Chapter Six
Faith looked up from her paper when she heard a familiar voice ask, "is this seat taken?"
Faith smiled when she saw it was Buffy. "Have a seat , B." Faith hoped she would be able to get through the upcoming conversation without having to talk about Liz.
Buffy sat across from Faith, not sure how she was going to ask about Faith's watcher. "So, what's on the front page?" Buffy nodded towards the paper Faith had been reading.
"Nothing worth a second look. Why aren't you in school?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Buffy replied, stalling a bit but genuinely curious as to why Faith didn't enroll with her sister.
Faith grinned, she knew she looked younger than she really was, "B, Im 19, plus I got my GED. Your turn."
"Oh. I just got too much going on, up here," Buffy tapped her head, "to focus on classes."
"Yeah? Like what? Giles uncover some big demonic threat?" Faith asked, only half joking.
Buffy decided that she wasn't ready yet to ask Faith about her watcher so, "no, actually its...about a guy."
"Angel?" Buffy didn't know why she saw a flash of sympathy in Faith's eyes as she asked and it was gone before Buffy could ask about it.
"What do you know about Angel?" Buffy's guilt over sending the love of her life to hell made her voice come out angry.
"Just what your friends told me. He was a vampire with a soul. Big love, big loss, they think you oughta move on and you're not." Faith paused, "they're just concerned about you B."
Buffy calmed down a bit, "yeah I know they are but, some losses, some deaths aren't so easy to get over, ya know?"
"Yeah I know. Especially when guilt joins the party." Faith said, thinking of her own guilt over Liz's death.
"Yeah..." Buffy drifted, thinking not just of Angel now but of Merrick as well. "My first watcher, Merrick, was killed by a vampire named Lothos a few years ago. I--I just froze as I watched Lothos overpower him and kill him with his own stake. Merrick had gone to confront Lothos on his own because I was too scared of him. A few days later, though, at the Homecoming Dance of all places, I managed to face my fear and kill Lothos. I also burned down the school gym with like, 50 or so vampires trapped inside." Buffy, who'd been staring down at the table while she talked, looked up at Faith then and saw more clearly the sympathy in her eyes. "I got expelled from Hemery for that, my parents split up and then Mom moved me and Dawn here to Sunnydale."
Silence enveloped the table as Faith thought about what Buffy had just shared. Buffy knew what losing a watcher was like, she knew the guilt of not being able to save someone who meant so much to her. Faith decided then to tell Buffy about Liz. However, before she could say anything, Buffy changed the subject.
"So, why are you looking through the classifieds?"
"Oh, gotta find an apartment for Kenn and me. That motel is okay for now but not for a whole school year."
"A whole year? Won't your watcher be calling you back after the retreat?"
This was the opening Faith needed, "actually no. Liz, my watcher, isn't at the retreat. She um...she's dead. Her place caught on fire late one night and Liz died in her sleep. I didn't handle it well and Kenn decided I needed a change of scenery so, here we are." Buffy whispered.
"I'm sorry you lost your watcher Faith."
"Thanks B. Um...do you think you could not tell Giles yet?"
Buffy hesitated, "he already knows. He called the retreat and they told him...and then he told me. I just didn't know how to bring it up."
Faith realized that it was going to come out sooner or later and she knew it wasn't Buffy's fault. "Does anyone else know? Red, Xander, Cordelia, Oz?"
"No. Just me and Giles."
"Can we keep it that way?"
"Sure."
"Thanks."
Buffy waited a few seconds before asking, "so, is that why Kennedy acts like your watcher?"
Faith smiled, "yeah sorta. Kenn was like a, uh, 'watcher in training' when Liz was...around. She learned whatever she could and trained with me in the downtime. So she knows her stuff. Plus, with Liz gone, Kenn's the only one I know for sure I can trust with my life. So we made a deal. I don't scare her like I did a while ago and she keeps me safe as my watcher."
Buffy didn't know what to say to that, she was trying to understand it all.
Faith decided to elaborate as best she could without revealing too much, "you gotta understand B, when I moved in with my dad after my mom died, Kenn was still having nightmares about her mom leaving. I came in and a week later, the nightmares stopped and never returned. We made each other feel safe, loved, wanted. There's nothing on this planet that could ever change that."
"Wow, I dunno if Dawn and I will ever be that close, but I think it's great that you and Kennedy are."
The Slayers sat quietly for a while before Buffy suggested they go for a walk, to get some air. Faith agreed and grabbed her newspaper as they left the coffee shop.
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It was Kennedy's free period and as she walked down the hall towards the library she glanced to her left and saw a very distracting, but not unpleasant, sight--Willow in the computer sciences classroom acting like she was the teacher.
Kennedy stood in the hallway just watching Willow as she commanded and held the attention of the class. Kennedy didn't think she had ever or would ever see a more intoxicating sight as Willow in teacher mode. Kennedy was so enthralled, she didn't notice the person who'd stepped up beside her.
"You know, if you keep this up, your secret crush won't remain a secret for long."
Kennedy jumped slightly as she looked around to make sure they were alone before she turned to face Cordelia. "Keep what up? What are you talking about?" Kennedy's first impulse was to play dumb.
Cordelia just grinned, "yeah, the whole 'I don't know what you're talking about' routine doesn't work on me. Like I said, I'm not blind and you already confessed your crush to me. But if you keep up this stalker-in-training routine, it won't take a genius to figure out how you feel."
Kennedy gave up the act and grabbed Cordelia's arm and gently guided her to a quiet corner. "I'm not 'stalking' anyone. I was headed to the library to talk to Mr. Giles about Faith's access to any weapons he has in stock, I got sidetracked by Willow."
The cheerleader studied the younger girl for a moment before coming to her own decision, "hmmm...ok. Well if you need someone to talk to, other than Faith, I'm here ok?"
Kennedy smiled, glad that Cordelia wasnt going to push the issue here. "Thanks Cordelia, I'll remember that."
Cordy put an arm around the younger girl's shoulder and together they walked to the library.
Neither girl noticed that Willow was standing in the doorway of her classroom watching them. Her students were busy working on their current in class assignment so Willow took a moment to check the halls when she heard voices. She saw Kennedy and Cordelia talking quietly across the hall and a few doors down, and then she watched as they walked away, Cordy's arm around Kennedy's shoulder. Willow struggled to understand both what she'd seen and her own internal reactions to it. They were similar to how she'd felt last year when Buffy told her she was going to a party with Cordelia. At the time she'd dismissed it, knowing she couldn't possibly be jealous. But now, that same feeling was back and Willow had to admit to what it was even if she wasn't ready to examine why it was there. Willow resolved to put it out of her head for now and turned and walked back to her desk, trying to think about anything else.
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Faith and Buffy were walking down State Street, in silence. Finally, after passing the Sun Cinema where Faith noticed a film festival was going to be playing this weekend, Faith decided to break the silence.
"So B, tell me about the guy."
Buffy looked at the dark haired slayer, confused. "Huh?"
"Earlier? You said something about a guy and not being able to focus on class, remember?"
"Oh yeah. Almost forgot about that."
Faith grinned, "So? Spill B, who is he?"
Buffy hesitated, she remembered suddenly that Faith had been flirting with Scott just the day before. She wasn't sure how Faith would react and she didn't want to mess up the fragile friendship they'd begun earlier.
Faith waited, somehow realizing that Buffy would need some time to open up again. The Slayers kept on walking, unconsciously heading towards the cemetery.
Buffy finally decided to just be honest and hope for the best, "Scott Hope."
Faith thought for a moment, "the cutie I met yesterday?" Faith already knew she wasn't interested in Scott. She'd already moved on and he wasn't her type anyway. Faith liked clean cut nice guys in theory and celebrities but in reality, she liked scruffier guys.
"Yeah."
"So, what happened?"
"He, um...he asked me out."
"Really? What'd you say?"
"Well...at first I was going to say no but then he made a convincing case and so I said yes but then he...something happened and I ended up saying no again. And he's given up now."
"What did he say to make you say yes that could be wiped out so fast?"
Again, Buffy hesitated, "I don't think it was what he said so much as how he said it and he was very charming when he said it. He seemed sweet and I thought, why not and so I said yes." Faith knew there was more going on than Buffy was saying but she also knew how stubborn a slayer could be and she knew she'd have to be patient. Faith really wanted to be friends with Buffy. Being slayers already gave them enough in common to be friends and they wouldn't have to hide the truth or lie to each other about their nighttime activities.
"But then something happened to change your mind again...what was it?"
"He um...he did a really sweet thing and gave me a gift he'd bought for me. Now that I think about it, it was a really nice thing to do. But..."
"But I'm guessing it wasn't a good gift?"
"Huh?" Buffy had spaced out for a second remembering the ring and all the memories that would forever be attached to that design.
"The gift...was a bad gift?" Faith realized that there was something about the gift...possibly some memory that clung to the gift that Buffy hadn't gotten over yet.
"Well...on its own without certain...aspects to influence it, the gift is a great gift. Really nice and sweet and normal."
"But these...aspects...they changed that? C'mon B just tell me what it was, maybe I can help?" Faith's patience was starting to wear thin but she wouldn't show it. She struggled to hold on to it.
Buffy saw that Faith was losing patience and realized she'd had to give the back story in order to be understood. Buffy looked around and saw they were at the gates to Restfield Cemetery. It seemed almost fitting to be in a cemetery when she had to discuss vampires and death and guilt.
Buffy took a deep breath as they entered the cemetery and she walked over to a bench near one of the crypts. Buffy sat down and Faith sat next to her, willing to wait for the explanation.
"Last year, for my birthday, Angel gave me a ring. It was a Claddagh ring and it was meant to represent our love. Angel wore one and he wanted me to wear one as well. He explained the meaning of the ring and how it was supposed to be worn. I loved him so much I never even thought about not wearing it. So I wore it. Later, after a battle and a run for our lives, we ended up at his place and we...we made love. It wasn't until the next day that I realized what I had done. The gypsies that had cursed him with his soul as a punishment added a loophole: if Angel ever had even one single second of peace, of perfect happiness, he'd lose his soul and become evil again. Well...that night with me was apparently more than enough and Angel lost his soul."
Buffy paused, gathering her thoughts and allowing Faith to say something if she wanted to.
Faith had a million questions but she knew that Buffy needed to get through the whole thing before she lost her nerve. So she remained silent.
"Angel spent months torturing me and my friends. He used my feelings for him against me and almost broke me. When I realized that the guy I loved would never return I took off the ring he'd given me and I kept it in a drawer. He killed the only person who'd come close to figuring out how to curse him with his soul again before she could tell anyone about it. It wasn't until right before finals that Willow and I found the computer disk that contained the spell to return his soul. Willow, the only one who had the ability to perform the spell was injured the first time she tried it. Angel had decided to end the world, literally, by calling forth a demon that could swallow up the world into hell. I went to fight him and stop him. I was prepared to kill the demon that was wearing the face of the love of my life. I didn't know that Willow was going to try the spell again from her hospital bed. I fought Angel and I defeated him, and I saw something go through him and his eyes flashed and...he was Angel again. His soul had returned and he was the guy I loved. But it was too late by then and I had no choice but to kill him and send him to hell to save the world. The guilt of that will stay with me forever. The gift that Scott gave me...it was a Claddagh ring. And seeing it again...well let's just say the memories aren't pleasant anymore."
Faith was shocked. Willow and Xander hadn't told her this much. All they'd said was Angel had a soul, then didn't, then was sent to hell. No wonder Buffy was feeling all guilty. She'd made the ultimate sacrifice to save the world and no one even knew the whole story.
"Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me B. I'm sorry you had to go through all that. And I'll admit the ring wasn't the smartest move on Scott's part but...I think you should give him a chance. He seems like a sweet guy and when I met him, you were the first thing he mentioned. He recognized me not as the girl from the club or anything like that but as 'Buffy's friend', which to me says he really likes you."
"I know he does. I just don't know if I can give him a fair chance with the Angel guilt still in my head and my heart."
"Well...taking away the whole ring issue. Before he gave it to you...how did you feel?"
Buffy thought about it. Before the ring, she'd been smiling and thinking that Scott was worth the effort, that maybe hed be able to help her forget about Angel. Buffy saw what Faith had done, making her think not of the ring and its implications but of Scott and how she felt. Buffy smiled, "I liked him. Thought maybe he'd be good for me. But, Faith after my freak out over the ring, he gave up. What if he won't give me a second chance?"
Faith shook her head, convinced of this, "nah. He likes you B and he made the effort more than once right, to ask you out?" Buffy nodded. "Then you got nothing to worry about. Just let him know that it had nothing to do with him, that the ring brought up bad memories but that you'd be willing to give it a shot with him if he's still willing. Just be charming B, he'll be putty in your hands. I promise."
Buffy grinned, she really needed a pep talk. She knew her friends would've said the same thing but they didn't know the whole story and Buffy wondered if she'd ever be able to tell them. "Thanks Faith. I needed that."
"No problem B that's what friends are for right?"
"Yeah."
Both slayers knew then that they'd just cemented their new friendship. Buffy noticed the time and said she had to go see Giles about something. "Wanna meet up later to patrol?"
"Yeah sounds good. I gotta call my dad in a few and let him know me and Kenn are still alive. He worries way too much sometimes."
Buffy grinned, "sounds like my mom. Ok I'll see you later!"
"Later B."
Buffy and Faith parted ways at the gates of the cemetery with Buffy heading towards the school and Faith towards the motel. Faith was realizing that on top of a car, she and Kennedy might also need cell phones. Faith knew that her dad wouldn't say no she just didn't like having to ask him. Her mom had done a fairly decent job of trashing him for the first ten years of her life. It had taken a long time for Faith to forget the things she'd said and start to love and trust him. Kennedy had helped without even knowing it. Having a younger sister who loved their father had allowed Faith to see her dad through Kennedy's eyes. Now, almost another ten years later, Faith truly did love and trust her father in her own way but she still wasn't comfortable asking him for money.
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Buffy was in the school hallway just outside the library. She was looking through the round glass windows on the doors at the occupants of the library. Giles was there, obviously, standing behind the counter. Willow, Kennedy and Cordelia were also there sitting at one of the tables with books in front of them. It looked like Willow was probably helping them with some homework but Buffy looked closer and what she saw surprised her.
Kennedy was looking at Willow with a look on her face that she'd seen far too many times...it was the same look Xander got when he looked at Cordy, that Willow got when she looked at Oz and when she'd looked at Xander before she started dating Oz...it was the look she'd also seen when Giles and Jenny had looked at each other, once upon a time.
Unless she was mistaken, Buffy was seeing a look on Kennedy's face that meant one thing: crush. Kennedy had a crush on Willow! Buffy pulled away from the door and leaned against the wall next to the door. This was huge. It wasn't even that Kennedy was a girl that was messing with Buffy it was that Kennedy was younger than Willow. Kennedy was sixteen according to Faith which made her jailbait. Not that she ever thought Willow would do anything but still.
Buffy wondered if Faith knew about Kennedy's crush and if she did, was she ok with her sister crushing on another girl? Buffy looked again through the glass and this time Cordelia happened to glance up and see her looking. Buffy noticed Cordy turn to look at Kennedy and that's when Buffy realized she'd have to go inside now.
Cordelia didn't know what made her look up at that particular moment but she did and when she did she saw Buffy looking through the glass at them. Cordy didn't know why Buffy looked so shocked until she glanced over at Willow and Kennedy and saw the look on the younger girl's face as she looked at Willow. Cordy nudged Kennedy's leg with her foot to get her attention.
Kennedy felt the nudge and looked over at Cordelia. She was a little upset at being interrupted while she looked at Willow. The red head was so buried in her books that she didn't seem to notice Kennedy's staring.
Despite not knowing each other for very long, Kennedy and Cordy managed to have a silent communication with their eyes.
'Why'd you nudge me?'
'Stop staring at Willow!'
'I'm not staring!'
'Yes you are and I think someone saw it.'
'Who?'
Cordelia moved her eyes to glance at Buffy as she walked into the library. Kennedy took the hint and she turned to see what Cordelia was looking at and she saw Buffy. Kennedy studied the look on Buffy's face and felt her stomach plummet. She knew that look...Faith often had it when she'd figured out something Kennedy didn't want her to know. 'Crap.'
Kennedy turned away from Buffy to look at Cordelia. The look on the cheerleader's face clearly said, 'not here'.
Kennedy just nodded.
Their silent communication was broken by Buffy's voice asking Giles if he had a minute to talk in private. That caught Willow and Cordelia's attention. Buffy never asked for private moments...whatever she had to say she said in front of all of them. Cordy looked at Willow and Kennedy not knowing what to do.
Willow was the one who decided, "maybe you two should get out of here while you can. If Buffy's asking for private chats she might be in a bad mood when she gets out."
"What about you?" Kennedy asked, concerned about Willow if Buffy was going to be in 'violent slayer bad mood' like Faith sometimes was.
Willow smiled, "I'll be ok. Buffy's my best friend she'll tell me what's going on. Go on now."
Cordy and Kennedy gathered their books and left the library, though Cordy was mostly pulling Kennedy against her will. Kennedy didn't want to desert Willow but she also didn't want to leave Buffy alone with Willow so soon after she'd found out about Kennedy's crush. Cordy knew though, that Buffy wouldn't tell Willow until she talked to Kennedy first to make sure she'd gotten it right. Buffy wasn't going to risk hurting her best friend over something she might've imagined.
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Cordy led Kennedy into the nearest girls' restroom so they could talk. After watching as Cordelia made sure they were alone Kennedy said what was on her mind.
"She knows, doesn't she?"
"'Yeah I think she does, sorry Kennedy." Cordy was truly sorry, she'd hoped that Kennedy's secret could remain a secret longer…she knew how much it hurt to be crushing on someone that you'd never have.
"It's fine...just hope she doesn't tell you know who." Kennedy really hoped that Buffy wouldn't feel the need to tell Willow about what she'd seen.
"No promises there but I'll talk to her if you want. Try to make her think she imagined it all."
"Thanks. But do you really think you can convince her of that?"
"Worth a shot. Now come on, we have one last class of the day and then we're free for the weekend. Hey, you wanna hang out tomorrow? Maybe go shopping or something?"
"Sounds good, as long as Faith doesn't end up needing me for anything."
Cordy grinned, she didn't know why but she liked Kennedy and wanted to be her friend…possibly because they were both crushing on people they'd never have.
Cordy and Kennedy left the restroom and headed for their last class of the day.
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Buffy and Giles were in his office with the door closed but she saw Cordy and Kennedy leaving through the glass window. She grinned, there was something going on that she needed to figure out. Cordy wasn't usually the type to befriend the new girl unless she thought there was something to be gained. Although, Cordy had changed a lot since she'd been hanging around with Buffy and her friends.
"So Buffy, you said you spoke to Faith?"
"Yeah. She told me about her watcher and she explained why she takes orders from Kennedy. They made a deal Giles that Faith would behave as long as Kennedy acted as her watcher."
"But Kennedy isn't a watcher. She is only a child."
"A child who learned everything from Faith's watcher and who will one day take up the Slayer mantle herself. Plus, I've seen them together and I gotta say they work great together. Their...arrangement...works for them so I was wondering, could you ask the council to allow Faith to remain here and have you be her official watcher?"
"Me? But I thought you said Kennedy was the only one Faith would acknowledge as her watcher."
"Well yeah but, I figure if the council thinks you're her watcher, they won't send a new one and Kennedy can finish learning about being a watcher from you while she keeps Faith in line. Its a win-win. Faith keeps Kennedy as her watcher and you get an assistant who knows what she's doing plus the added bonus of two slayers right here on the Hellmouth. What do you say?"
Giles thought about it. It made sense and that was what worried him. Then Giles thought about what he'd learned about Kennedy and her destiny as a slayer. It would be a great benefit for Kennedy to continue her training here with Faith and Buffy. She could learn a lot from both himself and Buffy about being a watcher and a slayer.
"Alright Buffy, you win. I'll give them a call right now."
"Thanks Giles! You're the best!" Buffy smiled and then left the office. She saw Willow sitting by herself and sat down on the desk, not yet ready to sit next to Willow with all the secrets she was suddenly keeping from her best friend.
The two friends smiled at each other, each not knowing what to say that wouldn't lead to an argument or lies. Luckily, Giles phone call didn't take very long and he soon exited his office with good news.
"The Council has approved our, well your, request Buffy. Faith and Kennedy are to stay here indefinitely and I am to look after all three of you until a new watcher is assigned."
"A new watcher? That wasn't part of the request Giles." Buffy said, a little ticked off now.
"I had no choice Buffy. While this is unprecedented, having two slayers in the same location for an extended period of time, the council has their rules and one of them is each slayer has her own watcher. Luckily, the council has enough on its plate that getting a new watcher for Faith isn't exactly high on their list."
"Good. She's been through a lot and I think a whole new watcher would just be more than she can handle right now. Just because she's a slayer doesn't mean she's invincible...or that I am either." Buffy paused a moment before deciding to tell her best friend and her watcher the truth about that final battle with Angel.
"Angel was cured."
"I'm sorry?" The random comment confused Giles for a moment.
Buffy began again, "When I killed him, Angel was cured." Buffy shifted her gaze from her watcher to her best friend, hoping that her face would help her get through the rough patch, "your spell worked at the last minute, Will. I was about to take him out, and um, something went through him...and he was Angel again."
Buffy didn't notice the look of guilt that came to Willow's face. She just finished what she had to say, for the second time that day and despite what she'd been told, it didn't get easier with time or repetition. "He--he didn't remember anything that he'd done. He just held me." Buffy lost herself in the memory for just a moment before, "um. But it was--it was too late and, I had to. So I told him that I loved him...and I kissed him...and I killed him." Buffy stopped then, trying to gather herself again while Willow and Giles each felt their own levels of guilt. Willow for succeeding with the spell and making Buffy kill the man she loved and not just the demon that wore his face.
Giles guilt came from all the prodding he'd done to get Buffy to talk. The spell he'd made up as a ruse to get Buffy to talk about it. He could see the pain on his slayer's face and it almost killed him. She was like a daughter to him and he was loathe to cause her pain.
Buffy finally composed herself enough to say, "I don't know if that helps with your spell or not, Giles."
Giles kept up the pretense, hoping one day he could tell her the truth, "yes, I believe it will."
"I'm sorry." It was all Willow could think to say. She didn't even think it was enough but it was all she had right then.
"It's OK. I've been holding on to that for so long. Felt good to get it out. I'll see you guys later." With that Buffy left the library. She had one more person she had to see and then she could focus on putting her past behind her and moving on with her future.
Back in the library Willow and Giles watched as Buffy left. When she was gone Willow turned to Giles, "Giles, I know you don't like me playing with mystical forces, but I can really help with this binding spell." Willow wanted to help, she wanted to do something to help her best friend who was obviously still hurting.
Giles came clean then, he stated quietly, "there is no spell." Giles walked back into his office and Willow realized that the spell was a ruse meant to get Buffy to talk about what had happened... Willow was once again reminded that Giles was craftier and sneakier than they normally gave him credit for and she smiled, glad he was on their side.
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It was the end of the last class of the day and Buffy had managed to find out where Scott's class was and she stood in the hallway waiting for him to come out as the last bell rang. She hoped she wasn't too late and that he'd give her a chance.
Scott walked out of the classroom, his backpack in his hand as he got ready to put it on his back.
Buffy stepped forward, "Scott."
Scott looked at Buffy and played it cool. "uh, hello." Scott wondered why Buffy was there but he was willing to stay and find out.
Buffy was nervous but, with Faith's words from earlier in her head, she kept talking, "Hey. Uh, I was, um, I was waiting for you to get out of class."
"Oh. Uh, why?"
Buffy decided to be honest but...vague. "Um...there was someone a while ago, and the ring sort of confused me. But I liked what you said about friendship. I liked it a lot and Buster Keaton--big fun. And I'm capable of big fun, even though there's no earthly way you could possibly know that about me. Wow, if I knew I was gonna go on this long I probably would've brought some water." Buffy paused as she realized she was babbling. "Uh, what I'm trying to say is, um...if you would still like to go to the film festival--and I would understand if you didn't--I'd pretty much love to go with you." Buffy stopped then waiting for Scott's reply.
Scott saw the irony of the situation...Buffy was doing pretty much what hed done earlier and so he knew how nervous she felt. He decided that since she'd had a little fun with him before he could have some with her now. "Um...I don't know Buffy. I'm really gonna have to think about this." He saw the look on her face and almost gave in then but he turned and took a few steps away before turning back and walking back to Buffy, "ok, I thought about it, and I'm in. When do you wanna go?"
Buffy smiled, she was getting her second chance and she wasn't going to blow it. There was one more thing she had to do, aside from telling Faith she would have to patrol solo tonight, "uh, well, I have one thing that I have to do tonight, and then I'm good. "
"Good."
They stood there smiling at each other before Scott said, "So, tonight's the first night of the festival. It starts at 8 so how about I pick you up at 7:30 and we grab a bite to eat first?"
"Sounds good." Buffy wrote down her address and gave it to Scott. Then they each turned and went in opposite directions.
Buffy walked out of the school's main entrance and saw Kennedy standing with Cordelia next to Cordy's car. Buffy walked up to them in time to hear Cordy ask, "are you sure you don't want a ride home?"
"Nah thanks Cordelia but Faith is coming to get me and if I'm not here she'll start to worry."
"Ok well I gotta get going, I have a mani pedi appointment in like twenty minutes. See you tomorrow!"
"Ok, bye Cordelia."
Cordy waved goodbye and then got into her car and drove away. Kennedy turned then and noticed Buffy standing a few feet away.
"Hey Buffy."
"Hi Kennedy. Waiting for Faith?"
"Yeah. "
"Mind if I wait with you?"
"Doesn't bother me."
Buffy and Kennedy stood in silence for a bit. Kennedy didn't know what to say to the blond slayer. She knew that Buffy had figured out her crush on her best friend but Kennedy didn't know how Buffy would react to it. If she hadn't already told Willow, maybe there was a way to get her to keep quiet about it.
Buffy, on the other hand, was wondering if what she thought she saw in Kennedy's eyes earlier in the library was real or just her over active imagination. But, as like with Faith earlier, Buffy didn't know how to ask Kennedy without scaring her away. If she was wrong, she might offend the younger girl and if she was right she'd scare her by letting her know that she knew. From what she'd seen though, it seemed as if Kennedy and Cordy were becoming friends and that Cordy also knew about Kennedy's crush on Willow.
"So, you and Cordy seem to be getting along really well."
"Yeah, she's been real nice to me even though I'm younger."
"Well you don't seem younger. You don't act younger is what I mean."
"Well that's probably because I've had to grow up a bit faster than most kids. Happens when parents split up and one parent is missing from the picture. I'm sure you've seen the signs in Dawn...and yourself."
Buffy thought about it and she realized that Kennedy was right but she'd never seen it before because she simply always thought it was the slayer thing that caused her to be more grown up. That responsibility that she ended up forcing onto Dawn when she'd come clean to her mom and little sister about being a slayer. "yeah I have."
Before Kennedy could say anything Faith pulled up to the curb in a Chrysler Sebring convertible. She honked the horn to get their attention and grinned when both girls looked at her with twin looks of surprise. Buffy and Kennedy walked up to the car, grinning.
"Faith, where did you get this car?" Kennedy asked, her watcher voice in place despite her grin.
Faith just kept smiling and said, "dad."
Buffy, not fully understanding Faith's answer decided to just accept it at face value. "Nice wheels Faith. I didn't know you had a driver's license."
"I do I just haven't used it much. I left my car in Boston when I came out here and decided I needed a car here too despite the smallness of this town. Hop in both of you I'll drop B off first."
Buffy and Kennedy got in the car with Buffy in the front seat after Kennedy and Faith exchanged a look. Faith drove confidently and Buffy was a little envious of that. She knew that cars weren't meant to be driven by her but she still held out hope for a day in the future.
Faith pulled up to Buffy's house a short time later. "Door to door service B. Want me to come get you for patrol later?"
"Actually Faith, I wanted to tell you that you might have to go solo tonight."
"Really? Why?"
"Well...I have a date."
"With the cutie from before? So I was right, wasnt I? C'mon you can say it I was right."
"Yes Faith you were right and we're going out tonight so can you handle patrol without me?"
"Of course B. Have fun."
"Ok, we'll be at the Sun Cinema in case you run into anything too big to handle ok?"
"Ok but don't worry about it B just go have fun."
"Thanks."
Buffy got out of the car and watched as Kennedy moved to the front seat. She waved goodbye then went towards her house.
Faith drove away and let Kennedy begin her interrogation.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Just after sunset, about half an hour before Scott was to pick her up at her house, Buffy found herself at Angel's mansion. There was one thing she still needed to do in order to be able to move on. Buffy held the ring Angel had given her so long ago in her hand as she walked to the center of the main room.
Her memories were assaulting her and she hoped she could get through this without breaking down. Buffy knelt down and looked at the ring one last time. She knew this was what she had to do but that didn't make it any easier.
Buffy whispered, "goodbye." Then placed the ring on the floor, stood up and walked out of the building, leaving behind all the negative emotions and hopefully some of her guilt as well.
Little did she know, after she was gone, a white light appeared in the ceiling and from it fell a figure. When the light dimmed, the figure was revealed. It was Angel, naked, sweaty, trembling, scared...but very much alive (as much as a vampire can be)...but was it Angel? Or was it Angelus, his soulless, evil demonic self? Only time would tell...
TBC...
