GOING ONCE (4/?)
 

"Spike?"
 

"The one and only, beautiful," he said with a smirk at her open astonishment.
 

"What are you doing here? In my house?" she asked, glaring at him.
 

"Not happy to see me, Red?" he asked, his lower lip protruding in a pout.
 

"Spike," she said, her tone annoyed. She didn't want to deal with him at the
moment. He looked too good, standing there in her doorway. His black t-shirt
molded the contours of his chest, his jeans tight against his legs. She
almost wished he'd turn around so she could have a lusty look at his ass. She
felt her face flame at the direction her thoughts were going. Her annoyance
replaced by embarrassment as if he could somehow read her thoughts.
 

"Red," he replied in an amused tone.
 

She frowned at him, wondering what he found so amusing. She pushed past him
to enter her house, the scent of cigarettes and leather reaching her nose.
She inhaled swiftly, welcoming the comforting smells before she entered her
house. Spike refused to move, forcing her to brush against him. She scowled
at him, measuring the amount of space she had and if she could make the tight
squeeze without asking him to move. He simply looked at her, his lips curled
in a lazy smile.
 

"You need something, Red?" he asked, his tone still amused. He watched her
eyes narrow as her pretty lips scowled at him. He raised his eyebrow,
wondering if he'd finally managed to get a reaction from her. He pushed and
pushed but she usually just backed away from him or ignored him completely.
The others he could figure out. He knew exactly what made most of the little
gang tick. Willow, on the other hand, was still a bit of a mystery. He rather
liked it, his inability to understand her. She kept him on his toes. His
interest in her of course had nothing to do with her cute little nose and
that pretty red hair and those sparkling green eyes that seemed to be able to
see things no one else could see. Or the soft smile that would sometimes
grace those pretty lips as if she was laughing at a joke that no one else
knew. Nope, that had nothing to do with it at all. He wasn't attracted to
her. Not in the slightest. She was too thin, too timid and quiet. Yet, there
were times he could see a fire in her that sparked his interest. Usually it
was fleeting though, put out when her friends aproached. He moved against the
door, taking up a bit more space. He waited, wondering what she would do.
Probably stammer out some plea for him to please move in a polite but aloof
tone. That same tone she usually used when speaking to him.
 

She looked up at his question, seeing the humor in those crystal blue eyes.
He thought this was funny? Stupid bastard, she thought. Wasn't bad enough he
played his little game with her friends. He now had to find her to get a
reaction. "Nothing at all," she said sweetly as she moved past him, making
sure her elbow caught him in the stomach.
 

"Ow," he exlaimed, looking at her with a bit more respect.
 

"Sorry," she said in a tone that was anything but.
 

"Sure you are, Red," he said, following her into the house and shutting the
door.
 

"Why are you here?" she asked, putting her purse on the table as she removed
her coat. "And how did you get in?"
 

He laughed, pulling a keyring from his pocket. "Here you go, Red. Shouldn't
leave these laying around, you know."
 

Willow turned just in time to catch her keys. She frowned at them, "These
were in my pocket."
 

"Were they?" he asked innocently.
 

"Spike," she said in warning. "Why did you take my keys?"
 

"Would I take anything from you, Red?" he asked in mock indigance. "I found
them and was just returning them."
 

"Found them in my pocket!" she said, glaring at him. "Why did you steal my
keys?"
 

"Steal is such a harsh word," he said, smiling at the sparks he saw in her
eyes.
 

"Do you have a better word?" she asked, moving to sit down on her couch. She
was tired and was in no mood to play whatever game he was trying to play. For
a few minutes, her feelings for him left as she narrowed her eyes. "Please
enlighten me, Spike."
 

"I merely borrowed them," he explained, sitting down in the armchair opposite
her. "Didn't feel like going back to that dark, cold crypt. Thought I'd come
by and see you, Red."
 

"Lucky me," she said, her annoyance leaving when she saw the flash of truth
in his eyes. He was lonely. How could she muster anger at him when he was
just being honest?
 

"Oh, geez. Don't do that," he said, making a face.
 

"Do what?"
 

"Look at me like I'm some defenseless puppy. I didn't come here for pity
looks, Red," he cursed.
 

"Then why are you here? You keep avoiding that question," she pointed out.
 

"Bloody hell, you're a persistent little thing, aren't you?" he said in
annoyance. Sighing loudly, he looked at her with a small smile, "I need your
help, Willow."
 

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