CHAPTER 1: Collide

"Out of the doubt that fills my mindI somehow findyou and I collide…." -Howie Day

The water was cool on 17 year old Faith Lehane's skin as she sliced through the water of Sunnydale High School pool in the earlier morning hours. She wasn't much for overachieving; she just loved the calming affect the water has always had on her body. Finishing her morning laps the young Bostonian climbed out of the pool. Walking over to the bleachers she picked up her towel, and she began to dry off the excess water that still remained on her body. "Sure ain't Boston." The young girl said to herself, as she began to wring out her hair with another towel. Having a stroke of luck finally in her life, the young woman was shipped off to Sunnydale where she was given a new life and family. Making her way back to the locker rooms Faith thought a quick shower was in order. "Hello?" She yelled out. "Anyone in here?" Not hearing a response she stripped of her swim suit. Padding her way over to the showers naked she turned on the shower as she began to hum a tune. Unbeknownst to her while she was doing that someone had entered the locker room.

"So I'll see you later Will." The blonde said to her redhead best friend as she entered the locker room. "I sure seem to be spending a lot of time here considering its summer." The young teen muttered to herself. Sighing Buffy made her way to her gym locker, she remember she had stowed the weapons Giles was asking her to get there. She was just glad the whole mess with Angelus was over, and as strange as she was, she was gonna miss Kendra. Opening her locker it squeaked open. First looking up and then down she spotted the bag. "Ah ha. I found you Mr. weapons bag. Thought you could hide from me huh?" She smirked grabbing the bag; she closed her locker not before taking on quick look in the mirror. Smiling she said. "I think my hair is working for me today." Nodding approval Buffy shut her locker. Bag in hand she opened it as she walked not bothering to pay attention to where she was going as she bumped smacked dap into a naked Faith. "Oh My God." The blind gaped. "Your- Uh." Quickly covering her eyes. "I'm so sorry."

"S'ok. Blondie." Faith smiled cockily as she stood up. In the collision she was knocked to the ground.

"Umm… question." She pauses pretending to mule it over. "Why are you naked?" the blonde asked her eyes still covered as she tried to gather her fallen weapons.

"I'll answer yours if you answer mine." Watching the blonde as; she scurried to gather all of her lost weapons. "What's with all the weapons?"

"Umm I asked first." Buffy replied trying to stall.

"What are you five?" Grabbing her towel, and wrapping in around herself.

"Some people say…I act old for my age."

Chucking Faith replied. "So I'm guessing your actual age is six."

"Ha ha very funny…" Pausing when she realized she didn't know the very naked girls' name. "You must be new here?" She asked standing after having gathered all her misplaced weapons.

"Fairly." She shrugged as she rasped out. "Got here a couple weeks before school ended." Running her hand through her wet hair she asked. "Nice dodging by the way."

"I wasn't dodge-y… look this is me not dodging."

"Uh huh." Smirking Faith walked over to her locker. "I'm Faith by the way."

"Buffy."

Turning her head she looked at her. "I'm gonna guess that's not short for something."

"What's wrong with Buffy?"

"I'm betting I'm gonna find out." The young teen muttered and continued to dress.

"HEY!" Buffy exclaimed "I heard that."

"Good for you princess." Faith answered pulling her jeans up her thighs. "So I take you're not gonna give me the sitch." Pointing to the bag of that was now clutched in Buffy's hands.

"Not before you explain all your nakedness."

Laughing Faith sat down on the bench as she pulled on her boots. "If you must know… I'm on the swim team just trying to keep in shape. I didn't think anyone was here, hence the nakedness."

"Oh." Buffy paused biting her bottom lip. "Makes sense."

"Glad you approve." Standing Faith looked at the clock on the wall. "Well it was nice meeting you Buffy." The Bostonian replied sincerely. "But it looks like I gotta motorvate." Grabbing her bag the brunette made her way out of the locker room.

"Yeah you too." She said watching her retreating form. "That was odd." Buffy said shaking her head and leaving the gym as well.

Outside Faith hopped on her Ducati that her foster parents thought would be appropriate to give her upon her arrival. Not arguing she gladly accepted the highly unnecessary gift. Putting her bag on the rack that was held at the back of the bike, Faith paused. Turning her head she took one last look at the school. "Something's off about her." The girl thought. She didn't know what but it was drawing her to the Blonde. Shaking it off, she threw her leg across the shiny red bike. It would just have to wait it was getting dark. "A hero's job's never done." The young teen said kicking her bike to life, putting on her matching red helmet she rode off into the sunset towards her California home.

It took Faith about fifteen minutes to get to her adopted families home. Parking her bike in the garage she found her sister waiting for her. "Hey kid." The young girl replied smiling slightly.

"There's a man waiting for you." The young teen said to her older adopted sister.

Taking her gym bag off the rack she threw it over her shoulder. "Who?"

"Didn't say." The young brunette said following her into the house. "Dads said he seemed to looking important."

"Thanks Rach." Faith said throwing her bag in the corner of the laundry room.

"Oh… dinner is on the table." Looking up at her she pushed some hair behind her ear. "I tried to tell them that you wouldn't be hungry till after you know."

Smirking at her little sister she still wasn't sure on a how she felt about her knowing about her slaying. She figured as long as she didn't get hurt it wasn't a big deal. "Thanks. Now get out of here." She winked as she pushed her up the stairs. "I would say, do some homework but I know you did it three times by now." Chuckling Faith just shook her head.

"Faith." She whined. "You could do with my kind of enthusiasm for school you know. If you just-"

"Here's an idea…go check my homework." Smiling as she teased her. She cared for her adopted sister, but there was far too much of her Boston life in her to hear another if you just applied yourself speech.

"Ah you must be Faith." A voice said interrupting the two sisters. "Wesley Wyndam-Pryce." The Man said fixing his tie. "I'm your watcher." Holding out his hand for her to shake.

Looking at the man and then down at his hand she said. "My what?"