Chapter Six: Confusion and Desertion
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Faith snapped, pushing Kennedy back a few feet.
"It's none of your business, Faith."
"Right. None of my business. You're up in Red's room, going through her clothes and it's none of my business?" Faith asked in disbelief.
As she was walking over, Buffy came to a stop a few feet from them at Faith's words.
"You what?" Buffy snapped, walking over to Kennedy in anger.
"Its not your concern," Kennedy told Buffy, anger in her voice.
"Willow is my concern. When you're going into her room, it's my concern," Buffy said, glaring at Kennedy.
"She's not your girlfriend. She's your friend. I have a chance." Kennedy snapped.
"You don't have a chance. When are you going to get that? Red's not interested," Faith told her.
"She just hasn't realized she's interested. I'm right for her," Kennedy defended.
"No you're not. You're the last thing Willow could want or need," Buffy said to her.
"And what? Do you think you're right for her?" Kennedy asked, stepping towards Buffy with her hands clenched.
Buffy froze, unable to respond to the question. After staying silent for a few moments, Faith and Kennedy turned to Buffy in surprise. "Oh my god. You do," Kennedy said in disbelief.
"Back off Slayer Jr," Faith growled, pushing Kennedy back a few steps. "Get inside and start training with the others. Now!"
As Kennedy rushed off in anger, Faith turned to Buffy. "You alright, B?"
"I don't know," Buffy muttered, running a hand through her hair. "She's Willow, Faith. She's my best friend, and yet I can't seem to remember that. When I'm around her, all I can think about is how cute her smile is or how bright her eyes are."
Faith nodded in understanding. "You're in love with your best friend."
"I don't know. I feel something for her, but I don't know what it is," Buffy admitted, frowning as she looked at Faith.
"You'll figure it out, B. You and Red always had something. At least since I knew you, but you had Angel and, Red had dogboy. Then Red got Blondie and you got the good ol boy."
Buffy smiled slightly at Faith's words. "Thanks, Faith," Buffy said, looking at her sister slayer.
Rushing into the house and to her room, Willow closed her door and grabbed a bag from the closet. She quickly started filling it, feeling tears fall from her eyes and thoughts of Tara and Buffy battled inside of her. Grief and guilt were the two things that Willow knew well, and now they seemed to have gotten stronger.
I almost kissed Buffy, Willow thought. I almost kissed my best friend. My straight best friend.
Willow frowned as she reached out and picked up the picture of Tara sitting on the dresser. "I wish you were here, Baby. I need you right now. You were the only one I could always talk to about everything. I miss you, Baby," Willow whispered, running her finger over Tara's smiling face.
Willow stood there in silence for a few moments before reaching over and setting the picture back in its place on her dresser. Willow finished silently packing the bag, and started to walk out her door when she stopped at the sight of Xander standing there with his fist raised to knock.
"You're leaving?" he asked, seeing the bag in Willow's hand.
"I have to, Xander. I'm not ready to be around everyone yet. I thought I was, but I'm not," Willow said, dropping her head so that Xander couldn't see the secrets in her eyes.
"What are you hiding, Will?" Xander wondered, reaching out to lift Willow's face so she was looking at him.
"I'm not hiding anything. I just need to get out of here. I need to go," Willow told him, trying to look away again.
"Will?"
"Xander, please. I can't do this. I can't stay here. Please," Willow pleaded, attempting to back away from him.
"Will? What happened?"
"Please," she whispered, looking at him with pleading eyes.
"Alright, Will. Are you going to say goodbye to Buff?"
"I can't. I just...I need to leave now, Xander. I need to get away," Willow told him again.
"Okay, Will. I'll let Buff know that you had to go," he promised, pulling her into a tight hug and kissing the top of her head. "I love you, Will."
"I love you too," she whispered, before rushing down the stairs and out of the house. Tossing her bag into the backseat of her car, Willow slipped into the driver's seat and drove away.
Deciding it was time to talk, Buffy headed upstairs, looking for Willow. Opening the redhead's bedroom door after knocking, Buffy frowned at the empty room. "Will?" she called out, walking into the room and seeing that somethings were missing.
"She left. She looked freaked," Xander said, looking at his friend. "She didn't want to wait around to say goodbye. I think something happened."
"She's gone?" Buffy asked, looking at Xander in confusion.
A/N: Thank you gimpy72 for being a beta for this chapter and this story.
