Part Twelve-
I took the long way home. Funny, how I was now calling it home. Not really
'ha-ha' funny, but more like ironic funny. How I had always longed for a
family to call my own, for siblings to tease, and parents to idol. I still
didn't have that, but I guess I had the next best thing. People who.cared
for me. Angel did, I know that. Even if he didn't want to admit or
acknowledge that, he did. Maybe even more than cared. Wes did, that I knew
for a fact. He would have never helped me leave the compound unless he
loved me, in his own way. Faith was like my sister, Spike my brother. The
others. I didn't know them.
I didn't want too.
I was afraid.
Afraid of what I would find out from them. They all knew something about me, something unreadable in their silent gazes and glances. Especially Willow's. She thought that I didn't see her hateful, odious stares. That I didn't see the way dangerous fire entered her eyes, the way they would slowly turn black, probing me. She didn't like me, to put it lightly. She probably wanted me dead, for reasons unknown to me. I would have to tread carefully around her, as if I wasn't doing that already.
The hotel loomed into view, looking strangely frightening in the late afternoon lights. I saw a curtain flutter from one of the penthouse windows. Briefly, I saw Angel's hauntingly sad face peer into mine, then vanish. He had been waiting for me. Something unrecognizable fluttered in my chest.
Yeah.
He cared for me, alright.
*
I had gone up to my apartment and stayed there all afternoon. I felt like being alone for awhile. I had changed into my pajama's around five and sat cross-legged on the terrace, sitting on the stone ledge that overlooked the gardens. The breeze was cool, the sun bright. On my lap, sat the heavy file on Buffy Summers. Something about her intrigued me. Like, I could almost relate to her.
Almost.
There was a file of it's own about her and some vampire called Angelus. There were no pictures, but I felt curious enough to want to read it. There were a few torn diary pages stuck in there. I glanced them over.
*
*April 14th, 1996
I can't believe it. He's a vampire. A vampire. No matter how many times I say it to myself, it still doesn't sound true. He's helped me, saved my life a couple times. I trusted him! God, I trusted him with my life. The warm fuzzy feelings weren't that of a stupid crush, it was stupid senses telling me that he was a stupid vampire! He's a vampire. But, why did he save me? Why didn't he kill me?
Why did he kiss me?
I looked him up, Angelus-the Scourge of Europe. The one with the Angelic face. You got that right. He was-is-one of the nastiest vamps in history. Rape, torture, maiming, mind games. He did all of that for a long time. But, what's even weirder, he was quiet for almost a hundred years. Not a peep out of him. It's almost like he's.one of the good guys.
God! GET A GRIP! He's a vampire, for God's sakes! Something you're sworn to kill, to stop their swarm of evil yadda, yadda. You have to kill him. I have to kill him. But, I don't know if I can. I think--I might--love him. Oh my God, I just might be in love with a vampire. Can I kill him? Can I even love him? Guess we're about to find out.
Wish me luck.
Buffy*
*
I sat back, reeling slightly. She was a Slayer in love with a vampire. That had to be one of the most forbidding acts against what she was sworn to do. Wow. Talk about drama. I felt bad for her. It was kind of Romeo and Juliet meets Dracula. I sighed and glanced across the hotel grounds. I could smell lilacs wafting in the breeze. I closed my eyes and inhaled. The smell was intoxicating, calming. Wes had taught me a form of meditation in the compound. You just clear your mind and the world seems to melt away. All you problems are gone, all the worries vanish. I balanced on the ledge, my back straight, and my breathing steady.
*"Live for me."*
I could hear the hauntingly clear voice ring inside my mind. The echo bounced back and forth in a dark void. The recognition of the emptiness scared me. I was missing something, I was half a person. The realization of that made me jump. Forgetting I was on the ledge, I moved too quickly to balance myself and tipped right over. I caught myself with one hand and just dangled there. I had a firm grip, and knew I wasn't going to fall. I looked down into the bed of roses below. I could imagine letting go, and falling four stories, crashing into the bed of hidden thorns. I could feel the impact breaking bones, hear sickening snaps, and feel the muscle and skin tear. I could imagine the lovely roses beneath me crushing, the masked thorns shredding my fragile skin, crimson blood seeping through, disguising itself with the scarlet red of the roses. I doubted it would kill me, but maybe.
The images shook me, making me feel disturbed and uneasy. I hoisted myself up and found myself face to face with the outlandish Whistler.
"I was gonna hurry to help you up, but I saw you had it all under control." He drawled slowly.
"You thought I wouldn't?" I smirked.
"I think that you need to snap out of it, kid. Life, especially yours, is too short to think of death." He said, his eyes dark with warning.
"Death is a part of my life." I argued.
"The Powers are staring to think you're a little bit suicidal. That's not a good sign." He retorted.
"Then what do 'they' propose I do?" I mocked him.
"They'd say open you're eyes. But, I'd say go out. Be a kid, that's the mistake that she made." He said quietly.
"Who?" I asked, though I knew the answer.
"Buffy."
"Buffy lived a life outside of slaying." I said, knowing from what I had read.
"That's what she wanted everyone to think. Fooled them good too. No, every thought of hers had an undertone of death and demise. Everything reminded her of what she lost, who she lost. She never had peace, and that's what you have a choice to have. A life, outside of this freak show. Live it up, while you still can." He urged, then tipped his hat in goodbye, and disappeared in the confines of my room.
I thought about what he said. I really did. As the sun went down, Faith came and found me.
"Oh, please tell me you aren't brooding." She moaned as she flopped on my bed.
"I'm not."
"You are. And, I think it's time to change that. C'mon doll face." She drawled, grabbing my hand and pulling my to her room. She threw open her closet and started to throw out some random clothes. I took in the leather pants and the tight shirts.
"Faith.what are you doing?" I asked her, watching as she frenzied about.
"We're going clubbin'." She said nonchalantly.
"Are we?" I mused, smirking.
She threw me a look, "Smartass." She muttered.
She moved from drawer to drawer, throwing things on the bed and then stood in front of me , smiling a smile that was just full of ulterior motives.
"Now, first, we'll have to do something with your hair." She ordered, sitting behind me and pulling my long tresses out of the ponytail holder. She pulled me into her bathroom and sprayed some gel into it, dampened it, and started massaging it. I watched in the mirror as it curled and coiled, framing my face and spiraling down my back. She added coal black eyeliner, shading my eyelids with a smoky gray color. She threw me a pair of leather pants and a lace trimmed corset top. It was a deep scarlet color, the soft lace black. It had zig zagged ties in the front, making it all the more daring. I slid on the pants and shrugged into the shirt, having to adjust my breasts to make them fit properly into the tight shirt.
"God, it's like fifty sizes too small." I complained to Faith, who was tying her own shirt up.
She smirked my way and answered, "It's supposed to be like that."
"What about shoes?" I asked her.
"Here." She said, tossing me a pair of stiletto boots.
And the look was completed.
*
Getting out of the hotel was a bit tricky. Faith had made me wear a leather jacket, zipped up to hide the scanty shirt. We tipped toed down the stairs quietly, acting like children, giggling at a glance at one another. Xander gave a wolf whistle when we entered the lobby, which made Anya slap his arm.
"Where's Angel?" Faith asked in a hushed whisper and before anyone could answer a voice said.
"Right behind you."
The both of us whipped around say that Angel was, indeed, right behind us.
"Uh. Hey." Was all I could muster, blushing as his dark eyes raked my apparel.
Faith just stood there, her lips pursed in a smirk, "Hey Angelcakes. Anne and I are going out. I'll have her home at a decent time. Later!" She said quickly and grabbed my arm, dragging me away.
*
Upon entering the club, I was hit with a wave of emotions, smells, and sensations. I could feel the heat, smell the sweat, and feel the beat of the loud music. Faith dragged me all over the place, the bar, the dance floor, and to our tables.
"Don't leave your drink sitting there!" She yelled over the pulsing music, "Keep it with you!"
I know Faith ordered some alcohol, from the way she was acting, but not enough to make her drunk as a lug. Even so, she kept a watchful eye over me, glaring all the sicko's away from me as I danced. It was a wonderful was of easing off the tension and anxiety away. It was almost as good as slaying.
Almost.
I met a cute guy named Jimmy Anderson. It turned out he went to Hemry too, even in some of my classes. He was really nice and I could feel myself warm up to him, his clear blue eyes twinkling shyly at me.
"Who's that? Jimmy asked me as we sat down at our table.
He was nodding at Faith.
"My sister." I lied.
"She seems pretty wild." He mused loudly over the music.
Faith was dancing-more like mating-with some guys. She had her eyes closed and I knew she didn't even notice them. She was in her own little world where nothing could touch her, faze her. Not even drunk, sex charged guys.
"She can be." I laughed.
I noticed my drink was empty and went to get some more, telling Jimmy that I'd be right back. As I neared the bar, the music grew quieter. I heard a familiar voice.
"You know you can't resist me, I'm a part of you, deary."
It was a low, hauntingly female voice. It was slightly accented. I looked up slowly and saw it, oh my God. Spike was sitting at a nearby table, a pale brunette on his lap.
"Oh God." I whispered as the brunette nuzzled him.
He kissed her, his eyes half lidded.
Oh Good God, Spike was cheating on Faith. I was frozen. Shocked. I thought he loved her, because God knows she did. Faith's eyes would get dreamy every time she mentioned him. She was truly in love with this jerk!
I turned right around, fuming mad. How could he?! I looked up to see Faith was not dancing any more. She was frozen on the dance floor, her eyes breaking as she stared at Spike and the brunette.
"Dru." I could hear Spike murmur to the whore on his lap.
"Faith." I whispered, watching as her face hardened, her lips curling back so tightly that I thought her face would crack and shatter.
"YOU BASTARD!" She screamed, her voice full of volume, I winced.
I looked back to see Spike snap his gaze in Faith's direction. Everything stopped at that moment. Music was cut, people stared, and Faith charged toward Spike.
"Faith, no." I tried, but she couldn't see, hear, or notice anything except Spike's betrayal.
"So, this has been where you've been going, HUH?! To fuck your sire whore?" She shrieked, hey eyes turning a murky brown color.
"No, baby, you don't understand." He stuttered, his voice husky.
"What's there to understand? I. Caught. You." She stated, her voice deadly composed.
It reminded me of the eye of the most deadliest storm. It would be calm before it all went to hell.
The brunette looked Faith up and down distastefully, "The Slayer?" She spat and wiped her tongue as if ridding a repugnant taste.
Faith's eyes lit with fire as she lunged to the brunette, swatting her away and grabbing Spike by the collar. She swung him into the nearest wall and I know I heard something crack. I made no move to stop her. Mercy and love be damned, he deserved it. Besides, there was no way I wanted to be in the middle of Faith's rage.
"I trusted you!" She hissed, slamming him again for emphasis, "You gave me your word, you fucking word! But, I guess the undead and promises don't mix well together." She laughed hollowly.
Undead?
Spike was a.
Faith threw him to the ground and a chair smashed. His face morphed into a hideous visage of a demon and Faith grabbed a jagged of shaft broken wood.
Vampire.
"Faith, wait!" He yelled, jumping to his feet and warding her off, his yellow eyes flashing, "Don't do this, please." He pleaded, "Don't destroy us."
The wood fell from her hands, fingers twitching uncontrollably. The wood hitting the floor seemed to echo in the deadly silent room. Then, Faith's bark of a broken laugh filled the room, her eyed dying right there. All the fire leaving them hollow and bottomless.
"Too late for that, baby, cause you already did." She rasped, turning as if to leave only to slam her fist into his face. His nose cracked and he cried out,
"Bloody goddamn hell!"
Faith took one of the metal tables and whipped it around, watching in silent misery as it slammed into him, knocking him to the ground.
"I hate you!" She spat angrily and ran out of the room, her boots clacking.
I looked at Spike, my glare hard. He stared back, his features slipping into their human facade. I just shook my head silently.
"You're an asshole." I whispered vehemently.
"She doesn't understand.." He moaned.
"What? That you were cheating on her? Not much to understand there." I snapped.
"No, I-"
"Save it already!" I shouted at him, "I swear to God, that if I catch you upsetting her anymore, making her life miserable, I will stake you like the undead scum you are!" I hissed, continuing, "You're beneath her."
And I turned on my heel and walked to where Faith had just run out.
*
I found Faith sitting on the curb, staring at nothing. Her face was passive, absolutely no emotion showing. She was broken. Crushed. I sat next to her and took her hand. She didn't respond. She was in her own world, wallowing in her own misery. She had a right to it.
We sat there for close to an hour, before I realized that either I do something or we'd be here all night. I took Faith's purse and took out her cell phone. I scanned through her numbers before I came across Angel's number. I pressed Send, and hoped he'd answer.
"Yeah?" He answered in a slightly clipped voice.
"Hello to you too." I grumbled.
"Bu-" He cut himself off and paused a moment, "Anne?"
"The one and only." I replied dryly.
"Where are you?" He asked me.
"Um." I looked up, "The corner of 6th and Dixie Ave." I answered.
"What are you doing there?" He asked me.
"Um. Sitting." I paused, "Faith's in bad shape." I sighed looking over to the motionless raven haired girl, my sister in every way that truly mattered, "Can you pick us up?"
"I'll be there soon."
Then he hung up.
Jerk.
I looked at Faith. I don't think she moved. She just breathed slowly, as if in a trance. She was trying to stop herself from hurting, I realized. Damn Spike!
He was a jerk too.
TBC
I didn't want too.
I was afraid.
Afraid of what I would find out from them. They all knew something about me, something unreadable in their silent gazes and glances. Especially Willow's. She thought that I didn't see her hateful, odious stares. That I didn't see the way dangerous fire entered her eyes, the way they would slowly turn black, probing me. She didn't like me, to put it lightly. She probably wanted me dead, for reasons unknown to me. I would have to tread carefully around her, as if I wasn't doing that already.
The hotel loomed into view, looking strangely frightening in the late afternoon lights. I saw a curtain flutter from one of the penthouse windows. Briefly, I saw Angel's hauntingly sad face peer into mine, then vanish. He had been waiting for me. Something unrecognizable fluttered in my chest.
Yeah.
He cared for me, alright.
*
I had gone up to my apartment and stayed there all afternoon. I felt like being alone for awhile. I had changed into my pajama's around five and sat cross-legged on the terrace, sitting on the stone ledge that overlooked the gardens. The breeze was cool, the sun bright. On my lap, sat the heavy file on Buffy Summers. Something about her intrigued me. Like, I could almost relate to her.
Almost.
There was a file of it's own about her and some vampire called Angelus. There were no pictures, but I felt curious enough to want to read it. There were a few torn diary pages stuck in there. I glanced them over.
*
*April 14th, 1996
I can't believe it. He's a vampire. A vampire. No matter how many times I say it to myself, it still doesn't sound true. He's helped me, saved my life a couple times. I trusted him! God, I trusted him with my life. The warm fuzzy feelings weren't that of a stupid crush, it was stupid senses telling me that he was a stupid vampire! He's a vampire. But, why did he save me? Why didn't he kill me?
Why did he kiss me?
I looked him up, Angelus-the Scourge of Europe. The one with the Angelic face. You got that right. He was-is-one of the nastiest vamps in history. Rape, torture, maiming, mind games. He did all of that for a long time. But, what's even weirder, he was quiet for almost a hundred years. Not a peep out of him. It's almost like he's.one of the good guys.
God! GET A GRIP! He's a vampire, for God's sakes! Something you're sworn to kill, to stop their swarm of evil yadda, yadda. You have to kill him. I have to kill him. But, I don't know if I can. I think--I might--love him. Oh my God, I just might be in love with a vampire. Can I kill him? Can I even love him? Guess we're about to find out.
Wish me luck.
Buffy*
*
I sat back, reeling slightly. She was a Slayer in love with a vampire. That had to be one of the most forbidding acts against what she was sworn to do. Wow. Talk about drama. I felt bad for her. It was kind of Romeo and Juliet meets Dracula. I sighed and glanced across the hotel grounds. I could smell lilacs wafting in the breeze. I closed my eyes and inhaled. The smell was intoxicating, calming. Wes had taught me a form of meditation in the compound. You just clear your mind and the world seems to melt away. All you problems are gone, all the worries vanish. I balanced on the ledge, my back straight, and my breathing steady.
*"Live for me."*
I could hear the hauntingly clear voice ring inside my mind. The echo bounced back and forth in a dark void. The recognition of the emptiness scared me. I was missing something, I was half a person. The realization of that made me jump. Forgetting I was on the ledge, I moved too quickly to balance myself and tipped right over. I caught myself with one hand and just dangled there. I had a firm grip, and knew I wasn't going to fall. I looked down into the bed of roses below. I could imagine letting go, and falling four stories, crashing into the bed of hidden thorns. I could feel the impact breaking bones, hear sickening snaps, and feel the muscle and skin tear. I could imagine the lovely roses beneath me crushing, the masked thorns shredding my fragile skin, crimson blood seeping through, disguising itself with the scarlet red of the roses. I doubted it would kill me, but maybe.
The images shook me, making me feel disturbed and uneasy. I hoisted myself up and found myself face to face with the outlandish Whistler.
"I was gonna hurry to help you up, but I saw you had it all under control." He drawled slowly.
"You thought I wouldn't?" I smirked.
"I think that you need to snap out of it, kid. Life, especially yours, is too short to think of death." He said, his eyes dark with warning.
"Death is a part of my life." I argued.
"The Powers are staring to think you're a little bit suicidal. That's not a good sign." He retorted.
"Then what do 'they' propose I do?" I mocked him.
"They'd say open you're eyes. But, I'd say go out. Be a kid, that's the mistake that she made." He said quietly.
"Who?" I asked, though I knew the answer.
"Buffy."
"Buffy lived a life outside of slaying." I said, knowing from what I had read.
"That's what she wanted everyone to think. Fooled them good too. No, every thought of hers had an undertone of death and demise. Everything reminded her of what she lost, who she lost. She never had peace, and that's what you have a choice to have. A life, outside of this freak show. Live it up, while you still can." He urged, then tipped his hat in goodbye, and disappeared in the confines of my room.
I thought about what he said. I really did. As the sun went down, Faith came and found me.
"Oh, please tell me you aren't brooding." She moaned as she flopped on my bed.
"I'm not."
"You are. And, I think it's time to change that. C'mon doll face." She drawled, grabbing my hand and pulling my to her room. She threw open her closet and started to throw out some random clothes. I took in the leather pants and the tight shirts.
"Faith.what are you doing?" I asked her, watching as she frenzied about.
"We're going clubbin'." She said nonchalantly.
"Are we?" I mused, smirking.
She threw me a look, "Smartass." She muttered.
She moved from drawer to drawer, throwing things on the bed and then stood in front of me , smiling a smile that was just full of ulterior motives.
"Now, first, we'll have to do something with your hair." She ordered, sitting behind me and pulling my long tresses out of the ponytail holder. She pulled me into her bathroom and sprayed some gel into it, dampened it, and started massaging it. I watched in the mirror as it curled and coiled, framing my face and spiraling down my back. She added coal black eyeliner, shading my eyelids with a smoky gray color. She threw me a pair of leather pants and a lace trimmed corset top. It was a deep scarlet color, the soft lace black. It had zig zagged ties in the front, making it all the more daring. I slid on the pants and shrugged into the shirt, having to adjust my breasts to make them fit properly into the tight shirt.
"God, it's like fifty sizes too small." I complained to Faith, who was tying her own shirt up.
She smirked my way and answered, "It's supposed to be like that."
"What about shoes?" I asked her.
"Here." She said, tossing me a pair of stiletto boots.
And the look was completed.
*
Getting out of the hotel was a bit tricky. Faith had made me wear a leather jacket, zipped up to hide the scanty shirt. We tipped toed down the stairs quietly, acting like children, giggling at a glance at one another. Xander gave a wolf whistle when we entered the lobby, which made Anya slap his arm.
"Where's Angel?" Faith asked in a hushed whisper and before anyone could answer a voice said.
"Right behind you."
The both of us whipped around say that Angel was, indeed, right behind us.
"Uh. Hey." Was all I could muster, blushing as his dark eyes raked my apparel.
Faith just stood there, her lips pursed in a smirk, "Hey Angelcakes. Anne and I are going out. I'll have her home at a decent time. Later!" She said quickly and grabbed my arm, dragging me away.
*
Upon entering the club, I was hit with a wave of emotions, smells, and sensations. I could feel the heat, smell the sweat, and feel the beat of the loud music. Faith dragged me all over the place, the bar, the dance floor, and to our tables.
"Don't leave your drink sitting there!" She yelled over the pulsing music, "Keep it with you!"
I know Faith ordered some alcohol, from the way she was acting, but not enough to make her drunk as a lug. Even so, she kept a watchful eye over me, glaring all the sicko's away from me as I danced. It was a wonderful was of easing off the tension and anxiety away. It was almost as good as slaying.
Almost.
I met a cute guy named Jimmy Anderson. It turned out he went to Hemry too, even in some of my classes. He was really nice and I could feel myself warm up to him, his clear blue eyes twinkling shyly at me.
"Who's that? Jimmy asked me as we sat down at our table.
He was nodding at Faith.
"My sister." I lied.
"She seems pretty wild." He mused loudly over the music.
Faith was dancing-more like mating-with some guys. She had her eyes closed and I knew she didn't even notice them. She was in her own little world where nothing could touch her, faze her. Not even drunk, sex charged guys.
"She can be." I laughed.
I noticed my drink was empty and went to get some more, telling Jimmy that I'd be right back. As I neared the bar, the music grew quieter. I heard a familiar voice.
"You know you can't resist me, I'm a part of you, deary."
It was a low, hauntingly female voice. It was slightly accented. I looked up slowly and saw it, oh my God. Spike was sitting at a nearby table, a pale brunette on his lap.
"Oh God." I whispered as the brunette nuzzled him.
He kissed her, his eyes half lidded.
Oh Good God, Spike was cheating on Faith. I was frozen. Shocked. I thought he loved her, because God knows she did. Faith's eyes would get dreamy every time she mentioned him. She was truly in love with this jerk!
I turned right around, fuming mad. How could he?! I looked up to see Faith was not dancing any more. She was frozen on the dance floor, her eyes breaking as she stared at Spike and the brunette.
"Dru." I could hear Spike murmur to the whore on his lap.
"Faith." I whispered, watching as her face hardened, her lips curling back so tightly that I thought her face would crack and shatter.
"YOU BASTARD!" She screamed, her voice full of volume, I winced.
I looked back to see Spike snap his gaze in Faith's direction. Everything stopped at that moment. Music was cut, people stared, and Faith charged toward Spike.
"Faith, no." I tried, but she couldn't see, hear, or notice anything except Spike's betrayal.
"So, this has been where you've been going, HUH?! To fuck your sire whore?" She shrieked, hey eyes turning a murky brown color.
"No, baby, you don't understand." He stuttered, his voice husky.
"What's there to understand? I. Caught. You." She stated, her voice deadly composed.
It reminded me of the eye of the most deadliest storm. It would be calm before it all went to hell.
The brunette looked Faith up and down distastefully, "The Slayer?" She spat and wiped her tongue as if ridding a repugnant taste.
Faith's eyes lit with fire as she lunged to the brunette, swatting her away and grabbing Spike by the collar. She swung him into the nearest wall and I know I heard something crack. I made no move to stop her. Mercy and love be damned, he deserved it. Besides, there was no way I wanted to be in the middle of Faith's rage.
"I trusted you!" She hissed, slamming him again for emphasis, "You gave me your word, you fucking word! But, I guess the undead and promises don't mix well together." She laughed hollowly.
Undead?
Spike was a.
Faith threw him to the ground and a chair smashed. His face morphed into a hideous visage of a demon and Faith grabbed a jagged of shaft broken wood.
Vampire.
"Faith, wait!" He yelled, jumping to his feet and warding her off, his yellow eyes flashing, "Don't do this, please." He pleaded, "Don't destroy us."
The wood fell from her hands, fingers twitching uncontrollably. The wood hitting the floor seemed to echo in the deadly silent room. Then, Faith's bark of a broken laugh filled the room, her eyed dying right there. All the fire leaving them hollow and bottomless.
"Too late for that, baby, cause you already did." She rasped, turning as if to leave only to slam her fist into his face. His nose cracked and he cried out,
"Bloody goddamn hell!"
Faith took one of the metal tables and whipped it around, watching in silent misery as it slammed into him, knocking him to the ground.
"I hate you!" She spat angrily and ran out of the room, her boots clacking.
I looked at Spike, my glare hard. He stared back, his features slipping into their human facade. I just shook my head silently.
"You're an asshole." I whispered vehemently.
"She doesn't understand.." He moaned.
"What? That you were cheating on her? Not much to understand there." I snapped.
"No, I-"
"Save it already!" I shouted at him, "I swear to God, that if I catch you upsetting her anymore, making her life miserable, I will stake you like the undead scum you are!" I hissed, continuing, "You're beneath her."
And I turned on my heel and walked to where Faith had just run out.
*
I found Faith sitting on the curb, staring at nothing. Her face was passive, absolutely no emotion showing. She was broken. Crushed. I sat next to her and took her hand. She didn't respond. She was in her own world, wallowing in her own misery. She had a right to it.
We sat there for close to an hour, before I realized that either I do something or we'd be here all night. I took Faith's purse and took out her cell phone. I scanned through her numbers before I came across Angel's number. I pressed Send, and hoped he'd answer.
"Yeah?" He answered in a slightly clipped voice.
"Hello to you too." I grumbled.
"Bu-" He cut himself off and paused a moment, "Anne?"
"The one and only." I replied dryly.
"Where are you?" He asked me.
"Um." I looked up, "The corner of 6th and Dixie Ave." I answered.
"What are you doing there?" He asked me.
"Um. Sitting." I paused, "Faith's in bad shape." I sighed looking over to the motionless raven haired girl, my sister in every way that truly mattered, "Can you pick us up?"
"I'll be there soon."
Then he hung up.
Jerk.
I looked at Faith. I don't think she moved. She just breathed slowly, as if in a trance. She was trying to stop herself from hurting, I realized. Damn Spike!
He was a jerk too.
TBC