This is quite an emotional chapter – I hope you like it – tell me you thoughts and please review : ) Much appreciated everyone xxxxxxxx
Forget Me Not Part 03 (Back To The Current Time)
Faith's Point Of View
Buffy had meant what she'd said. I thought maybe she'd been bluffing about not slaying together – not seeing each other ever again...but I was wrong. We didn't talk about it. She'd walked away and left me alone a second time. About two weeks had passed since that night. The night Buffy told me those words.
Even after she just left me there and rushed away – I acted as I always did with her the next night and she still couldn't bare my company. Secretly I knew that I'd driven myself on the verge of insanity during the two weeks we'd been completely apart. I'd slain at least twenty-five vampires a night at the minimum. An animal had been born inside of me. I hated it. I wanted to just be careless again, free again not a caged beast – the beast that she'd made.
The wind was flicking my hair around wildly, my step was firm and my clenched fists were dying to collide with something or someone. I passed a gang of jeering boys who hadn't reached puberty yet, one headed towards me as I stalked down the path.
"Hey, wanna hook up-" I turned pulling my fist back and punched him with all my strength in his nose. It cracked against my knuckles and I could feel his blood seep onto my skin. I growled at him and he stumbled backwards staring at me in awe. His mates were cheering and laughing at him but I just glared angrily then continued on my way.
There was a quiet place...where vampires never hunted. There were usually no people there – so pointless unless they fancied eating a rabbit or two instead, but you had to be a desperate vampire to live of rabbit blood. I'd come here almost every night the past week; it helped what ever human emotion there was left in me to stay intact.
I reached the edge of the cemetery, going through was the only way to get to my secret place. I spotted a vampire, my instinct was to go over and slay her but the other side of me just wanted to carry on...leave the vampire. Since when was it only my duty to kill the leeches? Instead, I chose neither of the two options, but sat on the nearest grave stone and watched her chase a young girl. My eyes narrowed as the vampire would let her think she'd got away then easily catch up.
"Ugh...I hate vampires that play with their food..." I growled to myself, shifting off the gravestone and heading over to the two women. I was about to speak, the vampire had her back to me – but someone had beaten me to it.
"Hey." The vampire looked up from her prey and stared at a blonde girl with her arms folded. It was her. Snarling, the vampire let the girl go and dived for Buffy. I backed away slightly into the dark shadows so she wouldn't spot me or sense my presence.
Buffy dodged a kick to her head, aiming a punch at the vamp-girl's back. She regained her posture from missing Buffy, and spun, catching Buffy's fist and pulling her close.
Blood oozed from my palm, dripping down my fist from clenching it so tightly. I resisted the urge to leap at the vamp-girl and just watched.
The vamp-girl smelt Buffy's hair as she struggled in her arms. She then wrapped her hand around a small piece and pulled – ripping it out and eating it. Buffy wrinkled her nose in disgust after biting her lower lip to stop herself from crying out in pain. She head butted the vamp-girl, turned and began beating her.
She punched. "Don't," She kicked her in the face. "Pull," She punched her cheek, almost knocking her head out of place from the impact of power. "My," Her voice was getting louder and angrier. She kneed the vamp-girl's face, knocking her backwards onto the floor. "Hair." She stamped on her chest, breaking a couple of ribs. The girl screeched in pain. Buffy leaned down and staked her instantly.
"It's rude." She rubbed her hands together, dust fluttering off them and onto the floor. I raised my eyebrows from how well she'd recovered her stance. I moved my head forwards a bit to see what she was doing.
Buffy was dabbing her bottom lip with her finger. She must have bitten it so hard she'd drawn blood. My stomach was in a knot, I had about five seconds to make my mind up. Go forwards and talk to her. Or let her go.
I decided.
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Buffy's Point Of View
My lip was bleeding pretty badly. I must have bitten it hard while that bitch ripped my hair out. Guess that's what you get for having super human strength I suppose. The girl that the vampire had been about to eat had already run off.
"You're welcome..." I murmured quietly, closing my eyes and sighing. I sat down on a gravestone; ignoring the fact my lip was dripping blood down my top. The hairs on my back suddenly stood on end; I could sense someone else was here. I half turned my head to the side...I knew it was Faith. I didn't want it to be, but I knew it was her.
She didn't say anything – maybe lack of finding something suitable to say...maybe because she just happened to be here and she wasn't looking for me. All she did was come on my left side (I'd turned my head half to the right) and perch on the same gravestone – right next to me.
I slowly turned my head back forwards, desperate to say something but my mind was coming up blank. It seemed that Faith too couldn't think of the words.
"Your lip's bleeding." She said softly, not looking at me but staring ahead of her into the cemetery. I snorted slightly looking at my hands from lack of anything else to do.
"Usually, that means you suck it off Buffy." She continued, folding her arms and glancing at me for the first time in two weeks.
"I hate the taste of blood." I folded my own arms and glanced at her – giving her the same expression. Faith rolled her eyes, moving closer to me. She lifted her arm up slowly and I flinched away from her.
"Buffy...I'm not going to hit you for shit sake." Her fingers gently pressed against my lip, she softly wiped away the blood. I half closed my eyes from her touch – but recovered quickly, not wanting her to see. She lifted her arm up again and stroked her fingers over the place where the vampire had taken some of my hair. "I liked that bit too. Always looked good enough to tuck behind your ears. Guess I can never do it now huh." She took her hand back and stared to the left – trying not to catch my eye. I felt my insides tighten. Faith looked so sad. I'd never seen her sad. She was usually so full of life...but now she looked and seemed drained... What had I done to her...? And why...? Why had I said those things? I feel empty when I'm not by her side...what is going on with me...? These feelings?
"Faith..." I whispered, unable to move my hand and touch her. I wanted to comfort her but I just couldn't move.
"We kissed Buffy... Does that mean nothing to you...?" She suddenly looked straight at me and I felt my heart skip a beat. I was speechless – I still couldn't say anything. Faith sighed and stood up. I grabbed her wrist and stood up too.
"Faith wait!" She turned to stare at me, her eyes looked glossy and I felt a stabbing pain inside me – guilt. I reached and took her hand, lifting it up to my hair. I moved my hand away from hers and she tucked my hair behind my ears. Her face softened slightly, her hand then stroked across my cheek. I closed my eyes, but then felt her move away again.
I grabbed for her again, my eyes snapping open.
"Buffy I haven't seen you for almost two weeks now. You pushed me away! Why do you want me here now? What's different?" She sounded pained, but also a little angry too. She didn't frighten me – if anything I wanted her to feel angry. It meant she was reaching her emotion again. I knew Faith always found it difficult to explain how she felt and show it too – I wanted to help her.
"I..." To be really honest, I didn't know the answer myself. She continued when I gave no answer.
"You told me to forget, B...I tried. I did... But I can't. This...this inside of me," She pushed her hand against where her heart was. "It's stopped beating Buffy. I'm as dead as the creatures you slay...the vampires you dust...and I don't even know why." She was tense, I could tell she was angry – her seeming sadness had vanished now. I didn't know what to say to her – I felt so terrible...
"I don't WANT to feel this way anymore. So hit me. Go on." She stood her arms out – open for me to hit her. She was smiling in pain. I felt my eyes swell up; standing in silence, the wind was blowing both of our hair messily.
"HIT ME!" She shouted out, her voice ringing in the silence. I didn't move.
"JUST...DO IT!!" Faith screeched at me, unwanted tears streaming down her face.
"I HATE YOU!" My expression changed from hearing her. Now I felt anger swell inside me. I lashed out and punched her, hard in the jaw. Then, realising what I'd done, I took a step back and put a hand over my mouth in horror.
Faith smirked and chuckled.
"Outta girl B!" She rubbed her jaw in pain. Her face contorted in concentration as she punched me in the cheek. I let out a cry from the sudden pain to my face, staring at Faith, fear prickling up my back. She blinked a few times, panting, and then stared at her hands.
"What's...what's happening to me...?" Faith whispered her voice breaking slightly as she looked up at me. Seconds before I had chance to reach out and touch her, she'd begun to back away from me...scared of what she'd do next. She reached the pavement alongside the cemetery.
Her face frowned from the effort of trying not to break down in hysterics. I stood and stared as she fell to her knees, sobbing into the concrete floor.
"W-Who am I?" She stumbled through her words between taking in breaths and crying harder. I thought for a second before replying.
"You're Faith Lehane." I murmured, taking a step towards the hysterical young woman.
"Faith...Lehane...?" She echoed me, her crying faltering slightly as she repeated herself. "Faith..." Her hands were shaking. "Lehane..." She whispered, looking up into my eyes. I nodded.
"That's right." Silent tears were slipping down my cheeks. She then rose to her feet, wobbling slightly not removing her gaze. Carefully, I took another step nearer – now close enough to touch her if I wished to. Reaching for her, I was going to touch her arm.
"Don't touch me." She suddenly spoke. I froze as she took another step away. "I don't need your comfort... I need you to go." I was about to speak. "JUST GO...please...please go." I closed my eyes from hearing her, then reached up, and took off my necklace. I placed it in front of her feet carefully. Turning, I walked away from her and back into the cemetery.
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Faith's Point Of View
My eyes were stinging. The wind was making me shiver. I watched her go, like she was slipping away from me. I reached my arm out towards her figure in the not so far distance.
"Buffy..." I whispered her name. "Buffy...Anne...Summers..." I glanced down at the floor, where she'd left her necklace. Crouching, I picked up the silver chain in my hands and let the cross sit delicately in my palm. My eyes started to feel damp again, and before I knew what I was doing I was sobbing into the necklace in my hands. I'm losing my mind. If it hasn't already been lost.