Chapter 7

Carolee sat on a bench in the shopping mall resting her weary feet. She wasn't one for shopping, especially at Cordelia's rate. Cordy reminded Carolee of one of her old college roommates, the type of shopper that had to go inside every single store in the mall whether she wanted to buy anything in it or not. She liked to window shop, and critique, and dream about every product on every shelf. Carolee liked to have a plan, know what she wanted, go into one place, and get it. If the shoes weren't quite right, she moved on fast, she didn't linger.

Allison was with Cordy. Carolee didn't think Allison was as into the shopping as Cordy was either, but Allison didn't want to be rude or appear unfriendly, so she didn't say anything and just nodded and followed Cordy into every shop. It wasn't just that Allison had a heart of gold and didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, however. There was the fact that with four little boys, she never got to go shopping at her leisure anymore. Usually the four boys were running around and screaming like wild banshees if she didn't keep them in line. So shopping was a rarity, and usually only when necessary, and then it was in and out.

At the moment, Allison and Cordy were in a huge shoe warehouse. Carolee could see them in her mind's eye, trying on every damn shoe in the store, going down aisle after aisle. It exhausted her just thinking about it. She sipped her mocha on the bench, and continued to people watch in the Whispering Pines Mall.

They wouldn't get much sleep tonight, if any. As soon as the sun began to set, they were to pile into the Suburban and head to Windy Cove. It would only be a two-hour drive to the jetty, but the hike down the beach, and the preparation and carrying out of the spell would be time consuming, not to mention whatever disasters would certainly befall them. Nope, they wouldn't get much sleep tonight, if any. Yet, Carolee was too excited and wound up to even contemplate sleeping. Tell that to the huge face splitting yawn that just hit her, however.

"Hey, you."

Carolee was startled out of her thoughts by him. She recognized that voice. She tilted her head up and saw the face that was connected to the man that had greeted her.

She smiled tightly, pretending to be happy to see him, but mostly she just wanted to crawl under the bench and hide. "Hi, Jeff."

He had a Nordstrom's bag in his hand, she noted. He always tried to be classy, but didn't always quite make it. He was no 'metrosexual' no matter how hard he tried. "What's up?" He asked. That was Jeff, always concise. They hadn't seen each other in two years, and had not parted on the best of terms, yet here he stood in front of her, pretending to be friendly, like it was just like old times and he had just seen her yesterday.

"I'm waiting for my friends." She indicated the few bags at her feet. "I'm done shopping, but they're still at it."

"Any one I know?" He thought he knew all her friends. "Brooke?"

Carolee shook her head. "No, I haven't seen Brooke in a long time. I'm waiting for.. " but before she could finish the sentence, another man sat down beside her on the bench. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting long?" He smiled at her, and the flip-flops started in her stomach again.

Carolee didn't know that Giles had even been at the mall. Cordy had commandeered her and Allison right after Buffy's "speech", and the three had come for their shopping needs. She assumed Giles was home researching or doing something British. How did he know she needed rescued?

Her ears turned red as the blush crept up her neck, but she smiled gratefully at him. His emerald eyes captured hers, and his smile was so kind. "You're worth the wait." She said.

She couldn't believe she had said that. It just popped out, like in one of her stories. Giles blushed now too, and actually laughed out loud. He then turned and held his hand out to Jeff. "I'm sorry, I'm Rupert Giles."

Carolee had quite forgotten Jeff was even standing there.

Jeff introduced himself, and had the strangest look on his face. He glanced from Giles to Carolee, trying to figure out what their relationship was. Carolee just smiled, and scooted closer to Giles. After he shook Jeff's hand, Giles placed his arm behind the bench, and around Carolee's shoulders. Ah, bliss. She could stay this way all day now, and Jeff be damned!

Giles dismissed Jeff, turning to her and asking, "Did you get everything you need for our trip tonight?" Carolee nodded, totally aware that Jeff was hanging on every word. "I think so. I got clothes for every occasion, thanks to Cordelia." Giles stretched his long legs out in front of him, nodding to her. "Yes, Cordelia has the art of shopping mastered." Giles looked up from where he sat on the bench, and found the shorter man still standing there. He straightened up a bit. "I'm sorry, I interrupted." Jeff opened his mouth to say something, but Carolee quickly piped up, resting her hand on Giles's jean clad thigh. "No you didn't, Giles. Jeff works for the same company I do, and he was just saying hi as he passed by. No big deal. Besides, shouldn't we be heading back soon?"

Giles glanced at his watch. "Yes, it is getting late. Perhaps we should find the others." He stood and picked up Carolee's bag, and reached out his hand to help her up. Giles also took the now emptied mocha cup out of her other hand and handed it out to Jeff. He blindly took it, not even realizing what he was doing. "Would you mind finding a trash can for us, Jeff? Thanks mate." Giles didn't even wait for his answer before pulling Carolee up to her feet. Carolee nodded her thanks, waved goodbye to Jeff, and walked away to find Allison and Cordy, with Giles at her side.

Even if it wasn't real, it felt good.

Once they were out of Jeff's hearing, Carolee turned and looked at the handsome man beside her. "Thank you, Giles. I don' t know how you knew I needed rescuing, but thank you."

"You had that uncomfortable look about you."

"I didn't even know you were here."

He nodded. "I hadn't planned on it, but then I realized we'd need a few things for the spell tonight, so I just came for a quick stop by. I was on my way into the GNC store to get some Wood Betony. It's root will help calm the sea and winds tonight, but then I saw you and made a quick detour."

"I'm glad you did."

They had reached the shoe store, but Cordy and Allison were still nowhere in sight. Carolee sighed heavily. She was ready to leave the busy mall full of people. Maybe she'd catch a quick nap when they got back, if permitted. She fought another yawn, but it won out, escaping between her fingers.

"Tired?" Giles asked her kindly. She smiled and nodded. "A bit."

"Well, you were up early training, and I'm sure the last few days have been quite stressful. Perhaps you should lie down a bit when we get back. The more rested you are for tonight, the better."

"I was thinking the exact same thing, but I didn't want to appear lazy or selfish." He laughed again. He had such a nice laugh. Carolee vowed right then and there to make him laugh as much as possible.

"Your honesty and openness is refreshing, Carolee. And it's not sarcastic or mean spirited."

"Well, thank you, I think." She thought that was a compliment. It had sounded like one.

They were both leaning against the banister in front of the shoe store, waiting patiently for their friends.

Suddenly, he turned to her, curiosity in his gaze. "Did you mean it?"

She frowned. "Mean it? Yes, I am grateful. I mean, I think it was a compliment that you said I'm honest and refreshing."

Her confusion caused him to smile softly at her again. "No, I meant, did you mean it when you said I was worth the wait?"

Her eyes held his at the moment, and for the first time that day, Carolee realized that perhaps she wasn't so alone in this crazy world. In that moment, it was just the two of them in that shopping mall, and everyone and everything else dropped away.

"Yes, I meant it." Her heart skipped a beat as the hope filled his eyes.

She wondered what he would say next, but the moment was spoiled as Cordy came bounding up. "Carolee, you have to see the shoes Allison got! She's going to be the hottest Momma in America!"

Carolee grinned at her friend, as Allison looked shyly back. "She already is one hot Momma." Carolee winked at her friend.

Allison smiled back, but then went pale. "I'm sorry…I…uh…do you know where the ladies room is? I don't think those jelly donuts are agreeing with me."

Carolee looked at her friend with concern. "Kmart attack?"

Allison looked over at her derisively, and said, "Would you like me to answer that, or shall I just glare?"

Chapter 8