The chosen two were equally engrossed in their own mini battles, and yet they mocked their aggressors by continuing with their casual conversation.
“Come on B whaddya say? Carnivals are wicked fun!” Faith finished her vamp before leaning against a tree to watch Buffy continue with hers.
“I told you Faith; until I get a job I really am broke. And the bank of Mum and Dad is temporarily closed for business.” On the last syllable the vampire was dust.
“And I keep saying I got enough cash to have a good time. It’ll be fun, you, me and a harmless carnival. What’s the harm?” The two fell back into step to continue patrol.
“Well, what’s so wrong about that?” Mrs Summers and Buffy were spending breakfast discussing the evening’s patrol.
“Everything Mum! Sure Faith’s great and all – but only couples go there.” Joyce rolled her eyes,
“Faith’s just being friendly, that’s all. Just because she offered to pay doesn’t mean a thing.”
Buffy spoke through a mouthful of waffles, “That’s just it. Faith’s always being ‘friendly’ and I’m not sure what she’d make of it if I said yes.”
“You mean you’re scared that Faith will think it’s a date.” Buffy scrunched up her nose trying to think of something that wouldn’t make her sound shallow.
“I don’t know an awful lot about her Mum; I don’t want to give her the wrong impression about anything.”
“Well I think you should go with her.” Buffy’s face snapped up to meet with her mother’s. “I know what you said dear. But you can’t encourage something you don’t even know is or isn’t there. Besides what makes you think that Faith feels that way?”
Buffy played with her hair, “I don’t know Mum. You’re right I guess.” She rose from her seat.
“Always am.” She just smiled before hugging her Mum and slinking off to the shower.
“So what made you change your mind?” The chosen two once more spending their evenings kicking dust around the local cemeteries.
“Well you know, a little thinking here and there.” Buffy tried to play the conversation.
“You’re Mom made you didn’t she?” Faith grinned while maintaining her glance ahead. Buffy just stopped dead in her tracks.
“You really have to get out of my head! How did you do that?”
“Well now, here I have a choice – impress you with my wicked mind reading skills, or reveal all behind my little talent.” Faith continued her ambling while spinning a stake in her hand.
Buffy skipped ahead of her blocking the brunette’s path. “I can’t patrol with you dancing in front of me princess.”
“Come on Faith, you and I both know you aren’t that clever! Come on spill it!” The small blonde poked at her taller counterpart.
“Alright, alright. Quit it already, the bouncy bubbly blonde routine is so tired. Your Mom called me and dished the whole deal. It’s all good B.”
Buffy stopped in her tracks, “The whole deal? What did she tell you?” Faith turned on her heel and continued to walk backwards while grinning like an idiot at the dumbstruck blonde.
Her dimples showed and her teeth gleamed, her tongue slipped across and glistened her dark lips – and every syllable dripped with sensuality, “Ev-er-y th-ing prin-cess”
Buffy just managed to mouth an ‘Oh God’ before Faith cracked up.
“Oh chill out will you!! Your Mom just told me you changed your mind. But there has to be more than that surely! It takes a lot to get you to make that face!”
Buffy just bit her lip and walked on in double quick step. “Let’s just get this over with. I have classes in the morning.”
The brunette lunged and managed a playful smack on the smaller girl’s behind earning her a deep scowl. “Sure sweetie. What ev-er you say.”
“So when do you wanna go?” Buffy walked on more than a little flustered.
“Depends, are you gonna stop making jokes?” Faith quickly caught up to her. Throwing her arms around her from behind Faith lifted the blonde into a reverse bear hug.
“Only when they stop being funny B! Now when do you want to go?” Buffy’s response was quickly cut short and replaced with insane laughter as Faith span her around.
“Put me down!!” Faith squeezed her just a little bit more.
“Only if you’re gonna answer princess.” She bounced the smaller girl to the desired effect.
“Ok, ok, tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow – Now put me down! I can’t breathe!”
Faith gently placed her down – and with one more little squeeze almost hug like she let Buffy go.
“Alright short stuff, tomorrow. It’s a date.” The look on Buffy’s face was priceless in just those few words.
“No, no it’s not a date, its very non-date ish, it’s it’s…” Faith grabbed a hold of the panicked girl.
“Chill Buffy – It’s ok, tomorrow. It’s a non-date. I’ll be around at eight ish, k?” Buffy nodded exhaling heavy breaths.
Faith released her and began to make her way home, she turned slowly bringing her hand to her lips she gently blew away her gentle kiss. Grinning like a mad man she jogged out of the grave yard. Buffy rolled her eyes as she too made her way home.
Come eight the next evening Faith bounded up the garden path like an excited puppy. Remembering the last time she got too over zealous with the door knocker she resided to pressing the door bell.
“Good evening Faith,” Joyce stood in the door way, Faith beamed back.
“Hey Mrs.S. Is Buffy ready?”
“Whatcha talking about?” Buffy’s head popped out of the door, Faith bit her tongue – jokes around Buffy’s mom could be a bad move.
“Faith’s just eager to go have fun that’s all. And so should you. Now go – have fun.” She hugged her daughter and waved good bye as her and Faith walked towards the side walk.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t!” Buffy squeaked, Faith gut laughed and Joyce just smiled sweetly.
“Oh B I love your mom!!”
“Let’s just go ok,” Faith looped her arm around Buffy’s
“It’s cool B, let’s go have fun.”
Buffy’s eyes wandered around the carnival, rides, games and ohh!! Look! Cotton candy!
“Well B, whatcha wanna do? We could ride the dodgems or maybe the ghost train. ‘Cept I kinda think that’ll be a real bust – unless of course it’s full of real ghosts. Never know, this is Sunnydale.”
“Faith, the rides are for the kids really.” A dejected brunette threw an expert pout her way. “But I guess the games would be fun, you know, prizes and all.”
Faith’s eyes brightened, “Yeah! Like shooting targets or throwing stuff, let’s go for it!!”
The girls wandered until they found something more to their liking. “Check it out Faith! Test your strength, ohh pretty prizes!!”
Faith puffed out her chest; it was time to show off. Just because Buffy could do it, didn’t mean she would. Faith on the other hand however…
“Hey buddy, how much for a stab at it?” Faith pulled back her hair and rolled up her sleeves.
“For you, $4 for three hits. Hit the bell win a prize simple as really. Here you go,” He handed her the hammer. The mischief in her eyes shone.
*POUND* “72!” Faith looked around over to Buffy who was looking less than impressed. She growled slightly and lifted the hammer again.
“Wait!!” A shout from the crowd stopped her, about 3 men stepped forward, all around 6’5 and too beefy for their own good.
“Bob!” The attendant jumped at the shout. “I want to make a wager with this girl.”
“Scuse me? Shouldn’t you be asking me that?” The guys ignored her- Faith shouldered the hammer but was held back by a reassuring squeeze on her other hand.
“You’re pretty strong- for a girl.” Faith just glared back at him “But I’m stronger, and I’ll prove it. Best of three scores wins.” The beef stick buddies all jeered as Faith thought about the offer.
“Alright I’m in. What’s the ante?”
“If we win, we get a nice steaming kiss from your sweetie here,” Buffy protested as Faith continued.
“And if I win?”
“$100 up front. Sound fair?”
“Let’s do it.” Faith could distantly hear Buffy ranting about something, along the lines of, ‘you better win or so help me’ something or other.
“So, your first score was 72, and mine is,”
*POUND* “75, not bad, my turn.” Faith swung down hard on the spot.
*POUND* “84, not too shabby for someone so short!” Faith growled inwardly as the jerk swung for the second time.
*POUND* “88 check that out. Ready? Final shot now,” Faith rested her hands on her hips.
“You know what, go ahead. Take another shot; make it a little more interesting for me.”
He just grinned and swung again. *POUND* “93! Ha! Come on shorty beat that!!” Faith placed her hammer on the floor. Carefully stretching her shoulders she balled a fist and swung. Hard.
*POUND* A ding resonated from the bell as it fell from the machine and hit the dusty floor. “So, about my hundred bucks.”
The chosen two walked in moderate silence. Faith with a wad of cash and slightly bruised knuckles. And Buffy with two giant teddy bears and a small sparkling tiara.
“So, B. You have a good time on our ‘non-date’ tonight?” She stuffed her hands in her pockets at a loss of what to do with them.
“It was great Faith; I had a really good time.” Faith shone back at her. “Well I guess this is my stop.” The two girls stood on the porch steps, both fidgeting, nervous of the other’s actions.
“Yeah I guess. Good night princess.” Still unsure of what to do Faith turned and began to walk away.
“Faith wait,” Buffy put the prizes down, “At least y’know, let me hug you before you go.” Faith cocked a half smile as she slinked back towards the blonde.
“C’mere you big lug,” She pulled the brunette to her and felt her relax in her arms.
“Good night Faith.”
“Good night Princess.”