sunny_dale
I left the hospital figurin' the only place to go was the Mayor's old apartment. I figured he probably had his rent paid for the next hundred years, so it shoulda been left alone. And I was right. Now the funny thing about the Mayor is, while he mighta been all overprotective and crazy anal, he still left the key under the welcome mat. Hell, he probably knew I was comin' after I finally woke up...and he thought right.
I ran my fingers along the edge of his desk, carefully takin' everythin' in. He was kinda like a dad to me, and I was majorly bummed out he was dead. I sat in his chair, twirled around in it a few times before I started to open drawers. All his pencils were neatly sharpened and lined up, all the papers cliped together. Damn he was a neat freak. I bet even in hell or wherever he was, he was cleanin' up and askin' for a wet nap.
I pulled open the bottom drawer and found a tape with a sticky note on it. "Faith," it read. Well shit, he musta been plannin' ahead again. I popped it into the VCR and his larger than life smile lit the screen.
And our noble campaign to bring order to the town of Sunnydale has failed . . . Utterly and completely. But on the other hand, heck! Maybe we won. And right now I'm on some jumbo monitor in the Richard Wilkins Museum surrounded by a bunch of kids sitting indian-style and looking up at my face, filled with fear and wonder. Hi, kids! But the realist in me tends to doubt it. Now, Faith, as I record this message you're, uh. . . sleeping. And the doctors tell me that you might never wake up. I don't believe that. Sooner or later, you will wake up and when you do, you'll find the world has gone and changed on you. I wish I could make the world a better place for you to wake up in, but . . . tough as it is to accept we both have to understand that even my power to protect and watch over you has its limits. See the hard pill to swallow here is that . . . once I'm gone . . your days are just plain numbered. Now I know, I know you're a--you're a smart and capable young woman in charge of her own life. But the problem, Faith, is that, uh, there won't be a place in the world for you anymore. Right now I bet you're feeling very much alone. But you're never alone. You'll always have me. And . . .you'll always have this. Go ahead. Open then box.
My fingers grazed the box as the Mayor's face smiled down upon me. Now what last trick did he have up his sleeve? I flicked open the lid and leaned back in the chair, just starin' at what lay inside.
Now I know what you're thinking. It's too much right? Well don't you worry, because my girl only deserves the best. That paper right there. Go ahead and take a look at it. That's what you need to do. Learn what you can my sweet Faith, and when the time comes, you'll be ready for your destiny.
I watched as the screen went black, still holdin' the paper between my hands. Now a part of me wanted to find B and rip her heart out. Ya know, return the favor? I bet she was still better than thou Buffy. But with this? I could still get her back and grow as a person. I smirked. The Mayor certainly had a sick sense of humor. And the weirdest thing? I really wasn't feelin' the whole revenge thing as much as I probably should be...So, I'd just go along with his plan for now. At least until I figured out what I was gonna do.
I took some of the cash from the box and shoved it in my pocket. First thing I needed to do was get some new threads. Gotta blend if I wanted to be big bad college gal right? Didn't want the Scoobies to find me, not right away anyway. Not until I was ready to be found. So light colors and jeans for me. God, this was gonna suck.
I picked up some new clothes, real trendy like, got dressed and headed down to good ol' UC SunnyD. Man, this was definitely a lot bigger than I had imagined. Funny how I never made it over here durin' my nights of patrolin', but hey, whatever. I found the administration buildin' and after sharin' my sob story, escorted in to see the Dean.
"Well we feel that here at UCSD we try to give everyone a chance. Especially the "special" cases. Of course you'll have to test in as well as take the GED exam. My assistant will take go ahead and administer the exams, and I'll have it graded as soon as you are finished so that we can process the paperwork if you become eligible. Good Luck."
A few hours later I was sittin' back in the same chair watchin' as the Dean went over my results. Sure I was a little nervous, but most of the bullshit on the tests seemed easy enough. And just 'cause I never went to school didn't mean I was a complete airhead. Hell, my first watcher made me study, and after that? Let's just say I didn't always just watch TV.
"Well, well. These scores certainly are impressive, and I have no doubt that you will make a valuable contribution to our school. Ms. Robinson has already made up your study list based on the classes you have shown interest in. I have also already taken the liberty to extend you a partial scholarship to our school. After the first semester of class, we will evaluate your progress and then either continue with the partial or offer you a full scholarship. Here is a list of books you will be needing, and where your classes are located. Good luck, and if you ever need anything, my door is always open."
I shook the dean's hand and made my way outta the office. See? I wasn't stupid. Even got me a scholarship. Who woulda thought it? Bet the Mayor was smilin' where ever he was. Hell, I was smilin'. Okay, so I needed to find me some books. I glanced down at the list in my hand. And a backpack. Man, I hope I didn't have to haul these around every day. Not that I really mind 'cause of the slayer strength and all, but let's be real.
I stepped outside and slipped on a pair of shades. In this outfit and my hair pulled up, I was pretty sure that B and her pals wouldn't recognize me. At least not right away. "All right, so where's that bookstore..."
I ran my fingers along the edge of his desk, carefully takin' everythin' in. He was kinda like a dad to me, and I was majorly bummed out he was dead. I sat in his chair, twirled around in it a few times before I started to open drawers. All his pencils were neatly sharpened and lined up, all the papers cliped together. Damn he was a neat freak. I bet even in hell or wherever he was, he was cleanin' up and askin' for a wet nap.
I pulled open the bottom drawer and found a tape with a sticky note on it. "Faith," it read. Well shit, he musta been plannin' ahead again. I popped it into the VCR and his larger than life smile lit the screen.
And our noble campaign to bring order to the town of Sunnydale has failed . . . Utterly and completely. But on the other hand, heck! Maybe we won. And right now I'm on some jumbo monitor in the Richard Wilkins Museum surrounded by a bunch of kids sitting indian-style and looking up at my face, filled with fear and wonder. Hi, kids! But the realist in me tends to doubt it. Now, Faith, as I record this message you're, uh. . . sleeping. And the doctors tell me that you might never wake up. I don't believe that. Sooner or later, you will wake up and when you do, you'll find the world has gone and changed on you. I wish I could make the world a better place for you to wake up in, but . . . tough as it is to accept we both have to understand that even my power to protect and watch over you has its limits. See the hard pill to swallow here is that . . . once I'm gone . . your days are just plain numbered. Now I know, I know you're a--you're a smart and capable young woman in charge of her own life. But the problem, Faith, is that, uh, there won't be a place in the world for you anymore. Right now I bet you're feeling very much alone. But you're never alone. You'll always have me. And . . .you'll always have this. Go ahead. Open then box.
My fingers grazed the box as the Mayor's face smiled down upon me. Now what last trick did he have up his sleeve? I flicked open the lid and leaned back in the chair, just starin' at what lay inside.
Now I know what you're thinking. It's too much right? Well don't you worry, because my girl only deserves the best. That paper right there. Go ahead and take a look at it. That's what you need to do. Learn what you can my sweet Faith, and when the time comes, you'll be ready for your destiny.
I watched as the screen went black, still holdin' the paper between my hands. Now a part of me wanted to find B and rip her heart out. Ya know, return the favor? I bet she was still better than thou Buffy. But with this? I could still get her back and grow as a person. I smirked. The Mayor certainly had a sick sense of humor. And the weirdest thing? I really wasn't feelin' the whole revenge thing as much as I probably should be...So, I'd just go along with his plan for now. At least until I figured out what I was gonna do.
I took some of the cash from the box and shoved it in my pocket. First thing I needed to do was get some new threads. Gotta blend if I wanted to be big bad college gal right? Didn't want the Scoobies to find me, not right away anyway. Not until I was ready to be found. So light colors and jeans for me. God, this was gonna suck.
I picked up some new clothes, real trendy like, got dressed and headed down to good ol' UC SunnyD. Man, this was definitely a lot bigger than I had imagined. Funny how I never made it over here durin' my nights of patrolin', but hey, whatever. I found the administration buildin' and after sharin' my sob story, escorted in to see the Dean.
"Well we feel that here at UCSD we try to give everyone a chance. Especially the "special" cases. Of course you'll have to test in as well as take the GED exam. My assistant will take go ahead and administer the exams, and I'll have it graded as soon as you are finished so that we can process the paperwork if you become eligible. Good Luck."
A few hours later I was sittin' back in the same chair watchin' as the Dean went over my results. Sure I was a little nervous, but most of the bullshit on the tests seemed easy enough. And just 'cause I never went to school didn't mean I was a complete airhead. Hell, my first watcher made me study, and after that? Let's just say I didn't always just watch TV.
"Well, well. These scores certainly are impressive, and I have no doubt that you will make a valuable contribution to our school. Ms. Robinson has already made up your study list based on the classes you have shown interest in. I have also already taken the liberty to extend you a partial scholarship to our school. After the first semester of class, we will evaluate your progress and then either continue with the partial or offer you a full scholarship. Here is a list of books you will be needing, and where your classes are located. Good luck, and if you ever need anything, my door is always open."
I shook the dean's hand and made my way outta the office. See? I wasn't stupid. Even got me a scholarship. Who woulda thought it? Bet the Mayor was smilin' where ever he was. Hell, I was smilin'. Okay, so I needed to find me some books. I glanced down at the list in my hand. And a backpack. Man, I hope I didn't have to haul these around every day. Not that I really mind 'cause of the slayer strength and all, but let's be real.
I stepped outside and slipped on a pair of shades. In this outfit and my hair pulled up, I was pretty sure that B and her pals wouldn't recognize me. At least not right away. "All right, so where's that bookstore..."