EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER
Buffy danced like she never danced before, feeling so high and so good. This was the only time she would let anything touch her. The music was her release. She knew she looked hot, and the boys were drooling. It gave her a sense of power and a feeling of control to have them salivating over her like dogs.
So much had happened over the last eighteen months, but the one thing that was always held over her head was Dawn's death. It didn't have to be overheard with words. She could read it in everyone's eyes, or lack of other people's eyes meeting hers. Hearing the whispers any time she entered a room, or all conversation would stop. The fact her parents had no expectations of her any more since that night, made her feel abandoned. Everything was centered on Drusilla now.
"You know you have them panting and wanting a bite?" Darla leaned over and whispered in her ear.
"I guess they will have a chronic case of always wanting then." Buffy replied, as she started to really grind to the beat.
Darla laughed, as she pulled her lover closer and said, "Just as long as she keeps you wanting, and you don't touch, lover."
Angel smiled wickedly down at his girl and said, "Only if you both are willing to share me, baby."
"You know, I wouldn't mind. But I don’t think Buffy is ready to play patty cake with us." Darla purred as she too enjoyed watching the young woman's seductive dance. "One day a man will tame our little Buffy."
"No taming me." Buffy replied as she danced around them. "As for sharing, don't want to ruin the perfect couple."
Darla snickered as she gave Buffy a wink, "Like other's haven't tried. But I know my Liam, he only loves me."
Angel smirked as he looked down at his girl and said, "And you only love me."
Buffy paused for a moment before she replied, "Yeah, you both have a way with each other that only the two of you would understand and accept."
It was known that Angel and Darla were a couple, but that they also would see other people at times. Darla had explained it as both of them sowing their wild oats before settling down and being an old married couple when they got older.
She still couldn't believe that at one time Angel and Dru had a thing going on. The fact the bitch of a half sister accused her at one point of having a thing with Angel made Buffy wish she had. She thoroughly enjoyed the look on Drusilla's face when she told her to fuck off and not worry about what may have been between Angel and herself. The fact remained Angel was only a friend to her and nothing more.
Buffy started feeling her high leaving so she sighed and announced to anyone who might be listening. "Well, I'm calling it a night. I think I might surprise the folks and make curfew tonight."
Angel and Darla watched as the young woman they came to like very much walked away. Darla remembered a different Buffy Summers. She was a young wholesome girl at that time, which never would have hung with a crowd like this. She wished she could have a few hours with the heartless parents that let their daughter fall so hard. It pained her that those who should protect this girl, couldn't see she was on a road to self-destruction.
"I never thought I would say this, but her parents make mine look like apple pie and a nice cold glass of milk." Darla shared her feelings with Angel.
"I have to agree." Angel replied, knowing soon they themselves might have to act like her family and intervene. "But we will be there, you, me, and Faith."
"You bet." Darla agreed as she leaned in and kissed him deeply.
*******
Buffy walked slowly up the sidewalk leading to her house. She noticed a strange car in the driveway and wondered who owned such an awesome car. Stopping suddenly, she turned and moved toward the vehicle, feeling something about it draw her to it. Whoever had done the refurbishing was very good, no better than good, more like fantastic.
She ran her fingers lightly over the black paint, as she walked around the car. She noticed nothing more than a few wear and tear scratches, extending no deeper then the glossy finish. She loved this car. It spoke to her of the days she and her father would go to car shows.
"Like what you see, Luv?"
Buffy quickly turned away, trying to act like it was just another car to her, trying very hard to ignore how sexy the owner was. "Nice set of wheels."
"My uncle and I did her up."
"Nice, job. You wouldn't know it wasn't done professionally." She said as she walked past the man and realized he must be Dru's new boyfriend.
Spike watched the young woman walk away and into the house he just came out of. He'd come to get the rest of their gear, when he noticed her appraising his baby. It was his pride and joy. The Desoto was his grandfather's that his uncle helped him to restore. He had pictures of his father and uncle standing next to their father hanging in his dorm room.
"So you must be Buffy." He whispered.
There for a moment she didn't look like the troubled hellion that Dru described her as. He'd seen the total attraction she had for the car and it wasn't faked. It worried him how quickly she'd been able to turn it off and appear disinterested, as fast as the blink of an eye. Something didn't fit with the woman he'd observed thinking she was unnoticed, to the one she presented once she was aware she was being watched.
He grabbed the rest of his and Dru's things and hurried back into the house. The raised voices warned him he walked into a heated family discussion. Better yet, it was more like a put down Buffy fest. It was here he realized how she came to learn how to turn herself on and off with such ease.
"Honestly, do you have to dress like a slut?" Hank asked, as he looked down upon Buffy with a look of disgust.
"Buffy, can't you for once wear something more appropriate. You knew Dru was bringing someone home with her." Joyce went on to reprimand her further.
"I think I will just go to my room and you can pretend I never came home." Buffy answered as she turned and stoically walked away.
It was the blank facial expression that told him this girl was hiding enormous pain. So much, she had to bury it very deep to hide it away. He couldn't believe they were so oblivious to the suffering their treatment of her was causing.
Joyce noticed Spike first and saw the sadness in his eyes and said, "I'm so sorry you were privy to that. She normally isn't home at this time, and we just don't know what to do any more."
Spike decided to ask, hoping he wasn't overstepping his bounds, "Have you talked to anyone about what happened?"
Hank grew furious, as he answered, "There's no need to involve others in ourfamily problems." Which Spike took as a warning, but felt a need to speak on the young girl's behalf.
"It might be time you did, before you lose her totally." He suggested, "I know someone that might be able to help."
"That's okay, we can handle her." Hank replied, not wanting to hear what they needed to do to help their rebel daughter. "You don't know her like we do, being a stranger here."
"If you say so." Spike hoped they'd wake up and see they were losing another daughter if they didn't stop and really take a look at her.
Joyce noticed something in the young man's eyes as she asked, "Do you think we can't take care of our own daughter?"
"I guess I will put myself further out on a limb here and ask. Do you want to do more then just handle you daughter?" Spike asked, hoping he wasn't about to be kicked out.
"I think it's been a long day and I should be a better hostess and show you to your room." Joyce answered, hoping to prevent Hank's temper from getting the better of him.
"Please, lead the way." Spike responded, having seen Hank's eyes light up and his body grow tenser.
"It's down the hall from Dru's." Joyce said, not wanting to say it was Dawn's old room that they converted into a guest room.
Spike followed Joyce up the stairs, oblivious to the glares that Hank and Dru were giving him. One of them angry that a stranger would come in and try and tell him how to handle is delinquent daughter. The other was left wondering what had gotten her boyfriend defending her sister. She thought she'd made him understand that Buffy was the enemy, not a charity case for him to feel sorry for.
*******
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!