Title: The Love of the Bullied 4/?

Author: Forsaken2003

Pairing: S/X

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I own none, all belong to Joss Whedon

Comments: Always welcomed!

Summary: Life sucks for Xander but when Spike moves to Sunnydale will things get better or worse?

Warnings/Spoilers: None

Beta'd by: Unbeta'd

Note: I feel like this story is possibly over dramatic. Not what I really write but it just kind of went that direction.

Part Four

The next day found Spike surrounded by his new 'friends'. For the most part they talked about football, and cheer-leading. It was typical, boring high school shit but there were plenty of parties in Spike's future including one this weekend at the beach. His first instinct was to text Xander and invite him.

"You know..." Harmony said interrupting Spike's thoughts. "I didn't think bisexuals were real. I thought they were like unicorns. I love unicorns."

Spike looked at her with a look of disbelief. Was she serious? He looked at Larry.

"She's not popular because she's smart," Larry explained.

"It's true!" Harmony replied not realizing she was being insulted.

Spike wasn't one to hold back his thoughts. "I can see that."

Harmony giggled ignoring Cordelia rolling her eyes at just how stupid her best friend was. "Who's turn is it to bring the beer?"

Larry smacked Spike on the back. "New guys turn."

"Not happening," Spike argued, pushing Larry away. Just because he wanted to be popular didn't mean he was going to be some lapdog. "I don't drink and I'm not doing anything illegal that could possibly get me kicked out of the country. Do it your bloody selves."

"He's so cool!" Harmony squealed as Cordelia dragged her away.

Out of the corner of his eye Spike saw Xander. He noticed Xander was wearing a jacket when no one else was, besides himself that is. Xander's eyes were glued to his phone as he looked left and right. Spike knew if was playing that sodding Pokemon game Xander was talking about after their serious talk the day before. There was something different about Xander today. There was a limp that wasn't there the day before. His attention was switched from Xander to Larry. Did he just snarl?

"What's your problem?" Obvious it was Xander but Spike was hoping to get a little more information on why Xander was picked on.

"What?" Larry said distracted. Xander was wearing baggy jeans and a stupid Hawaiian shirt. How did he still manage to look so good? Why didn't Xander want to be with him? Sure he bullied him for years but if Xander gave him a chance he'd see how good he would treat him.

Why was Larry so fixated on his Xander? Spike didn't like it. "Why are you staring at Xander? Do you like him?"

Larry's jaw clenched. No one could know that he was infatuated with Xander until he had him. "Why would I like a loser like that? The only thing he is good for is using his head as a toilet bowl scrubber. I mean who would ever like him? His family is practically poor that he had to get a job. He likes so much stupid, nerdy shit it's like he's living in another dimension."

This bastard put his Xander's head in a toilet? Spike clenched his hand into a fist resisting the urge to punch Larry. "He has a job?" Spike asked trying to take his mind of the violence he was thinking about. Xander never mentioned that.

"He worked at the Sun Cinema all summer. I had to look at his dumb face every time I went. To tell you the truth I think he's got a crush on me. Not that I blame him. I am the most popular guy in school." Larry pulled his Letterman jacket down removing any wrinkles. He would never say how much he spent to go to the theater just to see Xander.

Just how did Larry become the most popular guy in school? He didn't seem very intelligent, he certainly wasn't the best looking and there were a lot of rich kids. Maybe he wasn't popular it was just everyone was scared of him? And Spike didn't believe for a second that Larry didn't like Xander. But if he did why did he go out of his way to make Xander's life a living hell? "He seems like a nice kid," Spike commented more to see Larry's reaction.

"Stay away from him." Larry grabbed the label of Spike duster pulling him close. "You don't talk to him."

Spike pushed Larry away hard making him stumble. "Touch me again and you'll be off the football team due to a shattered knee cap. Did I say anything about talking to him? I was making a bloody observation."

Larry looked around and saw people were staring at them 'whispering' about how Spike was so much cooler than Larry. He laughed and threw his arm around Spike's shoulders trying to save face. "British people have a weird sense of humor, don't they? Come on, buddy." Larry laughed trying to save face.

Every Tuesdays and Thursdays Spike had gym. It was the only class he had with Xander besides homeroom. While they were in the same grade Xander was in different classes for learning disabilities. It also meant that Xander was only in homeroom and gym with Larry.

Spike hated gym class. Sure he looked good in a wife beater but joggers? And he flat out refused to wear shorts because he had chicken legs. He stripped down with the other guys the only one who went into a change room was Xander. Was that because he was shy or because he didn't want Spike sneaking a peek?

Xander was the last one out of the locker room. He was wearing a sweatshirt and grey joggers. Wasn't that a little much?

Mr. Baylor came out from his office. "Alright, I want to be here about as much as you do. For the next hour you're running laps. He grabbed a remote and turned music on before sitting on a bench and pulling out his phone.

Running? Spike thought as he looked around and saw everyone had already started. With a sigh Spike joined in. Sure, he was fit but he hated running. Everyone had lapped him. Everyone except Xander who looked like he was struggling. Whatever he did to his knee running wasn't helping it. Hopefully after forty minutes of this Xander wouldn't have to go to the nurse.

Twenty minutes in and Spike had a nice pace going. Harmony was running with him talking nonstop though he was blocking her out for the most part. Suddenly there was a commotion behind Spike.

It was only the second day of school and Xander was already hating it. First with Larry making him wear his lunch and getting detention, then with Spike wanted to hide him away from everyone and to top it off when he got home his mom had told Xander's dad he had been disrespectful. His punishment was no food.

Oh but that wasn't all. When his mom told him to go to his room his dad felt that no supper wasn't a good enough punishment so the loving father that he was, when Xander walked passed his dad he stuck his foot out tripping Xander. Hitting the ground would have been fine but Xander's father left his tool belt in the middle of the room and when Xander went down his knee made contact with a utility knife that hadn't been closed. It not only cut through Xander's pants but sliced his knee open.

"You're getting blood on my tools!" Anthony shouted. He grabbed Xander by the forearms gripping him so hard Xander would have bruises. "Get to your room before I take off my belt! And don't go using this as an excuse to getting out of going to school. You miss one day and I'll throw your ass out on the street."

With every step Xander took there was excruciating pain. Once he was in his room Xander pulled out a first aid kit from his closet. Gingerly Xander pulled off his jeans so he could see the damage. Luckily it looked like the cut wasn't deep enough to need stitches but Xander felt that it would just be another addition to his growing list of scars. He cleaned it up and bandaged it up. Of course tomorrow he had gym and there as no way his parents were going to write him a note to get out of it.

So here Xander was in gym class being told that the entire forty minutes running. If Xander was paranoid he'd think that his father called Mr. Baylor and asked for this.

Xander did the best he could but just walking to school angered his knee. Normally Xander would be in the middle of the packed but today he was being lapped. His forehead was sweaty. He heard laughing behind him and knew it was Larry. What was he laughing about though? It didn't take Xander long to find out because Larry caught up to him and just as he passed Larry stopped and stuck his foot out tripping Xander.

Xander used his hands to stop himself from face planting onto the gymnasium floor but that left no protection for his knees which hit the floors hard. A wave of nausea hit Xander as he felt his wound tear open. He could feel blood already start to seep through the bandages.

"Watch it, Harris. You've scuffed up my new runners!" Larry accused as he pulled Xander up off the floor. His hands dug into his arms. Possibly another set of bruises.

"He's bleeding," Mr. Baylor announced.

Spike's eyes fell to Xander's legs as he saw blood had soaked through his pants.

"I didn't do it," Larry replied, as he stared at the blood.

"I don't care who did it. I don't want blood all over my floor," Mr. Baylor replied. "Harris, go to the nurse and get that looked at."

Xander nodded. He clenched his jaw hoping it would stop the tears that were filling his eyes. "Thanks."

"And you'll be getting a zero for today since you can't complete the class." Mr. Baylor ever the bleeding heart. "Now if the rest of you don't start running you'll be joining Harris with a failing mark.

Everyone starting to run but two sets of eyes were on Xander as he slowly made his way out of the gymnasium. Larry was telling himself it had nothing to do with him while Spike was wondering how the hell falling on a flat surface caused that kind of injury.