A/N: In honor of today the 18th of July I updated, sorry I didn't get it out sooner. Standard disclaimers of the still dreaming I own Buffy but still sad about the reality of not.
Unresolved Tensions Chapter 3
As Buffy wakes up and starts to get ready for the day of grease and non stop standing, she can not get the brunette out of her mind. She keeps replaying the image of the younger girl dancing to the music, body swaying, face so innocent and truly happy. Glancing at the information Faith had given her about the contact she knows, she headed off to get a fake ID before work.
Faith enters the diner as usual, covered in dust, as she heads off toward the bathroom, spotting Buffy, yells out "Hey Anne the usual please." During patrol there had been a demon that had some funky blood so it took longer to get presentable. Finally when she arrived at her usual table there was already food down, glancing at Anne to make sure it was hers she sits down and tucks in.
"Thanks Anne for getting it set, I fell outside so had to clean up a bit," Faith uses as an excuse when Buffy brings her shake to the table.
"Hey no worries, I just waited on the shake so it wouldn't melt before you could get to it, glad I could help and thanks for last night and the help from your friend." Buffy says as she sets down the shake. "I will start receiving checks every week from now on."
"Glad I could be of help too, hey I was wondering when are ya working tomorrow, I know this cool place that has really cheap movies, although they are slightly old," asks Faith after she takes a sip of her shake.
"Working the night shift like always but I don't have the afternoon also, that would be cool," responds Buffy excitedly. It had been a real long time since she had gone to movies, pretty much that kind of stuff ended when Angel became Angelus and she had to start watching real close when she was out at night. Dark movie theaters are a big no no when you are being stalked by a dead madman. Writing her information down on a napkin she hands it to Faith saying, "here is where I am staying and my phone number, come get me or give a call and what not when you want to go, since you paid for last night I will cover tomorrow, but you get to pick the movie and time. A movie sounds cool and I haven't been to one in a real long time so anything playing works for me and I got no preferences for genre so yeah go with what ya want. Does that work for you?'
"Yep, I guess so, although I think we should prolly split the cost since its not a date or anything," Faith replies.
"Well last night wasn't a date and you still took care of the cover price, so lets just say this is calling us even, besides how else can I spend the money I get from your tips, think of it as collecting on an investment," states Buffy as she slowly backs away smirking. "Oh and don't use that as an excuse to start tipping more, I know your regular amount now, and definitely will know what caused the increase."
"Aw, how did ya know thats what I was planning on doing, it seems like you know me far to well already," complains Faith as she sighs and starts digging in.
Buffy turns back to her other customers, still smiling knowing that the next day would be a nice change from the routine she has already created by working at the diner for the last week. Since she tended to eat whatever was left over at the diner she hardly spent any of her money besides on the cost of her hotel, which she had already paid up for the end of the month. Looking at the window into the night it seemed like this summer vacation would definitely be one to remember and way better then past ones, which smirking to herself she thinks, is slightly weird because this was one where she had to be completely responsible for looking out for herself.
Faith leaves the money she owes and quietly makes her way out of the diner, knowing that for once she won't be just wandering around hoping to come across a vampire nest during the day and reading boring books assigned to her by her watcher. She really did like her watcher it was just she just didn't like the whole sitting and reading thing, that's why she dropped out of school. Although thanks to her watcher she now had already passed the GED at least. Her watcher was pretty nice giving her a place to live and providing for her for the most part, but there still wasn't much of a connection between the two of them.
Her watcher had found her just over a year ago, apparently she had been hard to track down after she was identified as a potential since she ran away from her family years before that. Introducing herself as her new legal guardian named Emma, she quickly became some what protective of Faith and trying to do what was best for her from more of a parent point of view. Faith knew that that part of their relationship had to be more secretive, Emma being very up front about how most watchers were taken away if there were hints about them becoming attached in any form to their charges, she had a good feeling about their relationship.
Finishing off a couple of vampires on the way to her house, Faith wondered how Anne would react if she ever found out what Faith ended up doing for a living, a rather short projected living at that. Her job at the diner would seem so much better then one constantly fighting. Thinking about fighting, Faith still couldn't believe that she had slipped up and mentioned fighting to Anne, luckily it seemed she wasn't as observant as most and didn't catch it, she still hoped it would not come up in the future.
"Hey Emma I'm back, dusted about four vampires tonight, didn't come across any signs of anything major happening," Faith rattles off quickly.
"That's good Faith, make sure you record that all in your journal okay, I will ask you more details tomorrow, just get some sleep right now, I posted your training for tomorrow and what I want you to research okay?" replies Emma. Knowing that it takes forever for Faith to surface in the morning, they got in the routine of setting up schedules ahead of time so Faith can deem how early she has to wake up and get her own stubborn self up by then.
"That's cool, I want to make a movie so expect me to get it all down more earlier the later," mumbles Faith as she notes her work and then heads off to bed.
Waking up early, Buffy gets up and changes into an outfit more suited for her patrols and training and heads out for a morning jog. The clothing seems slightly foreign to her since she hasn't donned them since before the Angelus incident and she can feel memories starting to pour back into her mind that she had successfully blocked up until this point.
She had just finished showering and getting ready when Faith arrived at her door with a knock, surprised at how early she was Buffy went and greeted her. At least it was daylight and she didn't have to worry about it being weird about inviting her in.
"Hey come on in, it's not much but it does quite well for right now," shrugging Buffy glances around the crummy room that she had tried to put into some semblance of order and cleanliness. "At least the manager doesn't complain about my coming in to late ad all, compared to the other guests who usually pay by the hour at least I am a for sure room that will be paid for."
Looking around Faith sees that Anne has even less possessions then she does currently and wonders about what could have happened that made her leave most of her stuff behind. Knowing several reasons and having been there herself, she still figures the best plan is just be there for her and when she is ready listen when Anne finally lets out what makes that sad look in her eyes come back every now and then.
"Hey I have stayed in worse actually, this isn't that bad, so do you mind an action movie?" ask Faith as they head out the door.
"No complaints here, haven't been to a movie since well, its just been a really long time," Anne states. Unfortunately, the sad look creeping slightly back onto her face towards the end of her statement.
"Well any time your up for a movie just let me know, I usually just spend the day doing nothing exciting anyways," smiling Faith announces. "I really don't meet that many people that get out during the day anymore so it's nice to be walking around in the sun if ya know what I mean."
Smirking slightly to her self Buffy replies, "I honestly do."
Looking at her quizzically, Faith lets it slide for now, stating, "Well here we are, and hey right on time."
Settling in to watch the movie neither of them notice how close they end up sitting and how they always end up touching when going for the popcorn they decided to split. Just knowing that for some odd reason they were sitting next to someone who might finally understand them like not many people could. The instant ability to click was a great sign of what the future could hold.
After the movie they start walking toward the diner so Buffy could start her shift talking along the way.
"So how long are you going to be around here for anyways?" asks Faith, watching Anne out of the corner of her eye.
"Um, well, I guess when I am ready to face the demons that haunt my past," mutters Anne, tensing just thinking about home made her want to curl up in a ball somewhere.
"Ah, I hear ya, just had to escape to work things out on your own, totally get that," Faith replies kind of darkly to herself. "Everybody has their own demons, just some seem more real then others."
"Oh we're here, guess I will see ya later for your late night snack?" asks Anne, looking slightly hopeful.
"Yep, of course, ya think I would miss my nightly investment opportunity," smirking Faith nods toward the diner. "I haven't missed a night yet that your there have I?"
Blushing Anne looks down and says, "Nope you haven't, well cept for the night we went dancing, I am not sure what ya did actually, but yeah you definitely have made a regular appearance."
"Mm, so you will definitely see me once again tonight, so never fear Faith is here," confidently Faith states as she backs away from the diner. "Until then have a good night."
"Thanks see ya soon," Anne replies as Faith disappears around the corner.