DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. There is some subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should find something else to read.
Friends & Lovers
By Kristjan Brezovnik
When Michelle Burns walked into the library, she saw Giles taking a photo of Buffy and her friends. Well, except one of them, a dark haired beauty, who had a hurt look on her face because she wasn't included in the photo shoot. Michelle had seen the girl around before, but she had never had the opportunity to ask out. She decided to do so now. She took a deep breath and walked straight to her.
"Hi, I'm Michelle," she introduced herself and reached out with her hand.
The girl looked at her, startled.
"Huh?"
Michelle smiled.
"I'm Michelle," she repeated, still holding out her hand.
Faith looked at it and then back at her.
"So?"
Michelle rolled her eyes.
"So, I would like to know your name."
Faith blinked.
"Why?"
Michelle grinned.
"So I can scream your name while I frig myself," she said and Faith burst into laughter.
"Faith," Faith said and shook her hand.
Michelle smiled.
"So, Faith, wanna go out for lunch?"
Faith looked at her, surprised.
"Lunch?"
"Yeah. You know what that is, don't you?"
Faith grinned.
"Yeah."
"Okay. So, do you wanna go?"
Faith shrugged.
"Okay."
Michelle smiled.
"I got one more class. You gonna be here?"
"Sure."
"Cool. I'll see you later."
Michelle left and Faith stared at her, wondering what the hell just happened.
"You know Michelle Burns?" Buffy asked, startling Faith out of her thoughts.
"Huh?" Faith said and looked at her, noticing that everyone was looking at her. "No, I've never seen her before."
"Oh." She thought for a moment. "She asked you out?"
"Yeah," Faith said and smiled. "Jealous?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
"No," Buffy said, blushing a bit, and walked away.
Faith sighed and went to the table, thinking about Michelle.
"Hey," Michelle said when she came back an hour later.
Faith smiled.
"Hey."
"Ready?"
"Hell yeah."
Michelle smiled.
"Then come." She turned, and Faith quickly followed her. "Like Chinese?"
Faith shrugged.
"Sure."
"Okay."
"We're going to a restaurant?" Faith asked, surprised, when Michelle pulled over.
"Yeah," Michelle said.
"Oh," Faith said with a frown, surprised.
"Surprised?"
"Yeah. I thought we'd go to your place and order in."
Michelle smiled.
"That's what I usually do. But I like you and I thought I'd make it a bit more special."
Faith frowned, surprised.
"Why?"
"Because I like you and I don't just want to get into your panties, I actually want to get to know you," Michelle said and grinned.
Faith blinked.
"You don't want to have sex?"
"Sure I do."
"Then what's with the getting to know me thing?" Faith asked, puzzled.
Michelle shrugged.
"I'd like you to be more than just a quick fuck."
"Why?"
Michelle smiled.
"Because I like you."
"Why?"
Michelle rolled her eyes.
"Do you always question everything? Can't you just except things at face value?"
"No."
Michelle frowned.
"You're right, this is Sunnydale after all, nothing is as it seems around here."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Faith asked warily.
Michelle thought for a moment.
"You're new here, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, weird things happen all the time. People end up dead and nobody asks why. And weird people walk around. But you should know that, I mean, you're friends with Buffy, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, her and her friends are usually in the thick of things. Didn't they tell you anything?"
"Yeah."
"Then you know?"
"Yeah."
"Oh. Good. So, feeling hungry?"
Faith stared at her for a few moments.
"Yeah."
"Let's go."
After they ordered, they leaned back and stared at one another for a few moments.
"So, want me to tell you about me?" Michelle then asked.
"Why?" Faith asked.
Michelle chuckled.
"Because I want to know more about you. But since I asked you out, I thought you'd maybe want to find out more about me."
Faith stared at her for a few moments.
"Okay."
Michelle smiled.
"Well, I was born and raised in Sunnydale. As you've probably figured out already, I'm gay. I used to do gymnastics while I was in grade school. I tried out for the cheerleading squad and I think I would've made it, but I changed my mind, I didn't plan to be one of Cordelia's bimbos."
Faith grinned at that.
"I'll bet."
"Anyway, I hate football and…"
Faith chuckled.
"And you wanted to be a cheerleader?"
Michelle grinned.
"I know. But I only wanted to be a cheerleader because they don't have a gymnastics team."
"Oh."
"I still practice gymnastics in our backyard. I've done some karate, but they were all a bunch of pompous asses there, so I quit. I tried to teach myself tai chi from a book, but it was all so confusing, so I stopped." She hesitated for a moment. "And you?"
Faith tensed.
"Me?"
"Yeah, I only know your name, that you're friends with Buffy and that you like girls."
Faith hesitated for a moment, thinking about what to tell her.
"I'm from Boston and I like to party."
Michelle raised an eyebrow.
"That's it?"
Faith shrugged.
"Yeah."
Michelle stared at her for a few moments, thinking.
"You don't go to school?"
"No."
Michelle thought for a moment.
"You dropped out?" she guessed.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"None of your business," Faith snapped.
"Sorry, didn't mean to pry," Michelle said. "I was just curious." She thought for a moment. "Do you have any plans for tonight?"
"Why?"
Michelle smiled.
"'Cause I wanna ask you out."
Faith blinked, surprised.
"On a date?"
Michelle's smile widened.
"Yeah."
Faith stared at her for a few moments, surprised.
"Uh, no."
"So, is it a date?"
Faith shrugged.
"Okay."
"Cool," Michelle said, excited.
Faith raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"So, where do you live?" Michelle asked after they left the restaurant.
"Why?" Faith asked, suspicious.
"So I can take you home."
"Oh." She hesitated for a moment. "Downtowner Motel."
"In that dump?" Michelle said, surprised.
"Yeah," Faith said. "You got a problem with that?"
"You bet I do. It's a dump." She thought for a moment. "Can't your parents get a better place?"
Faith tensed, hesitating.
"I don't have any parents."
"Oh." She thought for a few moments and took a deep breath. "Wanna come over to my place?"
"Why?"
Michelle shrugged.
"I don't know, hang out. Unless you have other plans."
Faith thought for a moment.
"No."
"Then hop in."
They got into the car, and Michelle took Faith to her house.
"Nice," Faith said when they got to Michelle's house.
Michelle smiled.
"Thanks."
They went inside, Faith curiously looking around.
"Dad," Michelle said, surprised, when she saw her father.
"Hi, honey," Mr Burns said with a smile. He checked his watch. "You're late, aren't you?"
"Yeah, Faith and I went out for lunch."
"Oh," Mr Burns said, looking at Faith, who felt a bit nervous.
"Um, this is Faith," Michelle quickly introduced her. "Faith, this is my dad."
"Hi," Faith said and waved her hand a bit.
"Hello," Mr Burns said, rubbing his temple.
"You okay, Dad?" Michelle asked, worried. "You're early."
"I had a headache."
"Oh."
"Will you two be in your room?"
"Yeah."
"Keep the noise down, okay? I'm going to lie down."
"Okay, Dad," Michelle said and looked at Faith. "Come."
Michelle led the way upstairs and Faith followed her.
"Nice," Faith said when they entered Michelle's room.
Michelle smiled.
"Thanks." She put her bag on her desk, took her shoes off and sat on the bed. "Hop on," she said and patted the bed.
Faith hesitated for a moment, but then she took off her shoes and got on the bed.
Michelle observed her for a few moments.
"You okay?"
"Five by five."
"Huh?" Michelle said with a frown.
"I'm fine," Faith explained.
Michelle raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
Faith stared at her for a moment.
"Yeah."
Michelle thought for a couple of moments.
"Okay," she then said. She thought for a moment. "I know we've only just met, but if you feel like talking…"
"About what?" Faith asked when Michelle trailed off.
Michelle shrugged.
"Whatever you need to talk about."
Faith stared at her for a moment, surprised, and then looked out the window.
Michelle sighed.
"Ever thought about going back to school?" she then asked and Faith looked at her.
"No."
"Why not? I mean, you can't get a good job without education."
Faith shrugged.
"It doesn't matter."
Michelle frowned. She thought for a few moments and then her eyes went wide as she thought of a possible reason.
"You're not sick, are you?" she asked, worried.
Faith frowned, surprised.
"No."
"Oh. Good." Michelle thought for a moment. "How old are you, anyway?"
Faith hesitated for a moment.
"Seventeen."
"Oh."
"So when did you move here?"
"A couple of months ago."
"Oh." Michelle thought for a moment. "What do you do? I mean, do you hang out at the library all the time?"
Faith shrugged.
"Sometimes. Sometimes I just go out."
"To bars?"
"Yeah."
"Isn't it a bit early to get drunk?"
"I don't get drunk, I party."
"Oh." She smiled. "A real party girl, huh?"
Faith smiled back.
"Yeah." She leaned forward and licked her lips seductively. "You sure you don't wanna get into my panties?"
Michelle smiled.
"I do." Then her face became serious. "Is that all you want?"
Faith frowned, surprised.
"Isn't that why you asked me out?"
"No. I asked you out because I wanted to get to know you."
"Why?" Faith asked, confused, not used to people wanting to get to know her.
Michelle shrugged, blushing a bit.
"I told you, because I like you and I was hoping we could become friends."
Faith stared at her, wondering if she should believe her or not.
"Why would you want to be my friend?"
Michelle raised an eyebrow, having a feeling that Faith had a low opinion of herself.
"Why wouldn't I want to be your friend?"
"You don't even know me."
Michelle smiled a bit.
"Well, I've known you for a couple of hours and I already like you. And I'm definitely interested in getting to know you better." She hesitated for a moment. "But if all you want is a quick fuck, then I guess we could do that and get it over with. Your choice."
Faith stared at Michelle for a while, surprised that she wanted to be friends with her. A part of her was afraid, not trusting, but another part wanted a someone who didn't want her as a Slayer or a quick fuck but as friend. She smiled a bit.
"I'd like to give this friendship thing a try," she said, trying to sound casual.
Michelle smiled.
"Great."
In the afternoon, Faith went back to her motel. She felt giddy. She had a feeling that Michelle really wanted to be her friend and she found herself liking the girl. Michelle was curious, but she wasn't pushy, and she wasn't afraid of flirting. Faith didn't trust her yet, but she hoped that she would some day, because she really wanted a friend.
She sighed as she thought about Buffy and her friends. They were more like business associates than friends and no matter how much she wanted to be friends with Buffy, she didn't want to impose, she wanted Buffy to tell her that she wanted to hang out with her. Which, so far, she didn't.
Well, at least there was someone who wanted to be friends with her. Faith was still surprised when Michelle told her it was her choice if she wanted them to be friends. Usually people wanted to be friends with her because she was a Slayer or because they wanted to go to bed with her. Michelle didn't know she was a Slayer and she wasn't in a hurry to go to bed with her, she found their friendship more important than getting laid. That was new to Faith, but she decided she liked it.
She wondered if the fact that Michelle asked her on a date meant that they were girlfriends. Michelle hadn't said that she loved her and hadn't made a move on her, which confused Faith a bit. She loved Buffy and she didn't want to hurt Michelle. Unfortunately, she couldn't tell her that she loved Buffy either, even if she had no chance with her. She decided to wait and see. And if Michelle started talking about love, Faith decided to tell her that she didn't love her. She just hoped that it wouldn't be necessary, she didn't want to lose Michelle's friendship.
Since Michelle had invited Faith to a quick dinner and a movie, they met at the Espresso Pump an hour before the movie begun. They chatted as they ate and Faith found herself having a great time. She may not have been partying, but she was with a friend, and that was a very rare occurrence for her. She was glad Michelle simply wanted to hang out, without asking too many questions or putting the moves on her.
After the movie, they went to the Bronze. When Faith suddenly stopped, Michelle looked at her. She saw her staring and she followed her gaze.
"Do you want to join them?" she asked, noticing Buffy and her friends.
Faith sighed and shook her head.
"No." She looked at Michelle. "I'm here with you, so let's dance."
Michelle smiled.
"Okay."
She glanced at Buffy and her friends and then followed Faith to the dance floor.
"Hey, isn't that Faith?" Willow asked, staring at the dance floor.
"Where?" Buffy asked and looked.
"Over there, with Michelle," Willow said and pointed.
Buffy frowned.
"Yes."
"Must've been a long lunch," Xander commented.
"Looks like they're having fun," Willow said.
"Yes," Buffy agreed, staring at Faith.
"How did they get together, anyway?" Xander wondered.
"Michelle asked her out," Buffy said without taking her eyes off of Faith.
"Just like that?"
"Yes."
After dancing for a while, Faith and Michelle went to the bar to get something to drink. Buffy saw that and she decided to get a new round of drinks for her friends.
"Hey," she said when she got to the bar.
"Hey, B," Faith said and looked at her.
Michelle raised an eyebrow, noticing how Faith had started to turn even before Buffy said anything.
"Having fun?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah."
Buffy smiled and started ordering drinks.
Faith stared at her for a few moments before snapping out of it and looking back at Michelle.
"We should do this more often," she said with a smile.
Michelle raised an eyebrow.
"The whole dating thing?"
Faith grinned.
"No, the dancing thing."
"Oh."
"I mean, the dating thing was okay, I liked it," Faith quickly added.
Michelle smiled.
"Good."
"Wanna dance some more?"
"Already?"
"Yeah."
"Aren't you tired?"
"No."
Michelle raised an eyebrow.
"I need to rest a bit."
Faith smiled.
"Okay."
Behind them, Buffy quietly listened to the banter, feeling strange because Faith was ignoring her. When she got the drinks, she quietly went back to her friends.
After talking for a while, Faith and Michelle went dancing again. And after dancing for a while longer, they left the Bronze.
"That was fun," Michelle said when they got outside.
Faith smiled.
"Yeah," she agreed.
Michelle yawned.
"Damn," she said and took a deep breath.
"Where are we going?" Faith asked as she followed Michelle.
"Your place."
Faith frowned.
"Why?"
"I took you out on a date and now I'm taking you home."
Faith blinked, surprised, and then smiled. She had never been on a real date before and she found herself liking the whole thing.
"I think I better take you home," she said.
"Why?" Michelle asked, startled.
"Because it's dangerous to be out at night."
"I know, that's why I'm escorting you home."
Faith smiled, liking the way Michelle was trying to be protective.
"Yeah, but I can kick anyone's ass, you can't."
Michelle thought for a moment.
"Are you sure? I really don't want you to get hurt."
Faith stared at her for a few moments, feeling strange because Michelle was worried about her.
"I'm positive."
Michelle hesitated for a moment.
"Okay."
When they got to Michelle's home, Michelle unlocked the door and then looked at Faith.
"I had a great time," she said with a smile.
Faith smiled back.
"Me too." She hesitated for a moment. "Thanks."
Michelle's smile widened.
"You're welcome." She thought for a moment. "You'll be at the library tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Cool. We can hang out during the breaks."
"Yeah."
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then."
Faith smiled again.
"Okay. Night."
"Night. And be careful."
Faith nodded.
"I will."
Michelle smile.
"Bye."
"Bye."
Faith waited until Michelle closed the door and then slowly went back to the motel, thinking about the day. She had enjoyed herself and she felt cared for. She realized that she really wanted Michelle to be her friend.
"Hey," Michelle said when she came to the library the next morning. She looked around. "Is Faith here yet?"
"No," Buffy said.
"Oh."
"Wait!" Buffy called when Michelle turned to leave. "What's going on between you?"
Michelle raised an eyebrow.
"Jealous?"
Buffy huffed.
"As if. I'm just curious."
Michelle shrugged.
"Nothing much yet. We went out on a date yesterday, that's all."
"A date?" Buffy asked, feeling slightly jealous.
"Well, not a real date. I mean, I wouldn't mind dating her, but she's still deciding if she just wants to just get in my panties or if she wants to be my friend." She smiled a bit. "I think it would make her nervous if I told her I wanted us to be girlfriends. We'll see how it goes."
"Oh."
"I'll see you around," Michelle said and left.
"Hey, G-man," Faith said when she came to the library.
"Hello, Faith," Giles said, glancing at her. "That girl, Michelle, was looking for you."
"She was?" Faith asked, her heart beating faster.
"Yes, during the break."
"Okay."
Faith smiled a bit and went to the table.
"Hey, guys," Faith said when Buffy and her friends arrived to the library.
"Faith," Buffy said. "Michelle was looking for you."
"I know."
"Are you dating?" Xander asked, already getting dirty visuals.
Faith tensed for a moment and then shrugged.
"I don't know. We're hanging out."
"Oh."
"You like her?" Buffy asked.
Faith smiled a bit.
"Yeah, she's cool."
"Oh."
"Hey!" Michelle said with a smile as she came into the library.
Faith smiled back.
"Hey."
"You only just gotten up?"
"Yeah."
"We didn't party that long yesterday."
"I know, but I had some… errands to run."
"Oh." She looked around. "So, you wanna hang out here or shall we go out?"
Faith looked around. She noticed that the Scoobs were looking at her and she felt a bit uncomfortable.
"Let's go out."
Michelle smiled.
"Okay."
"So, you going to be at the Bronze tonight?" Michelle asked when they got outside.
"Yeah."
"Cool. Oh, listen, there's a party on Friday, wanna come?"
"Sure. Where?"
"Come to my place at six."
"Okay."
"Hey, Michelle," two girls said as they approached her.
"Hey, guys," Michelle said.
The girls looked at Faith.
"So, you finally asked her out?"
Michelle blushed a bit.
"Yeah. Anyway, her name is Faith. Faith, these are Nancy and Darlene," Michelle introduced them.
"Hey," Faith said.
"Hi," Darlene said.
"Nice outfit," Nancy said. "A bit on the slutty side, but it suits you."
"Yeah," Darlene agreed.
Faith raised an eyebrow, not quite sure if she should be insulted or not.
"Thanks," she said. "I think."
"You coming to the party on Friday?" Nancy asked.
"Yeah."
"Cool. We'll see you there."
"See you around," Darlene said.
"See you, guys," Michelle said, and then Darlene and Nancy left. She turned to Faith. "Listen, I have a history test next Tuesday. Do you think you could come over and help me study?"
Faith frowned.
"How?"
"You can question me."
"Question?"
"Yeah. I've studied already and if you question me, it would be easier to remember than if I had to read the whole stuff over and over again," Michelle explained.
"Oh. Okay."
Michelle smiled.
"Cool."
Faith smiled back, feeling excited and confused that she was excited at the same time.
"When?"
Michelle shrugged.
"Today?"
"Okay."
"Man," Faith said when they were done studying, "with all this questioning, I actually learned more history than ever before."
Michelle smiled.
"Good."
"Right. At least it wasn't boring." She frowned. "I can't believe I just said that," she said, and Michelle laughed.
"We should study more together," she then said.
Faith groaned, but then she thought about it.
"Well, if it's gonna be as entertaining as history, it won't be so bad, I guess." She shuddered as she thought about what she'd just said. "Shit, you're turning me into a nerd."
Michelle laughed again.
"Look at it this way. By the time I convince you to take your GED, you'll be ready for it."
Faith frowned.
"GED?"
"Yeah. I mean, I doubt you're going back to school."
"I'm not."
"See?"
Faith thought about it.
"GED, huh?"
"Sure. You could pass it easily. If you studied, of course."
"I don't know."
"So, you hungry?" Michelle changed the subject, not wanting to push Faith.
Faith grinned.
"I'm always hungry," she said, and Michelle smiled.
"Come, let's get something to eat and then we can go to the Bronze."
"Isn't it a bit early for the Bronze?" Faith asked.
Michelle glanced at the clock on the wall.
"Right." She thought for a moment. "We could go to the movies."
Faith raised an eyebrow.
"Movies?"
Michelle shrugged.
"Yeah. Though I'd have to check what's playing."
Faith thought for a moment.
"Yeah, okay."
Michelle smiled.
"Come, let's go eat."
After escorting Michelle home from the Bronze, Faith went on patrol and she soon came across Buffy, who was fighting off a bunch of vamps. Faith grinned and ran to help her.
By the time the vamps knew what hit them, Faith had killed three. In the following confusion, both Slayers killed four more. The remaining three vamps hesitated for a moment and then decided to run, but Buffy and Faith quickly finished them off.
"That was fun," Faith said, grinning.
"Where've you been all day?" Buffy asked, annoyed.
Faith looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"At Michelle's."
"Oh." Buffy frowned. "The whole afternoon?"
"Yeah."
"Oh."
"Jealous?" Faith said with a grin, wiggling her eyebrows.
"You wish," Buffy said and quickly looked away, blushing. She thought for a moment. "Are you coming to train tomorrow?"
Faith thought for a moment.
"When?"
"I don't know, two?"
"Nope, I have other things then. Four?"
"Okay." Buffy frowned. "What things?"
Faith shrugged.
"I'm helping Michelle with… something."
"Oh."
"Hey, B, ready to get your ass kicked?" Faith asked with a grin when she entered the library half an hour after they had agreed.
"You're late," Buffy said, her arms crossed.
"Yeah, well, you know how it is when you have fun, time flies."
"And it obviously forgot to land."
Faith grinned.
"Yeah, the weather was bad and we got redirected…"
"Faith," Buffy interrupted her.
Faith smirked and looked at Giles.
"So, Giles, how would you like me to kick her ass?"
"In your dreams," Buffy said.
"Nope, I'm spanking your ass there, not kicking it," Faith said, and Buffy blushed.
"Come on, let's spar," Buffy said, wanting to stop the innuendoes.
"Man, that was fun," Faith said when they took a break.
"Speak for yourself," Buffy said, taking deep breaths.
"You gotta lighten up, B. Take that broom out of your ass and use it."
Buffy glared at her.
"Very funny."
Faith grinned.
"I thought so…" She trailed off when she saw the clock. "Shit, I'm late."
"What?" Buffy said, startled.
"I'm late, B."
"For what?"
"Michelle and I are going to a party and I was supposed to meet her at the Espresso Pump five minutes ago. Damn. Giles, I gotta use your phone."
"But… But…" Buffy said.
"Later, B," Faith said and went to the phone to call Michelle.
"Hey," Faith said when she finally came to the Espresso Pump. "Sorry I'm late."
Michelle smiled.
"No problem."
"So, you ready?"
"We still have time, the party's barely started."
"Oh." Faith sat down. "In this case, I'll get me something to eat."
"So, you had fun?"
"Fun?" Faith said, startled.
"With whatever you've been doing the past couple of hours."
"Oh. Yeah."
Michelle raised an eyebrow.
"Is it a secret?"
Faith hesitated for a moment.
"I've been training."
"Training? What?"
Faith shrugged.
"Martial arts."
"Really?" Michelle said, interested. "Which one?"
"Mostly hand combat and some staff."
"Cool." She thought for a moment. "Say, do you think you could teach me some moves?"
Faith grinned.
"Sure."
Michelle smiled.
"Cool. When can we start?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Okay. In the morning?"
"Sure. When?"
Michelle scrunched her eyebrows.
"Definitely not before ten. Ten thirty?"
"Okay."
"We can train till lunch and we can continue in the afternoon, if you have time."
"Sure."
Michelle smiled.
"Cool."
"What can I get you?" the waitress asked Faith, finally finding the time to show up.
"Uh, good morning, Mrs Burns," Faith said when Mrs Burns opened the door.
Mrs Burns smiled.
"Hello, Faith. Come on in."
Faith entered, and Mrs Burns closed the door.
"Oh, hello, Faith," Mr Burns said.
"Uh, hi," Faith said, still nervous around Michelle's parents.
"Michelle's…" Mrs Burns started, but trailed off when she saw Michelle.
"Hi, Faith," Michelle said.
Faith smiled.
"Ready to train?"
Michelle smiled.
"Sure." She thought for a moment. "Should I wear a kimono?"
Faith frowned and then shrugged.
"I don't think so." She grinned. "Unless you plan to fall a lot."
Michelle smiled.
"I think I'll put on some old clothes."
"Man, I'm beat," Michelle said after Faith declared the first lesson over.
Faith grinned.
"That was nothing," she said.
Michelle gave her a once over.
"Easy for you to say, you didn't even break a sweat."
Faith shrugged.
"Practice, baby."
"Right," Michelle said, smiling. She sniffed her armpits. "Damn, I need a shower." She looked at Faith. "You?"
"I'm fine. Just something to drink."
"Go to the kitchen and ask Mom. I'm going upstairs to refresh myself. I'll take the shower after you're done tossing me around."
Faith grinned.
"Okay."
"Come to my room then, okay?"
"Sure."
Michelle went upstairs, and Faith headed to the kitchen.
"Hi, Faith," Mrs Burns said.
"Hi," Faith said, a bit nervous.
"Have you finished?"
"For now. We'll continue after lunch."
"Oh."
Faith hesitated for a moment.
"Um, can I get something to drink?"
Mrs Burns smiled.
"Sure. Check the freezer, there should be something you like," she said and got a glass.
Faith went to the freezer and quickly picked a carton of juice. Mrs Burns gave her the glass, and Faith quickly downed two. Then she put the glass into the sink.
"Thanks," she said and returned the juice into the fridge.
When Michelle returned from the bathroom, she found Faith sitting on her bed, looking around.
"Feeling better?" Faith asked with a grin.
Michelle smiled.
"Yeah."
"I'll take it easy on you in the afternoon."
Michelle chuckled.
"Good. Oh," she remembered. She went to her desk, opened a drawer and pulled out a thick folder. "Here," she said and gave it to Faith.
Faith frowned.
"What's this?"
"Some stuff on the GED."
Faith looked at her.
"GED?"
"Yeah. You know, in case you decide to go for it. There's everything you need to know about how to apply and stuff."
"Oh."
"You can go over it when you're bored."
Faith grinned.
"I'm never bored."
Michelle raised an eyebrow.
"Somehow, I don't find that hard to believe."
Faith chuckled.
"There's always action where I am," she said and wiggled her eyebrows.
Michelle laughed.
"I bet."
Faith grinned again and then got up.
"Anyway, I'll be back later."
"Where are you going?" Michelle asked.
"Back to the motel. Your mom's about done cooking, so."
"Oh. You don't need to go, you're invited to lunch."
Faith raised an eyebrow.
"I don't want to intrude."
"You're not," Michelle assured her. "And besides, Mom's expecting you to stay."
"Oh."
Michelle smiled.
"Relax." She nodded at the folder. "And if you have any questions, let me know."
"Yeah, okay."
"How did it go?" Faith asked when Michelle came out of the classroom, where she had written the history test.
Michelle smiled.
"Okay, I guess. Should be at least a B, I think."
Faith smiled.
"Cool."
"Yeah. You should help me study more often."
Faith groaned.
"I knew it, no good deed goes unpunished," she said, and Michelle laughed.
"Come on, it wasn't that bad. I mean, it was fun, right?"
Faith smiled.
"Yeah, I guess."
"So, any ideas what we could do tonight?"
"Nothing, I'm afraid. Buffy wants me to train with her. I might come to the Bronze later, but I'm not sure."
"Oh. Okay." Michelle looked around for a vending machine. "Come, I need a drink."
When Faith and Michelle met the next day, Michelle noticed that Faith was obviously excited about something.
"So, had a nice workout last night?" she asked Faith.
Faith smiled.
"Yeah."
"It must've been very special if you're still excited over it."
Faith frowned for a moment, startled.
"Oh." She shrugged. "It was okay."
"And long, I guess, if you're this late."
"No, I was training."
"Oh. But we're still on for the afternoon?"
Faith grinned.
"Yeah."
"Cool." She gave her a once over. "And you're not tired? I mean, you trained last night and this morning."
Faith shrugged.
"No."
"Damn, I wish I had your stamina."
Faith grinned again.
"I bet."
Michelle hesitated for a moment.
"Listen, my parents are going away for the weekend. Wanna do a sleepover?"
Faith blinked.
"A what?" she said, startled.
"A sleepover. You know, girls' night in."
"Oh." Faith frowned, suddenly nervous. "Uh, when?"
"Friday. I can invite Nancy and Darlene, if you feel uncomfortable with me alone," Michelle offered when she noticed that Faith was nervous.
Faith blushed a bit.
"No, it's okay," she said, not wanting Nancy and Darlene there because she didn't know them that well.
Michelle smiled.
"Okay."
"Hey," Faith said when she showed up at Sunnydale High.
"Hey, sleepyhead," Michelle said.
Faith grinned.
"A girl's gotta get her beauty sleep."
Michelle snorted.
"Like you need it," she said, and Faith blushed a bit. "Come on, let's eat."
"You sure know how to get a girl's attention," Faith said with a grin.
"Food only works with you, I have to use my charms to woo other girls."
"So you're saying I'm easy?" Faith asked with a raised eyebrow.
Michelle grinned.
"No, I'm saying you're mysterious. It took me a while to figure out I can use food to get your attention."
Faith chuckled.
"That's me, Mysterious Girl. Let's eat."
When Michelle got to the Bronze in the evening, Faith wasn't there. Since they had made an appointment, Michelle decided to wait.
However, after an hour of waiting, Faith still didn't show up and neither did any of her friends. Michelle decided that Faith wouldn't come, so she left a note with the bartender and went home.
When Faith didn't show up all Friday morning, Michelle decided to ask Buffy about it. She went to the library.
"Hey," she said when she saw Willow and Xander. "Where's Buffy?"
"Girls' room," Willow said.
"Oh."
Michelle went to the table and sat on it.
She didn't have to wait long as Buffy returned less than a minute later.
"Hey," Buffy said when she saw Michelle.
"Hey," Michelle said and hopped off the table. "Do you know where Faith is? We were supposed to meet at the Bronze last night, but she didn't show up. And I haven't seen her all morning."
Buffy sighed.
"She's probably at her motel."
"Oh. Is she okay?"
Buffy hesitated for a moment.
"Physically."
Michelle frowned.
"What's that mean?"
Buffy hesitated again.
"Well, we kinda had a… a misunderstanding. And someone betrayed her."
"Betrayed?"
"Yeah, like, used her."
"Oh. Thanks."
After school, Michelle went to the Downtowner Motel, but Faith was not there. She went again in the evening, but Faith was not there either.
It wasn't until Sunday that Michelle finally came across Faith. It was by chance. When she was passing the park on her way to the Bronze, she saw Faith walk across the street. She immediately ran after her.
"Faith!" she called and Faith turned. "Hey," she said when she reached her.
"Hey," Faith said coldly.
Michelle frowned.
"Are you okay?"
"Five by five."
"So you're not."
Faith sighed and started to walk on. Michelle quickly followed her.
"Buffy told me someone had used you," Michelle said, but Faith didn't answer. She sighed. "Look, Faith, you've been a no show for the past couple of days, I was worried that something had happened to you."
"Obviously it hasn't," Faith said, not looking at Michelle.
"Look, we're friends, Faith…"
"Are we?" Faith said and looked at her.
"Of course we are," Michelle said, startled. "Have I done something to ruin that?"
Faith stared at her for a moment and then looked away.
"No," she said.
"Then talk to me, please. I mean, that's what friends are for."
Faith was quiet for a few moments.
"It's complicated," she then said.
Michelle's face brightened a bit.
"You don't have to go into details, if you don't want to."
Faith sighed as she thought about it.
"Before… Before I came to Sunnydale, I knew this really great woman. She was more of a mom to me than my real mom." She sighed. "But then she got killed, right in front of my eyes and I couldn't do anything about it."
"I'm sorry," Michelle said.
"Yeah, me too," Faith said. She took a deep breath. "Anyway, this week I met another woman. She was a bitch, but I kinda liked her."
Michelle frowned.
"In a sexual way?"
Faith snorted.
"Hardly." She sighed. "Anyway, it turned out she only used me to get something."
"I'm sorry," Michelle said. She hesitated for a moment and then took Faith's hand into her own, but Faith quickly pulled it out. "Look, you've known me for longer than that bitch who used you. I mean, you must trust me to some degree, right?"
Faith hesitated for a moment.
"Yeah."
"Good." Michelle hesitated for a moment. "So, are we still friends?"
Faith glanced at her, not used to people wanting to be her friends.
"Yeah, I guess," she said and Michelle smiled.
"Good. So, wanna practice with me tomorrow?"
Faith grinned.
"Wanna get your butt kicked?"
Michelle chuckled.
"Not particular… Shit."
Faith followed Michelle's gaze and saw two demons armed with axes approach.
"Crap."
"Has Halloween come early this year?"
"Run," Faith said.
"What?"
"Run. Now."
"Why? Because of those Halloween freaks?"
"Yeah. Go."
"Faith…"
"Go!" Faith screamed and ran to intercept the demons.
Michelle stared at Faith, confused. She was also surprised when the demons attacked Faith. She hesitated for a moment and then decided to help Faith. She ran and jump kicked a demon in the back. The demon turned and swung the axe at her, but she ducked. She then gave him a kick in the head, but he was barely dazed and gave her a vicious backslap.
"Michelle!" Faith said, worried, when she saw the demon backhand Michelle.
"I'm fine!" Michelle called, rubbing her cheek. "What the hell are these guys?"
"They're demons!" Faith called, relieved that the demon Michelle had attacked was ignoring Michelle.
"What?!" Michelle said, surprised.
"Demons! Now get out of here!"
Michelle stared at Faith and the demons and saw that Faith was clearly a superior fighter, but in spite of all the hits and kicks the demons received, they didn't go down.
"No!" she called and got up.
"What?!" Faith said, surprised.
"I'll help you!"
"You can't!"
"Watch me!"
Michelle jumped on the back of the closest demon and tried to strangle him, but the demon quickly threw her off. She quickly got off and kicked him in the back of the knees, causing him to go down. She then quickly jumped away as the demon swung his axe at her.
While Faith didn't want Michelle there, she was relieved that she was, because the demons were really vicious and tough to beat. And Michelle's attacks gave Faith the opportunity to concentrate on a single demon while the other was trying to scare Michelle away without really trying to kill her. And Faith had to admit, Michelle wasn't stupid, she knew the demons were tough customers, so she merely attacked, distracting the demon, and then retreated.
Suddenly Michelle saw that one of the demons was holding Faith while the other was sneaking up from behind.
"Faith, watch out!" she called.
Faith managed a glance back. She saw the demon and tried to break free of the demon's grip, but she couldn't.
Michelle saw that and she quickly ran to help Faith. She rammed the demon, but the demon swatted her away. She quickly picked herself up and decided to push Faith out of the way. She rammed Faith and screamed as the demon's axe hit her left arm.
Faith quickly picked herself up. She glanced at Michelle and saw that she was bleeding, but she had no time to check up on her. She ran between the two demons and tried to get an axe.
It took her a minute before she managed to trick one of the demons. He swung at her, but she rolled aside and the axe hit the other demon. The wounded demon roared and dropped the axe. Faith quickly picked it up and beheaded him. Then she turned to the remaining demon, the one who had wounded Michelle. She was faster than him and now that she had a weapon, she quickly killed him.
She took a deep breath and looked at Michelle.
"Michelle?" she asked, but Michelle didn't respond. She ran to her. "Michelle?" she kneeled beside her and checked what was wrong. "Oh god," she said when she saw the nasty wound on Michelle's forearm. "Michelle?" She looked at Michelle's face and saw that Michelle's eyes were closed. "Oh no."
She checked Michelle's pulse and was relieved when she could feel it. She panicked for a moment, afraid that Michelle would die. She quickly ripped off Michelle's right sleeve and bandaged the wound. Then she remembered that Michelle owned a cell phone. She quickly searched her and dialed 911.
When the doctors took Michelle away, Faith sat in a chair. She stared at nothing for a few minutes, until a passing boy's laugh startled her out of her shock. She looked around and then realized she should call Michelle's parents. She looked at the cell phone she was still clutching in her hand and then took a deep breath. She looked through the phone book and then dialed Michelle's mom.
"Yes, Michelle?" Mrs Burns said.
"Uh, it's me, Faith," Faith said.
"Faith?" Mrs Burns said, surprised.
"Yeah." She hesitated for a moment. "Michelle's in the hospital."
"What? Why? What happened?" Mrs Burns said, worried.
"She… She got… hurt."
"How is she?"
"She's got a wound on her left forearm. The doctors are still taking care of it."
"Oh. We'll be right there."
"Okay," Faith said and disconnected.
She sighed and looked at her hands.
"Faith?"
Faith jerked, startled, and looked up.
"Mr Burns," she said, surprised. "Mrs Burns."
"Where is she?"
"Over there," Faith said and pointed at the room.
Mrs Burns went to look in.
"What happened?" Mr Burns asked.
Faith sighed, thinking about what to say.
"We were… attacked by two… men with axes. Michelle saved my life," she said.
"I see." He gave her a once over. "And you? Are you okay?"
Faith nodded.
"Yeah." Then she remembered the cell phone. "Oh, here," she said and gave it to him.
"Faith?" Mrs Burns said when she returned.
"She's okay," Mr Burns said. "She said they were attacked by two men with axes."
"Oh."
Mrs Burns sighed and sat down.
"Mr and Mrs Burns?" a doctor finally said.
"Yes?" Mr Burns said.
"Michelle's okay. She's unconscious for the moment and she's lost some blood, but she'll be okay."
"Can we see her?" Mrs Burns asked.
"Yes, of course. This way."
Mr and Mrs Burns followed the doctor, and Faith stared after them, not sure if she should follow or not, because she felt responsible. Mrs Burns noticed that Faith wasn't with them and she turned.
"Faith? Come."
Faith hesitated for a moment and then followed them.
When they got to Michelle's room, Faith stopped at the door, nervous. She looked from afar as Mr and Mrs Burns observed Michelle. She felt she had failed again. She was a Slayer and she couldn't even protect those she cared about. She felt like such a loser. A tear slid down her cheek and she wiped it, surprised. She stared at the wetness on her fingertips for a moment and then wiped her fingers in her pants. She stared at Michelle for a few moments and then left. She decided to avoid everyone for a while and push Michelle away.
"Michelle!" Mrs Burns said, excited, when she and her husband came to visit Michelle two days later and found her awake.
"Hey, Mom," Michelle said with a smile. "Dad."
"How do you feel?"
Michelle made face.
"A but groggy from all the painkillers. And my arm still hurts. Oh, how's Faith, is she okay?"
"She looked fine when we saw her," Mrs Burns said and glanced at her husband. "But then she just left."
"Left?"
"Yes. We thought she would want to come closer, see how you were, but she stopped at the door. When we left, she was gone."
"Oh." Michelle sighed. "I'll have to talk to her."
"Did the doctors say when you'll be released?"
"Tomorrow, if everything's fine."
"Okay."
The next day, after she was released, Michelle wanted her parents to take her to Faith's motel. They were reluctant, they wanted Michelle to rest, but Michelle was insistent, she knew it was important that she talk to Faith as soon as possible.
When they dropped her off, Mr Burns decided to wait until they were sure that Faith was home.
"Michelle," Faith said, surprised, when she opened the door and found Michelle there. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Michelle said, raising an eyebrow.
Faith frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You've been a no-show. I've been in the hospital for two days and you didn't come."
"Oh," Faith said and looked away.
Michelle hesitated for a moment and then walked past Faith, who looked at her, startled.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Michelle sat on Faith's bed and smiled.
"Hanging out."
Faith blinked. She looked outside.
"What about your parents?"
"What about them?"
Faith frowned.
"They're waiting for you."
"Nope."
Faith looked outside again and saw that the car was gone. She looked back at Michelle, confused.
"Come, sit," Michelle said and patted the spot beside her.
Faith stared at her for a moment and then closed the door. She slowly approached the bed and sat down.
"Um, how are you?" she asked.
"My arm hurts. I mean, they filled me up with painkillers, but it still hurts."
"Oh."
Michelle smiled at how nervous Faith looked.
"So, tell me about those Halloween freaks," she said. "What the fuck were they? And don't tell me they were human, because they so weren't."
Faith raised an eyebrow, surprised to hear her swear. She sighed.
"They were demons."
Michelle blinked.
"Come again."
"Demons," Faith repeated.
Michelle stared at her for a couple of moments.
"Okay," she then said slowly.
Faith smirked.
"Hey, you wanted to know."
Michelle stared at her for a moment.
"They were, like, really demons?"
"Yeah."
"Shit." She thought for a moment. "How did you know what they were?"
Faith hesitated for a few moments and then shrugged.
"I'm a Slayer, it's my job to know."
Michelle frowned.
"You're a demon too?"
Faith chuckled.
"Hell no. I'm human, I just have… super powers, I guess."
Michelle raised an eyebrow.
"What kind?"
Faith grinned.
"Nothing special. I'm faster, stronger, more accurate, I heal faster and I can sense the demons."
"Oh. So that's why you were able to kick their asses."
"Yeah."
"Cool. No wonder you didn't break a sweat when we were practicing."
"Yeah."
"So, wanna come over for lunch?"
"Now?" Faith said, startled.
"No, not right away," Michelle said with a smile. "We can hang out at your place for a while or maybe got to the park."
"Oh. Okay."
Michelle smiled and looked around the room.
"Now that I think about it, I've never been in your apartment before."
Faith shrugged.
"Yeah, well, it's not much."
"The motel's a dump, but you managed to make this livable. Nice work."
"Thanks," Faith said with a frown.
"So, what do you do when you're alone?"
Faith shrugged.
"I got some mags. Or I watch TV, if it's working."
"That's it?"
"Yeah. It's not like I get many visitors."
"Doesn't Buffy come over? Or your other friends?"
Faith sighed.
"We're not exactly friends."
Michelle raised an eyebrow.
"But you train with Buffy."
"Yeah."
Michelle frowned, thinking.
"Does she know about demons?"
"Yeah."
"Is she also a Slayer?"
"Yeah."
"Oh. How many are there?"
"Just us."
"Yeah? How did you become one?"
Faith shrugged.
"My predecessor was killed."
Michelle frowned.
"Killed?"
"Yeah."
"How old was she? I mean, it was a she, right?"
"Yeah. I don't know how old she was. Around my age."
"Really? Are all Slayers this young?"
"Yeah. Don't ask me why."
Michelle thought for a few moments.
"How long have you been a Slayer?"
"Couple of months."
"And how did you know you were a Slayer? I mean, did you feel it?"
Faith thought about it.
"Not really. I mean, I did notice I was stronger and stuff, but I didn't know. My Watcher told me."
"Your what?"
"Watcher."
"What's that?"
"They're a bunch of guys who study the demons and supervise the Slayers."
"Oh. Where is he now?"
"She's dead."
"Oh." Michelle thought for a few moments. "Was that the woman you told me about? The one who was killed?"
"Yeah," Faith said and looked at her hands.
"Oh. Sorry."
Faith sighed.
"Yeah."
Michelle thought for a few moments.
"How come you're not friends?" she then asked. "With Buffy, I mean. I mean, you're both Slayers, one would think that you'd be, like, best friends."
Faith shrugged.
"She already had friends when I came here."
Michelle stared at Faith for a few moments.
"You feel like the fifth wheel."
Faith shrugged again.
"Sometimes."
Michelle hesitated for a moment and then put her hand on Faith's shoulder.
"Look at the bright side."
Faith looked at her, confused.
"Bright side?"
"Yeah, you have me for a friend."
Faith chuckled.
"There's that, yeah."
Michelle removed her hand.
"So, wanna go out tonight?"
Faith raised an eyebrow.
"Shouldn't you be resting or something?" she asked, glancing at Michelle's wounded arm.
"Yeah, but I need distraction."
"Does it hurt?"
Michelle glanced at her arm.
"Not really. I mean, it's kinda dull pain. Annoying as hell."
"Oh," Faith said and looked at her hands again.
"Hey, it's not your fault. You would've done the same for me."
Faith looked at her.
"Yeah," she said after a few moments.
Michelle smiled.
"Good, now stop feeling guilty and let's have some fun."
Faith raised an eyebrow, amused.
"You sure know how to cheer up a girl."
Michelle shrugged.
"That's what friends are for."
Faith stared at her for a moment.
"Yeah, I guess."
"So, you wanna go out?"
Faith shrugged.
"Sure, why not?"
"Cool."
In the evening, Faith and Michelle went to the Bronze.
"Faith! Hi," Buffy said when they met her outside the Bronze. "Where've…" She trailed off when she noticed Michelle's arm. "What happened to your arm?"
"Ran across a demon's axe," Michelle said.
"Huh?" Buffy said, startled, and looked at Faith.
"She knows," Faith simply said.
"Oh." Buffy looked back at Michelle. "So that's why you didn't come to school."
"Yes."
"You okay?"
"More or less."
"Oh." Buffy looked back at Faith. "And you? I haven't seen you around."
Faith shrugged.
"I've been… busy," she said and glanced at Michelle.
"Oh."
Michelle raised an eyebrow when she saw how Buffy's face fell.
"So, will you come to train tomorrow?"
"Sure."
"Okay."
"Are you going in?"
"No, I just walked here with Willow and Oz. I'm going on patrol."
"Oh. Okay. You coming back?"
"Yes."
"Okay, I'll see you later then."
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye."
Buffy left, and Michelle stared after her for a moment thoughtfully before following Faith into the Bronze.
All through the evening, Michelle openly flirted with Faith. Faith flirted back, but she occasionally stopped. It confused Michelle at first, but then she noticed that Faith always stopped after she glanced at the table where Willow and Oz were. It confused her for a while, until she realized that Faith was probably worried about Willow telling Buffy about her and Faith flirting.
And then Buffy returned. Michelle saw how Faith immediately looked toward the door when Buffy entered. Buffy looked around and quickly located Faith, who waved at her briefly before looking away again. Michelle noticed how Buffy frowned before moving on to her friends.
Michelle hesitated for a moment and then sat closer to Faith, who looked at her, startled.
"So, wanna dance?" she asked and licked her lips.
"Huh?" Faith said, surprised.
"Dance. It's a slow song, I can do it."
"I… Uh…" Faith said, glancing towards Buffy. "I don't do slow songs."
"Right," Michelle drawled. "Come on, I'll teach you."
Faith gulped.
"Uh…"
"Aww, don't tell me the big bad Faith is afraid of a slow song."
"I'm not afraid," Faith objected.
"Hmmm."
Michelle ran her finger across Faith's cheek and Faith tensed.
"What are you doing?" Faith asked, nervous, and glanced toward Buffy.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm flirting with you big time." She smiled. "I told you I liked you."
"I thought you just wanted to be friends."
"I never said that. I told you, I like you. Now, I'm not saying I want to get into your panties, at least not right away. I still want to be your friend, that's the most important thing." She licked her lips. "But I was wondering if there could be more."
Faith stared at her for a few moments and then looked down, nervous.
"Look, uh, I…" Faith started.
"Is there someone else?" Michelle asked, already knowing the answer.
"What?" Faith said, startled, and blushed.
Michelle smiled.
"You're so cute when you blush."
"I'm not cute," Faith protested, blushing even deeper.
"Sure you are." Michelle took a sip. "Now, tell me, who's the lucky girl?"
Faith automatically glanced toward Buffy.
"What makes you think there is one?"
"Oh please, you're like an open book to me, Faith."
Faith raised an eyebrow.
"I am?"
"Yup. Now spill."
Faith gulped and looked at her hands, nervous.
"I… I… I can't," Faith said, not looking up.
Michelle reached over and took Faith's hand into her own.
"Look, I'm your friend, Faith, you know I won't tell."
Faith glanced at her and sighed.
"It's just… I'm not used to this… this emotional stuff."
"Yeah, I know."
Faith gulped.
"I, uh, it's… It's Buffy," she finally confessed, looking at her hands again.
Michelle smiled, even though she was a bit sad that it wasn't her.
"That's what I thought."
Faith looked at her, surprised.
"You knew?"
Michelle shrugged.
"I suspected. I mean, the way you two acted around one another, it was pretty obvious. Of course, not to you two, you're blinder than bats."
Faith blushed.
"Right."
"Right. Now all you have to do is talk to her."
Faith's eyes went wide.
"What?"
Michelle chuckled.
"You know, it's funny how you can be all seductive around everyone but her," she said, and Faith blushed again. Then she sighed. "Look, we're still friends, Faith, you don't ever have to worry about that."
Faith stared at her for a few moments and then smiled a bit.
"Thanks."
Michelle smiled back.
"That's what friends are for, Faith."
"Yeah, I'm getting that."
"Good, now go talk to her."
Faith sighed.
"It doesn't matter," she said.
Michelle rolled her eyes.
"And why not?"
"Because she loves someone else."
"She does?" Michelle said, surprised.
"Yeah. Not to mention that she's straight."
"Yeah, right."
"Anyway she already has a boyfriend."
Michelle frowned.
"I didn't see her with anyone."
"That's because he's a vampire."
Michelle frowned.
"Isn't she supposed to kill them?"
Faith smiled for a moment.
"Yeah. But he's different, he has a soul."
"Oh." Michelle thought for a moment. "If you're just gonna sit around and wallow, you're not gonna get the girl."
Faith smiled a bit.
"I know, but…"
"No, no, no. No buts," Michelle said, shaking her head. "Look, one of two things can happen. She can choose you or she can chose the vampire. Either way you'll know where you stand." She took Faith's hand. "Look, I know hope can be a very powerful emotion, but look at it this way. If she chooses the vampire, you'll be able to move on. Maybe not with me, but with someone. And if she chooses you, well, I don't think I need to give you any visuals."
Faith chuckled, blushing.
"I see your point."
"Good. Now go."
"Now?" Faith said, surprised.
"There's no time like the present. Go out on patrol and take her with you."
Faith glanced at Buffy, and gulped, nervous.
"I don't know."
Michelle rolled her eyes.
"Oh for crying out loud. Do you want me to ask her?"
"No!" Faith said, her eyes wide.
Michelle smiled.
"Thought so. Now get off your ass and ask Buffy out."
Faith hesitated for a moment.
"What about you?"
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'll stay here for a while. I'll follow Buffy's friends if you're not back by the time they leave."
"Okay." Faith hesitated for a moment and then hugged Michelle. "Thanks."
Michelle hugged her back.
"You're welcome. Now go get the girl."
Faith chuckled and let go of Michelle.
"Right." She looked at Buffy and took a deep breath, nervous. "Okay, here goes nothing."
She got up and headed toward Buffy's table.
"I'll keep my fingers crossed!" Michelle called after her.
Faith glanced at her with a grin and then moved on.
Michelle stared after her, her face a bit sad.
"Hey, B," Faith said when she reached Buffy.
"Faith," Buffy said and smiled.
"I'm going on patrol. Wanna come?"
"I've just been on patrol," Buffy said, and Faith's heart sank.
"So? I thought we could go check out the docks."
Buffy thought about it and then glanced at Michelle.
"What about Michelle?"
"What about her?"
"Aren't you two, like, on a date?"
Faith gulped.
"No, we were just hanging out." She hesitated for a moment. "So, wanna come?"
Buffy smiled.
"Okay." She looked at her friends. "I'll see you later, guys."
"Okay," Willow said.
Buffy got up.
"Let's go."
"So, what's going on between you and Michelle?" Buffy asked after a while.
Faith glanced at her.
"I could ask you the same about you and Angel," she countered.
Buffy sighed.
"Not much," she said.
"Trouble in paradise?"
"Sort of."
Faith hesitated for a moment.
"Can you tell me more about what happened? Everyone else is reluctant to talk about it."
Buffy sighed and thought for a few moments.
"At first, he was this mysterious stranger and I found it… romantic. I got attracted to him. Of course, I didn't know he was a vampire then."
"And when you found out?"
Buffy shrugged.
"I was suspicious, but then I found out he had a soul."
"Oh."
Buffy took a deep breath.
"Anyway, he was my first."
"Oh." Faith thought for a moment. "And he lost his soul after you two… did the deed?"
"Yes."
"Shit."
Buffy smiled sadly.
"Yes." She sighed. "Anyway, I had to kill him to save the world and now he's back."
"With a soul."
"Yes."
"You're not gonna have sex with him again, are you?"
Buffy blushed a bit.
"No, of course not."
"Just checking." Faith thought for a moment. "And how are things now?"
"He's recovering."
"So you're still together?"
Buffy sighed.
"I don't know. I mean, it's all so confusing. I still care about him and I feel responsible for what happened to him, but…" She shook her head. "I don't know."
Faith hesitated for a moment.
"Do you still love him?"
Buffy thought about it.
"I don't know. I mean, yes, I still love him in a way, but, I just don't know if we have a future."
"Because of the sex-equals-loss-of-soul thing?"
"Partly, yes. But I've changed too. I mean, I've sort of just gotten over him and then he came back."
"Are you with him out of love or out of guilt?"
Buffy sighed.
"That's just it, I'm not sure. And the fact that I do care about him is not helping things."
"Oh."
"And you?"
"Me?" Faith said, startled.
"Yes. Are you and Michelle dating or what?"
"No, we're just friends."
"It didn't look that way to me," Buffy said, and Faith smiled a bit, now that she knew that Buffy had been watching her.
"Michelle has a… She loves me, I think, but she knows I don't love her."
"Oh."
"We're just… best friends, I guess."
"Oh."
Faith opened her mouth to finally tell Buffy how she felt about her when she suddenly realized she was scared. She didn't know of what exactly, she just knew that she was.
Buffy noticed that something was on Faith's mind and she decided to find out what.
"So, what's the real reason you asked me out on patrol?" she asked.
"Huh?" Faith said and looked at her, startled.
"You could've easily checked the docks out by yourself, not to mention that you left Michelle at the Bronze."
Faith blushed and quickly looked away.
"Hey, you could've stayed at the Bronze," she quickly pointed out.
"I could, but I was curious about why you asked me out."
Faith glanced at her.
"What, I can't just want to hang out with you?"
"You were hanging out with Michelle."
"Oh," Faith said, realizing there was a flaw in her reasoning. She wasn't one for touchy-feely talks and she was afraid of Buffy's reaction, but she felt like she really needed to let Buffy know she loved her, regardless of the consequences. So she finally took a deep breath, stopped, and faced Buffy. "Okay," she said. She hesitated for a moment, nervous. "It was to tell you that I love you," she said quietly. "There, I said it," she quickly added and moved on.
Buffy stared after her for a few moments, shocked.
"Oh," she then said. "Oh!" she said again when her mind finally realized what Faith had said. "Wait!" she called and ran after her. "What… How… I mean, shouldn't you be telling Michelle that?" she asked, trying to sort out her emotions.
Faith glanced at her.
"We're just friends."
"Oh." Buffy frowned. "Damn, this is so confusing. I mean, wow!" she said, and Faith glanced at her again. Buffy smiled at her. "Oh!" she suddenly realized. "I guess I should respond to that." She took a deep breath, thinking. "Damn. I mean, don't get me wrong, you loving me makes me feel all… giddy," she said and squirmed, "but I'm still kinda confused over how I feel about Angel. You know?" She sighed. "I really need some time to think about it."
Faith looked at her and then shrugged.
"Yeah, sure."
Buffy realized how much this meant to Faith and she put her hand on Faith's shoulder.
"Thank you for telling me, it means a lot to me."
Faith shrugged again.
"Yeah."
Buffy smiled a bit.
"So, how about we go kick some demon ass."
"Sure," Faith said, but she didn't sound too enthusiastic.
Buffy sighed, wondering what her decision would be.
After she dropped Faith at her motel, Buffy went to Angel. They talked a little and Buffy tried to figure out if she would have chosen Angel if he were but a normal human without any past or was it the fact that he was an old vampire with a troubled past that attracted her to him in the first place. And, also, if she would have found Faith as exciting if she weren't a Slayer.
When she left an hour later, she still had no idea.
When Joyce came to the kitchen the next morning and saw Buffy so deep in thought that she didn't even notice that the juice she was pouring herself was overflowing, she knew that something heavy was on her mind.
"Buffy," she said and Buffy jerked, startled.
"Huh? Oh!" she suddenly notice that she was spilling the juice. "Damn."
Joyce came closer, smiling.
"Heavy thoughts?" she asked and rinsed the sink.
Buffy sighed.
"Sort of."
"Can I help?"
Buffy looked at Joyce. She stared at her for a few moments and then sighed.
"I don't know." She hesitated for a moment. "You remember Angel?"
"The vampire?"
"Yes. Anyway, I loved him and I still do, but…" She sighed. "It's confusing. I mean, after he… died, I was hurt. But then… Faith came and she made me feel… I don't know, alive again. I guess."
"Faith?" Joyce said, surprised.
Buffy blushed a bit.
"Yeah, I know." She sighed. "Anyway, thanks to her I was finally able to move on. But then Angel came back and now I'm all confused. I'm not sure if I'm with him out of love or out of guilt. Or pity."
"I see," Joyce said, still trying to get over the fact that Buffy might be gay. She thought for a moment, deciding to deal later. "Which one of them is the last person you think of before you fall asleep and the first when you wake up?" She smiled. "Who gives you the butterflies?"
Buffy frowned. She opened her mouth to respond, but then closed it as she realized what the answer was.
"Oh." She sighed. "But… I mean… Does that make me gay?"
"Oh," Joyce said when she realized what the answer was. "Does it matter?"
"Huh?" Buffy said, startled.
"Does it matter whether you're gay or not?"
Buffy frowned.
"I don't know."
"Because if it does, then you don't love her enough."
Buffy sighed.
"I guess. But what about Angel? I mean, I love him too, it's just…" She trailed off and shook her head. "I don't know what to do about him. I mean, there's still a connection between us and I know he'll be hurt when he finds out about Faith."
"One of them is bound to get hurt, regardless of your choice. This isn't about them, it's about you. You're going to have to live with the person you chose."
"And other consequences," Buffy said thoughtfully.
"Yes."
Buffy sighed again.
"This sucks," she said, and Joyce smiled. "Thanks, Mom."
"You're welcome."
During the second break, Buffy didn't go the library as usual. She went out instead, hoping to get to Faith before Michelle. She had made up her mind and she hoped that it wouldn't drive Angel mad.
When she finally spotted Faith slowly walking toward the school, she hurried toward her.
"Hey," she said with a smile when she reached her.
"Hey," Faith said, nervous.
Buffy hesitated for a moment, equally nervous.
"I love you too," she then blurted.
Faith blinked, surprised.
"You do?"
Buffy nodded.
"Yes. I've done some thinking and, well, a little chat with Mom helped a lot."
"Oh." Faith thought for a moment and then smiled. "So, um, does that mean we're, uh, girlfriends?" she asked, hopeful.
Buffy smiled.
"Yes, I guess." Then she blushed as she thought of something. "Um, I mean, I've accepted that I'm in love with you and that I, um, might be gay, but, uh, I'm not quite ready to… to, um, you know, uh, go to bed with you."
Faith laughed, relieved.
"I'm nervous too," she said, "trust me." She hesitated for a moment and then stepped closer and took Buffy's hand into her own. "So, girlfriend, ready to introduce me to your friends?"
Buffy smiled.
"Yes." Then she frowned. "What about Michelle?"
Faith sighed.
"I think she might come to the library. Otherwise I'll go look for her."
"Oh. Okay. Let's go." They headed back to school. "Oh, will you come to dinner in the evening? I'm sure Mom would love to ask you lots of questions."
Faith groaned.
"I've never been interrogated before."
Buffy chuckled.
"It won't be that hard."
Faith smiled.
"Yeah, I guess." She thought for a moment. "What about Angel?" she then asked.
Buffy sighed.
"I'll go to him after school." She paused for a moment. "I hope he'll be alright."
Faith didn't respond.
When they got to the library, they were both nervous.
"Guys, we have something to tell you," Buffy then started.
Everyone looked at them.
"Hey," Michelle said as she entered a few moments after them. "Oh," she said when she noticed that Buffy and Faith were holding hands.
"Hey," Faith said, nervous.
"What is it, Buffy?" Willow asked, eyeing their hands.
Buffy and Faith looked at her, and Buffy smiled.
"Well, we just wanted to let you know that we're together now."
There was a heavy silence.
"Congratulations," Michelle said as she walked past Buffy and Faith.
"Thanks," Faith said and forced herself to smile.
"Wait," Xander said. "Together? As in girlfriend and… girlfriend?"
"Yes," Buffy said.
"What about Angel?" Willow asked, upset that the perfect love story might not be so perfect anymore or that it might even be over.
Buffy sighed.
"I still love him, it's just that I love Faith… more?"
"Oh."
"I'll go to him after school."
"So you're gay now?" Xander asked.
Buffy thought for a moment.
"I don't know. I mean, I like guys just fine." She shrugged. "I'm in love, I guess."
"Oh."
Faith looked at Michelle.
"Are we still on for today?"
Michelle smiled.
"I was about to ask you the same thing," she said and wiggled her eyebrows.
Faith grinned, relieved that things were okay between them. She looked at Buffy.
"You talk to them, I'll talk to Michelle."
Buffy smiled.
"Okay."
She hesitated for a moment and then leaned closer.
Faith's eyes went wide when she realized that Buffy wanted to kiss her. She smiled and leaned closer.
Xander's eyes nearly fell out when they kissed, and Willow's mouth was wide open. Giles merely cleared his throat, took off his glasses and started to clean them. Michelle sighed.
"Oh yeah," Faith said with a grin when they stopped kissing.
Buffy blushed.
"I'll see you at dinner," she said, looking around nervously.
"You bet." Faith gently squeezed Buffy's hand and then let go of it. She looked at Michelle. "Let's take a walk."
"Okay," Michelle said.
Faith and Michelle left and Buffy looked at her friends, nervous.
"Faith?" Xander finally said. "Where did that come from?"
Buffy smiled shyly and shrugged.
"It's… complicated."
"Complicated?" Willow asked.
"Well, you know how I was depressed after… after I sent Angel to Hell."
"Yes."
"And when Faith came, I felt… threatened at first, but we became close after we killed Kakistos."
"Close?" Xander asked.
"Not that close," Buffy said.
"Oh."
"Anyway, we got along pretty well. I mean, you guys were my best friends, but Faith was… well, a sister Slayer and there was a… a bond between us. I mean, I liked her and all, but her constant flirting made me nervous, especially since I felt attracted to her. I guess I was afraid to admit it to myself then." She sighed. "Anyway, then Angel came back and things got, well, complicated." She smiled. "But last night, Faith told me how she felt and I talked to Mom this morning and, well, the rest is history."
"Just like that?"
"Well, no. I thought about it all night, but it wasn't until I talked to Mom that I was sure."
"What about Angel?" Willow asked.
Buffy sighed.
"I'll go talk to him after school. I mean, I still love him, but I… I love Faith more, I guess."
"Oh."
"What about Michelle?" Xander asked. "I mean, doesn't Faith date Michelle?"
Buffy shook her head.
"No, they're just friends."
"Oh."
"Well, um, I guess congratulations are in order then," Giles said, taking off his glasses to clean them.
Buffy smiled at him.
"Thanks, Giles."
"So, you got the girl," Michelle said as she and Faith walked down the hall.
Faith smiled.
"Yeah. Thanks."
"For what?"
Faith shrugged.
"Just about everything. If it weren't for you, I'd never have gotten the girl."
Michelle smiled.
"That's what friends are for."
Faith hesitated for a moment.
"So, um, we're still friends?"
Michelle looked at her, surprised.
"Of course we are."
Faith smiled a bit.
"Good."
Michelle stared at her for a few moments and then smiled back.
"So, I guess you'll be hanging out with Buffy more now."
Faith's smile widened.
"Yeah, but I'm still coming over to your place so we can train."
"Good. So tell me, how did it go last night?"
Faith shrugged.
"I was beating around the bush for a while and then I told her."
"And?"
"She was all excited, but she said she needed to think about it."
Michelle smiled.
"I guess she did."
Faith smiled as well.
"Yeah. I'm invited over for dinner tonight."
"Ah, meet the parents."
Faith chuckled.
"I've already met her."
"Her?"
"Buffy's mom."
"Oh. But this is different. Before, you were just a friend, now you're a girlfriend."
Faith blushed a bit.
"Yeah, I guess."
"Oh look, there's Nancy and Darlene, let's go tell them the good news."
Faith rolled her eyes, groaning, and followed her.
"How did it go?" Faith asked Buffy when they met during the next break.
Buffy smiled.
"Okay, I guess. They were all pretty shocked."
Faith grinned.
"I bet."
Buffy hesitated for a moment.
"Listen, I'll go to Angel after school."
"Oh," Faith said, tensing.
"Just to tell him that we're together," she quickly added. "You and me, I mean."
"Oh," Faith said and relaxed. "Okay."
Buffy smiled.
"You're not jealous, are you?"
"Who, me?" Faith said.
Buffy smiled.
"Good. Come, let's go talk to the guys, I'm sure they have plenty of questions."
Faith rolled her eyes.
"Great."
"Hey," Buffy said when Faith arrived in the evening.
"Hey," Faith said and smiled.
They kissed and then Buffy closed the door.
"Come."
"Wait," Faith said.
"What?" Buffy said when Faith hesitated.
"How did it go with Angel?"
"Oh." Buffy shrugged. "Okay, I guess. He didn't seem very surprised, but I could feel that he wasn't very thrilled."
"Oh." She hesitated for a moment. "But he's okay, right?"
Buffy nodded.
"Yes."
"Good."
Buffy smiled.
"Come," she said. She took her hand and led her to the kitchen. "Mom."
Joyce looked at them.
"Oh, hi, Faith."
"Hi, Mrs S," Faith said, slightly nervous.
"Why don't you have a seat, dinner is almost done."
"Come," Buffy said and they sat down.
"That went well," Faith said when they were alone in Buffy's room. She looked at Buffy. "Right?"
Buffy smiled.
"You're so cute when you're nervous," she said and Faith blushed.
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"Am not."
"Are too."
Faith stuck out her tongue at Buffy.
"This is even cuter!" Buffy said, excited, and Faith groaned.
"Great."
Buffy lay on her bed and patted the spot beside her.
"Come."
Faith hesitated for a moment and then lay beside her. Buffy immediately cuddled up to her and Faith looked at her, surprised.
"I could get used to that," she said.
Buffy looked up at her, smiling.
"Don't worry, you'll get plenty of chance."
Faith smiled back.
"Good."
The End