Real

Will sat on the cement wall outside of the Sunnydale Mall beside his best friend. He was lost in hi thoughts about what had gone wrong with Lindsey. Something must have happened.

What? Faith replied. She too had been thinking about the jerk who had left her pal hanging the previous afternoon. She hadn’t brought up the incident since. She knew that William had been crushed when the other man had not shown up. Just thinking about it made her angry beyond words. Fucking prick. I hope he gets a serious case of scabies and his dick falls off. Faith was very protective where William was concerned.

What? William asked startled out of his thoughts. “I didn’t say anything.”

Faith looked at William as though hre gre going daft. “Yes you did,” was her mildly sarcastic response. “You said something must have happened.” William blinked.

Shit. “I said that out loud did I?” he said with a nervous laugh. Faith turned and gave him a studious glance.

“Yeah, Dude. Ya did.” she candidly answered. “Will,” she sighed. “Is everything cool?”

“Ya’ pet,” he sighed. “I’ll be alright.” was Williams casual response to his friend’s question.

Yeah right. Try it someone else Blondie. Faith gave William a hard look before she continued with her inquiry. “William, I know you dude,” she stated giving William a taste of the attitude that he had come to love so much over the last decade. “You can talk to me you know?” When William made no further attempt to speak, Faith sighed in exasperation. “You know,” she began. “I thought that we were best friends. Forget it alright. Keep your shit to yourself.” With that she grabbed her shopping bags and went to stand up.

Fuck. William thought. Now I’ve hurt her feelings. “Faith,” he all but whispered. She ignohim him and went to walk away. “Faith, please!”

She stopped. Without turning around she growled, “What?” She began to tap her foot impatiently.

Great she’s pissed. “I’m sorry.” he moaned. “Please don’t be mad at me.” he began to sniff. Damn it! I will not cry! I won’t! Silent tears began to fall from his eyes. Faith turned around slowly. Once she saw the miserable state of her friend, she walked back to William and wrapped her bag heavy arms around him lovingly.

He’s so fuckin’ sensitive. “I, sorry.” Faith said. “I shouldn’t have gotten angry. I just hate it when you keep secrets from me.”

“I know luv, and I’m sorry to,” He wiped his face with the back of one hand. “It’s just that I know that you are going to think that I am a stupid sod for sayin’ this, but I just don’t think that Lindsey would have just not shown up like that.”

“So what are you thinking?” She eyed him skeptically.

“Do you think that maybe…” he paused and drew a breath. “Faith maybe something happened to him.”

“William, first of all I would never seriously call you stupid.” What does he think I’d really call him stupid. “I just think that you’re too trusting.”

William knew that she was right but he didn’t want to give up on his new romance so soon. He looked past Faith’s shoulder at the rowdy crowd of teenaged boys heading in their direction. Bloody great.

“Just what I don’t need.” William muttered under his breath. Not realizing what was going on , Faith turned to see what had caused her friend’ to fall into an even worse mood.

“What’s wrong Will.” As if on cue, the loudest of the group of boys spoke up.

“Aw. If it isn’t the little fairy and his fag hag.” His friends laughed. “What did you two have a lover’s spat?”

“Fuck you dick!” Faith spat, taking a step forward.

“Faith,” William placed a warning hand on her elbow keeping her in place. When Faith looked up at her friend he simply shook his head in warning.

“You always let girls fight your battles?” Angel asked. He stepped into Faith’s personal space and bent down to speak directly in her face. “You’re kind of cute so I’ll ignore what you just said. But a word to the wise,” he said looking at William. “you might want to drop the queer.” Faith stared angrily at the jock before her breast rising and falling as she began to breathe harder. I won’t hit him. I won’t hit him. She repeated like a mantra inside her head.

“Come on Angel,” said the tall dark haired jock who had been silently watching the interaction between his friend and the buxom brunette. “Let them be. I wanna head to the coffee shop before it closes.” Angel eyed the girl for a few seconds more. He nodded his emenement.

“Yeah Xander,” he addressed the other teen. “Let’s bail. See you around.” Angel grinned as he walked oith ith his friends. Once the others were out of earshot, Faith turned to William.

“Dude, tell me you didn’t tell that asshole that you wery.”

“No.” William said with annoyance. “I’m not exactly the picture of manly maleness am I?” he sighed wearily. “The arse just assumes. Not that he’s wrong.” He looked back at the group of boys heading away to get coffee. His eyes stuck to the handsome brunette who had lured Angel away from his further degradation. Fuck he’s a bloody dream. He kept string totally oblivious of his companion. Faith looked at William, then turned to see what had him so entranced. She saw the handsome boy laughing with the other jocks as they continued down the street.

“No William,” Faith warned. “Uh-Uh. Don’t even.”

“What?”

“Don’t fuckin’ what me you ass. First of all that’s Alexander Harris. The best swimmer at Sunnydale Prep not to mention he made all state last year.” William nodded.

“Yeah ya bint. What‘s your point?”

“So my point is do you know how not gay he is?” Since William continued to gaze appreciatively at the boy in question, Faith continued. “ His girlfriend is the Cordelia Chase of Chase Enterprises. Her family is loaded. Not to mention she’s like supermodel beautifuShe She poses for catalogs and everything. Oh, and did I mention that she’s a sophomore at UC Sunnydale?”

“So if this Cordelia is so great what does she see in some high school kid?”

This kid is so freakin’ unbelievable. “Well William being that you’re the idiot standing here drooling over him, why don’t you tell me?”

“Shut up!” William snapped out of his fantasy and glared daggers at his best friend. “I’ll have you knowas was merely checking his potential. I was not drooling! I do not drool.” Faith looked up at William at smiled charmingly.

“William hon?”

“What ya wench?”

“Wipe your chin.” She skipped away laughing.