PART 3

Xander was having a good day. It was now 4th period and things were still great. At lest he could do other things now besides fix Buffy's windows all the time. The First had showed up again to torment Buffy. Nothing big or anything. Just trying to make her lose her game. But it didn't work. Buffy was the chosen one and was stronger.

Sunnydale high was in need of teachers...and badly. Xander put in word for Willow and Kennedy. He guessed that the two previous teachers, that were now "missing", were among the living undead...if you know what I mean. There were a lot of vampire attacks but the number that Buffy dusted now was low. But Buffy just reported last night that some mystery person was in Sunnydale helping.

Things were just weirder. Xander liked teaching. And his students weren't that bad. That Faith was pretty smart. She's good with the technical stuff. Xander went ahead and put her on the car, fixing it up. He could see so much potential in her. She just...seemed different then the other students.

Buffy sighed as she looked through her papers in her folder. She couldn't believe that she got dragged into doing the musical. And now she had to show up after school for the read through. She met with Ms. Calendar in the morning briefly to get the cast list. She still couldn't believe she was doing it.

Faith twirled her pen in her hand as she looked at Buffy. She just didn't understand the teacher...if you could call her that. Faith couldn't help but be attracted to her. She still couldn't believe that she was a slayer...of all people.

Faith got a tingling sensation whenever she was around the blonde. But she just ignored it. Buffy looked up and caught Faith staring at her and Faith immediately looked down. She felt a little stupid for it was obvious that she was starring at her.

Buffy lifted her eyebrows in confusion. Why was Faith staring at her? Buffy shook her head and ignored it for the moment. She had a lot of work to do and not that much time to do it in. Buffy looked at Faith one last time before going back to her work.

Faith had this period and next period before her day was over and she had to go down to the theater. Faith was a little nervous about the whole thing. And she swore that if another stupid person was going to stare at her today she was going to scream. What the hell was with people? She wasn't some super star.

She had people looking at her wherever she went. Cordelia walked into creative writing and spotted Faith. Faith smiled and Cordy made her way over and sat down next to her at her table.

"Hey." Greeted Cordelia setting down her stuff.

"What's up Queen C?" Faith asked giving her her attention. Cordelia smiled.

"Nothing much...we are already getting the evil stare from Mr. Kerwin," Cordelia indicated tilting her head towards the teacher who was glaring at then. Faith snorted and shook her head getting her journal for class out.

Different grade levels took creative writing. Faith liked it. It was one of her favorite classes. Faith noticed that Cordelia was sitting closer to her than usual. They spent the first ten minutes of class like this everyday in creative writing. They had to get their journals out and journal on the topic on the board till time was up.

Faith lightly felt Cordelia's leg pressed up against her own. Now she knew that Cordelia had plenty of room next to her. She lifted an eyebrow but didn't dare look at Cordelia. What was she doing?

Faith lightly wrapped her leg around Cordelia's wondering what she would do. Besides she could play it off if Cordy freaked out. But she didn't. If anything she pressed more into her. Faith just left it at that a little confused.

Cordelia couldn't believe she was doing this. But she couldn't help it. She just had to be near her. And she touched her back. Cordelia didn't know...all she knew was that she was having this feeling for Faith and had to do something. Cordelia finished journaling and passed Faith a little note.

Faith opened it:

'What are you doing after school? Want to go to the bronze?' it read. Faith wrote down a reply and passed it back to Cordelia.

Cordelia opened it:

'I'd love to but I have to go to rehearsal after school. Then I promised Dawn I would go stay the night at her house. Want to do it tomorrow?' Faith asked. Cordelia smiled. She would do anything. Cordelia wrote a reply saying she would.

Faith came into wood shop class with a somber look on her face. She was thinking about everything. It was just one of those days. Things with Cordy were different which was ok but...then there was Buffy and the musical. Xander noticed the brunette's expression.

"What's up Faith?" Xander asked wiping his oiled hands off.

"Hey X-man. Nothing really." Faith sighed sitting up on a table. She shook her head and Xander gave her a look.

"I'm cool. I can hold my own." Faith said looking at Xander. Xander threw his rag on a desk and sat next to Faith.

"Guy problems?" He asked. Faith laughed.

"Not exactly," she replied. Xander wrinkled his forehead in thought.

Buffy put all her stuff away and headed down to the theater ready to deal with this whole musical thing. Buffy had talked with Dawn and told her to go ahead and head home with out her. Faith was to be there later anyway. Buffy ran into Faith as she opened the door to the theater.

"Faith! What are you doing here?" Buffy asked surprised. Faith looked at her like she was stupid.

"I'm helping do the musical. It was part of my punishment," Faith answered. She wanted to get away from Buffy and get what she had to grab. Buffy made her feel weird. Faith always felt her chest tighten and breathe hitch whenever the blonde was around. She felt her heart race and it kind of freaked her out. Faith tried to get around Buffy. Buffy noticed something was up.

"Faith are you ok?" She asked. Faith looked up at her puzzled. Why did she care? No one really ever cared about her...except for her uncle...and maybe Cordelia...ugh. Faith wished there was an off button to her thoughts.

"No I'm five by five," Faith replied squeezing past Buffy and running down the hall. She had to go get her script she left in the creative writing room before Mr. Kerwin left. Buffy just sighed and entered the theater not understanding Faith's change in attitude.

Faith walked into Mr. Kerwin's room knocking on the door as she entered. "Aw, Miss Virtue. Do come in," the plump little teacher answered. Faith smiled. She liked the old teacher. He could be uptight at times but he was a good man with a good heart.

"Did I leave my script in here?" Faith asked politely as she walked into the classroom.

"Why yes," Mr. Kerwin replied reaching in his desk and pulling out her script. He handed it to her and smiled. "I think it is great that you are doing the musical," the teacher stated smiling. Faith just smiled not knowing what to say. Faith said thank you and started to leave.

"Oh and Faith?" Mr. Kerwin called.

"Yes," Faith replied turning around.

"I really liked your poem you wrote, Night Girl, by the way," the teacher told her. Faith smiled. She wrote that about Buffy.

The read through went quite well. Faith had to be the technical director for the show. Which wasn't bad at all. She had to do set construction and lighting as well as other technical things...hence the technical director part.

Buffy had to help Ms. Calendar with artistic directing and was in charge of costuming. The kids that read the parts today were alright. They were going to start blocking the show next week while Faith worked on set construction. She would have to design the set and she had to meet with Ms. Calendar about that on what she would want to do.

Faith actually was starting to look foreword to it. It seemed cool. As long as she was behind the stage, she didn't mind. She had to laugh a few times at Buffy's facial expressions of utter confusion on what was going on. After the practice, Buffy went ahead and offered to take Faith over to the house. It would have been silly if she didn't. Faith was about to refuse, but then didn’t see the point in it, and that it would be stupid of her to turn her down. A car ride wouldn’t kill her.

Faith was quite during the car ride to the Summer's. Buffy enjoyed Faith's company. Faith decided that she wasn't going to patrol tonight, since she was going to be at the Summer's. Buffy would probably do it anyway. No need to complicate things. Faith rarely slept but there were a few times were she would get very tired from the lack of it. And now seemed to be one of those times.

Buffy kept giving Faith side-glances as she looked out the window. Buffy still didn't get what drew her to the brunette. Buffy and Faith made it to the Summers in good time and went into the house.

"I like your house," Faith commented as she walked in. Buffy smiled.

"Thank you," Buffy replied going to the bottom of the stairs. "Dawn, Faith is here!"

"Ok, I'll be a second," Dawn called back down. Faith had walked over where the photos of the family were. She looked at younger pictures of Dawn and Buffy together smiling. She also noticed a picture with Mrs. Summers, Buffy and Dawn all smiling in a park. Faith touched it and looked sad. She always wanted love and care...she wanted a family...Faith shook her head and withdrew her hand, feeling a little stupid.

Buffy was watching her this whole time with interest. Faith had looked so sad, lonely and hurt. What could have caused that? But as quickly as it came it went.

The night was fun for Faith. She was glad she came. Her and Dawn just hung out mostly watching TV. Faith heard Buffy leave when it got dark. Now she was in Dawns bedroom sitting in the window looking out. Dawn had fallen asleep a long time ago.

Faith was sleeping on the floor so Dawn didn't notice her movements. She convinced Dawn to let her sleep on the floor. Faith said she liked hard surfaces. Well she was used to them. It was nice to be in a nice warm clean bed now. Faith just sat there in the window way watching the night. She hoped Buffy was all right. But with her being a slayer, she was sure she was ok. Faith suddenly became very tired. She was just going to rest her eyes, so she laid down on the floor. But sleep soon over came her.

Buffy kept her eyes and ears open for the mystery person from the previous night. But she never saw them all night. There were a few vampires but other then that, no excitement. Buffy just sat on top of a grave and swung her feet thinking. She really hopped she could do this whole musical thing. She still couldn't believe she was doing this.

Well, it was time to head back. Buffy hopped off the tombstone and headed in for the night. She didn't run into anyone on the way back. She quietly eased herself in the house and closed the door. Dawn was a heavy sleeper. The girl could sleep through a heavy metal rock concert. But she wasn't sure about Faith.

Buffy made her way up stairs and walked by Dawns door. Buffy stopped dead in the hall. Did she just hear crying? Buffy walked over to Dawns door and creaked it open. Dawn was peacefully asleep but as Buffy stepped further into the room, she noticed Faith, who was on the floor, was huddled in a ball, rocking back and forth, crying. The sight disturbed Buffy. To see a strong teenager cry like that.

Faith had another nightmare. She didn't mean to fall asleep. I guess all those nights of not sleeping caught up to her. In her dream she relived every bad thing. She watched and held Virtue as he took his last breath, watched her mother being killed, being alone, being beaten, being tortured...everything that Faith hid and pushed away came alive in her dreams.

Faith didn't realize she was crying till she woke. Thank God Dawn was a heavy sleeper. But Faith could hardly form a thought. All that kept running through her mind were all those bad things and memories and how badly she missed Virtue and how lonely she was. Faith didn't even try to stop them as the tears flowed freely down her face.

Faith drew her knees to her chest and wept. She hadn't cried in a long time. She promised herself she wouldn't...since Virtue died. She wished once...for once in her whole god damned miserable life...that she'd be happy. Just once...even if it was for a second. Faith didn't even notice that she was rocking herself. Faith heard a creak at the door but didn't look up. She knew who it was. She could feel her.

Buffy went over to Faith's side. "Faith? Faith, what's wrong?" Buffy asked placing her hand over the brunettes arm as Faith turned her face away from her. Faith just desperately needed someone....anyone, and the way Buffy made her feel every time she was around made her comfortable with her a bit.

Buffy's heart ached for the girl. What was wrong? Faith couldn't stop crying. All the pain was unbearable. Faith wrapped her arms around Buffy in a tight hug. Buffy knew Faith was suffering...but from what? Buffy saw Dawn move on her bed and didn't want to wake her. Buffy lifted Faith into her lap and carried her out into the hall. Faith was starting to quite down as she buried her head in Buffy's neck crying softly.

Buffy carefully shut Dawns door and headed for her own room. She laid Faith down on her bed. Faith turned away from her ashamed to be crying. She started to wipe violently at the tears on her face. Buffy sat beside her.

"Faith?" she merely said. Faith looked up at her with teary eyes.

"Buffy..." Faith choked out. All Buffy saw was pain in the girl's eyes. Faith felt weak...tired. Buffy rubbed her back trying to calm the girl. Buffy was so worn out. Faith looked up at Buffy with pleading eyes.

"Buffy?" Faith asked hesitating, "Hold me?" Buffy stared at the teenager before her. In that moment, something changed. Buffy didn't know what is was but something was different. Buffy nodded her head yes and lay next to Faith. Faith laid down as well and Buffy wrapped her arms around Faith comforting her. Faith could feel Buffy's breath on her neck. Faith closed her eyes as she started to feel safe.

Faith had never felt like this before. No one had ever had this effect on her. But the brunette was too tired to care.

Buffy liked the way Faith fit with her. Both girls soon fell asleep with lingering thoughts in their heads.