Willow Rosenberg was waiting at the principal's office. Most kids who sat where the shy redhead was sitting, were sure to receive some sort of punishment or at the very least, to get repremanded. Willow, however, had been waiting here several times before, to be applauded and congratulated. Sometimes, Principal Flootie would ask her help with another student.

This was one of those times. The eccentric principal had approached her last week, asking if she would mind showing a new student around, make her feel welcome. He didn't say it outright, but Willow got the feeling that this particular newcomer was a special case.

Although Willow was very shy and nervous by nature, she liked helping out other kids, so she humbly accepted the offer and the ulcer she would undoubtedly get by worrying about the event. As the door to the principal's office opened, she shakily stood up and smiled her usual 'welcome to our school, I'll be your friend until you find some cooler ones and dump me'-smile.

She could've saved herself the effort, for the moment the new girl stepped out of the office, Willow's jaw fell open and erased all signs of the smile.

The brunette girl in front of her wore tight black faded jeans, a blood-red T and an open leather jacket. Her feet were clad in heavy black boots and stood defiantly apart. As Willow scanned the newcomer, she couldn't help but blush at the sight of the very woman-like curves. She quickly focused on the girl's face and blushed even more to see big deep brown eyes staring straight back at her. An amused glint in them and in the small grin tugging at her full cherry red lips. Willow was unnerved by the completely unafraid stance of the girl. Yet the brunette's eyes seemed to want to put her at ease.

Willow had no doubt in her mind that Principal Flootie was right. This girl was definitely a special case. The blushing redhead was grateful when the principal began to speak.

"Faith, this is Willow Rosenberg. She'll be showing you around." He smiled.

Willow smiled nervously and was about to give a small wave when the brunette held out a hand, looking Willow straight in the eyes. Hesitating a little, Willow accepted the outstretched hand. She half expected Faith to pull away the last second and laugh at her. What was this beautiful and generally cool-looking girl doing, shaking her hand? Did she not notice Willow's obviously not-so-popular appearance? The shake was brief but firm.

"I'm sure you two will get along very well." Principal Flootie said enthusiastically. He wished them the best and excused himself.

Faith cocked an eyebrow at his first statement. Though she instantly liked the timid redhead, she didn't figure they would be voted 'most-likely-to-be-best-friends' on first sight. But her first impression of the nervous girl was nevertheless a positive one. She liked the way she had a slight stutter and an always present little blush on her slightly freckled cheeks. She found it amusing how Willow had difficulty looking Faith in the eye and constantly played with her notebook. Obviously nervous and insecure.

"Um, Faith?"

The distracted brunette looked at her guide to be.

"Sorry, what was that?" She asked.

Willow blushed yet again upon hearing Faith's voice. She wasn't at all surprised that it had a deep, seductive smoky quality about it.

"Um. I was just wondering where you'd like to start. We could go left and head to the cafeteria where people get food and eat lunch and...talk. Or we could go right towards the gym where we usually have PE or-..."

"Woah, chill out there, Red. It's all good for me. We got all the time in the world, right?" Faith chuckled.

Willow's eyes widened. Did she hear correctly or had she misunderstood? If her ears weren't deceiving her, Faith, who could easily skyrocket her way into the Sunnydale High's top five, had just implied that she was in no hurry to leave Willow's company. ... And did she just give her a nickname?

"Um. I guess. Uh... Well... Oh my god, Xander!"

Faith grimaced at the high-pitched exclamation and turned around to see what had apparently caused it. A goofy-looking boy stumbled towards them, one hand covering his left eye, the other clutching a bag and skateboard.

Willow rushed to his side and gently pulled away the hand covering his eye, revealing an ugly purple bruise.

"What happened?" She gasped.

"I touched Buffy's boobs." Xander smiled, but quickly thought better of it as he felt the twinge of pain in his eye.

"You what? And she hit you? Oh my god! Why? You touched her-... Xander! How? Are you insane?" Willow squealed.

"Well no, it was Angel. He-.."

"You touched Angel's boobs? He has them?"

"I-... What? Wills, you need help. No. Angel does not have boobs. At least I hope not. But then again, maybe Buffy would dump him if he did. That would b-..." Xander trailed off as he finally noticed the smirking brunette behind Willow.

"Oh. My. God..." He breathed.

Willow took a second before realizing that he was focused on Faith.

"Oh! Xander, this is Faith. She's new, I'm showing her around. Faith, Xander." She blushed, embarassed that she forgot her manners.

Xander immediately huffed up his chest and straightened his shoulders, though somehow still unable to keep his mouth closed. Faith nodded politely.

"Hey, man. So Angel socked you one cuz you touched Buffy's boobs?" She asked.

Xander looked surprised.

"Who told you? You know them?"

The amused brunette shook her head, grinning.

"I just have wicked cool powers of deduction." She shrugged.

Xander blinked a few times before understanding and nodding excitedly.

"Yeah. Definitely. Wicked cool. And...Yeah. Wow. I mean... Yeah." He stammered.

Faith smiled at him. After a moment of silence, Faith shoved her hands in her pocket and started walking.

"So what kind of a weird-ass name is Buffy anyways?" She off-handedly asked.

Willow and Xander looked at eachother baffled. Looked at Faith walking off. And then quickly ran after her. A special case indeed.