Chapter 8: Graduation
May 17, 2001 – Thursday
Reaper's Roost Apartment Complex
Faith stood in the doorway of the apartment for a man the Mayor had sent her to kill. She had called for Leo on the way and he had orbed to Buffy to let her know what was going on.
"Oh, I'm not from the college. I work for Mayor Wilkins. I'm Faith," she said.
"Oh, come in, please," he said as tad bemused. She stepped around him and inside. "I was so surprised when he called. Didn't expect a politician to be interested in my research."
"He's a big fan, Professor," Faith said.
"Oh, 'Lester' is fine."
"We alone here, Lester?" Faith asked.
Lester looked at Faith, it was after all a slightly odd question. "Well, yes... lifelong bachelor. Like my space."
"Promise not to tell?" Faith asked as he looked at her confused. In the time since she had gone undercover Buffy's teleportation powers had grown to the point that Buffy could sense when someone needed her. "Buffy!" she called out.
Buffy appeared in a swirl of fiery flames. "Hi," she greeted.
"What, what is …" Lester said as his eyes widened.
"The Mayor wants you dead," Buffy explained. "I'm going to help you disappear."
"Why would he want me dead?" Lester wondered.
"I figure it's your research," Faith said.
"I'm going to take you to San Francisco," Buffy said. "We have some people there that will help you disappear for a while at least till we've dealt with the Mayor."
Penthouse, Creekside Apartments
Against Faith's objections the Mayor had rented her an apartment. While she didn't tell him she kept her motel room so she would have someplace she could meet Buffy or Leo if needed that would not be watched.
Faith was telling the Mayor an altered version of events at Lester's apartment. "And everything went smoothly with Mr. Worth?" the Mayor asked.
"Not if you're Mr. Worth..." Faith said.
"Well, that's swell. You know how I feel about loose ends. And the big day is so close! You can smell the excitement in the air. Say, are you ever coming out of there?"
"I don't know..." Faith said.
"Come on..." he said.
Faith stood in front of the bathroom mirror looking at the dress he had gotten her. She frowned, dresses had never been her thing and before today she had only worn a dress two times in the last year. The first was at the homecoming dance when Buffy and Cordelia, who had been mistaken for Faith, had been targeted in SlayerFest. The other time was at Buffy's prom. She stepped shyly out into the main room.
The Mayor smiled. "Well. Aren't you a vision?"
"I feel wicked stupid in this," Faith admitted.
"You look lovely. Perfect for the Ascension. Any boys that manage to survive will be lining up to ask you out."
"Yeah, but it's not really me," Faith explained.
"Not you. Let me tell you something," the Mayor said. "Nobody knows what you are. Not even you, little miss seen-it-all. The Ascension isn't just my day, it's yours too. Your day to blossom, to show the world what a powerful girl you are." He walked over to her; his eyes locked on her. "I think of what you've done, what I know you will do..." He gently moved a strand of hair from her face. "No father could be prouder."
Faith looked away pretending to be uncomfortable with the affection he was showing. In reality she just didn't like the fact the he considered himself her father. "I hope I don't let you down."
"Impossible. Come on. Change back into your street clothes and I'll buy you an icee," he said.
Sunnydale High School
Faith walked a few feet behind the Mayor and Principal Snyder. They were walking through the quad that was being set up for the graduation ceremony.
"The kids are here, the parents off to the side there. We'll go up, they'll play the processional and then you'll give the address," Snyder said, to Faith he looked a little unnerved.
"It all looks wonderful," the Mayor said.
"As long as nobody makes any trouble..." Snyder said
"Stop worrying. You just make sure the kids show up. Anybody who doesn't feel like coming to graduation, well, they can just live without a diploma," the Mayor said.
"They'll be here, sir," Snyder replied.
"Call me Richard. You've done a great job here," the Mayor said as he, Faith and Snyder came to a stop. He turned to Snyder. "I know things are... well, different here in Sunnydale. We've both seen all sorts of things. What's important is that we keep it under control. That's what you've done."
"I believe in order."
The Mayor smiled. "Sunnydale owes you a debt. And it will be repaid." He looked to Faith and nodded for them to leave. As they strolled away, he called over his shoulder. "Yes, sir, we'll mark that invoice, paid in full."
In the library the gang was grilling Anya about the Ascension. "It doesn't sound like this is Lohesh, the rituals are all different," Anya said.
"I wish that was a relief," Giles replied.
"There must be something more useful you can tell us," Wesley said. "How did they kill it?"
"You know anyone who lives in the Koskov Valley?" Anya asked.
"Oh," Wesley said.
"Faith said he received a box of spiders that he's been eating," Buffy said.
"No idea," Anya answered.
"Well, there must be something you remember that isn't –" Buffy said just as Faith and the Mayor strolled into the library.
"So. This is the inner sanctum. Faith tells me this is where you folks like to hang out and concoct your little schemes. I'll tell you, it's just nice to see that some young people are still interested in reading in this modern era," the Mayor said as he reached the table. Faith stayed by the door out of his direct line of sight. "So, what are kids' reading nowadays?" he reached for an open book and started to read from it. 'The Beast will walk upon the Earth, and Darkness will follow. The several races of man will be as one in their terror and destruction.' Say, that's kind of sweet, different races coming together..."
"You never get even a little tired of hearing yourself talk, do you?" Buffy asked.
The Mayor smiled at Buffy before looking over at Giles. "That's one spunky girl you've raised," he said as Giles didn't reply, and as a result his smiled faded away. "I'm going to eat her."
Faith looked at Buffy her eyes filled with fear for Buffy.
"It's okay," Buffy mouthed. She turned and looked straight at the Mayor, "Get out," she said.
"I smell fear. That's smart. Some of your deaths will be quick, if that's worth anything. Well, I'll see you all at graduation," the Mayor said as he turned and started heading for the doors and Faith. "You don't want to miss my commencement address. Going to be a heck of a speech."
"I love you," Faith mouthed to Buffy before she turned to follow the Mayor
Summers Home
That afternoon after school Buffy was in the bathroom gathering her mother's toiletries in a bag hastily.
"Buffy? I'm home, did you want to –" Joyce said as she walked in. "What are you doing?" She looked at her daughter and frowned, getting the wrong impression. "You're running away again." Buffy didn't answer as she took the bag into Joyce's bedroom and placed it in Joyce's suitcase with clothes she had already packed. "And you're taking my clothes."
"Mom, I'm flaming you to San Francisco," Buffy said. "It's already arranged. You will be staying with Faith's family for a few days."
"What?" Joyce said in surprise. "Buffy, I'd miss your graduation!"
"Mom, something is going down at graduation," Buffy explained.
"Is some horrible demon going to attack the school?" Joyce asked. Buffy's silence told her everything she needed to know. "Oh. I see." She sat heavily on her bed. "You know, Buffy, looking back at everything that's happened, maybe we should have gone somewhere else."
"Faith and I are going to fight this thing. But I can't do that and worry about you. You're going to San Francisco," Buffy said. "I need you to stay with Prue, Piper and Phoebe who can protect you. You stay, you'll get me killed. You have to trust me. Can you do that?"
Joyce looked at her daughter from a moment and then she nodded as Buffy closed the suitcase. She took her daughter's hand and they disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames.
Halliwell Manor
Buffy and Joyce appeared before Prue was waiting for them. "Hello, Joyce," Prue said as she smiled at the Summers matriarch. "I'm Faith's mother. It's a pleasure to finally meet the mother of my daughter's girlfriend."
Joyce nodded as she took Prue's offered hand and shook it. "It's pleasure to meet you, Prue." She turned and looked at Buffy. "You will be safe, right?"
"I promise, mom," Buffy said as she embraced her mother before disappearing in a swirl of fiery flames.
"You will be staying in Faith's room till Buffy comes to take you home," Prue said as she led Joyce up the stairs.
May 18, 2001 – Friday
City Hall
In the Mayor's office, the Mayor deposited a box on his desk as Faith came through the door.
"He's dropped, boss," Faith lied. The Mayor had sent her to kill Angel. She had faked it of course and warned both Buffy and Angel. They had decided now was the time to stage her exit.
"Applause, applause," the Mayor said.
"Right in the back - He pitches over and Buffy's freaking, looking around all panicked... it was a good time," Faith said.
"Well, that should keep her occupied for a spell," the Mayor said.
"What next?" she wondered.
"The ritual of Gavrok. I have to ingest several of the inhabitants of this box," he answered.
"Ingest?"
"Eat," the Mayor explained.
"Your wicked gross," Faith said as she put in as much affection as she could muster.
"Well, you don't have to watch. Just go home, take it easy. Big day tomorrow."
"You got to give me something to do," Faith said. "There's no way I'm sleeping. Don't you need anyone dead? Or maimed? I can settle for maimed."
"Little firecracker," the Mayor chuckled.
"My mom called me that," Faith said as she remembered what the Lehanes were like before Mr. Lehane's death. She kept herself from showing her revulsion for them. "When I was little. I was always running around... Tomorrow. The Ascension and all that. I going to get to fight?"
"If everything goes smoothly, you won't have to. But how often do things go smoothly?" the Mayor said.
Faith nodded. "So, you'll still need me in there."
"Always."
"When I was a kid, a couple miles outside of Boston there was this quarry, kids used to swim there. Jump off the rocks..." Faith said. "There was one rock like forty feet up, I was the only one that would jump it. All the older kids were too scared."
"Not you, though," the Mayor answered.
Faith shook her head. "Nah. I could do it easy." She remembered how mad Diana had been when she had found out about that. She held back her tears at the thought of Diana, how she still missed the woman.
"Get some rest," the Mayor ordered.
"Good luck with your spiders there," Faith called over her shoulder as she left. Now to the next stage of the plan.
Penthouse, Creekside Apartments
Buffy appeared in a swirl of fiery flames into the apartment and saw Faith lying on the bed, reading comic books and eating junk food.
Faith rolled off the bed and faced Buffy, keeping her eyes locked on her girlfriend. "How are you, babe?' she mouthed.
"Like I don't want to do this," Buffy mouthed back. She hated pretending to hate the person she loved. "I thought I'd stop by," she said out loud.
Faith plastered a fake smile on her face. "Is he dead yet?" she asked.
"He's not going to die," Buffy answered. "Good try, though. A for effort. Your plan?"
Faith nodded. "Uh-huh. Mayor got me the poison. Said it was wicked painful."
"There's a cure," Buffy said.
"Damn. What is it?"
Buffy smiled a smile that did not reach her eyes. She knew this was all planned to get Faith out so the Mayor didn't know till Graduation that Faith had been in reality a double agent. That said she didn't like having to actually attack Faith either. "Your blood. As justice goes, it's not unpoetic. Don't you think?"
"You come here to get me?" Faith asked. "Going to feed me to Angel?" Buffy nodded. "You know you're not going to take me alive."
"That's not a problem," Buffy said.
"Well, look at you, all dressed up in big sister's clothes," Faith said as they moved toward each other.
"You told me I was just like you, Faith," Buffy said. "That I was only holding it in."
"You ready to cut loose?" Faith asked.
Buffy smiled a genuine smile as she mouthed, "With you, always." She saw Faith blush as she spoke out loud. "Try me."
"Okay then. Give us a kiss," Faith said.
Buffy punched Faith and Faith responded in kind, twirling and back fisting Buffy. Then they began, the fight was fast at first, a blur of moves and blocks, kicks and counters, brutal but also balletic, intelligent rage. It took them about the room - Buffy smashed into the TV, Faith knocked back over the end table - and it never let up.
Faith got Buffy in a headlock from behind. "Not getting tired, are you? I'm just starting to feel it."
Buffy slammed Faith back into the wall breaking her grip. She threw Faith against the door to the outside that led onto the balcony. Faith stood as Buffy dived at her. They smash through the door and outside on to the balcony.
Buffy grab Faith's wrist and slammed a handcuff on it. Faith pulled savagely away but the other cuff was attached to Buffy's wrist. "Stick around," she said.
"If we weren't play acting," Faith mouthed as Buffy smiled and nodded. She punched Buffy.
City Hall
In the Mayor's office, the Mayor was sucking in the legs of a giant spider he was eating. A vampire watched, clearly unsettled.
"My god, what a feeling. The power of these creatures... it suffuses my being. I can feel the changes begin. My organs shifting, merging, making ready for the Ascension. Plus, these babies are high in fiber and what's the fun of becoming an immortal demon if you're not regular, am I right?" the Mayor said. Before the vampire could answer, another vampire walked into the office with a worried look. "We don't knock during dark rituals?"
"Sir, there may be trouble. At Faith's," the new vampire said.
Penthouse, Creekside Apartments
The Mayor stood looking around Faith's apartment as a vampire exited the bathroom. "There's nobody here, sir."
"No. No, she'd take the fight outside. My Faith doesn't like to be cooped up," the Mayor said. "We have to find them. Put everyone on it, do it now."
"But sir, the Ascension is –" the vampire said.
"FIND THEM!" the Mayor ordered as the vampire left. He looked around trying to maintain his composure. "Faith's a good girl. She can handle anything they throw at her. She's going to be all right. She'll be all right. She'll be all right."
The vampire rushed back in. "She's been found, sir. She's at the hospital."
Sunnydale Memorial
"Mr. Mayor?"
The Mayor turned and saw Leo walking toward him in a white coat. "Yes."
"Ms. Lehane is this way," Leo said as he led the Mayor through the hospital to a room and to Faith who laid on a bed. Buffy had done Faith's makeup to make it look that Faith had been in a worse fight than she had actually been in. "The bones will set, and the damage to her kidney is repairable, but... The head trauma is simply too severe. It's a wonder she's alive at all, with the blood loss. I'm sorry, sir, there's almost no chance she'll ever regain consciousness."
The Mayor looked at Faith with tubes in her nose and arms, tethering her to a frail and mindless life.
"We did everything possible..." Leo said as the Mayor stepped next to Faith and reached and moved a strand of hair from Faith's face.
"It's your day..." the Mayor said. As the Mayor turned and left. "There will be a world of hurt. I'm going to share my misery with them, Faith."
After the Mayor was gone Faith sat up in bed. "Think he bought it?" she asked.
"I think so," Leo said as Buffy appeared in a swirl of fiery flames in.
"Hey," Faith said as Buffy walked over to her and kissed her. "Miss me?"
Buffy laughed. "More than you know, baby. Now we just need to determine how we deal with the Mayor."
"Human weakness," Faith answered with some insight. "It never goes away. Even his."
Sunnydale High School
In the library Buffy and Faith were addressing the gang. "That's the basic plan. So. Are we crazy?" Buffy wondered.
"Well, crazy's a strong word –" Willow said.
"Let's not rule it out though," Giles said.
"You don't think it can be done," Faith said.
"I didn't say that. I might, but I haven't yet," Giles said.
"Okay, well, I personally don't think it's possible to come up with a crazier plan," Cordelia said.
"We attack the Mayor with hummus," Oz said
"I stand corrected," Cordelia said.
Oz smiled. "Just keeping things in perspective."
"Thank you," Cordelia said. "My point, however, is crazy or not, it's pretty much the only plan. Besides, it's Buffy and Faith's and they are slay-gal, you know. Miss Like-to-Fight, so..."
Faith looked at Buffy and rolled her eyes.
"I think there was a yea vote buried in there somewhere," Xander said.
"Well, we need you all on board. Especially you, Xander. Your kind of the key to this figure here," Buffy said.
"Key? Me? Okay, pride... humility... and here's the mind-numbing fear. What do I have to do?" Xander said.
"Do you still remember any of your military training from when you became soldier guy?" Buffy asked.
"Ooh! Rocket launcher?" Xander asked.
Faith shook her head. "Rocket launcher is not going to get it done."
"Faith's right," Buffy said. "Took a volcano to kill one of these things last time."
"Buffy, Faith, all of this is dependent on your being able to control the Mayor. How do you two plan to do that?" Giles asked.
"Simple," Faith said. "We play on his human weakness."
"The Mayor's weakness," Giles said.
Buffy nodded. "Right."
"Which is what?" Giles wondered.
"Me," Faith said. "While I was undercover, he seemed to think of me as his daughter. At the hospital, he was grieving. Seriously crazed, and not just in a homicidal, I-want to-be-a-demon way. I'm his weak link."
"You haven't an enormous amount of time," Wesley said as he entered the library.
"Hey, it's Mister States-the-Obvious!" Xander said.
"You're letting him hang around?" Faith asked as she looked at Buffy. "After he tried to ship me off to England?"
"Just for resources," Buffy said. She looked at Wesley. "I'm done with the Council, okay? You have a problem with that?"
"I'm not here for the Council. Just tell me how I can help," Wesley said.
"Okay, this is how it's going to lay out..." Buffy said.
City Hall
The Mayor was in the middle of preparing for his ascension. Six vampires stood at attention listening to what was to happen. "This is how it's going to lay out. The transformation should begin at exactly three-twenty-eight. I'll just be finishing my speech - you know it's too bad you fellas are going to have to miss that. 'Cause I think it speaks to every one of us... I mean, heck - I've been working on it for a hundred years, it better be good. Well. They'll try to run, of course, and that's when I need you boys in flanking position."
"Sir, the sun," a vampire said.
The Mayor smiled. "Not a problem."
Sunnydale High School
In the library everyone had divided into sections, talking over the plans. Wesley was going over what they knew with Buffy, Faith, Xander and Angel. "Darkness will follow, the day become night..."
"An eclipse," Buffy said.
Faith nodded. "Exactly."
"Standard procedure during an Ascension," Wesley said.
"That puts me back in the game," Angel said.
"Yes, it does," Buffy said. "We'll need you and Xander working in sync here."
"Can you guys handle that?" Faith wondered.
"I'm still Key Guy, right?" Xander asked.
"Right," Buffy said.
Xander smiled. "Great, then Angel - in his non-Key Guy capacity - can work with me."
"What fun," Angel said sarcastically.
"Hey, Key Guy's talking..." Xander said.
"Oh, good, let's bicker! That'll work great," Buffy said as Xander and Angel looked at her, shame was written on their faces. "You're like little old ladies."
City Hall
The Mayor had a map of the school laid out on his desk. He was pointing at a sewer entrance marked on the map. "You'll come up through the sewers here. The important thing is containment. I'll need to feed, it's crucial in the first few minutes, to sustain the change. What does that mean? No snacking! I see blood on your lips and it's a visit to the woodshed for your boys. Kill. Don't feed."
Sunnydale High School
Buffy and Faith approached Oz and Willow. "Well, Red, Oz," Faith said. "How are we with the big boom?"
"I think we can work it," Oz said.
Willow smiled. "Fun with chemistry," she said as Giles joined them.
"Xander should be able to locate the materials," Buffy said.
"Who's going to stoke it up?" Oz asked.
Buffy looked at Giles. "Feel up to it?" she asked.
"I suppose it should be I. It's fitting, in a grotesque fashion," Giles said. "What about the two of you?"
"Buffy will be with the rest of class. I debated orbing in with Leo or have Aunt Piper here and freeze everything so I appear as if out of nowhere," Faith said. "But we don't know if after the Ascension if he will be immune to Aunt Piper's freeze. "
"What if I wasn't in the procession," Buffy said looking at her girlfriend. "What if you and I flamed in, in the middle of his speech."
"That would give him pause, especially when we will be holding hands when we flame in," Faith agreed. "We will need some place where we can see everything but be out of sight so we know when to arrive."
City Hall
The vampires were leaving. "Remember, fast and brutal. Going to be a whole new world come nightfall, don't want to weaken now. And boys –" the Mayor said as the last of the vampires turned and looked back at him. "Let's watch the swearing."
Sunnydale High School
Angel was stocking weapons. "We're going to need more than this," Buffy said as she looked over the weapons.
"Faith and Giles are on it," Angel said.
"Have you and Xander worked out your timing?" Buffy asked.
"I'm not saying goodbye," Angel said as Buffy stared at him. "We make it through this, I'm leaving."
"Is it because of Faith?" Buffy asked.
"I know I gave you my blessing, Buffy," Angel said. "But if I am honest it has been hard the last couple months since you told me about you and her. I have seen how you two look at each other. I'm happy for you, but it's hard."
"I understand," Buffy said as she kissed him on the cheek. "Good luck wherever you end up."
"I will let you know where I end up, just in case you ever…" Angel said.
"Thanks," Buffy said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Later that day in the quad the ceremony was underway. Buffy and Faith from their vantage point in one of the classrooms overlooking the quad saw students file into their seats as the band played the processional.
The music stopped, and Snyder, who sat on the stage with the Mayor and a few teachers, stepped to the podium. "Congratulations to the class of 2001. You've all proved more or less adequate. This is a time for celebration, so sit still and be quiet. Please welcome our distinguished guest speaker, Sunnydale's own Mayor, Richard Wilkins the Third." He sat by the diplomas as the Mayor took the podium.
The Mayor pulled out some 3x5 cards and looked over them. "Well. What a day this is. Special day. Today is our centennial, the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of Sunnydale. And I know what that means to all you kids. Not a darn thing. 'Cause today something much more important happens. Today you all graduate from high school. Today all the pain and the work and the excitement is finally over, and what's a hundred years of history compared to that?"
Buffy looked at Faith. "My god... he's going to do the whole speech."
"Man, ascend, already!" Faith said.
"Evil," Buffy said as she and Faith chuckled.
Faith leaned over and kissed Buffy. "For luck."
"A girl needs more luck than that," Buffy replied as she kissed Faith passionately. When they broke the kiss they looked back out the window so they knew when to flame out.
"But you know what, kids? Maybe the two things are connected," the Mayor continued. "Maybe you have a place in Sunnydale's history, whether you like it or not. It's been a long road getting here, for you, for Sunnydale... there's been achievement, joy, good times... and there's been grief," the Mayor continued. "There's been loss. Some people who should be here today, aren't."
Buffy and Faith could see he was looking around. They could tell he wasn't pleased not to see Buffy in the crowd.
"But we are. Journey's end. And what is a journey? Is it just distance traveled?" the Mayor said. "Time spent? No. It's what happens on the way, it's the things that shape you. At the end of the journey, you're not the same. Today is about change. Graduation doesn't just mean your circumstances change; it means you do. You ascend to a higher level. Nothing will ever be the same. Nothing."
It was then that Buffy and Faith noticed that it had just gotten darker outside.
"The eclipse," Buffy said.
The Mayor felt the change start and he struggled to continue. "So, as we look back on the events that have brought us to this day... we..."
"Come on," Buffy said.
"We must all... AHH. It has begun. My destiny. Little sooner than I expected –" the Mayor said. "—I had a whole section about civic pride, but..." he looked at the crowd, death in his eyes. "I guess we'll just get to the big finish."
He transformed, suddenly, horribly - his clothes ripping off him as he grew too big for them, too big by far. As they watched he became an unholy big snake demon. The students clamor to their feet, looking up in awe and terror.
Snyder looked up as well, reason slipping away from him. "This is simply unacceptable."
The parents turned tail and ran at the sight of the giant snake demon. Twenty vampires formed a line, looking up the steps at the hapless class.
The Mayor roared in triumph.
"Now!" Willow yelled. As one, the class dropped their robes, hats already off. Every single class member had weapons underneath. "Flame units!"
As either end of the front row stood guys with flame throwers. They fire up at the Mayor, causing him to recoil.
Willow looked at Xander and nodded.
Xander stood on the low wall by his chair as he called out, "First wave!"
Students in the front row with harpoon guns, spears, crossbows aim at the Mayor. The Mayor swooped down, avoiding the flames, and grabbed a kid and made a meal of him.
"Fire!" Xander called.
Assorted projectiles fire at the Mayor, some of them striking true.
"Xander!" Oz called out. He was watching the line of vampires, as a couple of students try to flee down the stairs and get eaten for their troubles.
"Bowmen!" Xander called out as a row of ten arrows was raised, tips all aflame. "Fire!"
The arrows flew, a couple hit the vampires dusting them instantly. A second volley was sent the vampires way and they turned tail and ran right toward Angel, Wesley and few heavy looking students.
The vampires stopped. They were trapped. Angel smiled and charged. He hit them and easily engaged a few, while his companions do their best with stakes.
Back at the front Larry, who was holding a flame thrower found it had run out. "Dammit!" he said as he dropped it and picked up a fallen spear - but the Mayor's tail lashed out and slammed into him, sent him flying. His neck cracked sickeningly as he hit the ground.
"Fall back!" Xander yelled.
Snyder looked up at the Mayor becoming increasingly irritated. "This is not orderly. This is not disciplined. You're on MY campus, buddy, and when I say I want quiet—"
He didn't get to finished as the Mayor ate him.
"Fall back! Get back!" Willow yelled as Buffy and Faith appeared in a swirl of fiery flames next to her. "Good luck," she told the Slayers. "And, Faith, just so you know…"
"Tell me later, Red," Faith said as Willow nodded.
"Xander! Take 'em down," Buffy ordered.
"Everyone! Hand to hand!" Xander said as the class dropped their bows and harpoons, pulling out stakes, axes, bats and the like. "Ready!"
On the lower level a vampire called out. "Get the kids!" He headed up the steps. The others followed and were met by a wave of students, the entire graduating class pouring down on them, yelling, weapons in hand, they met on the stairs.
"Hey!" Faith called out as the Mayor looked down at Buffy and Faith saw them holding hands. His eyes went wide with realization. "You know you wished I pulled my hair back. I happen to know my girlfriend likes the way I wear my hair."
"That's right I do," Buffy said.
The Mayor lunged at them as they turned and ran, ran through the arches, down the corridor, away from the students, the Mayor chasing them. They ran through the doors into the hall that led to the library moments before the Mayor crashed through a window, shooting down the hall after them. Buffy and Faith ran into the library. The Mayor got stuck in the door way. He smashed his head into it and broke it off the walls, bringing it with him as he followed the girls.
Buffy and Faith jumped to the second level of the library and out the back door. They came to a stop right beside Giles.
In the library the Mayor came to a halt as he saw that the library had no books. Saw what it did have was big metal drums, bags of fertilizer, sticks of dynamite strapped to the railings, wires leading out the back of the room.
Outside Giles hit the plunger. The library explodes and as it does so do the rest of the school piece by piece. Giles, Faith and Buffy take a step back as they watch the school burn.
"That's wicked," Faith chuckled as she looked at the fire.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Later that evening fire trucks and ambulances had arrived. People were helping the wounded into ambulances, milling about in postwar shock, leaving, talking, hugging and crying.
"We got off pretty cheap, considering," Xander said as he looked at Buffy and Faith.
"Seems like we did," Buffy agreed as she and Faith walked toward Giles.
"How are you two?" Giles asked.
"Tired," Faith admitted.
"I'd imagine so. Quite a couple of days," Giles admitted.
"After this I am ready to go home and go straight to bed and sleep for like a week," Faith said.
"Understandable. Well, when you both wake, congratulate yourselves on a good campaign. You both did very well."
"Thanks," Buffy said.
Giles reached into his pocket. "I uh, I ferreted this out of the wreckage for you, Buffy. You may not have any interest, but..." he said as he pulled out Buffy's diploma and handed it to her. "I'd say you've earned it." Buffy took it gratefully. He looked out at the wreckage of the school. "There is a certain dramatic irony in the way things turned out. A synchronicity that almost borders on predestination, one might say."
"Sleep, remember," Faith said.
"Right. Sorry. I'd best check on Wesley, see if he's still whimpering," Giles said as he walked off.
Faith looked at the diploma and smiled. "So, where are we going to college?" she asked. "Here or in San Francisco?"
"Well I need to be here," Buffy said. "But we don't have to live on campus. Not when I can flame."
"Hmm," Faith said. "We can flame back and forth from San Francisco," she suggested.
"I think that might be a good idea," Buffy admitted. "That way you can spend time with your mom and your aunts when we're not on patrol or in classes."