| Chapter Seven The ocean breeze carried their squeals of delight from the water, up to the beach house they had been living in. Angel watched from the second story window, away from the direct sunlight, as Willow and Cordelia splashed around in the water. Willow pushed Cordelia onto her backside into the freezing seawater, Angel chuckled. �Willow you get back here.� Cordelia gasped as the redhead darted down the beach. �Or I�ll tell Angel about the tattoo on your rear end.� Willow stopped in mid-stride and shot a glance up at the house. Angel raised an eyebrow. Willow with a tattoo? He wondered what she had inked on her cute butt that she wouldn�t want him to see. He watched as the redhead returned to where Cordelia was waiting. He was most defiantly going to have to inquire as to what she was hiding from him. Willow and Cordelia went back to their lounge chairs and started packing their stuff up. They�d been on the beach for hours, and Willow�s skin was probably paying the price. No matter the amount of sunscreen the girl slathered on she would return to the house sunburned and with a few added freckles. �Angel?� Willow called out as they entered the house. �Where�s the food Nazi?� Cordelia grumbled under her breath. �You know we still have enough time to run and get a burger, he doesn�t have to know.� Angel stood at the top of the stairs smiling. He had earned the infamous nickname the first week the girls had moved in. In his quest to bring them back the healthy young women they used to be, he had gone a little overboard at a local organic food store. The first few days on the new diet the girls ate the food out of appreciation. It had gotten to the point that they couldn�t choke down another mouthful, and begged the vampire for some grease laden food. They came to a compromise three healthy, but tasteful meals a day for him. *Some* junk food in the house for them. �Get washed up you two, were going out for dinner.� They both jumped and glared in his direction �I hate it when you do that.� Cordelia dropped her beach paraphernalia where she stood, knowing it the best way to get back at him and his neat freak fetish. �Where are you taking us?� Willow asked while she scooped up Cordelia�s items from the floor. �It�s a surprise.� He watched as she pouted thinking he�d give in. �Tell you what kitten, I�ll tell you where we�re going, if you show me your tattoo.� No sooner were the words out of his mouth, that her eyes popped open and her jaw dropped. �Tat-tattoo. Why would *I* have a tattoo?� Willow started up the stairs to her room. Angel blocked the way. He had a smirk on his face that let her know he had just started his little game. �Um Angel you need to move so I can get ready to go.� Angel�s eyes spelled mischief as he stepped aside. Willow sped past him and into her room. Damn Cordelia and her big mouth. Hurrying to her private bath she stripped her bathing suit off and turned on the shower. As the water heated up she looked at the tattoo on her butt in the mirror. She had been so stupid getting it, not to mention drunk. On her upper left cheek was the exact replica of Angel�s tattoo, only smaller. He could never see it; she�d die of embarrassment. Even if he was well over Buffy, it didn�t mean she had a chance with him. She remembered when they had first arrived at the beach house. She had expected to find Giles, Dawn and Buffy inside. Not a large empty house. When they asked Angel where the others were he looked confused for a moment, until he realized just who they where talking about. He explained about how the relationship that everyone believed would never die, had faded into an uneasy friendship. That the more he and the Slayer had tried to make it work the harder it became. While he talked about it, he sounded as though he was truly past the pain. He acted as though he was talking about someone other than himself. Willow got ready on a hurry. She couldn�t wait to see where Angel took them that night. ~~~~~~~~~ Cordelia looked around the restaurant. She had to hand it to Angel; he sure did have great taste in restaurants even if he didn�t eat. The only thing that would have made it batter was if she wasn�t there. The place reeked romance, and it might have been the little shove that the blind vampire and shy witch needed. Angel had invited her because he didn�t want her to feel left out, but she hated feeling like a third wheel. �If only Lindsey was here.� She sighed. Then the night would be perfect. �Excuse me, I need to powder my nose.� Cordelia got up and headed to the restroom. �Angel this place is incredible.� Willow exclaimed. �Well thought you two needed a break from my cooking.� He tried not to laugh as she looked away. One of the servers hurried to their table. �The other young lady that was with you collapsed in the restroom.� Angel and Willow jumped from the table, not waiting to hear what else the young man had to say. Entering the bathroom, Cordelia was sitting on the floor her head in her hands. �Cordy honey what was it?� Willow grabbed a few paper towels and ran them under cool water. �Wes and Gunn. I saw them in a bar; they�re in New Mexico.� �Did you see Lindsey?� Cordelia shook her head. �Angel?� Willow questioned. Angel thought for a moment. � I guess we�re off to New Mexico.� |
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