The Quickening
Previously:
"You know, Xan, after all of this end of the world stuff? We should have that first date, that we've never technically been on. And maybe I'll give you a glimpse of what Boston was like for me," Faith replied. Xander smiled and looked over at her.
"I'd like that a lot."
Chapter Forty-Three:
"Faith!" Willow called as she watched the dark haired slayer walking down the hallway towards the library. Faith stopped and turned, waiting for the witch to catch up with her.
"What's up, Red?" Faith asked, continuing in her course. Willow fell into step with her.
"I just wanted to talk to you about something," Willow replied evasively.
"I'm all ears," Faith said, curious as to what Willow had on her mind. She and Willow had never been very good friends. In fact, Faith imagined that even with all of the time they spent together researching and fighting demons, she did not know the other girl at all. However, she was interested in getting to know Willow better. She seemed like a good friend to have and Faith was starting to learn that having people around was not as bad as she had previously thought.
"I wanted to talk to you about Xander," Willow clarified. "I've known Xander for a long time and I'm just concerned about his well being."
"Why?" Faith asked.
"Xander's very sensitive. When he falls for someone, he falls very hard. It seems that he's fallen for you. I just want to make sure you're not playing him," Willow said, summoning her courage, and turning to face the slayer walking next to her.
Faith remained silent for several long moments, staring deeply into Willow's eyes, and trying to determine what was really driving Willow to confront her about Xander. "You're into him, aren't you?" Faith finally responded, suddenly realizing that Willow's newfound concern did not originate from her desire to look out for Xander, but from her desire to be with Xander.
"No," Willow instantly replied, turning a deep shade of red. "Of course not. I'm with Oz, very happily with Oz," she reiterated. "But Xander's my best friend and I don't want to see him get hurt."
"You've got to be kidding me," Faith said, laughing humorlessly and shaking her head. "You know, Cordy said the same thing to me, but when she said it, she seemed a whole hell of a lot more sincere."
"What are you talking about?" Willow asked indignantly.
"You don't give a shit about Xander's well being. You're just trying to scare me off because you don't like the idea that you're best friend has someone else in his life now. I'm so terribly sorry that he can't devote every waking moment to you anymore, Red, but your jealousy isn't my problem," Faith replied, glaring at her for a moment before walking ahead of the witch.
"I'm not jealous of you," Willow said, catching up with the slayer. "Why should I be? You're one step away from being homeless. No one wants you here. Buffy only puts up with you because, with you around, she doesn't have to patrol all the time. Giles only puts up with you because it's his job. You barely have enough brain cells to rub together and you're a complete whore. Why in hell would I be jealous of you?" Willow replied, seething with anger and embarrassment at having been discovered.
"What did you just say to me?" Faith asked, spinning around to face her. "I must have heard you wrong because I'm damn sure that little Willow Rosenberg doesn't have the balls to say what I thought I heard."
"You heard me," Willow replied, stepping forward bravely.
"Okay, guys," Cordelia said, suddenly appearing out of the girl's bathroom. "Back off a little, huh?" She had opened the door, preparing to exit, when she heard Willow and Faith talking in the hallway. Deciding to eavesdrop, she lingered behind the partially closed door until she heard things starting to escalate.
"I don't know, C," Faith responded angrily, her fists balling up at her sides. "I really want to show this bitch who she's messing with," Faith spat.
"I get that," Cordy said, laying her hand on Faith's shoulder and whispering into her ear. "But if you beat the shit out of Willow in the middle of the hallway, you'll probably be arrested since, technically, you're not even supposed to be in the school. Plus, it'll piss Buffy, Xander, and all of the rest of them off beyond belief. Who do you think they'll believe when push comes to shove? You or her? She's been their friend far longer. Her word has a bit more weight. Trust me, I know. You and I are outsiders remember? We have to play the role."
Faith sighed and looked over at her friend. She knew Cordelia was right. However, she also knew that any other person would not get away with calling her a whore. She swallowed her boiling rage down, nearly choking on the horrific taste it left in her mouth. "Get out of here, Red," Faith growled, her eyes flashing as she regarded Willow. She could see fear on the witch's face for a moment before she pulled herself together, smiled politely, and walked away.
"She's got a lot of nerves," Cordy commented as Faith watched Willow walk away, barely restraining herself from chasing the other girl down the hallway.
"If that's what you want to call it," Faith replied, shaking her head angrily.
"Walk with me, yeah?" Cordy said, pulling Faith in the opposite direction. "What was she talking to you about anyway?"
"She was trying to give me the 'if you hurt Xander, I'll make you regret it' speech," Faith replied.
Cordy laughed as she linked her arm around Faith's arm to keep the dark haired slayer from straying as they walked. "I believe that for a second. Willow was jealous of me when I was dating Xander and she's jealous of you now that you are. It's ridiculous really. I mean, Oz is a great guy. I'd hate to see her mess things up with him. He deserves better."
"Just so long as she stays out of my way, everything'll be fine," Faith said.
"Well, don't worry," Cordy said confidently. "I'll keep you out of trouble. We outsiders have to stick together, yeah?"
…………………
The group met back in the library as dusk fell on Sunnydale. A full moon rose over the town. Faith walked into the library, watching as werewolf Oz paced in his cage, howling every once in a while. "He's wound up tonight, isn't he?" Faith commented. She smiled facetiously at Willow as the witch looked up at her. "I guess he hasn't been getting enough werewolf lovin'."
"And why are you still speaking?" Willow asked moodily, her eyes shifting back to the book in front of her.
"What's with those two?" Buffy asked Xander, noticing the tension between Faith and Willow.
"No idea," Xander replied, shrugging.
"Any news on the death cult?" Cordelia asked, walking in right behind Faith.
"The Council won't take my phone calls," Giles replied grumpily, emerging from his office. "Unfortunately, my resources are quite insufficient in this case. The Sisterhood of Jhe isn't very well documented. All we really know about them, thus far, is that they're a race of female demon warriors."
"Who apparently like to eat their foes," Buffy said, reading from her book.
"They couldn't have just been into mud wrestling or something?" Xander asked. Faith and Cordelia walked over to the main library table and sat, each grabbing a book to contribute to the research effort. Silence fell on the library as they read, interrupted occasionally by the sound of Oz banging on his cage.
"So, I'm think there's a more proactive way to handle this," Faith said suddenly, slamming her book closed and sliding it back across the table.
"What's that?" Willow sneered. Faith glared over at her before continuing.
"Why don't me and B check out Willy's? He's bound to have some kind of useful information. If not, it beats sitting around here doing nothing," Faith said to Giles. Giles nodded thoughtfully.
"I agree," he said. "Good thinking," he added, flashing her a smile. He too could feel the tension raging between Willow and Faith. Though he did not know why the two girls were at odds, he felt the need to reassure Faith.
"You ready, B?" Faith asked, rising to her feet. Buffy nodded eagerly, glad to be relieved of research duty.
"Let's hit the bar."