Buffy groaned and rolled over out of bed. Monday. Ugh. School… again. But the thought of school inevitably spurred thoughts of Spike, her best friend. She smiled to herself in the mirror as she brushed her hair. Mmm…
*FLASHBACK*
Buffy sat uncomfortably in her sixth grade English class, fidgeting about on the floor with her nose buried in a book, pretending to read. She hated silent reading. She hated reading. Mrs. Edwards, her teacher, glared reproachfully at her over her glasses, and Buffy stilled.
That was when he walked in. William Mast. He was beautiful, to Buffy at least, with his shaggy brown curls, beautiful blue eyes wide behind oversized spectacles, and defined cheekbones that accentuated his smooth features. Buffy perked immediately, and watched as Mrs. Edwards rose and approached this new child. She took the note he timidly offered her, and he glanced around the room nervously as he shifted from foot to foot.
Buffy smiled and waved at him. He opened his mouth to say ‘hi’, but she quickly put her finger to her lips and mouthed ‘silent reading’ at him, carefully waving her book about. He smiled gratefully at her and nodded.
Mrs. Edwards finished reading the notice about her new student, and whispered to him that he should find something to read and somewhere to sit until silent reading was over so he could be introduced. He nodded, then turned away from the woman and took an uncertain step towards Buffy. Buffy smiled and gestured for him to join her. He paid no mind to the few other students who tried to wave him over, and immediately went and plopped down next to this lovely girl.
She was blonde haired and hazel eyed, with an adorable little nose that crinkled when she smiled, as she was now. He watched her quietly remove a pad of post-it notes from her bag and a couple of pens. She handed him a pen and with her own wrote in careful script, ‘Hi! I’m Buffy Summers. What’s your name?’ on the first post-it. She handed him the pad and watched him read it.
He took his pen in his left hand, then scrawled in masculine, sharp lettering, ‘William Mast. I just moved here from England.’
Buffy read the note and then looked up and smiled at him. She leaned forward so her mouth was right next to his ear and whispered to him softly, her breath tickling his skin, “Hi, William.”
“Hi, Buffy,” he whispered back.
*END FLASHBACK*
Spike stopped outside 1630 Revello Drive and waited for Buffy on the sidewalk. She ran out of the house and slowed to a stop in front of him.
“Hey, loser,” she grinned mischievously.
Spike smirked. “Hey, brat.”
They began walking and trading insults on their way to Sunnydale High School. It was the first day of December, but in southern California, even winter was easily tolerated.
“Captain Peroxide.”
“Midget.”
“Man-whore.”
“Aw, you know you love it, pet!”
“Pig.”
“Oink, oink, baby.”
Buffy rolled her eyes. They were approaching the school. And Drusilla. Spike’s girlfriend, who Buffy had formed a tentative friendship with, if only to please Spike. Spike spotted his girl, and he and Buffy approached her with smiles on each of their faces.
“Hey, luv,” Spike greeted Drusilla, giving her a quick kiss while none of the faculty was watching.
“Hello, my Spike,” Drusilla said in that low, haunting voice of hers. It always made Buffy want to shudder.
“Hey, Dru.”
Drusilla turned in Spike’s arms so her back was to his front, his chin on her shoulder, and greeted Buffy with a smile.
“Hello, Sunshine. Thank you for bringing me my Prince safely.”
Spike smirked at that and pecked Drusilla on the cheek.
Buffy grinned. “Yeah, sometimes I wonder how he manages to dress himself in the morning. At least I’m not the only one who knows he needs help to get to school.”
Dru giggled while Spike mock-glared at Buffy.
“Not like you fare much better there, eh, pet? Look wot you’re wearin’!”
Drusilla jumped in, “Now, now, Spikey. I quite like Sunshine’s clothes.”
Buffy blushed slightly. As much as Buffy was unsure about Dru, she appreciated compliments from someone Spike cared so deeply about. “Thanks,” Buffy said quietly. She glanced down at her ensemble: a deep red top with an image of a black rose on it, a pair of tight black jeans, and what she had labeled her ‘skank boots’- knee high black suede heels. She had changed her wardrobe the same time Spike had because she wanted to be accepted with his ‘new crowd’. Anything to ensure that he wouldn’t leave her or their friendship behind.
The bell chimed and Dru and Buffy parted ways with Spike. The girls had first period Algebra together while Spike slaved away in Auto Mechanics. As they went to first period, Dru began to confide in Buffy about her fears that Spike was being unfaithful.
“Sunshine, do you think Spike would ever dishonor me by being with another woman?”
Buffy was caught off guard, but answered honestly. “No, I don’t think so. He talks all the time about how much he loves you; how you’re his ‘Dark Princess’. Why?”
Dru sighed sadly. “That awful Cordelia Chase. She’s been singing nasty songs about my William. Saying that he’s been visiting another when he goes away to Neverland…”
Buffy was one of the few who could decipher Dru’s insane prattle, so she knew that ‘Neverland’ translated to ‘when Spike was high’. Buffy shrugged. “I doubt it. You know how Cordy is. And I don’t think Spike would ever risk losing you, even when he’s stoned off his ass.”
Dru smiled. “Sweet Sunshine, always trying to cheer her birdies up. Perhaps you’re right.”
The two settled into their desks, and class began.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
That afternoon, once school had let out, Buffy was waiting outside for Spike so they could walk home together. While she waited, Angel, a tall, bulky junior came up to her.
“Hey Buffy, what’s up?”
Buffy looked at him. She’d never much liked Angel; he and Spike weren’t very friendly, so she just avoided the older male.
“Not much. Waiting for Spike.”
“That dickhead? I don’t see why you and that guy spend so much time together. He’s not half the man I am,” Angel said snidely.
Just then, Spike appeared next to Buffy.
“Really now, Peaches. That’s no language to use in front of a lady,” Spike said calmly.
Angel just sneered, offered an angry goodbye to Buffy, and left.
“Thanks, Spike. That guy gives me the heebie-jeebies.”
“No problem, luv. Let’s go.”
As they walked, Spike started, “So, can I ask you something?”
“Always. You know that,” Buffy replied.
“It’s about Dru. I think she’s startin’ to have eyes for that Angel ponce. You don’t think…”
Buffy giggled. This was just too much. First Dru, now Spike, too? Was their relationship that screwed up?
“Hey now, pet! This isn’t funny!”
Buffy controlled her laughter and said, “No, Spike- it is! Dru asked me the same about you this morning! Apparently Cordy’s been saying that you’re a lot more single when you’re high, and it had Dru worried.”
Spike looked at Buffy disbelievingly. “That right?”
“Yep. I think you two need to talk.”
“I would if she’d stop talkin’ in bloody circles for two minutes!” he exclaimed, frustrated.
Buffy just giggled again, and they kept walking.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next few days proceeded without consequence, until Friday. Dru and Spike had been arguing more than usual lately, and Buffy could feel the imminent break-up approaching. They had gone through this so many times it was laughable, but they always ended up back together, somehow or another. But for some reason, this time felt different. It was.
The break up came the next Monday afternoon, and Buffy got all the details from Spike on the walk home from school. He was so angry, so frustrated at that point, that he ended up punching several trees.
Buffy watched him fume, watched him near tears only to scream and punch another tree. As they neared Buffy’s house, she asked him to come inside.
“Why, Buffy? Do you really want me around your mum when I’m liable to break something?” Spike asked tightly.
“My mom’s not here. She’s in LA for the week, buying art. Come on. It’ll help you keep your mind off today, or you could talk about it. Please? I don’t really want to be by myself all day.”
Spike looked at her. “All right then, pet. I’m a free man now. ‘Spose I can spend the day with my best girl.” He smirked at her, and Buffy punched him in the arm, laughing.
“There’s the guy we all know and love. Pig.”
Spike just grinned and held the front door open for her.
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!