The first night in Cleveland was the longest in Buffy's life. She couldn't sleep at all. She couldn't stop thinking about Faith, Angel, her friends, the new job... It felt like her head would burst completely. At five in the morning she decided she'd just take a shower, go with her parents to the airport and then check in to the Cleveland Police Department.
The house was so quiet and Buffy cursed herself for making too much noise while walking, yawning, breathing...
She admired the bathroom, it was the coolest ever. There was a huge tub with a radio installed in and a massager. She could set up where she wanted the water to massage her and she just sat down and let the water cover her body from every side. It was like heaven and she never wanted to get out.
"Buffy?"-her mother knocked on the door and Buffy sighed and checked what time it was. She jumped a little when she realized she'd spent the whole out drowning in the waterfall. It felt so good, like really gentle fingers caressed her body. It definitely needed a soft touch...
"I'm coming!"-Buffy yelled and wrapped herself up in a towel.
"Honey are you ok? Did you get any sleep?"-Joyce asked, noticing how pale Buffy was.
"No, not really. I'll sleep later. Hopefully my first day at work won't suck."-Buffy said and headed to her room. She decided to dry her hair in there.
Joyce Summers was really worried about her daughter. She looked like a shadow of herself. Even the previous day, while they were all hanging out, Buffy was so distant. Her laughter sounded so fake, there was no shine in her beautiful green eyes and Joyce just hoped she'd get over this heartbreak soon.
She sighed sadly and went to take a quick shower. They really needed to get going.
Hank was already outside, talking to Jenny and Charles. Jenny was a really nice woman and she asked Charles to drive them to the airport. She didn't have to go to work till nine, so she didn't need him then.
Buffy dried her hair and put on her police outfit so she wouldn't have to go back from the airport, but just take a cab. She didn't wanna look like a mummy on her first day so she put on some light make up and lip gloss and went to have coffee with Jenny.
"You look like a model in a police uniform, not a cop."-Jenny smiled, thinking how cute the girl was.
"Well, thanks!"-Buffy smiled and wondered if Jenny was just being nice or actually flirting with her.
"You're welcome... When do you think you'll finish work? Do you wanna go out for lunch?"-Jenny asked and Buffy was sure that she indeed was flirting.
"I should be done by five if they don't want me to stay longer... Lunch sounds great."-Buffy agreed, thinking it could be a nice distraction. Jenny really was a good looking woman.
"It's a date then..."
"It's a...date?"-Buffy asked and Jenny just smiled, so Buffy got a bit nervous. Faith was the only woman she ever wanted and this was... too fast. And, we all know what Buffy is like when she's nervous. She babbles. This time was no different.
"Uh, a date it is. But, is it, you know, a date date or just a date?"
Jenny looked a bit confused and Buffy tried her best to explain:
"You see, a date date is a real date, where we, like, court each other. Oh god, I've just said 'court'! Well, you know, hmm, should I get you flowers or something? And a date is different than a date date, cause it's friendly, no courting, no flowers, no kisses, no sex... I'm not saying there would be any kisses or sex on a date date, but it could happen... Some people do it all the time.. Not that I'm one of those people, I've only slept with a couple of guys and a girl! One girl!"-Buffy said it so quickly she needed to catch a breath. Then she blushed and realized Jenny was watching her curiously, trying not to laugh.
"I've just made a complete fool of myself, haven't I? Cause you meant a friendly date, not a date date! You have to shut me up when I get like this!"
"Buffy... Honey, you're pretty and a real nummy treat, but I just don't lean that way. It's good you're so... honest. I like you."-Jenny smiled and Buffy turned really red.
"Oh, god, I'm so sorry... I'll understand if you don't want to go to lunch with me after my freaky babble fest!"
"No, lunch sounds great. I'd like to get to know you better since we're gonna live together...but, you don't have to bring me flowers."
"Check. No flowers. I should go now. I'll see you later... Call me."-Buffy said, wrote down her cell phone number and wondered if giving her number seemed like flirting to Jenny. Just to clear that up, she said:
"You're gonna need my number often, I guess... So, here it is. I'm not saying this seductively. God, I shouldn't be allowed to talk!"
"See you later, Buffy! Good luck at work!"-Jenny said, smiling. That girl really was something. She liked her and really looked forward to getting to know her better. But not to have a date date, or fun fun, but so she could find out what Rupert Giles has been up to. She always kind of had a crush on her British friend, but they were both too shy to act on it. Maybe someday they'd stop being so shy...
Buffy cursed herself for being so silly and just hoped she wouldn't get another babble attack at work. She didn't want her new collegues to think she was a basket case.
She called Willow and Tara's apartment while waiting outside for her parents and Dawn. There was no answer so she left a message:
"Hey guys. You're not here so I'll just talk to the machine. I'm about to go to the airport with my family and then starting my first day at work. Wish me luck! I don't wanna embarrass myself somehow, I've managed it once already today! And look at the time, it's quite early! Well, just wanted to let you know I'm ok, I live in a huge villa, and Jenny is really nice! She's quite pretty too, younger than I expected her to be! Anyway, call me later! I miss you guys already! Loveee you!"
Buffy never, in her wildest dreams didn't think her best friends wouldn't be the one who would hear her message.
Faith woke up early too and went to make herself a cup of instant coffee. She didn't wanna wake Willow and Tara up so she just took her cup and went out to have a cigarette.
While she was smoking outside, Buffy was sharing her monologue with her friends' phone.
The red light on the phone was blinking and since Faith had never had a phone with a voice mail, first she thought the red light meant the battery was dying. Then she realized there was a button and she pressed it.
Her heart beat faster when she heard Buffy's voice. She hoped Buffy would mention her at least once, but she didn't. Instead she mentioned some Jenny woman she lived with! Unbelievable! Faith was really hurt and angry and she went out for another cigarette, unsure if she should text Buffy or not.
She knew angry texts were never a good idea, but she couldn't help it. Buffy sounded so happy! She didn't know Buffy hadn't slept all night and was just hyper and really heartbroken, so she wrote:
"So, Jenny, ha? Damn, you've just left and already replaced me with a new girl! Fuck you!"
Then she turned off her phone, cause she didn't really want to know if Buffy had anything to say. Anger really took off her mind at that point and she just wanted to break something.
That little blonde already moved on, found a new life and a new woman and I'm here, unable to sleep cause of her scent that's all over the sheets!-Faith thought, left a note for Willow and Tara and went out. She really needed some fresh air. And a job, to keep busy and get Buffy out of her head.
Buffy was on the way to the airport when she saw Faith's text. What the hell was that about? How did Faith know about Jenny? And how the hell did she come to a conclusion that there was anything between her and Jenny? Buffy was confused, but also hurt cause Faith actually thought she could be with anyone else.
She wrote back: "I don't know how you know about Jenny, but I'm deeply offended by your accusation! I was awake all night thinking about you and you think I could just go fuck someone else!? I thought you knew me better. Bye."
Her eyes teared up a little and she quickly blinked the tears away. She wouldn't let that stupid text spoil her first day at work.
"Buffy? Are you ok?"-Dawn asked her and caught her hand gently.
"I'll start charging for that question. I'm ok, Dawnie. I'm gonna miss you."
"Never thought I'd say that, but I'm gonna miss you too..."-Dawn joked and kissed her sister.
Buffy punched her playfully and said: "I'm quite lovable, and you're a pain in the ass, so I should be the one surprised by the fact that I'm gonna miss you."
"Oh, bite me. Hey, are you gonna get in touch with Faith?"-Dawn whispered and Buffy confessed:
"I've just texted her, actually. Somehow she found out I live with Jenny and she accused me of having an affair."
"So, you're not really ok then?"
"I'm far from ok, Dawnie, but I'll be... Don't worry about me."
Dawn squeezed Buffy's hand tighter and smiled a little, hoping her sister really would be ok. She really looked broken lying in the garden after Faith had gone. Dawn really never wanted to see her broken like that again.
Willow and Tara woke up and their first thought was to go wake up Buffy.
Then they remembered Buffy had gone, but they still headed to her room to check on Faith.
The bed was empty and Willow said: "She must be downstairs..."
Faith wasn't there either, but then Tara noticed a note that said: "Needed to get out... You have one voice mail. I'll see you later. Faith."
"Voice mail?"-Willow asked and pressed the button. She smiled when she heard Buffy's voice and understood why Faith had left. Buffy mentioned another woman's name.
"Oh, jealousy..."-Tara muttered and dialed Faith's number. She didn't want her to do something stupid for no reason.
Faith's phone was turned off and Tara frowned. She didn't like it one tiny bit.
Faith went back home. She forgot to take Fluffy with her and she was lucky that Angel was still home.
"Faith. Where have you been?"-he asked.
"Around. I've just come to take the bunny."
"Buffy gave it to you."-Angel said, matter of factly.
"Yeah, she did. You don't wanna keep him, do you?"
"No, it's ok. I texted her yesterday, but she never replied."-Angel said, feeling a little silly because he was fighting with his own sister over a girl.
Faith turned on her phone and read Buffy's text. She was so relieved there was no other woman in Buffy's life and she felt stupid for going crazy like that. She just wanted to have Buffy back...
"She's ok... She's starting her job today. We both lost her, huh?"-Faith said, hoping it wasn't like that. She decided she would get a job and buy herself a ticket to Cleveland. Buffy was really one of a kind and Faith swore to herself she wouldn't let her go.
"Sorry, Faith, I gotta go to work. Take care of the bunny."
"I will.. See ya, A."
"See ya, sis."