Faith's eyes rolled up over the large building in front of her. It loomed over her blocking out most of the sun. Clutching the straps on her backpack, she pushed through the gate and towards the Woolsworth Mansion. The Woolsworth Mansion was an old building dedicated to being a private school for kids with behavioral problems. Or as her boss, Mr. Bloom, so kindly stated over the phone, a Juvenile Delinquent Correctional Facility.

Not being the teaching type, Faith had applied to be a guidance counselor. Mr. Bloom told her she'd be working over time in this place and hoped she'd be up to the job. "Faith Parker does not stray from a challenge!" She'd ensured him. He laughed and wished her good luck.

As she now made her way up the dirt pathway she heard a loud splash behind her. Turning her head to look, Faith spotted the pool with a sparkling ripple running across it. As she walked on, a gleaming body pulled itself out of the water. Attached to the glistening muscular body was a gorgeous head with vibrant green eyes and full bodied dark hair.

For a moment Faith paused, but when the vibrant eyes turned her way and saw her staring, she turned away and kept walking. "Shit." She swore under her breath. That was Faith's curse. Men. Every single guy she looked at, liked, or talked to ended up hating her in someway or another.

Kicking herself, Faith growled. "That's not why you're here!" A voice in her head plaintively reminded her, "You're here to help the damn kids now make that your only goal!" But Faith couldn't help taking another peek at the guy in black swimming trunks. She blushed to see he was still staring after her.

Nerves hit her just as she entered the front hall, and Faith found she needed a moment before facing Mr. Patrick Bloom in person. A sign on the door to her left told her that it just happened to be his office. Taking a deep breath she fervently knocked, showing a little more nerves than she intended to. A high-pitched voice called from inside the room, "Come in, please." He put a lot of strain on the word please. Finding this slightly odd, Faith reminded herself that Mr. Bloom was a weirdo already in her books and this was just scoring him extra nerd points.

Admitting herself inside, Faith put on her happy-go-lucky face (which her friend Adrian had told her made her look somewhat like Kermit the Frog). Unusually though, it seemed to have a good effect on people like Mr. Bloom.

"Ah! Miss. Parker!" Bloom beamed from behind an office desk. Perched high on his nose were hefty, square coke-bottle glasses. A pocket protector lined his starch white shirt. Every colour of Sharpie markers poked out the top of the pocket. His polyester suit was large in the jacket but too small and high in the pants. His greasy mousy brown hair was plastered to all sides of his head making him look somewhat like an egg. Faith masked her chuckle in a faked cough.

Pushing himself up from his desk that was scattered with neat piles of papers and a Samsung flat screen computer, he offered his neatly manicured hand to her. Stretching out her shaking hand she glanced around the room. On top of a gray filing cabinet was a Luke Skywalker figurine standing next to a small green potted plant.

Biting her lip, Faith strained her face and finally managed to say through her wide grin, "Pleased to meet you!" She pulled her hand away and made a mental note to scrub it raw with antibacterial soap the moment she was out of there. Bloom began explaining about the building and the students and how his order and system in the facility was key to keeping it in order.

Slightly ignoring him, she waited until there was silence than said sweetly, "Well, if that's all, I'll just take my schedule and…" She frowned and adjusted her backpack. "Where do I live?" "Oh, that's right!" Bloom rummaged in his desk drawer and pulled out a laminated map of the building. Yanking a red Sharpie from his pocket he drew a perfect circle over a room and labeled it in blue, "Parker, Faith #60." He then drew the fire routes and highlighted where all staff available telephones were. When he made to start highlighting all the toilets she stopped him and said she'd rather find those on her own (noticing there was one in her room). Handing her the map he began pointing out the directions.

"Thank you very much." She smiled and began handing back the map; deciding she was going to find his secret stash of Sharpie Markers and sabotage it. He pushed it back at her and exclaimed, "Don't worry! I have a million of them." Faith didn't find that hard to believe.

Saying her last happy greeting, Faith began making her escape through the door. When on the other side she rolled over onto the wall next to her, out of view of Bloom's office. Her hand flew to her mouth and she giggled slightly, whispering, "Oh my God" between airy breathes.

"Bit intimidating isn't he?" A voice said from beside her. Faith cried out to see a soaking wet guy with a towel draped over his shoulder standing there. "Good Lord!" She gasped, her hand moving from a slapping position to her chest.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

"Ha..ha.."

"You the new guidance counselor?"

"Uh… yeah… that's me!"

"Griffin Dawson, art teacher."

He dried his right hand on the towel then extended it towards her. Faith sighed and shook it happily. "DON"T ACT LIKE AN IDIOT!" The voice in her head screamed, having abandoned its original advice. "Faith Parker." She said, hastily (but unwillingly) taking back her hand. She clasped it lovingly in her other hand behind her back. "STOP THAT!" The voice roared.

"Yeah, he's a piece of work." She said looking Bloom's door up and down. Griffin smiled and then reached out his hand again. "So where are you staying?" He asked genuinely interested. She handed him the laminated map and pointed to the bright red spot. "Wherever number sixty is." She said, slight sarcasm seeping through.

"Ah! You're right by my ward."

"Your what?"

"I'm in charge of the boys ward in the building. Looks like Bloom put you in the room right next to it."

"Oh…"

He handed the map back and pulled the towel off his shoulder. He began drying his hair, the whole while looking at Faith. "I'm headed up there now, if you want me to show you the way." Griffin's eyes smiled. "That would be great!" Faith exclaimed, even though Bloom had given her a play by play on how to get there (he even described the wallpaper in the hallway it was in: "Desert Sand white with Evergreen Forest green stripes, can't miss it!).

Walking casually beside Griffin up a large staircase and around corners, Faith questioned him about what the students were like. "They're like… kids with a slightly foggy view on life." He answered. Faith couldn't help notice when Griffin's chest heaved and glinted in the light pouring in from the massive ceiling window. She hurriedly looked away and the voice, regaining its very first view chastised, "This is a mistake! Don't you dare even think about anything like… him!"

As they walked down the hall, the population of kids seemed to increase. Scowling teenage boys ran past, some pausing to either nod or scowl at Griffin. Faith pushed her long brown hair from her shoulders and watched as a 15 year old with a tattoo of a naked girl on his upper arm began checking her out and blew a kiss at her with a smirk. She stopped walking, slightly surprising Griffin.

"What's your name?"

"Chad. Chad Bates."

"Well Chad Bates, I'd appreciate it if you waited to express any feelings of affection towards a girl more your age."

With that, she continued walking. Griffin stood for a moment, slightly stunned than jogged a bit to catch up to her. "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" He cried impressed, "What was that?" Faith smiled and rolled her eyes embarrassed. "When you grow up in a detention hall from age 9 until your 14, you know exactly what all of them are thinking."

Frowning, Griffin paused. "You were in a detention hall?" "DUMBASS!" Screamed the voice. "Yeah, but I wasn't put there. My father ran it. When my mom died, we couldn't stand being in the house so we moved into the center." Faith looked at the ground feeling her face grow red.

"Awesome! You have experience!" Griffin guffawed. They stopped outside a door. FAITH PARKER was engraved on a metal plate at the top. Below it someone had carved: GIMME A LIL FAITH! Shaking her head but smiling, Faith read the message. She chortled than turned to say goodbye to Griffin.

"It seems I've got my work cut out for me." She said, "Thanks for showing me to my room." Griffin nodded happily. "No problem." He turned to leave, Faith's eyes following him. He suddenly turned around and added, "Hey, if you need any help or anything don't hesitate to come get me. My room's jut in there." He pointed into two large doors. One was slightly ajar and Faith could see a bunch of bunk beds with boys scattered randomly around and on them. "Yeah, sure. Thanks." She replied.

As he walked away with a small wave, Faith realized she'd been relaxed almost the entire time she'd been talking with Griffin. Unlocking her door and stepping in, she shut it behind her and sighed happily. She threw her backpack onto the double bed in the boring room. It was white everywhere. She felt disappointed, but decided to become slightly optimistic, at least for this next day.

She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out her bikini. A little odd to wear a black bikini to a juvenile delinquent center but it was all part of her strategy. It worked on the kids back home. She was unbuttoning her white bloused with the rolled up sleeves. Her black bra showed slightly. A knock on the door interrupted her. She skipped over and pulled open the door (her shirt still revealing her lingerie). A tall kid about nineteen stood before her, his brown hair in sexy tangles around his cheeks.

She looked him up and down, taking in the grubby jeans and leather vest with slight amusement. His hands were covered with leather gloves, the fingers ripped off.

"Hello." Was all she said. Faith had a good sense of judgment and could tell people's personalities before they really got to know her. She thought she hit straight on with this one, and it would seem that way for a while after, but if only she knew how wrong she was.

She guessed he was the controlling, slang type who pretended he really didn't care but knew what was right. The kind that strained to keep that feeling of power at all times. He didn't speak but looked over her as if judging her. She felt a twang of fear as she realized he was older than her. God, if only people knew she was only 17 going on 18. Bloom thought she was 21, funny, huh?

"I'm Jared."

Faith smiled.

"Jared, Hebrew name meaning He Who Rules."

An odd thing Faith had studied from her father, names, their origins and meanings.

Jared scowled. His face was handsome, his hair, as she noticed before, was kind of sexy. He was tall, but not really husky. Just strong enough to hold his bit of intimidation and power. He looked down on Faith making her stand slightly steadier trying to show how bold she felt. She wasn't scared of pushovers like this guy who thought they were God's given gift.

His face softened into a sly expression. He leaned closer to her. He quickly whispered in her ear, "Enjoy my dare, easier than truth." Before Faith could question him, he thrust his lips on hers, shoving his tongue into her mouth. She felt his hands move from her face to her breasts. When he surfaced she didn't get angry or even frown. Faith simply smiled slyly, licking her lips and said, "Easy dare."

She felt a great feeling of triumph as she slammed the door on his surprised face. As she walked back to the bed grabbing up her bathing suit she suddenly jumped and stood stock still for a moment when she felt the twang she got when she had crush. As quickly as it had come it vanished. She blinked and then waved it away as nerves of the first day.

Making her way down to the pool with a towel wrapped around her waits she heard hoots and whistles from onlookers from all around. Some girls who were sucking on cigarettes on the front step laughed at the sight of her. Faith smiled and turned to one of them. She took a cigarette from her fingers and took a long drag on it.

"You shouldn't smoke these, they'll make you an old hag before you reach 20."

Handing it back she walked on further to the pool. She breathed in the fresh air feeling she'd made so many accomplishments already as she left the shocked girls sitting in silence, some of their jaws hanging.

Reaching the poolside, Faith felt a surge of adrenaline rush through her body. "Ah, yes!" She hissed as she stared through the blue water, "At least they have some good resources here!" She dove in and jetted underneath the shining surface. She swam and dove for about an hour when Bloom suddenly came running out of the front doors and slipping towards the pool.

"Miss. Parker!" He screamed. At first Faith thought it might be about the pool but then he stopped and started jumping up and down wildly.

"I know you just got here, but there's been an incident and we could really use your expertise right now!"

"Where? Who?"

"It's Jared Collins! Over… up… there!"

But Faith was already running towards the school, wearing nothing but her bikini, her soaked hair whipping her back as she ran. Bloom was running beside her, more like flapping, but Faith didn't notice. She slid into the front hall and booked it up the stairs, leaving Bloom panting along behind her. She spun around the corner sped up towards the boy's ward where she could hear Griffin and about thirty other boys yelling (although Griffin was yelling STOP while the others were screaming "KILL HIM!).

Water flying off her, Faith wrestled through the crowd and stopped in front of the harrowing scene. Jared (the one she'd met recently) was sitting on top of a kid on the bed holding a switchblade up to his throat. He was yelling something but Faith was ignoring it. Bloom was dancing nervously in the back trying to get through.

"JARED!" She screamed. Suddenly the room fell silent accept for Jared's heavy breathing and the frightened gasps from the kid he was sitting on. Faith slowly came towards him and rested a hand on his shoulder gently. He was about to pull away when she gently said, "It's not worth it! Tell me first and I'll decide!" She moved her hand lower down his back.

The next few moments for Faith were like the few moments before someone jumps off the top of a skyscraper. She waited, her eyes dancing for some sign, her body numb. She could hear Griffin intake a nervous breath. He was dressed now looked ready to pull Jared off, which Faith knew would only make it worse.

Suddenly, slowly, Jared clambered off the bed and kid and stood next to Faith. He stared coldly at the kid who was shaking so hard Faith thought he might wet himself.

"Come on, let's go to my room, okay?"

"Wha…?"

"Come one, come with me, tell me now and I'll decide if its worth his life."

Tearing his eyes from the kid's, Jared stared into Faith's. It was a surprise, Faith knew, to him to see true sincerity in them. Together they made their way back to her room. She gave a relieved glance at Griffin who was watching in disbelief. When they reached the crude door, Faith let out a huge sigh and chuckled.

When Jared looked at her with slight puzzlement, she smiled as she opened the door and ushered him quickly through. "If you knew how many times I've seen people screw up at that one, you'd know why it was funny by now." Just a few minutes and he'll be my new best friend! Faith's mind began to rest dramatically, her adrenaline draining away.

"So what did he do?" Faith asked as she bustled about her bag, pulling out her blouse and jeans again. "He… he…" Jared's anger hadn't died completely. Faith turned her back to him and faced the closet. "Don't look… too closely if you can help it!" She ordered as she began stripping her clothes off. She was glad to see he was staring at the floor, only barely glancing hat her bare back.

"He was the one who'd dared me. Said that if I did it he'd slip me some of his smokes. But… the little cheating bastard said it didn't count if you didn't react!" Jared glared, his hands clenched in such tight fists, his knuckles that popped out from under the gloves were turning a chalky white.

"This is about the dare?" Faith pulled the blouse over her slender shoulders and left it unbuttoned. She turned around, her jeans done up and flaring in bell-bottoms. She crouched in front of him (this was the part of this tactic she kind of disliked). She leaned towards him, but paused suddenly. There was that twang again. But she couldn't stop now, she pressed her lips against his, her hand reaching up and playing with his hair.

"Now listen," She started when she pulled away, only centimeters from his face, his heavy breath beating on her cheeks, "Those smokes aren't worth killing him over. But hey, you tell him that it counts double according to me, if the victim…" She coughed sarcastically, "Enjoys it. Now, I'm not saying I did! It was an easy dare, but…" She stood leaned even closer, "I want to be your friend. Not your guidance counselor but that friend you find it easy to confide in, okay? If you need any help, which I doubt you will, but if you do, come to me."

His mouth opening and closing, unable to think of a tough or snide remark, Jared stared up at her, apparently still in shock from her kiss. Than it came to him. He jumped up, towering over her as she began buttoning up her shirt. "If you didn't like it, than why'd you just do that?" He asked, smiling his sly smile.

Looking sweetly up in his eyes Faith whispered, "Some people get better reassurance than others. It doesn't mean anything." She walked towards the door and undid the chain. Jared was standing inches behind her. When she spun around he pressed her to the wall, his arms placed over their heads as he leaned over.

Silence seemed to press on forever, but Jared looked into her eyes playfully and said, "You look hot wet." Faith, feeling slightly proud of the comment simply replied, "There couldn't be anything serious between us. You aren't my type." With that she turned and shoved him out the door. Behind it stood Griffin. He watched Jared walk away to the now empty boy's ward, smiling.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah fine."

"What about him?"

"Oh, I think he's figured it all out."

"Perfect for your first day, eh?"

Moving from his spot as Faith invited him in they both smiled. "Yeah, he's one of those egotistical types. Hey, do you know what it was over?" Griffin frowned and watched her as she began making coffee at the small counter by the white stove.

"Uh, yeah, it sounded kind of weird."

"Weird? How?"

"It seems so strange that they're fighting over you already."

"What?"

"Yeah, they were arguing over who was going to get to you first, ha ha!"

"Heh…"

Nervously laughing, Faith slapped the stubborn coffee maker. "Damn things, the only one I've ever got to work was my own!" She growled. "I mean, its kind of understandable, you being the first woman to be here besides Kelly who drops by with the groceries every week." Griffin watched in amusement as Faith turned around and leaned on the counter, shock drawn on her face.

"Wait, I'm the only girl here?"

"Well, besides the girl students, but the guys who talk to me say they all look like, and I quote, the leftover trash from a bunch of horny pricks."

Slightly taken aback at this sudden easiness, Faith smiled. She looked out the window, noticing it was growing dark. After sipping down their coffee while Griffin explained enthusiastically about most of the boys, and a few of the girls he knew. He told her about a girl named Twyla who'd had this huge crush on her last year and had stalked him until he found a tape of him in the shower in her backpack.

Faith felt disappointed when she looked at her watch and saw it was almost midnight. "Listen, I had a really great time today, but it's my first day of work tomorrow and I got to make a good impression on Dr. Spock down there." Griffin nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I should check on the guys, they won't relax unless I'm in there telling them that they'll spend the next 24 hours with Bloom in the cyber café if they don't go to sleep." Faith laughed gently.

After Griffin had retired to his own room, Faith and pulled on her white tank with her I "heart" NY pajama pants. She was going to crawl into the bed when she saw over the balcony, the figure of someone running towards the pool. Creeping out onto the balcony, she watched a shadowy Jared in black and white swimming trunks dicing quietly into the water. The whole while, Faith could've sworn she heard him humming "We Built This City" (one of her favorite songs). She'd known his inner goodness was there. She felt weird like maybe she'd been able to bring it out more than usual.

About to turn back inside and go to bed, Faith stopped halfway through the French doors. She pulled the cushioned bench that sat on the balcony closer to the railing. That night she fell asleep under the starry sky watching a moonlit Jared gracefully dive into the dark water.