PROMPT TWELVE: The Start

If there was anything that Buffy hated it was Parent’s Day at the Academy. As teachers they were expected to be cheerful and keep an overly fake smile on their faces for the entire day, her cheeks actually hurt by dinner time. Out of all of them Faith hated Parent’s Day the most. She said that she didn’t meet the parents that she always said the first thing that came to her mind and that always got her in trouble. Faith was not one to pretend to be someone that she wasn’t and to keep an awkwardly cheerful exterior was definitely not something she wanted to participate in. For the past two years she had participated begrudgingly following her students allowing them to lead the tour and explain to their parents what they had been learning.

This year she refused to participate at all, shutting herself in her room with her headphones plugged firmly into her ears and refusing to come out. She’d told them she was over pretending to be a perfect teacher after Giles had explained that they had a reputation to uphold if they wanted parents to continue sending their kids there. They were all far from perfect but if that’s what made parents happy then that’s what they would do to keep the school going. The junior Slayers needed it and they themselves needed it, it gave their lives meaning that they were passing on what they knew to the next generation.

To say that Giles wasn’t happy with Faith’s refusal to participate would be the understatement of the year. The Head of the School was way past trying to reason with the brunette Slayer and had insisted that Buffy go and get her so that they could begin the physical demonstrations. He had even gone as far as suggesting she use physical force to get the younger Slayer’s cooperation. It looks unprofessional for one of the senior instructors to be missing from the day’s activities and she was to join in with the rest of them whether she wanted to or not.

Buffy smiled as she watched the younger Slayer now. Faith had locked the door to her suite in the residential wing of the Academy but even those locks weren’t Slayer proof. With her headphones in Faith was completely unaware of the other Slayer’s presence and was completely immersed in the book held in her hands. She was sprawled out on her bed looking the epitome of relaxation and Buffy smiled at the crease between her eyebrows that indicated she was completely concentrating on whatever mischief Harry Potter was getting into.

She loved that she could pick up on Faith’s mood simply by the little facial gestures she made. They were at the start of their relationship although it felt like they had been getting to know each other for seven years. She had discovered after the fall of Sunnydale that when she really looked at Faith the other girl was like an open book to her. Her heart squeezed at the startled yelp Faith gave out when she touched her arm an earlier conversation about not being able to sneak up on each other because of their connection coming to mind.

“Gotta come downstairs and help out with the physical demonstration,” she said pretending she hadn’t heard the squeal from the other Slayer.

“I told G this morning this whole day is bullshit and I don’t want any part of it,” Faith said putting her book next to her on the bed and crossing her arms over her chest, “Besides I can give you a physical demonstration from the comfort of my bed,” she said wiggling her eyebrows and pulling Buffy down onto the bed next to her.

“So not what I meant,” Buffy said leaning over and giving Faith a quick kiss pulling back before the younger girl could take it any further, “This is for the girls and the school Faith, and for me I need your help,” she continued her lips forming her patented pout.

“Aw no fair B you know I can’t resist ya,” Faith scowled.

“Come on you and I are showing the obstacle course and if you beat me to the start I’ll watch Die Hard with you tonight,” Buffy said getting up off the bed and pulling a reluctant Faith with her.

“Fine but if I win the course as well we have to watch the other Die Hards,” Faith said her face lighting up at the prospect.

“Meet you at the starting line baby,” Buffy said pushing off of Faith and racing off down the hall.

“Not fair you can’t use me as your own fucking starting block. Cheating means you owe me Fast and the Furious as well,” Faith yelled running off after Buffy.