By Zarrah

”Okay ladies.” Cordelia said smiling brightly. “I know not everyone here is going to make it but just so you know, your support of the team can be used else where if you don’t.”

Buffy sighed heavily as Cordelia continued to spill worthless words of encouragement. She glanced around, seeing the faces of the more ‘popular’ girls she had attended school with the first time and wondered what she was even doing there.

Willow’s persistence for her to try out for the cheerleading squad had finally caused her to give up and do as her friend had asked. It wasn’t like she anything ‘else’ to do with her time now, seeing how they’re apparently were ‘no’ vampires or demons running around the town.

Buffy looked up, trying to hold back the eye roll that threatened to escape her as Harmony sat down beside of her.

“Hey, I’m Harmony.” She said smiling, “I was so hoping you would try out for the team.”

Buffy smiled best she could. Being around the bubble headed Harmony wasn’t her idea of a good time and she braced herself for the bubble gum air headedness that was always associated with her. “Hi, I’m Buffy.” She said, trying a quick introduction that she still felt ridiculous doing to people she ‘already’ knew.

“Yeah, I know.” Harmony said happily. “You are the talk of the school you know. Even Angel was going on about you.”

“Angel.” Buffy breathed out.

Harmony grinned before giggling quietly. “Yeah, he asked me about you on your first day.”

“He did?” Buffy asked, smiling as she got a dazed look on her face.

Harmony laughed a little, bumping Buffy’s arm with her elbow. “Yeah, he was asking me a thousand questions, which I didn’t know the answers to of course……”

Buffy was lost, Harmony’s ramblings falling on deaf ears as she thought about Angel. *He was asking about me* she thought to herself, a smile breaking out on her face.

“Hey, did you hear me?” Harmony asked, looking at Buffy.

“Huh,” Buffy said, finally focusing her eyes back on Harmony. “What was that?”

Harmony giggled before shaking her head. “I asked you if you had plans tonight.”

“Oh.” Buffy said smiling. “Sorry….um, yes actually.”

“Oh, that’s too bad.”

“Why’s that?”

“Oh, well there’s a party at Angel’s, he asked me to see if you could make it.” Harmony told her. “He’ll be disappointed if you’re not there.”

Buffy felt her chest tighten. *God why did I agree to go to the mall!* she screamed in her head. *Maybe I can get out of it.* “Well, I may be able to swing by.” She said smiling, hoping she could talk Willow into it.

“Great!” Harmony said cheerfully. “I’ll tell Angel.”

Buffy watched as Harmony stood and walked over to a group of girls surrounding Cordelia. She smiled, her thoughts once again returning to Angel and how exactly she was going to be able to get Willow to go to a party instead of the mall.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Buffy, No!” Willow said loudly into the phone. “Xander will kill me if I ditch.”

“It’s just one night Will.”

“But, but it’s a weekly ritual.” Willow said, “Mall, movie, video games. Its fun, I promise you’ll have fun….please….”

Buffy sighed heavily into the phone. She wanted to go to Angel’s party but she didn’t want to disappoint her friend either and she had already promised Willow she would go. Running her hand through her hair, she smiled weekly before sighing in defeat. “Okay, the mall it is.”

Buffy jerked the phone away from her ear as Willow squealed into the phone. She could practically see Willow bouncing in joy. She laughed and shook her head as Willows laughter finally died down. “Wow, hyper much?” she asked, giggling at her friend’s excitement.”

“Very.” Willow said happily. “Mom and I will be by to pick you up in an hour.”

“Okay, see you then.” Buffy said before hanging up the phone.

Buffy laid the phone down, turning to her closet before walking across the room. She smiled as she opened the door. She couldn’t ever remember having so many clothes. It was like getting a complete wardrobe for nothing.

She smiled as she thumbed through the array of clothing, eyeing everything in the closet before pulling out a pair of jeans. “Gotta love the dreamland.” She said with a smile before grabbing a shirt and throwing it on the bed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Willow and Buffy had been aimlessly walking the mall in search for Xander and Jesse. They had been there for over half an hour and still no sign of them.

“Maybe they decided not to come after all.” Buffy said as she stirred the ice in her frozen drink. “Oh, I know, lets go to the party.” She added grinning big.

“No, they’re probably just goofing off somewhere.” Willow said, stirring her own drink.

Buffy raised her hand, smoothing out her hair when she felt it move. She looked up towards the second floor before shrugging her shoulder and looking over at Willow. “So, what movie are we watching?”

“Not sure, Xander didn’t have a preference this week.”

“Oh.” Buffy said, once again looking up.

“What’s wrong?” Willow asked looking over at Buffy as she smoothed out her hair and was staring up at the second floor.

Buffy shook her head, smiling slightly as she looked back at Willow. “Nothing, just felt like something hit me in the head.”

“Let me see.” Willow said, stopping and walking around behind her. “I don’t see anything.” She told her, looking at her hair.

“Oh well.” Buffy said shrugging her shoulder.

“So, tell me what Harmony said about Angel again.” Willow said as she and Buffy started walking again.

Buffy could barely contain the smile that broke out on her face. “She said he’s been asking her questions about me, and what’s he doing hanging out with Harmony anyway?”

“Harmony’s really nice.” Willow said grinning.

“Huh?” Buffy said, not believing what she was hearing.

“Yeah, probably the nicest person I’ve ever meet, well besides you that is.”

Buffy stopped, her mouth opened slightly. “We are talking about the same person right?” she asked, staring wide eyed at Willow. “Harmony Kendall, air headed blonde….groupie of Cordelia….”

Willow’s brow scrunched up as she looked at Buffy. “Are you sure ‘you’ know who Harmony is?” she asked confused.

Buffy blinked a few times, staring at Willow before she saw something fall in front of her face. She looked down, seeing a small piece of ice lying on the floor before her head shot up towards the second floor.

Xander wasn’t fast enough to clear the railing before Buffy saw him running back.

“Xander.” Buffy said under her breath.

Willow looked up, grinning as she saw Jesse’s head poke out over the railing before he too jumped back. “They’re such children.” She said grinning as another piece of ice came sailing down from the second floor, hitting Willow on the shoulder.

“Hey, girl here.” She yelled up at them smiling.

Buffy giggled slightly as Xander and Jesse both peered over the railing, grinning like idiots. She shook her head, smiling up at them until she saw ‘him’. “What is he doing here?” she asked, her smile completely gone.

Spike grinned down at Buffy, seeing her face scrunch up when she saw him. He looked over at Xander when he spoke to him before pushing off the railing and stepping back.

“You didn’t say Spike was coming along.” Buffy said irritated.

“I didn’t know he was.” Willow said smiling. “But the more the merrier.”

Buffy huffed and rolled her eyes before crossing her arms over her chest as all three guys came down the escalator. She turned her head, trying her best to ignore Spike as they slowly approached them.

“So, Buffster did you think the sky was falling?” Xander said grinning as he stopped in front of her.

“What is he doing here?” Buffy asked staring at Spike and ignoring Xander’s question.

“Uh….hanging out.” Xander said, turning his head and glancing over at Spike.

“What’s the matter luv, not happy to see me?” Spike asked, the smirk that constantly irritated Buffy to no end firmly planted on his face.

“First off, I’m NOT your luv, and NO I’m not happy to see you!” she said before turning and walking off.

Spike chuckled at her before taking off in her direction, leaving the others standing. He didn’t know why he irritated her so much, but the look on her face and the blush her cheeks always took on when she saw him was just too much to pass up.

Buffy looked over, rolling her eyes as Spike fell in step with her. She wanted to smack the grin off his face as he stared at her. She had spent the last two days ignoring him and was doing a pretty good job at it even when she had the unfortunate disadvantage of having him sit behind her in math class.

“Go away.” She said coldly, quickening her steps.

“Now you know you don’t mean that kitten.” Spike said, chuckling when Buffy let out what almost sounded like a soft growl.

“Why are you torturing me?” Buffy yelled, flinging her arms as she stopped and faced him. “I mean, this is suppose to be some sort of heaven, but NOOOO, I get stuck in hell with you!”

“Here we go again.” Willow said as she, Xander and Jesse slowly made their way over to where Buffy and Spike had stopped.

Spike stood there smiling as Buffy paced back and forth in front of him, rambling on about things he seriously thought she needed therapy for. Half of what she was saying made no sense what so ever but her little temper tantrum was quiet amusing.

Her face was almost completely red and her eyes were huge as she made short laps infront of him. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned his head to the side, watching her, as were half the occupants of the mall.

“You know luv, people are staring at you, don’t want to get carted off in a cozy little white jacket, now do you?” he asked, smiling bigger when she swung round and faced him.

Buffy stopped and stared at him. She felt her fist clenching at her side, her rage at her current situation getting the best of her.

She had ended up in a ‘perfect’ place and Angel, her Angel had asked her to a party and what did she get stuck with……the bleached blonde pain in her ass that ‘shouldn’t’ be there.

“You really are the devil aren’t you?” she asked him calmly.

Spike laughed at that. He shook his head, looking over at Xander. “This chit has serious mental problems.” He said smiling. “Where’d you find her exactly…..nuts or us?”

Willow walked over to Buffy, laying a hand on her arm. “What’s wrong?” she asked, pulling her off to the side. “You’ve been on his case since you met him, what exactly don’t you like about him?”

“What’s to like?” Buffy said loudly, her anger still eating away at her.

Willow smiled slightly, turning Buffy so she couldn’t see Spike. “You know Buffy; behavior like this kinda makes me think….”

“Think what?!”

“Well,” Willow said giggling softly, “That maybe you like him more than you think.”

Buffy’s eyes went huge before she doubled over with laughter, holding her stomach.

The guys all stared at her smiling as Spike held out a hand and pointed to her. “See, told ya, completely outta her head.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy had her arms crossed over her chest as they all stood in line waiting for their turn to buy tickets for the movie. The guys had out voted Willow and Buffy and in stead of a nice normal movie, they had to be subjected to a low budget horror flick with probably more naked girls than actual monsters.

The line moved quickly and the gang all ventured into the lobby where the refreshment line was even longer than the one outside for tickets. Buffy sighed heavily, her night already being ruined by Spike being there, now she had to sit in the dark with three immature ‘boys’ and watch a stupid movie which probably had no plot what so ever.

“Cheer up Buffy.” Willow said quietly, her face falling slightly as she saw how upset Buffy was.

Buffy glanced over at Willow and she could tell her bad mood was seriously affecting those around her. She sighed heavily before smiling. “I’m sorry Willow, didn’t mean to spoil all your fun.”

“I just wish you didn’t get so upset whenever Spike shows up, I mean what is it exactly that irks you so much about him?” she asked as they moved further up the line.

Buffy turned her head, glancing over at Spike as he stood there talking with Xander and Jesse. She didn’t know ‘why’ the sight of him made her so crazy. It wasn’t like she hadn’t learned to tolerate him in the past.

“I don’t know.” She said, breathing deeply. “He just makes me completely crazy, he’s nerve racking.”

Willow giggled slightly. “And what guy isn’t?”

“True.” Buffy said smiling, still staring over at Spike. “Who’s that?” she asked when a couple of girls walked over to where the guys were standing a couple of lines over.

“Where?” Willow asked, standing on her tip toes trying to see.

“Right there.” Buffy said pointing.

“Hum, can’t see there faces.” Willow said, jumping slightly trying to see.

Buffy laughed as Xander was obviously trying to impress the girls with no luck as they turned and looked at him strangely. She shook her head, knowing that Xander would never change no matter what dimension she ended up in.

“Move along girls.” The man standing behind Buffy said, looking irritated as she and Willow watched the guys.

“Sorry.” She said quietly, pushing Willow up the line further before glancing back over to the guys.

Buffy couldn’t take her eyes off the girls as they were hanging all over the guys. Xander looked like he was about to bust at any second, Jesse was grinning from ear to ear and Spike, well he was just being Spike. Standing there smiling and acting like he was interested in what the brunette talking to him had to say.

“Can I help you!” the girl behind the counter said loudly, jarring Buffy out of her inner thoughts.

“Oh, yeah, sorry.” She said quietly before ordering.

~*~*~

Willow and Buffy walked towards the double doors leading to the theater their movie was playing in as they waited for the guys. The auditorium was filling up fast and they wondered briefly if they’d all find seats together.

“Maybe we should go on in.” Buffy said, straining her eyes in the darkened room, trying to locate a few open seats.

“Yeah, but what if they can’t find us?” Willow asked, looking back over towards the refreshment stand.

“Their loss.” Buffy said grinning.

“Oh, wait, there they are.” Willow said as Buffy had already started inside.

Buffy stopped and turned, looking back out into the lobby as the guys sauntered over to where they were. They were all three grinning like idiots and her eyes fell on Spike as he smiled at the girl he had been talking to.

“See ya around Spike.” The brunette he had been talking to said as she smiled big at him before turning and heading in the other direction.

Spike smiled, leaning his head to the side slightly as he watched her walk away. “Hope so.” He said quietly, straightening up after she was out of sight and turning to the rest of the group.

Buffy was staring at him, a funny look on her face as he looked at her. He leaned his head to the side, narrowing his eyes as she stared at him before she turned quickly and entered the theater. “Strange girl.” He said quietly to himself, sighing loudly before following the others in.

The auditorium was packed and seats were hard to find. After finally convincing a couple of people to move and shift around, the gang finally had enough seats together to seat them all.

“Just pick a seat and sit down.” Buffy said, whispering loudly as Xander, Jesse and Willow played musical seats. She sighed heavily, shaking her head and looking behind her as someone ‘shhh’d’ them. “Chill out, the movie hasn’t even started yet.” She spat out at him, beyond irritated at the whole night’s events.

Turning back to the seats, she ventured into the row, stumbling on the feet of those already sitting before finally reaching the empty seat left for her. She groaned loudly, looking down at Spike as he sat in the seat right next to hers.

She glared hard over at Willow who was sandwiched in between Xander and Jesse before looking back down at Spike.

“Not real sure the others can see if you stand during the movie pet.” Spike said looking up at her.

“You do know that I hate you…right?” she asked, sitting down hard in her seat.

Spike chuckled slightly as he looked over at her. “Actually I was beginning to think you liked me.” He said, chuckling as her head snapped in his direction and her mouth flew open.

“Are you insane?” she asked, laughing.

“No.”

Buffy stared at Spike and for a brief second she thought she saw the same look the Spike she knew always gave her. Her eyes were locked on his and as the light on the screen blazed to life she almost couldn’t tear herself away.

The shadows played across his features, casting an unnatural glow across his face. His eyes seemed to darken the longer she looked at him and when he blinked, she was finally able to break the trance she seemed to be in.

Spike grinned as Buffy jerked her head away and slouched down in her seat. He leaned back, sliding down into his own seat but stole a glance at her out of the corner of his eye. He smiled bigger, holding back the chuckles threatening to escape him as he saw the sour look she usually had around him once again return.

TBC……………………….

Chapter 7

A Glimpse of Heaven

By Zarrah

“You think that was such a good idea?” Willow whispered to Xander, glancing over at Buffy. “She looks pretty pissed.”

“Oh come on Will.” Xander said. “You can’t tell me you’re not thinking the same thing I do.”

“Well maybe, but she looks pretty upset.” She said looking at Xander. “I mean, we could have sat her here, putting her beside of Spike could be disastrous in a major way.”

“Oh please, you know all that fighting they do isn’t actually meant to be fighting.”

Willow grinned, looking back over at Buffy. “I wonder if they’ll stop fighting long enough to actually realize that their behavior is a classic sign of lust.”

Xander chuckled before digging back into his popcorn. “Oh, they’ll figure it out, probably after they’ve killed each other though.”

Buffy sighed heavily, staring ahead at the screen, thinking of how many ways she could torture Spike and not actually kill him.

She was completely reclined back in her seat, legs out as far as they would go and her head lying back against her seat.

She could see Spike out of the corner of her eye, and just seeing him sitting there, watching the movie made her mad all over again. She could have been partying with Angel and maybe getting good smoochies, but what did she get…..stuck in a dark theater, sandwiched between Spike and the fattest man she had ever seen who didn’t realize what proper hygiene was all about.

She sighed again, noticing Spike turn and look at her when she did and she rolled her eyes as she saw him smile. *Why does my life suck so bad* she asked herself before closing her eyes, the partially naked girl on the screen, screaming instead of running causing her disgust for all horror movies and the overly done acting to finally cause an even more irritated state to overcome her than Spike did.

~*~*~*~

“Hey pet, movies over.” Spike said, smiling as he looked down at Buffy as she slept.

Buffy moved her head slightly, wiggling slightly trying to get comfortable again.

Spike grinned as he watched her before reaching his hand out and shaking her gently. “Buffy, the movies over.” He said again, leaning down closer to her.

Buffy finally opened her eyes, closing them as the bright lights shocked her. She moved her head, burying it from the offensive light, the smell of leather and cigarettes causing her eyes to fly back open.

Raising her head slightly, Buffy was thrown face to face with Spike. She stared at him for a second as he looked at her before looking down, realizing the leather she had smelt was from his duster and that she had been sleeping, pillowed on his arm.

“Movies over.” Spike said, smiling slightly at her.

Buffy jerked upright, looking around. She saw the others standing in the isle waiting for her and Spike and she glanced back over at him, the same tender smile on his face the Spike she knew flashed at her from time to time, the sight irritating her as she jumped up from her seat.

“You’re welcome pet.” Spike said softly as Buffy stomped out of the isle, never saying a word or looking back.

Spike stood slowly, shaking his head as he walked out of the isle, following the others out as Buffy stomped up the center isle and was gone before he even made it out of the auditorium.

Xander shrugged his shoulder, looking at Spike as they both walked out together. “Girls a little on the weird side.” He said, seeing the look on Spike’s face and trying to say something that would make Buffy’s rude behavior seem better.

“Total pain in the arse.” Spike said, rolling his eyes. “I should have let her sleep on big, hairy and smelly over there.”

Xander chuckled as they walked out of the theater, glancing down the road as Jesse and Willow were practically running to catch up with Buffy. “So, you get that girl ‘s phone number?”

Spike grinned, glancing over at him. “What do you think?”

Xander chuckled as they walked. “Think you could convince her friend to give me hers?”

“Nah, she said you were a loser…I’m inclined to believe her.” Spike said before laughing at the face Xander made.

“And here I thought you were my friend.”

“Never claimed to be anyone’s friend mate, I just came along to piss off the princess.”

Xander and Spike both laughed, Buffy’s crazy mall rant replaying in their minds.

“Mission accomplished.” Xander said, “And what the hell was she talking about you chaining her up?”

Spike laughed shaking his head. “Hell if I know, maybe she’s into bondage.”

“Oh, Buffy bondage…now there’s a visual to sleep by.” Xander said as he and Spike started laughing again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There was so much screaming, Buffy wasn’t sure she’d even be able to talk the next day as the Sunnydale Razorbacks football team won their fourth game in a row.

She was smiling big as her and the rest of the cheerleading squad rushed the field, congratulating the team as the fans in the stands cheered and yelled along with them.

The big smile on her face widened, almost making her face hurt as Angel slowly made his way over to her.

She had been in this little ‘heaven’ for a month now and everything was perfect. She had made the cheerleading squad, she was talking to Angel and she had managed to completely avoid Spike.

“Hey.” Angel said, smiling as he walked up to Buffy and stopped.

“Hey.” She said smiling big.

“So, we still on for the bronze?” he asked, moving closer to her.

“Yeah, if you still want to.”

“Oh, I very much want to.” Angel said grinning. “Let me get showered up and I’ll meet you over there.”

“Okay.” Buffy said softly, smiling bigger as Angel winked at her and turned, headed for the locker rooms.

~*~*~*~*~*~

”Well that was the biggest waste of my time.” Spike said sarcastically as he, Xander and Jesse stood on the bleachers watching the mob scene on the field.

“What, girls in short skirts not appeal to you?” Jesse asked grinning.

Spike smiled, looking at the cheerleaders. “Yeah well, that wasn’t so bad.” He admitted, his eyes falling on a certain high tempered blonde who had done her best to avoid him at all cost since the theater.

“Speaking of cheerleaders.” Xander said, smiling as Buffy practically bounced towards them.

“Hey.” Buffy said grinning as she finally made her way over to them.

“Hey Buffy.” Willow greeted. “You still meeting Angel?” she asked enthusiastically.

“Yeah, he said he’d meet me there.” Buffy beamed, glancing up at Spike before quickly looking away.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Willow said giggling. “Your Angel awaits.”

Buffy laughed before climbing up the railing and crossing over to where the others were standing. “Let’s go.” She said, running up the steps, the others following behind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy had her eyes glued to the door, waiting for Angel. Willow and the others were off to the pool tables and she was starting to get worried. They had been there for over an hour and he still hadn’t showed.

She glanced up to where the others were, sighing lightly as they all laughed and seemed to be having a good time. She smiled, seeing Xander flirt with ‘every’ girl that walked past the table before her eyes fell to Spike.

She watched him as he sat on one of the couches, laughing and talking to Sandy, Willows friend from Biology. She had only spoken to her a couple of times and she seemed pretty nice. What she was doing with Spike, she had no idea.

“Miss me?” Angel asked, smiling as he walked up to Buffy.

Buffy looked up, smiling as Angel stood beside of her before finally taking a seat. “Hey, I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show.”

“Sorry, the guys were in a good mood.” He said, smiling.

“That’s okay.”

Spike was talking to Sandy, while trying to keep his eye on Buffy. He had seen Angel approach her and the sight of him made him sick.

Xander and Jesse had filled him in on what Angel was really like and knew Buffy was headed for a world of trouble.

“How’s about a dance pet?” Spike asked, smiling as he looked back over to Sandy.

“I’d love to.” Sandy said smiling shyly as Spike stood and held his hand out to her.

Spike lead Sandy to the dance floor where Buffy and Angel were also headed. He didn’t know why he felt compelled to be any where near her or even care if she got her heart stomped into bits with the way she had been treating him, but he did.

Buffy closed her eyes, the feeling of being back in Angel’s arms washing over her as he wrapped them tightly around her. She had to admit, she missed him. Even though she knew things would never have worked out for them, she still missed him and this was just to perfect.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you, if you have a date to the winter dance.” Angel asked, his smile broadening as Buffy looked up at him with wide eyes.

Buffy ‘felt’ like she was sixteen again, the same giddy feelings she had whenever Angel was around making her struggle to hold back the girlish giggles as he looked at her. “No, no one’s asked me.” She said quietly.

“Well, that’s good.” Angel said, noticing her blushing slightly. “Would you like to, go with me I mean?”

Buffy had to force herself ‘not’ to scream yes to the top of her lungs as Angel asked her to the dance. She managed a very calm, warm smile before answering him. “I’d love to go to the dance with you.”

Spike had managed to get close enough to Buffy and Angel to hear their conversation and he almost gagged at how sickening Angel was. He knew without a doubt that his first evaluation of him and the title ‘poof’ fit him perfectly. Why every female he came into contact with bought into his delicate charms was beyond him.

“You know her?” Sandy asked, looking over at Buffy and Angel after noticing Spike staring at them.

“Yeah, nastiest little chit I’ve ever met.” He said finally looking back over to Sandy.

Sandy smiled, looking away from him briefly before looking at Buffy. “Seems she’s sparked an interest in Angel. She must be doing something right.”

“He’s a pathetic wanker.” Spike mumbled, the words tumbling out, sounding more disgusted than he liked.

“You like her?” Sandy asked smiling.

“What!” Spike said loudly. “No, that girl is one hundred percent off her bird.”

Sandy giggled, watching as Spike looked back over towards Buffy. *uh huh* she said to herself, grinning as she stared at Spike.

Buffy smiled and laid her head on Angel’s shoulder, sighing as he hugged her closer to him. She opened her eyes when the soft laughter caught her attention, her attention falling on Spike and Sandy as they both laughed.

She tried not to stare, but the more she tried to look away, the more she watched. Spike was smiling, something she never really saw him do ‘back at home’. Her lips curved up into a tiny smile as she watched him. He really did have a nice smile she thought and the sound of his laughter was light hearted. She wondered why the Spike she knew never smiled or laughed.

*And what exactly did he have to smile about?* she thought, rolling her eyes at her own inner thoughts. *It’s not like anyone made it easy on him.*

Buffy closed her eyes quickly when she saw Spike look over at her. She tightened her hold on Angel, burring her head further up under his chin before she slowly opened one eye, her vision falling on Spike once again.

She couldn’t for the life of her figure out why she even cared what he was doing, let alone why seeing him have a good time bothered her. She watched as Spike and Sandy talked, smiling and laughing at each other, their arms tightly wound around each other and the longer she watched, the less she wanted to see.

Lifting her head, she looked up at Angel, smiling as he looked down at her. “Let’s go talk for a while.” She said, her heart jumping as Angel smiled at her, his eyes shining as he looked down at her.

“Whatever you want.” Angel said as he pulled away from her and started leading them back over to the table.

Buffy glanced at Spike as she passed him, gripping Angel’s hand tighter as Spike smiled at Sandy before leaning in and kissing her cheek. Buffy rolled her eyes, beyond annoyed as she turned her head quickly, trying to push Spike and his obvious joy out of her mind.

To Be Continued………

Chapter 8

A Glimpse of Heaven

By Zarrah

Spike watched over Sandy’s shoulder as Buffy and Angel headed back to the table and sat down. He was so distracted in trying to see what was going on that he hadn’t even heard Sandy speaking to him. The light tapping of her finger on his forehead finally brought him back to the here and now.

“Wha’sat?” he asked, smiling a little as she grinned up at him.

Sandy laughed, shaking her head as she looked at him. “If you like her so much, why haven’t you told her?”

Spike’s eyes went wide as he stared down at her, his mouth gapping open slightly. “Well for one, I DON’T like her.” He said, rolling his eyes that she would even suggest it. “She’s a snotty little bitch who quiet frankly I couldn’t give a rats arse about.”

“Really?” Sandy asked smiling big.

“Yes, really.” Spike said, his brows coming together in mock disgust at the mere thoughts of it. “Have you ever met the chit? She’s like some demon child from another dimension.”

“I’ve met her.” Sandy said, not buying his comments. “I think she’s kinda nice, or at least she was the day I talked to her.”

“Yeah well, that must have been the day her head wasn’t spinning ‘round with her best Linda Blair impression.” Spike spat out. “Girl is just…..she’s just….”

“Completely under your skin?” Sandy asked teasingly.

Spike sighed heavily, looking back over to Buffy when Sandy’s light giggles continued. He shook his head, trying his best to not look as aggravated as he felt. “Come on.” He said, taking Sandy’s hand and walking back towards where the others were….trying his best to keep Buffy out of his line of sight.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hey Buffster.” Xander said happily as he walked into the lunch room and took his seat next to her. “Why the gloomy?”

“I flunked my math test yesterday.” She said, her shoulders sagging as she stared down at the test paper.

“Well, it happens to the best of us. How bad did you do?” he asked, glancing over to the paper held loosely in her hand. “Wow…and I thought I sucked at the whole adding stuff.”

Buffy groaned, her head hitting the table as the paper slid from her hand and fell to the table. “My parents are so going to kill me.” She mumbled, the sound muffled by the book her face was lying on.

“Oh come on, it’s just one test.”

“But I’ve failed the last three.” Buffy whined, her head turning to the side so she could see him. “I just don’t understand why I can’t get it.”

“Well, maybe Willow could help you; she’s like the resident brainiack around here.”

“I can help what?” Willow asked, sitting her book bag down before sliding into her seat.

“Buffy’s failing math.” Xander said, catching Willow up to speed on their conversation.

Willow’s eyes widened, a shy smile forming on her face. “Well, Um…I can try again Buffy, if you want.” She said, knowing her last several tutoring sessions hadn’t helped. Buffy was like a closed door with no way in when it came to Algebra.

“No, I almost sent you into therapy the last time.” Buffy said, raising her head and smiling at her friend. “I’ll get it eventually…I hope.”

“Well maybe if you asked Mr. Boggs, he could help you.” Xander suggested.

“Hum, maybe.” Buffy said, staring past her friends, her attention now on the peroxide blonde who had just entered the lunch room with his new friend ‘Sandy’. “What’s up with that?”

“What?” Xander asked, turning in his seat to see what Buffy was talking about. He smiled as he watched Spike sit down at a table, a smile on his face as he and Sandy talked. “Ah, seems our new friend has found more interesting things to keep him occupied.”

“Please tell me you’re kidding.” Buffy said laughing quietly. “I mean, I’ve only talked to the girl once but surely she has better taste than…that!” she laughed, pointing at Spike.

Xander gave Willow a lopsided grin, which she returned before they both glanced over at Buffy. She was staring at Spike and Sandy and no matter how much she claimed she hated Spike…they knew differently.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy closed her math book, the bell ringing telling her her dreaded hour was finally over. She gathered her books, leaning back as Spike breezed past her obviously in a hurry. She looked up, her eyes involuntarily rolling as she saw Sandy standing by the door waiting for him.

Leaning down she reached for her book bag, seeing Willow out of the corner of her eye waiting for her before she stood, jerking her bag up off the floor as she did. The loud thud she heard caused her to look down, eyeing a large book on the floor.

Buffy bent over, retrieving the book from the floor before glancing at the plain black cover, not recognizing it as her own before she flipped open the front cover. *A Century of Poets* she read the title quietly to herself before she glanced up at the name written at the top of the page. *William Andrew Bennington*

“Surly not.” She muttered to herself, glancing over to the door Spike had just exited.

“What ya got?” Willow asked, finally walking over to Buffy’s desk.

“Huh?” Buffy asked, jumping slightly as Willow’s voice startled her.

Willow chuckled slightly as she looked at her. “Jumpy much?”

“Oh, sorry.” Buffy said, glancing back down at the book.

“What’s that?” Willow asked, seeing the book Buffy was still holding.

“Oh…um…it’s nothing.” Buffy said smiling slightly, shoving the book in her book bag before zipping it up. “Ready?”

“Yeah.” Willow said, eyeing her friend with curiosity. “Lead the way.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy walked out of the school building, her mind still on the Poetry book she had found. She knew the book belonged to Spike, but that fact alone had her puzzled. Why would Spike have a book of Poetry? It didn’t look as if it were for a class, seeing how his name was in it, so it had to be ‘his’.

She ran over every possible reason she could think of. Ever since she had come to be here, everyone was exactly the same as they were in ‘her home’. Even Spike. He was still cocky, arrogant and a general pain in her ass. But now, a poetry book? That wasn’t right. The Spike she knew didn’t sit around reading poetry….did he?

“You forget where you live?” Dawn asked giggling at Buffy from her seat on the steps of the porch.

Buffy stopped, looking over at Dawn, realizing she had walked past her house and was now at the neighbors mailbox. She shook her head, sighing lightly before turning around and walking back towards the walkway.

“What are you doing home so early?” Buffy asked, walking towards the house.

“Uh, I’m not, you’re just late.” Dawn said as she stood up. “Where’ve you been?”

“Just walking home.” Buffy said, glancing down at her watch.

“What’d you do, have a race with the tortoise and loose?”

Buffy rolled her eyes, walking past Dawn as she stepped up on the porch, heading for the door.

“Your teacher called.”

Buffy stopped, her hand reaching out for the door as she slowly turned her head. “My teacher?”

Dawn grinned big, sticking her hand out, palm up.

Buffy gritted her teeth, Dawn’s smile widening before Buffy reached into her pocket, pulling out the little bit of change she had in it.

“That’s it?” Dawn asked, glancing down at the small amount of change Buffy had given her.

“That’s it until I find out if your information is any good.” Buffy said, turning to face her sister, her arms crossing over her chest.

Dawn leaned her head to the side, fisting the money in her hand before she also crossed her arms. “Mr. Boggs…..something about….”

“Crap.” Buffy said, her head falling back at she stared at the ceiling of the porch. “What’d you hear?”

Dawn smiled again, holding her hand back out.

“You are so going to pay for this.” Buffy said hatefully as she jerked her purse off her arm, opening it quickly and pulling out two dollars.

Dawn smiled big, reaching for the money but frowning as Buffy snatched it back. “Hey, you want info, pay up.”

“You give the info and I will.”

Dawn huffed a little, eyeing her sister before crossing her arms back over her chest. “Fine.” She said, rolling her eyes slightly. “Something about you falling the last several test and failing the semester.”

Buffy closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before opening them back up. “Mom’s pissed, right?”

“No, Mom was pretty okay.” Dawn said, shrugging her shoulder.

“Thank god.” Buffy said quietly.

“Dad….now that’s a different story.” Dawn said grinning big.

“I think you enjoy this way too much.” Buffy said, shoving the money at Dawn before taking another deep breath. *God, I’m so busted* she thought, turning back to the door and opening it quietly.

Buffy snuck in quietly, looking around before making a bee line for the stairs. She was almost home free before a loud coughing made her stop.

“Living Room Buffy, now.” Hank said, his normal cherry voice replaced with the stern parental one she still hadn’t gotten use to.

Buffy turned, walking back down the stairs, the thoughts of getting grounded or worse actually amusing her. She was twenty one years old, even though to the outside world she looked no more than sixteen, but the whole idea of having two parents to obey was almost funny.

Hank stood by the coffee table, Joyce, sitting on the arm chair, both of them waiting for Buffy as she slowly made her way into the room. She could tell by the look on their faces that this wasn’t going to be good.

“Have a seat.” Hank said, motioning for the couch with his head.

Buffy sighed heavily, walking towards the couch, flopping down like any ‘sixteen’ year old would. She looked up at her father before glancing at her mother, the whole atmosphere in the room letting her know she was in big trouble.

“We had a talk with your teacher today Buffy.” Hank started, looking down at her before he turned, glancing at Joyce. “Why didn’t you tell us you were having such a hard time in Algebra?”

Buffy shrugged her shoulder, looking up at him. “I don’t know, I figured I’d catch on soon enough.” She told him truthfully. It wasn’t like she hadn’t taken the class before, she just figured after she got over the whole shell shock of dying and ending up here, that once things calmed, she’d get back into the groove of things.

“Well Mr. Boggs is very concerned, he seems to think you may require some outside help.”

“Like what?” Buffy asked, “Willow has already tried to tutor me, it didn’t help.”

“Well, maybe Willow isn’t the best tutor for you.” Hank said. “I think your extra curricular activities should be cut down to give way for more academic time.”

“What’s that mean?” Buffy asked, her eyes widening. “You’re not grounding me are you?” she asked, fearing her ‘other world vacation’ could take a turn for the worse.

“No honey.” Joyce said, smiling slightly. “But maybe, if you spent more time on your studies and less time on other things.”

“Like what?” Buffy asked, already fearful of their answer.

“Well, all the time you devote to Cheerleading for starters.” Hank said, finally sitting down. “And not spending so much time at that hang out on school nights.”

“You’re going to make me quit the team?”

“No, not quit.” Joyce said, seeing the hurt in Buffy’s eyes.

“Joyce.” Hank said, giving her a look.

“But, I can’t just spend every hour away from school studying something I don’t even know how to do.” Buffy said loudly, regretting it the minute she did.

Hank smiled, the look on his face letting Buffy know he already had plans for her. “I’ve already contacted a private tutor for you and if you can improve on your grades you may continue the cheerleading.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then you’ll miss out on a lot of things until your grades improve.”

“A lot, as in what exactly?”

“Well, the Winter Formal for one.”

“WHAT!” Buffy yelled, “You can’t do that!”

“Oh, but yes I can.” Hank said standing as Buffy did.

“I can’t believe this.” Buffy muttered softly to herself.

“It won’t be that bad Buffy.” Joyce said, trying to ease her daughters mind. “The tutor is very well recommended, I’m sure he can get you through this.”

“He?”

“Yes, now everything will be fine.” Joyce said, standing and walking over to Buffy. “You pass your next couple of test and we’ll go shopping for that new dress…how’s that?”

Buffy looked at both her parents. She was biting her tongue, trying to keep her temper in check at how unfair this all seemed, considering she felt it useless at her ‘real’ age. “I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy sat huddled in the back seat of the car, her parents up front talking quietly while Dawn sat beside Buffy, her head bopping to the awful music blaring out of the headphones attached to her head.

It had been a week since her talk with her parents about her grades and even though she was still upset that they would actually take the Cheerleading and the Winter Formal from her if she didn’t pass her class, she knew life wasn’t a big bed of Roses, no matter how many times you died and came back.

She finally looked up, seeing the apartment complex out her window before glancing up front to her parents. “This it?” she asked, looking back over at the vine covered walls that partially hid a small courtyard situated infront of the small building.

“Yes, this is it.” Joyce said smiling as she turned her head to look back at her. “You ready?”

“No.” Buffy said, sighing heavily. Having a tutor was bad enough, not to mention the fact that her parents were ‘paying’ someone to teach her, but to have to sit and listen to a complete stranger lecture her on the finer points of a subject that she had ‘yet’ to use since graduating High School the first time, had her ready to spill all she knew about this not being her time, even at the risk of landing in the psycho ward of Sunnydale Memorial because of it.

Buffy slowly crawled from the car, walking slowly behind her parents to the first floor apartment. She tried to stay behind them, but her father had turned and smiled at her before grabbing her arm and pulling her gently to the front.

She rolled her eyes, her irritation of the whole ordeal getting to her as she heard the slight clicking of locks before the door swung open with a soft creaking sound.

“Mr. Giles.” Buffy said, her eyes widening as she looked at him before smiling.

“Ah, Miss Summers…I mean Buffy, do come in.” Giles said, smiling as he stepped back from the door, letting the Summers family in.

Buffy sighed in relief as she entered the small apartment. She had heard so many lectures from Giles in the past, that she almost laughed out loud wondering if this version would eventually blow his top like ‘her’ Giles sometimes did.

She wandered around the apartment, glancing at the titles of the books that lined the shelves as her parents and Giles spoke. She turned her head, smiling as her parents told her bye before smiling herself as Giles shut the door.

“So, I hope you’re getting paid well for this little torture, cause math happens to be my worst subject.” Buffy said grinning big.

Giles smiled as he walked towards her, turning to the hall and gesturing for her to follow. Buffy shrugged her shoulder, following him down the small hall before stopping at the closed door at the end of the hall.

“What’s this, you’re special class room?” she asked, giggling softly.

“No actually.” Giles said, reaching for the door knob, turning it before swinging the door open wide. “It’s your tutor’s room.”

Buffy looked in, her eyes widening comically as the last person on any planet she wanted to see came into view.

“Bloody Hell!” Spike yelled when he turned and saw her. “Please tell me SHE’S not who I have to teach!”

To Be Continued……………….