by Shiva
I woke up the next morning hugging the pillow from my bed. I looked around confused. <I’m still wearing the same clothes I had on last night…> I noticed a note sitting on my bedstand and picked it up.
~~~
Willow,
I had to go, I didn’t have the heart to wake you. Could you meet me at the Bronze around 7?
Spike
~~~
I giggled in delight like a little girl. <A date with Spike! Wait, chill girl. Not a date. It’s just a rendezvous kind of deal. He’s not interested in you like that, anyway. But he called you cute… So, what? He probably just said that because he feels sorry for me… But he spent all last night with you! Oh, shut up. He doesn’t like me like that.>
I skipped to my closet to try and find something to wear. <God Willow, it’s time for a new wardrobe.>
I heard someone knock on the door and I rushed to open it. All that was there was a box. <For Buffy.> I picked it up to put on her bed and noticed that it had my name on it. <There’s a first…> I took it with me and sat on my bed. I opened it to find a note. I picked it up and read it.
~~~
Willow,
I thought that maybe you’d like to wear this tonight. I hope you like it.
Spike
~~~
I looked in the box to find a dress. I picked it and my breath caught in my throat. It was a short black dress. Scoop neck, with thin straps. It was very simple, but extremely elegant. I looked at the tag to find some designer name I’d heard Cordelia swear by. <This must have cost him some money.>
*****
I walked into the Bronze right at seven. I looked around, trying to spot Spike. I didn’t see him. <He stood you up. Chill out, it’s only seven o’clock. It’s not like he’s an hour late or anything. I mean, he bought you the dress, that must mean something, right?>
A voice interrupted my thoughts, "Are you just gonna stand there all night, miss?"
I turned around to find Spike grinning at me. <Damn, he looks good.> He was wearing a sapphire blue dress shirt with black slacks.
"You came," I said barely audible.
"Did you think I’d stand you up?" he asked.
"N…no," I stuttered.
"Good," he said, taking my hand, "dance with me?"
"Okay," I said as he led me to the dance floor. He put his arms around me and we began to sway to the music.
"You know, you look really beautiful tonight," he said softly, looking into my eyes.
"Thanks," I said, looking down. I could feel my cheeks burning. He took my arms and put them on his shoulders. I could feel his eyes on me, but I couldn’t look at him. The idea of it was just too intense. I just felt so…alive around him, I guess. And that scared me. No one had even noticed me the past few months, and I had forgotten what that felt like. And here he was, staring at me, like I was the only other person on this earth…
"Willow? Come back to me…" he said, interrupting my thoughts.
"Hmmm?" I answered, looking into his eyes.
He smiled. "We have to go," he said, leading me off the dance floor.
"Where are we going?" I asked, confused.
"I have reservations," he said simply, walking out of the Bronze and into the direction of his car. He opened the passenger side door and gestured for me to get in. I hesitated.
"Trust me, Willow," he said sincerely.
I smiled at him and got into his car. He closed the door behind me and got in on his side. We drove in the direction of the ocean for a half-hour. He stopped the car in front of a restaurant.
"Thanks," Spike said, throwing the keys to the valet.
He took my arm and led me into the restaurant.
"Reservations for two under William," he said to the hostess.
She looked at her list and said, "Right this way, sir." She led us to a table for two with an ocean view. The full moon outside reflected perfectly on the water. It was breathtaking. Spike pulled out my chair for me, and I sat down.
"Thank you," I said to him with a smile. He sat down in his chair and the hostess handed us our menus. He smiled his thanks to her and she left.
"This is beautiful," I said to him.
"I thought you would like it," he said, eyes twinkling.
He opened his menu, "Might I recommend the lobster? It’s some of the best I’ve ever tasted."
"Lobster it is then," I said, not even opening my menu.
"You aren’t even going to look?" he said, raising his eyebrow.
"I trust you," I said, looking him in the eyes, hinting that I trusted him, and not just when it came to food. He must have got my gist because he gave me the biggest grin I’d ever seen.
We chatted a little while we ate our dinner, but nothing really serious was discussed.
He put down the cash for the dinner and we left. Once outside, he grabbed my hand and led me toward the beach. He kicked off his shoes and I followed his example. He took my hand and ran toward the water. He smiled at me and started walking in one direction. Nothing could be heard except the sound of the waves crashing onto shore.
I looked at the moon and my thoughts drifted toward Oz. I wondered where he was, what he was doing. My first true love, my first time, my other half. My eyes began to burn with tears.
"What is it, luv?" Spike asked me, a concerned look on his face.
"N…nothing," I answered him shakily.
He gave me a look, "Come on luv, you can tell me." He gave me another look, this time full of compassion.
That was all I needed- a little compassion. I broke down, tears streaming down my face. He gathered me in arms for a comforting hug. I shook with silent sobs, as he stroked my hair.
"That’s right, luv, let it all out… Cry now, talk later," he said soothingly.
And there I stood on the beach, bare feet, crying with someone I barely knew.