Part 1

I take a sip from my beer as I watch her dance. So beautiful… She has no idea just how beautiful she is. Three years ago, if someone had told me that that infuriating little trollop would grow into this graceful, elegant beauty I would've laughed in their face. And if they'd also told me that I'd soon fall in love with her I'd have probably recommended them to a shrink. How things change.

Jade smiles at me from the dance floor, giving me a little wave before shutting her eyes and losing herself again in the music. She has no idea. No bloody idea how much I love her. How did we get here from those first rocky months? From that time when she was cold and hard, fucking anything and everything that walked, drinking nothing unless it burned going down, and throwing her life around carelessly?

She's hardly a saint. But now she seems to have gained a purpose, a desire to survive and maybe even make something of herself. The walls that once surrounded her are thinner, yet still no where close to disappearing completely.

I told her once that I'd shag her when she was ready, when she dropped the persona and when she wanted it as bad as I did. Yet things have seemed to progress away from that. Now everything is much more complicated. I love her. And she has no idea. No idea that the nature of my love for her surpasses the confidant and friend that she sees me as now. No idea that every moment I'm with her, close to her heat and warmth, I want nothing more than to kiss her, to touch her, to feel her around me.

She has no idea how I hate every time that I hear her come in late, desperately dragging whatever ponce she calls her boyfriend at that time to her bedroom. I hear them in the hall, their frantic heartbeats and heavy breathing, tearing at each other's clothing and body before they finally make it to her room. Jade doesn't know how that hurts me. And she doesn't know that every time I hear her scream some other guy's name, it kills me.

"Uh-oh looks like somebody turned on the angst machine." I look up at the sound of Dawn's voice. She's sitting across from me, staring at me sympathetically. "You seriously need to do something about this, Spike. You're getting to be as bad as Angel."

"Am not!" I exclaim defensively.

"Are too," she shoots back, sticking out her tongue. "But it's an easy fix. Just tell her how you feel."

"Can't."

"Why not?"

I look over at Jade, dancing amongst the throng of people. Her eyes are still closed, her body moving in time with the frantic pulse of the music. She's relaxed, content. I shake my head. "It's taken her a lifetime to get where she is now. To get to a place where she's happy. I'm not about to complicate things for her."

Dawns frowns, looking at me in puzzlement. "A-Angel? Is that you? Where'd Spike go?" she asks in mock seriousness.

"Ha bloody ha." I toss a french fry at her.

She frowns when it bounces off her forehead and lands in her lap. "Now that was uncalled for," she says, brushing away the offending fry. "I'm only being honest. I've seen the way you look at her and I know for a fact that you two have some serious unresolved sexual tension going on. I've heard about the close calls."

"Close calls?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Spike. You've told me yourself of at least three occasions of near-kissage. Jade's waiting for some more serious action on your part before she's going to put herself out there. You know how she is."

"Did she tell you this?" I ask hopefully.

"Well…not in so many words…but-"

"So this is just your take on the situation?"

"Pretty much. But it's based on real, honest-to-God vibes that I'm getting off you two."

"Any 'vibes' you're getting are probably off me. I'm the poofter with the unrequited love here. Jade doesn't know anything about it and she sure as hell doesn't feel the same way."

"You don't know that. If you'd just talk to her-"

"No."

Dawn sighs. "It's like arguing with a wall." I hear her mumble. "Well, just don't go blaming me for the eternity of what-ifs you have in store for yourself."

I don't respond to her, merely return my attention to the girl on the dance floor and watch her graceful movements with longing.

*****

I smile happily as I make my way over to the table. "Who's going to dance with me?" I ask, breathless from the long session of serious groove-getting-on. Grabbing Spike's drink, I take a long sip and wait for a volunteer. Two faces stare at me unresponsively. "Oh come on!"

Dawn holds up her hands defensively. "No way. Last time we danced together, people thought we were lesbians. A woman with a mustache hit on me."

I shrug and turn to Spike, who I find is trying desperately to avoid my gaze. "No," he mutters. I put on my best puppy dog face- taught to me by Dawn- but he refuses to look at me. "I know you're putting on that face…it's not going to work." I'm about to let out a short whimper, knowing that'll take the cake when I feel a hand on my shoulder.

I whirl around, finding myself face to face with a tall, lean man with dark hair and eyes. I gasp. I think Jade the randy sex kitten wants to come out to play. He's not exactly handsome- his features are thin and his face very angular. But there's something about this guy that just oozes sexuality. And have I mentioned the leather pants? He smiles at me and it sends icy shivers down my spine.

"Would you care to dance?" he asks. His voice is velvet- deep and smooth and his words are drawn slowly. Without a word I nod and he takes my hand, leading me to the dance floor, his eyes never leaving mine. The dark orbs are flecked with gold, I notice, as he places a hand on my hip and intertwines the other with mine.

For a moment I'm confused. I haven't danced like this in…ever. It's like one of those old-fashioned ballroom kind of dances that you see in movies- you know, the ones with the big hair and the poofy dresses. Hesitantly, I place my other hand on his forearm and allow him to lead me around the floor to the eerily slow song that now plays.

"What is your name?" he asks.

"Jade."

"I am Lestat."

I laugh. He doesn't. "Y-you're serious?"

"Quite."

"Your name's Lestat? As in Anne Rice, Queen of the Damned, Interview with the Vampire, Lestat?"

"Well…I had the name first." He grins. Oh my.

I suddenly feel the chill of his skin against mine. It's not cold in here. "And exactly how long have you had the name?" I ask.

Lestat chuckles. "Clever girl. You know of my kind."

"Yeah. I do." I should be running now. I mean what are the odds that this vamp just wanted a friendly dance? I planned on having fun tonight, dance, maybe grab a bite to eat. I didn't plan on being a bite to eat. So why am I not moving?

I stare up at him with wide eyes. The memory of the night I was bitten and first learned of vampires is still fresh in my mind, despite the three years that've passed. I've never forgotten the feel of fangs in my neck- the beauty and eroticism of it. How intimate and wonderful a feeling to know a vampire's kiss. For months, maybe years I longed to feel it again until I finally relinquished my hopes and fantasies. But now, looking up at this beautiful creature I want with all my soul to feel his bite.

He's truly gorgeous. His pale skin is a sharp contrast with the dark liner around his eyes. His dark hair curls in unruly locks around his ears. And his lanky frame is clad in the attire of skin tight leather pants, a deep violet shirt, and a black suit coat that fits so well it had to be tailored just for him.

"You have been tasted before." Lestat brushes a cool finger across the scar on my neck. I nod dumbly. "Tell me," he says, his eyes searing into me, "did you like it?" I'm silent. His thin, pale lips draw into smile. "Of course you did." My stomach twists as he leans in to whisper in my ear. "Are you not afraid?"

"No."

"And why not?"

"No reason to be."

"Do you think I will not harm you? Or…is it perhaps that you want me to?"

Images flash through my mind of Lestat's face buried in my neck, his fangs embedded in the skin there and my face contorted with near orgasmic pleasure. No! Badness! I know I should wrench myself from his grasp and run back to Dawn and Spike right now. But I can't…or won't. I'm not sure which.

I feel Lestat's cold hand pushing a lock of hair from my face. Is he gonna-? He is! His cold lips brush against mine and I feel a thousand shivers rush through my body. I moan and arch against him, opening my lips to invite his tongue into my mouth. The cool tongue darts inside, massaging my own until it withdraws and he pulls away. The song is over and another is beginning.

"I must go."

"Will I see you again?"

He grins. "You will." He takes my hand, planting a kiss on it and without further explanation, he backs away and disappears into the crowd of dancers.

I stand there like an idiot for a moment before turning and heading back to the table. In a daze, I take a seat and calmly stare at my hands.

"Who was that? Jade? Hello?" Dawn waves her hand in front of my face.

"What?"

"Who was that guy?"

A little smile forms on my face. "That was Lestat."

A.N. Please Review! I love feedback, good and bad!