Chapter 4:

“Greetings, friends!” Oz announced as he stepped in the door, which Willow came running in after slightly chilled from the cold night. When the guitarist hugged her with one arm in an attempt to warm, her she smiled and kissed the side of his mouth, “where is everybody?”

At Oz’s question Buffy came running from the kitchen, “Whoa! Hey. Sorry, I am getting all the refreshments set up, Xander’s... well, I guess in the bathroom. He said Anya was bumming a ride with Tara, Spike will be here any minute too, oh and Dawn’s with Janice.” She said all in one breath, obviously edgy.

“Sweetie why are you so overwhelmed? You’ve done this like a gazillion times, no problemo, what’s with the sudden panic attack, or at least it looks that way?” Willow shrugged off her coat, Oz did the same, and approached the blonde.

“I…don’t know,” Buffy pouted, she really had no clue. “Maybe it’s the whole…no, well I’m not sure! I’m fine though, I just needed people here who don’t have A.D.D.,” she made that a pointed comment to Xander who was walking into the room at the time.

“Ha, ha, undiagnosed thank you very much!” they all sighed at him, that was Xander for you. “So when’s bleach boy getting here, probably finishing up a touch up on his hair?”

Buffy smacked him, “Hey!” Oz even made a angry facial expression that caught the brunette’s attention.

“Wow! Sorry man I didn’t,” he sputtered out, hand up in surrender. “Wait, why are you so pissed?”

Oz rolled his eyes, pointed to his own hair and sighed again. “My hair has unquestionably naturally has specks of blue, so don’t worry no direct insults.”

Everyone burst into laughter, Oz didn’t crack jokes, but the way he said some things, it was pure best friend material: i.e., too difficult to explain.

Just then the door sounded, Buffy pulled it open, revealing a very scattered looking Spike. He was sheepish, which was a new look for him, biting his lip, looked kinda nervous even. The night keeps on turning out suprises, Buffy thought offhandedly.

“Hi!” He made an obvious effort to stay calm, but he was very worried about…something. “Um, was I supposed to bring something, I forgot exactly what you said earlier, I’ll head back out if you did. I’m just so forgetful sometimes…” he trailed off at Xander’s bark of laughter.

“Sorry, but wow, how did that,” he pointed at the muddled Spike, ”scare me for two or more years of my teenage life?” As soon as they left the teen’s mouth he knew that it was probably a mistake.

Spike just smirked and nursed thoughts about the ways that he could have fun making Harris eat his words. He glanced at Buffy who seemed just as psyched to see his reaction, he considered her, silently asking her for permission. She rolled her eyes, there was a lot of that going around. He smiled even more maliciously, looking back at Xander. He took off his jacket and laid it on the chair where Willow and Oz’s were strewn.

He walked over to him and although he was about an inch smaller, which he had yet to realize, didn’t loose bravado. Apparently Xander was picking up on the height difference for the first time too, and saw it as something in his favor. He puffed up his chest and prepared to, what it looked like to Spike, step on him, which wasn’t going to happen.

The room was comfortably silent, they all waited to see what the leer planted on the bleach blonde’s face was about. He grabbed Xander’s shirt and lifted him clear off the ground, about an inch into the air and his arms went flailing. He let out a few less than manly shrieks, Spike just held him there, after about five seconds, just set him back down.

The teen scoffed, “Right Harris, bleeding fearless you are!”

“S-sorry, damn you must work out like crazy!” Xander replied.

That was hardly what Spike was expecting, vicious anger, death threats even, was more his speed. It was strange, having someone react to his physical strength or threats as camaraderie or jokes. Should he be ashamed? He didn’t care really, the kid seemed nice enough, he held out his hand, Xander stared at it briefly then grasped it. After a shake they deflated.

“Took a lot out of me, you-what-eat your weight in Twinkies as a diet?” The correctness of his comment baffled Xander, in return he just stared in both shame and hilarity.

“Kind of,” everyone gave an exasperated laugh, even Oz, they all knew that was true, besides, they were relieved to see the testosterone display settle down.

The door burst open with no knock, “Hello, everyone!” Anya shouted excitedly. Tara came running up behind her.

“I’m sorry, I tried to get her to knock, b-but apparently manners don’t mean anything to Anya!” She smiled and greeted everyone.

Xander whipped out American Gigolo, “Prepare to see the movie that made a hundred male sex slaves step up their game!” They all rolled their eyes, yet again. “Right, sorry, but some commentary is just necessary!”

Spike spared a glance at Buffy who was right next to him leaning on the floor against the sofa, popcorn bowl in between them. They both reached for a handful at the same time and bumped hands; they pulled them back as if burned. Then both gave blushing smiles to one another. With another furtive glance in the girl’s direction Spike grinned, let the games begin.


After the first two films, everyone needed to get up and mingle, or talk to the seven people that were there if that could be called mingling.

As if in an unspoken code, the four girls eyed one another then promptly ran off to the kitchen to “prepare the rest of the drinks, also to situate the recently delivered pizza” which left the boys alone, in a quite awkward position.

Spike was fooling with the laces on his combat boots, Oz with the spiked bracelet he was wearing, and Xander was just fidgeting. Finally, tired of the silence Xander spoke up, “I’ve always wondered where the nickname ‘Spike’ came from, care to share?”

“Ah, yes, well…there are two stories to that. The one that I tell basically everyone which is the year I came to this wonderful country I had a little event happen because of me. Freshman year, newly popular me, thought it would be hilarious to pour about two pints of my dad’s Smirnoff into the punch bowl at the Parent-Teacher Night-Liam heard, called me ‘Spike’…” he began to trail off.

“That was you?” Oz asked. “I remember Snyder was trashed off of the lemonade nonetheless! Nicely done.”

“Well I did do that, but it’s not where I-never mind,” he stopped himself.

“Now, you can’t just decide to toy with our emotions, get us all hyped up then put out the fire! Give us the dirt, come on please? We won’t tell anyone, right Oz?” Oz shook his head affirmative.

“I don’t know it’s kind of embarrassing, alright really embarrassing, only two people in the country know-,” that he had meant for to be forewarning of it being too much, but it only caused the brunette and black haired guys’ eyes to light up. He sighed, “You’re both damn well never telling anyone, you’re just lucky that I seemingly have no reason not to trust you! Okay, well, before I came here I lived in England, that should be obvious,” he pointed to his throat indicating the accent. “However, you don’t know all about how I used to be the biggest nerd in the word, really, I made Harris here look like Sean Connery.”

They broke into a fit of giggles, imagining the tough guy sitting in front of them being worse than Xander. That’s when Xander stopped, “Hey I’m not a nerd!” That caused Spike to join the still laughing Oz. “Well, Urkel, finish the story!”

“Okay, seventh grade at my school back in London-God I can’t believe I’m-okay, well we had gym class just like here in this wondrous melting pot. So, we’re playing volleyball, by force might I add I hated that class more than anything else did in the world! Penn, the school jock and bully, had it out for me because I had showed him up at the track the previously class. See I was always getting throttled, I have such a ‘beefy physique’ or what have you, because I needed to be able to either fight back a little or live after three guys beat the shit out of you. I hadn’t realized that working out so much actually had effect, I assumed I was still skinny and weak, but I wasn’t. The day before I had been doing relays that our coach required for the guys, not the ladies because he was probably sexist… so we ran sprints then relays, I kicked his ass. It humiliated him that William the Nerd, had just outran him and half the school. So come gym class, he was prepared to waste me, it was halfway through the game and the ball was under his serve, he jumped and walloped me right in the, um, midsection… I was out from school for three days. It, um, hurt.” Xander and Oz just stared agape.

“Wow, you, wow! Jeez, I really underestimated how you took things for granted. I thought you were born with huge biceps and a six pack, but I guess not. I know what that’s like having to get buff to survive, late middle school and early high school was nothing but getting pounded-I remember…” he stopped and looked at Spike who suddenly got very guilty and uncomfortable. “Aww, I’m sorry, but don’t worry it’s all good now.. I don’t even think that you even hit me. It was just wrong place wrong time, your friends were the jackasses.”

“No, I didn’t stop them, so I’m just as bad, if not worse. I can’t believe that after taking it from Penn and the boys for years, I didn’t lift a finger to help one of my own. I’m just glad that it’s all clear now. Friends and all?”

“Most certainly,” Oz chimed in, “that stuff was bullshit, about being your fault. There is no way that you are responsible for Angel O’Conner’s stupidity. Hell, I was a sort of friend with Graham, before high school, but we both got out. It may not be for the same reason, but we’re not those people anymore, if we ever were, so don’t go blaming yourself.”

The three just stared at one another for a moment, then sighed in relief that they just broke through something that had been holding them back from really just getting along since the beginning.


Meanwhile, the girls were small talking in the kitchen while salsa and chips were dispensed into the correct bowls to make for as elegant an appearance you can on movie night.

“Damnit, I just got some of the guacamole on my shirt!” Willow yelled as she dry washed the possible stain.

“There is no guacamole, eew, that’s the blue cheese!” Anya held her hand to her face as if shielding herself from a pungent smell, it would have been appropriate if she weren’t ten feet away from Willow.

“Here!” Buffy tossed the sponge her way. “So what do you think is going to happen, you never finished your argument?”

“Oh, I think that Anna will end up with him because hello! Perfect couples just do that!” the redhead explained while wiping off her shirt.

Buffy popped a chip and her mouth and considered her friend’s statement. “That sucks then, he should be with Summer. He had this crazy obsession with her for years then she finally gets with him, after which he decides to date a carbon copy of himself. Seth Coen is a moron, but really, him and Summer…” she couldn’t let go of how peeved she was by the turn of events on The O.C., there latest favorite show. “Love isn’t who is most like you, it’s who best contrast your personality. Look at you and Oz, or Xander and Anya!”

“Or you and Spike,” Anya added without even looking up from her magazine. She smiled though, waiting for the predicted reaction.

“Huh?!” the color drained from Buffy’s face, Oh my god she’s right, her brain was racing and clear thoughts became a problem.

“You broke her!” Tara teased lightly from the chair next to Anya. Willow began to giggle at the slack jawed look on her best friend’s face. “Buffy, come on, you really didn’t see it coming?” Tara asked innocently.

“What? Nothing came!” she blushed at the innuendo that had resulted in everyone laughing, Anya the loudest. “God, no I mean, damnit… me and him are just friends. Is that too difficult for you and half the school to understand, sure he’s hot and funny, sweet, and understanding,” she got a faraway look in her eyes. “But…” she tried to remember where she was going with this, oh yeah, her mind caught up, “his mom just passed away, I’m not gonna be the slut that gets with the sad guys! Believe me, I know the opposite of that, you know, guys who find the broken girls to pick up, thank God I had enough sense not to sleep with the creeps. Despite my bad choices, I’m a pretty nice gal now, so I want him to have the same opportunity to rebuild himself. Maybe in the future if he is all normal and fine again, but who knows maybe he won’t even like me then, he may only be attracted to me because I helped him. Does that make sense?”

“No! You’re sweet and caring and beautiful to boot, if he doesn’t like you then as much as he does then, then he’s…dumb” Willow hugged her. “Now lets go make ‘em drool.”

“Thanks,” Buffy whispered softly to her best friend.

“Anytime,” Willow shot back at the blonde.


“So are you still on the soccer team,” Oz inquired, curious from the moment he heard that Spike was a friend of the group, he had been waiting to get the story from him.

“Oh, yeah, I think. I haven’t been to a practice in like three weeks. Should probably check into that. Thanks for reminding me,” Spike toasted his soda in Oz’s direction.

“Do you want to play if you’re still allowed?” Xander followed up, intrigued by his friends’ question.

“Well, in the sense that I like the sport, hell yes. Although, joining that team would get me invited to parties with Liam and that group, plus put me on a team full of his best friends, who probably wouldn’t mind me tripping and breaking an ankle or two, get me?” he took a sip of the Pepsi.

“Wow, never really even thought of that possibility, just assumed you only started it because your friends all joined,” Xander replied.

“No, no, I always liked it, probably being raised in London, nothing like growing up watching Man U kick other teams asses. Well, it must have rubbed off on me because I got a knack for it, lucky bastard!” he scratched his head and sighed. “I think I’m gonna do it, just to spite them if anything, remind them that they don’t run my life anymore, y’know?”

“Sounds like a plan!” Oz smiled.

“What plan?” Anya asked as the girls reentered manned with chips and dip, plus more refreshments.

“Spike here was just telling us that he is rejoining, or since you never really left, just going back to the Sunnydale High soccer team!” Xander exclaimed while pouncing on the Doritos.

“Really?” Buffy asked over a mouthful of salsa.

“Yep, gonna show the buggers whose boss!” Spike gave a smug grin to emphasis his points.

He’s getting better already, maybe that means smoochies in the future, Buffy mused. They put on the next movie, Pretty Woman, and returned to their previous seats, this time Buffy scooted a tad closer to Spike, hoping that his rehabilitation would be swifter in his case, for his own good and a teensy bit for hers too.



Chapter 5:

Xander had informed her of Spike’s decision to reassert himself with the athletics’ league were now strengthened, which was the reason that Buffy hung around after the final bell rang. She felt it was strange that Spike would keep that to himself. He had told her that he intended to stay on the team, but left out the fact that he was now putting forth a earnest effort in staying captain.

She sighed as she tried to avoid her Spanish teacher and ducked into the bathroom. Deciding that she could waste a few minutes to make sure that he was definitely gone, she pull out her make up and retouched everything. About mid-way through the re-combing of her hair she realized how ridiculous this all was, standing in an empty girl’s room, getting made up for the guy that hardly notices anyone’s emotions let alone his own. She brought another hand to the brush holding one and fisted it up in frustration, she grabbed it out and let her arms go slack. This was pointless. She should give up, just admit that she likes him, but it’s not residual, or won’t be until months, if not years from now.

She looked around subconsciously and pulled out her mascara wand, some primping was okay, its not like she was breaking a commandment. She put on a smile in the mirror to see how her reapply job had gone: pretty decent for the after school hour. She gathered all her stuff together and set out to find her guy.


A while later, she heard something coming from the gym. She was stupid not to look there to begin with; instead she had run all over the fields outside the school. She’d never been into the back workout rooms, she only was in the main gym room for gym itself, they also used the football field, but she’d never really gone behind the big lunky curtain that divided one of the sides.

It was the music that caught her attention, since it was a Wednesday there was no one left in the school, minus her, some overachieving students and teachers alike, and Spike; you could tell which one of the group it was by the music. She’d always been kind of partial to Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now, but something about the caliber of sound blaring throughout the gymnasium, she was starting to dislike it. It was a surprisingly long walk from the entrance to the curtain and workout area. By the time she got there the song was winding down. She pulled it back only to be met with the opening chords of I Am An Anarchist, guys obviously got a yen for the punk rock English bands, she thought as she searched for him or the stereo from which it was playing: she couldn’t see either. She stomped her foot impatiently, arms crossed over her chest as she decided what she should do... that when it happened.

She had always considered Spike a good looking guy, he was obviously well built, you had to be if you were captain of any team other than chess maybe, but… umm… wow. Her mind blanked out when she watched him walk back in wearing nothing but a loose pair of mesh shorts and sneakers. As if that weren’t enough, he didn’t sense, nor hear her so he continued what he was doing. She wondered briefly how he could have missed her… she looked down at her maroon blouse, confused she looked around once she came out of her daze and realized that the curtain was maroon too. Their school colors, yea me, she cheered sarcastically to herself.

Once she figured that it was her blending in that was deceiving Spike’s senses, she felt it fine for her to take advantage, after all… the man looked good enough. He had been doing a handful of sit-ups but seemed either tired of them or bored maybe, he looked up at the bar and tilted his head. She didn’t know exactly what he was thinking, but hoped it was what she wanted him to do.

He walked over and dropped the towel that was once again on his neck, he grabbed another free towel hanging over one of the weight racks and wiped his hands and grabbed his water bottle. He took a deep swig then pulled it back up to eye level; he took another and promptly poured it over his head. Buffy let out a tiny sigh but Sid Vicious outweighed her noise.

While almost passing out at the sight of a wet and sweaty Spike with his amazing back, it became physically hard to stand at the sight of him pulling himself up and down on the maroon bar attached upon the wall. She thought she was seeing double, that or some extremely naughty movie… she wasn’t supposed to know people that looked so… so… so… yummy! What was I thinking? Her mind blanked out again as he started letting out grunts load enough to be heard over the music.

The song was finishing up and she wondered what would be next, a little of The Cure maybe. Whatever she was expecting, Adam Duritz wasn’t it. So he’s got a soft spot for the Crows, she particularly loved this song… damn he’s got great taste too. Colorblind, was what he was working out to? I guess it’s different for everyone, she preferred something from the diva collection with a nice beat, maybe a little Whitney or J. Lo: not Counting Crows. The Clash, Sex Pistols sure, but Colorblind?

It was considerably quieter now, something that she had not taken into observation, she giggled and watched in horror as Spike dropped down and turned around abruptly. She stuttered about not being able to find him, until she came here, eventually giving up because of how obviously flustered she was. She looked back up and lost the thoughts she had quickly worked to re-gather at the sight of his bare chest.

“Hey, pet. Want to stop oogling me for a sec to actually get out what it is you need?” he asked with a wicked smile on his face. It was the direct innuendo that she was stupidly attracted to him that got her back to reality, full force.

“You asshole! I come here to help you out, maybe join you, but no Buffy can only be here for the hot piece of man ass! Shallow pig!” She yelled at him. His eyes danced at her words, obviously he was enjoying this argument whereas she was actually insulted.

“Oh, some a hot little piece of man ass now am I? How am I the patronizing one again?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. He shook his head and walked over to his bag and pulled out a random black shirt that had quickly become his trademark.

“I-no-you…eer! You are twisting my words. I didn’t say you were a hot piece of man ass, I said you were insinuating that!” she tried to get him to understand. He wasn’t, or at least it seemed he wasn’t trying to.

“Not twisting your anything, unfortunately,” he wagged his eyebrows at her.

“Oh, my God! You’re insatiable! Nothing I say will be taking seriously, its either sexual or bias innuendoes with you isn’t it?” she replied heatedly.

He actually appeared to ponder this, “Basically.”

“Well at least we’ve got that out of the way,” she smiled, glad they had moved on.

“So, Summers, you up for a little rough and tumble?” he asked.

“Fuck you! I thought you said it was over, I’m leaving if the rest of my stay is filled with as many euphemisms for ‘have sex with me’ you can make!” she began to walk away as a threat. He caught her arm.

First giving her a puzzled look, he looked upward and barked out laughter. “Sorry, I meant would you like to workout with me, maybe a few contests? No sex, I swear,” he put his hand on his chest.

Buffy turned beat red, “Of course you did, I was just…” she caught his disbelieving look and sighed in defeat. “Sure, lets have some sparry fun!” She hopped over to bar and jumped up, got one in then fell back down. Let out a huff and jumped right back up. She got another and tried for a third but failed. She stood catching her breath, preparing for the next try when she looked to her right to see Spike leaning against the wall watching her.

“You amaze me,” he said, tilting his head yet again and looking at her with awe. She could really get used to that look on a guys face, more specifically his.



Two hours and one sweaty Buffy later, they gave up. They had tried basically everything there was, Spike had won four out of the five contests. He lost the one that mattered the most though, wrestling. He founding it unfathomable that someone her size was so swift with the pinning, no less pinning someone that is a good double her size.

After dropping her off at her house, Spike took a nice long shower and went into his bedroom to relax his overworked muscles. Practice wasn’t until Sunday morning, but he wanted to get in one day of full-on workout to make up for the bits and pieces he would be miss when he was going to the therapist rather than killing free time with his weight set.

He was sitting on his bed, reading A Clockwork Orange for English, when the phone rang. He dropped his bookmark after finishing his sentencem and rushed over to his desk and pulled it up from its cradle.

“’Lo?” he questioned into the receiver.

“Hi, Spike!” Wesley replied. “How are you, I haven’t seen you in… how are you?”

“Fine,” he answered a little more bitterly than he had meant it. “What do you want?” he sighed in frustration.

“I-um, firstly wanted to let you know that everything that’s happened with Angel doesn’t change anything. We weren’t really great friends before and I don’t expect us to be now, but I wanted to let you know that I agree with you more than him. Hell, you’ve affected everything, it’s all confusing at lunch---not to mention the party at his house last week. No one talks about you, its kind of funny actually,” he said with enthusiasm.

“I find nothing funny about defending myself against a pillock who poked fun at my dead mother,” he replied monotone. He heard the audible gasp on the other line.

“Sorry, not that kind of funny. I meant Angel, he is all confused, and he has no right hand man anymore. I suppose Riley is that now, although he is too busy trying to get into Harmony’s pants to notice his promotion. I’ve got a feeling he’ll be reminded his place by Liam soon enough,” he said hurriedly back.

“Thanks, I guess. Why is it that you felt the need to tell me this? You said firstly, what else are you calling for?” Spike wondered aloud.

“Well, I know that you are decent friends with Oz, therefore you may show up anyway, but I thought I’d let you know ahead of time. I’m having a post-Thanksgiving party on the second, you’re welcome to come and bring some people. I’ve got about thirty people coming, plus their friends, and their friends’ friends, I’m sure you understand. So I am inviting you to come, in fact I insist that you at least make an appearance, I’d love to talk to you again, I still feel bad for not sticking up for you at lunch that day. Faith did better by you than anyone, I told Angel later that you were right, but I fear it wasn’t said at the time it was most greatly needed,” he confessed.

“Oh, okay, thanks. What’s this about Faith?” Spike inquired. He remembered seeing her pleading look for everyone to stop, but it wasn’t until the final blow out that he got the impression that she was pissed off for her own reasons plus his.

“Wow, I guess since you don’t hang out with anyone from that group you didn’t hear. Faith had this major fight with Dru, and Angel as well. They were all talking outside Forrest’s locker later that day. Faith started saying how stupid Angel was and how smart you were for getting out. Angel said something about her being more than welcome to get out too, she flipped out. Told Dru that although she was cheating with him on you, all the while she had slept with him a handful of times. Apparently a few drunken times, some more than sober ones… the guy is such a monster. I was thinking about not inviting him, but after what happened before..." he didn’t finish and didn’t need to.

Spike remembered all too well when Wes had his own punishment from the Dark Avenger. He and Graham hadn’t been there, but basically everyone else was. Angel had been dating Cordy, which was really his first solid relationship besides the epic tale of him and Darla, when Wesley starting courting her on his own time. Some freshman had seen Wesley making out with Cordelia in the library and ratted him out, which was the end of it.

“Dru said she was a tramp, sleeping with half the guys in Sunnydale and then,” Wesley muffled a giggle before continueing “Faith called Drusilla a righteous slut who has slept with more guys than her, but knows how to hide it behind her nutcase persona to appear more or less pure. She slapped her, told her to get a tan, and punched Liam. He had a bruise on his chin for three days. Priceless,” Wesley finished.

Spike laughed at that, “Have to talk to her at the party then, she gonna be there?”

“Yes, I asked her to come. Well, she was there when I invited Harmony, I had no real choice, I didn’t want her to hit me too. So I take it you’re coming then?” he asked excitedly.

“I’ll show, but if Angel so much as looks at me funny: I’ll kill ‘em!” Spike announced vindictively.

“I believe you, talk to you then, ta!” Wesley said as he hung up the phone.

“Later,” Spike replied.

His head was turning over and over the pros and cons of going to a party like this. He was certainly taking the Summer’s gang, but he wasn’t sure if he really would enjoy himself. Getting into a tussle with Angel might be worth it, but whose to say he won’t be ganged up upon by six of his goons like always. He decided that he would ask Buffy: she always knew what to do.



Willow was sitting on Oz’s lap, popping fries into her mouth at random intervals when Buffy and Spike came into lunch, as usual, bantering. She would swear they were a couple had she not inside insight to the fact that they weren’t and may never be.

Spike took his seat in between Xander and Tara, across from her, Oz, and now Buffy who was to her right.

“All I’m saying is that you should stop listening to that crap, it’ll turn your brain to goo!” Spike threw his hands up in resignation. Buffy scoffed as if saying that backing out was just as bad as winning.

“No! X-Tina is the best! Okay Mr. ‘Sid Vicious is still cool’!” she argued back.

“Well,” he waved his hands around, “he is!”

“Yeah, okay! To people who are stuck in a decade that they were only a part of while teething!” she made a face at him and walked up to the lunch line.

“Burn!” Xander giggled at Spike’s pissed off and embarrassed expression. “Oh, you can’t just let her leave!”

Spike just watched as she swaggered, self-assured up to the lunch line and purchase a salad that she still insisted to be unhealthy. What was healthy anymore… actual grass? He rolled his eyes and pulled out the sandwich he had made for himself last night.

“You going to Double W’s party?” Oz looked over at him. Calling him by the nickname given to his silly double syllable alias. Spike sighed, “Is that a no? The judges can’t decide.”

He laughed and shook his head no, “I hardly know Wes! Besides its too risky going there with all those guys, I’m sure some of them would love to gang up on me. Even if they weren’t going to do it anyway, who knows what they’ll decide once they’re hammered? “

“Who’s getting beat up? Spike?” Buffy joked as she came back.

“Ha, bloody, ha, Summers,” Spike deadpanned.

“Oh, buy a sense of humor! Whose party are people getting trashed at, is it Riley or Forrest this time?”

“Neither,” Willow said from her place. “Wesley,” she faked a British accent, “Wesley Wyndham-Pryce that is.” Everyone laughed at the more than accurate mocking of his predictable introduction.

“I’ve never been to any of these parties, I don’t think we should show… we’d be kind of out of place. Well, actually we would also have to take into consideration that we have Spike with us now, that could change things,” Xander added thoughtfully.

“Excuse me?” Spike didn’t even try to keep the hurt and angry look off his face and out of his tone.

“No, not like that. We’ve been invited before out of courtesy, mostly because of Oz before,” Oz saluted for emphasis, “but even then it was out of courtesy for hired help, i.e. the band. You were one of the people throwing these things. Double W may have said you were only being asked out of respect, but it’s because people still see you as worthy of running them let alone being enticed into showing up. Last time they would have shunned us or made fun of us…with you there we have a fighting chance, hell we may even be looked up to,” Xander said with a goofy smile on the whole time.

Spike felt incredibly humbled at that moment. He kept taking for granted how great these people were; he was always comparing them to Angel or Darla. Somewhere along the line he had taken a cynic’s point of view, he felt that something bad was attached to the good no matter what. This seemed to prove faulty with this group and he really liked that.

“I’m in!” he said, surprising himself along with everyone else, “what a bloke can’t change his mind?” His indignant tone garnered no objections, he was pleased, but wasn’t sure that feeling would around for long. He had an imminent feeling that come next week he would be in a lot of chaos and anger, that’s how it always was with that group and their parties. That used to be good thing, the more drinking, sex, and all around rowdiness the better, but now he was dreading this carnival of sorts. Only time would tell, he thought ominously as he glanced up at Buffy’s smiling face, time would tell, he repeated to himself silently.

tbc...

Chapter 6:

A/N: The four songs mentioned in this chapter and the next are: Spandau Ballet’s True and Green Day’s Waiting, which are pretty upfront. The other two are Audioslave’s What You Are and Blink 182’s All of This, I recommend downloading them not just for the context of the story, but because they all rock.

Buffy was psyched to say the least. She was bouncing around all day, anxious to go to Wesley’s party, dying to dance with Spike, and most of all swooning over the fact that she may get a chance to kiss him. Then came the all important wardrobe selection. She had called Willow and talked to her for an hour, when time came to choose she thought back to the redhead’s latest ensemble, a fuzzy sweater with a big orange flower on it, she promptly said her goodbyes and geared herself up for the long journey of finding the right outfit.

She took at least forty-five minutes, but she settled upon a daring number. Perfect in terms of her figure and the competition she would see tonight. A somewhat slashed up looking black skirt that fell to her knees, it was uneven and witchy looking, which was a great accentuate to her top. The sweater that she wore was a size too big, making it very snuggly. She was in all black, which surprisingly looked great. She assumed it would be overwhelming, but everything seemed to work. She added on her knee high black boots for emphasis, including a cross that hung down over her chest. She turned around and looked at herself in the mirror. She pushed her chest up and imagined them bigger, she sighed. However pert they were, they still were nothing compared to Dru or Harmony, two girls she knew Spike had been with. Her hair was great too; the bangs that weren’t technically bangs came down on the corners of her face, while the rest of her hair was pulled back with two bobby pins. She was really proud of herself for pulling off the look she finished with.

After her great adventure she checked the clock, she still had three hours till the party. 'What to do?' she mused. She went back up to her room and tried to get in a nap, it didn’t take, not even after she put Spandau Ballet’s “True” on, she was amazed. That song usually put her to sleep plus dreams of romantic evenings with Gavin Rossdale, Brandon Boyd, or Spike would follow. Nothing. She watched a lot of television, but still couldn’t get tired enough to nap.

She gave up and called Xander. He wasn’t home; she called Willow, who was picking up Xander with Oz: they’d started the rounds.

She looked at the time on the TV. Only twenty minutes, her stomach lurched. Suddenly she wanted those hours back, she wasn’t ready. The thought of seeing all her classmates and possibly drinking with Spike, then doing other things: with Spike, had her about to throw up. After some semi-yoga like meditating activities, she managed to calm herself down. She was inexplicably happy that her Aunt Marti had her watched those tapes, it actually worked a little. At this point anything was working better than running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

She kept telling herself that she had been to Riley’s party and it was no different. She had to keep an air of suaveness to properly attract Spike. Several more deep breathes and she was under control: ready to go. The doorbell rang; she lost her cool again, it was back to running around, this time scrambling to grab a purse. She ended up leaving it by the door because she was afraid of loosing it at the party. She grabbed the knob and smiled coyly to Willow and Anya who had came up to the door. They bounced out to the car, intent on picking up Spike then Tara. Buffy looked around and saw everyone in their party clothes, minus Oz, who had to keep his normal outfit on, whether for the band’s appearance or his lack of motivation to fit in she didn’t know.

She bit her lip, 'Ready or not, here I come'.


They entered the party as a self-confident wave. Since the band wasn’t there Wesley and the others had been playing cds, which wasn’t a bad thing. Green Day was echoing off the walls loudly, Waiting, the song of choice. Spike couldn’t help but find the lyrics scarily accurate.

“So, folks, where are we off to first? Getting drunk, dancing, or mingling?” everyone offered deer in the headlights looks, minus Oz, as per usual. “Don’t worry, it’s not required. Besides, I thought you all said you’d been to one of these, what gives? You suddenly forget how we throw down?”

“Well, I conveniently forgot to mention that we were at Riley’s for a half an hour, before that was Forrest in eighth grade,” Xander admitted sheepishly. Spike sighed.

“It’s fine, you’ll all do fine!” Oz said, picking up the heavy guitar case and dragging it over to the designated area. “We’re gonna set up, mingle, it’s fine! See you guys around later,” he said as he and Willow scampered off to the band area.

“So, pet, want to dance?” Buffy blanched at his question. She glanced at the already packed dance floor; grinding bodies overflowed the hardwood floor of Wesley’s living room.

“Ah, sure,” she said with a shyness that Spike hadn’t ever really seen on her before. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out.

She looked down at their outfits and almost let out a chuckle: they matched. Not in the literal sense of exact outfit for different sexes, but in the cute, coordinated-type way that she liked. He was wearing a dark blood red dress shirt; sleeves rolled up to his elbows and top three buttons undone. His slacks were black and he still adorned his black boots, somehow they fit the outfit.

Buffy glanced around the room and felt overwhelmed and embarrassed by her outfit, she felt like such a Goth freak. Everyone else had on cleavagy little tank tops; she had on this all black heavy ensemble.

Meanwhile, Spike was openly staring at her, she couldn’t have looked deadlier. She was shooting self-conscious looks everywhere but his direction, he himself was feeling kind of awkward because of the lack of attention she was paying him. He put his hands lower on her waist, her eyes shot back to his. 'Well at least that still works', he thought slyly as she tried to shake off the sudden reaction to his grip.

Chris Cornell’s voice broke out over their discreet flirting and they both gave pleased expressions. In a silent question Spike moved his abdomen a bit closer and she followed suit, 'let the grinding begin', he grinned.

And when you wanted me
I came to you
And when you wanted someone else
I withdrew
And when you asked for light
I set myself on fire
And if I go far away I know
You'll find another slave
And when you wanted me
I came to you
And when you wanted someone else
I withdrew
And when you asked for light
I set myself on fire
And if I go far away I know
You'll find another slave

They swayed more and more quickly as the beat speedily crept to the chorus, in a wild train of thought Buffy turned around and pulled his hands down to her womb. Spike was gawking at her boldness and the sensuous feel of her rock back and forth against his chest. Her hands moved of their own volition as they traveled back to his head, now gyrating against him in an intimate dance, she turned back around.

Cause now I'm free from what you want
Now I'm free from what you need
Now I'm free from what you are

And when you wanted blood
I cut my veins
And when you wanted love
I bled myself again
Now that I've had my fill of you
I'll give you up forever
And here I go far away
I know you'll find another slave

Cause now I'm free from what you want
Now I'm free from what you need
Now I'm free from what you are

He was getting mighty hot, either Wesley had turned the party into a sauna, or the little writhing girl in his arms was getting to him. He wasn’t sure of anything at this point. He moved his head down and nipped at her ear with his front teeth, she gave a throaty sigh in response. He felt exposed to the people that were watching from the walls, like they shouldn’t be seeing this. He wasn’t ready to open them up to another part of his secret world. By letting them see this he was destroying his chances of being with Buffy, these thoughts made him sick. He continued to rock with her nonetheless.

Then a vision came to me
When you came along
I gave you everything
But then you wanted more

Cause now I'm free from what you want
Now I'm free from what you need
Now I'm free from what you are

Now I'm free from what you want
Now I'm free from what you need
Now I'm free from what you are

Buffy let out a huge breathe as the final beats of the song arrived, she looked up at the shell-shocked expression on Spike’s face and immediately felt awful for leading him on. She smiled kissed his cheek and ran off to the bathroom. He slowly walked back over to Xander and Anya who were making out on a comfy chair.

Buffy touched her, lips at least she had kissed him, she thought while waiting in line for the bathroom. She overheard Oz’s band starting up. She was a little upset by her display out there, but wanted to make sure and see them perform. She ditched the line mostly because she was only using the bathroom as an excuse to get out of there.

She found Tara and went back out to the floor and cheered Oz on with dancing slowly, Spike eventually joined them, having no where else to go besides watch Xander kiss someone which wasn’t on his list of things to do. They all seemed to magically forget the awkwardness of Buffy and Spike’s ultra-sexual grind session and just had a good time for a while. 'Thank god for small miracles', Tara reflected to herself as they clapped for the Dingoes.


Chapter 7:

Spike dry washed his face in fear, anger, and misery. It might have been the truth of the situation that was getting to him, but he was pretty sure it was the hundred or so Yuengling Lagers that he had put away. He burped deep in his chest and pounded on it to keep from choking, he ended up letting out an exasperated cough. He felt like shit.
He had a few beers to get in the mood; all it had done was make him a sad drunk. He was usually a happy party animal drunk, which is what he was counting on, but this time he was wallowing in his problems. The major one that he couldn’t stop turning over and over in his head was that he had friends, good, solid, dependable friends: this was a problem. At least for drunken incoherent Spike it was.

He thought of it like this: without friends he may be a shell, but he had a few other benefits that would turn into difficulties with the alike. Instead of being able to just get comfort from people then living life, he now had to deal with the fact that he was going to have to deliver advice to Xander when he and Anya were on the outs, which seemed likely from the history he had scrounged up on the two. Also, when Buffy needs help with homework or some random thing, he had to be there. Basically, he liked the idea of taking and having better than giving while receiving a lot more.

This topic was what had him sitting along back away from the crowds of people on Wesley’s stairwell. He had been nursing his seventh bottle slowly, but was getting a little sick of the constant consumption, he set it down next to him with a humph. He felt like a little kid getting ready to throw a tantrum, any minute now he would start screaming and yelling about not getting his way. He could feel the extreme jutting out of his lip.

Despite his sloth like mood, he wasn’t tired at all, he felt quite energized actually. He listened as the band finished it’s set and took a second break, he looked at his watch, only a half an hour till the party got old. 'So the band may not be taking a break', his fuzzy mind contemplated, maybe they’re done for the night. He looked up attempting to see over the crowd, but didn’t want to get out of the comfy position. It was logistically impossible, but he didn’t seem to realize that. After a few minutes of straining he figured that if it was time to go soon, Buffy would find him.

Wesley said something to the crowd, he couldn’t hear, then new music came on: he didn’t make the connection. Blink 182’s beat and Robert Smith’s voice flittered threw the speakers ten feet away from him. He sighed and leaned his head back against the wall, “Good song,” he breathed out in pleasure.

With all of this I know now
Everything inside of my head
It all just goes to show how
Nothing I know changes me at all
Again I wait for this to change instead
To tear the world in tow
Another night with her
But I'm always wanting you

“Damn straight,” came the unexpected response. He looked up and a smile crept up on his face.

“Hey, I’ve been meaning to talk to you!” he hazily remembered.

“Have you? What did you want to say because I might just listen,” she smiled lusciously as she crept towards him resembling a big cat.

“Thank you, for saying that, to the Bitch and the Poof,” he said a bit sad that the mood had dampened a bit.

Faith smiled again, more seductive than the first, “No problem, big guy,” she said while staring at his pants. “What are you up to tonight? Dancing with Betty?”

“Buffy, her name is Buffy, I think,” he thought about it for a second, “Yeah, Buffy. That’s her name,” he concluded. “And no, I haven’t seen her for two whole hours! Two!” he held up two of his fingers to explain in case she didn’t catch on.

“Well you seem sad about that, don’t you?” Faith moved even closer, now only a foot or so away from Spike. “Want me to make you happy? Real happy?”

Use me holly come on and use me
We know where we go
Use me holly come on and use me
We go where we know

“Yes! I feel so sad, I would love to be happy, make me happy!” he slurred. Faith pounced on him and attacked his mouth with hers. He gasped in shock as she plundered his tongue, “God, baby, I’ll make you happy!” She was moving suggestively on his lap, his mind was screaming at him, but his body wasn’t quite catching the message as the busty brunette rocked back and forth.

With all of this I feel now
Everything inside of my heart
It all just seems to be how
Nothing I feel pulls at me at all
Again I wait for this to pull apart
To break my time in two
Another night with her
But I'm Always wanting you

He was resisting still, even though his alcohol overloaded mind wanted to sleep with her, something was stopping him. They were heavily making out when he felt her go for his belt buckle and he looked up. Her dark brown eyes were aroused and staring right into his. For a second he blinked to make sure they weren’t hazel and deceiving him.

Use me holly come on and use me
We know where we go
Use me holly come on and use me
We go where we know

He pulled her head in wrapped his hands around her back, she ran her hands up his stomach, for the time being leaving the belt alone. She hugged his head as she cradled his face even closer to hers. It wasn’t like he was cheating, he was single, this was commonplace, but still something was nagging at him in the back of his mind. They pulled away and panted, only to rejoin a few seconds later, he let the wave of sensations take over him.

He then realized that this is what he wanted to be doing with Buffy; so by God he would imagine that is exactly what he was doing.

For a few seconds he didn’t see Faith’s hands move over his back muscles, they were Buffy’s. For a short time, he missed Faith’s brown curled locks getting over his face and in his hands; they were simply Buffy’s blonde ones. He didn’t notice Faith’s whimpers and moans, mostly because to him they sounded like Buffy’s.

In all this time of not noticing things, neither of them saw the pair of hazel eyes that stared from across the room in part hate, part anguish.

She's all I need
She's all I dream
She's all I'm always wanting
She's all I need
She's all I dream
She's all...
I'm always wanting you
Yeah I'm always wanting you
I'm always wanting you

tbc...

Chapter 8:

For a few moments Buffy felt as if the only thing in the room was she and the deep resonating beat of the bass during the end of the song that was finishing playing. She saw bright lights in the corners of her eyes, she couldn’t remember why her face looked so shiny. Impulsively, she brushed her cheek in order to swat the light away that’s when she felt the dampness of her cheeks. She ran her palm across her face and felt the soaked skin, pulling away still distantly staring at the entwined couple she felt her body move away from the upsetting image. She shook her head trying to stop the tears that still didn’t feel like they were falling and the thoughts that clouded her head regarding Spike and Faith.

Willow was dancing with Oz when the next more hip-hop styled song came on, they broke apart and situated themselves for a faster paced song. Buffy came up from the side and gently touched Willow’s shoulder.

“Buffy, hey! Where have you been we were jus-,” Willow pulled Buffy head upwards from it’s turned down position. She then saw the tear tracks all over Buffy’s cheeks, “Oh, God, Buffy-what happened?”

Buffy gave a panicked expression and Willow tried to calm herself down, Oz’s usually expressionless face had changed to a worried and somewhat angry expression, surely at whoever or whatever had caused Buffy’s crying. He stepped forward, “Are you okay?” Speaking for the babbling and flustered redhead next to him.

“It’s, jeez, I must look like a wreck!” she put her head down took a deep breath and pulled herself together while raising her head back, miraculously the tear tracks were almost all wiped away and without new tears. “Sorry, can I just get a ride? I’m feeling a little queasy, hence the dramatics,” she waved her hand up and down at herself for emphasis.

“No problem, I’ll get our jackets,” Oz said quickly running off to get Wesley and some information on where the clothes were being stored.

“Will, you don’t have to come, I feel bad enough having to drag Oz into this, you can stay,” at Willow’s objective driven face Buffy held up a hand. “I know that face, Missy, and no you are not getting off this time. Oz’ll give me a quick ride back to my house and it’s all good, really,” she gave her version of Willow’s infamous resolve face, she crumbled.

“Fine, but promise to call tomorrow!” she said giving Buffy a hug.

“You’re leaving?” Tara said, only getting the tail end of the conversation while approaching.

“Yeah, I think I’m getting the flu or some kind of bug, upstairs I just got hysterical with ickiness, so I’m off!” she reached over to hug Tara, but the brunette pulled away slightly.

“Is it alright if I come back with you, I’m not really having a terrific time, have room for one more?” Oz smiled, his way of saying ‘of course’ and ushered the two girls out the door while winking at Willow before she ran off to find Xander and Anya.


“Aah! No, I can’t do this!” Spike pushed Faith off of him, like some coma victim coming out of their long sleep he sat in genuine shock and horror of what his body had been allowing him to do just now. “God, I’m such a git!” he pushed Faith completely off and knocked over the beer bottle. “Fuck!”

“What?” Faith said, slightly dizzy from being aroused then so quickly thrown on the ground. “What’s your problem?”

“Nothing, I’m just not dating anyone right now, intense groping falls under that category for me. Sorry, luv,” he shook his head in confusion. “I am wasted, I gotta get out of here,” he slowly attempted to get up. Two tries and he was leaning against the wall trying to keep his balance.

“Gee, you really know how to show a lady she’s appreciated. Were you planning on fucking ‘n chucking or just teasing?” she became bitter quickly, pissed off that he was writing this whole thing off as a drunken mistake. “Hey!” she grabbed his arm as he stumbled a few steps away from the spot they were a second ago.

“It’s not personal, doe eyes,” he cringed at his affectionate term, he didn’t mean for some of he nicknames to come out. “Faith, Faith!” he told both her and himself. “Sorry, for,” he motioned to the wall where they were, “that, I’m leaving.”

“Bye,” Faith whispered back, hurt.


Oz waved at the girls through the windshield as he pulled back out of the driveway and waited until the door opened and closed before turning and driving away in the street.

“A-are you sure that your aunt doesn’t mind?” Tara bit her lip as she asked worriedly.

“No problemo, she isn’t even home until three. Staff-writer’s meeting for the show she writes for, doesn’t get finished throwing around ideas until the wee hours, leaves me and Dawn plenty of friend full hours to have fun!” she explained, as they rose up the stairs to Buffy’s bedroom.

“Here, some sweats and an a t-shirt sound good?” Buffy asked while pulling out random pajamas from her drawer.

“Great, thanks so much,” Tara replied.

After getting set up, the two situated themselves on Buffy’s bed and floor, Tara taking the latter. She was tired, but the small blonde’s restless moving was keeping her from satisfying her exhaustion.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Willow seemed a little worried about you earlier,” Tara said softly to Buffy’s direction.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Buffy said, “Don’t worry about it, let’s just get some sleep.” There was no mistaking the crack in her voice now.

“Buffy are you crying?” Tara maneuvered herself onto the bed. “Oh, sweetie, come here,” she hugged Buffy once she saw the smaller girl’s scrunched up expression and wet face. “What’s wrong? Tell me what happened,” she said as she stroked Buffy’s back as the blonde let out little hiccupy sobs into her shoulder.

Buffy pulled back and took a shaky breath, “Spike,” saying the name resulted in more and stronger tears, she tried desperately to calm herself down, for both her and Tara’s sake. “Spike and Faith, I saw them, at the party,” she managed while taking deep soothing breathes at her friend’s soft instruction.

“Talking? Flirting? Buffy, sweetheart I’m not sure what’s going on between any of you two, but I don’t-,” she was cut off by the sullen appearance her friend took on, “Oh, so it was…worse than talking?” She tried sympathetically.

“They were kissing, making out. Probably more by now though, by the looks of it. It was pretty intense, God I don’t even know why I’m making such a huge deal about this, it’s his life. Let him make out with skanky bitches who do nothing but sleep around with guys twice their age and do drugs on the weekend and drink all the time and get tattoos at age fifteen.” Tara shushed her.


“Don’t talk bad about Faith, Buffy, it’s not her fault,” Tara told her, “I’m not saying she’s an angel, but I’m pretty sure she’s had a tough life, we’re in no place to judge her. As for Spike, I know for sure that he’s had a hard time, so maybe they need each other. D-do you have feelings for him?” she questioned, trying to pick apart Buffy’s brain.

“No!” she yelled, so loudly that it didn’t convince herself anymore than Tara. “Okay, as I admitted before, I like him, a little, but I didn’t think enough to freak out about him making out with another girl. It’s not like he’s my one true person, destined and dating so he would be outright betraying me, I just thought that he was holding off on all girls, since he told me that he was uncomfortable dating. Maybe it’s just me he made the excuse for, could that be it? What’s wrong with me?” she fell back down to Tara’s arms and sobbed harder.

The brunette decided to let Buffy cry herself out, she obviously wasn’t in the mood to divulge feelings or think out a solution to this problem. She just hoped that Spike shaped up, otherwise they were in for one of a show. She patted Buffy on the back and laid her on the pillow, after she had cried herself to sleep. She tucked a strand of hair from her face and thought back over the girl’s reaction. There was something going on between Buffy and Spike, for once she felt on top of things. She was finally at the head of the chain with the most information. Despite her knowledge she felt a inevitable feeling that even Spike and Buffy themselves had no idea what was going on, therefore trying to work their feelings out would be impossible. She sighed, thought about what she would do tomorrow, maybe get Buffy to call Spike?. She finally let the exhaustion over take her and fell fast asleep.


Spike walked out to the living room, no one was to be seen. He sat in the easy chair by the door, he was in one of those moods between sobriety and drunkenness that left you regretting, but still confused. He wondered where Oz was, he wanted to get home and sleep off the hangover he was somehow already feeling. He squeezed his head with his palms, what the hell had happened tonight? It had a hell of a lot to do with the bottles and bottles of Lager he’d downed, but there was something else there.

He remembered Faith attacking him, but after that it became even fuzzier. He had the recollection of the contact, vividly, but he couldn’t pick out a reason for acting like such a berk. Buffy. Was that the reason? It was the one thing sticking out in his cluttered brain, but what else was new? It’d been like that since the moment that he laid eyes on her. He waited until a hour or so later Xander found him still moaning about blunders and ignorance, he was pushed out to Oz’s van and was dumped at his house in no time.

By the time he entered the door he was already dozing, somehow he managed to get to his room; as soon as he hit the bed he was basically unconscious until sunrise. Not thinking or hearing anything but his wild imaginations subconscious thoughts about what he’d done and how it had related to Buffy. How much he wanted her to be the one he swept of her feet, to kiss until it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began, to make her toes curl with pleasure, to love. Waking up the next morning, the dreadful hangover erased any clues to the causes, leaving him as oblivious as before.


Chapter 9:

After a good couple of days, Buffy quit trying to avoid Spike. They were bound to meet up for the bunch of classes they shared, plus the sessions they still took every other week; she felt it was best to just confront him and act as nonchalant as possible. After all, he hadn’t come running to her home to find out why she left early, obviously he wasn’t peeved or confused, so why should she give him a reason to be.

His first soccer game of the season was today after school, she knew he was veing for captain and wanted to be there to lend moral support, Faith or no Faith. She was joining Willow and Xander, Oz had his own practice, Tara was studying and Anya wasn’t overly excited about anything involving school. Dawn had begged to come along, apparently she had found the time to meet and develop a mini-crush on Spike while the other chaos was happening; Buffy had talked her out of it, but the younger sister still insisted on going out for pizza afterwards.

So here they were watching the game, Xander cracking lame jokes about the lack of difference between jocks and potatoes, which Buffy no longer found the least bit amusing, seeing as how one of her best friends was one. Willow was cheering, as was Buffy, but both felt a little uncomfortable. Willow knew that something had happened to upset the blonde, but her not having a chance to comfort her and find out was not only alienating her, but making her frustrated. She resolved to pull Buffy aside later and chat it out, right now they were motivating a friend, who really didn’t need it. She watched as Spike basically ran the show, giving only small signs that he hadn’t been doing this in a while.

Buffy jumped up and waved the little maroon and yellow pom-pom when Spike assisted the last goal of the game. They ran down to the field where he was already rushed with fellow team-members.

“Hey, Beckham, what’s happening?” Xander nudged the bleached teen’s ribs. Spike gave a somewhat pitying glance, signaling how lame the pun was.

“No, Harris,” he shook his head, “Just, no.”

“Fine, fine. You try having to find material on sports, there’s nothing, man,” he patted Spike on the back. “We’re gonna head to the car, meet you there?”

“Certainly, later,” Spike replied as he jogged over to the gym door heading towards the locker rooms.

“Where are we going?” Willow asked.

“Umm, Antonio’s, Pat’s, Antonio’s, oh and Pat’s, your choice,” Buffy smirked at the complete lack of restaurants for teenagers in their town.

“Antonio’s! Pat’s hoagies taste like cardboard,” Xander made a face at the thought of a bad hoagie.

“I thought we were getting pizza, that’s what I told Dawnie,” Buffy chewed on her lip.

“Oh, yeah, just saying. Going to a place with a bad hoagie vibe, wouldn’t make the pizza very enjoyable, you get me, Buff?” Xander put on his sly guy look. Buffy rolled her eyes and supressed a chuckle.

“Hey!” Willow yelled out as someone bumped right into her.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Didn’t see you there,” Drusilla snickered with Cordelia who was arm linked with her. “Kinda hard to see someone who is so unpopular they might as well be invisible, you know?”

“Oh, totally, Dru! Maggots are better known than half of these misfits!” They both shared a hearty laugh before walking over to Cordy’s cranberry colored Mustang.

“Witches,” Willow muttered. “God, some people,” she trailed off to her knowing friends. Spike joined them soon and they were off to pick up the younger Summers’ sister, then Anya.


“I don’t understand, why are we talking about this?” Anya asked increduously.

“Because it’s an important topic!” Spike shouted back.

“Fine, ten, I was ten!” she shot a glare over at Xander who chuckled.

“Ten, aww, little Anya the prude,” her boyfriend taunted.

“Oh, I’ll show you prude, right now, right here,” she tore at Xander’s clothes and he turned crimson.

“Ahn, are you nuts?!” he squeaked before bashfully looking around at his friends.

“No, just horny,” she winked and sighed, “and joking. God, what do you take me fore, some sort of common whore?”

“Of course not!” he said almost insulted that she would imply he meant that. “I love you Ahn, it’s just,” he trailed off and got a fearsome wide-eyed look. “Did I?”

“You did,” Spike ducked his head down to keep from laughing after he affirmed his friends slip up.

“Oh, god, baby!” Anya attacked Xander with kisses and tugged at him even more, trying to pull him outside. “Let’s get out of here!”

“PDA! PDA! Little kid here, PDA!” Dawn cried out waving her hands around.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” Anya gave up temporarily. “When we get home, you’re fucked, quite literally.” She winked at what she thought was clever subtlety. Basically everyone at the table shared a cough in agreement they would remain lueless’ to her double-meaning.

“God, look at the time,” Willow cringed. “Damn, I’ve got to get home, exams are next week and I wanna start studying now.”

“Right, Red. Getting overwhelmed with the fact that winter break means no homework or extra assignments?” Spike joked.

“Yes!” she screeched back, then blushed when she realized by his and her other friends’ looks let her know he was teasing.

“No worries, we can head out,” Buffy sing-songed. They all busied themselves with finishing up their drinks and collecting the money they would leave for the waitress.

Spike slid out to let Dawn and Willow out of his side of the booth, convienently bumping into someone walking past. He shot around to apologize, but when he caught sight of who it was his features darkened and didn’t even think of begging pardon.

tbc...