Shakespearean Love
by ForeverFaith
Rating: R
Author’s Notes: Ok, so I saw this movie last night and it lit up some inspiration in the fanfic department. The story takes place in an AU. Different world, but same basic character traits. Everyone’s just a normal person, where demons and vampires are just something you watch on tv. Willow narrates, but I didn't know how to put her words in bold so...yeah her words are supposed to be in bold:). Enjoy…hopefully.
Tuesday, February 6, 2001
Have you ever just stopped and studied yourself in the mirror? Well, if you say no then I’ll just call you a liar. Truth is everyone has. You catch your eye in the mirror and then it becomes…addicting. It can be all consuming; dark and dangerous if you’re left alone with your thoughts and a reflection. Time seems to stop as you study and analyze and condemn who you are and what has come to be. It’s as if the exterior world dissolves into muddles shapes and distant sizes, while all the while your self-image comes into sharp focus and you start to see who you think you really are. Your cold eyes stare back at you, mocking you, laughing at you like some twisted plot line in some ironic dark comedy…or maybe just a drama. Dark scenes in which the inner workings of your mind take unwilling form even as you ponder the condition of your sanity. The mirror…a twisted plot-line introduced in a dark scene of an unfolding tale about one’s sanity…about life…about love. I guess this take can easiy be compared to one of Shakespeare’s numbers. A tale rooted in the depths of love and tragic endeavors. A tale that has provided me with many sleepless nights and haunted days…a tale I can’t forget, but am willing to share.
“Ok, now call if you need anything. I left the cell phone number in your bag.”
Willow Rosenberg smiled at her father’s attempt for emotion. That’s all she did, smiled, and nodded at his feign concern while slinging the last of her bags over her shoulder.
“Tom, the girl’s fine. She’s in college for Christ sakes. Now can we please just leave? I can practically feel the dirt starting to set in my hair around this place.”
Willow’s smile faltered at her step-mother’s words.
“I-it’s ok dad. I better go up there before they give my room away” she half-heartedly joked. Before she could get a hug goodbye, her stepmother yanked at her father’s arm and dragged them both away from the building that had been standing in front of. Her stepmother spoke to her father and her last words weren’t lost on Willow’s ears.
“We’re finally rid of her, and it only took eleven years. Well I say good-ridden.”
The redhead stood and looked after the retreating backs of her parents with a hurt expression before adjusting the bag on her shoulder and walking into the building that she would now be calling home.
“Hi! Are you a new resident here?”
Willow turned her head at the petite woman who had called out to her as she exited the elevator. Adjusting the heavy bag on her shoulder for not the first time, she replied.
“Uh, yeah. I just transferred here.”
“Oh really? From where?” The blonde smiled at her.
“Western JC.”
Willow dropped her head and avoided eye contact after her last statement, suddenly finding it much more interesting to fiddle with the strap of her bag. The blonde smiled warmly at the redhead’s demeanor.
“I hear that’s one of the best JC’s around. You should be proud.”
Willow looked up, a bit surprised at the hidden compliment and comfort. Upon her silence, the blonde continued.
“So what room are you in?”
“Um…410…I think.”
The blonde’s face lit up with enthusiasm and suddenly she was a whirl-wind of conversation.
“So you’re Willow! Finally we meet. I’m Buffy, Buffy Summers, I’m one of your roommates. I noticed you already got most of your stuff in there. Be lucky you didn’t have to move everything in at the beginning of the semester, now that is insanity.”
“Yeah, well better late than never” Willow replied with a light smile. The blonde laughed.
“Right. God, I’m so happy we finally replaced our old roommate. Bitch from hell does not even come close to describing her. Finally I just had to kick her out.”
“You…had to kick her out?” Willow looked at Buffy a bit confused.
“Oh, yeah. See I’m the residential advisor for this floor, so I guess it was my sworn duty or something.” The blonde joked.
“But I thought the RA’s lived in a single room?”
"Well, usually they do but I really wouldn’t have been comfortable in a single room. I have this thing…being alone for too long kinda freaks me out. So, I cut some deals with the housing office and they let me in on a triple."
Willow shook her head in understanding. After a moment’s pause, Buffy took the blonde’s hand and started leading her down the hall.
“C’mon, let’s get you all settled in.”
Willow plopped her heavy bag on the floor before going over to her bed and falling onto the cushions. The blonde chuckled from the other side of the room.
“Tired?”
“You have no idea.”
The redhead lifted herself up on her elbows and studied the remaining bed.
“Who’s is that?” she asked, nodding her head toward the bed.
“Oh…” Buffy smiled warmly while looking at the bed, “that’s Faith’s side of the room. I’m sure you’ll be meeting her soon.”
Willow absent-mindedly nodded, not noticing the blonde getting up from her bed until she spoke.
“Ok, so, you’re good right? I have to go down the hall and set up the room for the floor meeting tonight.”
“Yeah, I’m good. I think I’ll just rest awhile.”
“Ok cool.” Buffy started to leave the room. She opened the door halfway before turning back to Willow and calling over her shoulder, “Don’t forget floor meeting’s at 7:30!”
"Oh, Buffy where’s the—"
Willow heard the sound of the door slamming before she could get her sentence out. Well fine, she’d finish it anyway.
“bathroom…”
Willow had gone in search of the bathroom not too long after Buffy had left to go prep for the party. Exiting the stall, she went to the sink and started washing her hands when a loud clatter was set off at the far end of the bathroom. The redhead jumped and splattered water over her t-shirt. A bit panicked, she looked over and up at what sounded like a stall door being kicked in. She squinted her eyes and registered that a small cigarette butt had just been flicked to the ground. Trailing her eyes down the stall, she noticed a pair of black-buckle boots covered with navy blue tailored pants. The boots began to move and Willow raised her eyes to greet a dark beauty with a look of total concentration on her face as she stepped out of the stall while tilting her head and lighting another cigarette.
Willow studied the girl, momentarily fascinated by her mystery. The woman wore her dark navy pants extremely low and a bit baggy, fastened to her skin with a standard black belt. Her tight black shirt bore what looked to be a self-induced rip down the middle of the chest, creating a “v”-like illusion, allowing a peek at what men and sometimes even women wished that had for just one night. Her hair was long, dark and slightly wavy; the kind of hair women gossip over and prattle to their hairdressers about.
As she finished lighting her cigarette, the girl lifted her head up and took a long drag with the same look of concentration as before. Dropping the lighter back into her deep pockets, she took the cigarette from her mouth and exhaled slowly, dropping her head down and looking straight at Willow with a feral grin. The redhead blinked madly, taken aback by the sheer confidence radiating from the woman.
The girl nodded her head at Willow and spoke.
“Fresh fish.”
“Pardon me?”
The woman chuckled and took a few steps closer to the redhead, tapping at her cigarette so some of the ash flew silently on the tiled floor.
“Prim and proper too, I like that.”
Willow looked around as if she was searching for someone else in the room, someone that might divert the attention she was not getting. She was never good under scrutiny.
“So you’re B and I’s new roomie huh?”
The woman stepped closer still, looking the redhead up and down. Willow crossed one arm over her chest and held it in place with the other.
“How’d you know?”
Faith smirked.
“New face, good guess” she shrugged.
“Oh…so you’re Faith?”
“Give the girl a prize. So what was your name again? I always sucked at keepin track of every name that crossed my path.”
“W-willow…but most people call me Red.”
Faith nodded, once more tapping lightly at her cigarette before taking another short drag and exhaling quickly.
“Got a last name?”
“Rosenberg.”
“Huh…Red Rosenberg…” Faith grinned. “It’s got a sort of fairytale ring to it. I like it.”
The dark beauty held out her cigarette to Willow, who in turn shook her head furiously. Faith laughed.
“Jeez, ok, so you’re a non-smoker. Guess I could live with that.”
The raven-haired woman took yet another drag from her cig while studying the redhead closely.
“You don’t talk much do you?”
"I do it’s just I’m—"
“Nervous?”
Willow nodded.
“That’s understandable. You are the newbie of the floor and all. But don’t worry.”
She slinked an arm around Willow’s shoulders and gave her a friendly squeeze.
“B and I’ll take you under our wings.”
Willow smiled at her new roommate, this highly confident and mysterious woman who seemingly was offering a friendly hand.
“Now!”
The brunette said loudly, making Willow jump a bit.
Faith threw her cigarette to the ground and pulled a flask from one of her pants's pockets, shaking it in front of Willow’s face.
“Let’s get the meeting started.”
“You’re going to spike the punch at a floor meeting?!”
“Yeah, why not? What better way to all get re-aquatinted after the fall semester?”
She slapped Willow on the back and started for the door. Faith stopped when she realized that no one was following and turned her head back around.
“You comin?”
“I…” Willow hesitated and Faith grinned yet again, turning to fully face her roommate.
“Live hard Red Rosenberg…live hard!”
She waved the flask in front of Willow’s face...
I don’t know what it was about her, but something told me to follow. I guess the extreme amount of confidence practically dripping from Faith was enough to rub off on me. Or maybe it was the way she smiled, like she didn’t care what anybody thought and she was having the time of her life because of it. All I know is that I made a choice that evening. When I took my first steps towards her, I made a choice to walk into her world. I’m still not sure if it was a blessing to have been invited into her life, to be given the chance to know her…or a curse.
I had fun. I’ve said that before, but this time it sounds different coming from my own mouth; it feels different. It’s like…. it’s like being asked if you’ve ever…well…experienced true "pleasure" and responding with an "of course I have", convincing yourself that that’s the way it’s supposed to feel. But when you actually DO experience that moment of ecstasy, it’s like every time before that was a lie, and you don’t know what made you believe that the moment was supposed to feel like anything less…it’s the same thing with fun. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I belonged…
Faith shoved a full glass of punch at Willow, spilling a little over the redhead’s hands and then laughing at what she had just done. Willow laughed in turn, taking the punch while she continued to dance in the middle of the room. Faith had dragged her to the dance floor earlier in the evening, insisting that only…how did she put it…"pussy-whipped cowards" hung out in the corners and off to the sides. After the second or so song, and as many glasses of "harmless punch", Willow was out there with the rest of the floor’s occupants, being whirled around by Faith before the raven-haired beauty got distracted by the blonde that had decided to join the fun.
She let go of Willow and ran at Buffy, scooping her up in her arms and twirling her around. The blonde bent her head back and laughed wholeheartedly, slapping Faith on the arm before the dark girl put her down and grabbed her around the waist, smiling warmly.
Willow took a long drink from her glass before glancing at the two girls. She didn’t mean to, but something about them made her do a double take. She slowly stopped dancing, her smile falling slowly into that of curiosity as she panted and lowered her drink. The music seemed to fall away and the room’s occupants seemed to blur into one as she studied them. She guessed it was the same for the girls. They looked as if they were in a world of their own.
It wasn’t that the two girls were doing anything obscene, or even remotely worth doing a double take over, but to Willow, something seemed to spark between them. Then again the redhead was always keen on her surroundings, and her stepmother once said that she was "too observant for anyone’s good".
So it was no surprise that Willow caught the look the two shared before Buffy whispered in Faith’s ear and ran off to attend to someone who had obviously had too much "fun punch". Faith stood there for a second, rubbing her palms on her pants slowly as she watched the blonde retreat. Her goofy smile soon fell into her usual smirk as she turned around.
Willow caught Faith’s eye, and she looked away embarrassed, slightly ashamed at being caught staring. When she looked back up, Faith was still grinning at her. The dark woman merely winked, and her smile grew that much brighter while the redhead noticed the glimmer in her eyes. Without a word, Faith turned and made her way over to the pizza, leaving Willow to look back between Buffy and Faith a few times before being pulled away by a new friend in order to dance once more.
The three girls made their way back into the room after the meeting was cleaned up and the last few residents were taken safely back to their rooms. Faith opened the door and sauntered into the room.
"Now that’s what I call a meeting. You should plan one…well every night B" Faith laughed, not stopping as she took off her shirt and made her way over to her dresser.
"Yeah, that’d be fun! Then I could get FIRED and you’d never see me again! Let’s do it."
Buffy made her own way to her dresser drawer and started changing while Willow followed suit.
"Aw, now I wouldn’t want that. Would you Rosenberg?"
Willow chuckled as she slid on her pajama pants.
"Well I don’t know, depends if we get perks for being the RA’s roommates."
"Hey, now you’re capitalizing on my residential status? That’s it, I’m moving out."
Faith turned around as she fiddled with her nightshirt, trying to get it so the shirt wasn’t put on inside out.
"Shit, now look what you did Red! We won’t get free cable anymore!"
Willow laughed as she noticed Buffy’s pout. Apparently the pout didn’t go unnoticed by Faith either for the next thing anyone knew, a pillow had been thrown at Buffy’s head, leaving the girl’s hair disheveled and staticky. Buffy didn’t move, but merely blinked.
"You SO did not just do that."
"Oh I think I ‘SO’ just did."
Buffy, clad in her panties and nightshirt, dropped her pajama pants and made her way straight for Faith. The dark-haired girl dropped the shirt she had been fiddling with and turned herself towards the oncoming petite, who didn’t stop running until she was grabbed around the waist and roughly flipped over onto Faith’s bed. The blonde squealed as Faith began relentlessly tickling her.
"When are you gonna learn you can’t beat me?" Faith laughed.
Willow, in the meantime, had her back facing the two and chuckled as she heard what was going on. She finished putting on her nightshirt and lifted her arms in order to flip her hair out from under the collar. When she turned back around, she found Faith laying her full weight on Buffy, their faces inches apart as the tickling slowed down. The laughter and smiles were gone, and in their place remained soft looks and glittering eyes as they gazed at one another.
Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, Willow cleared her throat loudly and sat on her bed. The two girls blinked simultaneously, being torn from their trance and Faith slowly got off the blonde and finished changing. Buffy made her way back over to her side of the room, slipping on her pants and taking a seat on her bed. Willow noticed the slight flush on her face, but chose not to say anything at the moment…..
I knew what was going on. Heck, I’d be mighty ignorant and unobservant if I didn’t catch it, because to me it was as plain as day. I can’t lie and say it didn’t make me a little uncomfortable. I mean all my life that was something that was never discussed in my family. It was always kept an arm’s length away and here I was living with it. The only recognition the subject ever even had gotten was from the snide remarks of my stepmother and father from time to time, so it was safe to say I grew up in a "non-open-minded" surrounding. Still, I didn’t say anything because it wouldn’t have been right. I just shook it off. Besides, it’s not like they had ever kissed….
The three girls had managed to change and get settled in their respective positions. Willow sat on her bed, a pillow on her lap and a stuffed animal on top of that, while Buffy sat on the floor leaning her back against Faith’s bed. Faith was sprawled out on the edge of her bed, leaning her head on her elbow and occasionally flicking the back of Buffy’s head, which earned numerous smacks and pouts, but that was the reaction Faith had been hoping for anyway.
"So Willow, what classes are you taking this semester?"
"Um, let’s see…..I have a computer class in the mornings. The anthropology of religion and witchcraft Tuesdays and Thursdays, math, chemistry and then English 205 on Wednesdays."
"Calendar?"
"What?"
Willow looked at Faith confused.
"Do you got Ms. Calendar for English?"
"Oh, yeah I think so."
"Sweet, we’ll be seein you in class then."
Faith turned and laid on her back, grabbing a tennis ball from the other end of her bed and throwing it up in the air, playing catch with herself.
"Wicked cool lady ya know? Doesn’t bother me that she’s a dyke."
"Faith!"
"What B? Just lettin Red in on faculty dirt."
"Still, do you think you could be a little more vulgar?" Buffy answered sarcastically.
"Depends. Am I getting paid for it?" Faith grinned and flicked Buffy on the back of the head again. Buffy swatted aimlessly at the back of her head while looking at Willow. She spoke hesitantly.
"Does that kind of thing bother you?"
Willow shifted uncomfortably on her bed, not knowing precisely how to answer.
"N-no, I guess not. I mean my parents aren’t real open about it…at all,"
Buffy herself shifted on the floor.
"But I don’t care one way or another" the redhead fibbed, just a little.
Faith threw the ball to the floor and turned on her side again.
"Yeah well, Calendar’s got a crush on good ol Buffy here."
"Shut up!"
"Well I mean who can blame her?" Faith took Buffy’s chin in one of her hands. "You’re just too damn gorgeous."
Buffy laughed and pulled her head away, grabbing a pillow and smacking Faith’s stomach. The dark-haired girl rolled off the edge of her bed quickly, falling on top of Buffy who screamed and tried pushing her off.
Willow looked on, as she always did, but this time genuinely smiled at the playfulness between the two.
Night had fallen upon the campus and the wind blew lightly through the half-open window. The breeze was warm and comforting, but nevertheless managed to stir Willow from her sleep. She moaned lightly, a tired moan that protested the wind’s persistence to rouse her from her slumber. Yawning, she turned over in her bed and faced the open room. She blinked, and opened her eyes for a few seconds.
Willow slowly raised up to her elbows and furrowed her brow as she noticed the absence of her two roommates. Slowly, she got up out of her bed and wandered over to the window. Pulling the drapes aside, she looked up at the full moon, casting a pale white glow over the sky. She studied its magnificence, marveling at something so far away, yet so close as to light up half the world in the presence of darkness.
She tore her gaze away from the moon when she heard a snapping of what sounded like a branch being stepped on. Looking down, she noticed Buffy and Faith not too far from the building.
Faith seemed to be making a "shushing" sound while the blonde bent over and laughed, her hands holding onto Faith’s arms which were holding onto her waist, all the while Faith herself laughing.
Buffy straightened her body and the two girls looked at each other, their smiles turning into a look of want, as the blonde was being backed against the tree by Faith.
Willow looked on with anticipation as Faith slowly leaned into the blonde and their lips met softly. The redhead could see their bodies responding to one another’s. One of Buffy’s legs lifted into the air and Faith grabbed a hold of it, bringing Buffy closer as they deepened the kiss. The blonde’s arms snaked around Faith’s neck and her hands into Faith’s hair as they continued to share one of the most passionate kisses Willow had ever seen….
I feel ashamed saying it, still to this day, but my body had reacted to what I was witnessing. I won’t describe what I was feeling because like I said, I kind of feel ashamed, as horrible as that may sound, but I will say that I wasn’t disgusted like I should have been. It’s not that I was shocked at what they were doing, because I had seen it coming from 100 miles away…it was just that…it was weird to see my suspicions confirmed. I had closed the curtains and gone back to bed that night, fearing that I wouldn’t be able to handle what might have gone on between them. After all, I’m not a nosy person and I pride myself in the discipline I have in order to say "no" to my curiosity…but that still doesn’t mean I didn’t have trouble falling back to sleep….
Light streamed in through the window, illuminating the room with a powerful glow. The three girls slept soundly in their respective beds, not hearing the door opening until it was too late. The door burst open loudly and a girl about two years younger than the occupants ran into the room.
"TIME TO WAKE! GET UP GET UP GET UP!!"
The girl jumped onto Buffy’s bed, sitting on her legs and slapping the girl’s side.
Willow awoke, startled at being yelled at so early in the morning and by a total stranger.
After Faith’s initial shock, she collapsed back into her bed, but not before swearing something awful. Buffy arose with a start, finally noticing the girl and shoving her off the bed angrily.
"DAMN IT DAWN!! How many god-damn times do I have to say to NOT DO THAT ANYMORE."
The blonde rubbed her forehead and squinted her eyes at the light irritably.
"Like I ever listen to you? ‘Side’s, it’s like, 8 in the morning. You all are a bunch of lazy-asses."
"At least I’m not a bruised ass unlike someone’s gonna be if you don’t get your annoying ass out of the room" Faith snarled from the bed.
Dawn shook her off and continued talking.
"Buffy! C’mon. WAKE UP!"
"Who is this?!"
Willow finally let her frustration shine. The girl, who’s name appeared to be Dawn, looked at her startled and immediately bore an apologetic face. Buffy sighed and threw her covers off of her body.
"I’m sorry Willow. This is my EXTREMELY frustrating sister, Dawn. She’s two years below us and lives in the building right across from ours. My biggest mistake ever was giving her a key to the room. In fact,"
Buffy turned to her sister, "Give me back the key to the room!"
She held out her hand and glared at her sister.
"Pfft, no way."
Dawn turned and addressed Willow.
"Hey! Look I’m sorry I burst in. I didn’t know they had replaced Kat. Oh, and don’t listen to the shit these two might talk about me. I’m really a saint."
Dawn finished with a smile. Faith sat upright in her bed and dragged a hand through her hair.
"GET. OUT!"
"Whatever. Look Buffy, it’s not my fault you’re gonna be late for dining hall and all the food’ll be gone."
With that Dawn turned and huffed out of the room.
"I swear to fuckin God I’m gonna kill her one of these days B!!"
"Huh, not if I don’t get to her first."
"Nice sister" Willow spoke sarcastically, draping an arm over her eyes to ward off the infiltrating sunlight.
"Yeah, real nice. You want her?"
"Not a chance in—"
"Tell me you’re gonna swear Red! That’ll just make my week!"
The three girls laughed lightly. Buffy and Faith feel back onto their beds, choosing to grab another hour of sleep while Willow laid there in light thought.
I can tell you that I’ve had more pleasant awakenings, but I managed to acquire a little more knowledge about my fellow roommate. I was, in fact, surprised to learn that Buffy had a sister attending the same college, who apparently got the better of both Buffy and Faith. I wondered if the girl knew about her sister and Faith. I wondered if Buffy had told her or if Faith had acted as she did last night around Dawn. I wondered if they knew I knew about them. Heck…I just laid there and wondered about how I was going to look both of them in the eye once we all woke up.
Official Announcement: Ok, I'm just gonna announce this real quick cuz I've gotten so many questions about it. To all those who are wondering, have asked or already know, the answer is "yes", this story is a take on the kick-ass movie 'Lost and Delirious'. In no way am I claiming this story idea to be my own. The story does follow the basic plot of the movie, but I haven't done a word-for-word take on it cuz that'd be dumb. I've put a little bit of my own twist on it and the ending WILL be different than the movie. Ok, back to our regularly scheduled fic.
I had never been one for the English language. You could ask my only friend from back home or maybe my real mother, if she wasn’t dead, that the only relationship I had ever shared with words was for the mere sake of communication. I had always been a computer and science type of gal myself. It’s not that I took our language for granted…it’s just that I had never recognized its equally complicated and simplistic nature until I had taken Ms. Calendar’s course in English Lit. I remember sitting in class and asking myself how I ever had gotten so far in life with so little a grasp on words…I guess you could say that it “pleasantly baffled” me. It’s only now in my life that I’ve learned to take pride in the knowledge I had acquired from the course. I’m sure my expanded vocabulary hasn’t gone unnoticed by you, and I thank Ms. Calendar for that, as I’m sure Faith would have thanked her if she hadn’t of been so stubborn. I never would have guessed it, but Faith had a very high admiration for English, particularly poetry. One look at her and you would probably say I was full of it, but sitting in that class it was obvious. She sat on my right, trying her hardest not to silently lip-read the words that were being spoken by Ms. Calendar. Buffy sat on my left trying her hardest not to stare at Faith while I sat in-between them trying my hardest not to notice Faith’s hidden enthusiasm and Buffy’s hidden desire while beautiful words leaked from Ms. Calendar’s lips….
“In Donne’s poems, metaphysical quandaries are addressed, but never resolved….”
Buffy’s pencil suddenly rolled onto the floor, dropping to the ground and Willow bent over to pick it up. She handed it to Buffy, who smiled at her before her gaze traveled passed Willow to steel a quick glance at Faith. The redhead shook her head and turned back to her poetry book, finding it not surprising that Buffy probably knocked her pencil off the table just be able to get a look at the object of her affection while Ms. Calendar continued with the lesson.
“…O God, Oh! Of thine onely worthy blood, and my tears, make a heavenly Lethean flood, and drown in it my sin’s black memory…”
Faith’s lips silently formed the spoken words, her eyes closed while the faintest of smile’s tickled the corners of her mouth.
“…that thou remember them, some claim as debt, I think it mercy, if thou wilt forget.”
Willow leaned over and whispered into Buffy’s ear.
“I never would have guessed that Faith would be so into this kinda stuff.”
The blonde leaned back a bit in order to look at Faith who was still moving her lips. She leaned back into Willow and whispered back.
"I know. She’d soon rather wear pink than admit to ever liking it. Truth is she says it’s in her blood. Somehow she can relate to a sonnet’s complexity or something, but she’s too much in love with her bad-girl image to ever start speaking correctly. I think it’s cu---"
“Ms. Summers.”
Faith’s trance was broken as she looked up and over. Buffy quickly pulled away from Willow, who blushed lightly, and folded her hands on top of the poetry book.
“Uh, Yes Professor Calendar?”
“Are you finding my class dull?”
"What? No, why would you think tha—"
“Because if you’d much rather take modern speech for dummies, I’m sure I could find an add slip around here somewhere.”
Ok now that was harsh. I felt so bad for Buffy. After all, I had started talking to her first. It’s always remained a mystery to me why teachers rag on the one who didn’t do anything…
Chuckles and snickers could be heard from some of the students, while Faith narrowed her eyes at the woman.
“Ms. Calendar…”
“Why don’t you recite the next poem.”
Buffy’s face transformed into that of light panic. She looked down at her book and paused.
“We’re on page 52, Ms. Summers.”
With an apologetic smile, Buffy slowly turned to the correct page and cleared her throat lightly before she began to read.
"This is my play’s last scene, here heavens appoint—"
“No, no. Buffy, you’re not reading the sports page. This poem, these words are meant to be bold…they are a force within themselves, meant to induce feeling and contemplation. It’s very simple really. Now…try again.”
Buffy took a deep breath and nodded slightly. She spoke again, but this time putting effort, emotion, and heart into her tone.
“This is my play’s last scene, here heavens appoint
My pilgrimage’s last mile; and my race
Idly, yet quickly run, hath this last pace,
My spans last inch, my minutes last point,
And gluttonous death will instantly unjoynt
My body, and soul.”
After a moment’s pause Buffy looked up. Ms. Calendar smiled, nodding her head briefly.
“Very good. Now, what propels this poem?”
“I…huh?” Buffy was at a loss. Maybe she really did need to start paying more attention.
“Good guess, but no. Let’s try again. What is the principal poetic device of the poem?”
“I-I don’t…”
“Let me guess, you don’t know?”
Buffy’s face fell. She bit her lip as she tried not to let emotion take her over.
“If you don’t want to start crying, I suggest you pay a little more attention in my class. Third time’s a charm…what’s the animated force of the sonnet?”
“Jesus H. Christ, it’s fear laced with peaceful acceptance ok? Now back up off of her!!”
“Excuse me Faith, but I don’t believe you were being addressed at any point of this conversation.”
“Conversation? That’s funny cuz from this angle it just looked like you were being a one-sided bitch.”
A soft gasp was heard at the other end of the room. Willow shifted uncomfortably in her seat, a gesture that was becoming somewhat of her trademark.
“Faith, don’t.”
“No, B, she’s got no right to treat you like that. I mean it’s not your fault that she can’t teach worth shit.”
"Faith, that’s enough!! I don’t know what’s gotten into you today, but you’d better stop before—"
“Before what, you grow a pair?”
“That’s it. Get out my class room and march your smart ass straight to Wilkins’s office.”
“Lady, this aint high school.”
“Yes, you’re absolutely right, this is not high school, but if you insist on acting like a high school student then you will be treated as such. Now go see the Dean.”
Faith’s lips upturned into a snarl. She leaned over to Willow.
“Don’t forget to take notes for me.”
She smirked at Willow and patted her back once before throwing a look at Buffy. The two girls looked at each other before Faith knocked her chair over as she stood up, slamming her book shut. She stared Ms. Calendar in the eyes, licking her lips and speaking seductively.
“And as for you? Don’t forget to miss me.”
And with that the brunette sauntered out of the room with its professor looking after her.
Faith looked around the office casually. It wasn’t the first time she was ever sent there, and she guessed it wouldn’t be the last. She smiled to herself as she once again noticed that not a pencil was out of place.
The door finally opened and a man of tall stature and friendly demeanor took a seat across from Faith. The plaque with his name, “J.R. Wilkins”, shimmered as he studied the brunette for a moment.
“I’m beginning to grow fond of our little visits Faith.”
“Yeah? I always knew you had a ‘thang’ for me.”
The man smiled, leaning back into his seat and folding his hands. To a passerby it would have looked as though he was in prayer. He spoke amiably.
“Why are you here Faith? I, as well as you, know you’re a bright young girl. You have potential to do great. Don’t waste it on account of your temper.”
The brunette sighed. She never could argue with Dean Wilkins. Over the past two years the unlikely pair had gotten to know each other, with Faith being banished to his office at least once a week, and him offering her a kind ear and unbiased advice.
“Look, Calendar was being a grade a bitch today and I’m sorry I started to verbally throw down with her but I couldn’t help it ok?”
“Yes. Yes you can help it Faith.”
“Ok, look I don’t wanna be rude to your or nothin, DW, but I’m still pretty worked up. So before I lash out at you, I should get goin.”
The Dean nodded, resting his thumbs against his lips and hands still folded. Faith threw him apologetic eyes as she got up and headed for the door.
“I hope the next time we talk it’s under your own free will.”
She turned back to him. Wilkins smiled at her, a smile of understanding. She couldn’t help but return it as she stepped out and closed the door softly behind her.
“So he goes ‘if I see you in this office one more time, I’m kickin your butt outta here’, and I’m like 'oh yeah? I hope you enjoy the view on my way out'.”
Night had once again fallen upon the residents of UC Sunnydale. Willow had taken up the same exact position on her bed as she had done the previous night, while Buffy sat atop Faith’s bed.
Willow and Buffy exchanged amused glances and large smiles at Faith’s story of what happened, or what she said had happened in Wilkins’s office.
“I bet he just loves seeing your face every week.”
“Yeah, well it is a pretty face to see” the brunette joked.
“Can’t argue with that.”
Buffy smiled at the brunette. Faith quickly leaned over and kissed Buffy, who in turn responded.
Willow just sat there, not being able to looks away in time….
It was the first time they had done something like that in front of me. It was surprising and intriguing and…adorable all at the same time. I don’t know when it began, but my previous upbringings of how only a man and a woman are to be together blurred. I no longer shifted uncomfortably in my seat whenever Buffy and Faith would share a long glance, or a tight hug, or as of now, a short but lingering kiss. It just became…expected…
The two girls broke away from each other and Buffy shyly wiped her mouth and lowered her eyes. Faith cleared her throat and looked to the side. When the two girls looked up, they did so simultaneously and directly into Willow’s eyes.
It caught the redhead off guard for a second. But as she looked into pairs of dark brown and hazel eyes, she found something. She found hesitation, soft pleading and the want for acceptance. Willow stared back, in turn answering all their questions with her eyes and no words. In the look being shared by the three girls, acceptance and awareness were being passed. Faith smiled and nodded her head a bit, Buffy doing the same, as Willow had no choice but to smile back.
The blonde scooted closer to the brunette. She slowly took one of Faith’s hands in her own and entwined their fingers. Faith looked down at the pair of hands and then back up into Buffy’s eyes. The blonde squeezed her hand lightly and smiled, before clearing her throat and turning back to Willow.
“So, you’re into witchcraft?”
The blonde suddenly nodded at the book that was laying on the redhead’s bed. Willow looked over at the book quickly and then back at her roommate.
“Oh, yeah sort of. Every Sunday my mother would take me out into our backyard. We used to have a beautiful backyard…the grass stretched out for what seemed like miles until it hit the woods. That’s where my mother used to take me…we had our own little special spot in the woods. She taught me a little about witchcraft, sometimes even doing light spells with me. God….I can still smell the dry leaves and pine needles that used to surround us….”
Willow seemed to look off into the distance, no doubt reliving the memories she spoke of.
“Can I ask….”
Willow blinked and looked at Buffy expectantly.
“Well I was just wondering….what happened to her? Your mother I mean.”
The redhead dropped her gaze to her hands and started fiddling with the corner of her pillowcase.
“She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when I was 12. She agreed to keep receiving the full dose of treatment even though it was killing her….”
She took a deep, shuddery breath and continued.
“Ironic huh? Her treatment was taking her away from me.”
Buffy and Faith remained silent on the bed.
“She used to have the most beautiful, soft hair. It was long and full, and the color of fire. That much I remember. Her face seems to get a little more fuzzy everyday, but I fight it….I fight time and what it does to the memory cuz….because I can’t forget her….I won’t. She was my world and I lov…”
Willow sniffed and wiped at her wet eyes as she fell silent.
Buffy and Faith seemed to have huddled even closer together, listening with all that they were worth at their new roommate. Buffy had tears in her own eyes while Faith could be seen visibly swallowing the lump in her throat.
Willow straightened and sniffed one last time, breathing out and smiling.
“Anyway, that’s how I got into witchcraft. I try to keep learning as much as I can, even though my stepmother says it’s a waste of time and I’ll go straight to hell for it.”
“What’s with your stepmother? She sounds like a real cocksucker!”
“Faith!”
“What? I’m just speakin the truth, am I right Red?”
Willow smiled at Faith’s attempt to lighten the mood after her admission.
“Well, I’m not going to repeat what you just said, but yeah…I really don’t like her. I think I’m not exactly what she expected me to be.”
Buffy sat up straight, a little away from Faith but still kept their hands linked.
“It’s like with my mother. She expects me to be her little miss perfect all the time, because god forbid I should embarrass the family. I can’t stand it…being prim and proper…walking the way she wants me to walk…talking the way a lady should…god I hate it. Why can’t she just leave me alone? Why can’t THEY just leave me alone…”
Buffy was speaking more to herself than to the others in the room.
“Sometimes I wish I had the courage to just fail all my classes or embarrass the shit out of them so they could forget all about me.”
“Why don’t you?”
“Because I need them….and I hate myself for it.”
She raised her gaze at Faith and searched her eyes. The brunette looked away.
“What about you Faith? Do you get along with your parents?” Willow asked.
“Does anyone?”
“No…I guess not but you know what I mean.”
The brunette sighed.
“My foster folks were ok, and I use the term loosely. They really didn’t take much interest in me. In some ways I guess they were like the mother that gave me away….they didn’t care to look after me. Just…signed some fuckin papers and washed their hands of me thinkin that their good deed was done for the day. S’ok though, I never wanted their fuckin pity….I don’t want anyone’s pity.”
With that she got up and went over to her dresser, grabbing her pack of cigarettes. Crossing over to the window, she sat on the windowsill and quickly lit a cigarette. She blew the smoke out slowly and scowled at the night.
Willow wanted to say something, but thought better of it as Buffy caught her eye and lightly shook her head “no”.
The room fell silent as the three girls sat and thought about the lives they lived before college, before “freedom”.
From that night on I knew that each of us had suffered in our past, each of us was still suffering in her own way. I don’t know what made us all decide to say a few words to each other about it. Maybe it was because we all knew that each of us, to some extent, understood where the other was coming from. Or maybe it was because we were all just tired of holding everything in. That night was the first night some of our walls began to crack. However, it certainly wouldn’t be our last.
Notes: I'm sorry this is such a short update, but my life is getting crazier by
the day. I promise the next part won't be such a pussy!
Dedication: To all the B/F shippers cuz we're the best!!!!!!
We remained quiet for the better part of that night, each retreating to separate corners of the room, trying to look busy. There was tension in the atmosphere, no doubt about that, but not between us. Their was individual tension with each of us and each of our pasts. I for one was trying to decide how much I trusted Buffy and Faith. Was is safe for me to open up fully? Did I finally find not one, but two friends that I could trust myself with, that I could let out all that I had been holding in for so long?
It had felt good to just let those few sentences out, and neither Buffy nor Faith had reacted badly...at all. I think that it was the same for Buffy and Faith...even though the trust between those two grew much deeper than it ran with me so far.
I guess that's why after Faith had left the room, Buffy followed, probably knowing exactly where to find her.
Now, I'm not proud of what I did that night. Till this day I still feel guilty about invading their privacy....but I followed Buffy. I followed her carefully so she never knew I was there...at least I think she didn't...but nonetheless I followed, and I watched, and I listened, and afterwards felt the pang of guilt as I realized that I had done something which if found out, would have positively ruined any of the trust that they had been building with me. But, on the happier note, if I had not followed them, you wouldn't be able to know what had happened.....
Willow slowly opened the door that led out onto the roof of the residential building. Peeking her head tentitively around the heavy door, she checked to see that the coast was clear before blatantly walking out onto the asphalt. She noticed Buffy heading on over to the other end of the roof, so she quietly slipped around the doorframe and held her breath as she slowly closed the door behind her while keeping her hand onto the handle as not to create a loud noise when if finally shut.
Darting in and out of the shadows, the red head finally hid behind the skylight that was found near the center of the rooftop and extended a few feet above the asphalt. When Willow rose her head high enough to witness what was going on, she was surprised to find two rusty lawn chairs that were covered with tattered white towels off to the side and resting near the ledge. Lowering her gaze she found numerous cigarette butts littered around one of the chairs, she guessed that one was Faith's, while the other chair had a couple of plastic red cups laying pitifully on their sides, coated in dirt. She assessed that the set up had been there quite awhile, and that the girls had claimed this part of the rooftop for themselves, long ago.
Right across from the set up of chairs was Faith, perched on the solid brick ledge and strattling the cement so that one of her legs was casually dangling over the side. Her other leg was propped up on the ledge so that her knee afforded a comfortable resting place for her forearm. Faith's head was tilted back and her eyes shut as she seemingly found peace in the quiet atmosphere.
Off to the other corner, Buffy approached Faith from the back. Slowly and hesitantly she closed the distance between them, and when she finally reached her desired destination, the blonde reached out and lightly touched Faith's shoulder.
The brunette was so much in deep thought that she hadn't noticed the blonde's presence until it was too late. Startled, Faith jumped and her body rocked hard to one side as she felt herself being tipped over the edge of the rooftop.
Buffy yelped in panic and Faith scrambled for Buffy's arms as the blonde held out to her. From behind the skylight, Willow stood up in panic as she witnessed Faith almost falling off the roof. Luckily for all of them, Buffy quickly grabbed the brunette around the waist and hastily pulled her off the ledge, causing her to fall back onto the ground and Faith to fall back into her.
Willow let out a long sigh of relief before she remembered that she wasn't even supposed to be up on the roof in the first place. Casting a panicked face to the two girls who had fallen with their backs to her, Willow dove and fell onto the ground behind the skylight, once again making herself hidden. Luckily for her the two girls were still in shock from the almost death to recognize anything else but their labored breathing. Trying to control her own labored breathing, Willow lifted her head once more and peeked above the skylight to witness what might happen next.
Still reeling from the sight of her lover almost tumbling to her death, from her own hand no less, Buffy held Faith around the waist even tighter than she had been a minute ago, breathing hard into Faith's neck as she hugged the girl furiously. Deciding to speak, her words came out muffled as they were spoken into the brunette's thick hair.
"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't of snuck up on you like that!"
Faith, who in her own right was still trying to shake off what might have happened, blinked a few times before settling back into Buffy as her body was overcome with relief.
"S'ok, but just know that if I had fallen and NOT been killed off, I woulda gotten a wicked settlement from your folks."
The brunette turned her head and flashed Buffy a lopsided grin, the ones that Faith knew Buffy's little heart often lived for. The blonde just stared at her before letting her head fall into Faith's hair as she let out a strong laugh. Faith's grin grew as she moved to get up, turning so she could help the blonde up with her. Grasping each other's hand, the two girls made their way on shaky legs to one of the lawn chairs settled not far from the ledge.
With deliberation, Faith grabbed the back of one of the chairs and pulled it far away from the ledge she had previously been tipped from. She shared an amused glance with Buffy as the two girls laid on the chair, Faith laying on top of Buffy while the blonde began to idly stroke her hair.
A moment or two of calm passed before Buffy spoke.
"You looked pretty shaken up back there."
"Well yeah B, I almost fell off the roof!"
"No, not from that," she playfully nudged Faith's arm, "I meant from inside our room. I know it's hard for you to talk about your past...I just came up here to see if you were ok."
Faith picked up Buffy's free hand with both of hers and started gently playing with the blonde's fingers.
"I'm sorry about that, I didn't mean to take off in a huff. It's just...I get in the zone ya know?"
"Yeah I know."
"Yeah....anyway...I guess Red had it tough too."
Upon hearing her name, Willow sat up a little straighter and cast her undivided attention upon the conversation.
"God, I can't even imagine what she must have gone through....watching her mother die..."
Willow looked down and studied the dirt on the windowpane of the skylight. Her chin trembled slightly but the redhead shed no tears.
"Musta been wicked painful, but she's tough, brave even. I get that vibe from her. She ain't no victim."
Willow's lips turned up into a bright smile. No one had ever described her as tough, let alone brave. She knew she liked Faith for a reason.
"Ain't no victim? I see Ms. Calendar has really improved your vocabulary."
Faith turned her head and raised her eyebrow in amusement, responding to Buffy in a light British accent.
"Oh, would you rather I communicate in perfect dialect? Because, to be perfectly frank, I find it quite tame and rather painfully boring."
Willow made a face, as did Buffy who vocalized the red-head's thoughts.
"Ok now that? That was very scary and I'll ask that you NEVER do it again. I like ebonics Faith way better."
"Uh huh, thought so. See, I'm only thinkin of you here."
Buffy smiled softly.
"As you should be."
"Oh yeah? So you mean I can't have other people on the side?"
"Um, no. Besides, you should be so lucky to have a cute girl like me" Buffy teased.
"Oh I know I'm lucky B. I'm reminded every time you look at me."
Faith allowed one of her own soft smiles.
"Hey, you know what? You should come with me this summer!"
"Where?"
"I saved up enough to rent a cabin on the lake near my home town. I got a couple of friends comin along, but it wouldn't be half as much fun if you weren't there."
"That sounds beautiful, but you know I can't!"
"Why not?"
"Faith..."
"Yeah, yeah your parents. Can't you blow 'em off?"
"What am I going to say? Yeah sorry hi mom, I have to break the family tradition of spending summer at home because I'm going with my lesbian lover to her cabin at the lake?"
Faith sighed a little defensively.
"I wouldn't want your mom to hate you on account of me, so just forget it."
Buffy furrowed her brow and placed her hand on Faith's arm.
"Hey, listen to me. You know I'd love nothing more than to be able to go with you, hell it'd be heaven for me...I just....I can't. Please, Faith understand that I can't."
The dark-haired woman looked away.
"I know I'm just...shootin my mouth off. I'm sorry."
"Shh...don't be."
Buffy moved her hand so her thumb brushed along Faith's bottom lip. The brunette looked up and caught Buffy's eye.
The two girls fell, rather than looked, into each other's eyes and while watching from afar Willow sat mesmerized.
I had never seen any two people look at one another the way Buffy and Faith had been looking into each other's eyes at that moment. Before moving in with them, I had never been a true believer in love. I had never fantasized about it, nor had I bothered reading about it because I thought there was no point. Why mull and mope over something that probably never even existed in the first place? But right then, huddled under a dome of stars and resting on a rusty old lawn chair, I saw love. I found it in the least likely of places, shared between the least likely of couples, or gender for that matter. I saw it and in a way felt it for everything it was worth. I never had told them, but in those few seconds they had proven my entire life's belief to be a lie. True love does exist, because I've seen it. It lives and it's powerful. However, I had yet to find out how powerful it could be.
Buffy's hand came up and cupped the silken skin of Faith's cheek. The brunette closed her eyes and leaned into the touch, bringing her hand up to cover Buffy's own.
Buffy sat studying her...she loved studying Faith. She loved the way Faith's eyebrows kissed the top of her eyelids...she loved the way her flawless skin seemed to glow in the moonlight...and she especially loved the way Faith's bottom lip was so full, and so soft, and set in such a way that it seemed to always have begged to be kissed.
And with that last thought, Buffy leaned in and slowly but deliberately captured Faith's bottom lip between her own lips. Faith responded, pressing Buffy's hand a little bit more firmly against her cheek. Buffy's mouth opened slightly as she nipped at Faith's bottom lip, then moved up to lightly suck on her upper one.
Faith parted her lips and Buffy took full advantage as she gracefully slid her tongue into Faith's mouth. The two shared a slow and passionate embrace of tongues and lips before the brunette pulled away and looked Buffy straight in the eye.
"No one has ever made me the way you do. Thank you."
Buffy looked at Faith tenderly while stroking the brunette's neck with her finger tips.
"For what baby?"
"For making me feel. No one has done that before."
Buffy kissed again, lingering a bit. When she broke, the blonde rested her forehead against Faith's.
"I love you."
"I love you."
The two girls hugged each other tightly before Faith pulled back in order to take hold of Buffy's mouth once more.
I chose that moment to leave. I hadn't heard the words because they were spoken so softly, but when "I love you" is said, it's pretty easy to read lips. I left as quietly as I could and managed to make it back to my room without incident. I went straight to my bed and sat on it for awhile, clutching my pillow and stuffed animal as I had always done, but something felt different. I felt different.
I had just witnessed something so private and so endearing that I couldn't really have articulated my emotions even if I had tried. It's like I had been able to see what no one ever would be able to....ever. I felt guilty that I had heard and seen what they had shared together without letting me, but I also felt incredibly lucky. I can honestly say that the experienced changed me.
I mean it's not everyday that one gets to spy on love.
Willow lay in her bed, in that altered state of mind between consciousness and dreams until she heard a key being slipped into its lock.
The door to the darkened dorm room creaked open as two sets of feet padded quietly into the room. As one person shut the door, the other tip-toed to the bed as quietly as possible as not to disturb the redhead.
Willow continued to lay there, not saying anything when she heard a semi-loud bang.
"Shit!! Goddamn mother fucker!! That hurt!!"
The redhead surpressed a snicker as she realized Faith had hit her toe against the dresser. She could hear Buffy trying to cover her laughter with her hand.
"Sshhhhh Faith! Get over it and come here."
Faith cursed a bit more before she cautiously made her way across the room.
"Did I wake her up?"
Willow deepened her breathing quickly, trying to convince the two girls that she was asleep. She didn't want to have them find her awake and anxious, for she didn't want to explain to them why she was still awake in the first place.
There were a few moments of pause in the darkness before Buffy spoke.
"No, I don't think so. Now let's stop talking before we really do."
The blond's voice had come out coyly, playful and a little.....seductive....uh oh.
Willow heard a throaty chuckle before nothing at all was heard except the sounds of what obviously was making out. Those sounds eventually turned into two hard bodies falling onto soft sheets and the soft moans of pleasure bouncing off of the walls as heavy petting ensued.
Willow rolled over and tried to ignore the occasional giggling and the creaks of the bed, now slowly creating a steady rythm of noise while Buffy and Faith began, what Willow could only guess, as rocking against one another.
Luckily for Willow the room was dark, because her entire body turned a shade of pure crimson when Faith's name was moaned loudly, followed by a quick but gentle "sshh".
The redhead burrowed deeper into her pillow with her last thought being only that it would prove to be a long night.
It took me awhile to get to sleep that night. Not just becaue of the obvious, but for some reason....my body reacted to their movements and moans. I had felt myself getting....getting turned on by their actions and in the moment I was disgusted with myself. In any case, I fell asleep ashamed that night, and it wasn't the last either.
It's sometimes funny how life just seems to help you along every once in awhile though. Luck and fortune like to seek those who are in need and start to be generous with their givings. Like finding a confidon in the least likely of places. For example, in the University Library....or I should say outside the Library....or both. It seemed as though the powers that be finally decided to take pity on my lonely state. I wasn't arguing.
Willow walked as quickly as she could in order to have a chance with one of the library computers. She had quickly discovered that if one were to arrive even a little passed 8 am, when the library officially opened, then it was like playing a game of musical chairs in order to grab a screen, only without the cute music.
She hurridly ascended the cement staircase in front of the building, sometimes taking two stairs at a time. When she got up to the last step, Willow tried adjusting her books in one arm and brushing her hair out of her face with the other, still not paying attention to exactly where she was going in her mission to conquer a computer screen.
Inevitably, while getting a hold of her books so as not to drop all of them, Willow ran smack dab into another girl, ironically causing her to drop all of her books onto the ground. The other girl stumbled backwards and landed not so lightly onto the concrete as her own books flew out of her hands and scattered onto some of Willow's.
The red-head stood there wide-eyed and more than a little embarassed as a few people snickered and stared off to the side. Her body tensed and she quickly made haste with an unsuccessful attempt at uncluttered speech.
"Oh! I'm so...I didn't mean to knock...I didn't even see you there. Y'see, I-I was trying to get inside to get a computer because I have this assignment due in...some class I can't remember the name of right now, and I didn't see you. Sometimes I'm just a train without a track you know?"
Willow finished weakly, giving the girl a small, apologetic smile. The girl tucked some blonde locks of her dishevled hair behind her ears, and looked up at the red-head for the first time. She smiled slighty, almost shyly as her deep blue eyes occasionally darted away from Willow's.
"I-it's ok. I um, I know you musn't of seen me. There's just one thing I n-need help with."
"What?"
"Getting up."
The blonde smiled up at Willow, squinting her eyes against the oncoming sun.
Willow paused for a moment before jump starting her response mechanism and reaching down to help the girl. They grasped hands and Willow managed to pull the other girl to her feet without further incident.
The blonde smiled once more while whiping the back of her green khakis from small rocks and dust.
"I really am sorry. I don't usually make a habit out of mauling people over."
"I should hope not." The blonde grinned and Willow let out a soft chuckle.
"I'm Tara. I was also on my way to the computer warzone. Y-you wanna join forces and try to take over at least one computer?"
"Hi, I'm Willow, and that's not such a bad idea. After all, two bodies are better than one....N-NOT in a sex way just like in a, y'know, warzony way?"
Tara laughed and Willow mentally cursed out Buffy and Faith for having sex all night and filling her head with nothing but thoughts of the latter action.
"You're funny. C'mon, let's go before the computers fill up and we're forced to bring out the heavy artillery."
Willow smiled again and joined Tara in picking up the books that were forgotten in the midst of their introduction. Ten minutes after the initial impact, the two girls were safely on their way to fight a war.
Now, normally one would assume that I would have been spying on Buffy and Faith again in order for you to experience the scenes that follow. However, I'm not usually one to make a living out of spying on people all the time, especially if they're both in a state of utter content and oblivious to any problems that might be surrounding them at the time. Plus, I already tried to explain the guilt I felt the first time I had done that, so it's safe to say I wouldn't spy on them again--BUT--it does make me a tiny bit jealous that you get to sit in on the most private of moments. I know I'm telling this story from my personal perspective...........but I guess we can bend the rules from here on out......afterall, I have grown into quite a renouned wicca.
Buffy stretched lazily, letting the early sun bathe her in warmth and fill her with content. She opened her eyes when she felt a hand slowly rub its way across her belly and back again, the fingers tracing small patterns in their wake.
The blonde turned her head and smiled into the brown eyes she knew were waiting for her, still not quite done yet with her stretch.
"Mmm...hey."
"Hey."
Faith blinked her eyes slowly and spent a few moments just studying her blonde counterpart. Her hand trailed up Buffy's stomach, slowly inbetween her breasts and across her collarbone until she gently hooked her hand around the back of the blonde's neck and pulled her in for a gentle kiss.
The two girls kissed chastely a little bit before pulling away reluctantly. Faith smiled before closing her eyes and stretching out her own body as it was now Buffy's turn to watch. The blonde snuggled closer against Faith and rested her head on the brunette's chest as Faith came down to wrap her arms around her lover. She bent her head in order to inhale the blonde's scent.
Buffy traced her fingers across Faith's bellybutton as she spoke.
"Do you have classes today?"
"Yep."
"Are they important classes?"
"Yep."
"Attendance mandatory?"
"Yep."
"Are you going?"
"Not a chance in hell."
Buffy smirked and hugged her lover closer.
"Good, because this feels too good to ever stop."
"I know what you mean, but I guess we'd have to stop sometime."
"No we don't. We could stay just like this forever and ever and forget about the rest of the world."
"...until Red walks in and faints at the mere sight of messed up sheets and tangled legs."
"Oh c'mon Faith, she knew what went on last night."
Faith paused.
"You'd have to be deaf, blind and dumb not to figure out what you and I were doing, and we both know she's none of those things....aren't YOU supposed to be the intuitive one?"
The brunnette shrugged as she ran her fingers through Buffy's hair.
"I guess I never thought about it. I was kinda lost in the moment if ya know what I mean."
Buffy could sense the grin on Faith's face. She looked up and wasn't disappointed as the brunette wore a lazy grin and flashing eyes. The petite beauty returned the look and slide slightly up Faith's body in order to capture the girl's mouth with her own.
The two girls kissed slowly, the intensity in the room rising with each flick of the tongue. Buffy moved her hips so her hipbone was delving lightly into Faith's center. The brunette moaned lightly into her lover's mouth as Buffy began to slowly circle her hips into Faith.
Faith rose into Buffy with each circular motion as her hands roamed down the blonde's back and eventually came to rest on her firm backside, pushing the blonde harder against her center.
The girls broke the kiss, each with a large outtake of breath, close to that of a sigh. They smiled into eachother's eyes as Buffy's hand crept down the brunette's body and found her center.
Faith's mouth opened with lack of sound as she felt Buffy teasingly push her fingers against her opening. The blonde bent her head and dragged her teeth along Faith's neck before kissing her way up to her ear and whispering.
"It's just you and me this morning, so feel free to loose yourself in moment."
A throaty cry of pleasure could be heard echoing throughout the room as Buffy's fingers took the first plunge.
"Oh god...Buf--"
"fy and Faith are my new roomates. They've been really nice to me so far."
"Oh Buffy? As in Summers? I know her!"
"You do?"
"Yeah, she's my friend's sister."
"Your friend? Wait....are you talking about Dawn?"
Willow made a face of distaste, automatically reminded of that one morning's rude awakening.
"Yeah, she lives in my building. Her sister came over a few times when I was hanging out in h-her room."
"Oh, so you live in the building right across from me then!"
Tara smiled sweetly. "Cool! I don't think I know Faith though."
"Too bad."
"What?"
"O-oh, I-I just meant...she's just really nice is all."
Willow mentally kicked herself. Nice? Since when would someone describe Faith as simply nice?
Tara nodded before looking over at one of the other computer screens.
After chastising herself, Willow turned back to their own screen.
"Ooookk. One more click and I'm all done."
"Aw, so soon? We haven't even gotten to the part when we say 'let's hang out'."
"Oh....well.....let's hang out."
Tara grinned, reminding Willow of a child still blessed with its innocence. She pressed the 'print' button and waited for the pages to feed through.
"S-so you wanna get together on Friday then?"
"What? Oh, yeah...yes, totally. Do you just wanna stop by my room?"
"Sounds good."
The last page finished printing as the two girls stood up to go. Willow grabbed the pages and organized them, making sure she had a firm grasp on all her belongings before pushing her chair in.
"Where's your next class?"
"Um, Sunny Hall I think."
"Cool, mind if I walk with you?"
Willow flashed Tara a smile.
"Not at all."
The two girls started off side-by-side, exiting the computer hall as Tara muttered on her way out the door.
"Who named that hall anyways?!"
Evening had fallen upon the campus of UC Sunnydale, frosting the air so it was sharp to the intake of the lung. Students were locked up in their various rooms, studying for the tests to come as Willow opened the door to her own room and plopped her stuff down onto her bed.
"Hey!"
Buffy looked up from her books and greeted her friend.
"Hi Buffy....where's Faith?"
"Bathroom. She's been in there a really long time. She says its the only place she can really have a 'relaxing smoke'."
Willow smiled amusedly and shook her head as she sat down on her bed.
"Sometimes I wonder about that girl."
"You're not the only one."
The redhead and blonde laughed a little before a silence fell over them. Willow looked around at nothing, trying to focus her attention on something as Buffy fiddled with her pen.
"Willow?"
"Yeah?"
"Do we...Faith and I....do we freak you out?"
"What? No!"
"I mean, I'm sorry to just randomly ask like this but....I consider you a friend, and I don't want to make anything uncomfortable for you."
The redhead looked into Buffy's eyes, instantly recognizing the want for acceptence and need. She smiled softly, almost reasurringly.
"Buffy, you and Faith don't freak me out. I mean, granted, I was a little wigged at first, what with the oogly eyes and all,"
Buffy blushed.
"but I think I'm ok with it now. I guess you could say....I learned to live with it."
The blonde's face was a wash with relief. She flashed a bright smile and paused a moment before speaking.
"Thank you."
Before Willow could reply, the door to the room suddenly burst open and Faith walked in.....with two large grocery bags.
"I come bearing gifts! Hey Red Rosenberg!"
Willow grinned at the almost ridiculous nickname.
"Hey."
"I thought you were just going to the bathroom!!"
"I did."
"Then what's that?"
Buffy sat up and pointed to the two large bags.
Faith simply grinned at the curious looks on the girls' faces.
"This? This is what happens when I have too much time to think on the can."
"Faith! What did you get?"
"Relax B. I just come equipped with some bottles o' fun."
With that the dark beauty set the bags on her bed and pulled out 3 twelve packs of beer; Samual Adams to be exact.
"Um, are we even allowed to have this in the dorms?"
Buffy scrunched up her face.
"No....but I'm the RA and what's the point of having the power if I can't take advantage of it right?"
Faith grinned as she grabbed a bottle and opened it while walking over to Buffy.
"Now there's my girl." She handed the beer to Buffy who hesitated in accepting the offering for a mere second, before the blonde took the beer and the brunette bent down and gave her lover a quick kiss.
"How'd you get this anyway, with you being a whopping 20 years of age and all?"
"Two elements. My boobs and a man rather than a woman standin' behind the counter, although I'm sure it woulda worked either way."
Faith winked at Buffy who swatted at her arm. The brunnette laughed before turning to Willow and nodding towards the drinks.
"How bout it Red? You wanna kick back with us?"
"I...I don't know..."
"Red, don't make me say it."
"I know, I know, 'live hard'...it's just...."
Faith rolled her eyes before making her way over to the case. She grabbed a beer and twisted the cap off like it was nothing. Stalking over to Willow, she held the beer in front of her.
"C'mon, what's your choice? Live life, or spend your time on the sidelines?"
Willow glanced at Buffy who gave her a half, weak smile. She looked back at the beer, and then up at Faith....
Faith is a force. There's no other way to describe her. She just....is this magnificent being with such a strong sense of self, there's NO point in arguing with her. That is, if you even had the will to argue with her once she flashed that grin and her eyes began to sparkle all for the sake of showing you a good time. Over the years I've grown, matured into a woman of strong sense of self and enthusiasm for living life. I owe a large part of that to Faith. She showed me how to live, how to enjoy what's in front of me. That, however, is a different story. So in terms of keeping the flow of this tale I'll tell you this: I accepted that beer.
The three girls had taken up their usual positions in the room, laughing at the current story Buffy was telling. Willow was nursing her fourth beer of the night while Buffy and Faith had gone onto their seventh. They sure had a strong head for alcohol, that much the redhead would vouch for. Buffy flailed her beer about as she rehashed her tale, spilling occasional drops onto the bed.
"....so the guy asks my sister about our family right? And she says, 'my parents are cool and so are my grandparents, but everytime I introduce someone to my grandma they get weirded out'. And the guy goes 'why?' and my sister tells him that my grandma calls everyone 'pussy' because she thinks it's just a cute pet name!!"
At this Faith hunched over herself because she was laughing incredibly too hard, while Willow blushed and Buffy just laughed as she took another swig of her beer. When Faith finally calmed her spasms, she sat up right and sighed.
"B....did you notice that you just go on about random shit when you're drunk?"
The blonde's face scrunched up and she pouted at her lover. "No."
Faith merely laughed and grabbed Buffy around the waist, leaning in and kissing her sofly.
"Ugghh, can you guys get a room?"
Willow, by this point, was quite buzzed and didn't have a handle on her mouth. She sat there, wobbling slightly with her pillow on her lap, with a scowl.
The two girls broke apart and Faith looked over.
"Uh, Red, we ARE in our room."
"Oh.....right..." Willow flicked her wrist and waved her hand at the girls, "carry on."
Buffy and Faith laughed once more before catching eachother's eye and leaning in for another seering kiss.
Before anyone could react, however, the door to their room suddenly flew open.
"Hello you lucky people! I'm...."
The two girls pulled apart faster than Willow had accidentally dropped her pillow off the side of her bed. In her startled and tipsy state, Buffy's foot shot out and knocked one of the beer bottles off of Faith's bed, while Faith wiped her mouth casually and leaned her back against the wall.
Willow, Buffy and Faith stared up into the eyes of Dawn. Eyes that locked with Buffy's. Eyes that narrowed and held the blonde in the most icy and disbelieving way Willow had ever seen. The younger sister spoke slowly and deeply. It was obvious she was trying to hold in her contempt.
"Buffy, what are you doing?"
"Dawn, this isn't what you think."
"Not what I think? I don't have to think! It's pretty damned obvious!"
"Faith and I....we weren't....we were just--"
"Drinking!!"
"What?" Buffy furrowed her brow and looked up at her sister confused.
"I can't believe you're drinking!!"
The blonde blinked before the realization hit her. She sighed and her body relaxed. Buffy laughed a little as she spoke.
"That's why you're mad? Oh god, I thought--"
"IT'S NOT FUNNY!"
Dawn slammed the door, causing a picture frame that sat on a dresser nearby to fall as a result of the impact.
Faith took this as her cue to sit upright and regard the younger girl.
"Cool it D! What're you gettin' so strung up for anyways? It's just a few beers."
"Shut the fuck up Faith, this has nothing to do with you!"
"HEY! Don't talk to her like that. In fact, don't talk like that ever again!"
Dawn stared straight at her sister, the tears that were welling up in her eyes not going unnoticed by the blonde. The younger girl spoke softly, each syllable dripped with hurt and pain as she seemingly forgot about the two other girls in the room.
"How could you Buffy?"
A little more sobered, the remorse was obvious on Buffy's face as the blonde suddenly realized her ultimate mistake.
"Dawn, look I'm sorry."
"After everything that happened to us? How. Could you?" Dawn's fists balled at her sides as she tried to hold down her anger. She spoke again, her tears making her voice shake. "You promised."
Buffy stared at her sister for a moment and lowered her head. She bit down, setting her jaw. Willow noticed the muscles flex under the blonde's skin, and suddenly the redhead felt extermely nervous. Buffy looked back up and spoke calmly to her sister.
"We'll talk about this later."
"Don't do that! Don't brush me off because it's more convenient for you!!"
"DAWN! We'll talk about it later!"
In a fit of spontaneous rage, Dawn went over to the bed and picked up one of the beer bottles. With a scream, she threw the glass bottle as hard as she could against one of the walls, almost hitting her sister. Buffy ducked out of the way quickly, coming back up to stare wide-eyed at Dawn.
Faith had pushed her back against the adjacent wall, dodging some of the glass that ricocheted off of it.
Willow jumped and continued to stare helplessly at the scene.
"YOU'RE THE SAME! YOU'RE JUST LIKE HIM! YOU'RE THE SAME...."
Dawn continued her rant, the unabashed rage pouring out of her.
Buffy looked on until she couldn't take it anymore. She wiped angrily at the tears that had been falling on her cheeks and ignored the oncoming ones. Her mouth curled into a snarl while she shot up from the bed.
She grabbed a hold of both of Dawn's arms and struggled with the girl, furiously walking her sister backwards.
"Don't you EVER compare me to him! Do you hear me Dawn!? I am NOT like dad! I'm not! Do you hear me?! Take it back!!"
She unconsciously slammed Dawn against the door, making the girl cry out.
"B! Stop!"
Faith pushed herself off from the wall and hurridly ran to Buffy. She grabbed her by shoulders.
"I'M NOT LIKE HIM! THAT ABUSIVE BASTARD! I AM NOT!"
"BUFFY LAY OFF!!"
She moved one arm around the blonde's waist and the other around her shoulder. With all her might she tore Buffy away from her younger sister, who cried out once more.
Buffy struggled against Faith as Dawn straightened herself and forced what tears she had left into retreat. She looked down at her hands and noticed that a large scratch running from her wrist almost down to her elbow decorated her left forearm. She looked back up at Buffy.
Willow had thought that she had never seen a more damning look than the one Dawn had been wearing when first entering the room, but looking at the girl now she second guessed her previous thought.
Slowly raising her arm so the blonde could see the blood clearly, Dawn spoke harshly, deliberately and with malice, but did not raise her voice.
"Not like him huh?"
Buffy stopped her struggling against Faith and noticed Dawn's arm as if she remembered nothing that had just gone on. She looked at her sister's arm in horror, blinking her eyes as the full realization of the implicated action hit her.
"Oh god...."
The blonde's features were a deluge of emotion as she sunk to the floor, bringing Faith with her.
Dawn looked down upon her sister with an unreadable expression. Without a word, she dropped her arm to her side and turned, opening the door and ignoring the few people that had gathered outside as she brushed passed them and out of sight.
Willow remained on the bed, breathing harshly. She couldn't move, couldn't form a coherant thought let alone speak.
The door remained open, allowing the onlookers to stare at the blonde on the floor, crying in the arms of the brunette until someone with morals intact, walked over and shut the door quietly.
Over time our hearts harden and close down. Each year that passes brings us all closer to feeling superior among the inexperienced and further from the innocence of childhood. Before we know it our private vow to never end up like our parents gets burried under the pile of years evident in our eyes. We turn around and see our father or mother staring back at us when we take those few moments in time to study ourselves in the mirror. We look on and ask ourselves "how did this happen? How did I get here?" with nothing but silence as an answer.
I could only imagine what Buffy was going through. The emotional consequences of what had happened that night plagued her sleep, filling all of us with restless nights. A couple of nights she didn't even get to sleep....just cried there on her bed quietly, shaking her head and repeating one word over and over: "why?"
Faith had stayed up with her on those nights, rubbing her back and whispering words to her I couldn't make out. Six days had passed since the incident with Dawn, without a word from her. I had been trying to get a hold of Tara for as much time with no luck. I just wanted to know what was happening...to try and make sense of something.
The silence from the nextdoor building and the inability to predict what would happen next unsettled me, like the feeling you get when you come home from work and find your door slightly open when you could have sworn you had locked it on the way out. You know something's there...something's waiting....just as I had a feeling something not so good was about to happen.
"Well can you give her a message?"
"I guess...."
"Just...tell her to call Willow ok?"
"Yeah, whatever. Bye."
With a sigh of annoyance, Willow placed the phone back on its receiver and turned around.
"Still no luck huh?"
The red-head jumped which caused Faith to smirk with amusement.
"Faith!! Jeez! You know you shouldn't sneak up on people like that!"
"Why not? Kinda keeps you on your toes doesn't it?"
Willow shook her head and regained her composure.
"I still can't get ahold of her. She's always out and I haven't seen her on campus lately."
"Don't worry, you'll catch up to her sooner or later."
The red head crossed an arm over her chest, signaling her uncomfortable demenour.
"I just-I wish I knew what was going on! I mean I know I haven't known Buffy for that long, or even Dawn for that matter, but I still can't help but feel awful...for them."
Faith nodded her head slightly, taking a few steps backwards so she could slowly sit down on her bed.
"Yeah, I hear that Red. It's breakin my heart to see her like this, you got no idea..."
Faith trailed off, turning her head to try and shield her painful expression from the other girl. Willow let a few moments go by before she got up and made her way over to Faith's bed. Sitting down, she put an arm awkwardly around Faith's shoulders and simply waited for the other girl to speak again.
Faith brought her forearm up to her face and wiped away the few quiet tears that had managed to spill over. She didn't sniffle, she didn't shake. She merely sat there, almost calmly, and continued to wipe at the tears that fell sporadically as she spoke.
"When I was a kid I had this doll. It was old and tattered....a real peice of shit ya know?" she looked over and grinned at Willow before continuing, "I don't remember who gave her to me, or how I ended up carryin her around no matter where I went, but she was mine. Her name was....."
Faith paused and cast her eyes upon the floor. Her brows were furrowed and her hands were still. Willow wasn't sure if she would go on.
It was almost as if I could see the indecision on her face. I studied her in that time she was silent and it was like she was afraid to go on...afraid to open up. I didn't know the extent of it then, but Faith had never had an easy time talking about her feelings or past. It was a weakness to her, to open up, but she kept talking. I guess it was because I offered to listen.
"...her name was Molly. I took her everywhere. She never argued with me, or yelled at me or....she was just there for me. I know it sounds stupid, her bein a doll and all, but at four years old she was my only friend. God, I loved that stupid-ass doll. I always got misty eyed thinkin about her ever gettin lost....until she was."
Faith took in a long breath and glanced at me quickly. I smiled, encouraging her to go on.
"Anyway, she musta gotten mixed up in some boxes when I was movin to another foster home but had I never seen her again," Faith let out a short laugh, "Cried for days. I remember feeling so helpless, so scared for her ya know? I didn't know where she was or if she was ok and I didn't think I would ever feel that way for anything ever again. Then I met B..."
The dark-haired beauty turned her head and looked straight into Willow's eyes.
"I have that same feelin like I did when I lost Molly, except the feeling I have now is twenty times worse...not to mention Buffy's real," Faith smirked before becoming serious once more.
"I'm so inlove with her Willow, and it's killing me to see her like this and not be able to take away her pain. I mean am I doin something wrong? Should I be trying harder?"
"Sshh no Faith, no. I know what it's like to feel helpless when people you love are in pain, I do, but there's no way you can begin to help unless they want it."
"She wants it! I know she does, she's just still too shocked to ask I think. Maybe if I-"
The door suddenly opened and Buffy walked in. She threw down her schoolbag apethetically and shut the door behind her.
Willow immediately drew her arm away from Faith and stood up.
"Hey Buffy! How, um, how were classes?"
"Huh?"
Buffy looked up and blinked, looking a little confused. Seemingly coming out of deep thought, she made her way over to Faith's bed and unconciously sat down beside her girlfriend.
"Oh, uh, fine I guess.."
Willow nodded and glanced at Faith whose attention was now soley focused on the blonde. She studied the two for a moment before grabbing her jacket.
"I think I'm going to head on over to the library cuz I have this big paper due and I can't get to researching unless I have books and since all the books are, well obviously located in the library I--"
"Red!"
Faith flashed Willow a grin and the red-head merely smiled back.
"Right...I'm going now. Bye!"
Faith watched as Willow left the room, noticing that the babbling woman's bookbag was still nestled snuggly amongst her pillows.
When the door finally opened, the blonde blinked before smiling nervously.
"Willow, hi! Uh, come on in."
"Thanks."
Willow stepped across the threshhold and around Tara causiously. She noticed that numerous books and notepads were strewn across the bed in the far corner of the room, making the flower patterns on the bedspread almost go unnoticed. The blonde followed her gaze.
"Oh, sorry. It's just that I've been really busy with school lately. I'm starting to think maybe it was a mistake trying to take 20 units."
Tara flashed Willow a smile as she shoved some of her papers and books to one side of the bed, offering Willow a seat.
"I-I didn't mean to interrupt your work, it's just that some stuff has happened and I haven't really had anybody to talk to about it...and you're the only other person I've met here..."
The red-head suddenly felt a bit silly for stopping by unannounced. She had only ever met the other girl a couple of times before, but for some reason she felt comfortable with her, like she had known her for a long time. She seemed funny and caring, and Willow's first instinct had been to come here.
Tara sat down beside Willow and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, it's ok. I'm glad you stopped by. Besides, all these books are starting to give me a headache," Tara smiled.
"No really, I should go cuz you were busy and--"
"Is this about Dawn?"
"What?"
"Dawn. I d-don't really know the whole story, but she's been pretty upset lately and anytime I mention Buffy she gets really tense and kinda starts...mumbling...."
Willow's interest peaked and the red-head sat up a little straighter.
"Mumbling? As in the insane way?"
"More like the 'can't-hear-a-word-you're-saying' way. She won't talk to me about it, and I didn't really want to push her. I kind of felt uncomfortable getting into it."
"I know what you mean.."
Tara studied Willow for a few moments, watching the red-head fiddle with the string of her zipper down jacket.
"Can I ask..I mean, w-what happened? Do you know?"
Faith glanced over at Buffy, who's head was bent and pencil thumping against the thick pages of her english book.
Faith had tried to talk to her about what had happened with Dawn, and the blonde had quickly gotten up and made some excuse about how far behind she was in Calendar's class. The brunette had backed off, and lied about her lack of study as well, feeling a bit rejected and too stubborn to speak up.
Now, with both girls at opposite ends of the room and head's bent awkwardly towards the books they weren't paying attention to, the silence was becoming unnerving. Just as Faith made up her mind to speak, there was a knock at the door.
Buffy turned her head and glanced at Faith for a brief second before getting up and opening the door.
"Hi! Buffy, right?"
Faith lent back in her chair in order to see around Buffy's body. She found herself looking at a tall, sandy blonde haired guy with a couple of friends snickering behind him. Her eyes immediately narrowed.
"Yeah..that's me."
"Hi, I'm uh, Riley! And these are my friends, Xander and Angel."
The two other men stepped up to shake the blonde's hand. Buffy stepped back from the introductions and smiled politely at Riley.
"Well it's nice to meet you...all of you." She smiled at the two others. "What can I do for you?"
"Uh..well...I just came up here to...."
Faith rolled her eyes at the man who was trying to come up with a decent excuse for why he was oogling her girlfriend.
"We noticed you at the floor meeting the other night and decided to come and introduce ourselves to the RA."
The tall, dark-haired one had managed a nice enough save, while Riley continued stumbling over his words. Buffy's smile widened, as Faith's eyes narrowed even more. She hadn't been able to make Buffy smile in days.
"Oh, so you're some of my residents?"
"Yeah, or friends, whichever you prefer. Hey, is that hot brunette girl here?"
Angel quickly elbowed Xander in the side.
"Who? You mean Faith?"
Buffy looked back at Faith, who quickly flashed a fake smile.
"Yeah, if that's her name. Angel over here kinda has a thi-owe!"
Angel's face continued to smile through his embarrassment as Xander rubbed his arm from the punch that was thrown his way.
The brunette took the mention of her name as a cue to get up and strut over towards the door. She walked up right behind Buffy, purposefully pressing her body up against Buffy's back. The blonde's eyes had dialated momentarily, too quickly for the boys to have noticed. She hadn't been intimate with Faith in as many days as she hadn't smiled. The brief contact reminded her that she had missed the softness of that body.
"I'm Faith. Who's askin?"
Angel stood there for a few seconds, seemingly caught in the preverbial headlights before extending his hand.
"Hi, I'm Angel."
Faith looked down at his hand. "Angel huh? Isn't that a dog's name?"
The brunette flashed a satisfied smirk at the boy's confusion, but before Buffy could turn to scold her, Riley spoke up.
"So, we were just hangin out in our room and wondering if you girls wanted to come over?"
Buffy didn't notice Riley's attempt at flirtation as she was too busy slightly glaring at Angel, who's eyes were fixated on the brunette standing directly behind her, while Faith had slung a protective arm around Buffy's shoulders as she answered Riley.
"We were kinda in the middle of studyin so I don't think it's such a good idea tonight."
"But maybe tomorrow night or something?"
The brunette turned her head and stared at her girlfriend in shock while the boys smiled.
"Ok then, we'll be seeing you."
"Bye Riley...and Angel and Xander."
"Bye Fai--"
The brunette shut the door in Angel's face before he even had a chance to finish her name. She turned around in order to face Buffy.
"What was that all about?"
"What?"
"'But maybe tomorrow night?' What the hell B?"
"Faith, what're you talking about? They look like fun guys, what's the harm?"
Faith rolled her eyes and her upper lip turned up slightly.
"Oh c'mon B, you can't be that blind! That beefstick was all over you, and I hardly doubt he wants you to come over for a nice cup of tea, you know what I mean?"
Buffy sighed and made her way over to her desk. She sat down and calmly picked up her pencil.
"I'm not going to do this Faith."
"Do what?"
"Argue over something like this."
"Buffy he--"
"No!" Buffy turned in her seat and looked directly at Faith. "I have enough on my mind right now and I'm not going to end up doing something I regret to you too...not with you..."
The blonde held the brunette's gaze for a bit longer before turning back in her seat and distractingly flipping a page in her book.
Faith merely stood there and studied the back of Buffy's head, wondering if what the blonde had just said was a threat and how long it would be before she gathered the balls to find out what had happened to the girl she fell in love with.
Willow sat there and fidgeted anxiously.
"I um, well it was...it was just bad. Dawn caught Buffy drinking and freaked out, and they faught, and now we're making with the no talking."
"You mean Buffy hasn't said anything about it?"
"No! And that's why this whole thing's got me all wound up. I just wish she would say something..anything...i-it's making my stomach all acidy."
Tara smiled at Willow's innocent confession. She lifted her hand and rubbed Willow's upper arm, trying to comfort the girl.
"I'm sure everything will work out. If there's one thing I've gotten to know about either of them, it's that Summers women are tough.."
Tara continued talking but the red-head's senses had somehow tuned out of the conversation and zeroed in on the fuzzy feelings that the blonde's touch had managed to stir within. Willow immediately frowned and scooted away from the blonde's hand. Tara sat there confused, furrowing her brow in question.
"I-I'm sorry. I, um, I think I should go. I-I have to go now."
"Willow? What's.."
Willow got off the bed and headed for the door.
"There's just--I have a lot to do. I'm sorry I interrupted your studying."
Tara stood, dumbfounded at the red-head's reactions.
"D-Did I say something wrong?"
"No! It was--I..."
Willow trailed off as she looked into the confused, deep blue eyes that were staring directly at her. God, why was that stare making her feel...weird? She needed to get out.
"I have to go."
And with that, the redhead opened up the door and fled from the room without so much as another glance in Tara's direction.
I had stood against her door and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. What the hell had just happened?
...to be continued...