Chapter 3-Sunnydale
"Hey, Buffy," Xander greeted, entering the Summer's home.
"What's up, Xander?" Buffy asked, walking from the kitchen with a cup of coffee.
"Have you seen Spike?" Xander questioned.
"Isn't he supposed to be with you?" Dawn asked, hopping down the stairs.
"He's kind of," Xander said with a long pause. "Missing."
"Missing?" Buffy asked, looking imploringly at Xander.
Xander started to fidget. "He's not at my place."
"How long has he been gone?" Dawn asked, moving into the dining room to stand by Buffy.
"Three days," Xander answered, waiting for Buffy to blow up.
"And you're just telling us now?!" Buffy asked loudly, setting down her cup.
"Buffy, calm down," Dawn urged.
"I was kind of hoping he was gone for good this time," Xander said truthfully. I thought you'd feel the same way."
"Xander," Dawn said in a surprised tone.
"What, Dawn? He tried to rape Buffy and she's sad that he's gone? I say let him go," Xander said angrily.
"It's not that, Xand," Buffy told him softly. "He's different now."
"Yeah, now he's coo coo for cocoa puffs," Xander told her.
"Xander, don't talk that way about Spike," Dawn exclaimed, getting defensive when Buffy flinched at Xander's harshness.
"Hey, I just thought you might want to know. I didn't come here to be attacked," Xander said, walking to the door. "If you want to find him, that's up to you. But I say we're better off without him." Xander left, leaving Buffy and Dawn in shock.
"Do you think he's really gone?" Dawn asked, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"I don't know, Dawnie," Buffy replied softly, staring at the door.
"I mean, why are we sad?" Dawn asked with a light voice. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "He's gone. That's a good thing, right? Who needs a crazy vampire anyway?"
Buffy smiled, looking up at Dawn. "Go get your backpack. We have to be at the school early."
"Okay," Dawn said, turning to go back up the stairs.
Buffy took her cup to the kitchen, rinsed it out, and set it in the dishwasher. She rested her hands on the sink and stared out the window wondering where Spike could have gone.