Note: 7 reviews = immediate chapter… you all can thank Karen for this chapter, too. I didn't notice I had so many new reviews and I wasn't going to update or check until tomorrow-ish.

Disclaimer: I wish I owned BtVS… but alas…

Dedicated To…

Everyone out there who supported me every step of the way (and my girl, Karen, who's the best thing I've got going for me now and has been since everything started falling apart again – I love her to bits 3). Thank you.

Ash – *lol* You've been waiting a pretty damn long time then. Crazy. I hope you did take care of your bladder needs though. :P Next chapter!

Karen – Babe! This is like the second-ish time you replied, right? (I can't count!) You're the best, I love you, too! *blows kisses*

lil badass – Damn straight! I even signed a petition to get Fanfiction.net to put back the NC-17 rating again… and when I last looked at it, it was well over two hundred or so. But I haven't heard from it since. How could something with so many signatures fail to do something? Maybe the staff just ignored it. Ugh. And, "muy caliente", eh? What high school language course did you take? But on other topics… your prize…? Send me a wish list and I'll get back to you on that. :P

rain – *laughs* You'll see how it goes… I think I dare to say that a lot of you are going to be at my throats in a few days…

Melissa – Harsh is my forte. Cotton-y pink romance fluff just isn't my thing.

VixenRaign – *LOL* I am the uber-evil. *deepens voice* VixR, I am your father. … Not really. *not a man person or father-ish figure* And oh, quit it, you're going to make me feel bad. *sticks out tongue* Read, you!

Akasha – I get meaner, too.

cw – Oh, she did so! I like to keep in mind that highs and lows are key to a successful storyline – although I guess I would have to say there isn't much of a plot in this (unfortunately). It was written out a while ago. I guess I just never took the time to think it out. But I don't know how I managed to get off-topic. *laughs* I'll let you read now.

Note: Constructive criticism always welcome… as well as senseless praise. Hey, a writer does have some needs…

Part V – "Can't Take This"

"Faith -"

"I don't want to hear it, B."

"Faith -"

"Shut the hell up!"

"Faith, please, just -"

"Just what? Just what? Calm down? You just fucking called out Angel's name, and you want me to calm down?"

"I'm sorry!"

"I don't give a flying fuck, Buffy," I scream, "Sorry just doesn't cut it!"

I'm off the bed and you're on your back, pulling up my blankets to cover yourself. Suddenly insecure? Feel bad? Good. I hope you rot in hell, bitch.

We were doing good. We were doing so good. And you fucking ruined it.

You ruined everything.

You're looking at me with those wide, pleading eyes of yours. Those that scream shock and apology so loudly, it hurts my head. I don't want to hear it. I look into your guilty eyes, and something inside clicks. Your blank expression. The mascara. The distress vibes. The unmanaged hair.

... Angel.

"It's about him, isn't it?" I demand, beyond furious.

You don't even have to ask who, and you look down, hair falling like a golden veil in front of your face. There are no verbal answers, but your actions are more than clear enough.

Stalking over, I grab you forcefully by the chin, pulling your face up to look at me. A slight wince falls over your face, but I don't care. You deserve the pain.

Seething, I speak slowly, through clenched teeth, "What. Fucking. Happened?"

"Angel," you mumble softly, still refusing to meet my eyes, "He's gone. He left."

"Boo hoo." I sneer, pouring every ounce of sarcasm I could muster into my words, "So you thought you'd just come by and use me, right? Because poor Faith is so horny and needy, she won't mind. Because Faith is incapable of feelings. Because Faith doesn't matter to you."

"That's not -"

"That's all it is to you!" I burst, releasing you and ignoring the angry red imprints of my fingers on your face. My hands clench at my sides. I want to hit you. Instead, I walk over to my dresser, rummaging through clothes.

"Faith, please -"

I whirl around, spitting out angrily, "Don't even try it, B, don't even try it, or I swear..."

Everything's whirling and twisting inside my head.  Every word you say makes it throb more. And through the torrent of painful anger, it makes sense.

I hate you.

I pull out the first weapon I find. A gun. You're suddenly quiet, horrified. What's the matter? Being naked strips away your confidence?

Not mine.

Or maybe it's because, as unnaturally strong and fast as slayers are, we're not made to dodge bullets.

Are you scared, yet? I hope you are.

"Faith..." your voice is small, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry? You're sorry?" I bark out a disbelieving laugh, half-hysterical, "It's too late for that now. Maybe you should've thought about it before you played me. I'm not a replacement for a fuckin' vampire."

I make my way towards you, shoving my face inches before yours. Your fear is tangible and I'm loving every sick little moment of it.

"Just remember. The gun is loaded, B, and you know how we play our games. You fuck with me, I fuck with you. An eye for an eye."