AN: Buffy has that guidance counselor job at the high school just to let you know.
Special thanks to angeljenni5and shezrecklessx for the reviews :) Come on people, I know you're reading, try and leave a review :)
It had only been two days since Faith had left. Buffy lay down on her bed facing the ceiling, riddled with guilt. Thoughts flew in and out of Buffy's mind but all of them revolved around Faith.
I don't like Faith. At all. Not even one bit. Okay, so that's a lie. But what am I supposed to do? I can't let her in.
Buffy thought back to the first time she met Faith. Buffy knew the instant she saw her that she was her new slayer. Yes, her new slayer. They had that connection that no one else would ever understand.
Buffy's mind drifted further as she thought about all their synchronized slay-age and nights they wasted dancing at the Bronze.
Those were the nights Buffy felt the best. Free. Faith brought out those fun characteristics that Buffy thought she lost through all the almost-end-of-the-world experiences.
Buffy rolled over onto her stomach, pushing her face into the pillow. What am I supposed to do?
The answer to her question lightly knocked on her door.
"Go to bed whoever you are. There's school tomorrow." Buffy's voice was muffled as she replied to the knock.
"It's me, B."
Buffy instantly froze. She wasn't ready to face Faith. She didn't know if she could control herself around the dark slayer.
Faith didn't wait for the okay. She opened the door and walked into the room, a sense of determination radiating off of her. Buffy knew the look as she had seen it each and every time they went on patrol.
"Look, I know I was supposta wait for you to come to me and everythin'…but I at least want an answer, B. I wanna know why you aren't willing to give us a shot."
Buffy sat up and fiddled with the pillow she had put on her lap. "I don't know."
"Don't give me that shit. You know why. Just tell me. I can take it." Faith sat down beside Buffy.
Buffy sighed. "I'm afraid of you Faith."
A flicker of surprise went across Faith's features. "What?"
"I… I was devastated when Angel went evil. I had to kill him Faith."
Faith tried really hard not to go on the defensive. She whispered, "Are you afraid I'm gonna go evil again? I thought you understood that was behind me, B." Faith put on a nervous smirk. "I'm for the good guys and whatever now."
"It's not that, Faith. I believe in you, you know that. I know you aren't evil."
"Then what is it?"
"I'm afraid of losing you. I made Angel turn in to Angelus. I was only good enough to be a fuck for Parker, and I even made Riley feel so alone that I drove him to vampires! Bad things happen when I decide to care for someone. I'm like cursed or something."
Faith was quiet for a moment until she burst out laughing.
"Are you serious right now? This isn't funny. I just bared my heart to you!" Buffy replied incredulously.
"B. I'm a slayer. I'm your match. I can take care of myself…" Faith wrapped her arm around Buffy's shoulders, bringing the blonde slayer closer to her. "And I can handle you and that curse you think you have."
Buffy smiled and leaned in towards Faith. She grazed Faith's lips before pulling back. "I want to try this Faith but I want to go slow. And I want it to be a secret…for now anyway."
"I'm down with that."
SUNNYDALE (The next morning)
Brooke walked hand in hand with Rachel towards Peyton's car to overhear Peyton and Dawn bickering like five year olds.
"Oh yeah, well, you have a really stupid name." Peyton remarked.
"I do not."
"Actually, now that I think about it, you all have stupid names!"
"We do not!"
Peyton smirked. "I have Faith that the Buff man will propose to his girlfriend by the Willow tree at Dawn."
Dawn crossed her arms in defeat and looked out of the window. "You suck."
Peyton did a small victory dance involving some old school 70's dance moves.
"Well that's something I don't see everyday." Rachel murmured as Brooke yelled at the two to stop arguing.
The foursome drove to school in silence besides Peyton's music blaring. When they were about a minute away, Peyton spoke up.
"Rachel, quick, check my pulse!"
"What? Why?"
"I think I died and went to heaven. Brooke is actually not talking for once."
"Ha, ha. Very funny, Sawyer." Brooke sarcastically replied from the back seat.
"You know me. Queen of comedy."
Twenty minutes later, Peyton and Rachel were sitting at a library table with Brianne. It was their free period and usually Brooke was around but she had gone to Buffy's office to talk about the training planned for that night.
"So, what's your deal Peyton? You've been weird lately."
Peyton scoffed. "My deal? What's your deal? You're the one who has been jumping anytime anyone says the name Faith."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, come on, Rachel. Just admit it."
"Fine. I had sex with Faith."
Bri and Peyton instantly let out gasps as Rachel covered her mouth.
"I have no idea why I just told you that. Please don't tell Brooke. Please." Rachel begged.
"We won't." Bri promised.
SUMMERS HOUSE (later that evening)
Rachel and Brooke were down in the training room with Faith and Buffy. They were supposed to be working on getting the Chosen Three to work together but it was almost pointless without the third member.
"Where the hell is she?" Faith asked as she watched Brooke punch a punching bag.
"I…don't….know." Brooke replied in between punches.
Rachel appeared in front of Faith. "Can we just have the night off? I'm getting the hang of this invisibility thing and this whole 'teamwork' thing doesn't work without the actual team."
Faith looked towards Buffy for her approval. Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "Fine. But this is the first and last time this kind of thing happens."
THE BRONZE
Rachel and Brooke walked into the Bronze like they owned the place. "Let's have some fun tonight." Brooke smirked. She grabbed her girlfriend's hand and led them to the dance floor.
Rachel wrapped her arms around Brooke, pulling her close to her body. Brooke's back was to Rachel as the two found the rhythm of the song. The redhead rested her hands on Brooke's hips and Brooke put her hands on top of them. There intimacy grew as the song continued. Rachel playfully let her hand slip to Brooke's butt.
Brooke laughed. "Rachel!" She grabbed the offending hand and put it back to her hips.
The brunette titled her head and looked up at her girlfriend. "You are so hot." Brooke whispered huskily into Rachel's ear. "If we were out-of-the-closet, I would be kissing you right now."
Rachel felt a surge of desire rip through her. "Don't tease me."
"I'm not teasing…just being honest."
"Want me to be honest?"
"Sure."
"I uh…I love you too." Brooke beamed and was about to kiss Rachel when she realized where they were.
"Wanna go home?"
Before Rachel got the chance to answer Brooke cut her off. "Oh my god. There's Peyton with that Brianne chick." Brooke pointed to a back table. Peyton had successfully ruined the moment.
Brooke stormed over to the two. "Peyton! We were supposed to…" Brooke trailed off as she felt Bri's gaze upon her. "...well, we had a thing. Remember?"
"Obviously not." Peyton snapped back. "Get off my back."
"Peyton what is the matter with you? You know our…thing…is important!"
Peyton stood up and got in Brooke's face. "I think you should do a little less worrying about me, and a lot more worrying about your girlfriend."
Peyton spun Brooke around. She glanced into the crowd to see Rachel dancing with Faith in a very friendly way. They were much more apart than Brooke and Rachel had been. Their hands her carelessly interlaced in the air.
"What? Faith? They're just friends."
"Really? Do friends usually have sex?"