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Chapter 9:
Buffy found her self in front of her house, she didn't know how did she end up there, she was walking mind absently. 'Damn why am I so scare to enter my house, it's my house, with my mom and my stuff, Fuck you Faith'. The whole time she was thinking of what Tara said, she entered the house and walk to the kitchen, she was surprised to see her mom making dinner, she remembered that she didn't ate till now, she hugged her and sat in the table.
"It's nice of you to come and spend some time with me, like the old days" Joyce said sincerely, her eyes shows happiness which made Buffy even sadder.
"I'm sorry mom, I know I don't come a lot but you know between studying and slaying there is no time for anything"
"Its ok honey, so how is everything with you?"
"Fine, i...I meet a boy?" Buffy said with shyness smile
"Really? That's nice, what's his name?" Joyce was happy of the thought of her daughter having normal life
"Well, he's name is Riley and he's a TA, I think he's a nice guy"
"Honey that's great, I think you are more than ready for a normal relationship"
"I think so mom, so how is things between Faith and the gallery?"
"Well lets see, I have a trip for LA this weekend to buy some paintings, and things with Faith are complicated I guess"
"Mom, what do you mean by complicated? Did she do anything to you?" Buffy said looking at her mom with fear and anger
"No no, she's acting very nice really, she's trying her best, don't worry Buffy" Joyce smiled reassuring Buffy
"Ok, then what do you mean by complicated?"
"I don't know how to put this but I think she need help with her feelings, I mean she didn't even spoke with any one about what happened in prison, she's acting like she don't care, but I know she care and if she didn't talk then she will turn back to the same point again"
"Yeah, I guess so, but we can't help her if she won't let us in" Buffy and Joyce end the conversation when they heard Faith coming to the house and calling after Joyce.
"Mrs. Summers are you here"
"In the kitchen Faith" Joyce yell back at the girl, who was surprised to see Buffy
"B, twice a day, that's my lucky day" Faith said with her cocky smile
"Well, what can I say F, I missed you" Buffy said with a smirk
"Awe, I didn't know that, so yours or mine?" Faith said with a serious look
"What?" Buffy was asking with a silly face
"Come on B, your room or mine? Didn't you say you missed me?" Faith was smirking
"Oh" that was all Buffy could say while blushing.
"Faith go wash your hands and Buffy help me setting the table" Joyce said trying to lose the tension between the two girls.
Dinner went ok; Buffy and Joyce do most of the talking while Faith was responding with small comments. Buffy decided to stay for a while with them. Faith went to her room to study before patrolling. After chatting with her daughter, Joyce decided to go to bed and rest but she asked Buffy for a favor which she agreed reluctantly to do.
Buffy opened Faith's room quietly and stand there watching the girl studying.
"Either you come in or get out" Faith said with her face buried in the book
"Sorry, I just wanted to see how you look like while studying" Buffy said while closing the door
"So, how do I look?" Faith said raising her eye brow
"Different" Buffy said with a serious look
"Different? Is that good or bad?"
"I don't know, but you look all serious and concentrating, I never know you could be serious"
"Can I ask you something? And I want the truth even if it will hurt me" Faith asked with hesitation
"Sure, go ahead" Buffy's heart was racing
"What do you think of me?" Faith asked locking eyes with Buffy
"The truth is, I think I don't know who you are? I mean some times I see you as my friend and the next second your not, you could be very sweet when you want but you also act like a bitch other times. What I'm saying is that I really don't know who you are" Buffy said with truth and sincerity
"I see what you mean but you know what Buffy I'm not that complicated, I'm just not used to be around people, that's all" she pause for a moment and then changed the subject "So how many books did you eat"
"No, that will be Willow's thing, eating books is not my call; so what you're eating now?"
"Some fucken poetry for a jackass" Faith said trying to hide the book
"So, why don't you read me a little?" Buffy said with interest
"Here, read it your self, I'm not your maid" Faith was getting mad
"Why? What's wrong with reading poetry for me?"
"Nothing but I don't want to"
"Why?"
"Because" Faith was agitating
"That's not an answer, why don't you want to read?"
"What do you want Buffy? I said I don't want to read, WHICH FUCKEN PART YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND?" Faith's eyes where glowing from anger
"The part when you ask for some one help" Buffy was calm
"And why should I ask for help, I'm Five by Five, you know" Faith's eyes were at the floor
"No you tell me Faith, what's wrong with asking for help when you need it?"
"Only weak people ask for help and I'm not weak, I'll help my self"
"Here we go again, can't you see Faith, you are doing the same faults again, you must let people in, I know that we're not in good term but you have mom and Giles, why didn't you ask them?" Buffy wasn't mocking her, she was concerned and Faith felt it.
"Did your mom notice that I can't read well" Faith asked with shyness
"Yes and she asked me to check on it and tell her but I don't want things to go that way, I want you to ask for help when you need it, will you?"
"I will" they set in silent for a while and then Buffy went to the door
"Buffy..."
"Yes Faith"
"I'm not stupid, I just have some difficulties with reading and..."
"I know Faith, I never thought of you as a stupid person" Buffy cut her before she complete
"Could you, mm...Could you please..." Faith again couldn't complete because Buffy cut her
"I will not tell any one" Buffy said with a small smile
"Thanks" Faith returned the smile.