PART 8
Two days went by. Faith showed up at the bronze one evening when they settled about the Limo. She was going to be the first to be picked up and Buffy was second.
~
Buffy walked out of her house to the Limo waiting in front of her driveway.
##Damn why is my heart beating so fast?## Buffy gave a slight touch on her dress, hoping to tidy it as best as possible. ##Why am I so anxious? I hope she'll like that dress... Wait, wait, rewind I didn't say that. It's not me. God I can't keep my heart from beating that fast.##
Buffy took a deep breath as she arrived at the Limo.
##It's nothing. Big night with my friends. Just a little excitement that's all. It's gonna be fine.##
The driver opened the door for her and she sat in.
She looked aside at the brunette slayer who checked her out.
“Hey B.”
Buffy's eyes fell on the brunette's neck, uncovered as she'd done her hair up. Buffy felt her heart rose in her chest once more and she looked in front of her.
##I can't help it. She's got to be the most beautiful woman on earth to do that to me. Ok, breathe Buffy. It's ok to find her pretty; she is so, nothing wrong there. God don't look at her legs now!##
“You ok?”
“Err, yes. Was just thinking about something I forgot to do, but it'll wait.”
Faith gave her a slight nod.
“You're pretty.”
Buffy shyly smiled, “Thank you.”
“You're not bad yourself. Dress fits you well.”
“I thought that too,” Faith winked at her, “found it at the new shop outside of the mall. Thought I'd look really good in it.”
Buffy shrugged, “You'd even look good with a garbage bag on you, Faith.”
Faith smiled, Buffy blushed as she looks in front of her again. ##I so did not say that. Can’t I just keep these kind of thoughts to myself?##
“I'll take that as a compliment.”
They both slightly smiled though not looking at each other.
They remained silent for a short while.
“Do you think she's gonna win?”
“Cordelia?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think I care?”
Buffy sighed.
“Sorry, didn't mean it like that, B.”
Buffy shrugged then went on, “You know they're all going to the bronze after the coronation, I've got something to do but you can still go with them if you want.”
“Maybe.”
“What I mean is, you don't need me to be with them, you know. You can hang out with them on your own.”
Faith didn't reply. She knew she didn't have much interest in the others or hanging with them when Buffy wasn't there. She didn't like that fact more than Buffy did so she didn't comment.
“Shouldn't we be at Willow's already?”
“We're probably almost there.”
“So, what is it you have to do tonight?”
“Err, well, not much in fact.”
Faith sighed, “Right I forgot; don't tell me anything.”
“Faith, it's not that it's... Actually I've been giving it a lot of thoughts and,”
Faith looked at her, trying to look casual as to hide the expectation in her eyes.
##I need to tell her. I think, she can understand and... maybe help me.##
“Tonight I might... take you somewhere. I mean, show you something.”
“Why don't we go now?”
##She's never been the patient type.##
“Faith, coronation? Friend in competition, remember?”
“Who cares, you won anyway?”
“Err Faith, I'm not in competition.”
“And if you'd been you would've won.”
“Damn you really want to know, don't you? Buying me and all.”
“I don't need no promises from you, Buffy. If you don't want to tell me anything I don't care. Won’t change the fact that you'll be the most beautiful girl present tonight. No need to even vote for that. Look at you; looking like a princess coming straight from a fairy tale.”
Faith crossed her arms on her chest with a pout while Buffy tried to hide her blushing, mostly the emotions invading her.
“Thank you.”
Faith looked aside, “Yeah.”
##What can I say to that? How am I supposed to react to that? Oh well, it's just like for me, maybe I'm pretty and she's just honest about it. But she looks kinda pissed. Or, bothered. I'll tell her tonight, show her that I'm not hiding anything. Ok I am, but then I won't be. I think she can handle it now.##
Buffy sighed as the car stopped, “Yep, there we are.”
##Did I just sound that disappointed?##
“Heard Willow's dress is pretty awesome.” ##I had to find something##
“Yep, bet it is. You think she's gonna give Oz a happy tonight?”
Buffy gave Faith a scolding gaze.
“What?! I think it'd be about time.”
“Not every relationship is about sex, Faith.”
“Yeah, tell me one couple who can go without it. Damn, even you had to do it even though it was a vamp.”
##Ok, maybe I should think some more before telling her, shouldn’t I?##
“Whatever.” Buffy sighed, “What’s Willow doing?”
“The driver went out a while ago now.”
They frowned suddenly and listened attentively then got out of the car as they heard nothing.
Buffy noticed a VCR and a monitor put on a rock.
“What's massively wrong with this picture?”
They walked up to it. “Press Play” was written on it. Buffy did it and they saw Mr Trick on the screen.
“Hello, ladies. Welcome to SlayerFest '98.”
The slayers looked at the monitor in disbelief.
“What is a SlayerFest, you ask? Well, as in most of life, there are the hunters and the hunted. Can you guess where you two fall? From the beginning of this tape, you have exactly thirty seconds --no, that's seventeen now-- to run for your lives.”
“Faith... Buffy... Have a nice death.”
Buffy looked at Faith, “Come on, ride in a Limo; you’ll like it Buffy, huh?”
Faith shrugged at Buffy’s sarcasm, “You would have liked mine.”
They started running as a gunshot resounded.
They ran through the woods, the managed to take down a hunter who told them how many other contestants were chasing after them; a couple of vampires, a demon and two German brothers.
They ran to an abandoned house.
Buffy kept checking by the window while Faith was searching for anything useful.
Faith slightly laughed.
“Did I miss something cause in case you didn't notice, the situation kinda sucks right now.”
“Come on B. It's fun. Real hunt for once.” Faith kept slightly laughing.
“When I do the hunting then it's ok, but right now, nothing to laugh about.”
“Come on, could've been worse. You could've been trapped in here with, say Cordy or Xan man. See your luck?” She told her with an explicit frown.
Buffy just raised her eyebrows, “Do you think they're all out there?”
“Dunno. Hey, phone!”
Buffy walked to Faith and dialled the library's number. Giles wasn't there so she left a message. A yellow demon stormed in and fought with the both of them until a grenade was thrown inside by one of the German brothers. Faith kicked the demon to free Buffy from his grip and they both jumped by the window. The demon did the same on the opposite window but unfortunately for him, that one was blocked up and that was another contestant down for them.
The house exploded and the slayers were thrown face to the ground.
“See Buffy; this is why Cheerleading and Homecoming aren't for you.”
Buffy spat a twig she’d almost swallowed and looked at her, “Thanks for the reminder.”
“You're welcome.”
They got up and left, heading to the high school.
They arrived and were welcomed by the third contestant. Lyle Gorch and his wife. A wicked grin spread on Faith's face, “Finally; vampires, my favorite type.” And she started beating on Lyle's wife while Buffy fought Lyle.
Faith dusted her vamp.
“Candy!!” Lyle shouted as he stopped fighting against Buffy.
“See what's waiting for you?” Buffy said with a pleased smile. He swallowed his anger and meant to leave.
“Whatcha doing B?” Faith grabbed him by the throat, clenching very tight.
“I was, err I, well, he's running away now.”
“Only if you let him do so.” Faith staked him without a second thought.
“Err, well, yeah, I sorta knew him, I mean, I already fought him. He's not really bright you know.”
“I don't care how bright he is B. Him vampire, me slayer; him dust. Simple.”
Buffy swallowed and blocked the thoughts of Angel as they were not done yet. Giles came to at this moment, after a little thinking, they understood the German brothers put a transmitter in both girls corsage. Faith had put her black one around her ankle since 'it fitted better here' and Buffy's one was at her wrist. They elaborated a plan very fast then suddenly the lights went down as the Germans were in.
The slayers, after getting shot at several times managed to confuse them and via the transmitters, got them to shoot at each other and they got rid of the last contestant.
Giles sighed in relief as they came back to the library.
“That was nicely done.”
They both smiled proudly.
“Alright, I should go back to the dance and tell the others you are alright. I'll let you freshen up a little. Try to hurry; I think it's almost time for the coronation.”
They headed to the restrooms while he headed out.
They both watched their faces. The running water was the only sound in the restrooms with their breathing, slowly calming down, Buffy's at least.
Buffy dried her face and realized Faith was staring at her. She shyly smiled and looked at her dress, trying to arrange a hole on the side.
“So, guess we should go back there now.”
“Or we could... stay here.”
Buffy looked aside, afraid to understand as she knew that gaze... and that tone too well, she kept on tidying her dress.
“Come on, coronation time. You don't wanna miss that.” She said with a tensed enthusiasm.
“Frankly B. I'm passed coronation right now.”
“Well, we still gotta hurry there though.”
Buffy tried to avoid Faith's piercing gaze on her.
“Come on Buffy. Chased like that, all evening. I'm kinda juiced up B. Don't tell me you don't feel it.” Faith said in a low voice as she moved closer.
Her heart rose in Buffy's chest at Faith's husky tone and she swallowed.
She looked aside as Faith ran her fingertips on the side of her arm.
“Faith, we kinda have a deal, we're friends now.”
“And what are friends for? You know, friends sometimes...”
“No, I don't do these kinds of things with my friends. Sorry.” Buffy slightly pulled her arm to her but she still couldn't look at Faith in the eyes.
“Come on, I know you want to, I can feel it. I'm about to pop Buffy.”
Buffy swallowed again as Faith was very close to her.
“Faith please.”
“Come on, no one will know.”
Faith put her arm on Buffy's waist. Buffy shivered, she clenched her fists as she felt the warmth breath of the brunette slayer on her neck. Memories of New York, memories of their first kiss, their first night, the blissful feeling invading her every time she was holding her in her arms. All these memories came back as she felt the brunette's lips on her neck. Faith's hand slightly moved up on her stomach when suddenly Buffy pushed her away, not brutally though.
“I can't do that.”
“What? You're afraid about the others; they don't have to know B. It's just something between slayers, you know.”
“No, it's not. It won't happen.”
Faith raised her brows, almost like she couldn't understand, “Come on, I know you're juiced up too.”
“It doesn't mean I'm gonna jump on the first body around.”
“That's why I'm making it easier for you to let loose; I'm not the first body around, we've already done that.”
“No, no, we didn't do that like you say. I don't do something like that to satisfy lustful urges. And especially not with you.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that this topic is closed, and that you don't try that again.”
“I'm kind of impressed B. Pent up like you are. You would have never held it in NYC. Last time we did it, you surely didn't. Remember, it was in restrooms... a little like those ones. You wanted to talk... but the lust got stronger.”
“And see how it ended up for us then.” ##God I shouldn't have said that.##
Faith blocked these thoughts as she went on, still as teasing as she could, “I'm a slayer now B. Aren't you a little curious to what I could do to you now.”
Buffy felt a rush of excitement in between her legs and she swallowed, Faith smiled, “Come on, what's wrong with doing each other good when we need it.”
“Faith,” Buffy tried to look serious, “It just won't happen.”
##Did she look hurt there, for one micro second? NO, she's just frustrated cause she... wants to. But she'll probably go find somebody else. She doesn't care if it's me more than another.##
“You really worked on that self control issue. Impressive.”
“I just don't want to make any mistakes... anymore.”
“Oh right I forgot, having sex is bad. Sex is evil and we were perverted back then; Well, I guess I still am then.”
“I thought this was the past? So alright, if you want I can say it; maybe what we did then wasn't a mistake... But it certainly would be now.”
“Who is talking about the past now B? Forget about the past, I was just offering you a little unwinding that's all, and tomorrow you don't have to think about it anymore.”
“Maybe you really did go on to that path and then it’s your life; but I’m not part of this. I thought you wouldn’t even think of something like with me. Thought you knew me better than that? It means too much I just can't do that I just can't get over-” Buffy stopped in her tracks.
Faith smirked, bitterly though, “Careful B, or I might think you still have feelings for me.”
Faith left the restrooms. Buffy sighed, she swallowed hard and drank some water, to freshen up her face again, and mostly to forget and erase the way it felt to feel Faith’s breath against her skin once more. Then she went back to join the others.
