Like Other Girls...

Buffy grinned as she walked into the Bronze, Tara having promised that she and Spike would join her later on. She didn’t even want to think what they’d be doing until then, but her thoughts were distracted as she saw the group of people she was looking for. Faith and Willow sat at the bar, Jesse standing just to the side of them. Another furtive glance around placed Cordelia with her group at a table close to the dance floor, the snobby brunette herself dancing with some cute guy. Buffy didn’t even need to think about it before she turned in the direction of the bad girl and redhead. “Hey guys, miss me?”

“Not really B, wanna check out and see if we do after a little while longer?” Faith asked with a smirk as Buffy hugged Willow.

“Wow you can really be a bitch when you want to be.” Buffy said with a small shrug and superior smile. Willow blushed and Jesse laughed until the brunette glared at him. “So… what’s the up?”

“You… um… don’t you want to… I mean I know you still could go over there… and they’re much cooler you’d probably have more fun… but it’s not like we don’t want you here… I mean at least I want you here… but you know they’re more popular… and you might like it better… but you don’t have to go over if you don’t want to… but why would you rather be here and…” Willow started babbling in greeting.

“Hello to you too Willow.” Buffy grinned, then hugged Jesse as well, who was left with a slightly dazed expression on his face when they parted. “But of course you guys are more fun. Tara would be so disappointed if she saw me with them instead when she gets here.”

“Tara’s coming?” Willow and Faith said in unison, then both girls looked distinctly uncomfortable and embarrassed. Buffy knew that her sister had a charming personality and often gathered a group of friends that admired her. Why she’d never managed to get in with the popular crowd baffled her. Buffy knew that the girls in that group generally only scorned her through a jealousy of her ability to make people like her, but why Tara wasn’t a school queen, as Buffy had been, with everybody loving her, she didn’t know. Tara, on the one time she’d asked, said that she was too shy, and didn’t like the politics.

“Yeah, Spike did end up showing, he was there when we got back from school actually…. But anyway, they’ll drop by a little later. He wanted to take her for a ride first.” Buffy shrugged, then glared at Faith, who had started to snicker. Willow didn’t look like she got it at first, then turned bright red when she did.

“They… they aren’t…. I mean… are they?” She stammered.

“No… I don’t think so. Don’t know for sure… but I don’t think they’d be doing that Wills. Tara says she’s not ready.” Buffy laughed and shrugged again, patting her new friend on the shoulder comfortingly. “Hm… I think I wanna dance. Come’on Willow, let’s have fun.” She grabbed the redhead’s hand and pulled her to the dance floor, laughing at Willow’s halfhearted protests.

“Wow…” Jesse said in a reverant whisper as he watched Buffy dancing around Willow in a goofy manner before settling down to really dancing. Faith glared at him, but he continued anyway. “She’s great…”

“What? Cause she’s as much of a babble mouth as Red, just less stutterin?” Faith asked sourly. Her eyes followed the girls as well as she crossed her arms and frowned.

“She’s just got such a charming personality…” he said, eyes glazing over as Buffy sidled closer to the redhead and embarrassed the poor shy girl by dancing with her instead of near her. “And she’s so hot.”

“So? That’s not a unique thing.” Faith grumbled, and Jesse chuckled. “Stop droolin already.” The dark haired bad-girl scowled at him once more, smirking as he abruptly checked his mouth for any signs of drool and looked around in embarrassment. Then she walked out toward the dance floor, deciding to dance with them, and hopefully help her shy friend from combusting with embarrassment. Buffy separated from Willow easily as Faith joined them, and Willow made sure to keep her long time friend between herself and the blonde for the rest of that song, though she relaxed again as the next started. Jesse was soon out there with them, dancing in his foolish manner. Willow giggled and hid behind Jesse as Buffy chose Faith as her next victim. Faith’s face turned bright red and her expression was one of shock and confusion as Buffy came up behind her and began dancing against her back.

Tara and Spike chose that moment to walk in, turning around to find the girl’s sister and her friends, and Tara laughed into Spike’s shoulder as she saw what was going on. Willow and that goofy Xander-copy named Jesse were dancing on their own, but near enough to the others to be with them, as Buffy danced almost seductively against Faith. It was just barely tame enough to be seen as between friends, but Tara laughed at the expression that Faith wore nevertheless. The badgirl wasn’t pushing her sister away, but she sure as hell didn’t know what else to do. “Oi, the bint is already pulling that?”

“You’ll like Faith.” Tara said with a smile, pulling him out there with her. Buffy waved to them with a big smile, separating from Faith instantly to go hug her sister and stick a tongue out at Spike. “Hey Buffster. Having fun?”

“Yeah, glad you finally showed up. Started to doubt if you were gonna.” Buffy grinned, then rolled her eyes at Spike as he made a lewd gesture.

“Hi.” Willow said with a shy smile as they walked back toward a table instead of taking up space on the dance floor.

“Hi Willow.” Tara returned the smile, then jolted as she realized that she had to make introductions, turning partially to put a proud hand on Spike’s shoulder. “This is Spike. Spike, that’s Willow, Jesse… and the one in as much leather as you is Faith.”

“You’re right… looks like I will like the little bint.” He grinned as Buffy rolled her eyes, falling into a couch and propping her feet up on the table, Willow and Jesse following her lead as Faith took a seat in a chair, still frowning. Spike sat on a chair’s armrest as Tara sat in the chair itself. “Though she looks a bit out of sorts from your sister’s little display. Already starting in on the new crowd, Blondie? I thought you’d at least get some lapdogs and pets first.”

“Shut up.” Buffy and Faith said together, and Faith only looked more flustered at that. “I mean… shit, B, what the fuck was with that?”

“I was just dancing. What, did you think I was hitting on you or something?” Buffy giggled, and leaned back against Willow’s shoulder.

“You looked pretty hot, Buffy.” Jesse said with a wide grin.

“She loves confusing people.” Tara explained and complained all at the same time. “She’ll go out there and dance like that with girls and the like, then date a few guys and dance with them… then she’ll start up teasing girls again. It’s one of her favorite games, to confuse the populous. No one knows what she’s really interested in, since none of what she does could be construed as more than friendly, especially with Buffy.”

“It’s most certainly working,” Willow said softly with a flush, then looking out at the few guys that were discreetly watching them. Tara giggled again, Spike rolling his eyes. “Um… it’s… it’s nice to meet you Spike.”

“Yeah, Willy boy, say hello to them.” Buffy smiled, and Spike glared at her. “Come on, William, where are your manners.”

“Bitch.” He growled, then smiled. “Or a rather more appropriate name would be… Elizabeth.”

“Jerk.” Buffy pouted, and Faith and Willow both looked at her curiously, then Faith started laughing.

“Ya got a normal name like that, and you wanna be called ‘Buffy’ instead?!” Faith’s laughter only got louder.

“Thanks Faith, that’s so wonderfully original.” Buffy grumbled, then pouted more.

“Oh Buffy, I like your name.” Willow tried to comfort.

“You shouldn’t have called him that then.” Tara said with a gentle smile, then giggled as her sister stuck her tongue out stubbornly. “Spike, honey, apologize.”

“Why? So the blonde bint can turn into the Queen bitch again? No bloody thank-you.” He grumbled, rolling his eyes and reaching for a cigarette. “Oh, the ponce says hello.”

“Don’t call Xander a ponce.” Buffy and Tara said in unison. “So, Willow, um…” Tara felt a little awkward, unsure of what to talk about, then looked up at Spike. “Willow, do you have a boyfriend?”

“B… boyfriend?” Willow looked shocked, as if the very idea was completely out of the question. “Boyfriend? Oh no… no boyfriend… no not really… not at all… boys… I can’t… cause when I try to talk to a boy… I… I can’t…. I mostly just stammer and can get out a few vowel sounds… and then I have to leave. There was this once… but then I woke up.”

Tara tried to keep herself from giggling at how adorable the redhead was being. Faith did laugh quietly, and Buffy hugged her new friend’s shoulders in an attempt at comfort. “Well… I… uh… I don’t know why you wouldn’t. You seem to be rather attractive and adorable to me.” Tara tried to say in just as much reassurance. Spike looked at her for a minute, then got the most bawdy smile on his face, to which she slapped his leg. Willow, for her part, turned a very bright shade of scarlet, and Faith was grinning to match Spike’s. Buffy however, only giggled at the varied reactions, then elbowed Willow and agreed with the statement. “See, even Buffy agrees, and she was the Queen at the last school.”

“Don’t worry, though, Faithy… I’m not trying to steal her away from you.” Buffy added in with a wicked grin. Faith grumbled and glared at her. “What about you Jesse? You got a girlfriend?” He blushed, but gave a bit grin and shook his head, thinking that maybe she was asking for personal reasons. Seeing as how he wasn’t depressed or embarrassed about it, she didn’t give any reassurances, then turned to Faith with a lewd expression. “How about you Faithy? You got someone special?”

“Which night of the week?” Faith asked with a smirk, to which Tara nearly chocked and coughed, having started to take a sip of a drink. Spike patted her back, snickering, and Buffy only continued grinning knowingly at her.

“Tuesdays.” Buffy provided. “And Fridays.”

“Fridays are open, I don’t like to bog those down.” Faith provided, deadpan. “But Tuesdays are this guy named Mike. He’s pretty big… well… parts of him are… so it’s fun.”

Willow was blushing a bright red again, as was Tara. Spike however, smiled in a disgusting manner, and Buffy only frowned slightly in response to the lewd comment. “How utterly wonderful.” Buffy frowned, then shrugged as she turned toward Spike and slapped his knee, barely within her reach. “My sister is sitting right there, damned pervert.”

“Spike!” Tara hissed, blushing even brighter. “Don’t grin like that at her… you’d think that…”

“Aw Tara, kitten… you know I’d never cheat on you…” Spike quickly chased after the girl as she stormed away.

“Jerk…” Buffy hissed, then smiled and turned to Willow. “Wills, you wanna dance again?”

“I… um…” Willow began stammering as Buffy pulled her up. Faith frowned and stood as well.

“Don’t worry Red, I’ll go out there with ya too.” Faith continued scowling at Buffy as the three of them walked out.

“Aww… she’s still afraid I’m going to steal you from her.” Buffy whispered to Willow, making the redhead blush and giggle. “Hey, I made her laugh!”

Willow, boldly, leaned forward and whispered back to Buffy. “Well, she is acting jealous.” Buffy couldn’t help but laugh at that, nodding.

~

“So what’s with Faith? I mean… come on, is she always such a bitch?” Buffy asked as she and Willow sat in the park, the blonde braiding the other girl’s hair. Tara was off with Spike again, supposedly on a real date for a change, and Jesse and Faith were late, as Willow said they usually were. The redhead giggled.

“I think she likes you.” Willow volunteered. “Otherwise she’d either be quiet, or threatening you. She and Cordelia’s squad don’t get along… never did really. Don’t worry.”

“Was she like that when you first met her?” Buffy asked, undoing the braid she’d been working on, then deciding on something different for the redhead’s hair. They repositioned on the blanket.

“Not really, but that was in kindergarden. She didn’t have a full vocabulary of curse words back then, only half.” Willow said with a small sigh. Buffy laughed, thinking it was a joke, then realized her new friend wasn’t kidding. “Yeah. She has some problems at home, but nothing that she can’t handle. It’s not really my place to talk about it, especially since she does well enough. I think she’s one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. Don’t worry. Just be patient. Eventually she’ll loosen up around you. She already likes Tara a lot, especially if she doesn’t bitch at her.”

“Everyone’s like that with Tara, at least if they can’t help it. The popular crowd didn’t pick on her too much, mainly because she was my sister and knew better than to try to sit with them… us…” Buffy blushed and sighed at that. “But also because she’s just got that sweet personality.”

“Yeah… she’s really nice.” Willow sighed with a small shrug. Buffy laughed under her breath. “What? She is.”

“I know, after all, I did grow up with the girl.” Buffy smiled as she tied off the four braids she’d quickly done, letting the majority of Willow’s hair hang loose. She saw Faith and Jesse walking up together in the distance. “Company.”

“Hi Faith! Hi Jesse!” Willow giggled, waving at them. “Look! Buffy did my hair.”

“Nice Red.” Faith said with a shrug, sitting down with them. Jesse gave both girls an energetic creating before taking up a space directly next to Buffy. “So, B, what did ya want?”

“Just to sit around and relax. Did you have something better to do?” Buffy asked calmly, raising a brow in challenge.

“More like someone… but I guess he’s not all that important.” She shrugged again and leaned back, making Willow blush and Buffy roll her eyes. “So where’s Blondie and Peroxide boy?”

“On a date…” Buffy answered automatically with a shrug, then her eyes lit up and she smiled. “You know Faith, for all the bitchiness and attitude, that one remark alone makes me like you.”

“Huh?” Faith looked confused and almost afraid. She obviously had no idea what the petite blonde was talking about.

“About Spike. That one comment makes me like you.” Buffy smiled her most charming smile, then lay back and stared up at the sky. “On that note… god am I bored!”

“She’s fuckin strange.” Faith grumbled, obviously uncomfortable. “And if you’re so fuckin bored, then go find something or someone to do.”

“Alright then Faithy, let’s go.” Buffy said with a bright smile, jumping up. Faith’s head whipped around and she stared at Buffy in complete shock, her eyes just a little dilated. Willow and Jesse stared as well, disbelieving, as Buffy held out her hand for Faith to take. The brunette sat, frozen, still staring with her mouth wide open. Then Buffy began giggling. “So then that’s a no? Alright then, it was worth it to see the look on your face.”

Jesse leaned over to Willow and whispered, “Was she serious? I can’t tell if she was serious or not. Please tell me she was serious.”

“I can’t tell either.” Willow said in just as much shock, turning to look at the expression that was still plastered across Faith’s face, and then she couldn’t stop her giggles. It was hilarious to see that look on Faith’s face. No one ever shocked her like that. Faith suddenly snapped out of it and glared at Willow and Jesse as Buffy sat down. None of them were willing to ask the blonde if she was serious.

“Awe shut up Red.” Faith grumbled, still frowning.

“It’s funny though, ‘Faithy.’ Isn’t it funny Jesse?” Willow teased. Faith blushed, and Jesse laughed, nodding. She couldn’t help what came out next, and covered her mouth in surprise after she said it. “What, disappointed that you didn’t react on time to take her up on it?”

“Willow!” Buffy exclaimed, giggling. “I do believe that I’m a bad influence on you.”

“I think I agree…” Faith grumbled, blushing more. “Besides, ya know you couldn’t take me, B.”

“Any day, Faithy.” Buffy purred, then grinned as she turned to Willow. “So… there’s that school dance coming up… got anyone in mind for it?”

“Me?” Willow’s voice squeaked and she shook her head in wide-eyed fear.

“Why not Red? You were bustin some badass moves out there on Friday.” Faith teased, knowing the girl was too shy to ever think about asking a boy to the dance, much less talk to one long enough for him to ask her.

“Me, no… and then there’s the guys… and not going to happen because boys don’t really like me and I’m not but I’m sure you two are going to have and then there’s me not going because I would be so embarrassed about not having a date and I’d never ask someone but boys don’t ask me and I think I’m just going to sit at home and study.” Willow ducked her head, hiding her face behind her long red hair.

“Woah, steady there… Does she ever hyperventilate doing that?” Buffy asked, patting the girl’s shoulder gently. Jesse chuckled slightly.

“Only once.” Willow offered, blushing again.

“Wow… and I was only kidding.” Buffy laughed lightly, then patted Willow’s shoulder. “So… no one special in mind for the Halloween dance?”

“No… no one.. I wouldn’t… and people don’t…” Willow began, but a small squeeze from Buffy’s hand stopped her.

“Buffy, what you need to understand is that as popular as you may have been at your last school, and as cute as you are, we’re different. We’re unpopular, we’re the outcasts… freaks… geeks…”

“I get it…”

“Yeah… so… we generally don’t get dates and whatnot.” Jesse finished explaining. “Much as I love Willow, we’ve been best friends as long as I can remember, but she’s got about as much luck as I do in the romantic department, which is zilch. If either of us go to dances, we usually end up going together and being bored and uncomfortable the entire time.”

“Well then…” Buffy said, unsure of how to take that. “Well, it’s a Halloweeen dance, right?”

“Yeah…” Willow agreed, Buffy having already stated that earlier.

“Well, Halloween is come as you aren’t… so you two are going as you aren’t. I get to pick your costumes, and we’re all going as a big group.” Buffy decided suddenly. Faith frowned, Willow blushed, and Jesse looked a little too excited.

“I… I don’t know… it’s… I’m just…” Willow stammered, trying to come up with a decent excuse. “But what about you? I’m sure you’ll have a date.”

“Yeah B, you’re new enough that even hanging with us you’ll still get asked out. You look exactly like Queen C’s group.” Faith interjected, not at all excited by the prospect of Buffy picking out her costume. She knew that Willow would get her to cooperate if this happened.

“Well, then, if whoever wants to go out with me really does want to go out with me, then he can come with us.” Buffy said with a small shrug, as if it didn’t matter all that much at all. Jesse thought to himself, frowning and smiling all at the same time, that Tara had been right. Buffy sure did like to confuse people as to what she was interested in. “Now let’s see… hm… We’ve really gotta make Willow up…. Cause you, my pretty little friend, never show yourself off. Faith, I think I’m going to stick you in my old cheerleading outfit. And Jesse, I already know what I want to make you. Imagine you… and Spike merged. So, you as badass annoying biker boy… but I’m not dying your hair.”

“Cheerleading…. Outfit…” Faith said slowly, each word pronounced carefully, and her cheek twitched. Willow giggled lightly behind her hand, and Buffy gave her a huge smile.

“Yes… or would you rather me find some clothes and make-up to make you look like one of Cordelia’s lapdogs?” Buffy asked with an even wider smile. “It would look adorable.”

“I’m not going to…” Faith began.

“Please Faith? Please?” Willow instantly begged, though it was mostly because she thought it would be funny to see her old friend in such outfits. “Don’t let her do this to me alone. Cause you know she’ll convince me to do it and I really don’t want to be humiliated showing up like that alone they’re going to pick on me enough for just being there and it’ll be really weird and I just really really don’t want to do this on my own because we both know I won’t be able to say no to her cause I’m really weak like that and I really need you in this so please?”

“Will you stop babble-begging?” Faith asked with that same scowl, her cheek still twitching. The redhead nodded vigorously. “Fine!”

“Thank-you!” Willow squeaked, jumping on her with a hug.

“Egh! Get the fuck off of me!” Faith grumbled.

TBC