A Walk in the Clouds
by Nykademis
Falling For the Girl Next Door
[reviews]
Disclaimer: Mwahahaha. I own the story. The characters are borrowed BORROWED I TELL YOU!!
Archive: www.ikoly.com and http://thedge.fateback.com/index2.htm
Title: A Walk in the Clouds/ Falling for the Girl Next Door
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"Oh and did you see the look on Cordelia's face?" Willow bobbed along next to her bestest bud Buffy Summers, twirling her long deep red hair. She sometimes envied Buffy her golden blond locks.
"She was 'soo' ticked off I got something before her. I have to say I'm greatly pleased" Buffy hopped and dodged along the sidewalk, bouncing her soccer ball expertly off her knee's.
"She was moody beyond that of a normal-" Willow explanation was cut off when suddenly Buffy's ball came shooting inches from her nose.
Buffy herself was frozen in place, a booted foot inches from her own nose.
"That was not nice" the shy little redhead said vehemently thinking it might of been one of the stupid boys they went to school with. That was until she noticed the boot was attached to a shapely leg, which in turn was attached to a very pretty dark haired girl.
"Well she should watch where she's bouncing that thing. She almost hit you Red" putting her foot back on the ground she tweaked Willow's nose.
Willow, to stunned to think before reacting, none to gently smacked the offending hand away "You almost hit me" she backed up a bit, placing herself behind Buffy "...meanie head"
The girl scoffed and turned her attention to the pretty little blonde.
Buffy was leveling a look at her that usually sent Xander scurrying home (usually after teasing Willow).
"What's your problem blondie" the girl smirked as she pinched Buffy's cheek.
Buffy grabbed her hand roughly and bent back the fingers "My name is Buffy. Not Blondie. Now pick up my ball and apologize to my friend" with one last painful jerk she released the girls hand.
The girl merely flinched when Buffy intially grabbed her arm, and flinched again at the jerk before she released it. "Well I like blondie better. What kinda name is Buffy anyway?" flexing her fingers and stared back at the angry blonde and frightened red head "I'm Faith. And I say get your own damn ball"
Willow had seen Buffy beat up boys before. She didn't recognize this girl, but she wasn't in the mood to see Buffy fight. Quickly she scurried over and retrieved the ball, completely unaware that two sets of eyes followed her slim form.
She hurried back, shoved the ball into Buffy's clinched arms, and began to shove the girl down the sidewalk. Shooting dirty looks at 'Faith' all the while.
When the girls moved beyond earshot Faith chuckled to herself "Oh yeah Blondie's a baby dyke if I ever saw one"
She sauntered away, congratulating herself on how accurately her 'gaydar' worked.
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Buffy and Willow sat outside Sunnydale Junior High, waiting for the first bell to ring.
Willow was still babbling on about Buffy's party the Saturday before.
"And I still think she's fuming over your skates Buff. I swear I saw smoke come out of her ears when you tried them out" Willow giggling drawing her blonde friends attention to her.
Buffy reached over and grasped her hand, tugging her shy friend closer to her "You're so silly Willow"
Willow blushed but sat closer, hip to hip, with Buffy on the short ledge "Well it if was humanly possible she would have"
"Where's Xander?" Buffy looked around for her goofy darkhaired friend. He was mysteriously absent today.
"I think he's over there oogling Cordy's fake goodies" Willow pointed in the general direction of all Cordelia's grouped minions, the Cordettes.
"Fake?" Buffy frowned honestly confused.
Willow's eyes twinkled "Didn't you see her boobs today Buffy? They're 'HUGE'. It's like she's got 3 pairs of socks stuck in each cup"
"So you're a breast girl huh Red?"
Both girls jumped, turning slowly they came to face none other than their 'new' least favorite person.
"Faith" Buffy growled.
Willow managed a startled whimper before pressing herself closer to her tougher blonde friend.
"Yeah. That's me" Faith took a few steps back, extending her arms to the side. Her leather jacket opened, revealing the tight belly shirt, and formfitting leathers, her 'too lush to be only thirteen' body was wrapped in.
Suddenly most of the chatter in the quad died off as everyone's attention turned to the gorgeous new girl.
"S-shouldn't you be in High School" Willow squeaked drawing the dark eyed attention to herself.
"Nah baby. I'm just the big 1 3" Faith moved so quickly even Buffy flinched at how suddenly she was beside them.
"Buffy, Willow" came Xander's 'wanna be suave cause this chicks hot' voice "Who's your friend?"
Faith turned to look at him from where she was nearly on top of Willow.
"She's not our friend" Buffy ground out between clinched teeth, smoothly she fit her own slender form between Faith and that of her best friend. Pushing off the ledge she'd been seated on, she bumped into Faith, pressing their blossoming breasts together and forcing the girl back a few steps.
The first bell rang.
Buffy grabbed Willow's hand, nearly dragging her away from the darker girl.
"Hi I'm Xander" the boy held out a hand hoping just the touch the beauty before him.
"I'm not even vaguely interested" Faith shot him down with a smile, sauntering off after her two new favorite people.
"Geez do I have 'dork' written across my face?" Xander asked the open air before him.
"In three different places" his good buddy Jesse assured him "And it's written in pink, cuz you're such a pussy"
"Ugh" Xander stomped into class.
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Faith slouched outside the principals office, readying herself for the show within.
The secretary answered the 'beep' on her intercom and looked at the dark girl.
"Mr. Welse will see you now Ms. Giovanni" the woman nodded at the door.
'Giovanni' Faith rolled her eyes as she made her way there. 'Geez like the Council couldn't come up with a better name than that. She didn't look Italian.
She pasted a shy smile on her face and gingerly opened the wooden door before her and peeked in "M-Mr. Welse?" she took a tentative step inside.
"Ah Ms. Giovanni, it's so nice to have you here at our school" the tall dark skinned Principal directed Faith to take in seat in the chair before his desk.
"Thank you" she blushed convincingly and held her head down, allowing her slightly curly dark locks to cover her face.
"I'd like to arrange for a student guide for you. To show you around the school. Is there anyone you know that you'd like to show you around?" Principal Welse folded his tall form into the comfortable chair.
"Just.." Faith trailed off. She glanced up quickly and met his eyes, they were kind and attentive. Bingo! "Just Buffy and Willow"
"Ah Rosenberg and Summers. Good girls. Top of their class. You'd do well to stick with them" Welse hit his intercom "Shirley, could you call Willow Rosenberg and Buffy Summers to my office immediately please?"
'Yes Mr. Welse'
Welse sat back in his seat and studied the quiet girl before him "If you have any needs or concerns don't be afraid to address them to your teachers or Class Reps. I want you to enjoy your education here Ms. Giovanni"
"I will sir" Faith smiled inside. Oh yeah this was gonna be fun.
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Class had just settled in and Buffy and Willow prepared for the test they knew they were getting.
"Mrs. Stoglebee, will you send Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenberg to the principals office please"
Both girls looked at each other before facing the teacher, who merely gestured towards the door.
Buffy stood to leave when the girl infront of her turned around in her seat.
"Vaya?" Buffy hissed.
The guide, looking slightly older than normal, merely chuckled and rolled her eyes. "In the immortal words of Alanis Morrisette, well she hasn't said them yet but she will. Let's fast forward to a few years later, no one knows except the both of us"
Buffy growled and made her way to the door.
She stepped into the hallway and stumbled as the halls changed before her eyes. Corridors blurred and posters changed, as lockers changed color and became shorter and two stacked.
"I hate it when she does this" Buffy mumbled as she tried to regain her balance.
Willow easily caught her arm "She's been getting away with it for the past four years Buff. You could always try something new and say 'turn her in' instead of backing her up?" the redhead held on to Buffy a little longer than needed.
Once the blonde was steady again, she shook her head to clear it. 'Oh yeah we're older now' she looked back into the classroom at the now 17 year old Vaya, who immediately flicked her off.
"Bitch" Buffy mumbled.
"I agree. Maybe we should tell Principle Flutie" Willow walked calmly towards the girls bathroom. Her step graceful and assured.
'Nope not the same scared little girl' Buffy admired the view before her. Willow wearing a fitting demin skirt and a pink blouse, open at the top, with a white tank underneath 'And she grew up hot!'
Wait. Flutie?
"I still think she shoulda let Xander eat him. He smells funny" Willow chuckled knowing that would get her dazed slayers attention.
"The X-man? A cannibal? I think the only thing human he'd eat is pussy" Buffy sidled up next to Willow, holding the bathroom door open for her.
"Not as well as you" Willow arched a brow at her.
Buffy's jaw dropped "I can't believe you just said that!"
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Faith sat on the sink, smoking her Dark and Mild.
She looked up when Willow walked in, followed closely by Buffy, who met Faith's eyes unabashedly after getting a good look at Willow's ass.
"Ya' know this whole badgirl thing isn't a turn on" Willow moved to the sink beside the dark girl and began to wash her hands.
"Well only you guys know I'm bad. To everyone else I'm-" Faith took a slow drag.
"Marsha Brady?" Buffy gave the well used taunt with a smile.
"I was gonna say closet prison bitch" Willow sighed and leaned back on the sink "But I like your's too" she smirked when she caught Buffy's eyes trailing down her body.
"I think she's lovin' your's Red" Faith chuckled before turning and pressing herself against Willow's hip "Couldn't I love it too?"
Buffy yanked the darker girl away from her friend and placed herself in between them "Sorry Faith, but this 'Chosen' one doesn't like it when other people play on her territory"
"We're the 'Chosen Two' baby. Share and share alike" stubbing out the cigarette she popped a few mints into her mouth "Giles wants us in the library 'post haste'. Like there's something 'important' going down in this shit town"
"The HellMouth is closed, permenately. What's the big deal with all the leftovers?" Willow crossed her arms with inadvertantly pushed her breasts up, drawing both slayers attention. She sighed tiredly "Okay horny twins, eyes up"
Sheepishly both brought their gazes to her face.
"It's not our fault you're hot" Faith scoffed and stood to leave the bathroom.
Buffy made an agreeing sound as she drew the redhead closer "Kissy face?" she whispered hopefully into Willow's ear.
She firmly shook her head at the blonde "Boobie eyes" she stepped out of the blondes arms and followed their darkhaired companion to the library.
Buffy whimpered like a kicked puppy and damned Faith with each step she took towards the library.
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Giles was pacing nervously, his nose deep in the text.
"Hey Gman? Waiting for an explanation here" Xander waved his hand between Giles' eyes and the book "Some of us have lives we need to get back too"
"You don't have a life. Your existence is pointless" Cordelia remarked without looking up from her magazine.
"I was talking about 'Buffy' thank you" Xander sniped at his ex.
"She doesn't have a life either" Cordelia rolled her eyes.
"Well she's more alive than you, you vapid bitch" Willow narrowed her eyes, the magazine Cordelia was reading flipped up suddenly, smacking the girl in the face.
The whole room fell into silence. Cordelia and Willow stared each other down, their audience waiting with bated breath to see who would speak first.
"Damn Red, remind me 'not' to piss you off" Faith broke the silence.
Scoffing at them all Cordelia rose from her seat "Well when you all die in the coming Apocolypse, I'll savor it" she smiled cruelly at them all, gathered her things and headed for the library doors, which swung open before she could reach them, connecting with her body and knocking her too the floor.
Buffy snorted trying to hold in a laugh, Faith bit her lip and scratched her nose to hide her smile.
Willow merely smiled at the look Cordelia tossed her. Xander and Giles stood motionless.
Cordelia growled before storming from the library, face red with anger.
"Perhaps, you shouldn't have done that" Giles took off her glasses setting them on the table next to Willow "though it did give quite a show of what your abilities progressed to"
Willow shrugged and scooted closer to Buffy "No one messes with my girl"
Giles, who was still coming to terms with one of his slayers being in love, stumbled over his words for several moments.
"So Giles, what's this Apocolypse thing Queen Cunt was talking about?" Faith cut in, saving the poor man from his own exclamation.
"Ah...uh...yes" Giles regained his train of thought "It's referred to as the 'Death of Fears'..."
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Later Buffy sat on Willow's bed, staring through the open double doors leading to the side yard.
"You really should close that, vampires might get in" Faith's voice came through the darkness.
"You know as well as I do, that vampires must be invited in by someone who lives here. And seeing as the UnParents are away once again, and Willow knows better. I doubt there'll be any undead walking through this door tonight" Buffy said never taking her unfocused gaze from the darkend yard.
Faith sighed heavily and stepped through the door into the well lit room "Where's Red?"
"Shower, complained that she had pussy in strange places" Buffy chuckled finally looking at Faith.
Faith froze, gave a thoughtful look and moved to the bed "You know Red's nothing like she was when I met you guys"
"Four years of your constant flirting, and more than that of me trying to get her to kiss me.." Buffy paused and smirked "among other things, has boasted that nearly non-existent self-esteem problem she had when we were younger"
"Yeah, guess her 'Death of Fears' was a positive thing then wasn't it?" Faith sighed and kicked off her boots, peeled her socks away, and put her feet up on the bed.
"Yeah. But...why? I mean this 'Death of Fears' has been building for years, how could Giles not find it until today?" Buffy chewed her lips thoughtfully.
"Well.." Faith shrugged "His worst fear is being too late. And he is. So now, since we're all gonna die anyway. I'm facing my fear, to hell if it kills me" Faith scotted forward on the bed and pulled Buffy to her, taking her lips is a kiss so sweet the blonde slayer didn't know how to react for long moments.
Faith admitted defeat and began to pull away, only to feel Buffy reach up and get a grip on her hair, pulling their lips tighter together, forcing her back on the bed.
They lay their for long minutes, parting only when air became an issue.
"Well gee! It took you two long enough!" Willow's voice rang out.
The girls sprang apart guiltily, to find Willow standing naked before them, her hands on her shapely hips.
"Will...I" Buffy broke off her words failing her.
"I expected you two to jump each other's bones YEARS ago" Willow rolled her eyes "Nothing like immenent death to get the old unrequitted love juices flowing"
Both slayers looked at each other, then back to the smirking redhead.
"Willo-"
Buffy felt a strange tug...
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"Ooooh slayer smoochies" Vaya taunted.
Buffy spun around to find herself sitting on one of the plush couches in Nowhere, Vaya beside her looking like a little girl again.
"Wha-..no!" Buffy leapt to her feet "I've gotta know what happened! That world was gonna end. All my friends. HOW THE HELL WAS THAT HAPPY?!?!" Buffy finished her rant panting for breath.
"Don't worry Buffy. I told you, all the places we show you are the happiest places you can be" Vaya assured her, but was unable to hide the smirk from her face.
"Ready for another door slayer?"
Buffy fumed "Don't bullshit me, you old guide thingy"
"Thingy?" Vaya spat "Oh now you've opened a whole 'new' can 'o worms" she snapped her fingers and in the blink of an eye Buffy found herself in a dark alley.
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It smelled of mildew and rotten things. Vaya stood a few feet from her, dressed in street clothes Buffy recognized as those worn by some of her peers.
Vaya wore a demin jacket, with matching pants, a brick red t-shirt and three-striped red and white sneakers.
"Come on slayer" Vaya pulled the jacket off "Bring it on!" She came at Buffy swinging, only to be stopped by the hand on her forehead.
Buffy looked up to find Willow pressing her fingers to the guides head. They were glowing faintly green.
"Uh Wills.." Buffy started but stopped when the Wiccan placed a delicate finger to her lips.
"Behave" Willow's voice turned stern "Or I will take you home" she released the childs forehead and moved to retrieve the fallen jacket.
Buffy stared at Vaya in amazement. Willow wasn't supposed to be able to see her...
"What?" the little girl asked. It was then Buffy noticed the difference.
The little girl's voice was no longer 'normal' to Buffy's ears. There was a twang in it she couldn't quite place.
"She shouldn't be able to..." Buffy stopped before she let it all out. Her mind got fuzzy and she swayed on her feet.
"Buffy?" Willow's voice called to her sounding far away "Buffy? Are you okay?"
"Hey?" Vaya poked her, snapping Buffy back "Are you gonna hurl?"
"Uh, I hope not" Buffy whined as everything came back into focus.
"We'd better get her to Tara" Vaya grabbed Buffy's hand, and placed a steadying shoulder against her hip.
"Yeah" Willow took the unattended side.
Together they led her home
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TBC