“I can’t believe it! I am no longer a camper. Big kid status here I come!” Buffy squealed with delight to herself as she walked down the familiar drive.

Buffy Summers had attended Camp Wa-Klo as a camper for 6 years now, and had finally surpassed the camper stage to become a counselor in training. Among the obvious perks, was that she got paid to be at her home away from home for 2 whole months. And she would finally be free of the bitch ditz trio she’d been stuck living with for the last 6 summers in a row. She’d have her own cabin, with her own campers, and she couldn’t be happier to get the summer started…

That was until she met up with her best friend in the whole world, Willow, in front of her new cabin with a somber look on her face. Buffy knew that face, and just knew that she was not going to like whatever was on the other side of that door.

She tentatively pushed opened the door and saw, to her horror, Cordy, flanked by Harmony and Kennedy, unpacking her things to set up her bed. She was going to be stuck for a whole summer sharing a cabin with none other than the leader of the stupid trio Cordelia Chase. Her good mood plummeted and she slowly backed away with Willow in tow.

“I can’t freaking believe this!” Buffy shouted as they walked away from her new cabin, which had now become her personal hell.

“Buffy, it’s ok…” Willow tried to soothe Buffy’s frayed nerves, but clearly Buffy was having none of it right now.

“Ok? Ok?! How is this ok?! This was supposed to be the best summer ever mostly because we were finally rid of those awful excuses for human beings! How is it humanly possible that I am stuck living with Cordelia Chase again after 6 summers of her crap!” Buffy wondered what Miss Jensen, the camp’s head director, could have against her. “She knows how bad they tortured us, while making our lives miserable! Why would she do this to me? Why?!”

Buffy huffed, and puffed, and plopped down on a rock by the lake, wallowing in self-pity. Willow tentatively sat down next to her irate friend and wrapped her arm around her shoulders.

“It’ll be ok, I’m sure Miss Jensen had a good reason for what she did. We’ll just have to talk to her.”

Buffy turned to glare at Willow with a face that said ‘no friggin way,’ and proceeded to have her pity party of one. Buffy and Willow had been best friends forever, and when Willow’s mother decided to send Willow away to camp in New Hampshire, a million miles away from Sunnydale California, she begged for Buffy to go along with her. So the two little California girls at the ripe age of 10 were whisked away from the California sunshine to spend the summer at an all girl sleep away camp in the mountains of New Hampshire. After the first few rocky days the girls ended up really falling in love with the camp: the people, the scenery, and the atmosphere. It wasn’t good old California, but it was a nice reprieve from the parents for two months every summer, and it only brought the girls closer.

The only downside of every summer was living with the bitch ditz trio: Cordelia Chase, Harmony Kendall, and Kennedy Vanderbilt. They were all snobby, private school, spending daddy’s money, vapid whores. Cordelia, the ringleader, was the worst. She was Miss Socialite in New York, and you’d think she’d owned the damned world from the way she talked. Her minion Harmony was a ditzy, brainless, skank from L.A., who couldn’t function without Cordelia telling her what to do. She was just a mindless minion, but it didn’t mean that Buffy liked her any better. Kennedy was cruel. She was a private school brat, also, from Connecticut and thought the sun shone out of her ass. Whatever Kennedy wanted, she got. Her parents had oodles of money, so she came every summer with her designer outfits, regardless if the camp had a uniform or not. Still Kennedy had money which helped Cordelia and her to become fast friends. Their favorite pastime became harping on Buffy and Willow for not being rich, not having the designer clothes, not having the maids and butlers, and having to shop at, god forbid, department stores.

Cordy was always putting Willow and Buffy down just for the sheer fun of it. They were insignificant specks to her, but appearances had to be kept so the trio acknowledged the two California girls with disdain, unless a counselor or director was around, and then they played the fake friends act. It was nauseating.

For 6 summers the trio tortured Willow and Buffy, but Buffy had had enough. This was it. This was her summer to spend with her best friend, possibly break a rule or two, and have the best time of her life. There was no way she was letting the trio get to her and ruin her summer! Buffy abruptly stood up from her reminiscing of past insults and tears, then stormed toward the cabin. This was it. She was going to put Cordy in her place, and make sure that she would get the summer she had been wanting and looking forward to. She got to the door and froze right outside. Willow just looked at Buffy, terrified for her, not knowing what she was gonna do.

“Buffy, what are you doing?” Willow tentatively asked.

“I’m going to put Cordy in her place,” Buffy turned her head to face Willow, “I think?”

At that moment Kennedy walked out the cabin door pushing Buffy out of the way followed by Harmony and Cordy.

Cordy pushed her way to the front and said, “Well look at what we have here girls. It’s the drab fab twins. How nice. Ready for another summer of “fun” girls?” The sarcasm was dripping from her lips like slime.

“Bite me Cordy” Buffy snorted.

“Excuse me?” Cordy asked with all the nonchalance in the world like Buffy’s words had no effect on her.

“I said bite me,” Buffy said with a little more conviction.

Cordy turned around to face Harmony and Kennedy, then mocked, “Aw Harm, Ken, look. Buffy thinks she’s grown a backbone. How cute.” The disdain was oozing out of her as she pushed past Buffy and Willow, not even dignifying her remark with any further comment.

Buffy stormed into the cabin fuming as she threw herself down on the bed, which had yet to be made. Surrounded by all of her bags and belongings, Buffy grabbed Mr. Gordo, her stuffed pig, out of the pile and hugged him close as she began to sulk again. Try as she might to be tough for some reason, Cordy always got to her. She wasn’t like this normally. She was feisty, honest, and usually said what came to mind in her quirky Buffy way. Yet with Cordy she always froze.

After moving some of the unpacked bags around, Willow sat down next to her on the bed and sighed. At a loss for words, Willow decided to try and change the mood and asked, “You wanna go take a walk around the lake? Get some sunshiny goodness?”

“Ya, ok” Buffy mumbled.

She put Mr. Gordo down and slowly got up, dragging her feet behind her. Willow wrapped her arm around Buffy’s shoulder again as they walked out of the cabin. She felt like such a loser for not being able to stand up to Cordy for what must have been the umpteenth time. They slowly started walking around the perimeter of the lake. Lake Thorndike was beautifully set right at the base of Mt. Monadnock, which Buffy and Willow had proudly climbed every summer, which was one of their camp rituals after all. The lake was a beautiful blue surrounded by lots of trees. About a half a mile in was a tiny island called Sage’s Island that the counselors told campers ghost stories about. On the right side of the lake was the all boys’ camp: Camp Kingswood. Other than that, nothing marred Willow and Buffy’s view of the lake and the familiar mountain in the distance.

As they were walking along the path enjoying the sun, they heard noises coming from the swim dock area. It seemed that the new maintenance men were putting up the lane lines and fixing up the dock a little before all the campers showed up the next day. Willow and Buffy looked out into the water at the new maintenance men. The only men allowed on camp grounds did the maintenance work and the girls were not to socialize with them. They were usually foreign and kept to themselves, but the girls couldn’t help but take a peek.

Willow’s eyes traveled to a tall, rugged man with a five o'clock shadow, glasses, and dark brown hair put up the lanes lines. She was getting a little flushed at seeing how attractive this maintenance man was compared to the others she’d seen before. The biggest difference being that he looked young. Before she could be caught staring, she picked up her pace a little.

Buffy eyed a white blond head that was attached to a very muscular body that was crouched down painting the dock. His left side was facing her, so she couldn’t really see his face, but he was shirtless and oh what a yummy sight. He slowly turned his head and looked at her, and that’s when she froze. The most startlingly blue eyes she’d ever seen in her life were staring straight back at her, boring into her soul. She panted heavily for a few moments dumb-struck by this hottie of Hotness Town staring at her, and then she eeped before she started walking again without taking her eyes off of him.

Willow hadn’t noticed Buffy had stopped walking with her, lost in her thoughts of rugged men in glasses, when she turned and saw Buffy about to walk right into a tree, not paying attention.

“Buffy look…!” Willow screamed, but it was too late.

Buffy was so engrossed in staring at Mr. Blue Eyes that she never saw the tree right in front of her.

“OOMPH” was all Buffy got out as she fell smack on her back never having heard Willow’s warning.

She turned beet red, covered her face with her hands for a second, and then mouthed to Willow in silent panic, “Oh my god get me outta here!”

Willow rushed over to help Buffy stand up, and ran away from the docks to get further up the path as fast as their 16 year old limbs would take them, which was pretty far considering the motivation behind Buffy’s mortification.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Meanwhile back at the docks

Wesley looked up from his work in the water setting up the lines when he heard a loud thud, not knowing that it was Buffy hitting the ground. He turned to Spike and asked, “What was that noise?”

Spike just smirked looking at Wesley, “Crazy chit just walked herself right into a tree.”

Wesley jumped out of the water to see if she was alright, but the girls had already upped and left. Wesley turned stern eyes to Spike and said, “Why didn’t you see if she was alright? Did you see what happened? Do you know why she walked into said tree?”

“Saw something she liked I guess,” Spike answered, completely ignoring the first part of Wesley’s question. It wasn’t his job to care for the girls, just the campgrounds, so if some crazy bint walks into a tree cause she’s too busy ogling him to watch where she’s going well, good riddance. ‘All the girls here are snobby rich bitches, doesn’t matter to me what happens to ‘em’ Spike thought to himself even as he simultaneously thought ‘but what a pretty chit that one was’.

Wesley just rolled his eyes at his friend and got back in the water to finish putting up the lane lines.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

On the other side of the lake

Buffy and Willow were sitting on a large rock in the shade so that they were hidden from view. Buffy relayed her embarrassment to Willow, who hadn’t known what had distracted Buffy enough to make her walk into a tree.

“Oh my god, Willow, I’m so embarrassed. I was staring at the hottest guy I’ve ever seen in my entire life and what do I do? I walk right into a TREE! He probably thinks I’m klutzilla. Oh my god, I’ll never be able to look him in the face again. Oh, but that face. He’s not human, I swear. He’s way too hot for one person to be. It’s not natural.” Even in her embarrassment Buffy couldn’t help but swoon a little. He really was the hottest guy she’d ever seen, and he had the nicest eyes and the sharpest cheekbones, all that just made her all melty.

“Buffy, I’m sure it’s ok. I bet he didn’t even notice,” Willow tried to placate her friend a little, understanding her embarrassment.

“Didn’t notice?! He was staring right at me when it happened!” Buffy threw her head in her hands shaking her head back and forth in misery.

Willow just rubbed her back in a soothing gesture, waiting for her breathing to even out as she collected herself. She felt bad for Buffy. If it’d been her, she’d been just as mortified, so as the dutiful best friend she was she just sat there supporting her best friend with her presence and a comforting hand on her back. The girls sat in comfortable silence after Buffy calmed down some and stared out into the peaceful blue water.

“Some start to the perfect summer, huh?” Buffy asked Willow. She was no longer feeling her chipper mood from earlier when she had first stepped back on the campgrounds.

Willow sighed. “It’s only the first day. It’s bound to only go up from here!”

Buffy smiled at Willow’s optimism. She loved that about her best friend. “Thanks Will,” and she leaned in giving her a hug for her unwavering support, even in the dour mood that she was in so far today.

They got up, and started walking back towards Buffy’s cabin where she still had to unpack all her stuff. Willow being the eager beaver she was, was already set up in her bunk awaiting the arrival of her campers the next day. They avoided the lakefront at all costs walking back to Buffy’s cabin. Cutting through the gymnastics area right by it, they bumped into someone they’d never seen before.

“Hi,” the two girls said simultaneously.

“Hey, I’m Faith.”

“I’m Buffy, and this is Willow,” Buffy pointed to Willow, who smiled while giving a small wave.

“Hey, I’m kinda new around here. Think you could show a girl where the cabin, Sleepy Hollow, is?” Faith asked.

“Oh it’s right over here, you just passed it. I’m staying there too! What room are you in? I’m in room 2-3. It’s the whole downstairs floor, which means I’ll have a lot of campers, and I’m kinda nervous, but really excited…” Willow flushed bright red in all her excitement and obvious embarrassment at babbling, her natural reaction to nervousness.

“Whoa, slow down there. Willow was it?”

Willow nodded still a lovely shade of red, closely matching her hair color.

“No worries, Will. It’s five-by-five. I’m in room 7. You two think you can show me where that is?” Faith asked in a teasing tone hoping to convey to Willow that it was cool she was nervous and got overexcited.

Buffy gave a little laugh, used to Willow’s nervousness and babbling. “Sure, no problem,” she said.

The three girls turned away from the lake and headed towards Sleepy Hollow. Buffy pointed up ahead, “See that big house-looking building?” She saw Faith nod. “That’s Sleepy Hollow. It’s the original camp building which is why it looks different than the other cabins. I’m staying in Cracker Barrel.” She pointed to the right. “It’s the old dining hall. Kinda weird to be sleeping in the old kitchen,” Buffy said with a slanted smile on her face.

“Damn B, you’re like a regular old camp brochure,” Faith said with a laugh.

Buffy shrugged, “I used to give tours as a camper, guess it’s just ingrained in me now to give historical stuff too.” Buffy laughed.

The three girls walked into the cabin and up the stairs to where room 7 was located. Willow and Buffy let Faith walk in first to get a good look around. “Damn. Kinda small, but at least I won’t be having 50 rug rats like Willow over here,” Faith said with laughter in her voice.

Willow smiled, “It’s nice. Cozy. You really get to know your campers since you only get 3.”

Faith staked out the layout a little further, then claimed the single bed by the window, her stuff having already been brought in by the maintenance crew. Buffy and Willow sat down on the other single bed that would eventually be occupied by the counselor.

“So, B, where you two from?”

“We’re both from Sunnydale, California,” Buffy said questioningly. “How did you know we’re from the same place?”

“Oh it’s obvious enough that you and Willow have been buds since diaper land,” Faith said with a smirk.

Willow and Buffy giggled at Faith’s joke. She was right, so who were they to deny her that little quip. Willow asked, “What about you?”

“I’m from Boston. Not far from here. Love the city life, but ‘rents told me to get a job for the summer, so why not get some R&R in the woods, right?”

Willow said, “I don’t know how much ‘R&R’ you’re going to get with helping teach day activities, campers, supervising evening activities and such, but CITs do get some free time to hang out together. And we’re off by 9 so that’s not so bad, I guess.”

“Ugh, except for the part about having to wake up at 6:30 the next morning,” Buffy moaned. She loved camp, she did, but Buffy and mornings were just unmixy things.

“That gives us more than enough time to raise a little hell,” Faith said with a gleam in her eye.

“Hell?” Willow said in panic. “I don’t do hell. I do…you know…non-hell things,” Willow said with a slight grimace at how pathetic that sounded.

Buffy put a comforting hand on Willow’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Wills. We’ll work our way up to raising hell,” Buffy said with a smile, and a slight gleam in her eye, which made Willow nervous.

“What do you mean, work our way up?!” Willow squeaked.

“Come on Willow, it’s our first summer as CITs! We’re no longer campers! We have to break some rules. It’s like a code or something. Like as teenagers or whatever, who are away from their parents for the summer. We can do anything!” Buffy said a little overzealously.

“Yeah, B!” Faith agreed whole-heartedly.

Willow still looked a little nervous, but nodded slowly. Buffy squeezed her with a hug. “You won’t regret this, Wills, I promise! And we won’t do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

Willow felt a little better after that, knowing Buffy wouldn’t push her. Buffy was grateful for her best friend, but she was determined to get her to come out of her shell a little. Buffy planned to have a summer of fun with her best friend at her side. So what if they broke a few rules? It wasn’t like they were going to commit murder, but sneaking out and staying out past curfew did have its appeal. Inside, Buffy smiled an evil little smirk to herself, ‘Nervousness be damned. The best summer ever is about to be had, no matter what!’

After Willow felt better, the three girls talked while unpacking Faith’s stuff. The three eased into a comfortable camaraderie, and had lots to talk about. Faith followed Buffy and Willow back to Cracker Barrel to unpack Buffy’s things. Thankfully, Cordelia hadn’t come back yet, so they had the cabin to themselves.

It took all day to finish unpacking the two girls and setting up the rooms to their liking. By the time they were finished it was time to head to dinner. Since camp wasn’t officially open until the next day, the dining hall consisted of only a few tables for the counselors and CITs. The camp directors sat at their own small table at the head of the dining hall like usual, but otherwise the place was fairly empty without all the campers. The rest of the tables wouldn’t be put out until the following morning.

There were two tables for CITs. Buffy and Willow scrambled to sit on the opened end of the one not being commandeered by the trio. Faith shrugged and followed the two girls not getting their weird behavior about the tables. While sitting down Faith asked, “What’s with the weird name for the mess hall. RoyKit? Someone lose a bet?”

Buffy laughed, “It’s a combination of Miss Jensen’s parents’ names. Weird, I know, but you get used to it,” she finished, shrugging.

Food in the dining hall was served family style, and the three girls were ravenous having not eaten since they got there.

“Damn, that’s some good eating for camp food,” Faith said between mouthfuls.

“Ya, Lorne’s the best. He’s been the cook here for ages. Just wait till taco night. Everyone goes crazy!” Buffy laughed, thinking of antics on past taco nights.

At that moment the dining hall doors opened, and in walked the 5 maintenance men that would be taking care of the camp grounds for the summer. Usually the guys weren’t allowed to eat with the girls, they ate beforehand with the servers, but it being the first night the directors had Okayed it. Being late was usually greatly frowned upon, and an apology usually had to be given to the directors, but not tonight. Tonight everyone got a free pass on lateness.

The first one to walk in was medium height with dark hair. The girls heard him talking and could hear that he had a thick Irish brogue. The guy he was talking to was tall, slender, and dark skinned, with a thin black moustache gracing his top lip. Behind them was a dark skinned man with a baldhead and a big smile. He was currently conversing with the man that had caught Willow’s eye at the docks. Bringing up the rear behind all four of them, walking in with a swagger like he owned the place, was none other than Mr. Blue Eyes himself.

Buffy immediately sank down in her seat and turned a bright shade of red that rivaled the color of Willow’s hair. Willow looked over at her sympathetically, but blushed herself at seeing tall, tan, and rugged. Faith looked inquisitively at the two girls for a moment, but then her eyes set on a much more scrumptious sight.

As Spike sauntered into the room he saw the girl from earlier in the day by the docks, and a huge smirk planted itself on his face. Luckily she was in his path on the way to they guys’ table. As he drew closer to their table, Buffy sunk down even lower. Just as he was passing by her, he slowed down and leaned over to whisper, “How’s tha’ head o’ yours, luv?” When she slunk down to almost non-existence, his smirk grew ever wider as he walked away.

Faith and Willow just stared bug eyed at Buffy, for two completely different reasons. Faith, because she was beyond curious and needed to know what just happened, and Willow because she had honestly thought that maybe he hadn’t seen her hit that tree. Now, she just felt a little sorry for getting her friends’ hopes up.

“Alright, B, come outta there and tell us what’s up?”

Buffy slowly inched her face above the table, and got back into a sitting position, calming down a little when she saw that the object of her extreme uncomfortableness had his back to their table. Then she put her head in her hands saying over and over ‘oh my god, oh my god.’

Willow took pity on Buffy and her inability to speak to tell Faith what had occurred earlier down at the lakefront.

“Damn, B!”

Buffy instantly looked up at Faith, eyes pleading with her not to say anything further. Faith just smirked and leaned over the table to whisper to her, “Good taste, but will someone tell me who talk, dark and chocolate is?” Faith licked her lips and let her eyes travel over to the guys’ table.

Buffy calmed down even further seeing how the conversation had turned away from her embarrassment, but then flushed a little at Faith’s comment.

Buffy whispered back, “Those are the maintenance men, but we aren’t really allowed to talk to them.” Faith looked at Buffy incredulously. Buffy shrugged simply stating, “Camp rule.”

“Oh, that is one rule I definitely plan on breaking,” Faith said with a leer not even looking at Buffy.

Buffy flushed a little, but Willow started spluttering and getting very nervous. “Th-that’s not p-part of the raising h-hell…is it?” she stammered. When Faith didn’t respond, but just turned her head to give Willow a look that clearly said, ‘are you crazy of course that’s what I’m talking about,’ Willow began to panic again and her gaze started drifting away towards the guys’ table in fear.

“Relax, Wills. It’s ok.” Buffy was worried about how much Willow was overreacting, but then she saw where Willow’s look had landed and a big smile graced her face. “I don’t think I’m the only one who gets all nervous and fidgety when I see a certain maintenance man, am I, Willow?

Willow abruptly turned back around to face Buffy slack jawed. She then proceeded to do an excellent impression of a goldfish, opening and closing her mouth at a loss for words. Buffy and Faith leaned back a little smirking and grinning.

“So, we going for it? ‘Cause I know I sure as hell am,” Faith said looking back over at the men eating their dinner and talking, unknowing of the conversation going on between the three girls.

Buffy flushed again and mumbled, “I dunno…” and trailed off not able to finish her thought.

“Come on B, you said you wanted the best summer ever! Going after what you want can only make it better. Besides he’s a total hottie.”

Buffy glared at Faith commenting on her hotness monster.

“Whoa, B. Calm down with the possessiveness. He’s your hottie. I’m just appreciating.” When the glare continued Faith held up her hands in supplication. “He’s all yours. I got my eyes on that luscious chocolate bar over there.” When she saw Buffy smile and then start to giggle, she started to relax.

Willow on the other hand was still panicking and still not comprehending if Buffy just agreed to go after one of the maintenance men. She looked at Buffy pleadingly for an answer to her confusion. Buffy just smiled at her, shrugged, and said, “You only live once.” Willow still looked nervous, although she had calmed down some. Coming up with a plan Buffy conceded to Willow’s shyness a little bit. “Ok Wills, all you gotta do is try to talk to the guy. That’s your goal.”

Faith looked at Buffy a little stunned. “Goal? We have goals now?” She smirked a little when she asked.

“Well, I figured if we’re gonna go for it we’re gonna go for it, right?” Faith just nodded smiling. Willow still looked nervous. “We’ll make a pact to accomplish all our ‘summer fun’ goals in the 8 weeks we have here. Will yours is to at least talk to your guy.” She looked at Willow using Willow’s own patented resolve face against her. She knew she could do nothing but concede to Buffy’s idea when she was in this mood. “My goal is to…um…” thinking hard, Willow interrupted, “get a kiss!” with a smug look on her face. Buffy got to make Willow’s goals so why couldn’t Willow make Buffy’s? Buffy smiled a little nervously, but nevertheless agreed.

Faith added in her two cents by saying, “My goal is for some chocolate covered lovin’.” Buffy and Willow just stared at Faith in shock at her boldness. Faith just laughed and said, “What? I know what I want, and he is definitely it. Want. Take. Have.”

After the initial shock wore off Buffy and Willow just looked at each other shrugging. It was her goal not theirs, so they agreed. They finished eating dinner talking and laughing about more mundane topics than hot maintenance men.

With smiles on their faces, and laughter in their voices, the 3 new friends headed back to their respective cabins to turn in for the night. Even though it was early, it had been a long and interesting day, and tomorrow would only be longer with the arrival of the campers and their parents. Buffy lay down to sleep. She wasn’t even bothered anymore by the presence of Cordy on the other side of the cabin. She closed her eyes, and dreamt of bright blue eyes with a smile on her face.

The next morning started bright and early, at 8 am. The CIT’s and counselors got ready for the arrival of the campers. The camp officially opened at 10 am, but there were always people showing up sooner so everything was to be ready by 9 am sharp. Willow, Buffy, and Faith all got assigned together at the sign up table. The three of them would be sitting at the top of the drive welcoming all the campers, checking them in, and giving out bunk assignments.

Willow sat down at the table overly eager, awaiting the arrival of the campers. Buffy and Faith, on the other hand, were dragging their feet, as they headed towards the table.

Faith turned to face Buffy and asked, as they trudged up the drive to join Willow, “What’s up with the Energizer Bunny up there? How is it humanly possible that she is this peppy this early in the morning?”

Buffy just shrugged and smiled, “It’s Will’s thing.”

After Faith and Buffy finally made it to the table the three set up shop to get ready to greet the first campers that arrived. Despite the earliness of the hour, Willow’s peppiness and the arrival of the first few campers started to liven up Buffy and Faith’s moods.

About an hour after the official opening of the camp there was a lull in the amount of campers arriving, and the girls began talking about the activities they would be assisting with.

“Faith, what classes are you going to be helping with?” Willow asked excitedly. The arrival of the campers and the beginning of the summer was making her overly giddy.

“Let’s see.” Faith pulled out a slip of paper from her bra. Willow and Buffy just stared at her: Willow in shock; Buffy with a question in her eyes. “What? These lame ass uniform shorts don’t come with pockets. Whatta you want from me?” Buffy shrugged and Willow sniggered. Faith rolled her eyes and opened the paper. “Ok, I got first period free, then water skiing for two periods, and then after lunch I got gymnastics for two.”

She looked up at the two girls to see if they had any comments on her schedule. Buffy got an excited look in her eye then said, “Oh I have first period free too. And… uh…” she pulled out her schedule and looked it over quickly, confirming her thoughts. “I knew it! I have gymnastics fourth period too,” she said with a dazzling smile.

“What else you got?” Faith asked.

“Uh, let’s see. Soccer second, swim third, and archery fifth.”

Willow squealed, “Ooh… Ooh! I have swim third too! Yayness!”

“Looks like we each have some activities together. That’s definitely of the good,” Buffy said with a big smile. “What else you got Wills?”

Willow ticked off her other activities from memory, having already, and yet very eagerly memorized her schedule. “I have kayaking first, then a free, then swimming with you, tutoring after rest hour, and kayaking again before dinner.”

“You’re tutoring? It’s the middle of the summer. What kid wants to be tutored during their summer vacation?” Faith asked incredulously.

Willow answered factually, “Some of the parents like their kids to continue getting help through the summer to get them ready for the fall. It also helps them retain the information they learned during the year by continually applying it over the summer.”

“Damn, you must really love school Willow,” Faith said.

“You have no idea,” was Buffy’s answer with a smile in her voice. Her best friend loved school. It was most definitely a Willow thing, but Buffy was more action girl. She played sports and ran. This was how she got through the school year without going insane from all the classes and learning.

“Hey, Faith, since we both have first period free you wanna go for a morning run with me?” Faith looked at Buffy a little confused knowing full well that neither of them were morning people. “It wakes me up, and I feel better when I run. Gets me ready for the day you know. It’s like insta-wakey Buffy.”

Faith just shrugged and smiled saying, “Sure, why not, got nothing else to do.”

The three girls smiled and turned to face the onslaught of new arrivals.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A couple hours later, there was another lull and the girls were hungry. Their replacements were due to arrive in fifteen minutes so they could go have lunch.

“Ugh, I’m starving,” Buffy whined.

“I see some scrumptious on its way here,” Faith smirked and pointed with her head to the maintenance men’s pickup truck that was about to pass by their table. The truck had been back and forth all day bringing the campers trunks to their cabins passing by the girls table every half hour or so.

Now that they had some down time, Buffy was able to glance at the truck looking for her hottie. She saw him with his back to her, ‘and what a nice back’ she thought to herself (she could tell even through the t-shirt), sitting in the truck bed. When they were passing directly parallel with the girls table, he turned around like he knew someone was watching him, caught Buffy’s eye and winked. She immediately slumped down in her seat, having been caught staring, her face flaming.

Buffy turned pleading, embarrassed eyes to Faith and Willow, but all Faith said was, “Nice going, B,” and laughed.

Embarrassment gone in a flash, Buffy sat up straight and huffed in indignation, “Whatever, Faith. I didn’t see you do any better.”

“Oh I’m just scopin’ out the area. I’ll be layin’ down the groundwork in no time,” Faith said with a leer as she watched the truck continue down the path.

At that moment, Cordy and the rest of the trio came into view of the table and Buffy’s good mood immediately dissipated. In all the time they’d been chatting, Willow and Buffy had yet to tell Faith about the evilness that was the bitch ditz trio. Faith could tell that her two new friends were uncomfortable as these 3 girls she recognized from the dining hall, but hadn’t met, walked towards their table. The closer they got, the smaller the two girls next to her tried to become. Faith was confused, but determined to stand by her friends against whoever these people thought they were. Faith wasn’t intimidated. She’d seen worse.

The trio approached the three girls, Cordy standing out in front. Harmony was flanked on her left; Kennedy on her right. “Alright losers it’s time for you to leave and go unpack the campers.” She said this directly to Willow and Buffy, not even acknowledging Faith’s presence. That immediately pissed Faith off.

“Excuse me?! What the hell did you just call us?”

“Oh. You. New girl. Guess you missed the memo on who’s worth talking to around here. FYI, you hang out with these two,” Cordy pointed to Willow and Buffy who hung their heads lower, which really pissed Faith off, “that automatically makes you a loser.”

“Guess I did. Must have also missed the one that said they allowed dogs on campgrounds. ‘Cause all I see standing in front of me are a bitch and her two mangy mutts,” Faith shot right back.

Buffy and Willow laughed seeing the incredulous look on Cordy’s face. Kennedy scoffed while Harmony just glared at the three of them. Cordy looked stunned for a moment and Faith just smiled and barked at her, which made Buffy and Willow laugh harder. No one ever stood up to Cordelia Chase; least of all insulted her to her face. Cordy’s solution to this problem was to ignore Faith like she didn’t exist and turned back to face Willow and Buffy.

“Shoo little girls, you’re in our way.” Willow and Buffy started to get out of the way, not wanting to deal with Cordelia, when Faith held her hand up.

“I’m sorry, who died and made you Queen of the world?” Faith said.

Cordy turned to face Faith, but addressed her like she was a small, slow child. “It’s 1 o’clock. We’re supposed to switch jobs. Now run along and put those man arms to work unpacking the little campers.” And with that Cordy sat down, and waved to Harmony and Kennedy to do the same.

Dumbfounded by her new friends’ actions, or lack thereof, Faith started picking up her stuff, glaring at Willow and Buffy over their shoulder as they did the same. At that time, the rumble from the maintenance pickup truck could be felt coming up the drive and Willow, Faith, and Buffy all turned to watch it drive by. Harmony being more perceptive than usual saw the look Buffy was giving the blonde one who had his back turned to them. An evil smile spread over her face.

Harmony started laughing manically. All five of the girls turned to look at her. When her laughter finally died down, the evil smile was back, making Willow and Buffy uncomfortable.

Indicating Buffy with a nod of her head, Harmony said, in an irritating baby voice, “Aw, how cute. Buffy’s got a wittle cwush.”

The evil smile planted itself on Cordy and Kennedy’s face, and Buffy gulped audibly. “Is that right?” Kennedy said, evil oozing out of her.

Harmony nodded her head, and Cordy smiled wider saying, “Well isn’t that just… precious. Fawning over the hired help? How… charitable of you? Too bad you’re too much of a prude to put out, or so Angel says.” Cordy paused to watch Buffy cringe at her words. “I bet even someone as low on the totem pole as him wouldn’t want you.” Kennedy and Harmony roared with laughter. Buffy turned bright red and looked down at her feet. Faith was fuming, and Willow looked so sad for her friend.

Harmony said, “Besides even if he was desperate enough, he would want a real woman, not a little girl,” and just like the slut she was, she flipped her hair back indicating herself as just the woman for the job.

Faith armed with her comeback said, “And aren’t you the picture of womanhood with your hair in pigtails and a lollipop in your mouth.”

Harmony looked around her, then at Cordy and Kennedy looking for help. She didn’t understand Faith’s comment. She thought she looked great.

Faith rolled her eyes and thought ‘genius this one.’ Out loud she said, “Whatever, let’s get outta here.” She turned away from the trio and walked away without a backwards glance. Buffy and Willow scrambled with the rest of their stuff, and quickly followed suit.

They walked back to their cabins in silence, and parted ways to help their new campers unpack.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

At the welcome back dinner, the first thing Buffy said was, “I’ll tell you all about the trio and the Angel comment, but after dinner. I don’t wanna do this here.” Faith nodded and the three girls chatted lightly throughout the meal.

After dinner the campers were split up into pairs: an old camper with a new one to get acquainted with the camp, giving the CIT’s and counselors a couple hours to themselves. Willow, Faith, and Buffy decided to take a walk around Wa-Klo’s part of the lake. They eventually ended up on Turtle Rock by the windsurfing dock. It’s where Buffy went to think, she’d already been there once already this summer, and it was only the second day. She sighed as she sat down, still not saying anything.

Impatience started to overwhelm Faith and she blurted out, “What’s the deal B?”

Another deep breath, and a supportive pat on the back from Willow, and Buffy was ready to talk. “Ok. So Cordy and I have been like mortal enemies since the first day of camp 6 years ago. It was her second summer, and Willow and mine’s first. We were all in the same cabin and Cordy decided that since she was the ‘experienced camper’ she would tell us what to do, and we would follow her, except we didn’t. Back then I was able to stand up to her, but when Kennedy and Harmony came the next summer that ended. The three of them started ganging up on me and Willow all the time, and it’s just like when someone tells you you’re worthless enough times… you start to believe them.” Buffy looked up at Faith with sad eyes. “It’s not like I enjoy this. I freaking hate how I act around her. I’m not like this with anyone, but her, but it’s like I can’t help it you know?” Faith nodded slightly understanding more than she knew.

“I get that, B.” Buffy looked at Faith in surprise hearing the understanding in her voice. Faith sighed and began the shortened version of her sordid tale. “Look, I’m adopted, but before then I lived with my real parents till I was about 10. They always told me what a loser I was and how I’d amount to nothing, and I believed them. Too bad I didn’t realize that they were drugged-out, drunk ass losers and not me, but then I was taken away and given to a good family. Now… everything’s five-by-five.” Faith told Willow and Buffy all this while looking down at the rock not meeting their eyes. They could tell that not all the pain was gone, but glad that their new friend was in a better place.

A feeling of understanding washed over the group. Faith looked up again right at Buffy and said, “This has gotta end. You gotta stand up to her, B.”

Willow got a wide-eyed look as an idea came to her. “You could make it goal number two for the summer!”

Buffy looked incredulously over at Willow, “And what about you, huh? You don’t have to help? I don’t see you standing up to Miss Stick Up Her Ass anytime soon.”

Willow looked a little sheepish then tentatively said, “Oh-okay. I’ll h-help.”

“That’s the spirit, Willow!” Faith shouted as she slapped a hand on her back.

Willow was still a little nervous, but Buffy was right. She’d been bullied just as must as Buffy had, and it was time for her to stand up to the trio too. She just wasn’t going to tell Buffy that she was going to wait for her to go first.

With a smile and understanding the three girls started heading back to their cabins. Faith stopped abruptly and said, “Hey wait. What about that Angel guy Queen Bitch mentioned? What was that about?”

Buffy got a little nervous, but pulled Willow and Faith off the path so she had a little more privacy to tell this story. She did say she would tell Faith.

One deep breath and she was ready to begin. In a hurried whisper she said, “Ok, long story short. Angel was the guy I was kinda seeing 2 summers ago. You know, summer romance and all that hooey? Lies! I thought he was all tall, dark, and mysterious. Nope. Turns out he’s a grade-A asshole. He goes to the all guys’ camp across the lake, and I met him at the first dance last summer. He seemed sweet and caring. We started a thing, but it wasn’t really anything. Just a thing you know, and well…” Buffy trailed off choosing her next words carefully. “After the second dance we snuck away to make out behind one of the cabins, and it was fine. A little wet, but it was my first kiss so at the time I thought it was amazing. At the third and final dance we snuck off again, but Angel got a little too feely and I didn’t like it. I pushed him away and told him to stop. He grabbed me and started kissing me again and feeling me all over, and by then I really didn’t like it. I shoved him away and slapped him. He yelled at me called me a tease and prude, and then stormed off,” as Buffy said this Willow wrapped her arm around Buffy’s shoulder.

Willow continued the story. “I found her about 5 minutes later crying behind the cabin. Angel had stormed back into the dance shouting about how awful a kisser she was and how she was a tease.” At that point the two girls heard a sniffle come from Buffy, and Willow gave her a squeeze with the arm wrapped around her shoulder holding her closer.

After a few moments of silence, Buffy finally spoke up again. “Last summer, Cordy started seeing Angel. When that happened, Cordy’s taunting got so much worse. It was awful,” and with that Buffy was silent again.

Faith gave them a few minutes to comfort each other, and then put a hand on each of their shoulders creating a triangle out of them. She cleared her throat so the other two girls would look up at her, and when she had their attention she said, “We’ll make that goal number three.” When Buffy and Willow looked confused, Faith smiled and continued. “We’ll make getting back at Angel goal number three.”

Buffy and Willow looked shocked. They’d only known Faith for two days, and already she was more than willing to help them get back at the people who had tormented them for years. They couldn’t believe it. They both smiled brightly at Faith not believing their luck in finding such a good friend so fast. Faith shrugged and said a little shyly, “What are friends for?”

After that, they turned back to the path and started heading for the cabins again. It was time to put the campers to bed. Buffy finally broke the comfortable silence by saying, “Guess that really wasn’t a long story short was it?”

“Nope, but you’re getting better,” Willow said.

“Really?” Buffy asked hopefully.

“Oh, ya. Definitely,” Willow said with all the sarcasm in the world.

“Hey! I tried. Buffy and storytelling equal babbling, you know that.”

“Yep,” Willow said it with a pop on the P.

Buffy and Faith laughed as the three girls parted ways to put their campers to bed, and get ready for the first day of activities in the morning.

The next morning started bright and early with the bugle calling reveille at 6:30 am. Buffy rolled out of bed to help get her campers ready for breakfast at 7. She had five very bouncy ten-year-olds who were all pulling for her attention at way too early in the morning. Even so, she had a smile on her face the whole time. She loved kids, and was really excited to be their CIT.

She headed over to the dining hall with her five little campers in tow, with the counselor, Cheryl, trailing behind. She had just flown over from England, and was still a bit jetlagged.

Entering the dining hall the girls followed Cheryl to the cabin’s table. The counselors sat with the campers, and helped serve the food, while the CITs got to sit at their own table, and served themselves.

Buffy sighed as she took a sip of her morning coffee. “Ah, caffeiney goodness,” she hummed with a smile on her face, and closed her eyes enjoying the aroma and the effects of the coffee.

Willow giggled, used to Buffy’s morning rituals, while Faith just cocked her head to the side staring at Buffy oddly.

Buffy finally opened her eyes to see Faith studying her. “What?”

Faith’s odd look turned into a smile. “Nothin, B. You’re just amusing that’s all.”

“Glad I could be of service.” And with that Buffy went back to her own little world containing her and her coffee.

Buffy finally joined the world of the living again after a second cup, and the girls started chatting idly throughout the meal about their new campers. They seemed to be in luck, with each getting a good group of girls.

As breakfast started winding down, Buffy looked over to Faith, saying, “You ready for our morning run?”

The three girls got up and started heading out of the dining hall, and back towards their cabins.

“Sure. Where did you have in mind?”

“Well, I got soccer second period up on the front field, so I thought we could just run laps there today.”

“Sounds good to me. I’ll meet you up there after inspection?”

“Yep.”

And with that, the 3 girls parted ways to help their campers clean the cabins before morning activities, and get them on their way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After the last camper left the cabin, Buffy was finally able to start getting herself ready. She threw a gray sports bra on under her white t-shirt, and slipped on her favorite pair of green Soffe shorts. She put on her running shoes, grabbed a bottle of water, and gathered up her shin guards, knee socks, and cleats for later, and was out the door.

When she got up to the front field Faith still wasn’t there, so she set her things to the side and started to stretch. About five minutes later Faith joined her, and the two girls casually talked while stretching.

Buffy got up, took off her shirt, and was ready to start.

Faith smirked at Buffy.

“What?”

“Didn’t take you as someone who worked out so ‘scantily clad’,” Faith laughed at her own comment.

Buffy rolled her eyes, while pulling her hair up in a high ponytail. “It’s hot out, there’s no one here, and it’s time to work on my summer tan. Why, Faith? Shy?” Buffy challenged.

Faith rose to that challenge, whipped her own shirt off, wearing only a black sports bra similar to Buffy’s, and raised an eyebrow to her.

Buffy just rolled her eyes again, and started jogging around the field. Faith caught up to her after a few strides, and the girls jogged in comfortable silence for a bit. Then, Buffy asked Faith about Boston, and Faith asked about California, and the two girls started to find how much they had in common.

Buffy was in the middle of talking animatedly about her obsession with vampire and supernatural movies, when they were stopped by something blocking their way. The girls looked ahead, and noticed the maintenance men’s truck was sitting right in front of them. The girls stopped jogging and stared at the truck wondering why it was just sitting there.

Buffy looked towards the driver’s seat, and saw her hotness monster staring at her. She cocked her head to the side thinking, ‘Oh my god, is he staring at me? Wait, why is he staring at me?’

And staring he was. Spike was looking Buffy up and down very slowly. She was coated in a light, shiny sheen from her workout. He started at her legs: her slender, tanned, feminine legs. Then, he worked his way up to appreciate her visibly taut stomach that was pushing in and out with the exertion from her running. Next his eyes landed on the swell of her breasts peeking out from the top of her sports bra. He unconsciously licked his lips. His eyes finally settled on her face where she had a deep scowl planted as she glared at him. It only made him hotter to see her mad.

Buffy may think this guy was the hottest thing on two feet, but the way he was staring was not ok. She might ogle, but she had the decency to do it when he wasn’t watching, not like he was looking at her right now like he wanted to eat her. And when he licked his lips, she thought she was going to smack him. When he finally stopped looking at her boobs long enough to realize she had a face, she was beyond pissed.

“Rude much?” spat Buffy.

“Jus’ enjoyin’ the view,” he said with a leer and a raise of both eyebrows.

Despite her anger, Buffy turned away from his piercing eyes and blushed. Then, inwardly kicked herself for having that reaction after his rude behavior. She turned back to look at him, scowl back in place, to see him still leering at her.

She was about to say something else, when Faith addressed the guy sitting in the truck bed interrupting her thoughts.

“Hey there dark chocolate,” Faith said oozing sex appeal.

The guy just sat there stunned not saying anything. Buffy’s mouth gaped open in shock. And then Faith winked at him. He gulped.

Buffy was just staring at Faith in disbelief, when she was brought out of her thoughts by the engine starting up. She instinctively looked back at the driver’s seat.

Spike leaned out of the window a little and said, “See ya ‘round kitten,” and winked at her before driving off.

Buffy was gob smacked by the guy’s behavior, and Faith’s. Faith just had a smug look on her face.

After standing there for a few moments in silence, staring in the direction the truck had gone, Faith elbowed Buffy to get her attention. She nodded ahead of her to indicate that they should resume running. Buffy shook her head to clear her thoughts, and then began to run again. She would think about all of this later, for now she was going to enjoy her run, and wait for the campers to show up.

Faith left early to go change for waterskiing, leaving Buffy alone with her thoughts, while she continued running. All she could think about was his stupid sexy looks, his annoyingly perfect cheekbones, and his obnoxiously swoon worthy British accent. She finally sat down next to her stuff to throw her shirt back on, and change into her cleats and shin guards. She huffed and puffed the whole time, trying not to think of the hot blonde maintenance man.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Soccer went by in a blur, as well as her next activity, swimming. All she could think of all day was the way Spike ogled her body. She went back and forth between angry and flattered. She didn’t know what she felt. All she knew was that every time she thought about him, she got all tingly. ‘Stupid butterflies, what do they know?’

When it was finally lunchtime, Buffy threw herself down at the table in a huff. She told Willow all about what happened, and when Faith finally joined them she was still ranting. Buffy had decided on the fact that she was angry and was holding on to it by a thread. She was being completely irrational, and complained through the whole meal about how rude he was. Willow and Faith tuned her out, and ate their lunch in silence nodding to Buffy when appropriate.

The girls were thankful for rest hour, to finally be away from Buffy, who had really worked herself into a snit. She tried to write a letter to her parents during the downtime, but couldn’t concentrate.

It was finally time for her fourth activity of the day, gymnastics, where she finally decided to put the issue behind her and focus on the campers. ‘Hard to spot the little girls when your mind is elsewhere’ she thought.

Faith noticed her friend had finally calmed down and was smiling again. Glad to know that her moodiness was over, she decided it was safe to talk to her again.

The girls talked some more while helping the campers with their cartwheels until it was time for Buffy to head to archery.

Buffy may be action girl, but when she came to camp she found her true talent: archery. She was the best archer at camp every summer for the past 6 years, after Willow convinced her to sign up for it their first summer on a whim. She was deadly accurate with a bow and arrow, and had amazing concentration, which was odd for Buffy since she was Miss. Impatient.

This year, she got to teach the archery class because she was so good, and she was beyond excited. Her surliness from earlier was completely forgotten in the excitement of teaching the young campers all about the art of the bow and arrow.

Time flew by and before she knew it, it was dinnertime. She met up with Faith and Willow outside the dining hall with a smiling face. They walked inside and sat down at their usual table.

They ate their meals chatting idly about the day’s classes and such. Luckily, Buffy never brought up the menace from the morning again, and stayed in high spirits. That was until she heard the shriek from Cordelia Chase.

Right when Faith was regaling them both about what one of the campers did during gymnastics, they heard Cordy scream. It was this high-pitched nauseating sound, kind of like the way Harmony talked.

Everyone turned to look in her direction. Cordy was sitting there fuming, and her left shoulder was covered in spaghetti sauce. It appeared that when the server brought over more food for the table, she’d tripped and got some on Cordy. Poor server, she had no idea what she was in for.

Everyone else had turned back to their conversations, but Faith, Willow, and Buffy’s eyes were glued to Cordy, and the server, who they were positive was about to get a tongue lashing for what was most likely an honest mistake.

Under her breath, but still loud enough for the three girls to hear Cordy said, “You idiot! You got food on my brand new white silk shirt! Do have any idea how bad that stains?! Your job is simple. You serve the food to the table, not on the people paying your paycheck! Get me some napkins and a sponge now, and I won’t have you fired for your complete incompetence!”

The slim brunette server apologized profusely saying it was an accident, but Cordy glared daggers at her. Kennedy snapped at her, literally, and said, “Hey, moron. Napkins. Sponge. Now!”

The server scampered off, almost in tears to grab napkins to clean Cordy off, and a mop to clean up the mess. Buffy was fuming. It was an honest mistake. The girl tripped, she didn’t do it on purpose, not that it made a difference to Cordy. From the look on Faith’s, and Willow’s faces, they were thinking the same thing.

They saw a different server come out with napkins and a mop, a blonde one this time. That meant that the brunette was most definitely crying in the back because of Cordy’s harsh words. Having been on the wrong end of that more than a few times, Buffy’s heart went out to the girl.

She whispered to the others to stay behind after the meal was over and everyone had left. When everyone was gone they snuck back into the kitchen to see if the girl was ok.

They found her sobbing her eyes out, still apologizing, surrounded by the other 3 servers and Lorne.
Buffy had pushed open the swinging door slowly, as to not startle the group. To get their attention she knocked on the door she was now holding open to announce their presence.

“Hey,” she said tentatively, not sure if their presence would be accepted, or wanted, for that matter.

The blonde server, who had come out after with the napkins and sponge for Cordy, beckoned them forward. “Come in. It’s ok.”

“Hi, Lorne,” Buffy said quietly to the camp cook, and Willow gave him a small wave.

“Hi girls,” he said lacking his usual bravado.

They all stood around for a few moments: the servers and Lorne trying to comfort the upset girl, and Buffy, Faith, and Willow standing their awkwardly.

Buffy finally broke the silence saying quietly, “You know it wasn’t your fault. It was an accident. Things happen.” She slowly walked towards the small group. When she got the brunette’s attention she gave her a small smile.

The brunette sniffled and smiled back. “Thanks,” she said in a sweet, southern accent.

“No problem. Cordy’s a bitch anyway. Besides who the hell wears silk at camp? I mean we’re in the middle of the woods for goodness sake,” Buffy said incredulously, but with a hint of a smile.

That got a giggle out of the girl, and the friends surrounding her sighed and smiled toward Buffy, grateful for easing their friend’s pain.

Buffy took another step forward, “I’m Buffy, by the way. Founder of the ‘We Hate Cordy Club.’ Would you like to join? We have buttons.”

The girl laughed again along with her friends and Faith. Willow leaned over to whisper to Faith, “No, we really do.” This made Faith laugh even harder.

When the laughter died down, Buffy pointed to Willow and Faith, “This is my best friend Willow, and she’s Vice President, and our new friend, and newest member, Faith.” They both smiled and waved to the girl.

“I’m Fred. It’s really nice to meet y’all. It was so sweet of you to come back here and check on me, even if I was a klutz,” Fred said sadly.

“Um, ya. I walked into a tree two days ago. Don’t worry about it.” Buffy blushed thinking again of why she’d walked into that tree.

With that statement, one of the girls gasped. She was about medium height, with dirty blond hair. She seemed sweet, but the gasp made Buffy feel uneasy.

“What?” Buffy asked.

Tentatively, she said, “You’re the girl Spike was talking about the other night. The girl, down by the docks, right?”

Buffy nodded dumbly. She couldn’t believe it. She was so embarrassed. She couldn’t believe he told everyone about her. She felt so stupid. She had no idea what he’d said, but she bet he had laughed about it, and mocked her without shame. She was so mortified. She lowered her head and turned bright red from shame.

The girl noticed Buffy’s change in demeanor, and mentally hit herself in the head. She knew what this girl was thinking. She was 16 once. She took a step around Fred towards Buffy. “It’s ok. He didn’t say anything bad. He just told us what happened, and then he told us how he saw you in the field today.” Buffy’s head sunk lower in horror, even as her heart rate sped up while the girl spoke to her. “I just didn’t realize he was talking about you. It’s not often that a girl catches Spike’s eye,” and with that Buffy’s head whipped up.

She turned around to look at Willow and Faith to see if they heard what she had just heard. Willow’s mouth was hanging open, and Faith was smiling, but the look in her eye said she was just as shocked. She turned around to face the girl again.

“Uh… I… uh, what’s your name? You didn’t give me your name did you?” Buffy panicked.

“I’m Amy.”

“A-Amy. Can you repeat what you just said? Please?”

This question put a smile on Amy’s face. She could tell that Buffy was into Spike by her reaction. If she wasn’t mistaken she would swear Spike was just as into her by the way he went on an on about the silly incident. She could totally tell. Again, she had been 16 once. She remembered that look when lusting after the bad boy. Except, Spike wasn’t really as bad as he thought he was or looked, for that matter, but she wasn’t going to spill his secrets to this little slip of a girl she didn’t know. “You heard me right, but that stays between us girls.” Buffy nodded dumbly again, still in shock.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Lorne decided to break the tension. “So, my little truffles, what are you up to for the rest of the evening, besides hanging out with the help?”

“Hey!” Amy scoffed.

“Oh relax, Amy,” another brunette said. She was standing next to the other blond who they still hadn’t met. “I’m Amanda by the way, and this is my girlfriend, Tara.” Tara waved and smiled to the three girls.

The new introductions knocked Buffy out of her haze, and she smiled and waved back. She would think about the implications of Amy’s comment later. Pushing that to the back of her mind, she said to Lorne, “We have the night off. It’s the counselors’ night for evening activities. We just wanted to see that Fred was ok, which we’re glad you are.”

“Again, it was awfully sweet of y’all, comin’ to see me.”

The three girls smiled at Fred. “No problem. It was really nice to meet you all.” Willow and Faith added in their agreement. “But I guess we should get back to our campers now. It’s getting kind of late.” What Buffy really meant was that she had a lot to think about and discuss with Willow and Faith, and she needed to get out of there before her head exploded.

“It was nice to meet y’all too. Guess we’ll be seein’ you tomorrow for breakfast?” The three girls nodded.

“Well then, don’t be strangers,” Lorne finished with a beaming smile.

The three girls smiled back, and waved as they left.

“They seem really nice,” Fred mused.

“Ya. I’m sure Spike can’t wait to hear that we met the infamous ‘blond chit’ he keeps rambling about,” Amy said.

“Amy, you are so bad. I can’t believe you told that girl Spike’s been talking about her. He’s gonna kill you, you know?” Amanda added.

“Eh, I’d like to see him try, the big softie.”

All of them shared a giggle, including Lorne. They were all used to Spike pretending to be a badass by now. They’d been together a month already. They had to get there early to set up the camp, and at least a few of them had caught him reading poetry or spouting out lyrics on a whim. It was adorable really, but he liked to pretend he was big and bad and they let him. That’s what friends did. And with that Amanda, Tara, and Amy went out to wipe down the tables, while Fred stayed back with Lorne to help clean up the kitchen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It had been quite an eventful day. Buffy still couldn’t believe the roller coaster it had been, and it was only the first full day. From the morning’s run in with Spike to Amy’s comment that night, Buffy was thinking in overload. She had a lot to mull over. When she got back to her cabin she’d laid down even though it was still early, and waited for her campers to come back. When they returned they told her all about the games they played on the field with the rest of the younger campers, and how great their first day was. Buffy was glad the girls seemed to be having a good time, but even Cheryl noticed that Buffy was a little out of it. When Cheryl asked if she was alright, she shook her head, and indicating that she’d talk to her about it later. At that, Cheryl had nodded and retired to her room for the evening.

Buffy got the girls ready for bed, and then laid down again staring up at the ceiling. She now knew his name was Spike, and how weird was that, but also that he had talked about her. Apparently he had talked about her in a non-negative way, or so it had seemed by what Amy said. She was so confused, but she couldn’t help the little smile that graced her face as she fell asleep, a million questions scrambling around her head.

From Previous Chapter
Buffy got the girls ready for bed, and then laid down again staring up at the ceiling. She now knew his name was Spike, and how weird was that, but also that he had talked about her. Apparently he had talked about her in a non-negative way, or so it had seemed by what Amy said. She was so confused, but she couldn't help the little smile that graced her face as she fell asleep, a million questions scrambling around her head.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Earlier that same night

Fred, Tara, Amanda, and Amy walked into the old barn house. They always joined the guys there after work. It was the only place they were allowed to spend time together because the girls and guys lived in separate cabins.

The girls climbed the stairs to the upper level loft with Fred in the lead. The guys were already up there waiting for them. Doyle was sitting on the couch talking with Gunn, while Wes, Spike, and Wood were standing around the pool table playing and chatting. When Gunn saw Fred’s red puffy eyes, he rushed over to her.

“What’s wrong baby? What happened?” Gunn asked worriedly.

Fred wrapped her arms around her boyfriend, and sniffled into his chest. It had been such a long and trying day, and it felt so good to just snuggle into his embrace. After breathing in his scent for a few moments to calm herself, she finally spoke.

“I tripped and spilt food on one of the CITs by accident, and she screamed at me. But I didn’t mean it, honest. It was an accident, but she was just so mean, and I started cryin’ because I felt so bad, even though it was an accident. And it just happened, but then these girls came to see me after, and told me not to worry. And then one of them told me I could join her club, and I thought that was real nice of her, and…” Fred babbled.

“Whoa. Calm down a second, baby. Relax. Take a deep breath,” Gunn said softly, yet sternly. Fred complied, and Gunn watched as she visibly relaxed.

Before Fred could start again, Amy interrupted, “Yeah, and the one with the club was your ‘favorite little chit,’ Spike.”

Spike looked up from the table at that comment. “Oi! What are you on about?” He handed his pool stick over to Wood to take his place, and walked over to where Amy and Doyle were sitting on the couch.

When he was standing right in front of them, he cocked his scarred eyebrow at her waiting for a response. Amy sniggered at the look on his face.

From across the room, Amanda rolled her eyes at Amy’s behavior, and took pity on Spike’s confusion. “Spike, you know the girls Fred mentioned?” He turned to face her, nodded that he understood, and she continued. “Well, one of them was the girl you told us about.” Spike cocked his head to the side still confused, so Amanda added, “From the docks?”

Everyone was focused on the conversation now, and saw the light bulb appear above Spike’s head. His face went through an array of emotions ranging from surprised, to confusion, then finally landed on anger. He turned back around to face Amy, glaring at her.

“What did you do?”

Amy feigned innocence saying, “Nothing,” with a falsely sweet smile. She wasn’t about to tell him anything. She was fully enjoying watching him squirm.

Spike was getting really irritated. “What did you say you evil bint?”

Nobody said anything, and silence fell over the loft. Spike was turning in circles, looking around at everyone incredulously.

Amy had a smug smile plastered on her face. From Spike’s reaction, she knew she was right in her assumptions about Spike’s liking the girl.

The silence was starting to become uncomfortable as Spike continued to fume as everyone refused to speak. No one wanted to rile him up more. To ease some of her uneasiness, Fred leaned over, and whispered in Gunn’s ear, “Amy told Buffy about Spike liking her.” She wasn’t going to rat on Amy, but she felt better after telling her boyfriend.

Gunn tried to hide a snigger, but failed. He knew Spike was going to hit the roof when he found out. He had also surmised as much, about his liking for Buffy, by how fixated Spike had become about “the girl from the docks.” He had mentioned her numerous times in the past few days since the “incident,” but his suspicions were confirmed when he saw the look in Spike’s eye when they happened upon the girls that morning. Spike had this mesmerized, glazed look in his eye as he spoke to her. No matter how much he was going to deny it when it was voiced out loud, Gunn knew Spike’s true feelings. Gunn had only known the guy for a little over a month, but Spike was an easy read, and Gunn was unusually perceptive.

That morning had also brought to light another interesting revelation: his brother was doomed. When the dark haired girl had made that comment to his brother, Wood, he couldn’t help but laugh. He knew Wood was a goner by the look in the girl’s eyes. He could tell she was the type to not stop at anything to get what she wanted. And apparently she wanted Wood. Thinking of the shell-shocked look on his brother’s face, he couldn’t help but laugh at the time, and it made him laugh out loud again.

That time Gunn got Spike’s attention with his sniggering. Spike turned away from glaring at Amy, and arced a speculative eyebrow at him.

“Care to share with the class, mate?” Spike asked, when Gunn said nothing.

Fred burrowed into Gunn’s shoulder, she was afraid that Spike might have overheard what she had whispered to Gunn amidst all the quiet. She did not want to be the one to tell him what Amy said.

Gunn rolled his eyes. ‘Might as well bite the bullet,’ he thought. He took a deep breath then said aloud, “Apparently, Doyle’s girl over there opened her big mouth, and told little Miss Buffy that you got a crush on her.”

Spike balked, “WOT?!... Wait a min’. Her name’s Buffy?” He shook his head back and forth for a second to focus himself. Then he turned back to Amy, and stalked towards her.

“What?” he said in a low, menacing voice. He was furious. She had no right to tell Buffy that. ‘Wait a tick. Who the bleeding ‘ell said I had a crush on the stupid girl? I don’ know what the fuck she’s yammering on ‘bout, but I DO NOT like the bird. Just because she has gorgeous hair and looks like a goddess, and… Oh bollocks,’ Spike inwardly rolled his eyes at himself. ‘Doesn’t matter. She doesn’t know her bloody arse from her elbow, and shouldn’ be runnin’ her bleeding mouth off ‘bout stuff she doesn’t know!’

While Spike was having an internal discussion with himself, Amanda, who was sitting in the corner with Tara, shouted to Amy, “Told you so.”

Spike didn’t even register Amanda’s comment, but Amy did, and turned to glare at her. Amanda stuck her tongue out at her, and gave her a smug look that clearly said ‘serves you right’.

Amy huffed, and slouched further into the couch. She looked up to see Spike still fuming at her. She didn’t see what the big deal was. All she did was tell the poor girl that Spike had talked about her. It wasn’t like she told her all his deepest, darkest secrets. ‘God! He’s so freaking touchy,’ she thought.

She huffed again at the stupidity of the situation. She held her hands up if front of her as a sign for him to calm down, and her ultimate surrender to speak.

Spike was still fuming, and Wesley, who had watched the whole scene from the pool table, laid his stick across the table, walked over to Spike, and put his hand on his shoulder as a demonstration of support. Spike visibly relaxed a bit having his best mate Wes standing next to him. He was still wound tight though, and crossed his arms across his chest to hide his clenched fists, as he waited for Amy to speak.

Amy took a deep breath, and Doyle patted her on the knee. He knew that she shouldn’t have said anything, but thought this whole thing was getting a little ridiculous.

“Look,” Amy said, “I just told the girl that you had mentioned her. She had told Fred how she’d walked into a tree to make her feel better, and I realized she was the girl who you’d been going on and on about.” At that, Spike’s jaw ticked, and Wesley gripped his shoulder harder to get him to focus, and let Amy finish. “So, I told her you’d mentioned her. She didn’t seem too upset by the whole idea.”

Then Amy got an idea and decided to continue, “She started blushing like crazy and started stammering. It was kinda adorable, in a she-def-likes-you kinda way.”

Amy smiled to herself, Spike’s jaw dropped open, and Amanda rolled her eyes. She knew what Amy was doing. She was trying to play matchmaker in her own twisted way, and hoped that this time it didn’t bite her, or the people involved, in the ass. Buffy did genuinely seem unopposed to the idea of Spike liking her, but she could have just been in shock.

Now Spike was the one stammering, “I… uh… what?” He turned to face Wesley looking confused.

Wesley squeezed his shoulder again and announced to the group, “I think Spike and I are going to go outside and get some air,” then he turned to look at Spike and said, “And clear our heads. Right, mate?” Wes implored.

Spike was still in a state of confusion, but nodded his head and mumbled, then headed for the stairs. Wes looked at Amy and shook his head, but Amy wasn’t fazed. She just shrugged her shoulders, and went back to talking with Doyle.

After Wes and Spike left, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Then Gunn said in Amy’s direction, “You’re a stupid girl you know that?”

“What? I didn’t do anything. Sheesh, can’t say anything around you people,” Amy said defensively.

“Man, you know how Spike is. Why would you do that? At least don’t tell the guy what you did. Damn!” Gunn was feeling bad for Spike, but hoped he’d make the best out of the situation.

“Look, all I did was talk to the girl. So I mentioned Spike. Is the world ending? I don’t see an apocalypse anywhere do you?” Amy looked around at everyone looking for an answer. “Maybe now he has the push he needs to talk to the damn girl instead of pining over her the whole summer.”

Wood, who had been silently watching the whole time, decided to speak up. “For your sake, you better hope this girl does like him, because if she doesn’t and he makes a fool of himself? Well, let’s just say I’m glad I’m not you.”

No one said anything to that. There was really nothing left to say. After an awkward moment of silence, the group up in the loft went back to their evening of relaxation, but the atmosphere was filled with tension even with the other two guys still missing.

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Outside the barn

Wes came down the stairs, and found Spike outside the barn pacing and smoking a cigarette.

Wes leaned against the building with his arms crossed, waiting for his presence to be noticed, and watched while Spike talked to himself.

“Bloody evil bint… what does she kno’?... Stupid golden hair… wish I could just touch it…No! She’s just some idiot rich bird who doesn’ give a shit ‘bout people like us… bet Amy was jus’ lying…” Spike fumed. He paced back and forth, back and forth, until Wes started to get dizzy from Spike’s frantic movements, and stepped into his line of vision.

Wes grabbed his shoulders to get Spike to look at him. Spike was a little startled at seeing Wes. He had forgotten that Wes was going to follow him, while he was having his tirade with himself.

Spike looked up at Wes beseechingly with a what-do-I-do-now look. Wes just turned them toward the cabin, and started to walk.

Wes was Spike’s best mate, and he trusted him. They’d been friends ever since primary school. When he was 10, he ended up at the City School of London, an all boy’s primary and secondary school. Wes transferred in the next year. Spike had toughened up from the year before, always getting beat down for being a nerd. When Wes transferred in he got picked on by the same kids that had picked on Spike the year before. Spike stood up for Wesley, and took a punch in the face for him, but not before Spike got in a few good hits of his own. From that day since, the two had been best friends. Wes eventually grew out of his awkward phase when the two were halfway through secondary school, and went to university together at Oxford. Spike may look like a punk, but he was a closet literature nerd, which was a secret he made Wesley promise to take to his grave when he’d found out.

So as the two traipsed towards the campfire pit, to sit around the fire by their cabin, Spike let out a big sigh. This day was way too overwhelming for his summer vacation, and he was very much not in the mood to deal with the drama.

Wes looked at Spike when he heard his overly dramatic sigh, shook his head at Spike’s attitude, and started working on building the fire. Spike threw himself into one of the lawn chairs surrounding the fire, and looked at Wes pleadingly for advice. Spike wasn’t usually one to ask for advice, he gave it, but when it came to Wes he knew he could be a little vulnerable. The man did know all about his love for poetry and literature so what else could he do to embarrass himself?

Wes finished building the fire and sat down next to Spike. Spike had zoned out while staring into the fire. Wes saw the look on Spike’s face, and got an idea to break him out of his stupor. While they were both looking at the fire, Wes said, “Need me to get your notebook, mate, while you look at the pretty fire?”

Spike glared at Wes, and then laughed knowing that’s exactly what he was thinking. He always wrote when he was in a mood. It helped him think. Spike punched Wes in the shoulder then said, “Well, what now?”

“Not sure. Do you happen to know if you like this girl?”

“Dunno what I feel. She’s just some silly chit, right?” Spike looked at Wes impatiently for answers.

Wes gave a big sigh. “Well, my friend, that is up to you.”

“I mean, she’s gorgeous. A right goddess she is, but…” Spike trailed off.

“But…” Wesley encouraged.

“But, wot!” Spike shot up out of the chair, and started pacing. “Ok, she’s beautiful, yeah? A blind man could see tha’, but tha’s it. She’s jus’ some nouveau riche snob with only air between her ears, who thinks she’s better than me.”

“Right, and you know this because of one tiny conversation you’ve had with this girl, right?” Wes raised an eyebrow at Spike. Spike looked a little sheepish. That made him calm down, and he sat down again. Wes continued, “Don’t you think you’re jumping to conclusions just a bit? Calling her dumb before speaking to her is quite rude, even for you.”

“Oi, I did not.”

“Shall we refer to your ‘air between the ears’ comment?”

Spike huffed. “Well… I was ranting. I didn’ mean it, you know that? Wes nodded his acceptance. “But she does think she’s better than me,” Spike said sulkily.

“And how do you know that?” Wes inquired.

“I told you how she was up at the field. All high and mighty.”

“Are you referring to the multiple times you called her feisty and sassy?” Wes raised an inquiring brow.

“Yea,” Spike said sheepishly, again.

“Right. I seem to recall you saying you liked that about her. Admired her spirit, I think it was.”

“Yea, so…”

“Well, I believe then, that you have your answer to what your feelings are towards the girl.” Wesley smiled to himself and crossed his arms across his chest very satisfied with himself.

Spike sighed and threw his hands in the air. He stood up and started to pace again. “Fine. I like the chit, alright. She’s gorgeous and feisty and passionate. She’s everything I look for in a woman,” Spike fumed. “You satisfied with yourself?” Wesley just gave him a smug smile.

Spike flopped down in the chair again and said, “Well, now what do I do, oh wise one?”

“That my dear friend, again, is up to you?”

“Great.” Spike slumped down further in his chair. He had no idea what to do. Sure he liked the girl, but what the hell did that mean. Did he want to date her? Court her? Spike cringed as his inner William made an appearance in his thoughts. ‘Court her? Pfft. Who talks like that? Poncey bugger.’ She definitely wasn’t just some conquest, of that he was sure. This morning solidified that fact. He loved how feisty she was, when he was ogling her. He didn’t feel bad, but loved her reaction. It turned him on even more. The fire burning in her eyes definitely got his motor revved up. So now what was he going to do? Go after the girl? It wasn’t like there was a chance for him to get to know her. It was against the rules for the maintenance staff to ‘fraternize’ with the girls… but then again he’d never been one to follow the rules. “Rules were meant to be broken,” Spike said out loud to himself, but loud enough for Wes to hear.

Wesley looked over at Spike curiously, having no idea where that comment came from.

“Sorry, mate. Just thinking out loud.” Spike paused, then added, “You know maybe we should invite the girls over.”

At that moment Gunn and Fred walked into the campfire area, and Gunn added his two cents saying, “You still talking about Buffy?” Spike shrugged, and then Gunn added, “Figured you’d be done by now.”

“Oi!” Spike shouted.

“Nothing personal, guy.” When he saw Spike nod he said, “So you were trying to think of a way to invite the girl over?” Spike shrugged and nodded again. He really didn’t have a game plan, but he knew he couldn’t just let this one walk away without trying. There was just something about her.

All of a sudden, Fred squealed with excitement. That was also the same moment that the rest of the group joined Spike, Wes, Gunn, and Fred around the fire.

“Why is Fred squealing like a pig?” Amy asked.

Amanda scoffed at her as she sat down with Tara next to Wesley by the fire. “Rude much?”

Everyone turned to look at Fred waiting for her to state the reason for her squealing. The smile on her face got bigger as she said, “I know how we can get Buffy to come over!” With that everyone glanced at Spike, who glared at them, daring any of them to make a comment. When none came, everyone turned back to look at Fred as she continued, “Well, why don’t we invite them over for game night on Friday? The girls and I can invite Buffy and her friends to come over tomorrow night at dinner.” Fred scrunched her face up in thought for a minute, then she said, “It’ll be like a thank you for coming to see me tonight, wouldn’t that be nice?”

“Just out of curiosity… who are these other girls you mentioned?” Wesley inquired.

Amy was the one who answered that question. “That’d be Willow and Faith. I think one of those girls might’ve been that infamous brunette, Robin,” Amy said with an evil smile. She loved watching the boys squirm.

At that everyone turned to look at Wood, who visibly paled. Gunn burst out laughing at the look on his brother’s face, which looked very similar to the look he had on this morning. Gunn walked over to his brother trying to put a very serious look on his face, and clapped him on the shoulder saying, “Good luck with that, man,” and then burst out laughing again.

Gunn’s laughter was infectious and although Wood was still a little freaked at the idea of seeing that girl again, he joined with Gunn and everyone else’s laughter, albeit nervously.

“So is that a yes? Can we invite them over? Oh please? They seem real nice,” Fred pushed.

Everyone looked around at one another gauging each other’s reactions. No one really seemed to mind breaking that rule, so when everyone nodded and started idly chatting again; they all missed the half smile that crept upon Spike’s lips.