Part Six
“It’s just that we stayed, too long/in the same old sickly skin.”
Angel paced in the garden as the pouring rain ran down his soaked clothing. Willow had gone to sleep hours ago, but the vampire was restless. Dammit, Angel, pull yourself together! Do you feel for her, or don’t you?! Thinking, he was oblivious to the icy fingers of the rain and wind. Growling, he lifted a statue and smashed it to the pavement. Then he heard the soft padding of bare feet through puddles, and whirled around, ready to pounce. The small redhead stood there, clad only in his robe.
“Angel? What’s going on?” She motioned to the shattered cement statue. “I heard the noise from your room. Is something wrong?”
He smiled feebly. “Nothing’s wrong, Willow. Go back to bed.” His soulful eyes cried out for her. Oh, Willow! Unaware of his thoughts, she ran a small white hand under his chin, looking deep into his eyes.
“You’ll catch your death of cold out here. It’s practically snowing! Come inside.”
“Can’t die, remember?”
“You can catch the flu, can’t you? Or pneumonia? I don’t exactly relish the thought of you coughing your lungs out on the couch with me far away in Boston. I’m not about to skip class to play nursemaid to a thick-skulled vampire.” She smiled at him, then grabbed his hand. “Come on.” Oh, Angel, what are you doing to yourself? Tugging gently, she led him back into the house. She headed back into the bedroom, grabbing a blanket and a towel.
“Towel yourself off, then get yourself warm. I’ll make you some hot chocolate, unless you prefer coffee?”
“Chocolate’s fine.” He complied with her orders meekly, toweling his drenched hair and bundling up under the blanket.
“Angel, you should change clothes too. Go ahead, use the bedroom.” Angel smiled and went into his bedroom, which had been thoroughly Willow-ized. Dried flowers hung from every corner. As he stripped out of his waterlogged clothing, changing into dry new clothing, he marveled at how much it had changed in the short time she’d occupied it. Her clothing was strewn everywhere, and she’d even brought her own throw pillow. It was carelessly tossed beside a huge clump of a strange herb. Dressed again, he leaned over to pick it up and inhaled its pungent odor.
“Trillium.” Willow informed, a slight smile on her face, coffee mugs in hand. “Come on. To the couch with you.” She waved the mug in his face, so he could smell the warmed chocolate liquid. Leaving the room, she called, “I’m waiting…” Angel hurried to follow her.
“So, Angel, I’m not likely to get any sleep watching you, so let’s play Truth or Dare, shall we? Or should we go for something more daring. Strip poker, perhaps?” Smiling suggestively, she commented, “I guess I’m not well dressed for that. It’s obvious you’d win.” Angel was shocked that their little Willow was daring him to play strip poker with him. He began to stutter.
“W…willow. Um, um, um, let’s…not play strip poker…” The little redhead mocked disappointment.
“But I was so looking forward to seeing your cute butt in nothing but boxers! Or do you even wear those?”
“Willow…” He looked at her sternly.
“Okay. Truth or dare, Angel.”
“Truth.” He wasn’t about to get dared anything by this new improved Willow in a mood like the one she appeared to be in.
“Angel, boxers, briefs, or nothing?”
The vampire blushed, causing Willow to giggle hysterically. The chocolate she’d nonchalantly been drinking squirted out her nose as she laughed. “Oh, oh, ohahaha!” Angel, seeing the fit she was throwing, colored more. He staunchly refused to laugh at the sight. It simply wasn’t funny, he told himself.
“Boxers.” He finally admitted. “Now it’s your turn. Truth or dare.”
“Truth.” Willow said, a smile on her face as she calmed down. “I’d say dare, but I’m interested in what you’re wondering.”
“Willow, are you drunk?” He knew she’d been drinking, because when they’d left Spike and Buffy they’d both gotten into the liquor.
“No, I’m not. I don’t get drunk. I only had a few drinks… and put a little in the chocolate… but that’s it.” That’s why it tastes different, Angel thought. Can’t hurt. He took a small sip of it, pondering her statement.
“Willow, I think you’ve had a bit too much, but I’m not going to stop you. If you say you’re not drunk, then you’re not.”
“Nope. Your turn again. Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Aww, come on, Angel!”
“Truth.” He repeated firmly.
“Fine. Was Darla your first?”
“Willow…”
“Come on!” She laughed. “’Fraidy-cat.”
“No, she wasn’t.” He reluctantly articulated slowly, picking his words carefully.
“I’m curious now. But it’s my turn. Dare!”
“Hmm…” Angel began to feel the effects of the alcohol in his system. “Willow… call Xander and tell him we’re together. On speakerphone, of course. It’s what, 4, here? So… it’s 7 there. He should be up, right?”
“Okay!” She ran to the phone, dialing the memorized number, and putting it on speakerphone for her vampire friend’s benefit. “Xander?”
“Willow? Hey, Will. What’s up?”
“Xander, I called because Angel told me to confess.” Her voice sounded completely sincere. Angel found himself anxious to Xander’s reaction.
“Confess what?”
“The real reason I’m down here. Angel and I… we’re sleeping together, Xander.”
“Oh, god, Will, you can’t be serious.”
“Completely!” She burst into laughter. “I’m sitting in Angel’s lap right now, in his bed. Wearing completely nothing, Xander. Wouldn’t you like to see me?” Her lie sounded completely real, with the right inflections and everything.
“Willow, you’re drunk again, aren’t you? Ha ha, Will.” Xander tried to rationalize.
“Hey Xander,” Angel said into the speaker. “Our lovely Willow’s telling the truth. You ever seen her completely nude? She’s drop-dead gorgeous.” As he laughed, he spilled the cocoa on his fingers, and he got a good idea. He sucked the chocolate off his fingers as audibly as he could, smiling at Willow as he did so. He heard their friend hit the floor loudly. They could no longer hold in their laughter, and the room echoed with Willow’s bell-like laughter and Angel’s deeper chuckles.
“Xander…” Willow purred. “Xander, we’re kidding. We’re playing truth-or-dare. You want to play?”
“Oh, God, Will. Angel, how could you let her?! Oh God.” He finally made out. She heard her friend sigh loudly, and she could just see him running his hand through his hair, counting to 10. “Can’t, Will. Gotta get to work.”
“Aww.”
“Sorry, Xand. It was her idea to play this game… and to spike my hot chocolate. She really is drunk.” Angel said through his laughter. “We’ll let you go now. Have a nice day!”
“Bye Xander! Talk to you later, okay?”
“Bye Will, bye Dead-boy.” Xander sighed, then hung up. The two on the other side hung up as well, still rolling with laughter.
“Too bad he couldn’t play. I wonder if we can find anyone else to play with us.”
“Willow, you’re wearing a robe and sleepwear and we’re both quite drunk. How are we going to find someone else to play?”
“Amy’s still in town, right? I think I gave her to Michael… No, I… I gave her to you, didn’t I? What’d you do with Amy?”
“What, you’re going to uncurse her just to play truth-or-dare with us?” Angel sounded skeptical. “She’s in the office.” Willow gave a delighted squeal and ran to Angel’s ‘office’. It was basically just a spare room filled with junk, but occasionally he went in there to ‘work’. She dug out the still-rat Amy, and held her triumphantly above her red-haired head.
“Ta-da!” They opened the cage, letting the former student out, and Willow prepared the release spell. She lit the incense and chanted, “Goddess of creatures great and small, I conjure thee to withdraw. Hecate, I hereby license thee to depart.” Angel sprinkled the powder into a small candle, and a blinding flash went through the room. Immediately, Angel jumped up and closed his eyes, turning around to give the nude Amy Madison some privacy.
“Hi, Amy! I finally did it!” Willow said energetically. Amy was bright red.
“Um… Willow, you think you could find me some clothes?”
“Oh!” The redhead jumped up and pulled the other witch with her. “Come on, I’m sure I can find you something.” Ten minutes later, the ladies came out, and Amy was dressed in Willow’s clothing. Willow, however, had opted to stay in Angel’s bathrobe. The drunk vampire thought it was a fine choice. He smiled at the two, and they curtseyed.
“So, Amy, we were here, drunk and playing truth-or-dare, and we thought, we need another player. Xander wouldn’t play, he had to go to work, and then I thought of you. And I finally got the curse to work!” The hacker was bouncing up and down with excitement as she sat down. Then she jumped up again. “Amy, you’ve just GOT to play with us, and have some of my hot chocolate!” She poured a mug for Amy, then handed it to her and sat back down.
“Well, I’m not one to refuse, and I am back… as long as you guys don’t decide to curse me again, I’m game.” She took a sip of the chocolate. “Will, you spiked this, didn’t you?” The accused witch just did her best to look innocent.
“Okay. It’s my turn. Um, Amy, truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Chicken.” Willow accused. “Okay. Amy, did you ever do anything with Michael?”
Meekly, Amy replied, “No. He wouldn’t let me.” They all burst into laughter again. “Angel. Your turn.”
“Dare.”
“Ooh, Angel!” Willow squealed.
“Angel, Willow says you wear boxers. How ‘bout you let us see ‘em?” The witches smiled slyly at the trapped vampire.
Next Part
Last Part
© 1999 rilla_rose@yahoo.com - All Rights Reserved.
Email: rilla_rose@yahoo.com