Spike felt the shift of weight in the bed as someone sat on the edge by his feet. He opened one eye and turned his head slowly.
"Can we talk?" Dawn asked, fidgeting with her hands in her lap.
Spike sat up and stared at her for a moment before replying, "Of course. What's on your mind?"
"You know what's on my mind." She chided, "It's this whole no eye contact, zero touching, uncomfortable awkwardness thing that we have going. It's getting really bad, Spike. You know it is."
He sighed, "I know. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. Can we just forget about what happened?" Dawn pleaded with her eyes, "I just want things back to normal."
Spike's un-beating heart sank, "Sure, we could just pretend it never happened, if that's what you really want."
"I just want to be able to talk to you and have things the way they belong."
"So do I."
Dawn smiled and leaned forward to hug him tightly. Spike reveled in the brief moment of closeness, clearing his throat as she pulled away.
"You should go paint-balling with the band, and me." She said suddenly.
"Paint ball?"
Dawn gave him the sad puppy-dog eyes, "Please? You'll have fun, I promise." Then in a pursuasive, sing-songy voice, "It's almost like real violence."
Spike looked reluctant for another moment, then nodded, "Alright. But I'm warning you. I have amazing aim."
Dawn shrugged, "So do I."
**
Card leaned against Dawn, panting as they waited for the next game to start up, "One question, Dawnie."
"What's that?" She replied, reloading her gun with paintballs in her signature color.
"When was the last time Spike got laid?"
Dawn made an 'Eep' noise and looked at him, wide-eyed "Excuse me?"
"I didn't mean it like it sounded." He said, still struggling to catch his breath, "But, I know he has vamp stamina and what-not, but he chased me around for the ENTIRE game. He's playing like a pro gone mad. No one plays like that except for two conditions."
Dawn rolled her eyes, "What are those conditions?"
"Excessive drug use. Or no sex."
Dawn snorted, "Whatever, Card. I'm ready to play. Next game starts in five. I still haven't hit Spike and I swear, if I have to spend the next two weeks with him being all smug because he hit me fifty times and I didn't get one shot at him, I'll just die."
**
Splat.
Spike froze. A slight sting started up in between his shoulder blades. He was hit! He hadn't been hit once the entire night! He craned his neck and tugged on his black tee so he could see what color the paintball was. Purple with green marble going through it. Four of the other five players lowered their guns, shocked that Spike had actually gotten hit. Spike turned around fully to face his defeater.
"You little brat." He growled. Dawn smiled sweetly at him, slowly lowering her gun and waving at him casually before taking off running, Spike close behind.
***
When the next game was called, there were no guns. Spike growled in disappointment, but a slow smile spread over Dawn's face. An even better chance to put the smack-down on Spike and his cocky attitude.
Each player was given a bucket of water balloons. By then, the only players left were Dawn, Spike, Jag, Card, and Mia. Each player had a different color balloon filled with paint that matched the balloon. The object was to burst as many of the balloons on as many people as possible. Simple.
As the whistle blew to signal the beginning of the game, they all took off running around the obstacle course, but Dawn headed straight for Spike.
Fascinating new thing
You delight me
And I know you're speaking of me
Fascinating new thing
Get beside me,
I want you to love me
Dawn let out a war cry as she jumped on Spike's back, crushing a balloon against his head, turning the white-blond locks a brilliant shade of blue. He growled and swung around suddenly, sending her flying. She landed on her backside, laughing maniacally. Spike advanced on her, a balloon in each hand.
"Spike, come on." She pleaded, "Vamp strength-- No fair."
He tossed one of the balloons straight up in the air, then caught it behind his back, "What about you and your cute little pink ammo earlier?"
She shrugged and gave him an innocent look, "All's fair in love and paintball?"
A red splatter of paint soon complimented her outfit. Dawn shook her head, "That was a BIG mistake, mister."
He smirked and opened his mouth to say something, when his legs were suddenly knocked out from under him and he went sprawling. Dawn climbed over him and smashed another balloon in his hair.
"You shouldn't have trained me so well." She giggled as he glared up at her, his face smeared with paint.
I'm surprised that you've never been told before
That you're lovely and you're perfect
And that somebody wants you
Fascinating new thing
The scene-makin'
Want a temporary savior
Dawn tried to say something to further damage Spike's poor bruised ego, when he suddenly flipped them over so he was pinning her to the ground.
"Just remember. I taught you everything you know," A drop of blue paint dripped from his hair onto her forehead, "And I can give as good as I get."
Before Dawn could blink, her face was dripping with red paint.
Fascinating new thing
Don't betray them
By becoming familiar
I'm surprised that you've never been told before
That you're lovely and you're perfect
And that somebody wants you
Jag looked over at Card. They were lounging against a wall, having run out of balloons, watching Dawn and Spike fighting playfully.
"So," Card said, "How long till they start freakin' making out in the middle of the field?"
"Not in public." Jag replied, "I give it three weeks before they actually wise up and admit it."
The two friends looked at eachother and said in unison, "They're totally hot for eachother."
I'm surprised that you've never been told before
That you're priceless and you're precious
Even when you are not new.
