"Hey Faith. How's it going?" Missy asks as she jogs to catch up with her sister.

"Been better," Faith mumbles. "I don't think that it's a good idea for me to talk to that woman," she says with a scowl.

"That woman is your mother. I think that it's in your best interest to at least tell her how pissed off you are at her," Missy says. "Besides, it's too late to turn back now. You're already expected over later."

"Yeah," Faith sighs. "I just really want to avoid any contact with her. I'm not looking to share and learn and grow," she says.

"You can't just let your problems fester like that Faith," Missy says.

"Yeah. Whatever, I've got to get to class," Faith responds as she takes off and stalks into her first class and throws herself into the desk in the back. Then, she looks around at her advanced chemistry class, almost having completely forgotten that she had it changed.

"Hi, I'm Torrance," a perky blonde introduces herself. Faith looks at the blonde, then the offered hand before reluctantly reaching over and shaking it. "You're Missy right?" She asks, proud at having recognized the girl.

"No," Faith responds and Torrance looks at her with confusion. "I'm her older sister Faith," she explains.

"Right," Torrance says, trying to see how the two are not identical. "I can sort of see a difference," she says.

"Oh yeah?" Faith asks with some amusement. "What kind of difference?" She asks despite herself.

"It's just the way you act. You act differently and have different mannerisms and stuff," Torrance replies. She then clears her throat, slightly embarrassed. "So, how much older are you than Missy?" She asks.

"About four years," Faith says with a shrug. "But I've only known her for a couple of days," she continues.

"Four years, that would make you almost twenty," Torrance says with skepticism. "And how could you have only known her for a couple of day?" She asks.

"It's a long, complicated, Jerry Springer type situation and it is purely by coincidence that we ended up transferring to the same school," Faith says with a shrug.

"Oh, I see," Torrance says. "If you see her today could you tell her that I am really sorry how the other girls acted the other day at cheerleading auditions?" She asks hopefully.

"Yeah. They did bash on her a lot didn't they," Faith observes.

"You were there?" Torrance asks with surprise. "But I didn't see you," she says.

"I know. Missy didn't even know I was there until we ran into each other in the hall as she stormed out," Faith says dramatically, causing Torrance to giggle. "Besides, I think that Missy is overqualified anyways," she jokes.

"And what about you?" She retorts and Faith quirks an eyebrow. "Are you overqualified also?" She asks with challenge in her tone.

"I would blow Missy out of the water," Faith responds without a second thought. "I have more experience and skill. It would be no contest. I think that it must run in the family," she covers.

"So that means that you won't cheer either huh?" Torrance teases.

"No. I'm not exactly the cheering type," Faith retorts. Before Torrance has a chance to make a comeback, the bell rings and the class starts. Faith inwardly groans. This is going to be a long day.

"Are you ready?" Missy asks as she walks up to Faith in the school parking lot.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she mumbles back. "I can't believe I'm going to do this. I don't think I'm ready to do this. Can I just drop you off and then go home?" She asks hopefully.

"Sorry, but no. You're going to have to do it more sooner than later," Missy states.

"Fine. Come on, let's go," Faith relents with a frown. They get into the car and speed off.

They pull up to Missy's house and get out. "This is so not a good idea," Faith mumbles. "I hope you put a drop cloth down in case there's bloodshed," she says seriously.

Missy smiles slightly. "It will be okay Faith. I promise that you will be fine," she reassures.

"Okay," Faith breathes out. "Let's go," she says as she and Missy walk in the door.

"Mom, Dad, Faith and I are here," Missy calls out into the house.

Upstairs-5 minutes ago:

"Robert, I can't do this," Rebecca says to her husband. "I can't go down there and talk to her. What could we possibly have to say to one another that won't end up leading to blows?"

"You and Faith need to clear the air between the two of you," he reasons.

"There is no air that needs clearing between us. We are perfectly content with hating each other," she says firmly.

"I know that you cannot honestly believe that," he says and she stays silent. "She's our daughter!" He yells. "You need to talk to her, you owe her that much at least."

" I'll talk to her but she had better not try to attack me, like last time," she warns.

"I would've attacked you too if you had said that to me," Robert tells her.

Rebecca opens her mouth to reply, but is cut off. "Mom, Dad, Faith and I are here," they hear Missy call from downstairs. Sullenly, the couple makes their way down the stairs to the two girls.

"Faith," the woman says tentatively toward her estranged daughter.

Faith notices her unsure tone and feels more in control than she did moments ago. "Rebecca," she says in acknowledgement of her mother.

Rebecca winces slightly at Faith's impassive tone and impersonal use of her first name. "I'm glad that you came," she says quietly.

"You are?" Faith asks, obviously shocked. "I mean, why? So that you can dig into me even more?" She asks, her anger flaring slightly, though she isn't sure as to why.

"No, but right now it's seeming like a good idea," she yells back. "I knew that it would be pointless to talk to a loser like you," she states. "I should've known that you hadn't changed, that you can't change."

"Shut up!" Faith shouts. "I have changed because if this had happened three years ago, they would be dragging a lake to find your ass," she growls menacingly.

"I appreciate the fucking sentiment, but I think that I can take you. I've done it before, I can do it again," she says.

"That's fabulous fucking parenting. Now I have an excuse to give to my shrink," she spits.

"No Faith, you're wrong. I didn't fuck you up, you were fucked up enough on your own. I'm glad that your worthlessness helped you become the psychopath that you are today," she remarks snidely.

"I'm sure that you had fun helping that evolve," Faith sneers.

"So what, you're going to try pinning all of your goddamned issues on my 'excellent parenting skills'? I wasn't there when you gutted those people in Sunnydale. I wasn't the one holding the knife. I didn't put you in a coma or make you walk into the police station. It is all on you," Rebecca defends.

"Well, that's the problem isn't it?" Faith asks, near tears. "You weren't there. You were never there. Maybe if you had been, then-"

"Then what? You wouldn't have done any of it? Maybe I would've been the one to guide you to the ways of goodness and light?" She scoffs.

"No. But maybe Dad wouldn't have shot himself, maybe I wouldn't have had to see my best friend killed and maybe I wouldn't have had to run away to California," Faith says while trying to choke down her emotions. "Everything would've been different and none of this wouldn't have happened. Everyone would be..." Faith pauses, trying to find the right word.

"Happy?" Rebecca interjects softly, her eyes starting to tear up too.

"Yeah," Faith answers slowly. She glances towards the door, contemplating on whether or not she should make her exit now. She turns and takes a step, but turns around and faces her mother. "Just answer something for me," she pauses, waiting to hear an objection. When she hears none, she continues. "Why didn't..." she wipes her eyes and waits until she can trust her voice. "Why didn't you want me?" She asks in a small, child-like voice.