A/N: Yes, I realise it's been forever. But I do have a lot of work atm, and I also have two other profiles to maintain, including a joint one with my best mate in the world, Neat, aka Insane1, so if you want to check it out, hit Soulless Wonders. Yeah I know. Dire, but hey, try finding an original name here!

Btw, on the issue of reputation. It *is* by Half cocked, I have the CD, and on the Shrek CD, it also clearly states, by Half Cocked. So, yeah, people have done remakes, but it *is* by HC, the version I wrote.

Any songs in this chapter not from that, or OMWF, are by Avril Lavigne, and are found on her album, 'Let Go'.

Friday came all too soon for Faith, especially with her ignoring Gunn. Dawn had gone off to Dad's the day before, ready for three weeks of watching the secretary play Mom. Buffy was either rehearsing cheers, or on the couch, making out with Angel, and Faith had spent most of the week practising.

She picked up her bag, and headed out the door, as Buffy walked into the kitchen.

"What's up, Faith? Didn't see all your little friends around the house as per usual," Buffy sneered. Faith sent her a look of extreme contempt.

"The fact I hide you from my friends just passes you by, huh, blondie?" she asked, before slamming the door. Buffy threw her apple at the door.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hey, can I sit here?" Faith looked up from poking at her lunch in disgust, and saw Lindsey standing over her, tray in hand. She kicked out a seat.

"Go ahead. Risking social death, but it's your call," she shrugged. He flashed a grin.

"I think I can handle it." Kendra made her way over from behind Faith. Lindsey gave her an appreciative glance.

"Oh, um, I'll, go sit with Gunn," she said quickly, whirling away. Faith stretched out a hand.

"Hey, chill. This is Lindsey, a friend of mine, okay? You can sit down. He won't bite." She grinned at the blond. "Hard."

Kendra blushed, but slid into the seta beside Faith. Lindsey leaned forward.

"So, are you watching us tomorrow at the Bronze? " he asked. Kendra looked up at him, then dropped her gaze.

"I think so," she replied quietly. Faith smiled. The girl was so shy, and yet guys seemed to like the combination of her chocolate skin, huge brown eyes, and soft speaking voice. Lindsey seemed interested.

"Oh, Faith, we've got practise after lunch,' he said, cutting into her thoughts. She groaned.

"Hasn't Lilah caned us enough?" she muttered. Lindsey grinned.

"You don't know Lilah. She's a tyrant," he laughed. Faith nodded.

"Kay. So, singing. Great."

Buffy, and her acolytes passed by, wittering, and chatting.

"So, Oz is playing on Saturday? God, you have got to help me pick out the perfect 'teach Devin what he's missing' outfit tonight, Wills," she said excitedly.

"Um, Buff? Isn't Angel going to be there?" Willow asked timidly. Buffy shrugged.

"Yeah. So? It can be an angel outfit as well as a Devin outfit. Plus, Cordelia's doing the away thing, so if I get Devin after me, when she gets back, buh bye squad, and boyfriend!' Buffy finished triumphantly. Willow looked at her friend askance.

"Okay..so we're going to see Oz, then?" Willow asked. Buffy nodded, her blond ponytail bobbing.

"Mmm," she agreed. "I think Anya's going to be there, so Xander will be happy. She's noticed him checking her out on the squad." Willow laughed.

"Yup. Oz is actually phsyced about the Battle of the Bands thing, you know, in three weeks," she answered.

"Oz gets phsyced?" Buffy quirked a brow.

"Well no, but he gets that little half smile, and his fingers start to strum, so I know he's excited," Willow admitted, with a huge grin. Buff smiled, as the two walked away.

"Great. So they're gonna be there while I'm singing? Shit," Faith groaned. Lindsey grinned.

"Look, you're good. And you have a fabulous guitarist, so you're bound to be good," he preened. He laughed again.

"It'll be fine. You'll be great. Lilah wouldn't let us go on without being perfect. She has an issue with losing," Lindsey grimaced. "In third grade, she tried out for class president. She lost out to a guy called Holland, so she tripped him up with her jump rope, and he broke his leg. She got to be class president after that."

"That's so horrible!" Kendra exclaimed before blushing, and falling silent again. Lindsey sent her a long, lazy look.

"No, that's so Lilah," he corrected. The girl in question appeared over his shoulder.

"Lindsey? Remember our little discussion as to what you're allowed to say before I bring in my photo album?" she asked, with a frown. He shook his head.

"Li, give it up. You're proud to be bad."

She smirked. "Maybe. But I don't brag about it. I'm discrete."

"Lilah, are we going in for this Battle thing at the Bronze?" Faith asked, diverting the attention. The blonde shook her head slightly, startled.

"Uh, yeah, if we do okay tomorrow night. But that's all cool. Actually, There's a teensy problem. Wee have to do one more song. We've got Rest In Peace, with Spike, and then Lindsey has his Hallelujah."

"Isn't that religious?" Kendra volunteered. Lilah laughed.

"Yeah, but of the weird kind. I think Linds was out of it when he wrote that. Anyways, then we've got Reputation, with you, and finally," she gave an apologetic smile. "We've got another to do, which hopefully you won't kill me for, Faith," she said, sending a worried look at the brunette.

"can I see the lyrics?" Faith asked. Lilah shrugged.

"I have a tune, but no lyrics. That would be the problem. Lindsey was supposed to work on it." Lindsey's eyes widened.

"Shit."

"Damn. That means they'll get one of the other two to fill our set. Oh well, we'll just have to go with what we got."

"Uh, Lilah? I may have something you can use,' Faith offered. Lilah shot her a look.

"What do you have?" Faith proffered a piece of notebook paper, after digging through her bag.

"It has a tune to it, pretty simple, but I like it,' she shrugged. Lilah gave her an amazed look.

"This is really good, Faith. I didn't know you could write!" Faith laughed.

"I've been writing for years. It's just..I never got around to singing them. I have hundred o the things. I can't really set them," she shrugged again. "I just though they were pointless."

"But they're really good," Lilah repeated. "We can use these, Faith. Bring them in. I can set them, with Linds, and Spike's good with the guitar, he won't really care. I've got to go set this!' She raced away, leaving her lunch tray on the table.

"Like I told you, she's strange. But the song will be ready by practise," Lindsey picked up his tray, and stood. "Anyway, I'd better go find Spike. He was annoyed, because the blond he's stuck with is a stuck up little bitch, and he's supposed to be tutored by her in Bio, and he's got to stay after school."

"Uh, the blond would be my sister," Faith held up a hand, and grinned at Lindsey's look of consternation. "Nah, five by five. She is a bitch. Is Spike a dumbass, or what? Because Buff ain't good with the book.s More jumping up and down and sounding out words."

"No, actually, Spike's actually damn smart. But he can't be arsed in most of his classes," Lindsey frowned.

"Sounds like the opposite to Buffy. Dumb blonde, pretends to be smart. Why does Spike act like the bleach's got to his brain?" Faith asked. Lindsey grinned.

"He's always done it. His dad went to Oxford, in England? And his older brother's doing his third year there, so the pressure has always been on Spike. He doesn't want to follow the pattern, so acting dumb means his dad can't expect so much of him," Lindsey explained. Faith nodded.

"I get that," she replied. "Okay, I'm no longer in the mood for mystery meat with a side of vomit, so what say we ditch lunch, and get on with the jump rope sadist?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Perfect!" Lilah crowed, as the last song came to an end. "Okay, Faith has something new. If you want to step up, Faith?" Faith looped her hair bhind her ears, and nodded.

"Okay, um, Lilah? Music?" she asked. Hurriedly, Lilah handed the music out, and Faith stepped forward.

"Two beats from you, Li, and then Lindsey, you come in," she instructed. "Spike, you're carrying the tune with me." The blond nodded, and bent over the guitar.

"I wake up in the morning,

put on my face.

The one that's gonna get me,

Through another day,

Doesn't really matter,

How I feel inside

This life is like a game sometimes, " Faith began slowly, her voice like honey, mellow, and low. Lindsey smiled, and concentrated on the chords. Spike shook his head, and picked up the tune.

"Then you come around me,

the walls just disappeared.

Nothing to surround me,

Keep me from my fears.

I'm unprotected,

See how I've opened up,

You've made me trust. " The beat picked up, and the slow, steady chords of the two guitars picked up, and they came in louder, contrasting, and blending, as Faith's voice rose in volume.

"Cuz I've never felt this way before,

I'm naked, around you,

Does it show?

You see right through me,

And I can't hide,

I'm naked, around you,

And it feels so right!

Trying to remember

Why I was afraid,

To be myself,

And let the covers fall away.

Guess I never had,

Someone like you,

To help me fit,

In my skin,

I never felt like this before,

I'm naked, around you,

Does it show?

You see right through me,

And I can't hide,

I'm naked around you,

And it feels so right.

I\m naked, oh, oh, yeah,

Does it sho-o-ow?

I'm naked, oh oh oh,

Yeah.yeah.yeah, oh oh,

I'm naked, around you,

Does it show,

So naked, around you,

And I can't hide,

You're gonna, you're gonna see right through me,

You see right through me,

And I can't hide,

I'm naked around you, yeah,

I\m so naked around you,

And I can't hide,

You're gonna see right through me,

Ooh, baby."

The slightly sweet, melodic sound as the last few lines had hit died away, as the two guitarists, and Lilah stared at the brunette Summers. She smiled, and handed the music back to Lilah.

"Thanks. It was cool. I like the tune," Faith offered.

"Wow. Um, sorry, but that was..wow. We're using that as our final set!" Lilah said decisively, grinning at Faith. She smiled back.

"So, the newbie's got a great voice. Good. Li'l more competition around 'ere," Spike said finally, letting his guitar slide to the floor.

"Thanks, Spike!" Faith replied, letting a smile spread across her own face. After a few seconds, a small, answering grin appeared on his face, before he swung out of the room. Faith watched him go, a little perturbed by his behaviour.

"Bugger doesn't deal well with competition," Lindsey said lightly, slinging an arm around Faith's shoulders. "He'll deal. Good voice, but better with a guitar. Anyway, sweetie, we're gonna have to get to class."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hey," Dawn greeted Faith as she walked through the door, without looking up from where she was stuffing chips into her mouth.

"Hi. What do you want?" Faith said tiredly. The final practise had gone well, but had gone on far too long.

"Mom went out to the gallery. She's going to New York tomorrow, late notice, Buffy's in charge, um, I getto stay up, and watch trash on TV," Dawn added. Faith folded her arms.

"I'm not even gonna start with that lousy excuse for a..whatever. Buffy can deal," she muttered, turning away, and heading upstairs for her room.

"Fine," Dawn scowled, and turned back to the TV.
A/N: It was unpredictable. It turned away from where I was going to a place that was..else. Next chapter, I promise the people playing . Anyway, want me to be nice, want me to continue this, whatever, pleeeease review. Any real suggestions, that take more than a purple box to express, then email me, address is on my profile page.