Chapter Nine:

Since high school had ended Buffy had slowly grown apart from her old friends. She still shopped and gossiped with Cordy and Harmony but things weren't really the same. It was like a thick fog of self obsession was slowly thinning over the years and she could see past the popularity and glamour to the shallow and vindictive princesses below. But who was she to judge them? She had willingly become one of them a long time ago.

The only girl on the cheer squad that Buffy actually had any genuine friendship for was the new girl. Faith Izacs had transferred to UC Sunnydale about eighteen months ago. She was an amazing gymnast and had attitude in spades but she was never mean to anyone, well except maybe Cordy, but that was just because they hated each other. Cordy couldn't stand the competition and so Faith was shunned by most of the others on the squad. However Faith and Buffy had become fast friends and though Faith was a very private person they got along amazingly well.

Faith was one of those women that just oozed sex appeal and although she looked like a real wild child with her New York style and Brooklyn accent she was actually just another girl. Faith said that being the youngest of five children and the only girl taught you to be tough, strong and stand up for your self. She wasn't flirtatious, she just wasn't intimidated. The biggest surprise was when Faith announced a month ago that she was engaged to a shy but adorable history major from LA named Wesley Windom Price. Apparently they had been high school sweethearts then when they went off to study they figured it would have to end but they spent every break together and any weekend they could manage and with the modern wonder that is instant messaging they managed to make it work.

" B? Buffy are you listening to me?"

"Oh sorry Faith. What were you saying?"

" I asked if you had a good time on your date with the football playing ape that you call a boyfriend?"

"Come on Faith, that's not fair. He is a great guy, everyone says so."

" B, if you like him that's great, if you want to be all goo goo eyed and swoon by all means do but if you don't like him then you've got to dump him. You'll never find a boyfriend if you don't dump Angel."

"Angel is my boyfriend! And for your big fat information I like him plenty"

"That's a very convincing argument you've got going there B"

Buffy playfully stuck her tongue out at her friend. It felt good to be silly again.

"Oh sure, that really helps to convince me B!"

"Well, I'm just taking it slow."

"Slow is good, don't get me wrong, but if there's no spark then you won't be getting any fire."

"But if there's no fire you don't get burned."

"You have a point. I don't like it but it's a point none the less. Now on to more interesting subject matter. If you can pull your self away from the pom pom brigades there are some friends of mine I'd like you to meet."

Buffy followed Faith out of the lunch hall, down past the old psychology building and around to a small courtyard area that Buffy had never noticed before. It was much quieter there and the round table in the middle of the clearing looked comfortable and clean. She was about to tell Faith just that when a familiar voice echoed down along the path they had just taken.

"Spike if you don't take that back."

"What? If I don't take it back you'll what?"

"I'll just tell Buffy what you said last night when you were asleep on the…."

Anya's voice trailed off as she appeared around the corner and spotted her chance to make good on her threat.

"Buffy, just the person I wanted to see. Did you know that last night…"

Anyas sentence was cut short as Spike too turned the corner, spotted Buffy and clamped his hand over Anyas still moving mouth.

"Fine, I take it back, I'm sure you and Xan will be shagging six ways from Sunday in no time at all. Happy now?"

Anyas reply was lost in her fit of giggles. Buffy mentally kicked herself for even caring but something in her head was insistent on wondering about Spike Winters and it would have been nice to have a little dirt on him. Buffy was caught off guard by Faiths sudden look of amusement.

"Well B, I was about to introduce you to the new friends I met last week but something tells me you have already met."

Buffy explained that they all went to the same high school and that Spike was her neighbor and Faith explained how Oz had recognized Wes from a picture in Faiths notebook in their ancient ruins lecture. Apparently Oz used to tutor Wesleys cousin.

The group then moved to the picnic table in the middle of the courtyard and began to produce varying degrees of bought and packed lunches. What really struck Buffy as amazing was the fact that they began to automatically swap bits and pieces, split doughnuts, exchange sandwiches and barter with each other. It was done in a natural and clearly familiar way but it reminded Buffy of her own friends, sitting at the best table in the cafeteria, swapping dieting tips and watching each other eat six different types of lettuce masquerading as a salad. Somehow she was sure this group had more fun.

"Summers, we'll make an exception this time but don't come back here with that crappy rabbit food again, we're not hamsters."

Spike shook his head and tossed her half a jam sandwich. Willow and Anya shuffled over to make space for her and that was how she ate lunch every day that week, with not a lettuce leaf in sight.