A/N Okay, guys, here’s a new story. I have been so busy lately that my friend Allison (who is an awesome writer) was generous enough to co-write this with me. Our writing styles are very similar, so you (hopefully) won’t even notice. This story has a lot of UST, so if you don’t like that you might want to wait and read it when it’s finished. Please leave lots and lots of reviews!
Chapter 1 - Misunderstanding
Spike followed the blonde into the apartment, admiring her as she walked.
“All hardwood floors, kitchen to the left…obviously,” she said with a
sheepish grin, since the huge apartment was essentially one large, open
area. “Living room or area, more accurately,” she continued, pointing
straight ahead. “Office.”
Spike turned to the right and saw the bookshelves, desk and computer sitting
in an alcove that constituted an office.
“Loft is up those stairs,” she said, pointing to the spiral staircase next
to the alcove. “That’s my room up there. Extra bedroom is down the hall,
this way,” she continued, leading him to the back right corner of the
apartment and down a short hall to a large bedroom filled with boxes.
She turned to him with a smile. “The boxes will be moved out. I’m kind of
a packrat.” Spike smiled as they walked toward the bathroom. “And that’s
the grand tour. Any questions?”
“Your name, pet?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m Buffy Summers,” she said with a light blush tinting her
cheeks as she offered her hand.
Spike smiled, taking it and brushing his lips along the top of it, his smile
widening as she got visibly flustered and looked away. “And you already
know my name.”
“Spike,” she reaffirmed with a nod.
“It’s a nice place,” Spike said, looking around as they walked down the
hallway to the main room.
“Yeah,” Buffy said with a nod. “So do you want it?”
Spike looked at her in surprise. “No applications? No interview?”
Buffy shrugged. “You seem like a nice enough guy. It’s not like we have to
be best friends. As long as you pay your share of the rent on time and
you’re not some serial killer, I think we’ll be able to co-exist together.”
“Alright then,” Spike said with a smile. “I’ll take it.”
“Great!” Buffy said with a bright smile. “You can move in whenever you
want. Tonight if you feel like it, and don’t worry, I’ll have those boxes
out of there.”
Spike smiled and nodded. “I have something to take care of tonight and then
I’ll start moving my stuff in.”
* * * * *
“Harmony, I’m trying to explain it to you. It’s just not working out, it
hasn’t been for a while.”
“Don’t be silly, blondie bear. I know you would never break up with me,
unless you had a good reason.”
“I would think ‘not wanting to be together’ constitutes a good reason.”
“Now, Spikey, you’re just being testy. Have a drink, and then we’ll talk
about what’s really bothering you.”
Spike sighed, rolling his eyes upward as he tightened his jaw. Looking
around the restaurant, he finally got up to walk to the bar, clenching and
unclenching his fists as he walked.
“Bourbon,” he said to the bartender who nodded and walked away.
“Rough night?”
Spike turned to the owner of the voice, his eyes lighting up when he saw
Buffy sitting there, giving him a friendly smile.
“You could say that,” he replied with a smile. “You meeting someone, pet?”
Spike asked, silently thanking the bartender for taking so long with his
drink.
“I was meeting my friend, but she called me a minute ago and said she
couldn’t make it. Would you…like to join me?”
“I would, but I’ve got a little bit of unfinished business,” he replied,
looking across the restaurant to see Harmony complaining to the waiter about
what she ordered. “Rain check?”
Buffy followed his gaze, seeing the blonde at the table. “Maybe that’s not
the best idea.”
Spike’s eyes widened. “Oh no, we’re not together,” he said, shaking his
head as he gestured to the table behind him. “Well, not from my perspective
anyway. She seems to have different ideas.”
Buffy smiled. “And why are you not together?”
“She’s not my type,” he said with a shrug as he was handed his drink.
“Listen…if you’re still here after I…wrap this up, maybe we could get to
know each other better.”
“Umm, I’m not really-“
“Not that way,” he said with a smile. “I was strictly talking in the
getting to know each other as new roommates. Nothing else.”
‘For now,’ Spike thought.
“I guess we’ll have to see if I’m still here,” she said with a flirty smile.
* * * * *
Twenty minutes later, Spike was still trying to convince Harmony that it was
over (and rapidly holding himself back from banging his head against the
table).
“Spikey, the only way a man would consciously decide to leave me is if he
was gay.”
‘What harm can it do?’ Spike thought to himself. ‘It’s not like I’ll ever
see this bint again.’
“That’s me,” Spike blurted out before he could think about it much longer.
“Excuse me?”
“That’s me…I…I’m…gay.”
Harmony’s eyes widened. “When did you come out?”
“Fairly short time ago,” he said with a sardonic smile.
“Ohhhh,” Harmony said with a nod. “It all makes sense now.”
Spike’s eyes shot up to hers. “What!? What all makes sense now?”
“Oh, nothing. Just a few things fell into place,” Harmony said, standing up
and grabbing her purse before dropping a kiss on the top of his head.
“Don’t worry, blondie bear, I’m sure you’ll find someone perfect for you.”
Spike didn’t say anything. He was still trying to figure out what could
have possibly fallen into place as Harmony walked away.
* * * * *
Buffy looked up from reapplying her lipstick as the bathroom door opened.
“Men!”
Normally Buffy didn’t try and make conversation in the bathroom, but this
was the girl who was sitting with Spike, and she seemed distressed about
something.
“Is something wrong?” Buffy asked quietly.
“Men!”
“Yeah…I got that part.”
“He likes men!”
Buffy’s eyes widened. “The guy you’re here with?”
“Yeah, he’s gay.”
‘The kiss on the hand, the bleached hair, telling me she wasn’t his type,
wanting to get to know me, but not in *that* sense. Of course he would be
too good to be true.’
“Well,” Buffy said with a compassionate look. “There’s other guys out
there.”
“Yep,” Harmony agreed. “But he’s such a hottie.”
Buffy watched her walk into one of the stalls before sighing. “Yeah,”
she whispered to herself before walking out the door.
Spike sat at the bar, looking up with a smile when he saw Buffy.
Intercepting her before she could walk out of the restaurant, he gave her
one of his most winning smiles. “I thought you left.”
Buffy smiled. ‘At least he seems like a nice enough guy.’
“I was just heading out.”
“Mind if I join you?” Spike asked, in a hopeful tone. “Maybe I could walk
you home…if you’re not driving that is.”
“I don’t know…”
“Come on,” Spike said with a smile. “We’re going to be living together.
And I promise to behave myself.”
‘Well, that’s a given.’
“Sure,” Buffy agreed with a smile of her own as Spike led her out of the
restaurant.
‘Well,’ Buffy thought. ‘At least you’ll get a new friend out of this.’
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!