Title: The Love of the Bullied 21/?

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 Twenty-One

Spike had stayed on bed rest for the rest of the week. Dr. Xander's orders. Xander ended up hiding in his old room when Cordelia came over to drop off Spike's homework. While Xander wasn't a fan of Cordelia's he was glad it was her and not Larry or Harmony. She did a quick explanation of the work and told Spike to call her if he needed any help before telling him to feel better and get back to school.

Xander watched the following Monday as everyone crowded around Spike so excited he was back. You'd have thought he just got out of the hospital from a life threatening injury. Harmony was all but hanging off of Spike almost in tears.

"It was so horrible, Blondie Bear! I missed you so much and Cordy wouldn't tell me where you lived."

Cordelia huffed. "The last thing he needed was your gold digging ass bothering him while he was sick."

Harmony stomped her foot and rushed away. Some best friend Cordelia was.

"Thank you," Spike said gratefully to Cordelia. "I owe you."

"I like Chanel anything."

Spike's lips twitched in amusement. "You got it."

Cordelia's eyes widened she was just joking. Spike was a good guy and she had no problem protecting him from Harmony's money grubby hands. Besides she felt like maybe Spike was already involved with someone. About a month ago she saw Xander going into Spike's apartment. Of course, she didn't think anything of at the time since she didn't know where Spike lived until last week. She couldn't tell anyone because she liked Spike too much for him to have to deal with that drama.

Also while she acted self-centred she saw what was going around her and she knew Larry had a thing for Xander. It was clear as day to see if you were even slightly paying attention. Cordelia didn't blame Xander for constantly putting Larry in his place with all the shit he's had done to Xander. Larry really didn't seem to realize he had zero chance with Xander and that he should focus his attention on other things.

It wasn't that Cordelia didn't like Xander it was that they were from two different worlds and had nothing in common. But the same could be said with Spike and Xander. Maybe she's been looking at the world the wrong way all this time. It was something she'd have to think about. "Consider us even."

Before Spike could say anything Cordelia was already entering the school. What just happened?

Xander loved home ec. He never enjoyed cooking until Spike came along and learning new recipes for their L.A would be good. Spike was going to be so busy with his studies Xander was going to have to make sure he was eating. Today he was going to make a breaded pork chop with a cob of corn with a garlic butter for the first time. The teacher only bought one pork chop so Xander had to get it right if he wanted a good grade.

While the recipe wasn't that complicated Xander had his entire focus on the food that he didn't notice Larry walk in. He'd come in once a week because he had a free period looking for free food. He stood off to the side watching Xander cook. Larry loved pork chops and corn. He was confused when Xander started throwing minced garlic, minced parsley, sliced fresh chives and a a couple teaspoons of lemon juice some a block of softened butter. Was Xander really going to put that on the corn? "What the hell are you doing, Harris?"

Surprised Xander jumped and turned around. "Jesus Christ, Larry. I'm cooking."

"You aren't putting garlic butter on the corn," Larry said as if he had some say.

Focusing on getting the pork chop ready Xander said, "I am. I wanted a little more than just butter on it. Billy's mom gave me the recipe. I never even thought of making my own garlic butter until I talked to her on the weekend."

"Corn on the cob doesn't need to be fancy. Just use regular butter."

"Billy likes it this way." While Xander just found that out it was true so why not use the opportunity to make new things on the schools dime?

Larry snorted. "Are you sure you're his boyfriend and not his bitch?

"Just because I want to make things he likes doesn't make me his bitch. It's because I love him and want to make him happy. Maybe one day you'll understand what that's like." Xander wasn't trying to be mean. Larry just didn't have a clue what a relationship was supposed to be.

Xander was so naive, moving to another city to live with a guy he barely knew. Larry said in a low voice, "You're going to come back to Sunnydale when you realize you made the mistake of picking that dick over me and I might not be waiting for you."

"Even if it doesn't work out which it will, I am never coming back to this hellhole. There is no reason for me to ever come back. So stop waiting for something that is never going to happen, you'll be a whole hell of a lot more happier in the end."

"I didn't say I was ready to give up just yet," Larry whispered in Xander's ear before pinching his ass.

Xander was just about to put his pork chop into the hot oil when Larry touched him causing him to jump and the pork chop to drop into the pan splashing Xander with hot oil. "Fuck," he yelled out stumbling back into Larry as oil hit his hand and face.

Ms. Davis rushed over. "What's going on?"

"Harris wasn't paying attention to what he should be doing and got an oil burn," Larry explained. Was it technically his fault? Yeah, but it wasn't like he meant for it to happen. "He's a bit of a scatter brain, Ms. Davis."

With a scowl Xander pushed Larry hard. Hard enough to have him fall on his ass. "Ms. Davis, can we keep the farm animals from not coming in here?"

Ms. Davis ignored Xander's request. "Alexander, I do not condone violence in my classroom! Go to the principal's office right now!"

Xander's mouth fell open. He shouldn't be surprised but Jesus Christ could there not be a bit of sympathy for him? "Of course, the big idiot gets a pass for touching me and we ignore the burns because oh no Larry got humiliated."

"Out now!" Ms. Davis pointed towards the door not accepting being talked back to.

Dismissing her Xander turned to Larry who was now just standing up. "Stay away from me you obsessive, stalking, psycho! I am never going to go out with you. You don't stand a fucking chance, get that through your empty skull! No one in their right mind would want you!" Xander had, had enough he wanted to keep Larry's interest in him a secret but this was too fucking much.

Having had enough Ms. Davis grabbed Xander by the arm and forcing him out of the classroom leaving all the students either in shocked silence or laughing. She never let go as students in the hall stopped and stared Spike being one of them. He hoped that Xander would look at him but he didn't. He just kept his head straight but Spike could see his jaw clenched tight. What the hell happened?

"Harris," Principal Snyder said from behind his desk. "I hear you are causing quite a bit of problems in my school. Pushing other students and being insubordinate to the teachers."

"Larry put his hands on me first!" Xander argued. "Why does that get over looked every time but I do it once and I get sent here?"

Snyder placed his elbows on his desk. "Because he is a respected student. He's won us the State football championship the last three years and is going to win it for us again. What have you contributed to my school?"

"So that gives him the right to bully and sexually harass me at ever turn?" Xander asked angrily.

"I very much doubt he has been sexually harassing you. I also have not seen him bullying you," Snyder said clearly lying. "You're suspended for the rest of the week. I will assign someone to bring you your homework. Now collect your belongings and leave my school."

Note: I don't know when football season is for high school. My schools never had football teams. So if I got it wrong where the State Championship hasn't happened yet I apologize.