A/N: Thank you everyone who gave me feedback and/or constructive criticism on my story, I really appreciate it.
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Spike was at the pumpkin patch, fighting a couple of vampires (there was a third one hiding in the shadows, filming the fight). Drusilla was reduced to the role of spectator, watching eagerly from the sidelines; Spike claimed he needed the workout.
"Dru, after this…" Spike slammed his railroad spike into the side of a vampire's head, "You wanna go to the Bronze?"
The vampire (not Drusilla) screamed, and desperately tried to get the spike out of his head.
"I'd like it if we could just go to the pub, have a quiet drink," Drusilla said
"Fine…" the other vampire kicked Spike hard, "Ow! That's enough!"
Spike punched the vampire incredibly hard; his fist broke through the vampire's ribcage. The vampire and the slayer were equally surprised.
"Get it out! Get it out!" the vampire yelled, panicking
"Shut up! I'm trying!" Spike insisted, also panicking
He yanked his fist out; it was covered in blood and organ fragments. Spike and the vampire stared at it for a minute, disgusted. Drusilla, on the other hand, was very intrigued.
"That was the most disgust…" the vampire began
Spike staked him.
"So, quiet drink at the pub?" Spike suggested, eager to forget what had just happened, "After you."
"Such a gentleman," Drusilla noted, "Very hard to find these days."
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Sunnydale High, the next day...
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Principal Snyder was forcing students to sign up for the Halloween volunteer safety program. He approached Spike and Oz, who had just left class, and thrust a clipboard in Spike's direction.
"You're volunteering," Snyder demanded, giving Spike a pen
Spike gave Snyder the death-glare of a lifetime; the principal could feel himself getting smaller. Snyder tried to turn his attention on Oz, thrusting the clipboard at him, but nothing could pierce the boy's armor of stoicism.
"This…this behavior won't be tolerated in my school!" Snyder insisted
Snyder tried to give them detention, or Saturday school, but the words wouldn't come out of his mouth. He backed away. The slayer and the rocker moved on.
/
"So how's Cordelia?" Spike asked
"She's alright," Oz replied, "Took her to my band practice last night."
"And…?"
"She told us that we sounded bland and it was blatantly obvious we only knew three chords."
"Well that's a little harsh. I wouldn't say blatantly obvious…"
Willow caught up to the boys.
"Spike, here are those notes from class you asked for," Willow said, handing him a couple of pieces of paper
"H-hey Willow," Oz managed to say
"Hi," Willow replied nonchalantly
"Ta," Spike slipped the papers into his backpack, "You heading to Maths?"
"Yeah..."
"I'd advise you take the long route," Spike said, "Snyder's in recruitment mode."
"Oh, um, thanks," Willow was glad to have received the warning, "So...are you two going to the Bronze tonight, the Halloween party?"
Spike said no, Oz said yes, which contradicted what he and Spike had planned.
"We...might show," Oz said, desperate to spend time with Willow outside of school
"Great," Willow smiled, "Can't wait to see your costumes."
She turned around and went through a corridor, going the long way to the Math lab.
/
Spike and Oz walked to the student lounge, and took their seats.
"Thought we were gonna drunk and watch Friday the 13th tonight?" Spike asked
"We can do that any other night," Oz said, "But a Halloween party is a once a year thing."
Spike let out a loud groan, and fell back into his chair.
"Not a fan of Halloween?" Oz asked
"No," Spike replied, bluntly
"Did you have a bad experience?"
"Nah, it's just so...crass."
"I'll buy the drinks," Oz offered
Spike shot up enthusiastically.
"So, where do we get costumes?" he asked
/
The costume shop was a new place, simply called "The Costume Shop". It was filled with people; mothers with their kids, teenagers buying cheap costumes, that sort of crowd. The moment Spike stepped inside, he knew he shouldn't have let Oz persuade him to come.
"So what are you going to get?" Spike asked
"Just need a sword and a ski-mask, I'll say I'm a ninja," Oz said
He drifted away from Spike, searching the racks of costumes for what he needed. Spike took a closer look around the store. Everything that they sold, the costumes and accessories, all seemed so juvenile, and not the fun kind of juvenile.
"Spike?" Amy Madison asked
"Yeah?" he turned to face her, "Oh, Amy. How are you?"
Spike hadn't seen Amy much since their encounter the previous year.
"Good," Amy replied, "I'm working here now."
"Cool."
"I've got something that would look great on you, if you're interested."
"I'm not, really," Spike admitted
"Can you at least look at it? Trust me, you'll like it."
"Alright…"
/
Spike followed Amy to another room, where the higher quality costumes were. Amy indicated a mannequin that was wearing a Victorian-era suit. It consisted of a maroon jacket and waistcoat, dark brown trousers, and a white shirt with an imperial collar and a thin black tie. There was a fob keychain dangling from one pocket to another. Draped over the shoulders was a black Inverness cape.
"So what do you think?" Amy asked, eagerly
"It's nice, but it's not me," Spike admitted frankly
"But it's from the Victorian Era. Isn't your girlfriend into that stuff?" Amy asked
"Yeah."
"Then why don't you rent this?" Amy suggested, "I think she'd get a kick out of it."
Spike couldn't argue with that, he figured Drusilla probably missed the getups of her time.
"Alright," Spike gave in, "How much?"
"Oh, I've got this," Amy said, "You're the Slayer. I probably owe you my life anyway."
"Thanks."
/
Amy placed the suit in a bag for Spike. He began to carry it out of the store, when he ran into Willow.
"What have you got?" Willow asked, indicating his costume
"Victorian Gentleman," Spike answered, "You?"
Willow held up a green suit and a pair of gold gloves.
"I'm going as Jean Grey," Willow explained
"Who?"
"Jean Grey? Marvel-Girl?" Willow attempted, "From the X-Men?"
"Got no idea, sorry."
"Neither do I, really," Willow admitted, "I'm just doing it for Xander. She's his favorite comic book character."
"Ah," Spike nodded, "Well..."
Spike felt the tight material of the suit in his hand.
"With you in that suit, I'll bet a lot of people will be having a happy Halloween..." he teased
Spike left. Willow thought for a moment, then grabbed a ghost costume off the rack, just in case.
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To be continued…