“Hello,” Spike heard a pleasant voice say.
He looked up to find a pretty blonde in the stool next to him, smiling
at him, a bit nervously.
“Lo’ ” he said, working his tongue to roughen up his accent, giving her a
roguish smile.
“Buy me a drink?” she said, a little too eagerly.
“Sure,” he said, trying not to chuckle.
Real subtle.
“But only if you promise you won’t feel indebted to sleep with me.”
She blushed, just a little. She was a pretty little thing, that’s for sure. A bit older than him, but he really didn’t care about that. All in all a solid 8, he thought, giving her the once over.
“That obvious huh?” she said, surprising Spike with her candour.
“I like it,” he said, reassuringly, “Get’s the B.S outta the way. It’s refreshing.”
“Name’s Anya,” she said, holding out her hand.
“Spike,” he said, taking her hand in his, holding on to it for a moment too long.
“So Anya,” Spike said, “out looking for some fun eh?”
“Something like that,” she said, smiling winningly.
“We’re here to celebrate.”
“We?” Spike asked frowning.
“Me and my friends,” Anya said, swinging around to gesture at the five women who’d now taken up a booth at the far end of the bar.
“Celebrating?” Spike asked quizzically, glancing over at them. Too far
to get a good look.
“Buffy’s freedom,” Anya said. “She’s one of us.”
“Buffy?” Spike smirked. “That a real name?”
“I’m still not sure,” Anya confided. “She refuses to let us see the birth
certificate. I doubt it.”
“Plus she’s probably Kenyan or something,” Spike added. “Like your president.”
“Oh don’t get me started,” Anya said, clearly irritated, “those loonies. Makes the rest of us look bad.”
“You a Tory pet?” Spike said.
“I……?” she stumbled, her eyes reflecting confusion.
Torah? Does he mean Jewish or something. Is that a problem? Where did that come from? Oh, is he like one of those Neo-Nazis or something? That would totally be a turn off. I wonder what gammy would say if she knew I boned a nazi? She would not be a happy camper.
“Conservative pet,” he explained. As usual, his british words went over
their heads. “Like a republican.”
Speak American mate, he told himself. Speak Yank.
Anya sighed with relief.
Thank god. She wasn’t going to be desecrating her grandfather’s sacrifice to keep America safe. Not tonight anyway.
“Only fiscally,” she said finally, a tad defensively.
“I have gay friends. I believe in marriage equality. I support the troops. I’m socially liberal.”
“That’s a relief,” Spike said, mock wiping invisible sweat from his brow. “Not that it’s a problem. There’s something sexy about a lady that’s wound up a bit too tight. That Sarah Palin sure is a hottie.”
They shared a laugh.
“What about sexually?” Spike teased.
“Now you’re getting too personal,” Anya said, her eyes letting him know that he wasn’t.
“Am I?” Spike asked.
Anya let it hang for a moment. “Sexually?” she whispered, looking around. conspiratorally.
“Awesome,” she confided her pretty brown eyes shining.
Spike considered it.
“Oh and I’m just supposed to take your word for it?” he asked, his lips twitching.
“You’ll see.” Anya said coyly, touching his arm.
“Will I?” he asked, grinning.
“Maybe,” she added, then drawing her hand back into her lap.
Spike chuckled, "It's not nice to tease a fellow."
Anya thought about it, biting her lip.
Charming. Sexy. Funny. Bingo.
Let’s get outta here, she thought. It was on the tip of her tongue.
But then, out of nowhere, she felt this childish urge to show off to her friends.
Show them the prize before I take it home and unwrap it, she thought gleefully. She knew why she found the idea absolutely irresistable. Her life had been miserable lately. What with the divorce. Again. She wanted to boost herself, get back her self esteem. On some level, she knew she was still competing with her friends. Pathetic? Sure. But the one thing Anya wasn’t was a liar. Not to anyone, and definitely not to herself.
“Wanna meet my gals?” she asked, taking him by surprise.
He had been sure she was about to suggest they go someplace more intimate.
Hell, he had been about to suggest it himself.
“Sure,” Spike added.
Why not? Waiting makes it so much better.
“Come on,” she said, standing up, giving him her hand.
Spike took it, letting her lead him to their table.
“Here they come,” Cordelia said, to the rest of the group.
She hadn’t been able to take her eyes off him, Buffy noted.
Not that I blame her. Skank, her brain added, and Buffy frowned.
Where did that come from?
“Is my dress slutty enough?” she asked, adjusting the body hugging
outfit.
“Always,” Tara muttered, resting her head on Willow’s shoulders.
Faith’s shoulders shook with laughter and she shook her head, looking away so that Cordelia wouldn’t notice.
Willow chided Tara gently by squeezing her thigh.
Baby. Don’t start.
Tara could almost hear Willow’s voice in her head.
Willow knew Tara wasn’t too fond of Cordelia. Or vice versa. But Willow was determined, now more than ever, to hold the group together.
“Looks like they’re getting ready to seal the deal,” Faith said smirking, looking over her shoulder.
“Don’t say that,” Cordelia protested.
“He can change his mind. He’s a free agent.”
“There are plenty of guys around,” Buffy said.
“Look there’s one over there. And there. And there,” she pointed, sardonically.
“Well yeah,” Cordelia conceded. “But I think he’s the hottest one here tonight. Plus pinching him from Anya’s arm would make it way way hotter.”
“Bitch!!!!!!!” Buffy said, unable to suppress a wry smile.
“Hey they’re not married or anything,” Cordelia said defensively.
“He can change his mind. Moving up is all part of the American dream. No offence to Anya, but I used to be a model. No contest, really.”
“You’re a real piece of work lady,” Buffy said, shaking her head.
Still the mean girl in high school. Good old Cordy.
“Faith?” Cordelia asked.
“I hate to say this,” Faith said, “But Cordy’s right. He can change his mind.”
Cordelia gave Buffy a self satisfied look.
“Or not,” Buffy said, trying to deflate the brunette’s balloon.
She loved Cordy, but sometimes she really couldn’t stand her.
“We’ll see,” Cordelia huffed.
“We will,” Buffy said guilessly.
She couldn’t wait to see the look on Cordelia’s face when Anya took him home.
Lucky Anya, she thought, suppressing a sigh.
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!