it down a bit.

We were doin 'em now.

"My God, you're sexy, Faith." Cordy murmurs in my ear.

"You wishin I was your girl now, Cordy?" I smile, pressin myself against her.

"Hmm, maybe. But everyone else here sure wishes you were."

I spin myself around and take a look at the room.

Yep. She's right. Well, look at me.

I'm the shit.

I grin at her and she grins back.

"See? Plenty of fish in the sea." she reminds me.

A guy comes up behind Cordy and then I feel one come up behind me, too. We look at each other and she raises an eyebrow.

Ahh, what the fuck. Why the hell not?

We both turn and push into the guys, grabbin their hands and grindin ourselves against them. Cordy was havin a better time at it than I was. She was used to gettin led, where I was...well...

I was used to leading.

After a few asinine moments of playin 'who's on top', he let me take over.

Smart boy.

Soon more guys came up and started cuttin in. A few chicks too. But all the ones that Cordy got, got spun my way and soon I had all the chicks and she had all the dudes.

Not a bad set up.

After a while we lost track of each other, cus we spinned our way all over the floor. Most times we could barely make eye contact, but we made sure that we did when we could.

One chick was so smokin that I couldn't help but kiss her and then shout over at Cordy.

"HELL YEAH!!" I yelled.

Fish. Lots of fish. Let's see what else we've got. I kiss the girl again, then grab for the next one...

...and I get a tingle.

Oh fuck.

"Having fun, Faith?"

Fuckin Slayer senses. I'm either really fucked up or she just came in.

Or both.

"I'm not exactly cryin in my beer now, am I?" I smirk.

"Nope. Life as normal, I see."

We both just stand there lookin at each other. She looks really good...she smells fuckin good, too.

"Whatcha got on?"

"Soap."

"Not wearin Charlie?"

"Nope, just soap and me."

Yeah, and it was the 'me' part that was gettin to me.

"Gonna show me those new moves you've got?" she says, glancin at my boots.

"Aren't you scared for your toes?"

"Not really."

So I pull her into me and slide my thigh between her legs.

"How's that?" I murmur huskily.

"Sorry, seen that before." she murmurs back.

"Yeah? How about this?" And I grab her ass, my thigh to her groin, bending her backwards to the floor.

"Uh, okay...that's new." Lookin up at me surprised.

I laugh and straighten back up, pullin her along with me.

"Yep. And my dance card's full. Sorry, B." And I spin her away.

Now, where were we again? Ahhh, that's right. Fishes. So many fishes...and they're all so pretty, too.

I grab me one and start bumpin.

"Faith."

Go away, Buffy. Busy, here.

"Faith."

Uh, still busy.

"Faith!!!"

"What, Buffy???"

"No, not Buffy, dolt. It's me, Cordy. The girl you came here with? Look, I know you're having a whale of a time, but can we go soon?"

Not Buffy?

"Where'd she go?" I ask, spinnin the girl away from me.

"Damn, Faith. Half these girls probably have motion sickness by now."

"Where'd she go?" I repeat, lookin around.

"I'm assuming you mean Buffy, and I don't know."

"She was just here."

"Well, she's not now. How much longer do you want to stay?"

"Why? Got yourself a hot one, Cor?"

"Hardly. I'm bored, you're busy, and I'd rather be home in bed."

"Change your mind, huh? You want me, Cor, admit it."

"Oh, I really do, Faith. But in my car, not in my bed. How much longer?"

"Don't sweat it, Cor. Go ahead and go, I'm good here."

"I'm sure you are."

"I am...really. Get your honey Z's and I'll call ya tomorrow."

"Thanks, sweetie. You looked good tonight. Buffy's demented."

I give her a wink and watch her leave. I see her hook up with some guy at the door and she smiles, taking his arm.

Yeah. She's good. She was just bein nice and didn't want to abandon me.

Not like the other one.

I grab a drink and get back in the groove. I'm good. Really good. So good, in fact, that this guy is lookin really good, too.

"Let's go, babe." I tell him, grabbin his hand and pullin him along.

He's hot, hunky, and probably hung like hell...

...too bad he's a vamp.