[ ] denotes thoughts
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Part Five
SHS hallway, the next day
[There he is. I just need to keep things nice and simple. How his day is going, what class he has next, who the girl was last night... No, don't go there, that will just lead to trouble,] Buffy thought as she walked up behind the boy busy shoving his books into a locker. Buffy took a deep breath. [Well, here goes,] entered her mind as she tapped him on his shoulder.
[I hope Giles doesn't have too much planned for me today. Just one free period with no research is all I want. No books, scrolls...] Xander's musings were interupted by someone tapping his shoulder. Looking up, he peered into a pair of beautiful hazel eyes.
"Um, hi," Buffy sputtered out. [Damn, he's got gorgeous eyes... Stop it!]
"Buffy, hi. How are you? Do you need something?" Xander asked.
[God, yes! And that's the problem!] "Not really. I just wanted to talk.. to you.. about stuff," she finally got out.
[Maybe she's ready to tell someone about her little 'secret'. Giles will be thrilled to hear she's opening up,] he thought excitedly before speaking. "So what would you like to talk about?" Xander queried standing up.
"Well, just.. stuff. How you are doing, what you've been up to... That sort of stuff."
"Okaaaay." [Gotta take this slow to make her comfortable about talking to me. Maybe telling her a bit about myself will help make her willing to open up.] "I've been fine lately. Especially now that a few old friends just showed up in town. I haven't seen Cordy or Max in a long time and it's good to be around them again."
[Max must be the girl from last night. I already know Cordelia is the one who started school yesterday.] Buffy posed her next question, "So how long have you known them?"
"Well, I met Max when I was in junior high. She was something of a rebel. Always getting into trouble and encouraging me to join her. The most she got me to do was a few pranks. I even got her to help me out with a few of them. Eventually, that was the only kind of mischief that Max would get into; I 'reformed' her," Xander admitted with a confident smile. "From a future life of crime to a noble prankster."
"Noble?" she smirked.
"Yep, I taught her to only use her powers to smite evil. Whether it be in the form of ogrish bullies, conniving lunchladies, or overbearing principals." Xander struck a pose with one finger pointed to the ceiling and his chest puffed out. He then spoke in a loud cheesy superhero voice. "Here is the creedo of the Noble Prankster: I will protect the innocent with my jokes and tricks. Consume every Hostess snack cake in sight. And teach others the proper use of mashed potatoes."
Buffy broke out in a fit of giggles at his antics. [I haven't laughed like this in ages. I could get used to being around Xander if he can make me relax like this every day.] Even after he stopped his posing, it took her a few moments to calm down enough to speak. "And Cordy?"
[She looks beautiful when she laughs.] "Now Cordy I've known since I was a kid. We never got along. Always arguing over one thing or another. It was fun," Xander grinned. "I enjoyed the verbal sparring and I think she did too." He sighed before continuing. "It wasn't until near the end of last year when we actually became friends. I helped her out of some trouble and she helped me when I lost someone close to me."
"Oh. I'm sorry. Can.. can you talk about it?" Buffy inquired cautiously.
"I..." [I don't think I can, but Buffy needs to know she can talk to me about anything. Maybe I can tell her a litte about what happened.] "She was very beautiful. Strong and confident in practically everything she did. But she was also insecure about her feelings. I guess that was part of what drew me to her." [That and she could kick my ass in under 10 seconds. What can I say, I love strong women.]
[Xander really looks like he's hurting. But I think he needs this.] "What was her name?"
Xander swallowed and blinked back tears before he could speak. "Her name... It was..."
"Xander!" came a shout from behind the pair. Turning they saw Faith rushing through the empty hall.
Buffy glared at the brunette girl, who pretended not to notice. [Great. Just when I get him alone, one of his harem has to show up.]
[Who is this girl? Another of his 'friends'? Where does he find them?] Faith asks herself. Ignoring the girl's angry stare, Faith looked at Xander closely. [He looks devastated! I oughtta tear that girl apart for hurting him.]
Xander's eyes widened when he saw the Slayer's face harden and turn to Buffy. [Uh-oh. Faith is pissed. And she thinks Buffy was the cause. Gotta derail that line of thought.] "Hey Faith. What's up?" he said as close to 'Willow-cheery' as he could get.
The two women glared at each other not even bothering to acknowledge Xander's attempt to break off the confrontation.
[I've seen Faith and Xander around each other. She just likes toying with him. Joking and teasing him. Letting him get a little bit closer before knocking him back down. After losing someone he loves, she should know better than to do that to Xander,] Buffy thought angrily and felt a growl rising to her lips.
[The nerve of this girl! Hasn't Xander been through enough? She has to go and torment him. She is lucky Xander is such a nice guy that he wouldn't do anything to her. But I will be more than happy beat this girl down for causing him pain,] Faith grinned at the ideas passing through her head.
[Oh, shit. Faith has her 'I'm-going-to-pound-you-into-the-pavement' grin on.] Xander glanced over at Buffy when his senses picked up something. [Oh no. Her 'beast' is coming out. And it's stronger than the last time I felt it. Not good. This is NOT how I wanted to find out what was up with her. I have to stop this before it comes to blows,] he worried as he stepped between them.
"Ladies, ladies. Please don't do anything that you might regret later," Xander said. Looking at Faith, he continued, "Faith, Buffy didn't do anything. She just wanted to know how I knew Cordelia and Max. I mentioned that I've known Cordy since I was a kid, but it wasn't until the end of last year when we became friends. It was remembering that time that bothered me."
Faith appeared chastened as she backed down. Xander then turned back to Buffy. "And Buffy, Faith is one of my best friends. She just thought you had done something to hurt me and was looking out for me. She didn't mean anything by it, okay?"
"Okay," Buffy replied. "Sorry Faith, I guess I overreacted. Friends?" Buffy asked putting her hand out to shake.
"Sure. Why not?" Faith tossed out nonchalantly taking the other girl's hand. [For Xander's sake.]
"Good. Now that that's settled, what brings you to see the Xand-man?" Xander questioned the brunette Slayer.
"Oh, I saw you and was just wondering if you wanted an escort to the library," Faith told him.
"When have I ever turned you down? I would be happy to have such a beautiful escort. Buffy, care to join us and make it a threesome?" Xander inquired with a lopsided grin.
Buffy felt flushed when he gave her that grin. [Oh, I know this is going to get me into SO much trouble.] "A threesome? Do you really think you could handle both of us?"
Xander raised an eyebrow at that. "Maybe. I certainly would be willing to try."
"Die trying, you mean," Faith snickered.
"Ahh, but what a way to go..." Xander said with a cheshire grin.
Buffy and Faith looked at each other, turned to Xander....
"Oww!" he cried out when they both smacked him upside the head.
"Quit complaining, hormone boy. You deserved it," Cordelia spoke up from behind them.
"Hey, what is this? Pick on Xander hour?" Xander pleaded to the group.
"YES!" the three girls said unanimously.
"Fine, be that way," Xander pouted and trudged off. "I know when I'm not wanted."
"Oh, since your headed that way," Cordelia mentioned trotting after him. "Here. You can carry this to my locker. And then show me where to go for free period," she told him as they walked off.
"I don't know why I even bother with you. You are arrogant, bossy, and a royal pain in the ass," Xander listed as the neared the corner of the hall.
"Duh, you like the abuse. Besides who else is going to tell you what you need to hear..." Cordelia's voice drifted back to the pair left standing in the hallway.
"Did she just take him away from us in under a minute?" Faith wondered out loud.
"Yeah, but I think we helped," Buffy answered.
Faith let her mind go over the events of the past couple of minutes. [I can't believe it. First Xander is telling Buffy things about his past when as far as I know he doesn't even really know her. He told her more in a few moments than I got in a month! Then Cordelia shows up and with a few words has him trailing after her. Ugh, doesn't he know any ugly girls?]
"Not that I've seen," came Buffy's rueful voice.
"Huh, what?"
"I think you were thinking out loud. You said 'Doesn't he know any ugly girls?'," Buffy answered.
"Oh. Why did you talk to Xander anyway? I'd think you wouldn't want to jeapordize your position with your 'popular' friends," Faith inquired.
[Great. I SO don't like where this conversation is leading. It's one thing to tell Xander things about me. He seems to know what's going on around this town. But it is quite another to talk to someone who doesn't have a clue what kind of dangers lurk in Sunnydale.] "Just thought I'd try to get to know him better. He seems really nice. And sincere, which is something that has been lacking from my 'friends'."
"Yeah, I haven't ever met someone quite like him." Faith smirked, "He is definately unique. Honest, caring, and loyal to his friends." [Not like my family,] she remembered angrily.
[Just what I need.] "Not too many of those left in the world, huh?"
[Not where I come from.] "No, Xander's special..." Faith spoke under her breath and felt a twinge of something within at that thought.
Unknown to Faith, Buffy heard her last words as they walked towards the library. [Yeah, he is. Hopefully he will be special enough to help me.]
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End Part 5
***
Please don't kill me for cutting you off before telling you who SHE
was. Please {Said while cowering in fear}. I just couldn't
help myself.