Chapter Two
Faith Lehane walked into a much quieter and emptier kitchen. Her two sisters, Tru and Melissa (Missy) were already sitting having a breakfast of dry toast, dry ceral and water. Faith sighed as she sat down. "Morning," she grumbled.
The three girls were 15 year old identical triplets, and were all beautiful, with deep, soulful brown eyes and long, lustrous chocolate brown hair.
"Morning Faith," said Tru smiling. "Sorry there isn't more for breakfast. We are almost out of food. Have you heard from Daddy?" All three girls were lithe and athletic, but Tru was the jock, playing softball and soccer and had joined the soccer team after moving here, but, Daddy made her quit when Ma got sick, and now, well, he wasn't there to sign the permission slip for her to try out this year. He'd had trouble finding work in Sunnydale and was working and staying in a nearby town. Since Ma had died, Tru had taken over the cooking and most of the cleaning, though both her sisters helped with the cleaning. All three girls were tough, you had to be in their family, but Tru had always been the sweetest, the friendliest. She was the girl who wanted to help everybody, the one who brought home injured animals to try to nurse back to health when she was little. She wanted to be a doctor, even though she knew she'd have to get a lot of scolarships and loans. Everybody loved Tru, but, she had become quieter and more withdrawn since Ma had died. Tru was the dreamer.
Missy was a lot like Tru, sweet, and outgoing, but in a tough, street cred sort of way. She'd been a cheerleader last year , but had the same problem Tru did. She was the most fashion conscious of the three, but in a relaxed way."No, he hasn't answered my calls," she said. "And we're running out of money. The utilities are way behind. The only thing up to date is our phones, because, I think Daddy IS paying that, since we're all on the same plan." Missy was a straight A student, and had taken over the finances when Ma had died. She worried a lot about Tru and her newer more withdrawn attitude. Missy was the thinker.
"Asshole is probably drinking it away," grumbled Faith as she finished her breakfast. She had a lot of anger at her father. Both for the way he treated them, and for abandoning them after Ma had died. He'd stuck around until August, but, left for the job, promising to send money from his check each week. It hadn't been much, just enough for food, and now, he'd stopped sending it.
Faith was the toughest of the three. She was the oldest, two minutes older than Tru, who was five minutes older than Missy, and she loved and was fiercly protective of her sisters. Daddy could get mean when he drank, and he drank a lot more since Ma died. Many times she had diverted his attention when he was drunk, so she bore the brunt of his anger instead of her sisters. Faith hadn't had any extracurricular activities, but she had a beautiful singing voice and was a wonderful dancer. She could be reckless, often just jumping in feet first. As Missy put it, she would shoot first, shoot again, shoot once more, than consider answering questions. "I'll try to find a job after school today,"she said. Faith was the doer.
Missy sighed. Faith barely did enough school work to keep teachers from constantly trying to call Daddy as it was. She was worried about what they'd do if Faith got a job. She looked at the time. "We'd better get to school," she said.
"Leave everything," said Tru. "I'll clean it up when I get home. Don't bother waiting for me, I'm going to get a few groceries on the way home."
"Missy will go with you," said Faith. "I'll be job hunting.
"Faith," whined Tru. "I'm not a little girl!" She had seldom been alone for the last several months. Either Faith or Missy walked her to class, and most nights, thanks to the nightmares, she slept with one or the other of them. Tru had a secret, one both of her sisters knew, and was a very traumatized girl.
Faith gave her a Look. "This isn't open for debate, Tru-Girl," she said.
Tru looked at the floor and nodded.
Missy hooked her arm through Tru's and kissed her cheek. "Besides," she said. "I love the time I get to spend with you. Look out Sunnydale high," she said with false cheerfulness. "The Lehane Bitches are on their way!"
Faith chuckeld as she locked up behind them. She hated their life. Truth be told, she had come to hate Daddy for the things he did. She knew there had to be more to life for her and her sisters, but how to find it? That was the mystery.
-0-0-0-0-0
"Come on, Mami!" whined Buffy as they pulled into the teachers parking lot at Sunnydale high. "It's not fair that Darla and I don't get to go to the party. The whole team is going!" Darla nodded her head in silent agreement.
"Guys, they're not picking on you," said Cordy, unexpectedly coming to their Mami's aid. "I wasn't allowed to go to the parties until I was a sophmore either."
"Yeah, but you didn't have an older sister to watch out for you," groused Darla.
"That's enough, you two," said Santana, tired of this arguement. "Kitty Wilde is a freshman too and her parents aren't letting her go either. That's why she is having this slumber party."
"Yeah, just us three babies," muttered Buffy under her breath.
Santana turned and glared at her youngest. "Buffy Anne," she said. "Would you like to skip the slumber party too? Because I am sure that can be arranged."
Buffy gulped. She knew that tone. That was her "strike two" tone. (Which Buffy thought was very unfair, as she had not had a strike one)"No Mami,"she said knowing nothing good ever came after strike three. "I don't think I'd like that at ALL."
"Good girl," Santana smirked. "Now come on you three. We have practice to get to."
Cordelia gave her younger sisters a certain look when Santana wasn't looking. Both girls knew that look.
Cordy had a plan.
-0-0-0-0-0
"Ok guys," said Bill to the members of his glee club who were there for his extra dance practice. "That was great. You're all really coming along. Spencer, try and work on that ball change, and Roderick, please, PLEASE stop looking at your feet!" He gave the overweight bespectacled kid with the amazing voice a wink to take any sting out of his words. Bill tried to make his glee club a family, exactly the way Mr. Shue had all those years ago. He really loved these kids, and hoped they loved him back. Both boys agreed, and the group left the choir room.
Kennedy looked up from her homework. All her parents always told her she sang just as good as her Mami did, but she had little interest in joining the glee club. But, when she came in early with Bill and Tara for these sessions, she always sat there, doing her homework and listening. She started putting her books away as Bill started putting his sheet music in his briefcase.
"Shit!" he said. Then looked somewhat sheepishly at his girls. Brittany and Quinn were always on him about his language.
"What's wrong, Daddy?" asked Tara worriedly.
"Somehow, I have Darla's book report instead of the tests I graded last night. And I have a meeting with Snyder in two minutes. Could you girls please run this to the cheerleaders locker room then drop my tests off on my desk? I'm pretty sure Darla has them, if I have her report"
"Of course, Daddy," said Kennedy as Tara smiled sweetly and nodded. She took the report, both girls accepted the quick kiss on their cheeks he gave them, then scampered off.
-0-0-0-0-0
Meanwhile, in the locker room, Cordelia outlined her plan to Darla and Buffy. Kitty Wilde was also there. Kitty was a tiny blond, and there was little doubt she was a tiny Cordelia in the making. Though, Cordy was usually more willing to let her warm side show through than Kitty was.
"So, there's no slumber party?" asked Buffy.
"Nope," said Kitty, smugly. "Unlike some, my parents are actually fine with me going to the party. They're out of town anyway."
"I knew the folks would never let you two go to the party," said Cordy. "And not getting to go my freshman year was really upsetting for me, so I didn't want you guys to have to miss it. So, Kitty and I talked, and she got her older cousin Sherry to play the role of her mom when Mama called to make sure there'd be adult supervision, and the rest is history."
Darla gaped at Cordy in wonder. "You are an evil genius!" she said admiringly. "Thank you. Both of you."
Cordy smiled at both of her younger sisters. "The Gordon Girls always stick together," she answered.
"Well, heck, if it gets me in good with the captain," said Kitty, trying to sound like she was joking, but it seemed to Buffy she was more serious than she let on.
Buffy was torn. She HATED lying to their parents, hated even more the consequences of that lying, but she really wanted to go to this party. She was majorly crushing on Riley Finn, the football teams quarterback and she knew he would be there. "Thank you," said Buffy, deciding to go for it.. "God, our first high school party!" She smlle at her twin.
"Are you guys crazy?" came a voice from behind Cordelia. The girls all jumped and looked to see Kennedy and Tara walk in. Kennedy looked impressed, but Tara look shocked.
Cordelia sighed. "How much did you guys hear?" she asked.
"Pretty much all of it," answered Kennedy. "And don't worry, I'm not gonna rat you out. I may not want to go to the party, but I'm glad you guys get to. Don't worry, I'll cover for you." They all looked at Tara.
"I-I don't know, you guys," she said, stuttering a little under their scrutiny. "I m-mean you n-not getting to go isn't fair, but I CAN'T l-lie to them!" Cordelia put an arm comfortingly around Tara's shoulders. The girls all knew full well, Tara sucked at lying.
Kitty rolled her eyes in exasperation. The Gordon Girls coudl be irritating at times, but she basically liked them, even the brash Kennedy. But Miss Goody Goody here got to her. "Then d-don't l-lie to th-them," she said cruelly mimicking Tara's stutter. "J-just d-don't s-say anything."
"Kitty, knock it off," said Cordelia warningly. She turned to Tara. "Sweetie," she said. "if you can't do this, it's ok. I know you have problems lying. And we all know Mom would say "a lie of omission is still a lie!". So, if you can't do this, we'll change our plans and none of us will think any less of you." Kennedy and Buffy nodded emphatically. Darla also nodded, she was more irritated than the others, but, she loved Tara and didn't want her to do anything she didn't want to do. Kitty's look obviously said she WOULD think less of Tara, but Tara didn't really care about that.
She looked at her four sisters. She didn't want to lie to her parents, or even keep something from them, but, she remembered how upset Cordy had been when she couldn't go as a freshman, and really, she was tired of always being the good one. "Ok," she said, looking determined. "I won't say anything to them either way. BUT, if they out and out ask me about tonight, I'll have to tell them the truth."
Cordelia beamed and hugged her. "Thank you, Sweetie," she said, their sisters echoing the statement.
A moment after they disengaged, Santana walked up looking confused. "Ken, Tara," she asked. "What are you two doing here?"
Kenendy quickly pulled out Darla's book report. "Somehow, in the insanity we call Home," she said. "Daddy had Darla's book report and Darla had the tests Daddy graded last night."
"Daddy s-sent us to swap them, and we all got to talking," said Tara.
Darla gave Tara a proud smile. She had managed to cover for them and still, technically, be telling the truth.
Santana shook her head. "I've been waiting for your Mama to screw up like this," she said smirking. "So much for perfect records!" All six girls laughed as the warning bell rang. "Ok you guys. Scoot. I'm not giving any passes and if any of you are late to first period there'll be no parties or sleepovers this weekend!" She received a chorus of "Yes Mami"'s and "Yes Coach" as the girls all scooted out the door. Santana shook her head as they left. If it wasn't for Tara she'd almost swear thsoe girls were up to something.
-0-0-0-0-0
Faith thought biology was a god awful class to have first period. Luckily, there were an odd number of students in the class, so she had been lab partnered with two of the best students in the class. She had known Tara Gordon a little before having this class together. Tru had been on the soccer team with Tara's sister Kennedy last year, while Missy had been on the cheer team with her oldest sister Cordelia. Faith thought the Gordon family was kinda cool, with the group marriage and everything. She respected people who did their own thing. Plus, Mr. Gordon was one of her favorite teachers. He was nice, and funny and he made history interesting. He told the actual stories instead of just making the kids memorise the dates.
Faith looked over at their third lab partner. Willow Rosenberg was about the same size as Faith, with long, straight red hair. She was almost as shy as Tara and her mother clearly picked out all of her clothes. Willow was Tara's best friend and Faith was getting to know her. She had a pretty good sense of humor under her shyness. Plus, she was really smart, probably a genius, and she was really helping Faith's biology grade. She was definately starting to consider the two girls friends.
Right now, Willow and Tara were discussing plans for their little mini slumber party tonight, just the two of them really. Sounded like a late night of movies, popcorn and giggling. "Why don't you come, Faith," asked Willow. "My parents won't mind at all, as long as we don't get too loud."
Faith smiled, genuinely touched by the offer. She hadn't made any real friends in Sunnydale, except these two. but, she knew she needed to be home with her sisters. Plus, she was getting the idea that there was a little more to Tara and Willow's relationship than just best friends, and wanted to let them be alone together. She still wasn't 100% sure about Willow, but was pretty convinced Tara was riding the rainbow.
"Nah, my old man would never let me," she said. "He's been keeping us close since Ma died."
Tara smiled sympathetically."Maybe next time," she said. The girls heard a throat clearing and they looked to see their biology teacher, Mr. Murphy glaring and pointing a pencil at them. The girls wisely shut up and looked down to their work.
