GOING ONCE (11/?)
 

Spike scowled at the front door as he heard the incessant knocking continue.
He ignored it, instead leaning back against the couch and putting his feet on
the coffee table. His thumb pressed down on the volume button as he turned
the telly up higher. He soon drowned out the knocking, finding his attention
caught by the cartoon he was watching. He cocked his head slightly when he
heard the footsteps on the stairs and the loud aggravated groan coming from
Willow. He smiled slightly, ignoring her completely as he watched Johnny
Bravo.
 

"Damn it, turn that television down!" Willow said, shooting a glare at his
back. She unlocked the door, surprised to see Buffy standing there. "Buffy?
What are you doing here?"
 

Buffy smiled as her eyes ran over Willow, seeing the irritation in the green
eyes and the slight frown on the pretty face of her best friend. "Hi, Wills.
I'm fine. Nice seeing you too."
 

"Sorry," Willow smiled crookedly as she moved from the door, "I was in the
middle of something and almost didn't hear you knocking. Why didn't you ring
the bell?"
 

"I did," the slayer said with amusement as she closed the door behind her,
"it just must not be working."
 

"Oh," Willow nodded, running through her mind for some idea why Buffy was
over. She couldn't come up with anything. She heard the laughter of a
growingly familiar cartoon character and shouted, "Spike, turn that damn
thing down. I bet the neighbors down the street can hear Johnny laughing."
 

"We need a better sound system," Spike shot back, not even bothering to lower
the volume. "This one is older than I am."
 

"I don't think anything is older than you," she said, forgetting that Buffy
was there as she and Spike began to argue.
 

"Shhh, witch," he said in annoyance, "I'm trying to hear."
 

"Why don't you turn it up louder then?" she said sarcastically, "oh, wait, it
can't get any higher!"
 

"Uh, Wills, why is Spike on your couch?" Buffy asked, leaning against the
doorway as she looked back and forth from Willow to Spike.
 

"He thinks it is more comfortable than the chair," Willow said off handedly
as she moved into the living room. She leaned over the sofa, snatching the
remote as Spike began to curse. She turned it down to a reasonable level and
smiled, "That's better."
 

"I can't hear it now," he whined, leaning his head back against the couch and
giving her his best puppy dog look.
 

"Too bad," she said without remorse.
 

"But, Reeeeeed," he pouted, "It's Johnny Bravo....you know how much I love
this show."
 

"I don't there's been a show that you don't like, Spike," she pointed out. "I
mean, you were watching the TV Land marathon the other night for the Brady
Bunch of all things."
 

"And who was sitting next to me the entire time?" he asked, giving her a
pointed stare.
 

"Oh, hush," she said, tossing the remote on the television. Quickly, she
leaned down and picked it back up as Spike glared at her.
 

"Willow...." Buffy started, surprised still that Spike was not only at her
best friend's house, but that they two seemed to be flirting right in front
of her. She grew thoughtful as she studied them both, listening to the banter
and seeing how flustered Willow was becoming. She slowly started to smile,
wondering if it was just her imagination or if there really were sparks
flying. "I came by to see if you wanted to grab dinner."
 

"She's eatin' with me," Spike growled, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the
daft slayer. "You can leave now....OUCH!"
 

Willow smiled innocently as he held his head where she had hit him with the
remote, "Don't be rude to my friends."
 

"Sorry, luv, but she's annoying," he muttered, frowning as he rubbed the back
of his head and turned his attention back to the telly. "Bollocks! I've
missed half the program now."
 

"Wills, dinner?" Buffy asked, her eyes darting between the two at a more
rapid rate. "You, me, hamburgers?"
 

"I'm sorry, Buffy, but I promised Spike we'd order pizza," Willow said,
smiling apologetically at her friend before glancing at the television.
 

"You'd rather have pizza with Spike than burgers with your best friend?"
Buffy asked, watching Willow turn a pale shade of red.
 

"It's not like that. I promised," Willow said, knowing without a doubt that
Buffy must have questions that she was in no mood to answer. "What about
Riley?"
 

"I guess he'll have to do," Buffy said, moving back towards the door. "But,
tomorrow, you and I are going to lunch. Got it, Will?"
 

"I got it," Willow sighed, asking Spike, "This is a new one isn't it?"
 

"Yes," he nodded, patting the cushion beside him, "Sit and watch, pet. You
can finish cleaning the bathroom later. It'll wait."
 

She smiled, moving to sit, bringing her feet up and watching the cartoon. She
didn't even notice the large smile on Buffy's face as the slayer let herself
out, shutting the door quietly behind her.
 

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