Chapter fifty- Off-Centre

A/N: This chapter took the longest to write. It was pretty hard to write as well but I finally got it done. People better review this very long chapter because I spent ages on it. Also it turned into being my longest chapter ever.

Thanks to Pencil Gal, SlayrGrl55, Yoz, Maliek, Puffy Marshmallow, Sierra, and Mikkifavo for reviewing my Fanfic at some point since I wrote my last author's note.

I have been busy with school and other stuff lately and I had writers block as well at some points so that is why it has taken me this long to post my next chapter.

I hope you all like the chapter. It's a little different but different is good. Plus there is quite a lot going on so I hope everyone can understand what is going on and don't get too confused.

Enjoy!

SlayGal a.k.a Michaela

Kaboom! Bang! Crash! Pop! Smash! Thud!

"What was that?" asked Jezza.

Jezza, Steve, Roxie, Faith and Craig all ran to the direction of where the sound came from.

The next minute they found themselves standing at the edge of the kitchen looking at a blown up microwave. Popcorn was everywhere. It was on the floor, the walls, in the cupboards, and in the sink.

"What happened here?" asked Mrs. Linton.

Jezza answered with, "Well someone wasn't watching the popcorn and the microwave exploded while cooking the popcorn."

"Who was cooking the popcorn?"

They all looked at Steve. Steve had the guiltiest face ever.

"Steve. I'd like to have a private word with you."

Steve and Mrs. Linton went off into another room to talk. The rest of them all burst out laughing at once.

After Steve had talked to his mother they all headed upstairs to Steve's room.

"So what's high school been like Steve?" asked Roxie starring into space thinking about all the cute high school guys she would meet in a few years time.

"It's been alright I suppose. By the way does anyone know where Kenny is? He said he'd come tonight," said Steve forgetting about answering Roxie's question properly.

Roxie noticed how Steve just changed topics suddenly and glared at him. Steve had no idea what was going on with that girl and decided to just ignore her behaviour which was not what Roxie wanted at all. She was feeling left out of the group lately even though they included her in just about everything. Roxie just didn't seem to be happy at this time in her life, which was rather odd since she had everything going for her, just about. Her parents were happily married, she was going well at school getting pretty high marks, she got just about everything she wanted, she had great friends… but lately Roxie wasn't too sure if her friends were really that great.

"Well weren't you the last one to see Kenny since you were at school with him today?" asked Faith.

"True but I thought maybe one of you've talked to him on the phone, or something."

"Nope didn't hear from him," said Craig.

"Me either," said Roxie.

"So you all sleeping over tonight?" asked Steve looking towards Faith.

Craig answered with, "Yeah I am but you already knew that Steve."

"Oh yeah, forgot that. Oops!"

"In other words Steve, yes Faith is sleeping over tonight," said Jezza smiling from ear to ear.

Faith tried not to blush but she just couldn't help herself and Craig started to burst out laughing. Jezza just smiled and Roxie looked pissed off. Jezza looked over towards Roxie and Roxie made a fake smile expression like everything was okay but Jezza could tell something was up.

Steve and Craig started attacking each other and the girls just ignored them and their immature behaviour.

"Faith. I just want to talk to Roxie privately for a second okay. I think something is up with her. She's acting all weird but I don't think she is going to admit why out loud or anything so I'm going to have a quick word with her. You okay with that?"

Faith started to reply with, "Yeah I'm fine with that. But I think…," but was interrupted.

"Don't worry you'll be fine in the room with the guys."

"I'm not.."

"You'll be fine."

Jezza got up from the spot where she was sitting on the floor and Faith just rolled her eyes at the last thing Jezza had said. Jezza went and whispered something in Roxie's ear and the two of them quickly left the room and started walking towards the end of the hallway. Jezza had closed the door behind her so Faith couldn't even try to over hear what they were talking about exactly.

Faith sat there staring around Steve's room. She glanced over at the guys; they were still fighting, well attacking each over and rolling around on the floor.

In the middle of fighting with Craig, Steve looked up and noticed that only Faith was left in the room now and that Jezza and Roxie had left for some reason. As soon as he saw Faith he paused and stopped fighting with Craig altogether. Craig started attacking Steve some more.

"Quit it!"

Craig suddenly stopped being immature… well not completely but partially.

Faith tried not to look at Steve directly because she felt awkward being near him at the moment. Steve looked at Faith but tried not to be so obvious if you know what I mean.

There was silence mixed with stares in the room. Craig noticed what was going on and decided he would be the one to break the silence but before he could speak one word the doorbell rang.

Faith quickly got up from where she was sitting and opened the door to the room to go see who was here. Steve and Craig also got up to go downstairs as well.

Once the whole gang were downstairs they found Kenny standing at the bottom the stairs and Mrs. Linton went off to cook dinner.

"Hey guys. Sorry I was late but my brother came to town and so did the whole band so I was catching up with them."

"Your in a band?" asked Faith checking she heard right.

"Yeah. I play the drums while my brother Chuck plays the lead guitar. Also we have two more members of the band and they are Alana and Danny. Danny plays the bass guitar and Alana is the singer."

"How long have you been playing the drums for?"

"Well I think I've been playing for about three years now."

"Anyways enough about me for the time being, what's been happening with all of you? Anything special happened?"

Faith, Jezza, Steve, Roxie and Craig all looked at each other and then looked at Kenny. They looked rather suspicious to Kenny.

"No not really," answered Roxie.

Jezza burst out with, "Steve blew up the microwave!"

"When was this?"

"Oh maybe an hour ago or so. It was 'so' funny."

"It wasn't that funny," said Steve embarrassed.

"No it was that funny," said Faith smiling looking towards Steve.

"Whatever. Can we talk about something else now?" asked Steve trying to change the topic.

The six of them started walking up stairs to Steve's room. The meetings were always held in Steve's room because more people could fit in his room.

"I heard that certain people were talking about me at school the other day," said Kenny bringing the conversation back to being about himself.

"You wish!" said Jezza.

"That would have been Lulu and Natalie," added Faith.

"Who are they?"

"Who are they?! They are the most annoying people EVER! They're known as the Stanfin twins."

"I'm sure you'll get the chance to meet them soon since it's 'so' obvious they like you. But then again they like any guy just coz they are a guy. They have crushes on all of the high school guys even Steve. Can you believe that? They have a crush on Steve," said Jezza.

"Not really," replied Kenny.

"Self-centred much?" said Steve.

"I'm just more good looking you know."

"In your dreams."

"And you think you're good looking?"

"Ah huh."

Kenny started to laugh.

"Stop that it's not funny. It's not as funny as how cool you think you are."

"I am cool."

"Hmm yeah."

"What's 'that' supposed to mean?"

"Whatever you want it to mean."

"Guys! Guys! Cut it out!" yelled Faith.

Steve automatically stopped. Kenny started to realise something was going on between the two, well at least one of them.

"Anyways Kenny, Lulu and Natalie always have a crush on the new guy, like a big one but then it slowly goes away and they have a crush on you just like the ones with all the other guys in high school. They've like always liked the high school guys since they entered middle school and I think once they enter high school they'll start liking college guys. This is just how it works and how it's always been. So soon all of this will be over for you guys and you won't have to worry about them," said Jezza giving the guys a wink at the end.

"Aww don't feel left out Craig. I'm sure some chick will think you're cute while your in high school, you just wait," said Kenny.

"Hey Roxie! Are your parents still having that party next week?" asked Jezza trying to include Roxie in the conversation.

"Yeah they are."

"Are we still invited over then?"

"Yep and so is Kenny."

"What's the party for this time?" asked Steve.

"Another work party I guess."

"Oh! I just realized something. I can't go to the party Roxie. My brother told me today that we have a gig in Winslow next week."

"Maybe we could go to that instead," suggested Faith.

"Yeah that's a great idea," said Jezza.

"Yeah great idea," added Craig.

Jezza started to giggle, "We could be ya groupies."

"I'm so not being a groupie," said Faith, "It's just not my 'thing.'"

"What is your thing?" asked Jezza laughing.

"Shut up Jezza."

"I'll be a groupie. I've heard being a groupie is fun," said Jezza.

"Umm I don't need groupies Jezza."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positively sure."

"Okay then, don't say I didn't offer."

"Craig…" said Jezza.

"Yeah."

"Is your sister going to the Winslow dance competition?"

"Umm I think so, why?"

"Oh I was just wondering because I might go."

"You're going to go in the competition?" asked Steve sounding surprised.

"Yeah."

"This is so totally not you."

"Well it sounds like fun and I wanna go in it."

"No offence sis, but have you seen yourself dance?"

"Yes. And what is that supposed to mean?" said Jezza glaring at Steve.

"Maybe you should just practice your dancing and think about this some more."

"No. I've thought about it enough and I'm gonna go in it and you're not going to ruin this for me Steve."

"I'm not trying to ruin it for you, I'm just trying to help you. Katie is just a better dancer than you."

"Well it doesn't matter if Craig's sister is a better dancer than me or not because we won't be in the same age group anyways and stop trying to ruin this idea of mine."

"For the second time, I'm not trying to ruin this for you. Trust me I'm not."

"Faith, will you go in the competition with me? We'll be in the same age group and we can practice together."

"Jezza. Maybe this isn't Faith's thing either," said Roxie sounding dry and cold.

Faith was tied between answers. She could go in the dance competition even though she really didn't want too but go to make her friend feel better and prove Roxie wrong or say no and let Roxie seem as though she was right all along. To tell you the truth, Faith really didn't want to go in the competition because truthfully this wasn't really Faith's thing and deep down Jezza knew this.

Roxie gave a cold, hard long stare at Faith. Roxie was freaking Faith out totally and Jezza gave her look like Faith's answer was the biggest answer ever and was going to determine whatever happened next in life.

Both answers were ones that had no real good outcomes but Faith decided to say, "I'm sorry," began Faith.

Roxie mumbled under her breath at the same time, "I knew it."

"I just can't go in the competition with you. I'm sorry I just have a lot on my plate at the moment. I would love to go but I just can't."

Jezza's face went motionless. It was like Faith had just let down Jezza in the biggest way but in reality she hadn't at all.

Faith was reading all weird emotions and feelings from people tonight. Everyone wasn't acting normal...well not totally normal. Faith was confused with Jezza because she thought out of all the people there tonight, Jezza would have understood why Faith didn't have time to get involved in this dance competition the most since she had all her "issues" to solve to do with Slayer camp, her mum, Harry, school… her dad. It was like Jezza had forgotten about all of Faith's problems and couldn't understand why her friend didn't have the time to go in a silly dance competition.

"I'll go in it with you!" said Roxie jumping in trying to sound like the "good" friend.

Faith was about to get up from the beanbag she was sitting on to leave the room and get away from all this when Kenny grabbed her by the arm to stop her from leaving. The sleeve on Faith's shirt moved and bruises on her arm appeared.

Kenny's face went into shock mode. He was shocked to see bruises like this on Faith's arm. He didn't know what to think. He didn't know where she could have gotten them. He didn't really think her mum would have hurt Faith like that physically, (no her mum wouldn't hurt Faith physically just emotionally), but he had heard about her mum's boyfriend Harry, maybe he did it? This was all going through Kenny's head at the time.

Faith quickly pulled down her sleeve to cover up the evidence. Faith wasn't looking at anyone directly. Her head was looking down at the floor. She refused to see what any of the expressions were on any of her friend's faces, especially Kenny's because he had no idea where they were from. All the rest knew they must have been from the graveyard incident but they never knew how much damage the vampire really did to Faith. The whole time since it happened Faith had made sure no one could see her bruises by wearing particular clothes, which covered up her arms and legs in the spots where the bruises formed.

Faith stood up suddenly and ran for the door of the room, leaving everyone else in silence after what happened. All of them had no idea that Faith had been hurt that badly after the fight but Faith tried to ignore her bruises and the pain because she thought what she did was for the good of her friends, they needed to know the truth sooner than later and that was her best idea of how they needed to be shown the truth. Faith just took the bruises and pain as nothing, as though I was just a side effect from the truth and as though the bruises were just a scratch. Kenny was still confused and no one spoke. Kenny wanted to ask why Faith had those bruises but he had a slight feeling in his stomach that maybe he just wasn't supposed to ask that question and maybe he wasn't supposed to know where they came from.

Jezza was a little off character tonight, if you know what I mean. She wasn't acting like her normal self. Usually she would have probably ran off after Faith to find out what was the matter but this time, she didn't.

Faith was kinda expecting a tag along team with Jezza following along after her exit but there was no sign of anyone. Faith didn't particularly want to talk about it anyway.

She sat on Jezza's bed looking around the room. On the noticeboard were pinned up photos of the whole gang, not including Kenny, and photos of just Jezza and Faith plus family ones too. The photos captured the old times. The five of them so happy, or were they?

Faith had cried enough over these past few days, weeks and two months. She didn't have the energy to cry any more. She didn't have the energy to stop herself from crying. She had to give in to the tears and let them flow.

She started crying as she got up from the bed and walked over to look at the photos. Faith smiled and wished that she could re-live those days whenever she liked but that wasn't possible of course. The only way for the future to be like the past, the happy days, was to fix the situations in the present.

Faith put her finger on the one of the photos to touch it and to re-capture the memories. She heard footsteps and quickly turned around to see who it was but no one appeared before her. She turned back again to look at a different photo, one of them when they were just so little, when they about six. They were so tiny and innocent looking. Their lives hadn't even begun at all. At that age they had no idea what was going to happen next. Faith had no idea that her father was going to leave her.

Faith took the pins out of the photo hanging on the noticeboard and held the photo in her hands.

Her tears had stopped and her face seemed just wet now.

Faith placed the photo on the desk and decided she'd go back into the other room. She had to face her fears. As she walked out of the bedroom Steve came around the corner and nearly bumped into Faith.

Steve was coming to see how Faith was doing, to see if she was all right.

"Faith. Are you alright?"

"To be honest. No."

"Well being honest is a start."

Faith gave out her first little smile for the day.

They both walked into Jezza's room and sat on the bed.

Steve noticed the picture of the gang on the desk.

"Have you been taking a trip back down memory lane?" said Steve, pointing at the photo.

"Yeah. It seems so long ago when really it wasn't that long ago at all."

"True. We were so young then. So little."

"Tonight things have been so weird. Everyone seems to be acting so off."

"I know what you mean, I've noticed it too."

"I don't know what to tell Kenny. He's gonna say something because he's gonna

have questions about what he saw on my arm."

"I have a feeling he won't ask a thing."

"Why? Did you say something to him?"

"No I didn't say a word, in fact no one said a word but I just can somehow tell that he won't say a word. Trust me."

"It just hurts so much."

"Do your mean your bruises?"

"Yes. There a just so many. First I had to fight super-bitch and then I had to prove the truth by getting my ass just about kicked."

"Super-bitch?"

"Oops!"

"Oops what?"

"Oops meaning I just let out something that you didn't know about."

"Oh."

"Anyways it's out now so I may as well talk about it."

"Okay what's up with you Faith? Normally you would have said it was nothing. Normally you wouldn't talk to me like this. Normally you wouldn't cry in front of someone else."

"Oh I didn't realise I was crying. I guess I'm just coming to my senses. I guess it's about time I deal with my pain and my fears. I'm already starting to deal with my problems so it's about time I deal with everything else. If just realised I can't be afraid of the future because it's coming closer each day and I can't stop it from happening."

"But that doesn't explain why you're talking to me about all this."

"I've also realised that you can be sensible and understanding when you want to be like now so that is why I'm talking to you about this plus… everyone else in the other room are so totally off-centre tonight there is no way I'm talking to them."

"But if they weren't off-centre would you talk to them? Like Craig and Roxie?"

"Good question and probably not so yeah I just said something that wasn't completely true. Anyways Roxie? I wouldn't talk to her, especially at the moment. She so has it in for me. I'm starting to think she's got something planned. I think she may hate me. I always liked her from the start but lately… lately she's acting really weird towards me and I don't know why."

"Yeah I noticed before with Roxie acting all weird and stuff."

"Jezza tried having a talk with her before but I have no idea what that they talked about though."

"But what about Craig? Would you talk to him like this or tell him something personal or private?"

"Ooooh more questions. Umm. Maybe."

"Really?"

"Maybe. He's also been acting weird lately too."

"Like how? He seemed fine tonight so far. It's just mainly Jezza and Roxie acting all weird and stuff. Well Kenny was kinda being weird but not heaps or anything."

"Yeah I gotta get to know Kenny."

"Why?"

"Coz I've only talked to him like three times and I don't really know him at the moment," said Faith trying not to laugh.

"Oh. Anyways, what did you mean Craig has been acting weird as well lately?"

"It was just something from the other week. It was nothing really."

"The real Faith is back in the building. What happened?"

"Like I said it was nothing. Just something small."

"I'm not gonna get this out of you am I?"

"Nope."

"Thought so."

"You thought right."

"Stubborn little girl."

"Nosey little boy,' said Faith as she stuck her tongue out at Steve. Faith started to smile. Maybe everything was going to turn our all right for Faith after all. Maybe, just maybe the worst was over but maybe it wasn't at all.

Jezza walked into the room and sat down on the chair at her desk and faced the two of them.

"What have you two been doing?"

"Talking about certain things."

"You ready to come back into the other room yet?"

"Umm yeah."

"Let's go. The conversations going on in the other room are BORING!"

Jezza started to walk off to the other room.

Faith turned to Steve.

"It seems as though Jezza is back in the building too."

"Yeah I guess. Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be and thanks. Thanks for listening and the being there."

"No problem. You can talk to me. I'm not always immature."

"I've only just realised this now."

"You have always been a little slow."

"Hey!"

"C'mon. Let's go face the scary people."

"Scary people here we come."

They both walked into the next room with smiles on their faces.

The next room had seemed dead. Not much motion or conversation was going on but once Faith and Steve were back in the room movement came back.

Kenny went and sat right next to Faith and asked, "Are you alright?"

Faith looked at Steve and mumbled under her breath, "Yeah right, he won't ask any questions."

"I'm fine," answered Faith.

"I don't wanna sound nosey or rude but how did you get those bruises?"

"I don't wanna sound rude either and I don't want to give you the wrong idea about me since we haven't really gotten a chance to get to know each other, yet, it's something private and I don't want talk about it. Once you get to know me you'll realize there are just some things I won't talk about to people. I guess I'm stubborn."

"I understand. Really I do. I can be stubborn when it comes to certain topics too. Like NEVER ask me about my parents. Long, long story I'd rather not talk about for a long, long time."

"I'll take note to never ask you about your parents for a while,' said Faith smiling.

"Good. We started on pretty good terms."

"Yeah, I think we did."

"Why don't we get this sleepover started by havin' a little fun like, truth or dare?"

"That could be fun."

"Okay everybody listen up. We're gonna play a little game that we all know and love called truth or dare. Who wants to go first?"

"Truth or dare Steven?" said Jezza

"Steven? Please, please just stick with the Steve. Steven sounds so blah."

"Right whatever. Just answer the damn question."

"Okay umm. Truth."

"Chicken. You are too chicken to take a dare."

"Can somebody put a sock in her mouth for me?"

"Is it true that in year four you had a crush on Mrs. Almana? Answer truthfully," asked Jezza with a big, fat smile on her face.

"Yes."

Jezza laughs and Steve gives her a glare.

"What?" asked Jezza, innocently.

"You know what."

"No I don't," said Jezza smirking, "Anyways have you seen her since Steve?"

"No why?"

"Let me just say I hope you don't still have a crush on her."

"Oh man. Haven't you seen her at your work shopping or something?" asked Craig.

"I don't think so. Is she that bad?"

"How bad is bad?" asked Faith.

"Let's just say Steve she's put on some weight."

"Omigod. I think I served someone that slightly looked like Mrs. Almana last month. She kept giving me weird looks. She kinda freaked me out."

"That must have been her," said Craig.

"Oh sorry Kenny for leaving you out of the conversation," said Jezza noticing that Kenny didn't know who they were talking about since he didn't know the teacher and Jezza nor anyone else even noticed that Roxie had been left out of the conversation too. Slowly through the night now Roxie had been saying less and less.

"Roxie, would you like to have a go at asking someone truth or dare?" asked Jezza trying include Roxie who seemed to be off in her own world tonight.

"Umm. What? Huh?" said Roxie who just came back to the real world.

"Would you like to have a go?"

Roxie replied with, "Yeah okay. Faith. Did you and Ronnie ever kiss?" as she glared at Faith while waiting for her answer.

"Umm. Maybe," replied Faith looking around the room feeling awkward.

"You gotta answer truthfully girl," said Roxie.

"Roxie you didn't ask truth or dare," commented Craig.

Roxie snapped at Craig, "Shut up!"

There was silence.

"Your answer Faith."

"Umm yes we did," said Faith as fast as she could.

Kenny was afraid to ask but he did ask anyways, "Whose Ronnie?"

Faith, Jezza, Steve and Craig all looked at Roxie. They weren't happy she had brought up the guy's name, especially Faith.

"We don't talk about him anymore," said Jezza.

"But Roxie mentioned him."

"Well she wasn't supposed to. That was the deal."

"Deal?"

"We made a deal never to mention his name again until…"

"Until Roxie mentioned his name just now. What's your problem girl? You've been glaring and staring and whatever-you-want-to-call-it at me all night," asked Faith who started looking pissed off.

"Faith. Don't start anything right now. It's not the time or place," said Steve.

"Yeah Faith. Don't start something now," said Roxie.

"What?! I didn't start this. She did," said Faith pointing over at Roxie.

"Faith. It's rude to point."

Faith stood up from where she was sitting and said, "Oh shut up won't you. I don't wanna hear that crap. I want to hear your answer to my damn question."

"Oooh I'm so scared of you."

"What's your problem?"

"You really wanna know what my problem is? Then ask Craig because he knows."

"I don't want Craig to tell me, I want you, Roxie, to tell me. Is that clear?"

At this point Roxie had stood up and faced Faith. Everyone else was still on the floor watching the two girls in the middle of the room.

"It's crystal clear. My problem girl is you!"

"Oh! Blame it on Faith."

"Look at you. You pretend to mope around all day and be all dark girl hoping you'll make friends that way. You make up nonsense of how you…"

"Don't!"

"Afraid a secret will be let out?"

"So you believe me? Do you believe what I showed you?"

"No! It's nonsense. Are you afraid I'll let out your imaginary secret?"

"I think you're afraid to believe."

"You wouldn't know a thing about me."

"That's not my fault. I tried to get to know you… really I did, but you just didn't talk to me about anything."

"Could say the same thing about you fake girl."

"Fake girl?"

"Yeah you make up lies and stuff to attract friends. You make it seem like you have the worst life of all. Well maybe if you cared about someone else beside yourself once and a while you'd realise there are other people out there who are having a bad life."

"Okay. You're going way too far now. If you think I don't care about anyone else besides myself then you obviously don't know me well enough."

"Stop it there! Stop this at once," said Jezza.

"Jezza's right. You girls have to stop this right now. You're gonna regret what you're saying after all this. Now stop it right here."

"You know what Faith. If I had your powers right now you wouldn't want to be standing this close to me."

"Well guess what. That is what makes you and me different. I would never hurt you."

"Oh really? You hurt me whenever you're near me. It's sickening. You just standing there hurts me."

"Well if you don't tell me your problem then I can't make the pain stop."

There was another short moment of silence.

Craig bursted out with, "It's jealousy! Her pain is jealously. She's jealous of Faith."

"What?!" yelled Faith, Steve, Jezza and Kenny all at once.

"Oh. My. God." said Faith.

Everyone turned and looked at Faith, well except Roxie.

"I can't believe this. No wait. I can. You see that's another thing that makes me and you different Roxie, you can't believe what you're told or shown but I can believe."

"Just shut up! Everyone shut up!" said Roxie glaring at Craig now.

"Oh don't get pissed off Roxie just because I spilled your little secret. I know what I did was wrong. You could say I betrayed you since I didn't keep your secret but so what! I was doing it for your own good."

"Yeah. You did betray me. I trusted you. Now I have no body to trust."

"Well that's not our fault," said Faith.

"Well look who's talking F."

"Is that supposed to a threat?"

"It's whatever you want it be."

"Hey Roxie! I thought you could trust me but has that changed all of a sudden?" asked Jezza.

"Stop. Stop backing me into the corner. Stop being mean to me."

"Well guess what it's confession time on how we all feel. Isn't this the time and place for discussion? Well just a few weeks ago I was feeling the very same Roxie."

"Be quiet. Don't make this about you, it's about me."

"Listen to what I have to say. After I got off the phone with Faith at one of our Friday night meetings you all backed me into a corner asking who Buffy was and what I was talking about with Faith. You! You Roxie were backing me into a corner. What do you have to say to your self?"

"I. I could say the same thing to you."

"Yeah but that wouldn't be very original."

"Girls. All of you. Stop this. Stop fighting," said Steve.

"We're not fighting," pointed out Jezza, "Were talking about our problems."

"Well it sure seems like your all fighting about something," said Steve.

"Now I'll I'm going to say this for the last and final time, I'm sorry Roxie for what I did but you're going to have to deal with it now. You're going to have to get over this jealously crap with Faith, move on and believe in what you saw. Is that understood?"

"Believe in what? This is all getting very confusing. Can someone give me a summary of what's going on?" asked Kenny.

Roxie began with, "Well Faith…"

Steve interrupted with, "I don't think you are the right person to be answering that question right now Roxie."

"Huh."

"Is someone going to answer my question?" said Kenny as he looked around the room.

There was another odd moment of silence.

"Faith? Are you gonna answer my question?"

"Huh? Why me?"

"Well maybe because every single problem and thing we seem to be talking about tonight seems to be all centred around you. You seem to be hiding a lot of stuff and I don't completely understand everything that is going on. So could you please explain?"

"You got to be kidding. I'm not talking about everything here. It's not my fault it seems like everything is centred around me. Besides everything isn't about me tonight, some people have just accidentally brought up things to do with me cough Roxie cough. You'll understand everything soon enough. Maybe tonight isn't the right time to start understanding.. wait until tomorrow, or something."

"It may not be the time or place for you to explain but I wanna know now. I feel like I'm left in the dark about everything."

"Umm no, your not left in the dark about everything you actually mean your left in the dark about things to do with me."

"Did anyone here me before? I told you all to stop fighting," said Steve.

"What? I'm not fighting I was just asking for some answers."

"Yeah he's asking for some answers," commented Jezza.

"Yeah."

"Yeah, answers he'll never get, well at least tonight he won't."

"Hey!"

"Steve is right. Everyone stop fighting. Okay fighting isn't the right word but stop this, whatever you call it now," said Craig.

"Like I'm gonna listen to someone like you," said Roxie.

"You used to listen to what I had to say."

"Yeah but that changed after you said that thing about me."

"No girl, you stopped listening to what I had to say before that.. maybe a month ago."

"That's not the truth."

"Yes it is."

"Well to me it isn't the truth."

"Well to me it is and that shouldn't matter to you since you've already stopped listening to me and caring about what I say."

"Craig! Not you too. C'mon guys.. .and girls. Stop this at once."

"I don't think they are gonna hear you. Look at Jezza and Roxie. They are having a bicker over there," said Faith pointing to the left corner of the room, "Then there's Craig now standing in front of Roxie trying to get her to listen to him and at the same time pretending he doesn't care if she doesn't listen at all, poor guy. And whoa!" Kenny grabs a bottle of beer out of his bag and takes a sip or two. " And Kenny's now drinking. But before that he was nagging me for answers which I really don't want to talk about because I can't handle one more minute of crying right now."

"Great. This is good Faith. You can hear me at least. Stay with me. We can talk and don't drift away into the bad crowd of people in my room because, because that will just make you feel much worse than you're feeling right now. So come and sit over here,' said Steve as he patted the floor next to him indicating for Faith to sit down there, " And yeah whoa! Kenny is now drinking. Kenny! Can you hear me?!"

"Yeah mate. What?"

"Where did you get that beer from?"

"Oh do you want some?"

Faith looked at Steve.

"Urrgh. No. Just put it away before my parents find out you got it okay."

"Okay," said Kenny but he never did put it away.

After Roxie was just about satisfied with what she had said to Jezza she walked over to one of the beanbags, sat down and started to mumble things to herself. Jezza just stayed standing where she was. Craig starting complaining to Jezza about Roxie.

"So are you gonna tell Kenny anything tonight?"

Faith just starred at Steve, "What do you think?"

"I think you probably don't want to but..you are hiding a lot from him."

"What?! Just when I start to think you can understand this sort of stuff you have to say something like that. Huh!" said Faith who turned her head, crossed her arms and faced the other way.

"Faith," said Steve as he placed his hands on Faith's shoulders, " I'm sorry. It's just, I'm just trying to help. I don't mean you should go to tell him the big thing I'm just saying maybe tell him about.. umm I dunno."

"Oh great," said Faith as she turned back around but she still had her arms folded, "You see you don't know what I should tell him either. I can't tell him about Ronnie because we took an oath not to talk about him ever again plus he was so messed up leaving like that and all without saying a word. I can't believe he stayed for a month even after he tried to kiss me. I thought he would have disappeared sooner," said Faith with a little smile on her face.

"What?!"

"Jealous?" asked Faith smiling.

"Well," began Steve, "Well I only just found out before that you guys kissed but is this what your saying, Kenny kissed you and you didn't want to kiss him?"

"Well yeah. Steve. That guy was scary okay well not completely scary but he was weird you know. I swear he followed me around and stuff. I liked him but never in that way."

"Oh I get it now. It all makes sense. Anyways I thought we took an oath to not talking about this guy."

"Well ROXIE broke the oath tonight so I guess there ain't no more oath."

"Hmm."

"Hmmm? Is that all you got to say?"

"Leave me alone. You always do this."

"I do not."

"Oh don't act all innocent."

"I'm not."

"Anyways how come I'm always the last one to find out about stuff?"

"What do you mean Steve?"

"Like how come I only just found out that you never really liked Ronnie that much."

"I dunno. I must hide things well. But I will tell you that I had little crush but that's all."

"Ooooh."

"Shut up!" said Faith and punched Steve in the arm.

"Owe!"

"I hope you have learnt a lesson. Don't mess with Faith," said Faith laughing.

"Your evil."

"I know."

"So are you going to tell Kenny something?"

"Yeah."

"Like what?"

"Maybe I'll tell him I'm evil."

"No seriously."

"I wish there was a book I could just give him saying that I'm gonna be a vampire Slayer and everything about it."

"Do you ever think about it? Like do you ever think that far ahead and how you'll be an actual Slayer?"

"Sometimes but it's quite scary to think about. Besides I'm not old enough yet. Still have years to go at hell camp."

"Is that what the potentials call it?"

"No. Just me and Buffy."

"It sounds like your really good friends with this girl."

"Well I am. With been through everything with each other at camp. Well just about everything except for the time where I was in an alternate world thingy and a few other things."

"What? Alternate world?"

"Well the council wanted me to be more like Kat and Alyssa so.."

"Kat and Alyssa?"

"Oh they are just like Stanfin twins."

"Okay then."

"Yeah so they wanted me to be like them. It was part of their stupid plan and all. So they put me in this alternate world thingy that looked just the same as the real camp but I figured out something was going on and then I found my way back to the real camp. The council are so weird. Most of their evil schemes are based around Buffy and I for some strange reason."

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe they are afraid of you? That they fear you because your power?"

"Huh? How could we make them afraid? We don't have much power anyways, we're just potentials."

"I mean maybe they know that you'll be real Slayers sometime in the future and have lots of power and be more powerful than they are and they won't be able to control you."

"When did you think this up?"

"Just then."

"It's interesting theory but I don't think the council really fear us. They are heaps scary. You have no clue on what they are like."

"Well then tell me what they are like."

"Words cannot describe how creepy, and weird they are.. plus they are pretty evil," Faith laughs and continues to speak, " maybe because the camp is pretty close to the hellmouth in Sunnydale they are affected by it or something. That would be pretty funny actually."

"But wouldn't that mean all the potentials would act pretty evil too?"

"True but hey, you did very well say before that I was evil. Huh!"

"Do you always have to be like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like that. Like you always try and play games with me. Mess with my head."

"Oh that. It's fun."

"Well it's not fun for me."

"But it's funny."

"Pick on someone your own size."

"I am."

"Hey!"

All heads turned to the door when it suddenly opened.

"Can somebody explain what's going on in here?" asked Mrs. Linton.

"Well," began Jezza.

"Not let me answer this one Jezza," said Steve interrupting his sister, "There was a bit of an argument here and there and we forgot that we were so loud. Sorry."

"Hmm. Okay then. Anyways I'll let that excuse go for now. The pizza is ready so do you want to have it in here or downstairs?"

"Here," answered Steve who seemed to be the voice of everyone.

"Okay. Me and George will bring up the pizza in a minute or two okay."

"Thanks mum."

Simone, Mrs. Linton, looked suspiciously at Kenny who looked like he was about to stumble backwards and fall onto the ground. He was getting giddy. Kenny was drunk with happiness. He never did put the beer down like Steve had asked him to and was now hiding the bottle behind his back ever so subtly. Simone just looked at him with suspicion but just left it there.

Mrs. Linton left the room and behind all their backs, Roxie managed to sneak out of the room and out into the hallway without out anyone noticing.

The pizza came to the room and they ate and hardly anyone made a noise in between taking bites. The night was dying down and the loudness of it had seeped away off into the night and everyone seemed to be calming down. Emotions had settled. Glaring had seemed to stop too but maybe that was because Roxie was missing from the room.

No one seemed to notice that their dear friend had left the room, was this because they were such bad friends or was it because they were too caught up in their own lives to even bother about someone else?

The pizza disappeared as they ate it. They all had somehow decided without saying a word that it was time to go to 'bed'.

The girls walked slowly out of Steve's room and the guys just sat on the floor in the mess.

Roxie had previously already made her own way to the bedroom and was laying down in her sleeping bag. As Jezza and Faith walked into Jezza's bedroom they just smiled at each other, rolled out their sleeping bags and got into the sleeping bags. Jezza decided that she'd sleep in her sleeping bag tonight.

Kenny decided that he had caused enough problems with opening his mouth tonight so he decided that he would try and go to sleep as soon as he could so he wouldn't ask another question. He lay there thinking about the previous events and all the questions he could ask but he tried to tell himself that if he were meant to know these answers he would know them when the time was right.

Roxie stayed quiet and Jezza and Faith just predicted that she had felt tired earlier and just went straight to sleep.

Jezza and Faith started talking amongst themselves and over in the other room next door through the wall Craig and Steve started talking amongst themselves.

Jezza rolls over to face Faith even though it's dark and she probably can't see her and asks, " Are you into my brother?"

"No! Why do people keep asking that?"

"Well maybe because it's looks you like him more than a friend. Maybe it's because you have a crush on him."

"I do not! Anyways why would you say something like that? He's your brother. You wouldn't find it comfortable if your friend liked him."

"Are you trying to give me a hint here?"

"No."

"Faith."

"What? Just don't. Don't ask anymore."

"Fine. But I know there's something you're not telling me."

Meanwhile in the next room with the boys……

Craig sits up in his sleeping bag and asks Steve, "What are high school chicks like?"

Steve doesn't take a minute to answer his question at all, he answers it straight away with a big fat grin on his face,"Middle school chicks are better."

Jezza yells through the wall, "We can hear you Steve Linton!"

Faith begins to blush.