Greetings, Friend |Jesse|

[Faith Lehane]

Weekly rent money paid? Check. Spending money? Negative. Although the move to Sunnydale for cheaper renting options was the best possible move for Faith to make currently, she hadn't taken into account that this would leave her basically broke in the pocket. She was a girl, after all. Girls had needs. Shopping, for example. Faith needed some new clothes. Faith needed to go out and party like no tomorrow. At the moment, it looked like the only party she'd be having would be in her basement with pretzels. Oh, she didn't even have a basement. And she was pretty sure the owner's of the apartment weren't that lenient to allow her to throw parties, whether it be with many people, or just by herself. Yeah, her life was put on a major halt at the moment.

She had been taking these things into consideration since her short time in Sunnydale. She had money saved from a waitering job in New York she had been during for a few years, however it wasn't sufficient enough to keep her going forever. Hell, she'd be lucky to make it to next year financially the way she was heading. It just seemed like although the rent was cheap in Sunnydale, it wasn't cheap enough. Seriously, how could a one-bedroom/bathroom/lounge all thrown into one be as pricey as it is? If she did end up inviting anyone over, which she wouldn't for the simple embarrassing structure, they'd be able to watch the footy game while on the toilet. Probably even while cooking an omellette. Gross.

She needed a job somewhere. She was the slayer, why couldn't it just be easy and give her an hourly wage for the work she does. A bonus or incentive per vampire slain? She thought that was fair, especially since cops were getting fairly generous money for standing around eating donuts, when she was just risking her life a lot of the time. Couldn't she have at least gotten something for it? Or did she just have to do double the amount of work as an everday person, only earning the basic amount that they'd earn? Did the whole 'destiny' thing of being chosen to be the slayer have any financial benefits for her? Apparently not.

Walking downtown, she noticed all the people buying clothes, and sighed gently to herself. In many ways, she was tempted to just steal something, but it was broad daylight and there were many people surrounding her. And plus, that was 'bad.' In her mind, she felt like she did deserve more than what she got, and that it was hers for the taking. However she was trying to shy away from this attitude and behaviour. But at least she'd have better hospitality in prison. She heard they get cooked pancakes once a month. Her stove burns pancakes. And it isn't because of her inexperience as a cook.

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[Jesse Mcnally]

It should have been simple. Get woken up by a panicking mom, who was rushing around the house trying to find any last bit of washing powder, lie in bed listen to her yell at his equally un-morning-person dad, before heaving himself out of bed, tottering downstairs, then having some money thrown in his direction with the order to get out there and get some.

Well, it was a relief to be outside, come to think of it.

He was on his way back from the shop when he saw them - a group of teens that he was becoming increasingly familiar with. Jocks, that paraded around his school as if they owned the place, and who enjoyed picking on people like him and Xander (and Willow, except they didn't do that that much - picking on a girl was just frowned upon). And who laughed when they made you blush and fluster and who enjoyed punching him in the stomach for simply looking slightly wrong.

He quickly stepped off the street, ducking into a side alley and hurrying through it quickly. He didn't really want to get caught by them, this morning - the box of washing powder was being clasped in a bag, in his hand, and he just knew that having it emptied and tipped all over him was just not a good morning thing.

He turned onto a new, bigger, more busy street, glancing up and down quickly to make sure there was no one else he knew there, then paused. A head of dark hair - like Cordelia's, but not quite - caught his eye, and the teen stopped, tipping his head to the side and just looking, a small frown on his face. Familiar, oddly. But then again, there were lots of brunettes around...weren't there?

[Faith Lehane]

She had been busy glancing around at the unfamiliar people and shops down town, that she hadn't noticed a man who turned into her direction from a corner, and was heading her way. He wasn't just a man, he was a familar man. Faith glanced at the man in confusion, and somewhat surprise, as she noticed he seemed to have shot her a look of familiarity, also. After a moments glance, a smirk erupted over her face, as she began walking closer to the man. "Jesse?!" She exclaimed, before embracing the young man into a tight hug. She let go, still smiling, while looking at him with curiosity and mild excitement at running into her old time good friend. "When I came to Sunnydale I expected many things. Cheap rent, for one..And a little ease on the underage drinking rule...But Jesse? Wow." The smirk remained on her face as she looked him up and down with surprise.

For the first time since arriving in Sunnydale, Faith was actually experiencing happiness, and relief rolled into one. Happy that she had ran into Jesse of all people, and relief that she had run into Jesse of all people. Someone whom she did enjoy talking to, also meaning she had a Sunnydale Friend! Wow, how sad. She continued looking her old friend up and down. He had gotten so tall. And he was definantly a handsome young man, no question about that. He had grown up so much. It now seemed just like yesturday that they were growing up together in New York City. How she missed those times, hanging out with Jesse. It was as if karma had begun to give a damn about her life. Oh, but was chosen out of how many million to win the grand prize of being....A slayer. Her reward? Engaging in life and death scenarios for the rest of her life, which another reward! Wasn't going to be extremely long.

"I don't know what else to say...What are you doing in Sunnydale? When you leave New York, you'd just assume you moved on to bigger and better things. But Sunnydale?" It wasn't like she could talk, but if he asked she'd love to sit down and have a chat with him. However her situation was a little awkward, but at the same time, she didn't know his either. They hadn't spoken for a long while. It became difficult keeping in contact after Jesse moved. But he had never mentioned Sunnydale when he came to visit.

Although she was happy to have a friend in Sunnydale, she was pained at the same time that vampires were also in this town, meaning her friend would be in danger every time he is with Faith. It was a hard bargain, and she wasn't even sure if it was worth Jesse's life, to continue hanging around with her. She would never forgive herself if something happened to him at her expense. But she couldn't tell him, could she?

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[Jesse Mcnally]

"Oh my god," Jesse could only murmer. He was frozen to the spot, the shopping bag held loosely in one hand, just staring ahead at the sight of the girl. The girl with dark hair and dark eyes, and a face he hadn't seen in years. "Faith?"

Was it her? He laughed as she embraced him, the awkwardness he would have probably gelt gone for this moment as it was Faith. His friend, from years ago, who he hadn't seen in so long. Other than Willow and Xander, in fact, his only friend. Were they still friends? He didn't know...he'd have to think about it later, for now he could only hug her and wonder as to what on earth she was doing here of all places. "Oh my god...why...what are you doing here?" His voice sounded slightly amazed. He was amazed. It wasn't every day that someone from his past jumped up. And it definately wasn't every day that he was hugged.

He chuckled easily, suprisingly easily. "Underage drinking? Fairly common here." In fact, it was, apparantly, the cause of most of the deaths and disappearments, according to the papers. Not that Jesse read the papers, like his folks, because that would just be weird and he'd be called old. He wasn't old.

"Hey, shouldn't I be asking you all of that? Well, I just did, but I mean, ask it mroe. Me? My parents decided a nice little town was just the place for me," he said in response to the question about Sunnydale. "But this? This is just Sunnydale. Doesn't seem like a town for you." Not that he actually knew what Faith liked...he hdn't seen ehr for years, after all.

[Faith Lehane]

Jesse had looked just as surprised as she had, which was to be expected, at least she presumed. Embracing him in a hug felt good, felt right. She hadn't been able to embrace someone in a hug for a very long time, and she could definantly say she missed it. His body was warm, comforting, and she enjoyed that. She enjoyed the feeling that she had someone she could call a friend, someone she could trust. It was definantly an empowering feeling, to feel comforted, and warm. She knew the two hadn't spoken in so long, but in hugging him it just seemed right, and like they hadn't missed a day of eachother. However as to be expected, a major catchup session would be in order, to learn more about how eachother have turned out. Though the only problem for her was, she couldn't exactly be all "telling" due to being the slayer and all. She needed a friend, and therefore didn't want to scare him away already.

What was she doing here? That was a really good question, even she wasn't sure she had the answer to right now. It was the most suitable option, money-wise. But she didn't want to say that to Jesse, it would just feel awkward and like she hasn't done anything with herself. She smiled cooly, also chuckling about the underage drinking comment she made. "Guess I might enjoy this town after all." She kept the friendly smile plastered on her face, still looking at Jesse and how much he had changed, yet at the same time, how much he had remained the same. Especially in his attitude and personality. It was a good thing, of course. He was always a great guy, the right type of guy. She would usually go for the 'bad boys' which wasn't always a good thing. Someone like Jesse was nice, though at the same time 'too nice.' She just felt like Jesse would never stand up for himself. She wasn't sure if this trait was still present in him today, however.

"How are your parents anyway, good?" She had brief memories of his parents, they always seemed nice and let Jesse and her stay up late and watch movies together. But as she knew, things changed over time, and it had been a long time. She did hope they were still doing well, for Jesse's sake at least. Jesse was right though, this wasn't exactly her town. Even she had realized this. "Whats my kinda town then?" She teased with a smirk, before showing more seriousness. "A girl's gotta get out there in the world, I suppose. Things have just been hard in New York, looking for a different environment. Just don't know how well Sunnydale will be that environment." She looked around, thinking of another topic to bring up. "Do you still go to school?" She thought she'd put it out there. She didn't go school anymore, but was interested to see whether Jesse would go or not. Seeing as he had parents, she had a feeling of the answer.

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[Jesse Mcnally]

Jesse laughed. Loudly, and rather horse-like (according to the jocks and the bitches in school, who lauhed at him, and hit him in the back when he was just stood there, giggling at something either Xander or Willow had said). He didn't mean to, but really...someone actually saying that they would enjoy Sunnydale? No one enjoyed Sunnydale - sure the school was...ok, unless you were him, in which case it was hell, but the shopping was good, and the Bronze wasn't that bad, but still...everyone knew there was something about Sunnydale which made people hate it.

He realised he was laughing, after a while, and quickly stopped, attempting (rather lamely) to cover it with a cough. "Uh...yeah. Well, you m-might enjoy it. Some...fun things. Apparantly." Not that Jesse knew about them - he didn't go clubbing. Didn't spend nights out. He was a geek, after all.

"Anywhere other than here?" he suggested, before his eyes widened slightly, "No! Not, n-not that I don't...that I'm not glad to see you, because...Wow, I am! Haven't seen you in years, and seeing you here, yeah, but Sunnydale is...well...Boring." He shrugged, looking down, then shuffling his feet slightly, his arms falling back to his sides rather awkwardly. "A-and you don't seem like a boring person." That was a compliment, right? He was sure about it. He didn't know though. But he was talking to a girl, with only a few stutters, but still...all of this was uncharted waters for Jesse.

He winced at the word 'school'. "Yeah..." he muttered, looking down again, shifting the carrier bag from hand to hand awkwardly. "Y-yeah...still go to school. Trying to pass my exams near to Willow-standard this year." He could dream. It was quite probably impossible, and there was no way that Jesse would steal Willow's thunder, but yeah. He could dream. "I'm guessing...wait, are you? Are you gonna come to school, as you're here?" He couldn't help but sound hopeful. Faith was...a friend. He didn't have many of them.

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[Faith Lehane]

'Apparently' Jesse wasn't one to really dwell into what Sunnydale had to offer. Faith was sure there wasn't much, but from the uncertainty Jesse displayed, he didn't really even know about the 'not much.' He had always been a rather 'keep to himself' type personality, and Faith had liked that about him. But when your like five years old, what isn't there to like about anyone, for that matter? If she hadn't had such a rocky childhood, she might have forgot about those little traits he possessed. But they were the memories she was fond of, and therefore retained. Somehow.

Maybe she just needed to go on a tour with Jesse, take him out of his shell, a little bit, or something? Yeah, that could work. Faith was just the type of person to find entertainment in everything possible, and if others aren't entertained, she'll try her hardest to help them get 'into the mood.' She was sure it wouldn't be that difficult. After all, she had Jesse laughing. It was a good start. "I'm sure theres something fun to do around here Jesse. Come on, it can't be all that bad. If I become a downer on my first afternoon in Sunnydale, I won't have any hope." She chuckled briefly, before putting her hand on Jesse's shoulder. "We'll find something. If we can't find anything fun to do, we'll just rob a bank, or take hostages...." She looked at Jesse with a grin. "I'm kidding!" Well she was mostly kidding, about the hostage part at least. She had stolen before, but nothing drastic like a bank. Security was just...Way too tight. No hope at doing something like that, even for her.

She smiled at his comment at her town being anywhere other than here. "Your not sick of me already, are you?" She chuckled softly, in a joking mood. He was probably right though, she did feel it too. She didn't necessarily belong, here. She belonged in the city, doing whatever. But at the same time, that just wasn't working for her. She had nothing going for her in the city. What she had always wanted was a nice peaceful place with a loving family and friends. And hell, maybe Sunnydale could offer that to her? Obviously the loving family was pushing it, but whats a girl to dream?!

He seemed a bit nervous, which she found oddly cute. "I'm as boring as a a dancefloor..." She begun to think to herself for a moment. "Maybe that was the wrong way of describing it? I have come across some pretty boring dancefloors..." She tried her hardest to brush off that embarassing description, deciding to change the subject. "You know, you haven't changed much. A lot of people change...For the wrong reasons, and become the wrong person. Sorta like me. But you, you're still the sweet guy who made me laugh back in our young days. I missed having someone like that in my life." She smiled cooly. She had become a person she wasn't necessarily proud of, however she knew that she couldn't change who she was, just keep living life to the fullest, and the 'Faith' way.

"Willow Standard?" She chipped in, with curiosity in her face. "Your not setting standards with trees, are you? Because you might need some help there..." She smirked softly, but still had no idea what he was on about. When he asked if she was going to come to school, she slightly frowned. "Nah, listening to teachers lecture you about what is 'right' and 'wrong' and being imprisoned within a classroom doing pointless things just never appealed for me..." She didn't like authority, but at the same time, she had other duties she needed to worry about. Since when did slayers get an education? She was all about living in the moment, and she wanted to enjoy her life, not go to school and be bored to death. Hey, that might be the key to defeating the vampire slayers!

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[Jesse Mcnally]

Jesse smiled weakly. It wasn't so bad here. Jesse had Willow and Xander after all, and they were his best friends so they'd make anywhere nice, but apart from them...What did Jesse like about this time? School? Only seeing his friends and Cordelia, and that last one was often one of the worst parts of his day as well as one of the best ones. As well...there were the jocks there and the evil practical jokes they played on him, and the fact that occasionally he was the one to get beaten up. There was the cinema and the shopping center...which he went to with Willow. And Xander.

So Jesse just gave a small, rather helpless shrug. "I...well, no, ok, it's not so bad. I mean...there's plenty to do, and everything. Cinma, the mall, the Bronze, school...loads, I guess." He just wouldn't mention that most of those places were not ones that he would be seen in. He jerked his head up to look at her, eyes wide, as her other words sank in. "What? Sick of you? How? You've only just arrived! Or...only just...met me, again, I guess..."

He tipped his head to the side, looking slightly confused. "Are dancefloors boring? I mean, I find them boring, but I don't like the loud noise really, and the crowds ruin it a bit. Wouldn't think you're boring though. Is that a correct comparision?" Even if it wasn't, it was quite confusing. Or maybe that was just Jesse. He did seem to get confused easily, because he was an idiot. Enough people said that. Not...a lot of people said what Faith just said though. He flushed.

Willow Standard? Trees? "Oh! Oh, no, not a tree, that woul be...stupid, really, wouldn't it? No, Willow's my friend. She's...insanely clever. Amazingly so, can't beat her." He shrugged again, shuffling his feet. "I don't mind the lessons, actually. Well, art. I like drawing. Don't like the whole lunch thing though, unless it's like...sport club or something." Less Jock's around then.

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[Faith Lehane]

When Jesse mentioned the Bronze, she grinned softly. "Already had the experience of going there. Nice place, but the people are a little off. Guess you just need to go with the right people, or something?" She had knocked one girl out, and met Caleb, who lectured her about her destiny and seemed to know a lot more about her than he had let on. She definantly wasn't going to be going there alone again, that was for sure. She did enjoy herself, and unfortunately the Bronze appeared to be the only decent place in this town. Especially when she used the Bronze as a comparison to all the other fun things in this town. She wasn't much of a shopper, she preferred just taking what she needed. Which really wasn't that much. Cinemas? She couldn't sit still for five minutes, let alone two hours. And school? She couldn't even comprehend how not fun this was. But it appeared Jesse enjoyed it...And that was good, for him. Maybe he was popular, played sport, made out with a girl in the basement or something else along those lines. It couldn't be because of the tasks. "I might just stick with the Bronze," she responded, with a half grin. It seemed like the only place she of all people would enjoy herself.

She chuckled softly as he 'hyped her up', so to speak. "Don't worry, it wouldn't be the first time I've been too much for someone before. Its just the way I function, But thanks." She smirked, before going on. "Lets just say I'm not exactly that sweet little girl I once was. If you'd even call her, sweet." She chuckled once again. She had changed a lot since she had last seen Jesse, and she was scared that maybe she had changed too much for her friend to even recognize her, still want to be her friend. After all, it wouldn't be the first time people had called her out on her attitude and 'bad girl vibe.' She really didn't care what people thought, but this wasn't just anyone. This was Jesse, her former friend. And hopefully her current friend, too. She had no friends at the moment. The closest thing she had to friends was the cat that scratched at her apartment door at night looking for food, or the British watcher who continually pestered her. And that was rather disheartening. She didn't mind the cat, though.

That dancefloors comment probably wasn't the best to use, she thought to herself briefly. It had oddly confused herself, as well as Jesse. "Normally they are raging. Even the Bronze dancefloor, gotta admit, its okay. Apart from the people who can't seem to control their men, or keep the leash on them for that matter. Not my problem if they can't handle the heat." She smirked softly. "You just need to get more out there, man. Maybe you can take me to the Bronze sometime? Would be a lot more fun being with someone, although its a good place to meet people anyway." His comparison of her was definantly correct. She wasn't boring, was far from it. She rocked the house like nothing else! "You nailed it there," she replied with another smirk. "You're definantly good with the guessing still, it seems," she added, the smirk still placed on her face.

Oh, so Willow was a person, not a tree? Well that made more sense. Though Willow was still an odd name. Were the parents tree huggers, or something? "Shes pretty good at school, huh? Thats good for her." She probably had it pretty easy and was able to go to school easily and had a good environment to learn in. Her chance at an education just didn't work out, which especially became evident when she realized she was destined to fight evil. No education needed for that! At least not any she was willing to accept. "I like to draw as well", she replied with a smirk, seeing that they had that in common. "I remember I would always draw the same thing, every time. No matter what time of the day, what mood I was in...It was always the same. Maybe I just wasn't that talented?" She chuckled softly. She had drawn the evil man from her dreams ripping the heart from a young girl. He was "The Father" and he was real. Very real.

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[Jesse Mcnally]

Going with the right people? Jesse shrugged, again - shrugging seemed to be his token move for this talk, in the middle of a street with god-knowswho watching. He didn't know what her definitions of the 'right people' were, or whether they matched up to his, or even whether he had definitions for that in the first place. It was quite unlikely that he did, really. He liked Cordelia, after all, and she was in Willow's and Xander's definition of wrong. "Parties and...things are arranged there, sometimes," he mumbled, "It's not always the same. And they play live music there, as well." Which wasn't so bad, was it?

Live music was better than the crap DJs this town had, anyway. They always played shit tunes so loud!

"You were sweet," Jesse said, and cracked a grin, transferring the bag from one hand to another. The plastic which was making up the supermarket's bag's handle had slowly been twisting around his fingers. Absently, he shook them out, looking in Faith's direction thoughtfully. "And...I could. I mean, I go with my friends, if we go, but...yeah, i-if you want to go." Was he meant to ask her that, because it hadn't sounded that way to him. People asked people to the Bronze, in the case of boys asking girls, if they wanted it to be a date. Apparantly, anyway - Jesse wasn't a guy who was an expert in the getting a date department. Not that Faith was a date! Because...no. There was Cordy...she wouldn't think it was a date, would she? He frowned. Talking about the Bronze was confusing.

"Yeah....she's clever." Jesse wasn't. He couldn't really spell his own name, could he? It wasn't his fault though, his parents had always said that. Though, it did make him a bit thick. He glanced at Faith again, sure she wouldn't think that (although she might, so he wasn't actually that sure), before looking around, gnawing on his bottom lip.

"Umm...n-not that I don't like talking to you, because I do, it's brilliant to see you again, but I have to get home, on an errand you see, and, um...." he was babbling slightly, but her was nervous so it was to be expected, and slightly worried, which probably added to the babbling bit as well. "Ddo you want to coe back to mine? Mom would love to see you again."

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[Faith Lehane]

Parties? She did enjoy parties. Most of the time she was never on the invite list, however that hadn't stopped her from making an appearence and enjoying a night. She did recieve 'who the hell are you' glares from some of the people, the girls of course, however the guys would never complain. Unlike the girls at the party, she really knew how to have a good time, and how to give the guys there a good time also. She always did seem to steal their dates, but it never bothered her. It was never about them to her, it was all about Faith and what she got. Who cares about anyone else, or what they thought?

She slightly blushed as Jesse confirmed that she was sweet. "You'd be one of the first guys to call me sweet. Kinda good to have someone like that, after all." Sweet just didn't seem to be in the vocabulary for names to refer to Faith as, which was kind of disheartening. She wanted to be that sweet and innocent girl from time to time, and not be such a 'bad girl' and a rebel, always putting herself out there and being wild. She used to be sweet, as Jesse said. She just felt rather embarassed at how Jesse would react when he recognized who she had become now. Would he even want to affiliate with her, if that happened? She had fears about that.

She was rather keen to go out with Jesse and his friends to the Bronze. They might be an awesome bunch to have a good time with, or they could be...Rather boring. But it didn't matter, at least she would be meeting people. Though she wasn't even sure they'd want to meet her. After all, she was a different kind of girl than most were used to, and that was kind of intimidating to most, especially the guys. They didn't know how to act around a girl who acted like one of them, and would quickly down a beer just to be one of the 'boys'. It was just who she had become, and she wasn't even sure if she would change that, if she even could. After all, it shouldn't matter what people think, should it?

His offer of coming over to his place was cool. "Beats the apartment I'm living in currently, any day. Would be great to catch up with your mother.." At the same time, she felt fear that she might not even like her. After all, she had changed tremendously. From her clothes, to her attitude. Crap, this could be brutal. "Lead the way, stud," she added with a teasing smirk. Jesse seemed cool, as he always did. Maybe things were looking up in Sunnydale, after all?

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