Peace
VI
Kicking back the scars like yesterday's trash
You ain't ever gonna see her pain again 'cause
She's got a new life with old memories
And she's got room in her heart for the love she deserves
You're a bastard, she's a saint
She's got the smarts, but you want a skank
She wouldn't play your games
So now-ow-ow she's got freedom
You've got chains
Buffy, Riley, Willow, and Tara strolled into The Bronze and pulled chairs around a small table. "Right, girls, I'll go get the drinks. Colas all around and a beer for me?" He grinned. The military man knew his friends had no desire to take advantage of his legal drinking age, although he was willing to buy them beers if they wanted. But he sure enjoyed teasing them for not taking the opportunity to get wasted.
Willow scanned the dance floor for Faith and Ileana, while Buffy kept and eye on the door. "You think they're already here? If they are, it's a little early to be hitting the floor. Oh! There they are! When Ileana said 'surprise,' she meant it.
Buffy and Tara followed Willow's gaze. Buffy's jaw dropped: an exact opposite reaction from Tara's grin. Before their eyes was an incredible sight that they should have expected, but they had ignored the obvious signs.
With the heavy rock pounding steady beats into pulsing bodies were the two girls in question. Amidst fifty other people they stood out under the strobe lights. The crowd seemed to dance around them, leaving them in a clear bubble, free of bodies to potentially knock into them. Perhaps it was Faith's commanding presence on the floor that prompted other Bronzers to stay out of their way.
Ileana danced with Faith, her hands gripping the brunette's slim waist from behind. She guided Faith's body into hers, rolling her hips against the Slayer's sexily swaying ass. Lifting one hand, Ileana pulled back Faith's hair, whispering something in her ear. Faith, clearly wanting to take control, turned to face Ileana and wrapped her arms firmly around her. "You weren't kidding when you said you've clubbed before…nice dancing." The music changed to a slow jazz tune, recognizable as Norah Jones, although the voice was male. When Ileana started to pull away, Faith tightened her hold and met the girl's green eyes. "Let's keep dancing this good dance, shall we?"
Ileana's lips curled in a smirk as she wordlessly leant into her companion. She lowered her chin onto Faith's shoulder and closed her eyes, inhaling Faith's scent. Her senses were suddenly overwhelmed with roses and citrus. It was an odd combination, but suited the dark girl's softer side and mysterious side. The combined sweetness soothed Ileana, and for the first time in months she could relax and feel safe. Something felt right about this Faithy.
"Kid, you're nice, but I can't go out with you," Ileana put her soda glass down hard in frustration. The thunk earned her looks from every table in the Toronto diner.
"We're the same age; don't call me kid," the blonde girl whispered. "No one will give a shit."
"Your parents will, for one. I'm soon to be a freshman in college, in the states mind you, and you're still a first year in high school. The mere fact that you're still in the ninth grade at your age shows the height of your wonderful maturity," Ileana's comment dripped with cruel sarcasm.
"Hey, I'm not immature: just stupid. Knowing me I'm gonna fail this year, too, and kiss my last chance good bye. After this I'm a certified failure. Not my fault my parents gave me bad genes…gimme a chance."
"You stupid, naïve, and little girl: you may be eighteen, but to me you're just a kid. You aren't stupid. Don't give me that look, I know I just contradicted myself," spat Ileana. "Just shut the fuck up and listen. Your words are stupid, but you aren't. You can't blame genetics for where you are right now."
"Who else can I fucking blame, huh? Why else would I be a failure, eh?"
"You're smarter than you give yourself credit for, kid. Just 'cause your parents didn't make it through school…that is no excuse for your effort, or lack thereof. Whose choice is it to not do your homework, eh? Not your parents', that's for damn sure. Your immaturity lies in your low self-esteem. And that makes you believe you can't make it. But guess what? You make your own life. You gonna stop bitching and do something worthwhile? Or are you gonna become a clone to your parents?"
"Fine, be a bitch. Go to your fuckin' school in the fuckin' states this fall," and with that the girl stormed out.
Later that night: 2AM
The loud knocking in her head didn't seem to have an end, and it got louder and faster as she slept. Ileana tossed onto her other side, beginning to stir. "I said no bloody milkshakes for breakfast!" The mumbled phrase only prompted the knocking to continue, or so it seemed. Finally she opened her eyes when she heard her name being shouted. Shit, the door! She thought as she scrambled to her feet. Opening the door to her small apartment, she was greeted by two officers. "Can I help you?"
The officer on her right, a woman in her early thirties, presented her badge as it was regulatory. "Do you know a girl by the name of Katrina Shane?"
Ileana sighed, closed her eyes, and nodded. "What is it she's told you? That I've been harassing her, eh? Well I'll tell you right now it's the other way around, and I'll take her to court if I have to…"
"Now, miss, just calm down; she hasn't said anything," the second officer stepped in. "What exactly is your relationship with Ms. Shane?"
Ileana laughed ruefully. "You mean what relationship do I not have with her? The girl won't leave me alone, officers. She keeps coming to me looking for romance and intimacy. I refuse because I'm in college and she's got the sense of a twelve year old. She's eighteen and in the ninth grade: not my type. Now, what is this all about?"
The officers exchanged glances before the woman spoke. "Ms. Trent, you'll be glad to learn that you won't be bothered anymore. But I'm not sure how you'll feel to learn that Ms. Shane committed suicide. She was found by her parents with a note saying she hopes you're happy."
"Jesus…I had dinner with her. I rejected her for the twentieth time. And then she stormed off, calling me a bitch in the midst of it all. Of course I'm not happy, though," Ileana's eyes brimmed with tears. "Can't believe she's dead…"
Ileana opened her eyes to a concerned Faith running her fingers soothingly through her hair. "Leana, are you alright there? How about we both go sit down, okay? You look like you need some rest." Faith laced her fingers with Ileana's clenching her hand firmly yet gently, and led her off the dance floor. Not seeing the group waiting for them, she brought Ileana to a small table for two. Hard rock pounded behind them.
"Faith, what the hell…we were dancing, and then suddenly we weren't…" she buried her head in her arms and refrained from screaming in frustration. She then stiffened when strong hands reached over and began rubbing her shoulders, before relaxing. "I sure could do with a beer right now…um…"
"Wanna talk about it? I'm no bartender but it's been said I listen great," Faith said lightheartedly.
"I thought it was last year. I mean, it was a memory but it felt real, you know?" Ileana waved over a bartender on his way to the bar from the break room, handing him a fiver to bring over a glass of water for her. "Anyway, last year in Toronto…where I lived…"
"Wait, I thought…" Faith decided not to ask her question, and cut herself short.
"I moved to the states to go to a small school in the suburbs of Boston. But the day before leaving…well, I'll start from the beginning, eh?" She laughed softly, taking a sip of her water. "This girl was a freshman in high school, but she was eighteen. Her lousy grades were holding her back. She liked me, a lot, and she was nice, but I can't deal with that shit. She acted like a little kid trying to be an adult. She needed to grow up. I kept telling her that, but she kept pursuing me. Finally, the night before leaving for Boston, she and I had dinner to straighten things out. I told her flat out why I couldn't be with her and she stormed off. At two in the morning I got a knock on my door from the cops. Katrina had killed herself. That was the night I was remembering, Faith."
Jesus, Faith thought. She really just opened up there. "You think it was your fault. No, wait, lemme finish. You don't think it was your fault, but you can't help but feel it sometimes. Am I right?" When Ileana nodded, Faith continued. "Just 'cause you turned her down doesn't mean that's what did it. It might have been part of it, but you don't know her family life, right?"
Ileana shook her head. "No…her parents were poor. That's all I know. I know it's not my fault, man, but sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I'd been nicer."
"Her dad would've yelled at her, or her dog would've died. All kinds of shit would have happened. All kinds of shit probably did happen after you turned her down. It would have happened eventually if she didn't get help. You did what you had to."
"You're right. Thanks, love," smiling Ileana leaned forward over the small table, and then recoiled with a pang of disappointment when a familiar face walked over. "Heya Willow. You guys have a table somewhere? I didn't see you, did you Faith?"
Willow's slight frown turned into a widespread grin. "Yeah, and we got two seats reserved next to each other just for the both of you," she winked.
Faith and Ileana exchanged red-faced, blushing glances before standing and following Willow. The aforementioned table was of medium size and was quite crowded with the four people already seated there. Faith recognized Buffy, and her boyfriend from class. But the other blonde, the nervous one, was unknown to her. This must be Willow's Tara. "Hey, I'm Faith, but most people call me sexy-ow!"
"H-hi, I'm T-Tara," the girl smiled weakly through her slight stutter. Her face was a deep shade of red. "I think I'll j-just stick to F-Faith."
Ileana looked at Faith as if to say 'you know I'll poke you again,' and then turned to Tara. "I'm Ileana. And I swear this girl here is incorrigible. Don't be afraid to poke her good; she often deserves it." She giggled as Faith playfully swatted at her. "She's all bark and no bite."
"I'll bite you right here right now if you keep that up," Faith purred loudly and winked. "And you're Riley," she gestured to the TA and smiled. "Walsh may not be a 'strapping young lad' but you sure are. Rawr." A round of laughs filled the table.
"He's my strapping young lad, so hands off," Buffy stuck her tongue out. "Besides, you seem to have your hands full judging by your dancing…now, if I ever say 'strapping' again, shoot me…" she trailed off as she noticed a girl getting very friendly with a guy by the back door. "Hey, does anyone know that girl with tall dark and creepy over there? I think I've seen her around campus."
Faith looked over in that general direction and nodded. "Yeah, that's my roommate, Nancy." A tingle went up her spine and she sat up straight, alert.
Willow looked from one girl to the other. Something was amiss. "IS she nice? 'Cause, you know, Buffy can tell you some scary roommate stories."
"Buffy, is everything alright?" Riley asked of his girlfriend, who was still watching Nancy and the guy. They looked on as the couple turned to leave into the alleyway. "What's up, Buff?"
"I don't like that guy. Be back in a minute," Buffy started walking without a second glance back at the group. She quickly exited the club and disappeared from view.
"Does she usually do that?" At everyone's questioning look, Ileana clarified. "Does she usually pick out sketchy guys and follow them into the alley? It's a little dangerous."
Tara found bravery and chimed in to answer. "She, uh, had an e-experience in high s-school. Ever since, she's looked out for other girls. She even got an award…at p-prom I think. Anyway, w-we're used to it."
"Well, I don't like that guy either," Faith abruptly stood. "Don't worry, Leana…I'm highly trained in the martial arts. I'm just going to give B a hand."
When she'd gone, Willow, Tara, and Riley exchanged worried looks. "Should we stop her?" Riley pushed his chair back in anticipation. "Well? I mean…Buffy can handle herself."
"I'm going to go watch this. If something happens, I'll be able to call for help…"
"Ileana, no!" Willow, Tara, and Riley said in eerie unison.
Narrowing her eyes to slits, Ileana scrutinized all three of her new friends. "There's something you don't want me and Faith to know. First Riley was anxious to get Faith back: Now all three of you want to keep me here. I'm not just letting her go it alone."
A/N: I have made edits to previous chapters regarding Faith's name/history. They're minor, but you might want to skim back just in case. I also have two new chapters completed and will start posting new chapters once I have a 9th completed. HIATUS is OVER!