Americana 7/27

Silver Katana What happened to Faith is a mystery that will be revealed eventually. You gotta stay tuned!



Title: Americana
Pairing: Faith/Cordelia
Summary: Five friends come of age.
Rating: PG 13


Grace and her friend part from their group of friends and walk across the field.

"Mom, this is my...friend Ashley." Grace says.

The fog of memory lifts over Cordelia and she smiles. "Hi, Ashley. Do you play soccer? I‘ve never seen you here before."

Ashley smiles, shyly. "No, Grace, invited me to watch her play."

"I'm going to walk home with Ashley." Grace says.

"Oh, okay,

"Bye, mom."

Cordelia watches them walk away, and notices how almost unconsciously their hands seek each other's out. She smiles a knowing smile.

She’d been that girl and could literally sit for hours on those uncomfortable metal bleachers adjacent to the soccer field.

All the memories Cordelia had pressed down came flooding back.

She almost hit the mini van parked next to her car. She smiles sheepishly and waves at the mother in the mini van mouthing an embarrassed ‘I‘m sorry‘, but her apology falls on annoyed ears.

The other mother gets out of her mini van at break neck speed and checks it for any damages.

Cordelia tries to keep a fit of giggles from escaping and presses a hand over her mouth momentarily.

She pulls back into the parking space and gets out of her car. The other mother still inspecting her mini van.

Cordelia couldn’t stand this woman.

She was always the loudest and most pushy mother at soccer practice and games. She was also always pulling the coach off to the side. Cordelia imagined that she was probably pushing him to give her daughter more game time.

Cordelia waves to the daughter sitting in the mini van who has embarrassed look on her face.

“My husband just bought this for me.” She says over her shoulder.

“It’s very nice, Valerie.” Cordelia compliments her.

“Thank you,” Valerie turns around.

Cordelia knew that the best way to deflect a conflict with this particular mother.

“Grace, seemed to be doing a lot of showboating today.” Valerie says.

Cordelia didn’t find that hard to believe. Grace, had a bad habit of showing off. She and Brian had both talked to their daughter about it, but at the end of the day as Brian would say ‘She’s a LeHane.’

Faith had been the same way. Cordelia looks across the field. She sees Grace with Ashley and their group of friends. Grace is the center of attention and her arm is casually slung around Ashley’s shoulder.

She knew that Grace was probably just showing off on the field during practice because Ashley was their to watch.

She knew because it was the same thing that Faith had done.

It was times like right now were Grace reminded Cordelia of Grace. It wasn’t so much the fact that Grace looked very much like her aunt. It was the fact that many of her actions mirrored Faith’s.

“Couch Henley had to pull her aside. I know she‘s your daughter, but behavior like that is unacceptable. It‘s very unsportsmanlike, Cordelia.” Valerie said in a matter of fact tone.

Cordelia knew what the real problem was though. Grace was the best player in the league.

She is the captain of her soccer team and Valerie’s daughter was none of these things. Although she was a good player. She just didn’t have the type of passion for the sport that Grace had that pushed her to be the best.

“I don’t think that type of behavior should be rewarded.” Valerie said.

Cordelia nods her head. “No, of course not, Valerie. I’ll have a talk with her tonight at dinner.” She had no plans about having a talk with Grace though. “Paul called me last night about the all star league.” Cordelia had grown up with Grace’s coach.

“I also got that call.” Valerie smiles.

“He told me that he and the other coaches had decided that Grace should be the captain of the team. I just don‘t know if Grace is going to have the time though. You know, with all of her other extracurricular activities and of course soccer practice for the high school starting up next week.” Cordelia smiles. Sure, she’s bragging but at this point she feels she had every right to put Valerie in her place.

“High school? Grace is going into the 8th grade. How can she play for the high school team?”

“Well, she’s extremely good with math and science and she’s going to be taking a class at the high school which makes her eligible to play at the high school level from what Paul has told me.”

And, that seems to shut Valerie up. Her daughter presses on the horn of the mini van and rolls down the window.

“Mom, can we go?”

“Well, I’ll see you later.” Cordelia walks away with an extra bounce in her step.

Cordelia didn’t go home straight away. She decided to do a bit of driving around. She didn’t have a particular destination in mind.

She pulled into the parking lot of a skateboard park. She remembered when it all use to be woods. And, she and her friends would go to the pound for a swim while everyone else went to the community pool.

The pond were she and Faith could paw each other for hours on end before the arrival of the rest of their group of friends.


****


Faith wrapped her arms around Cordelia’s waist and pulled her close. She snaked her hands into the bottom of Cordelia’s two piece bathing suit and caressed her ass. The only sounds was the slight splash of the water around them and their soft moans.

“Faith!” Cordelia pulled out of the kiss.

“What?”

Cordelia pulled Faith’s wandering hands out of her bottoms. Faith had grown more bold over the course of the summer.

“Behave,” Cordelia arched her eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I can’t help myself, Cor.” She smiled sheepishly.

“I’m sure you could if you tried.”

“You’re just so beautiful.” Faith replied eyes completely genuine.

Cordelia couldn’t help but soften. Her arms dropped to her sides. “I just don’t want our first time to be in this pond.” She motioned around them.

“So, uh, when is this first time gonna happen?” Faith wrapped her arms around Cordelia’s waist.

“When the time is right.” She wrapped her arms around Faith’s neck.

“When will we know?”

Cordelia leaned in and kissed Faith softly. “Will just know.”


****


The right time just happened to be when Faith’s parents were out of town for the weekend at a car buying auction. And, her older brother Brian had left for the weekend to go camping with his friends.

They could have done ‘it’ at Cordelia’s house considering that her father never seemed to be home, but Cordelia had this irrational fear that if they where at her house. Her father would just happen to come home that night out of all nights.

The walk to Faith’s house was quite with intervals of chit chat that meant nothing to either one of them both of them preoccupied with the fact that it was going happen. Even though they hadn’t talked about it. They both just knew.

“Do you want to order pizza tonight?” Faith asked.

Cordelia nodded. “Sure,” She didn’t think she’d be able to eat though.

“If you don’t want pizza we could eat something else.” Faith suggested.

“No, pizza is fine.”


****


Their first time happened in Faith’s bed.

They had been making out on the couch in the family room and things had gotten hot and heavy and they headed up to Faith’s room.

“You sure?” Faith asked.

Cordelia nodded her head. She hadn’t been more sure and uncertain at the same time then anything else in her life. They were both in partial stages of undress.

And, both of their hands fumbled with getting each other undressed, but once they were there was a moment of pause between the two of them.

“You sure?” Faith asked again and Cordelia nodded her head in response just the same when Faith had asked the question for the first time only a few short moments ago.

Faith pushed Cordelia back onto the bed and something happened between the two of them. Their movements became stiff and unsure and their bodies pressed together.

“I love you, Cor.” Faith whispered.

“I love you too.” Cordelia kissed her.

It felt awkward because they both were figuring it out. What the other liked. What the other didn’t like it.

And, when they were both sure they were ‘done’ they lay there not entirely sure if they had done anything at all.

Faith looked over at Cordelia. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Cordelia nodded. “Did you like it?”

“Yeah, did you?”

Cordelia nodded, but she didn’t understand it. Her and Faith were hot and heavy for each other, and sure it was nice, but it didn’t feel hot and heavy.

The second time was better. They were both more comfortable about their bodies and the pressure of their first time was gone.

They’d gone down on each other and Cordelia learned that it was something she did extremely well. And, something that Faith seemed to enjoy a great deal.

And, third time was the best of the night because Faith had mastered the wonderful art trib.

The weekend at Faith’s house they ended in Faith’s parents bed. It was the biggest bed in the house.

Cordelia quickly got over her fear of getting caught by her father and Faith spent plenty of weekend’s at the Chase house.


****


Cordelia went home that night the memory of her first time fresh in her mind. She cooked dinner with a smile on her face.

“Grace, are you going to have any bread?” Cordelia asks.

“I’m in training, mom.” Grace replies.

“Yeah, she’s in training, babe.” Brain smiles proudly.

“Training?” Cordelia arches an eyebrow.

“Yeah, if I’m going to get in gear for playing on a high school team.”

She was just like Faith when she was ‘training’. She took it so serious when she was getting into ‘shape’.


****


Faith walked Cordelia home after soccer practice like she did everyday. And, they would set down on Cordelia’s front porch. Faith had her arm around Cordelia. And, sure she was sweaty from practice, but Cordelia looked the smell.

“I really want to get in shape for that game against the Dragon’s. They are going to be the team to beat.”

She knew Faith was fishing for a compliment.

“You could stand to lose a few.” Cordelia teased her.

“You’re SO funny.” Faith made a playful face. “I better go or I’m going to be late for dinner.”

“Ok,” Cordelia replied disappointedly and the both stood up.

“And, I think you should come over for dinner.” Faith said. She could tell that Cordelia was slightly upset.

Cordelia seemed to find herself at the LeHane’s a lot, and she didn’t want to wear out her welcome. The LeHane’s had always made her feel welcome.

“I think my dad is going to be home tonight.” Cordelia replied.

Faith knew better though. It was a weekend and Mr. Chase was never around.

“We like having you over, Cor. You know that, right?” Faith asked.

Cordelia looked away embarrassed about her home life. First her mother leaves her and her father was around less and less.

“Yeah,” Cordelia’s eyes fill with tears.

“Come home with me, please.” Faith said.

“I’m just always over at your house.” Cordelia looked at Faith.

“What? You don’t like hanging out with me?” Faith joked and tried to lighten the mood.

“It’d just be nice if my own father wanted to spend time with me.” Cordelia cried and Faith pulled her into a hug.

“Well, he’s stupid because you’re great.” Faith held her tight.


****


Cordelia went to bed that night, but trying to sleep was useless. All night, she was tossing and turning. Her dreams were full of Faith.

"Hey, Cor. Want a ride?" Faith, sitting in her rebuilt ford, pulled up next to Cordelia standing on the sidewalk outside school.

"Hey, Faith," Cordelia acknowledges her, feeling a little uncomfortable. Even though things had grown a little better between them over the last month of so, she still felt a little awkward around Faith. "Thanks, but I'm getting a ride from some friends…"

"Aw, C'mon, Cor. I promise, I won't bite. Really…" Faith gives her that little half grin that always gets Cordelia. "Did I mention I love a girl in a uniform?" She gives her a quick sweep with her eyes. "Nice pom-poms!"

Cordelia, despite herself, blushes just a little. Faith could always do that to her. God, is she arrogant, or what? Still, she had to admit, she loved it.

Despite her reservations, she found herself walking over to Faith's car, and slipping into the front seat. She threw her books in the back. "Straight home, right?"

"Sure," Faith winked, gunning the engine and jack-rabbiting out from the curb.

"Faith!"

"Chill, I know what I'm doing," Faith snickers, a part of her loving the reaction from Cor. She loved to yank her chain occasionally.

It was quiet for the first few moments, as Faith wove in and out of traffic, a couple of times to the chorus of horns, heading for Cordelia's part of town.

"So, I caught you at practice today," Faith says casually, as they drove along. "Gotta say, you guys are getting pretty good with the routines…"

"You watched practice? Really?" Cordelia was more than surprised. She can't remember

Faith ever doing that; even when they were together. "How come?"

"Watching a bunch of hot girls doing the hippy-hippy shake while shaking their pom poms? Man, that's entertainment," Faith chuckles. "All those cute legs and fine asses, Yum!"

"You… you're such a perv," Cordelia hits her on the arm, but laughing along with her. "Why doesn't that surprise me?"

"Cuz you know me so fucking well?" Faith laughs.

"Faith. Language, please!"

"Ah crap, Cor… ok," She sobers, glancing over at Cordelia.

There's another silence, and they drive along, neither sure what to say.

"Hey, Cor…"

"Yeah?"

"Actually, I was there because I was hoping to run into you…"

"The way you drive, I'm surprised you didn't!" Cordelia cracked.

"I'm serious here, Cor. I mean it…" Faith frowns a little. "Look, I'm not good at the subtle, so I'm just gonna come out with it.

Cordelia isn't sure she likes what she's hearing. "What?"

"Look, I miss you, ok?" Faith suddenly pulls the car over to the side of the street, and stops. She kills the engine." I miss you a lot. I've been missing you, but I've been too damned pig headed to admit it, ok?"

"Faith," Cordelia sounded a little pained. God, how could she just read my mind? "I miss you too. Believe me. I've been missing you… but …"

"I know. Things are different now. You and I…" She looks at Cordelia. "Where did we go wrong, anyway? Ok, ok, I get it. We want different things. And I'm leaving after Graduation. I know. But couldn't we be friends again, at least? I hate this not talking, having to avoid you and walking away feeling like … crap, ok? I'm not asking the moon here, Cor. Just friends, ok? I really, really miss my buddy, you know?"

"Faith…" Cordelia sighs, admitting to herself how much she's missed Faith and everything about her. But it was too late to go back. Things had been done, and words said you can never take back. "I don't hate you, you know that…"

"I know…"

"I just have to think about it, some more, ok?"

"Ok, ok…" Faith guns the engine, and pulls out into traffic.

The rest of the ride is in silence. Neither knows what else to say to bridge the chasm that's grown between them. It's not until Faith pulls up in front of her house that Cordelia realizes she needs to say something. Anything to make herself clear.

"Faith, I've never stopped being your friend, don't you get that? It's just that after we split up, you really didn't want to have much of anything to do with me. It's not until recently that you'd even talk to me…"

"I know," Faith says. "I mentioned pig headed, didn't I?"

"Yeah…"

And Cordelia will never know why, but on impulse, she leaned in and kissed Faith on the cheek.

"I miss you too. I'll see you tomorrow, ok? We'll talk?"

Faith smiles, and Cordelia feels her heart melt. Faith's smile was like the sun after a dark dreary night. She knew she had to get out of that car now, or maybe more… more than either of them could handle, would happen.

She grabbed her books, and made as graceful an exit as she could. Leaning over the car window, she looked in at Faith.

"Hey, be careful, ok?" She said, with a sudden presentiment. "You know you can be crazy sometimes…"

"You're such a mom," Faith shakes her long raven locks. "What could go wrong now?" She winked, and before Cordelia could say more, she drove away.

Cordelia watched her go, until she turned the corner and was out of sight. Her heart was full of conflicting feelings, and she swore she'd never ever figure out Faith Lehane.

She turned and walked up her drive, not realizing then that was the last time she'd ever see her alive.