Twelve: Confusion

Author's Note- The title doesn't even begin to cover it. The body swap bit, it's a challenge but basically you know that Buffy is in Faith's body and Faith is in Buffy's body so I I will still refer to them as they are rather than who they look like, I think I've cleared that up...

Enjoy! x

Faith entered Buffy's home and smiled to herself. She could get used to living here but with Buffy running around in Faith's body, it was still something of a problem.

Joyce came through from the kitchen and smiled at Faith who looked like her daughter.

"Buffy, I'm glad you came home. I haven't see you in a while."

Faith frowned.

"You haven't?"

Joyce gave her a small, confused frown.

"Well I guess what with college and everything-"

"College, yeah, sure. I've been studying and...stuff." She said awkwardly.

Joyce gave her a small smile.

"It's alright. I'm just glad you're home. I've made dinner, do you want some?"

"Yeah, sure."

Faith followed Joyce into the kitchen.

"So I heard that Faith woke up. Have you seen her?"

Faith licked her lips and tasted the blonde slayer rather than herself, which was a rather pleasant shock.

"Uh... yeah."

"The police are still looking for her you know."

"I know."

"Are you going to see if she'll turn herself in?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah."

Then an idea popped into her head and she smiled.

She knew exactly how she could live little Miss Perfect's life and get rid of her own problem at the same time.

"Actually, I should go round up the guys and come up with a plan to get Faith locked away for good."

Joyce nodded as Faith started to leave.

"I do feel sorry for her though." She said softly.

Faith frowned and came back into the kitchen, one had on the door frame.

"You do?"

Joyce nodded.

"I mean, she's nothing like you but I think she's troubled. Deeply troubled and I think maybe all she wants is someone to understand her, to be there for her."

"Yeah...maybe." She replied distantly.

"Anyways, I gotta run, see ya."

Joyce frowned a little as the girl who looked like her daughter walked out.

...

Buffy headed for Giles' house. He'd know what to do. He always did.

She raised her hand to knock and then realised that he'd never let her in, looking like this, looking like Faith.

She walked straight in and Giles glared at her.

"I wondered when you-"

"Giles it's me." Buffy said but it was Faith's voice that spoke.

"I know it's you."

"No, I mean...I'm Buffy."

Giles stared at the dark haired girl.

"You don't look like Buffy."

"I know. Faith had this thing and she switched our bodies."

Giles looked her up and down.

"How do I know you're telling me the truth."

"Because...well, I don't know exactly but shouldn't you know anyway? Can't you just tell? Like I did with you when you turned into a demon?"

Giles did look at her but all he saw was Faith.

"I don't see Buffy in there at all. Now there is one way to settle this, you come and sit down-" He began, pulling out a chair for her but never taking his eyes off of her

-"And I'll tie you to it until we decide that you are who you say you are."

Buffy rolled her eyes and went to the chair.

She didn't have time for this but Giles needed to be sure.

She let him tie her to the chair and fidgeted slightly.

"Something wrong?" Giles asked lightly.

"It feels weird being in her body. She's so tense. She needs a massage."

Giles stood back and looked at her.

"Well I suppose if you were Faith, you wouldn't have let me tie you up."

"Exactly. Now do you believe me?"

Giles looked doubtful.

"I'm not sure. I'll need Willow to perform a spell to confirm it."

Buffy rolled her eyes, well... Faith's eyes.

"And how long will that take? Giles, she could be anywhere by now and did I mention she has my body?"

Giles nodded.

"I'll call Willow right away."

Meanwhile...

Faith was at the bronze, dancing with any guy (or girl) who looked her way.

The music stopped and the band said that they were going to take a break, so she went and took a seat on one of the couches in the corner.

Willow approached her with another girl that Faith hadn't seen before.

"Buffy! Hi!"

What? Oh, yeah...I look like her. Faith thought bitterly, even though being in Buffy's body gave her the freedom that she didn't have in her own body.

"Hey, Willow. What's up?"

Willow looked back at the girl and gave her a reassuring smile.

"Buffy this is Tara. Tara, Buffy."

Tara gave Faith a nervous little wave.

Faith only nodded.

Willow smiled.

"I'm just gonna get some drinks. You want one?" She asked Faith.

Faith shook her head and watched as Tara sat on the couch opposite her.

"W-Willows' told me a lot about you. It's nice to-to meet you."

"You nervous, girl?"

Tara blinked and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Um...no. It's just."

Faith sat back, realising that she should at least just try to play nice.

"So, you and Willow been friends long?"

Tara shook her head.

"Only a little while but she's amazing. I've never met anyone like her." She said, a soft smile curling the shy girl's lips that had Faith looking slightly amused as she realised that Red was now batting for the other team.

"She's full of surprises. So are you two exclusive?"

Tara looked shocked and shook her head.

"N-no...she's- I mean, I'm, we're not-"

Faith held up a hand.

"Ok, I get it. Don't bust a gut tryna explain it, jeez."

Tara put her head down as Willow came back with two drinks; one for herself and another for Tara.

"So, what have you guys been talking about?"

Faith grinned slyly but with Buffy's mouth, it looked pleasant.

"Nothin' much. Tara's just been telling me what an amazing friend you are."

Willow smiled at Tara and Faith could've laughed.

Little Buffy didn't know her best friend was keeping her own little secret.

Mind you, she doubted Willow knew about her and Faith.

Faith stretched uncomfortably.

She needed to get out of here.

"I'm gonna go slay a few vamps."

Willow nodded and Faith grinned down at Tara as she stood.

"It was nice meeting you, Tara. We should do it again sometime."

Tara didn't nod or say anything but Willow seemed completely oblivious.

Faith headed for the college, intent on finding Buffy's dorm room.

It wasn't too difficult but when she got there, she saw that guy that Buffy had been kissing at Giles' place.

She grinned as she shut the door.

He stood, smiling at her like a love sick puppy.

"Buffy. I just came by to see you."

Ah, this must be Riley.

Faith walked into the room, shutting the door behind her.

"Well here I am. Did you come by for..." She left the sentence hanging, seeing what way he would respond.

"Uh, no, not if you-"

Faith wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I do wanna. Do you?"

Riley put his hands on her hips and gave her a gentle kiss.

"I don't want to pressure you. If this isn't what you want then I-"

"Why wouldn't I? Now shut up and get on the bed."

Riley frowned.

"You feeling ok?"

Faith nodded but she had a frown on her face.

"Yeah, sure. You wanna do this or what?"

In truth, Faith just wanted to hurt Buffy in any way possible and she wasn't sure if this was the way to go. She figured Riley was like all the other horny college guys; lookin' to get off and then disappear soon as they got what they wanted. So why was this Riley acting like he actually cared?

She pushed the question away and pushed Riley down onto the bed, straddling him and pressing harsh kisses to his lips.

He pulled back a little.

"You're acting really strange, Buffy. Are you ok?"

"Five by five. Now lets do this." She said impatiently, leaning into him.

"Five by five? Where did that come from?"

Faith sighed and crawled back off of him.

"If you're gonna be all prissy, then I'm not doing this. I didn't think there would be this much talking."

Riley stood and wrapped his arms around what he thought was his girlfriend.

"I just want you to be sure this is what you want. I remember what a dick Parker was to you."

Faith frowned.

"Parker?" She said softly. The name sounded strange to her, probably because she didn't know who this Parker was.

"Yeah. I know he made you think he cared about you, got what he wanted and then took off. He was a real jerk."

Faith licked her lips.

Poor B.

What? No, she didn't care what Buffy went through or had been through.

Everybody went through their own shit and they just had to suck it up and deal with it.

"You remember when he was gloating about it to everyone until I shut him up with a punch." He said with a light chuckle.

He turned her around and made her look up at him.

She still had a frown on her face.

"You're special, Buffy, and even though you don't need it, I want to take care of you."

Faith backed out of his hold and frowned at him.

"What is this?"

Riley frowned.

"What's what?"

"Why are you being like this? Do you love her?"

"Love who? Buffy, you're not making sense."

"Me, I mean do you love me?" Faith amended, momentarily forgetting that she was in Buffy's body.

"Of course I love you. I wanted to wait for the prefect moment to say it but maybe this is it." He said with a warm smile.

He came forward to hold her again when she put up a hand to stop him.

"I gotta go." She muttered, heading out the door.

"Why?" Riley asked.

Faith stopped and looked at him.

"Because it's not you I want."

Giles had finally managed to get ahold of Willow and both her and Tara had come over straight away.

Tara had told Willow what she thought and as soon as Willow saw Buffy in Faith's body, she knew that Tara was right.

Giles had been convinced and now Buffy was looking for Faith before she decided to leave town.

She went to Faith's old apartment but she wasn't there.

Then Buffy realised something.

Faith didn't have to hide anymore. She could live in Buffy's house and no one would say anything.

She stopped walking.

That meant her mom was in danger.

Buffy turned and ran straight for her house.

She hoped she didn't get there too late.

Author's Note: So what's waiting for Buffy at her house? Hint, it isn't her mom.