"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM BROOKE

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM BROOKE!"

Brooke and Buffy pulled away at hearing the voice. They looked around but couldn't see anyone.

Invisible Rachel pushed Brooke off of Buffy. "Rachel." Buffy whispered.

Without hesitation, Rachel sat on top of Buffy and pushed her shoulders down to prevent the slayer from moving. "Are you crazy? How dare you take advantage of her?" Rachel asked in a hushed tone, she didn't want Brooke overhearing her. "She loves me, Buffy. Me!"

Rachel had the sudden urge to hit the blonde slayer, but she didn't. She sighed in frustration and walked away.

Brooke rushed to Buffy's side. "Are you okay? And what the hell was that about?"

"Fine. It was nothing; I guess Faith gave her a test or something. She, uh, had to stay invisible long enough to knock me down. And she passed." In more ways than one.

"Oh, okay. I think we should get back to what we were doing…" Brooke smiled mischievously and leaned in towards Buffy.

"Yeah, training."

Brooke sighed. "So not what I was thinking."

"Okay. Lesson number one. You should always know your environment. The way it can help or hurt you…" Buffy rambled about the importance of being aware of what was around you.

But she couldn't help but think of Rachel's words. She had slipped up. She had kissed Brooke. She had fallen for a curse. Brooke didn't really love her. Buffy knew she had to watch herself; she couldn't let herself feel anything for Brooke, because her feelings would be real.

A crypt on the other side of the cemetery…

Rachel leaned against the dank crypt wall and slid down it. She wrapped her arms around her knees and stared through the darkness. "How'd you find me?" Rachel asked the figure in the shadows.

"I'm a super slayer with wicked good hearing."

Rachel laughed. "No, really."

"Fine, you aren't invisible anymore so it wasn't that hard."

Rachel looked down at herself. "Oh yeah, you're right."

Faith walked over to the same wall and slumped down next to the cheerleader. "Are you okay, Red?"

"No." Rachel answered honestly. "Are you?"

Faith scoffed and replied sarcastically, "Five by five, Red."

"This really sucks."

"I know."

A moment of silence passed and Faith looked over at Rachel. "Hey, you're invisible again."

"I think I'm learning how to control it." Rachel replied with little enthusiasm. "I just have to focus."

Another moment of silence passed. "She made me feel."

Faith's face filled with confusion. "Huh?"

"I slept with so many guys before I met her. And each time I felt nothing. And then when I moved to Tree Hill and met her…My life changed. I changed. It's not just about seeing her with another girl. I miss her. Touching her, kissing her, holding her. Hell, even fighting with her. And it's only been like two days."

Faith threw her arm around Rachel in a comforting gesture. "Sounds like love, Red."

Rachel had to choke back a sob. Faith confirmed something that scared the hell out of Rachel. She loved Brooke and messed up by not telling her.

"We will find a way to break this curse. I promise."

Rachel looked at Faith's eyes and then down at her lips. Without thinking, Rachel savagely attacked Faith's lips with her own. Faith returned the gesture.

"This means nothing." Rachel mumbled as she ripped off Faith's jacket.

"I've done this way more times than you have. I'm the queen of it meaning nothing."

MAGIC BOX

"Just feel the magic coursing through you…follow your instincts and don't be afraid…" Tara calmly said to the meditating Peyton. "Breathe…"

Peyton took a deep inhale and then exhaled slowly. She opened her eyes. "All I feel like I'm doing is taking up all the oxygen in the room."

Tara sighed. "Peyton if you don't believe in what we are trying to teach you will never be able to control your power. Now try it again."

Peyton rolled her eyes but retook her meditation stance. Willow walked in with a giant book that she hastily threw on the table.

Peyton jumped at the unexpected noise. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"I was testing you. You shouldn't let anything distract you."

"Why can't I just do what you guys do? Aim, mumble a few weird languages, and then the monster goes poof."

"We both started where you are right now. Besides, you know that isn't how your powers work."

Tara stepped forward and grabbed Peyton's hand. "Watch, I'll do it with you."

A crypt on the other side of the cemetery…

"No one can find out that just happened." Faith said as she pulled her jeans on and buttoned them.

"I know."

Rachel and Faith awkwardly put the rest of their clothes on. "No more training tonight. Let's just find the Bs and go home."

Rachel and Faith walked in silence.

Rachel silently cursed herself. Does it count as cheating?