CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: FAITH (II)
Sunday: 8pm
11th January 1998
California: Sunnydale
Xander stood in his best friends bedroom, pacing nervously.
"Why do you want me to come with you again?" Willow asked.
He looked at her and stopped walking for a moment.
"I'm just…Willow, there are things out there that want to kill everyone in Sunnydale," he answered. "And she's fighting these things. I want to know why."
"Have you tried, oh say, asking her?" Willow asked sarcastically.
"I tried that. She said she couldn't tell me," he replied.
Willow rolled her eyes. She'd been hearing about Xander's mystery girl for the last week, and while it would have bothered her a year ago, she was, thankfully, very much over the crush she had had on Xander Harris.
"Have you considered that she maybe couldn't tell you for your own good?" Willow asked.
"She said that too," he said.
"Maybe you should just drop it," Willow said.
"She liked me," he insisted. "I know she did."
"Well, if you start stalking her, she'll probably change her mind very quickly," Willow quipped.
Xander gave her a look and sat down on Willow's bed and ran a hand through his hair.
"You can either come with me, or you can stay here. I'm going," he said.
Willow sighed but stood up and pulled a jacket on. Xander flashed her a grateful smile, and, after making sure he had the wooden stake tucked in the back pocket of his jeans, he and Willow set out to wander through the town.
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Beth walked through the cemetery, stake in her hand firmly. It had been a slow night, and she could feel a pair of eyes on her back the entire night. It wasn't a demon or a vampire, and she could only guess that it was the boy who she had saved the previous week. She wasn't too concerned about him watching her, though she was worried that he would get hurt because of it.
She heard a rustling in the shrubbery and tensed for battle. She wasn't disappointed. Three vampires came through to the clearing and looked at her hungrily.
"Look guys," one of the vampires said cockily. "Someone's delivering our dinner."
Beth rolled her eyes and attacked the before they could attack her. They were shocked at the sudden attack, but quickly regrouped. Not quickly enough though, and the group diminished to two members.
Beth grabbed one of the two vampires and flipped him over her shoulder and onto the ground, plunging a stake into his heart, the vamp groaning in pain as it shattered into ashes. She heard a gasp from behind the bushes, but ignored it until she had disposed of the third and final vampire.
The vamp rushed her, knocking her to the ground. She flipped back onto her feet and she and the last vamp fought tooth and nail, fists and fangs. Beth finally gained the upper-hand and staked the vamp. She could still hear someone in the bushes, and finally realised that it was two someone's that were watching her. She was about to go and investigate when she heard the sound of someone clapping slowly behind her.
She spun around and her eyes widened when she saw someone that she hadn't been expecting to see. Faith stood in front of her, clad in leather pants, and tight midriff baring top and a matching leather jacket. Faith smiled and winked at the Slayer. Beth cast a glance to where the two intruders were still watching. Faith followed her gaze and heard the noise that was distracting Beth. Faith grinned and decided to give the two spies a show.
"B. Good to see you again," she greeted coldly.
Beth caught the game quickly and the two friends began circling each other.
"Faith…how are you?"
"You know me," Faith replied. "Five by five."
"I didn't expect to see you so soon," Beth said. "What brings you to Sunnydale?"
"You do," Faith replied, making her voice sound mocking and threatening. Beth fought not to laugh. "I told you I'd track you down as soon as I got out of that hellhole."
Beth laughed a cold laugh and gave an imperceptible nod that began their sparring. Faith rushed at her, and they relearned the steps to an almost forgotten dance.
"How was the WCTC? Still the equivalent of a Juvenile Detention Centre?" Beth asked.
Faith rolled her eyes and went into the back flip that Beth had taught her so long ago. Beth let Faith get in the shot to her chin and stumbled backwards, rolling to keep herself from falling onto her back.
"Well, it was hell," Faith replied. "Trav still hates you."
Beth laughed. "I know. But he can't touch me now."
"That's what you'd like to think," Faith teased.
Beth rolled her eyes and quickly managed to bring Faith to her knees.
"So…where's Ethan?" Beth asked.
"Oh, he'll be coming soon," Faith replied, trying to make the idea of Ethan's arrival being something for the two intruders to be worried about. "When he heard that I was coming, he wanted to drop everything, but I told him I'd save him a piece or two."
"How very generous of you," Beth replied.
"Well, you know me. I'm a sharer. He said he'd come sometime next week."
Beth bit her lip to keep from laughing and landed a shot to Faith, sending her stumbling backwards. Faith grinned slyly and quickly knew how to get in a good shot at the Slayer. Faith could feel how much stronger Beth was now, and Faith knew that there was no way she could ever beat Beth again in their sparring sessions.
"I saw Miller last week," Faith said.
Beth stopped, stunned. Faith managed to knock the girl off her feet and Beth saw that it had just been a cheap shot, rather than the truth.
"That was a low blow Faith," she said quietly.
Faith had the grace to look a little bit sorry, but the dance continued.
"Oh, I've got something for you," Faith said, her voice sugary sweet. "A little remembrance."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. You might remember him as Mr G," Faith said.
Beth almost burst into laughter as she realised what Faith was talking about.
"I told you that you could keep him to remember me by."
Faith couldn't help it anymore, and cracked up laughing. Beth quickly followed suit and the two girls hugged tightly.
"Damn, I missed you B," Faith said.
"Same here Faith," Beth replied.
Faith looked towards the bushes and whispered into Beth's ear.
"What's with your little followers?" she asked.
Beth shrugged. "Just some guy I met last week. He's been tailing me all night. I dunno who his friend is though."
Faith shook her head and aimed her voice towards where Willow and Xander were hidden.
"You guys can come out now. You've got a lot to learn about being stealthy," Faith yelled.
There was a moments silence followed by the rustling of the buses. Xander came out followed by a sheepish looking Willow. Beth was shocked to see the redhead had been following her as well.
"What are you doing here?" Beth asked.
Willow shrugged and pointed to Xander. "Blame him. He asked me to come."
Beth looked at Xander who shifted uncomfortably under the Slayer's steely gaze.
"I thought I told you that I couldn't do this," Beth said.
"Well, yeah, technically, you did. But…well, I'm not the greatest listener," Xander said.
Beth shook her head and glared at him.
"This isn't a game Xander. You saw those things tonight. You were nearly killed last week. Haven't you learnt anything?" she asked angrily.
"I'm not unarmed. I know how to protect myself," he replied.
"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lead you on, but I can't go there with you Xander."
Xander went to protest but Faith stepped towards him. Beth bit back a laugh when Xander backed away from the ex-Potential.
"Her answer was no," Faith said coldly. "What is it with guys not being able to take that as an answer? She doesn't need an excuse. The fact that she said no is enough to make you back off."
Xander swallowed hard and Willow giggled a little. Faith shot the redhead a grin, making Willow giggle even harder.
"I like you Red," Faith said, stepping back from Xander.
"Willow," she replied.
"I'm Faith," she said.
Xander finally calmed himself down and forced himself to look as though he didn't have a care in the world.
"So, how do you and Beth know each other, Faith?" he asked.
Beth and Faith shared a grin. "We grew up in hell together," Faith replied with a grin.
"But you two are friends, right?" Willow asked. "Cos that fight earlier looked pretty real."
"'Course we're friends," Faith replied easily. "And that fight was real."
"You've improved," Beth complimented.
"Right back at'cha. You're hell strong, girl. I'm gonna have bruises come morning."
"So why were you fighting if you're friends?" Willow asked curiously.
Beth and Faith shrugged simultaneously. "It's how we became friends. S'good fun too," Faith answered. "Right Summers?"
Beth nodded her agreement and completely forgot that her last name while she was in Sunnydale was meant to be Giles. Beth looked towards Willow and Xander.
"You guys should probably go home," she said. "There's a lot of creepy stuff out here. And if I see either of you tailing me again, I'm gonna get cranky, alright?"
Willow nodded, and gave her an apologetic smile. "It won't happen again."
"Good. And you Xander. I want your word."
Xander grudgingly gave it to her. "I promise."
"Alright then. I'll see you guys around," Beth said. "And I don't think I have to tell you this, but you guys can't say anything about this to anyone. Not even you're really close friends. And especially not to Joyce."
Willow looked at Beth curiously. "Why Joyce especially?"
Beth grinned. "Cos I'm her newest employee."
Willow smiled brilliantly. "Cool! I'll probably see you there sometimes then."
With that, Willow and Xander waved their goodbyes and walked away, Willow scolding him for the entire walk home about how people's privacy should be sacred, and that he had no right just following Beth like that.
Faith and Beth exchanged grins.
"They seem…"
Beth laughed at the implied statement. "They seem nice Faith," Beth said. "Just because they're a little…dorky, it doesn't mean they're bad people."
"Good to see you haven't changed a bit B."
"You either Fai."