Chapter 2 - New Arrivals
The trip from Boston to Sunndydale was agonizing for Faith. Her fear of flying resulted in her having to take several buses and several days to reach her destination. The sun was starting to set as her final bus on this voyage road past the "Welcome to Sunnyhell" sign. Faith couldn't help but wonder if the sign was right about this small town. When she stepped out into the bus depot she realized she was starving.
Faith was sitting at a booth enjoying her burger and fries as the last speck of light disappeared behind the horizon. She had already gotten herself a motel room, so she decided a patrol was in order. She would have to find Buffy Summers tomorrow, right now she needed to release the tension that had built up over her journey.
It was a slow night for Faith. She was feeling tired and started to walk back to her motel. On the way, she spotted what looked like a nightclub, "The Bronze". Faith thought it was worth a shot. If she couldn't slay, dancing was the next best thing. And maybe she could pick up a hottie to take back to her room for a little extra release.
Faith had been dancing for about an hour when she decided it was time to go. As she was leaving, a cute guy caught her attention and caused her to bump into a tiny blonde, spilling the contents of the girls bag all over the floor. Faith rushed to help her get her things. "I'm sorry, didn't see you there. I'm Faith." She stated blankly, not really knowing what to do. There was something about this girl, something Faith could not quite figure yet.
"It's alright. That's a nice name." Buffy says, slightly fascinated in the stranger.
"If you like that, you should hear my number." Faith says, pretending she isn't trying to flirt.
"I have...ah...my friends... are over there. I have to go." Buffy stutters uncomfortably, and she begins to walk away.
"Wait! What's your name?" Faith yells out through a crowd.
"Buffy." She says turning to leave again. Buffy the slayer? Faith thinks, A little small to be the chosen one.
"Maybe I'll see you at school." Faith tries to yell over the crowd. But Buffy doesn't respond and Faith turns to leave the Bronze.
Buffy sits down to a group of questioning faces. "What?" She asks a little annoyed. Her question was answered with a chorus of nothings. "What's going on guys?" She asks more annoyed.
Xander was the first to speak up. "Am I wrong, or did you just have a moment with mystery girl?"
"A moment? No, Xander. Can you think about anything other then lesbians for a minute?" Buffy retorts.
"Yes. Sometimes I think about women having sex with me." He says grinning and receives a bunch of "whatever" looks from the table.
"Buffy, how did patrol go?" Willow asks her best friend in an attempt at subject change.
"Only two vamps." She answers. "It's been overly slow in the demon area lately. I'm gonna ask Giles if something's up."
"I'm sure it's nothing Buffy." The hacker replies. Buffy just nods along finding herself distracted by the thought of a certain flirty brunette. She was starting to question if there really had been a moment.
The friends joked lovingly, unaware of a presence watching them intently across the club. The mysterious blonde figure wandered the Bronze studying the young slayer and making some plans for the nights to come.
Faith woke up to the irritating buzz of an ancient alarm clock the next morning. She wasn't happy about having to go to school; she usually spent her days training not schooling. But her watcher made it clear that she must speak to Rupert Giles, the librarian at Sunnydale High School, as soon as possible. Maybe I'll see Buffy again she thought forcing herself out of bed.
School was a drag. She spent her whole morning either with the creepy principal Synder or sitting in a boring class. She was starting to worry she would never get to meet Mr. Giles when the lunch bell rang. Faith got up from the creaky desk and walked towards the library. When she arrived, Faith was greeted with the faces of Buffy Summers and her gawking friends.
"Hi Buffy." Faith said, wondering if they always hung out here.
"Hi...Faith." Buffy replied, remembering her encounter with the brunette at the Bronze.
With a playful smile Faith said, "I'm looking for Mr. Giles. Do you know where I could find him?"
"I'm Mr.Giles." The watcher stated, walking from behind a stack. "You must be Faith. I was talking to your watcher a short while ago. She said you would be here very soon."
"Well, here I am." Faith said, realizing she had no idea what to do now.
"Oh Buffy, Faith is the new slayer." Giles says addressing Buffy. "And Faith, this is Buffy." He says turning to the newcomer and smiling gently.
"We've met." Faith informs him with a smile again directed at Buffy.
"Faith's the new slayer? Great." Xander says enthusiastically with naughty thoughts floating in his head. Buffy shot a glare at him before realizing she had no reason to be jealous.
"They all know about you being a slayer?" Faith asked Buffy a bit stunned. "My watcher's big on the whole "no friends, no family, no distraction" policy."
"Buffy was never one for council rules." Giles says, deciding to rejoin the conversation.
"OK. Well, I'm starved. Where can I get some food in this joint?" Faith asks trying to change the subject.
"I'll show you where the cafeteria is." Buffy responds leading Faith from the library. The others following close behind.
Once they made it to the cafeteria Faith started to ask Buffy about the situation that resulted in her arrival. Buffy let her know about the night of St. Vidges and all the expected bad tomorrow. After Faith was filled in, the subject quickly swayed to that of the mysterious new slayer. Xander looked at Faith with a mischievous grin and asks the brunette to tell them a little about herself. Not comfortable with talking about her personal life, she started bragging about slaying and bitching about her watcher instead. Buffy got up for a soda across the room and she returned to hear faith beginning an intriguing story.
"...it was about a hundred and eighteen degrees, I'm sleepin' without a stitch on, suddenly I hear all this screamin'. I go outside- stark nude -this church bus has broke down and three vamps are feasting on half the Baptists in South Boston. So I waste the vamps and the preacher is hugging me like there's no tomorrow when the cops pull up. They arrest us both."
The table erupted with hoards of laughter and Faith takes a look at Buffy to observe her reaction. She seemed to be a mix of shocked and very interested. Faith decided to take this as a good sign. "So patrolling tonight Buffy?" She asked when the giggles finally stopped.
"Well, actually parent teachers is tonight and Snyder's on my case. I have to be there or he'll expel me." The blonde replied while twirling her finger over the top of the pop can.
"Maybe I can help too. It seems to be slow in the demony way anyway, and getting in good with the principal in never bad..." Faith says hopefully.
"Um, sure." Buffy replies wondering why she's so nervous. She makes me act so weird she thought knowing exactly why, but not wanting to address it right now.
Buffy, with the help of Willow and Faith, spent the entire night trying to keep her mother and Snyder from each other. It was ultimately useless. Faith could only give her a look of pure sympathy as Snyder and her mother walked away from them. Willow was trying to comfort her and Faith joined in where she could. She felt odd being so friendly with Buffy; she hadn't been close to anyone in a long time. They had only just met and she felt like they were compatible already. When Joyce returned with a deep grimace on her face, Faith couldn't help but feel for Buffy. The young girl had so much responsibility and couldn't juggle it all. She wanted to help, but knew there was nothing she could do. She placed a friendly hand on Buffy's shoulder as Joyce spoke. "In the car now." Buffy complied immediately. As they began to walk out the school all lights suddenly disappeared and they are left in blackness. At that moment, a group of vampires came crashing through the garden view window behind assembled group and the people scattered.
"What can I say? Couldn't wait." The blonde leader says with a cocky grin. The slayers automatically jump into action trying to get everyone out of harms way. After several minutes of hiding, Buffy leaves her mother and the others with Faith, to go after the vampires. She quickly meets up Spike, and the fight ensues. Buffy seemed to be keeping the upperhand but not really nearing an end to the battle. When Spike finally gains an advantage over the slayer, Joyce shows up and smacks the vampire with an axe from behind. Knowing the police are on the way they leave to find the others.
When the police arrive at the high school Buffy is attempting to tell her mother of her calling. She explains about vampires and her abilities, and then she mentions Faith's calling. Joyce seems to understand but is in shock and is more terrified then she has ever been. Buffy doesn't know what else she can do so she tells her mother to leave without her and she walks Faith back to the motel. They talk the whole way, mostly about the event not long over at the school. Buffy was finding not caring about her new feeling towards her friend anymore. The conversation halts when they make it to Faith's room, and she invites Buffy inside. Buffy knew she had to get home but agreed anyway, she didn't want to part with her new friend yet. Buffy was shocked at the disastrous state of the tiny room. Faith shouldn't be leaving like this she thought. "Do you like it here, Faith?" Buffy asked innocently.
"I've got a bed, a shower and a t.v, it's enough." She responds blankly.
"I should get home..."
"Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow, B."
Buffy gets up regretfully leaving Faith alone. Thinking about her new nickname, she sneaks a glance at Faith over her shoulder catching a big smile on the younger girl's face, and she shuts the door. The brunette let out a sigh and pulled a small book from the nightstand next to her. She stared at the word "Diary" for a moment before cracking it open and retrieving the pen from the spine. She ran over the day's events in her head and began to write.
Dear diary,
I've been in Sunny D for not much more than 24 hours, and I know I'm home. There's nothing for me in Boston anymore, maybe there never was. No family, no friends, and my watcher is just doing her job. I'm useful here and I'm already making good friends. I met Buffy Summers, the other slayer, last night. She's really cool and her friends are great. Her watcher's cool too. He seems really excited that I'm here to help. School's a drag, I forgot how bad it was. But knowing I'll see Buffy gets me through it. I love slaying with her, it's so much more intense when we're together. It's so connected and powerful, I've never felt anything like it before. She's such an amazing fighter too. I never thought I would meet someone who can kick my ass but I know she could. Her movements are so perfect; strong and precise, her technique is flawless. Sometimes I get lost watching her fight, so beautiful and so dangerous. I'm in over my head.
Faith
Buffy arrived home after the short walk from Faith dingey motel, she went directly to her room and began her own diary entry.
Dear diary,
I haven't seen or talked to Angel in a few days. Maybe it's better I don't, out of sight out of mind, right? Well, that's what I'm hoping. I still think about him everyday, whether he's around or not. I know I could never be with guy who's allergic to the sun and only finds it necessary to make an appearance when there's grave danger. I just wish I could find someone to complete me. Someone who knows me inside and out and can give me all the love in the world in only a look. I know, sappy romantic, that's me, but I do know what I want...and it can't be Angel.
Buffy
TBC