Chapter Four

Training had been easier that afternoon. Buffy was still a little sore but Faith had tamed it down so it was closer to what had been normal at the start of the year.

Just before lights out, Buffy walked through the barracks to Faith's door and knocked.

"Come in!"

Buffy opened the door and slid inside, closing it quietly behind her.

What she saw before her amazed her. Faith was sitting on her bed, already in her pajamas, with her knees pulled up to face-level. On her legs was a sketchpad. Faith held a pencil in her hand and was immersed in whatever it was she was drawing. She looked so beautiful with her hair falling down her face just right...

After a moment, Faith set the pencil down and examined her work. She sighed and shook her head before setting it aside and looking up.

"Buffy..."

"Just thought I'd say goodnight...ma'am," Buffy said.

"Buffy, I need to apologize. What I did was stupid. Ya didn't deserve any of the shit I laid on you. It's not your fault I'm screwed up."

"You're not screwed up," Buffy said. "I shouldn't have done what I did. I barely knew you. I barely know you now, for that matter."

Faith sighed and gestured for Buffy to come closer.

"Wanna see something?" she asked.

Buffy nodded and Faith gestured for her to sit down.

Faith picked up her sketchpad and looked at it once more before showing it to Buffy.

Buffy gasped in surprise. The pencil drawing was amazing and very clearly a portrait of her from the shoulders up. Her hair was down falling smoothly down her shoulders. A smile lit her entire face.

"You drew this from memory?" Buffy asked.

"I memorized your face the moment I met you," Faith said. "And I couldn't get you out of my head. I still can't get you out of my head. Especially with...what happened."

Their eyes met and it was like that same moment all over again. They were both entranced, staring into each other's eyes. This time, however, when Buffy leaned closer, so did Faith.

"We can't," Faith whispered, pulling back again. "Not here. We could get caught."

"Your sister doesn't seem to care," Buffy said, sounding a little bolder than she'd intended. "She goes around with her arm wrapped around Cordy's waist like it's nothing."

"To her, it is nothing," Faith said. "She doesn't care what people think about her. She doesn't care that she could be reported for homosexual conduct at any moment..."

"And you do?" Buffy asked. "You never struck me as someone who gave a damn what people thought of her. Was I wrong?"

"I don't give a damn what people think of me," Faith said. "But, B, I can't risk being caught with a girl and being reported. I could be expelled and my dad...he'd be so fuckin' mad."

Buffy nodded and looked up into Faith's eyes. Brown eyes stared back into hers.

"I may not know you all that well, Faith, but I do know that you can stand up to your father. I recognize a strong girl when I see one and you definitely are strong."

Faith bowed her head and felt Buffy's hands clasp onto hers.

"I'm here if you need to talk," Buffy said softly. "About anything. You can always come to me for anything."

"Thanks," Faith said quietly. "Better get to bed, maggot. We'll talk in the morning."

"Okay." Buffy stood up. "Goodnight, then."

"'Night, B," Faith said.

Buffy leaned down and left a lingering kiss on Faith's cheek, leaving before the older girl could react.

Faith stared at the door in surprise. A smile slowly took over her face and she laid back in bed, grinning.