Chapter 10: The Doorstep, Take Two
1632 Revello Drive. The house has barely changed in nine years. The front door has been repainted and colorful flowers now decorate the front lawn. But otherwise all is the same. The pathway of grey stones leading to the house is still interrupted by the single stone that is somehow darker than the others. The white mailbox still stands slightly slanted and the flawed brick just beneath the left window still juts out a fraction.
Faith stands unmoving in front of the house. She blinks, but no tears fall from her eyes. The outside of the house may not have changed but she knows the interior must have. The inner walls were riddled with bullet holes last the brunette was here and her memories of them are painfully clear.
She remembers that one fateful night as clear as though it was yesterday. The day leading up to it had been tiring and painful. For hours Faith had been forced to clean the house. She had scrubbed the floor on her knees while Johnny mocked her, holding the mop handle threateningly in his filthy hands. She had gathered the many scattered beer bottles and cans, she had thrown away all the burnt scraps of aluminum foil and disformed spoons. And as she lay exhausted in her tattered old bed she had felt filthy hands crawl all over her tired little body. It wasn't the first time Johnny had touched her in such a sickening fashion and by now, Faith knew it was no use crying for her mother.
She had cursed them both that night. She had huddled up in the corner of her room after Johnny passed out on her bed and she had cursed them. She had wished them dead, and little did she know her wish would be granted just an hour later.
She awoke to the sound of struggle. She payed no notice to it for the sound of struggle was a constant in 1632 Revello Drive. But when she heard her own mother whimper, she couldn't help feel worried. Frankie was her mother, even though the woman frequently kicked and spat on the little girl. Little Faith snuck downstairs only to be frozen in her tracks. Her mother and Johnny were on their knees in the living room, beaten and trembling. Two men stood behind them, both with guns in their hands. Two gunshots and Faith's wish was granted.
An old lady watches her suspiciously as she stands watching the house. The old woman carries with her a book she has reclaimed from a friend. The woman watches Faith suspiciously, not only because she had seen the girl in the exact same postition as she left to pick up the book, but also because her appearance isn't often seen in the small town. Why, the last time she had seen a woman clothed so provocatively was nine years ago. The suspicious woman's step falters as she remembers. Frankie Spencer. The late Frankie Spencer who had lived in 1632 Revello Drive. She slows her pace as she approaches the girl. The brunette stands out from her soft surroundings. The girl's wild brown mane flows down her back. She is wearing an open black leather jacket which shows a scandalously tight red shirt underneath. Her black jeans are just as tight however. Low-hung and hugging the girl's womanly shaped hips. The old woman nearly tsks as she notices the black heavy-looking boots on the girl's feet. Surely those are not fit for a young girl?
As the woman draws nearer and nearer, her eyes widen. The curious woman now completely halts. Those eyes...Those lips... The woman gasps in realization and glances one more time at the girl before completely turning around and hurrying away, back to her friend's house. She simply had to share this shocking news.
All the while, Faith stands in front of 1632 Revello Drive. Unmoving and silent.
"The Carters live there now."
Faith only flinches slightly. She immediately recognizes the voice although it too has changed. The brunette frowns thoughtfully as she feels Buffy move nearer. She had felt a change in the air and in herself a while ago but chose to ignore it. As she had chosen to ignore it when she approached Sunnydale Highschool less than an hour ago. It was a strange tingle, it was as if she could suddenly feel the blood rushing through her veins. As Buffy stands beside her, she feels her heartbeat speed up and her skin hum.
"They're never in though. Business people." Buffy continues.
The blonde watches the brunette both in wonder and worry. There were so many questions she wished to ask but dared not to. Not now. She only hoped that this wasn't a strange dream, that the girl next to her would not suddenly disappear and she would be left alone once again.
"It's barely changed." Faith says, her eyes still firmly in front of her.
The brunette's voice reaches straight to the little blonde's heart and makes it beat faster in joy, excitement and absolute love. Buffy slowly reaches for Faith's hand and entwines her fingers with Faith's.
The taller girl looks down at their hands and then raises her eyes to the blonde looking up at her with glistening green eyes.
"What are you doing?" Faith asks, her voice naturally husky.
Buffy holds Faith's eyes with her own and smiles softly.
"What do you think I'm doing?" She briefly squeezes Faith's hand.
The brunette stands quiet for a moment but the corners of her lips then turn up slightly.
"I think you're kidnapping me."
Buffy gently pulls Faith away from 1632 Revello Drive and they stroll towards the house next door.
"Hasn't anyone held your hand before?" She asks softly.
The two girls reach Buffy's doorstep, holding hands. Slowly, Faith turns her gaze to the girl beside her.
"Only you." She almost whispers.
Chapter 11: Changes
"Do you think she's okay?"
They've never seen anyone faint out of shock or surprise before.
"Yeah... She just wasn't expecting you. Let's put her on the couch."
Until a minute ago.
"She looks the same."
The two girls had entered Buffy’s home, Faith overcome by wave after wave of memories she thought she had lost forever. She seemed pale to her blonde friend so Buffy had offered her something to drink. As Buffy was pouring some water in a glass, Faith peered through the backdoor window.
Imagine her surprise as suddenly Joyce popped up from behind it. The shocked Joyce fainted on the porch as she saw Faith’s bewildered face through the glass.
Buffy watches Faith as she looks at the unconscious Joyce on the couch.
"Does she still make those extra chocolatey cookies?" Faith asks the girl next to her.
"She stopped making them when you... disappeared. She only makes regular chocolate ones."
The petite blonde seems genuinely melancholy about the extra chocolate cookie loss and smiles weakly. Faith hesitantly looks away from woman on the couch and looks at Buffy, her eyes closed off and distant.
"They told me you were dead too." The standing brunette's voice cracks and she looks away, as if angry at herself for revealing emotion.
Buffy's eyes widen and her mouth opens, about to say something, but then closes again indecisively. The nervous blonde clears her throat.
"Who... Who told you?"
Faith is silent, staring at something in the distance through the window. Buffy frowns, afraid she pushed too much and too soon.
"Robert." Faith says quietly "My boss."
The blonde kneeling besides the couch, looks up at Faith inquisitively.
"Your boss?"
The taller girl turns away a little and her expressive face darkens.
"He..." Faith lets out a shaky breath and forces her voice to steady. "He made me do things."
Standing up slowly, Buffy steps nearer. Her heart is beating wildly in her chest and she swears her hands are shaking. If she would stop and think about it, she might find it strange that after nine years, the affection for her childhood friend had not wavered one bit. Had it always been this intense to be around Faith? After nine years, the blonde feels more connected than ever with the young brunette. Her own heart bled for her friend. She released the tears Faith wouldn't allow herself.
"I'm so sorry." She forces herself to say. Not without difficulty she holds back from hugging the girl, unsure of how appreciative Faith would be.
"No big, B." Faith turns fully towards Buffy and shrugs indifferently. "Shit happens."
The brunette shoves her hands in her tight pockets and looks at the little blonde thoughtfully.
"Did the bookguy fill you in about everything?"
Buffy's face scrunches up, making her look like a confused six-year old.
"Giles? Fill me in about what?"
The brunette seems unsure of what to say and shrugs.
"You know...'bout me being a slayer or something."
Buffy gapes at her friend incredulously. Faith fidgets nervously under the silent open-mouthed stare.
"Or... at least that's what those fanged guys keep calling me."
Buffy blinks and her eyes widen even more.
"And that one hooved freak. And you know... I've been called alot of nasty shit, but 'slayer'? I don't get."
Buffy seems completely unable to respond as her mouth opens and closes but no sound comes out. The brunette babbles on nervously.
"I told him I got a name, you know? It's not even that difficult to remember. It's pretty easy, right? Nice and simple. Fai-.."
"Faith!"
Faith freezes in her tracks and Buffy whips around, finding her mother sitting up on the couch, staring at Faith. The shocked Joyce, raises a shaky hand to her open mouth.
"Oh god..." She breathes.
The brunette blushes shyly at the woman she considers the perfect mother and the only adult she unconditionally trusts.
"Hey Mrs S.." Faith awkwardly waves. "I'm back."
Chapter 12: Welcome Home
She looks lost as she sits on the freshly made bed. She looks lost to Buffy. To anyone else, she looks at ease and confident. Her legs are stretched out and she’s leaning back on her elbows; the picture of laid-back indifference. But she looks lost to Buffy.
“I thought they were forever.” Deep auburn eyes meet green.
Buffy smiles sadly.
“Me too.” She joins Faith on the bed. “But dad still calls once in a while.”
Faith scoots a bit to her left and lies down on her back. Buffy changes positions and lies down next to her silent friend.
They stare at the ceiling for a while.
“It’s not like it’d kill him to spend a weekend with me.” Buffy whispers eventually.
Faith rolls to her side and leans the side of her head against her palm. Buffy copies her movements and they look at each other on the bed.
“What happened to you, Faith?”
And the mood shifts. From comfortable familiarity to an eery silence. Both girls feel it and Faith abruptly rolls away and gets up from the soft bed.
The brunette shrugs uncomfortably. The silence is not without reason. It is a silence to hide the harsh ugly painful stories that she never wants to tell. With her back to Buffy, her eyes dart all over the room. As if desperate to find an escape from the impending conversation.
The young girl shrugs again and as Buffy watches her, she can’t help but wonder what weight those shoulders have to burden.
“Apparently, a lot of mystical shit, B. How many other…” Faith pauses and gestures with her right hand, finding that the words sounded even more absurd out loud than it did in her mind. “ …‘slayers’ are there?”
She turns around, relieved to see that her sudden subject change had its desired effect on the blonde.
“Well…” Buffy begins slowly. And she too stands up, frowning and seemingly about to begin a typical Buffy ramble.
“And how do you know for sure I’m a slayer too?”
“Well you see…”
“And what exactly does ‘The Council’ do?”
“That’s… a good question.”
“And do you think your mom needs help for dinner?” Faith smiles at the spluttering Buffy.
Buffy caught the mischievous smile and returns it with a smile of her own.
“Right. Food first. Questions later.” She follows Faith into the hallway. “It could still take a while though.” She surmises and leads the way to her own bedroom.
“Thanks to you, mom’s gone kitchen-crazy.” She continued. “She’s making curly fries and chicken nuggets.”
“My favorite!” Faith exclaims surprised. Buffy chuckles.
“Yeah… Nine years ago anyway. Plus she went out to get some ingredients for her extra chocolaty cookies.” Buffy carefully watched Faith’s reaction.
“Do you still have those walkie-talkies?” Faith asked.
“Yeah. But I haven’t used them anymore since the cookie-op that went terribly terribly wrong.” Buffy giggles as she flops down on her bed.
“You were supposed to be on the look-out.” Faith reminds her.
“And let the kitchen flood over?” The little blonde countered.
“That was one defective faucet, B.”
“Especially with someone standing on it.” Buffy laughed at the memory.
“You think your mom’s still mad about that?” Faith chuckled.
“Nah. She missed you.” Buffy says softly. Afraid that the conversation would take another depressing turn, Buffy stands up and joins Faith.
The brunette seems engrossed in the pictures hanging from Buffy’s wall.
“That’s Oz. He’s Willow’s future boyfriend.” Buffy points out. Faith cocked an eyebrow. “They’re perfect for each other. They just don’t know it yet.” Buffy explained.
Faith looks amused but unconvinced.
“Anyway, that one’s Cordelia.” Buffy pointed at the cheerleader on top of a human pyramid. “She’s Xanders girlfriend. For now, anyway.”
“Jealous?” Faith teases.
“No, no of course not.” The blonde quickly uttered. “It’s just Cordelia’s a bitch.” She explained.
“How come you have a picture of the cheerleading squad anyway?” The younger brunette curiously inquires.
Buffy blushes and looks away.
“You have to keep in mind that I was supposed to infiltrate the squad because Giles thought the cheerleaders had gone evil. Evil-er.” She unwillingly points at a blonde at the bottom of the pyramid.
It takes Faith a moment to realize that the surly blonde, face covered by messy golden locks, was indeed Buffy Summers.
“Holy shit, B. This slayer deal is way more fucked up than I thought.” She laughs. Faith takes another closer look and cracks up all over again. “Look at you, B!”
“Hey!” The offended blonde protests and attempts to pull away Faith and put a stop to her personal embarrassment.
It would have worked with Xander. It would have worked with Willow. It even would have worked with Giles. But Buffy forgot that her childhood friend was now also a Slayer.
Faith playfully fought back, allowing Buffy to pull her away only to gain the upper hand again and push her blonde friend on the bed. Buffy, momentarily surprised by Faith’s strength, quickly recovered and grabbed Faith’s arms, causing her to topple on top of Buffy on the bed.
The surprised brunette found herself straddling the smaller blonde. She looked down at Buffy’s beautiful face. Her smile was absolutely radiating and Faith couldn’t help but smile back.
She rolled off her friend and lay beside her, only slightly panting.
“No fair.” Buffy panted back.
“Sore loser.” Faith replied.
“Nuh-uh.” Buffy pouted.
“Yuh-huh.” The brunette grinned and propped herself up on one arm.
She turned to face Buffy only to find the blonde had also propped herself up and their faces were barely an inch apart.
For some reason, both girls fall silent, all words forgotten.
“Girls! Dinner!” Joyce calls from downstairs and disturbs the silent gaze between the two girls.
Faith jumps up as if burned by the bed and Buffy absentmindedly fixes her hair.
“Uh… food.” The blonde utters.
Faith nods enthusiastically.
“Yeah… Food.”
Chapter 13: Weird
The following week came, bringing with it answers to questions, although it seemed as though with every question answered, a whole different set of questions presented itself. Countless hours were spent in the strange school library, where curious weapons lay ominously in a cage and ancient scrolls and tomes of magic and demons stood stacked next to trigonometry and Spanish school books.
Giles, the provident man he was, presented Faith with the Slayer Handbook he held in reserve. Although Faith’s amused raised eyebrow did not quite put his mind at ease, he braved on, attempting to explain her calling and the responsibilities that came with it.
Perhaps not so surprisingly, Faith reacted particularly unenthusiastic, verging almost on open rebellion at being suddenly faced with such unwanted and untimely responsibilities. She was, after all, only fifteen. Although you’d be hard pressed to have her admit to her young age, since she spent uncountable hours in front of the mirror trying to hide it.
As she opened the book Giles had offered to her though, it didn’t take her long to discern the big gaping mistake that already showed itself on the first page. According to the handbook, there was only one chosen. Only one slayer.
But then, what about Buffy?
If the chosen one was now suddenly the chosen two, Faith argued, then the book was flawed. As were these ‘prophecies’. Her initial distrust about the whole thing had suddenly found new ground to grow upon. So unless they could present her with some sort of explanation for the oddity that was her and Buffy, she explained to the strange group, she might find it distinctly difficult to believe much of any of their far-fetched stories.
The doubts she voiced was met only with troubled looks, for in truth, they could not account for the existence of two slayers.
Giles on his part felt his frustration growing at not being able to answer the questions that really mattered. Witch after witch had been asked to examine and identify Faith, under the feisty girl’s loud objections. But the same conclusions were made time and time again; the girl was a slayer. Pure and true.
Giles made innumerable calls over the next several days; shamans, oracles, witches, mystics and many more were questioned by the persistent Watcher but none could put his mind at ease. All were perplexed by the very notion of two slayers. It drove Giles to endless nights of ancient texts and scrolls. The girls had known each other, closely, before they were slayers, that had to mean something. Didn’t it?
He didn’t know. So he read on, drinking cup after cup of his favorite tea, which didn’t seem to relax him as it usually did.
Faith was also reasonably perturbed by the strange and inexplicable reality she had found herself in. She conceded that Buffy was just as, if not more, concerned as she was. The blonde wasn’t exactly very adept at hiding her emotions. But not only did Faith struggle with her as of yet unofficial calling, she also struggled with the many conflicting memories she had of Sunnydale. The kind and always welcoming Mrs. Summers had insisted that Faith stay with her and Buffy and Faith could not find it in her heart to decline, although a small part of her felt hesitant about the offer.
She felt a pang of something painful deep in her chest every time she returned to the Summers home and passed by the house she used to inhabit. She refused to look, that would mean she still cared, but every time she told herself she didn’t, she felt a bitter self-deprecating smile form on her lips. She may tell herself she didn’t care, but the pain in her chest told her different.
Faith felt uncomfortable to be welcomed with such hospitality in Buffy’s home, she even received her own room. She was grateful, although she sometimes had difficulty expressing it, but she was not used to having Joyce dote and fuss for her and the caring attention sometimes felt painfully alien.
Buffy however, seemed to have a strange knack for picking up when Faith was feeling especially nervous or uncomfortable and mostly managed to diffuse Faith’s growing anxiety by simply holding her hand under the table at dinner. Or sometimes, maybe slightly less subtle, by grabbing Faith and escaping with her to some secluded area. Where there were no mothers hovering around or watchers asking pesky questions.
Strangely enough, or perhaps not, they usually found themselves in a cemetery. If anything, Faith had to admit she did enjoy the nightly patrols with Buffy. Not only did she find she loved the slaying of vampires, she also found that her connection with Buffy was still very much intact, if not stronger, and the girls felt almost as they did so many years ago. Completely at ease yet also completely exhilarated around each other.
Buffy found herself growing very open very fast, blurting out her deepest fears and hopes without thought. She berated herself after every time but was put at ease by the fact that Faith seemed an attentive listener when Buffy did reveal strong personal issues. Although the brunette at times seemed inattentive and disinterested, Buffy found that most of Faith’s perhaps seemingly crude and blunt behavior was simply part of her bravado. A show which Buffy could quite easily see through and usually ignored.
It was around a week after Faith had reappeared when the two girls returned home after an abnormally fruitful slay. It was late at night and for a reason that Buffy this time could not pick up, Faith was acting particularly fidgety and uncomfortable. Her behavior was strange to Buffy as Faith distanced herself purposely from Buffy as they entered the kitchen for a snack.
When Faith needed space or felt the need to distance herself from everyone, as well as Buffy, her demeanor was always sedated and brooding. But this time her eyes were flickering from kitchen appliance to the floor, to the table and anywhere else but Buffy. She squirmed slightly in her seat as they silently ate the sandwiches Joyce had made for them. After finishing, they cleared the kitchen and ascended the stairs, whispering their goodnights as they entered their rooms.
Barely thirty seconds after Faith closed the door behind her though, she heard a soft knock and Buffy entered without waiting for an answer.
“Okay, Faith, what’s wrong?” Buffy demanded.
Faith hesitated before looking up at the blonde, with an almost fearful look in her eyes. That.. and something else. Something Buffy couldn’t quite put her finger on.
“Nothing.” Faith shrugged. But then grimaced and turned around. “ I dunno, don’t you feel weird, B?”
Buffy frowned.
Weird?
No, she didn’t think she felt especially weird. But she was worried about Faith’s weird behavior though. She approached Faith and put a hand on her back. The brunette flinched and Buffy’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
“What do you mean ‘weird’, Faith?” She asked softly.
She noticed Faith seemed to have some difficult breathing normally and she cupped Faith’s cheek with her palm, turning Faith’s face towards hers. Instantly, she felt the heat that radiated from Faith’s skin and she drew in her breath.
“Faith, you’re burning up! What do you mean weird? How do you feel?” She asked again, worried.
Faith swallowed and took a step back.
“Nothing,” She insisted. “It’s just hot in here, you know?”
“I’ll open the window.” Buffy offered and immediately did so. She brushed by Faith as she walked towards the closed window and again, Faith flinched as their skin touched.
“Okay.” Faith nodded absently.
A cool breeze entered the room and Buffy approached her brunette friend again.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Faith?” Buffy leaned forward and inspected Faith closely.
For a moment it seemed as though Faith had stopped breathing.
“Sure.” She then choked out, quickly camouflaging it with a small fake cough.
Buffy wasn’t entirely convinced but decided to drop the matter for now. The blonde smiled and hugged Faith fondly, nestling her head in Faith’s neck. She then tilted her head and kissed the brunette’s cheek softly.
“Goodnight, Faith.” She whispered although she didn’t know why.
They broke away from the hug and looked at each other, both seeming to have some difficulty breathing normally. Faith coughed.
“Goodnight.” She smiled weakly.
Faith’s first week back in Sunnydale was now fact, and although many other issues needed addressing, Buffy felt quite content with that fact alone.
She smiled to herself as she walked down the hallway to her room, but she then heard a bump, as though something bumped against Faith’s bedroom door.
Buffy hesitated as she opened her own door but then just shook her head.
Weird.
Chapter 14: Distractions
Buffy let her fingers graze across the soft grass in front of her, enjoying the feel of the fresh blades as they brushed between her outstretched fingers. She sighed contentedly and felt almost as if she could purr out of pure pleasure, lying stomach down on the cool ground, her feet swinging lazily back and forth in the air while she allowed her hands to be tickled by the grass.
She yawned happily as she watched Faith just a few feet away, observing the sky on her back. Her hands lay beneath her head and her legs were fully stretched, as if she were basking in the vastness above.
The blonde smiled and stretched her own limbs, tired but happy.
“I think we cleared it.” She said as she sat up, hugged her knees and looked around the cemetery.
Faith leaned on her elbows and scanned between the moonlit gravestones and scattered trees.
“I think you’re right.” She agreed and hopped up swiftly from the ground, glancing at her watch. “Think we’re way past curfew too though, B.”
The younger girl approached Buffy who was still sitting on the grass and held out her hand.
“Better get back.” She told the blonde.
Buffy raised her eyebrows and smirked, allowing Faith to help her up.
“Better get back.” She mimicked Faith overly exaggerated. “Since when have you cared about curfews?” She teased.
“Careful there, short stuff,” Faith narrowed her eyes and grinned almost wolfishly. “wouldn’t wanna start something you can’t finish.” The brunette challenged.
Buffy rolled her eyes.
“I know all your weak spots, Faith.” She reminded her. “It starts with a T and rhymes with ‘nicklish’.” She stuck her tongue out triumphantly.
Faith’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“You wouldn’t!”
Buffy raised an eyebrow, asking whether Faith really wanted to take that chance. Faith took a step forward and opened her mouth about to protest but then they both froze. Faith whipped around and Buffy noticed the vampire behind the brunette’s shoulder.
“Stray vamp.” Buffy grinned.
“Up for dessert?” Faith grinned back in the same predatorlike fashion.
“Always.” Buffy answered. “Too bad I saw him first though!” The blonde laughed as she suddenly sped by Faith, rushing towards the vampire in an alarming speed.
Faith only took a moment to gape in shock before she began to race after the sneaky little blonde.
“I thought you’d be over cheating by now, B!” She accused the girl as they both chased after the vampire who by now had noticed them and ran desperately for his life.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,” Buffy called behind her. “You’re just a sore loser, Faith!”
She smiled as she heard the girl swear under her breath.
“Meet you at the gates!” The shorter girl called out again, before turning sharply to her left.
Needless to say, the rather panicking, yet surprisingly fast vampire, was easily caught in between two grinning slayers before he even reached the gates. The two girls quickly disposed of the soulless creature and bickered extensively about why Buffy got the kill. They then resumed their way home, still arguing quite vocally, but both feeling quite happy in doing so. The situation needed no further analysis for the moment. But it wouldn’t take long any more. It wouldn’t take long before one of them had to address the quite inconvenient issue that was nagging at the back of both their minds. To be more precise, it only took 34 hours.
For just two days later, Buffy suddenly felt the need to be pensive.
She sat cross-legged on her bed, her pretty features scrunched up in concentration. The reason for her unusual inactivity stemmed from several issues. But there was one particular issue that stood central in her thoughts.
Faith.
Her return had filled Buffy with a new-found joy bordering very closely to giddiness. The two girls were nearly inseparable and the petite blonde was adamant in spending as much time as she possibly could with her brunette friend. Buffy usually spent their time together in gales of laughter and girlish giggles, at times it even seemed as though they would both revert to their old ways, so many years ago. There was much to catch up on, after all.
But things had changed.
Even she could not admit the changes staring her –rather rudely, she felt- in the face. The way her eyes seemed to wander, for example. Seemed to wander to places… Places they hadn’t wandered before. Or perhaps had wandered, but certainly never lingered. There had never been any lingering going on, she was sure. But now there were lingering glances, involuntary smiles, random touches her body had clumsily forgotten to run by her brain for permission, and those exceptionally pleasant tingles along her back.
Buffy shook her head subconsciously as she sat pondering this on her bed. No, not exceptionally pleasant. Inappropriate, that was it. That’s what it was. Inappropriate. She nodded, again without realizing. They certainly weren’t that pleasant.
A playful knock on her door awoke her from her musings and replaced her deep frown with an almost hopeful look. She recognized that knock.
“B?”
The suddenly nervous blonde sat up and bit her lip. Those cursed involuntary smiles were, after all, very much involuntary.
“Are ya decent? Tell me you’re not talking to that pig again.” Faith’s voice suspiciously asked, hesitating from fully opening the door.
Buffy rolled her eyes and shot Mr Gordo an apologetic glance. How could Faith be so blasé about him? She had, after all, given him to Buffy herself, nine years ago after winning him at a carnival.
“No, I wasn’t talking to Mr Gordo right now.” The offended blonde responded, stretching her legs out from underneath her and standing up from the bed.
“I don’t like the fact that you said ‘right now’, B.” The brunette’s warm voice commented as she opened the door slowly.
Buffy sighed, not sure if it was a natural reaction to Faith’s teasing, or a natural reaction to her beauty. Either way, Buffy was glad she did, because Faith suddenly smiled fondly at the blonde.
Buffy looked away shyly, instantly cursing herself for doing so. She found it completely unfair that she had no control over these simple things anymore. Certainly she could go two seconds without blushing?
“So what’s up?” She managed to ask the amused brunette in a relatively normal tone of voice.
Faith shrugged in a way that Buffy’s body found entirely too interesting and the inexplicably nervous blonde pretended to be fascinated with the laces on her sneakers to hide what might be glaringly obvious. She wouldn’t know, since her body wasn’t precisely following instructions at the moment.
“Nothing much, just got bored.” Faith shrugged again, and made her way further into the room, lightly grazing the top of Buffy’s drawer with her fingers as she did so. She walked in a way that made Buffy, much to the blonde’s dismay, think of a lazy feline. Perhaps a leopard of some sort. Buffy tore her eyes away from Faith’s hips and looked her friend in the eye.
The madness had to end.
“I think we need to talk.” Buffy stated in a serious tone.
Faith’s eyebrows raised in surprise and her lips effortlessly formed a by now patented Faith smirk. The brunette lazily leaned against Buffy’s drawer and stretched, jutting out her hips slightly and exposing a perfectly toned stomach.
“So whatcha wanna talk about?”
Buffy frowned.
What did she want to talk about?
