A/N I've been debating all day whether I wanted to post this story here or just on my LJ, but I (obviously) decided to go ahead and do it because I'm proud of it, so I hope you like it :-)
Chapter 1 – Getting to Know You
“Spike!”
Throwing his books into the backseat of his car, the man turned around to face the young woman who was jogging toward him.
“Yeah, Red?” Spike replied, looking at Willow in confusion as she caught up to him and immediately began fidgeting nervously as she looked at him.
He watched her closely as she wrung her hands together, shifting on her
feet. “Do you know my roommate, Buffy Summers?”
Spike raised an eyebrow. Of course he knew her. He’d be blind if he’d never
noticed the beautiful blonde. “Yeah, I know her…any particular reason why
you’re asking me?”
“Can you…well, you see…”
“Spit it out, Red,” Spike said with a smirk.
“I think she’s in trouble.”
Spike tilted his head, his smirk slowly fading as he looked at her in confusion. “What do you mean by ‘trouble’?”
“I promised I wouldn’t say anything…”
“So you don’t think she’s in trouble, you know it, since there’s something
that you shouldn’t be saying?”
Willow looked away feeling guilty. “Do you think you could…maybe…get to
know her?”
“Get to know her?” Spike repeated. “I’ve never even talked to her before.”
“Please,” Willow begged. “If she starts to trust you, maybe she can open up
and you can help her.”
“What do you suggest?”
“She’s going to be in the dorm tonight,” Willow said, already having a plan
formed. “I need you to stop by to ‘borrow a book’. I won’t be there right
away, and you and Buffy can talk. That’ll at least open the door.”
Spike seemed to think about it for a moment. “I’d feel better about this if
I knew what was going on.”
“I know…but I made a promise and I have to keep it. Trust me. It won’t be
too hard to figure out.”
Spike nodded. “Alright, Red, what time do you want me there?”
* * * * *
Spike knocked on the door of the dorm room later that night, nervously
running his hands along his jeans.
‘Bloody hell, you wanker,’ Spike thought. ‘You’re acting like you’ve never
been to a chit’s room before.’
The door was opened to reveal the woman that he had been lusting after for
over a year. She looked comfortable in a blue jeans and a long-sleeved
black shirt, her long honey blonde hair pulled into a high ponytail and her
face without a hint of make-up. Spike’s breath caught in his throat as she
looked at him in confusion.
“Spike?”
Spike quickly snapped out of his daze when she spoke his name.
“It is Spike, right?”
“Yeah,” he replied, finally finding his voice. “Uhh…yeah…is Willow here?”
“Umm…she went out. She should be back in about an hour.”
Spike made a show of looking around before meeting her eyes again. “Do you
mind if I wait? I’m supposed to borrow a book from her, and by the time I
make it back to the house, I’d just have to turn around and come back.”
Buffy seemed to hesitate, but her defenses finally melted when he flashed a
genuine smile. “Sure,” she said with a smile of her own, stepping out of
the way so he could enter.
“Thanks, pet,” he said with a grin.
Taking a seat on the desk chair, he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable by sitting on one of the beds, Spike watched her as she shut the door and walked passed him.
“You and Willow have a class together?” Buffy asked, sitting on her bed,
across from him, and curling a leg underneath her body.
“Psychology,” Spike said with a nod.
“Your major?” she asked.
“How’d you know?”
Buffy shrugged. “I guess you just have that look to you.”
Spike looked down at the black leather duster, jeans, shirt, and boots
before looking back at her with a smirk and raised his eyebrow.
Blushing with a sheepish smile on her face, Buffy shrugged. “I didn’t mean the
physical look,” she clarified. “Something about your eyes.”
It was Spike’s turn to blush, and he quickly dropped his gaze so she wouldn’t see, trying to maintain his ‘Big Bad’ image. Looking around the room, his eyes caught the picture on the desk of Buffy wrapped up in another man’s arms. He recognized the man and glowered at the picture for a moment before turning to look at the young woman.
“Boyfriend?” he asked, tilting his head toward the picture.
Buffy became noticeably tense as she looked away. “Yeah,” she said quietly,
biting her lower lip.
Spike narrowed his eyes, carefully studying her reaction. “I know him,”
he said softly, testing the waters. “He’s in the Zeta Kappa’s, am I right?”
Buffy swallowed before nodding.
“I think I’ve seen you at some of their parties,” he continued.
“You’re not in that house,” she said in confusion.
“No, I’m with the Sigma’s,” Spike replied.
Buffy nodded as Spike’s gaze studied her carefully. “Parker?”
He watched as Buffy jumped and her eyes snapped up to his. “Um…yeah…yeah,
Parker Abrams.”
Spike’s expression darkened when he realized that Willow said it wouldn’t be
too hard to figure out. “How long have you been together?” he asked.
“About a year,” she said quietly.
“Really? I haven’t seen you with him.”
“I’ve only been to a couple of parties,” Buffy replied. “I’m not big with the frat life.”
Spike highly doubted that. This girl seemed to breathe life into anything
she came close to, and that environment seemed exactly what she would be
involved with.
Watching her with interest as Buffy picked at an invisible thread on her comforter, it was obvious that she was uncomfortable with the conversation, and he took pity on her.
“What’s your major, luv?”
Buffy visibly relaxed as she looked into his eyes again. “Photography,” she
said with a smile, making it obvious how much she loved her choice.
“Paparazzi?” Spike asked with a smile as Buffy laughed, causing his heart to
swell at the sound.
“No,” she said with a shake of her head.
“Hmm.” Spike put his hand to his chin in a thoughtful pose. “Fashion?”
Buffy giggled again. “No.”
Snapping his fingers, Spike continued, “I’ve got it. Taking landscape
pictures for calendars.”
“You suck at this,” she teased.
“I know, you better tell me because my next guess is that you’re going to
dress up dogs in little outfits and take their pictures for greeting cards.”
Buffy laughed again. “I want to open my own studio,” she said with a smile.
Spike nodded. “I would have gotten around to that eventually,” he replied.
“Sure,” she said sarcastically.
Both sat in comfortable silence for a moment before he spoke again. “No
plans tonight?” he asked.
“I don’t think so,” she said softly, earning an odd look from Spike. “I-I just
mean, Parker might stop by later.”
The nervousness crept into her voice again, and Spike merely nodded, allowing
the subject to be dropped. He was about to speak again when the door opened
and a bubbly redhead walked in.
“Hey, Buff! Oh, Spike, I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said with seemingly
genuine regret. “I hope you didn’t wait long.”
“No,” Spike said, standing up. “Not long at all.”
“I’m sure Buffy was good company,” Willow said, exchanging a smile with her
friend.
“Yes, she was,” Spike agreed, giving Buffy a soft smile and letting it
broaden when she blushed and looked away.
Everyone turned as a knock sounded on the door. Willow, being closest,
opened it, and Spike could see her expression darken. “I didn’t know you
were coming by,” she said, not bothering to offer a greeting.
“I’m supposed to pick up Buffy.”
Spike turned to look at the blonde. Seeing that her face had visibly paled, he
took a step toward her, freezing when she backed away.
“I’m ready, Parker,” Buffy said, grabbing a coat and giving Spike a soft
smile as she walked toward the door.
Spike stepped closer to Willow, seeing Parker’s eyes fall on him.
“Abrams,” Spike said in a curt greeting.
Parker’s eyes fell on the bleached blonde and a glare overtook his face.
“Spike,” he replied with a slight nod before turning his gaze to Buffy.
“Let’s go.”
Buffy nodded, waving a quick good-bye before leaving the room.
Spike turned to Willow as the door closed behind them.
“Did you get to talk to her?” she asked worriedly.
“She tensed up whenever that wanker's name came up.”
Willow nodded in agreement.
“What has she told you, Red?” Spike asked in a tone that brooked no
argument.
“That he hit her once,” Willow said in a soft voice, obviously distressed at
betraying her friend’s confidence.
“And you don’t think she’s telling the truth?”
“I walked in when she was changing a week ago…her back was completely black and blue,” she said softly. “And she’s been wearing long sleeves a lot more and there’s…there’s been other times that I’ve noticed she’s not telling me everything.”
Spike’s eyes clouded over in anger and his fists and jaw clenched.
“She’s not going to allow anyone to help her…she doesn’t think she needs any
help.”
“I guess we’ll have to change her mind then, won’t we?”
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!