~*! Next Night !*~
Julie sat in Spike's crypt. She decided to go there after what her dad did to her. She looked at the bruises and scars on her arms. Spike returned from that evenings patrol,

"you know if i werent already dead you would have scared me to death" he said

"Sorry.."She said softly trying to pull her sleaves down a bit trying to hide the scars and bruises.

"So what did you want then?" He said

"I was wondering if I uh.. could stay a while.. "She hesitantly asked.

"Um, yeah i guess, i was just gonna go help out in the 2nd shift of Patrol, Dawn took the early shift tonight so i thought id help. Your welcome to come and help me and Amanda if you want." He said

"Well I don't know.. I really don't think Im in much of shape to do anything.. " She said.

"Why's that?"

"Spike the reason I'm here is because.. my dad.. he doesn't care about me like I told you.. and this is what happened to me today.." She showed him the enormouse amounts of bruises and cuts, and out from the darkness a scar running across her forehead.

"oh my, that doesnt look good" he said

There was also a fresh cut on her cheek. She sniffled softly as a tear ran down he cheek. Spike reached out to brush the tear away. Amanda came into the crypt to see this "touching moment".

"oh god im sorry" Manda said as she kinda blushed at walking in on that but was a little mad and jealous

"Wait right here, Pet." Spike exited and went after Amanda, "Hey, luv. What was there to be sorry about?"

"just well touchy feely moments, not exactly the most comforting thing to walk in on" Manda said as she crossed her arms and hugged herself a little.

"Is it just me or do I suspect a tiny bit of jealousy?" Spike asked looking at Manda,"Don't be jealous of a little girl, luv."

"Spike, she admitted she had feelings for you to me ok, and now i walk in and you and her are all touchy.. feely and what am i supposed to think?" she spat at him and got a sorta pouty look on her face.

"Manda, I'm helping her out. If you didn't see her, the poor girl has bruises, cuts and scars from her father beating her and did you just say she told you she had feelings for me?" Spike asked.

"yes i did she came to me for advice, i had no idea what to tell her" she said

Julie heard what was just said," I thought everything said in that school was confedential.."She said,"I can't trust anyone anymore. I might aswell go get myself killed."

With that, Julie turned and walked off, dropping the coat Spike let her use on the ground. She kept walking, just praying that a vamp would just come and bite her.

---
"Here vampires.." Julie said softly sitting on a swing in the park with a sniffle.

"you might not want to call em, they might come" Dawn said tapping her friend on the shoulder

"That's what I planned on doing.."She sighed, hiding her scars, cuts, and bruises.

"Julie, whats the matter? What happened?" Dawn said worried about her friend

"Nothing.. I just.. hurt myself ok?" She said as the slice across her forehead showed.

"Julie you've been cut, and the bruises. Something's wrong." Dawn said.

"Dawn I'm ok! I just got hurt... I trusted myself with someone, got hurt. It's the norm for me.." Julie got up, tears in her eyes, and she started walking away when someone grabbed her.

"Julie, its not safe for you to be out alone" Manda said as she grabbed Julies arm

"Why don't you just leave me alone!" Julie yanked her arm away.

"Because its my job to make sure your safe and ALIVE" Manda said.

"What the hell do you care?!" Julie shouted.

"Look I care, ok" Manda said trying to calm Julie down

"No you don't! If you 'cared' you wouldn't have told Spike what I confided in you at school!" Julie said shoving her out of the way, and started to walk off, praying she'd get killed.

Dawn started to go after her

"No Shes angry, and shes right. She needs time to cool off. Come on Theres still baddies to hunt" Manda said as her and Dawn started back on the nights patrol

Julie sniffled as she sat down on a bench in another part of the park. She hugged herself a bit to keep warm. Her eyes were bloodshot from the tears. She just wanted to die now knowing Spike knew that Julie liked him, and he didn't care about her.

I can't go home, I can't go with Manda and Dawn, I can't stay with Spike. I guess I'm all alone now, on my own. I'm scared.. Julie thought with a shiver and a sniffle.

"Hey there Lonely Girl" Xander said as he walked up to where Julie was sitting

Julie looked at Xander,"Hey Xander.."She sighed sniffling.

"Why the Lonely look?" He asked as he sat down with her

"Just wanting to die.." She sniffled, looking at him, trying to hide the scars and stuff.

"Oh gosh Julie. What happened?" Xander asked running his finger gently over a cut.

She winced a bit,"My dad.. he beats me.. and I end up like this.."Julie started to cry.

Xander pulled her into his arms for a comforting hug.

"I have nowhere to go.."She cryed softly.

"thats not true" he said rubbing her shoulders trying to comfort her

"Where do I have to go, Xander? where?" She cryed.

"Well theres always Dawns, and well my place" he said

"I can't trust Manda for reasons I wont say.." She said sniffling.

"Well you could stay with me."

"Really?" She sniffled a bit looking at him.

"Sure, why not?" he said

"Thank you, Xander.. I appreciate this.." She sniffled hugging him.

"No Prob now come on pretty girl" he said as they stood up.

They both then, headed back to Xander's house. An hour or two later they both sat at the fireplace drinking cocoa.

"So.." Xander started,"Why can't you trust Manda?"

"Well.."Julie sighed,"today in school I told her my problem, and she blurted it out. Things in school are suppose to be confidential.. and she told someone so I can't trust her.."

"How did you get hurt?" Xander reached out and ran his finger across the long slice on her forehead.

Julie winced a little,"M..my Dad.. h..his temper gets out of hand and..he takes it out on me..."

"Oh god Julie.."Xander said,"Julie, I can't see you like this, you're going to have to live with me, or someplace other than home."

"Xander.. Im fine." She said wincing again.

"No, you're going to stay with me, end of discussion." Xander said,"Now get some sleep. You've got school in the morning." He kissed her forehead gently and got up to go to bed.

Julie thought to herself, hes so nice, i hope he doesnt turn out to be like the others then she stood up and started to head off to her new room.