Chapter Fourteen: Give it a Try

Buffy looked at her mother. Joyce shook her head and walked downstairs. Buffy walked to her door and closed it. That was enough for tonight. First her mom…Then her dad…Loud music entered the picture and Buffy rolled her eyes. Faith…She sighed heavily and looked at her clock. It was eight at night and Buffy wanted some rest.

She got up off the bed and opened her door. Buffy stared at her sister's door. That was Dawn's door. Pain washed over her. She missed her sister. Her real sister. Buffy inhaled deeply and walked over to Faith's door. She knocked on it and heard Faith turn the music down. Faith opened the door and said,

"Mom, I will turn down the music-" she stopped when she saw Buffy.

"B," Faith said. "It's you."

"It's me." Buffy said.

Faith crossed her arms. "Did you think of something else really hurtful to say?"

Buffy sighed heavily. "No, I just wanted to say…" She paused. "I'm sorry."

Faith nodded and slammed the door in her face. Buffy heard her turn off her music. She sighed and walked back to her bedroom. She closed the door and changed into her pajamas. Buffy turned off the light and crawled into bed. She was exhausted. It was like being on an emotional roller coaster. Buffy closed her eyes and went to sleep.

She dreamt of her and Dawn at the park. It was a great day. The sun was out and the birds sang. Dawn must have been five. Buffy pushed her on the swing and they both laughed. Her mother was on the swing next to them and watched her daughters play. The alarm disturbed her dreams and Buffy woke up. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

None of that happened. It was all a dream. Her dreams tormented her. There was a knock at her door.

"Buffy?"

It was her mother. "I'm up, Mom."

"Hurry, I'm making breakfast." Joyce said.

Buffy stretched and threw the covers off of her. She got up off the bed and opened her door. Faith's room was already opened. She swallowed hard and walked to the top of the stairs. Buffy slowly walked downstairs once more.

She was still not comfortable with everyone. Once Buffy got to the bottom of the stairs, she walked into the dining room. Faith was at the table and remained quiet. She looked at Buffy for a moment, but turned her eyes away.

Buffy sat down and Hank entered the dining room with hashbrowns in his hands. He set them in the middle of the table and Joyce carried the scrambled eggs. Hank sat down at the head of the table and Joyce dished out food. Faith got up from the table and walked into the kitchen. She came back with ketchup.

Faith sat down and poured ketchup on her eggs and hashbrowns. Faith put the ketchup down and Joyce sat down at the opposite end of the table. Buffy looked at Faith and asked,

"Can I please have ketchup?"

Faith handed Buffy the ketchup. "Thanks." Buffy said and Faith nodded.

"Faith, how's your homework coming along?" Hank asked.

"Good Dad, I just have to tweak a few things, and then it's done." Faith said.

"Homework?" Buffy asked.

Faith nodded. "College stuff."

"You graduated high school?" Buffy asked, surprised.

Faith snapped her head at her and glared. "Yes, I did." She said, "Your dreams weren't real Buffy. Get over it."

She stood up and picked up her plate. Faith walked out of the room and stomped upstairs. Hank looked at his daughter, furious. Buffy swallowed hard. Joyce sighed and turned to her.

"Buffy, that wasn't very nice."

"Mom, in my dreams, she dropped out." Buffy explained. "I was surprised and wanted to know more."

"Buffy, you can't keep acting like this towards your sister." Hank said. "You need to be nice."

"I'm sorry." Buffy said. "I thought I was being nice."

"I don't think that was very nice." Joyce agreed with Hank. "You need to be nicer to your sister."

Buffy sighed heavily. "I'll go talk to her after she's cooled down." She told them.

The rest of the meal was eaten in silence. Joyce took the dishes into the kitchen and Hank went into work. After helping her mother with the dishes, Buffy walked upstairs. Faith had loud music on again. Buffy rolled her eyes and walked to Faith's door. She knocked on it and Faith yelled,

"Go away!"

Buffy knocked again. Faith walked to the door and opened it. She crossed her arms and stared at Buffy.

"What?" Faith snapped.

"Can you turn that off please?" Buffy asked her. "I want to talk to you."

Faith rolled her eyes and walked to her stereo. She turned it off and walked back to Buffy. She put her hands on her hips and asked, "What do you want now?"

"You have to understand that what I know is different." Buffy told her. "You weren't my sister in my dreams."

"Then who was I?" Faith asked, demanded.

"We tried to be your friend." Buffy explained. "But you chose a path of evil." She paused. "You choose evil over me."

"That wasn't me!" Faith yelled and grabbed her hair. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you that I didn't do those things in your dreams!"

"Faith, they felt real!" Buffy yelled. "I am trying to move on, but you have to give me time!"

"You are my sister!" Faith yelled and let go of her hair. She threw her arms up in the air. "And I missed you! I stayed by your side!"

"Faith, I'm sorry." Buffy said. "Faith, please give me time to accept this new world." She paused. "I need you to work with me, can you do that?"

Faith sighed and thought for a moment. "Fine. I'll give it a try." She said, "Can you give me a try?"

Buffy paused for a moment and then nodded. "I can try."