Author's Note: Shortest chapter in existance, sorry, but i'm pushed for time right now and trying to update all my stories....:) ah well!! Hope you like it! x

Faith looked at herself as best she could in the compact mirror on Buffy's side of the bed- Angel's house had no other mirrors. She was wearing a pair of Buffy's black training trousers and a black strappy top, and her hair felt a lot cleaner and nicer, pulled back into a pony tail. She supposed she was trying to kid herself- that she was just popping along to the group meeting at Buffy's college to catch up on some training- but it would never be that way again.

Since Angel had brought her back to Sunnydale, against Giles' better judgement, Faith had been inside the college twice and both times she'd been carefully tailed by Angel (sticking to the shadows) to make sure she didn't get into any trouble. It's time to go it alone, she told herself, feeling almost ready for this.

Faith walked through the college grounds, sticking to the gravel paths across the slightly wooded green area that paved the space between dorms and halls in which they worked. The main buildings, where tutorials and seminars were held, also held the cafeteria and Faith guessed that's where they'd be. She doubted whether Buffy and Willow had taken to holding meetings in their own dorm- that would be too close for comfort. Faith was intrigued to see the inside of Buffy's bedroom, but so far she'd only been allowed at Angel's place, and once very discretionally to Giles' for an evening. I wonder what it's like? She mused, imagining posters of Oz's band and a few scattered school books, a pile of face creams and makeup heaped in front of a mirror and weapons spilling out of every cupboard, and maybe a picture of the two of them? But maybe that was hoping for too much. Faith's image of the bedroom was not far wrong- but she would never know this.

Entering the cafeteria Faith felt out of place among the students, she'd always felt older than she was, seen it all, done it all- didn't want to be equal with anyone. But college looked like fun, fitting in wouldn't have been bad, even if it meant being average. I wonder if Buffy's just average when she's here? How does she cope with that? Knowing how much better she is…Finally she saw the group, Giles, Xander, Cordelia, Willow and Oz. And of course Buffy. All stood around, looking as though the formalities of the meeting were over and they were about to head their separate ways. Faith sped up,

"Hey!" She raised her hand in an awkward half-wave and stopped a few feet short of the group. Giles' face instantly clouded with annoyance and concern, but at least he was civil,

"Hello Faith." Xander nodded, Cordelia didn't even acknowledge. Willow and Oz gave strained smiles,

"We should get to class." Was all Buffy said,

"How's it all going?" Faith's commented dropped like a large iceberg into the atmosphere.

"Nothing to worry about I assure you." Giles muttered firmly and Faith was forced to nod in acceptance.

"Ok," She replied slowly, drinking in the silence with deep embarrassment, "I just wanted to see that everything-"

"Is fine." Buffy said firmly, meeting her eye for a second,

"Better get to history," Willow put in apologetically, taking Oz's hand to show they were leaving. Faith nodded reluctantly,

"I'll be erm…" She glanced at Buffy and registered her total shut down of emotion, "Off." She finished, Buffy nodded but didn't reply, just turned and walked in the opposite direction, Oz and Will trailing not far behind. Faith looked down, still embarrassed and felt her cheeks growing hotter by the second. She did the only thing that made remotely any sense, and left quickly, not even looking at the others.

-*-

Buffy cursed herself slowed down as they neared the lecture room, finally feeling the heat flow away from her cheeks. She allowed the other two to catch up and they entered the hall together. Willow placed them front and centre in her eagerness, as per usual, and Buffy groaned as she reached for her note pad: No sleeping today then.

"Willow…" She asked slowly, not sure exactly how the question was going to come out when she did ask.

"You want to know what I'm thinking about Faith?" Will replied, insightful to the point of scary, as usual.

"Pretty much," Buffy muttered a little forlornly, "I think I was harsh then, she's just so-"

"Fragile." Oz finished for her, "I think maybe you were a little harsh, I think she's pretty lost at the minute. I know it's not my call but I think we should include her."

"I know I'm bias, but last time we included her she got someone killed." Buffy looked between the couple, both of them had fair points.

"I just feel like a two faced bitch,"

"How?" Willow was angry instantly, her eyes flashing at Buffy for insulting herself- it was cute- Buffy half smiled.

"I let her into my house, I'm nice to her, call her my friend. And then out there, I don't know, I just…I just blanked her and cut her out. That can't be helping with the confusion." Oz nodded, but Willow took in the full intensity of the comment,

"Did something happen Buffy?"

"No." She replied, a little too quickly, feeling the blush rise again with annoyance. "Nothing, I guess I'm just over analysing. She's dealing with a lot, I have nothing to do with it really." Willow was far from convinced.