Sorry guys, my computer was down for a long time, 'cause my roof sorta collapsed, so I had to keep it out of harm's way for a while. I know, I know, excuses, excuses… But, I have school off on Wednesday, so I'll work extra hard this week, and next, which is… SPRING BREAK!!!! [Snoopy dance]



Still takes place after "Gone"



She was blushing, she could feel her cheeks turning red…. Damn. She looked at her hands, folded neatly in her lap.

Her friends just watched her oddly.

Luckily, the band started up again, and Buffy jumped off her stool, nearly toppling it over. Before it fell, Spike neatly held it in place with a black boot.

Why was she so jumpy? She reprimanded herself, Just calm down and get as far away from him as possible. She knew if she kept this up, she'd do something even stupider, and giggle. Ugh.

As she headed towards the dance floor Willow followed her friend.

"Dance with Willow," Anya commanded Xander.

"An? Remember the whole troll incident? And how that came about? I'd rather not witness a repeat," her boyfriend reminded her, slightly confused.

"She assures me she's gay now, and she's been mopey since Tara left. So, go dance with her," she repeated.

Knowing it was easier not to argue, Xander left the table to join the fray.

"That was a good thing you did for Red," Spike commented.

"I thought so," Anya beamed proudly. Then her face became serious. "Do you think she'll get back together with Tara? Because I don't want to share Xander forever."

"Nah," Answered Spike after thinking for a moment, "I think the witches- or, the witch and Red- will patch things up." He pulled another cigarette from his coat pocket. It was a habit, something to do with his hands when sitting there. He liked breathing in the nicotine, one of those human touches he missed. Most vampires didn't even pretend to breath, no one close enough to tell really lived long after.

"Do you figure it's the chip or the soap operas that's making you more sensitive?" Anya asked curiously.

Spike, deeply annoyed, answered, "I haven't gone soft. And it's neither of those things." Yet he wasn't able to keep himself from looking in Buffy's direction. Anya knew who he was gazing at over her shoulder but didn't say anything. She sort of wished the vampire and the slayer would end up together. She knew a demon could change for love, even if their change had been forced and unwanted in the beginning; she had lost her necklace, Spike had found a chip. What mattered was what you did after.

Dawn came up to the two, her friends in tow. "Hey Anya, hey Spike," she greeted them brightly. "I want to introduce you guys to my friends. This is Natalie… Rachel… Leonna… and Annie." In turn, each girl gave a small smile and a "hey," barely registering Anya before they turned their eyes to the blond man.

"Hello, pets," he said back smiling. "Band's not bad, eh? Better than that NSYNC crap Nibblet was playing all summer."

When Dawn shot him a warning look and assured her friends she never listened to NSYNC, he realized that maybe he shouldn't mention anymore pre- manufactured pop acts. He was so out of touch with the young if all the teenage girl stuff he had learned over the summer was now obsolete.

Buffy glanced over at Spike and Anya to see Dawn and her friends gawking at her-

"I was not about to think boyfriend," she murmured under her breath. He wasn't anything to her, nothing at all, right? They were too young for him, anyhow. Fifteen was- Good God, the same age she fell for Angel. Spike was also 100 years younger than the other vampire.

She was jealous and she didn't like it, so she glared at him, before turning her attention back to the band.

Spike continued to talk to the girls, though only Dawn said much. Nice girls. He was watching Buffy out of the corner of his eye, and caught her turning her back to them. Was she pissed? Why?…

Ah, he thought to himself, feeling a combination of two things- wanting to laugh aloud or hit his head against the wall. She often caused him to do both simultaneously.

"I'd love to stay and chat girls, but I think I'm gonna go dance." Spike excused himself, shedding his jacket and leaving it at the table.

So baby wants to play? He thought as he made his way to the dance floor, and more exactly, towards Buffy.