"Dawnie's up next!" Mia squealed, bouncing slightly in her seat. Spike and the rest of the band looked at her.
"Mia-babe, how much coffee have you had today?" Card asked suspiciously.
"I had like, three cappuccinos at the Espresso Pump earlier." She said with a shrug.
It was open mic night at the Bronze and Dawn had signed up on a dare from Jag. Willow and Tarah came over to the table carrying two trays full of drinks.
"Is she up yet?" Willow asked excitedly.
"Nope. Next, though." Ian said, taking his coke from Tarah. The witches took their seats. Spike glanced at Mia, who was to Willow's right. They were like clones of eachother, only Mia was blond and more punk than Willow had ever even considered being. But the two of them were talking excitedly to eachother, both jittering with nervous excitement.
As the guy on stage finished his song, the MC, a kid Spike recognized as one of Dawn's friends announced her. Spike smiled as she crossed the stage, her hands twisting nervously.
"Um...hi." She said into the mic, and Spike locked eyes with her from the audience. He gave her a wink and she winked back, before looking down nervously at the guitar in her hands, then picking it up and placing her fingers over the strings "This song is one I used to hear my sister play all the time when I was younger." She took a deep breath and Spike swore he could hear her heart beating just a little faster than normal.
Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you
Graceless lady you know who I am,
You know I can't let you slide through my hands
Wild Horses couldn't drag me away,
Wild, wild horses, couldn't drag me away
Her eyes fell shut and her fingers drifted over the string with a memory of their own, the song coursing through her. It wasn't as if she knew what had started Buffy's obsession with the song. But singing it, playing the chords, it made her feel like she was 12 again and the strains of that song were coming from behind the closed door to Buffy's room.
I watched you suffer a dull aching pain,
Now you've decided to show me the same
No sweeping exits or offstage lines
Can make me feel bitter or treat you unkind
Wild Horses couldn't drag me away,
Wild, wild horses, couldn't drag me away
Spike leaned forward in his seat. The look on Dawn's face was...beautiful. She had forgotten about the crowd long ago, he could tell. Her eyes were shut and she was playing from somewhere far away, before her sister had died, before Joyce had gone. Maybe even before Sunnydale, for all he knew. But right then, under the soft lights ont he stage of the Bronze, her hair swept up and clipped back, dressed all in a green that matched her eyes, she looked angelic, peaceful. Spike had never wanted to hold her more than he did at that moment.
I know I dreamed you a sin and a lie,
I have my freedom but I don't have much time
Faith has been broken, tears must be cried,
Let's do some living after we die
Wild Horses couldn't drag me away,
Wild, wild horses, we'll ride them someday
Wild Horses couldn't drag me away,
Wild, wild horses, we'll ride them someday
Applause erupted in the Bronze, and Dawn was torn back to reality as her eyes snapped open. She bowed nervously and flew offstage. She was met by leather-clad arms catching her and spinning her around in a tight hug. Dawn giggled as Spike set her on her feet again.
"Amazing." He whispered, "Just...amazing."
"Thanks." She breathed, swiping at a stray hair in her eyes, "I got a little lost there for a minute."
"You looked like an angel, Nibblet." He kissed her on the forehead, "Buffy would've been proud."
"Thank you."
"Yeah, well. Go see your friends." He said, sending her off in the direction of the table.
Dawn smiled over her shoulder at him before heading over to the band members and Willow and Tarah. But she was intercepted by Lane, a girl from her lunch period.
"Ohmigod, DAWN! You were sooooooo good!" She gushed, "And who is that GUY who was staring at you the whole ENTIRE TIME!?"
"What guy?"
"DUH! Bleached and leather? Totally gorgeous?"
"Ummmm....."
"Is he, like, you know. Your older brother?"
Dawn blinked, "No...."
"No WAY! Are you saying he's your BOYFRIEND? He's like, 25!"
"No, he's not my boyfriend."
"Then what?"
Dawn blinked once again. What was Spike, anyway? Her protector? Guardian? Pet Vampire? She shrugged, "He's just...a friend?"
"Is he available?"
"No!" Dawn snapped, then her eyes widened, "I mean--"
"Ooooh, you have a thang for that tall drink of water with the long leather jacket."
"Um...no." Dawn gently shook off the grasping hands of the gushing cheerleader, "I need to get to my table. See you Monday, k?"
"Sure, Dawnie."
Dawn shook her head to herself and walked the rest of the way to the table, her mind running with mixed thoughts of Spike and the many ways to torture the Cheerleading Captain.
