~Part 1~
The thermos fell out of suddenly bloodless fingers, clattering towards the floor. It rolled across the stone floor, hitting the opposite wall. Nobody noticed it.
Willow felt the rush of tears well up in her eyes. Her throat constricted painfully, as she looked at the sight of her boyfriend. Her very naked boyfriend lying on the floor with that band chick.
Betrayal.
It has a funny way of tearing you up, shaking your defenses, making you question your beliefs. Betrayal's one tough bitch and it had just slammed headfirst onto Willow.
Hollow words fell upon deaf ears.
Excuses don't erase actions. Shattered hearts aren't repaired with words.
Willow couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't bear with the lies, the deception, and the betrayal. The ones that hurt you the most, are the ones dearest to your heart.
She ran out.
***
Blaring headlights washed over her. The pain inside her was so poignant, so fresh, that she almost welcomed the oncoming hit. Screeching wheels assaulted her ears. But the car was going too fast.
Willow just stood there.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her, effortlessly lifting her towards safety. The car zoomed by, barely missing them. The smell of cigarettes and stale liquor reached her.
Spike.
***
He held the redhead close, afraid that if he let go she'd jump in front of another car.
"Red? What happened?"
She looked up at him.
Empty eyes looking into worried ones. Her slightly glazed stare disturbed him. It reminded him of Drusilla, after she'd gone off the deep end.
"What happened?" he repeated.
"Oz" she simply said, her voice void of emotion.
It clicked into place. Oz must have done something to the little witch. He fought the urge to go to the mutt and rip his head off. Willow needed him right now.
"I'm sorry"
His simple words struck her hard. She lost what little control she had over her emotions, burying her head in his leather duster. It smelled like him. Somehow, it was comforting.
She cried.
Deep sobs wracked her small frame. Spike held her tighter against him. She cried for broken heart. She cried for the painful memories. She cried for her lost innocence.
Betrayal's a bitch.
***
After what seemed an eternity, Spike had finally left. He'd insisted on looking after her, until she was in better shape. She'd told him she was fine. Truth be told, she was a damned good liar.
She looked at the picture frame in her hands. A smiling Oz, and herself blatantly looked up at her. She'd been happy. She had actually believed Oz loved her.
With a feral scream, she threw the picture against the wall. The glass shattered into little shards of glittering light. She had believed.
"I'm such a fool"
***
Hastily, she dumped several shirts and skirts into the suitcase. She slammed it shut, and grabbed her laptop. She couldn't face Buffy right now. With a last look around, she slammed the door shut behind her.
***
The shadows stirred.
Glittering eyes watched the sullen redhead as she walked through the quiet residential street. She walked up to a dark, unlit house.
Keys jangled in her hand, as she unlocked the back door. As always, her parents weren't home. The hurt ones always go back home to lick their wounds.
Problem is, those wounds sometimes don't heal.
***
~Part 2~
Glazed eyes stared emptily at the ceiling. Willow let the gentle lull of the song wash over her, somehow dulling the heartache within.
So much space can fit in a sigh
More than words can say
I'm left here with my hands all awkward
Trying to mend space
"How fitting..." she murmured, her lips twisting in a grimace, as more tears fell from her eyes.
After ransacking her room, she still fell no better. The whirlwind of emotions still raged inside. Painful memories came to the surface everytime her eyes landed on a picture, a book he'd given her, a tube of strawberry lipgloss, which he'd loved. So, in retaliation, she'd ripped pictures, thrown away anything that brought _him_ to mind. Her room thoroughly resembled a disaster zone.
So, after leaving the painful confines of her room behind, she'd ended up sitting in front of the sofa, a bottle of wine in hand. Half a bottle later, she still felt no better. With a sigh, she walked over the CD player, turning it off. The sudden silence that filled her ears somehow made her feel even more alone. Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was almost 3 in the morning. Using the hem of her shirt, she dried her tears, trying to compose herself.
She felt so used... spent... utterly devastated... filled with pain... and so damned _empty_.
Taking a deep breath, she willed herself not to cry. She had to be strong. She couldn't, _wouldn't_ cry. Maybe if she told herself that a few more times she'd actually believe it. Sobs yet again wracked her delicate frame. Falling to her knees, alone, heartbroken. The wine bottle slipped from her shaking grasp, the crimson liquid seeping onto the floor.
***
With an expert flick of his wrist, Spike sent the half-smoked cigarette hurtling towards the ground. Half-snarling, he glanced around, desperate to get his hands on a demon. He needed something to pummel into a bloody pulp. Oddly enough, he hadn't come across any vampires while walking along the cemetery. Frowning, he closed his eyes, allowing his heightened vampiric senses to take hold of him. Something was wrong.
There was something... unusual in the air.
"Master, there's a disturbance in the force" he humorlessly murmured, his thoughts still preoccupied with his redhead.
_His_ redhead? Where had that one come from? Pushing those thoughts aside, for now, he wondered how she was doing. She had been thoroughly heartbroken. Damned Wolf.
Yet, she'd given him a tremulous half-smile, saying that she was fine, and sent him on his way. Bloody hell, didn't she realize that she didn't have to be strong all the time? That maybe, she needed to lean on someone, just as everyone seemed to depend on her. Didn't she bloody realize that he wanted her to lean on him, that he wanted to take her pain away, bring back that special shine in her eyes.
Didn't she realize that he was utterly infatuated with her?
"I'm a regular poof!" he growled, stalking outside the cemetery, blending into the shadows.
***
Slightly too-large blue eyes snapped open. He'd almost been discovered. The vampire had somehow sensed him. But, that was of no consequence. If he tried to interfere with his plans, he'd just have to kill the poor chap.
Lips twisted in a feral grin, he turned, silently
moving among the bushes.
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