Buffy awoke the next morning to the sounds of Jonathan's usual wake-up call. She groaned and rolled out of bed to see that Anya was already awake and fully dressed. "Morning, Buffy. I hope I didn't wake you when I came in last night."

Buffy stretched and walked over to her dresser. She examined her swollen eyes in the mirror, remembering the previous night's events. Willow had stayed with her until she had fallen asleep. No decision had been made, but she knew that she had to talk to Spike. 'I have to try and smooth things over somehow.' She also needed to tell him that as special as their making love had been, they were moving way too fast. Her confusion wasn't helping the situation any, as she knew that this thing they had could easily explode into major badness if she didn't figure things out quickly.

"No . . . I was out cold. I don't think an apocalypse could have made me budge." Buffy started fishing through her clothes, trying to find something that said 'I'm not a total wreck.' She finally settled on a pair of overalls and a light blue tank top. 'Nice choice Buffy . . . the depression overalls - good for all occasions,' she thought sarcastically, remembering how she lived in the ensemble after the mistake that was Parker. "So, what did you do last night."

Anya sat down on her bed. "A bunch of the staff got together in the lounge and shared first-day horror stories. One of Xander's boys was so homesick that he threw up on the floor. Severe mommy-issues I think."

Buffy nodded, barely listening as her co-counselor went on about the different campers who tried to smuggle cigarettes into camp, one who was sneaking around reading peoples' diaries, and the two who she found making out in the bushes near the cafeteria. "What about you?"

"I just hung around here for awhile talking to Willow. I was really beat from the L.A. trip."

Anya smiled, she was really hoping for some crazy orgasm stories. Sighing, she walked over to her desk and started flipping through her new Cosmo magazine. There was a story called 'Multiple Orgasms - Not a Myth' that she really wanted to read.

Now fully dressed, Buffy grabbed her toothbrush and face wash. "I'm going to go fix myself up. Can you go check on the kids?. . .Make sure they're almost ready to head to the caf?"

Anya closed her magazine, and rose from the chair. "Sure, I guess the art of the female orgasm must wait until our rest period."

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Buffy walked her girls into the cafeteria and directed them to their tables. Before taking a seat, she looked around anxiously for any sign of Spike. The older groups were allowed to mix with the boys during meals, and she wanted to find out where he was before making a final decision where to sit.

"Sit here Buffy." She felt her arm being yanked anxiously, and was pulled into a chair. She looked at the culprit and saw Dawn smiling at her broadly. 'This girl is way to perky for 9 a.m. We're going to have to have a little chat.' Buffy nodded slowly at the girl and looked around the table. Besides Dawn and herself, there were four other people already seated, including Conner, Janice, and two new boys she didn't recognize. The last place held a steaming coffee cup.

"Bloody hell," Spike muttered as walked back to his seat at the table. 'I leave for two minutes to take a leak and she shows up. Of all the tables in our section, she had to sit at mine.' The grumpy man pulled out his chair and plopped down, purposely avoiding the wide green eyes that were now gaping at him.

"Hi Spike," Dawn and Janice said giddily, giving the man a small wave.

"Mornin' sweet bits," he said smiling at them. 'Just because Buffy is here doesn't mean I have to be rude to everyone. They can't help that their counselor is a cold, manipulative bitch.'

"Morning Spike," Buffy said quietly, trying to get his attention. She looked up hopefully when he started to turn around. When he quickly turned back to Dawn and Janice, her face fell. 'He hates me. Can I blame him?' She swallowed down the lump that was beginning to form in her throat and spoke again. "Ok, well, maybe we should hit the food line, before it gets too long."

The seven young people rose and walked towards the forming line. Spike brushed past Buffy and waited patiently for his hashbrowns. He could feel her standing right behind him, her shoulder brushing him lightly every time she turned to speak to someone else. He wanted to grab her and kiss her and tell her that he would fight for her if he had to. . . that Angel was a stupid wanker who could never make her happy. 'What are you doing? Stop thinking that way . . .you hate her,' he reminded himself.

Buffy stared blankly at Spike's t-shirt covered back. 'Turn around . . .please, turn around,' she silently pleaded, hoping that by some miracle he would respond to her messages and at least look at her. But, of course, he didn't budge. She could see his jaw clenching from her position behind him. His fists were clutched at his sides, opening and closing slowly, as if he was trying to maintain control. The muscles in his back rippled through his t-shirt. Buffy just wanted to touch him, to tell him that everything was going to be all right. She lifted her hand slowly, ready to run her fingertips lightly over his shoulder blades, when the line suddenly lurched forward. Buffy brought her hand back down and took another step, again closing the gap between herself and Spike. 'He smells so good,' she thought wistfully, and stole a glance at the people around her. They all seemed to be wrapped up in their own conversations, so Buffy took a chance and leaned in.

Dawn jabbed Janice sharply in the ribs and pointed towards the blondes next to them. The two girls giggled and watched intently.

She lifted up on her toes slightly to have better access, and inhaled his scent deeply. A sigh escaped her mouth at the familiar mixture of soap, smoke, and just a hint of sweat.

Spike's head snapped up when he heard her breath quickening in his ear. 'Did she just smell me?'

Buffy placed her right hand lightly on his hip, out of view of the campers - or so she thought. Leaning in closer, she pressed her cheek to his right arm, making it appear as though she were checking out the breakfast selections. She felt his body stiffen at her touch. Eyes directed at the steaming eggs and bacon, she whispered softly, "I really did miss you . . .still do."

'Don't let her get to you man. She just wants to make sure she still has you wrapped around her little finger. She needs her whippin' boy.'

She felt his heart begin to pound, and his body tense up even more. "And you never gave me a chance to thank you . . . for the flowers and beautiful words."

Spike gulped, she had read the card. 'Why did I leave it there for her to see? Now she knows how much control she has over me. Why did I write that damn thing in the first place? I'm not going to let her do this to me . . .not another one.'

Buffy lightly traced her fingertips up and down his hip and continued speaking softly, "It's the nicest thing . . ."

Before she could finish, she felt him pull away. She stood there stunned as he made his way out of the line. Tears burned in her eyes as she watched him walk away, empty tray in hand. She numbly took another step forward. 'I really am the devil. It hasn't even been a week and I've made a mess of everything.'

"Miss?" a distant voice said, "MISS?"

Buffy snapped to attention and looked towards the agitated server. "Sorry. . .hashbrowns and eggs please."

Dawn and Janice looked on sadly. Camp soap operas are fun and all, but THAT was ridiculous. 'Buffy and Spike are the coolest counselors at Sunny- D . . . and they would look so cute together,' Dawn thought. A small smirk spread across her pretty face, 'It's time for a little camper intervention.'

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The rest of breakfast was pretty quiet and uneventful - The campers yapped on and on about previous summers and other camps; Buffy poked at her hashbrowns, not taking one bite during the entire meal; while Spike sat in his chair, staring into his cup of coffee.

Joyce made a few announcements about that morning's class schedule and dismissed them from the cafeteria. Buffy numbly rose from her chair and began walking towards the door. Spike finally looked at her as she walked away and thought that maybe he was being too hard on her. She hadn't eaten one thing during breakfast; but, then again, neither did he. 'Maybe she has a good explanation for what Angel said? People make mistakes. . .maybe she wants to tell me the truth and start fresh? They had the most amazing sex the night before, granted it was way too soon for something like that to happen, but maybe that changed things and she's ready to give up her Angel fantasy.' Despite the one hundred scenarios running through his mind, Spike still sat firmly in his chair, mind full of doubt. 'Stop being a complete git and go talk to the girl,' an obnoxious voice yelled in his head. Spike bolted from his chair and jogged after Buffy.

"Buffy. Wait up."

Buffy turned around at the gasping man behind her. "Oh, hey Angel. What happened to you last night?" she asked, voice void of emotion.

"Oh yah, sorry about that. Got a call on my cell . . .camper emergency," he quickly covered.

Spike pushed through the cafeteria doors and looked around anxiously for Buffy. Suddenly he spotted her, standing on the steps with Angel, who was leaning in towards her suggestively. Spike's jaw clenched again, 'Should've guessed that's where she'd be.'

"Could we try again tonight?" Buffy barely heard Angel's question, as seeing Spike out of the corner of her eye had captured her full attention. "Fine . . .whatever," Buffy said quickly. "I'll talk to you later." She smiled quickly at Angel and bounded down the steps after Spike, who was now walking briskly back to The Crypt.

"Spike!" she yelled as she jogged to catch up. "Spike . . . wait up!" She smiled when he stopped and turned around. "About last night . . ."

"Save it Goldilocks," Spike said coldly. "I think we both got what we wanted."

Buffy froze and whispered quietly, "What?"

Spike tried to keep his composure. "I mean. . .it was fun . . .didn't you have fun?"

Tears filled Buffy's eyes, as memories of Parker hit her. "But the letter . . . the flowers?"

Spike gulped, forcing the words out. "You don't think that meant anything do you?" His voice trembled as the lump in his throat grew larger. "If I had known that it was so easy to spread those sweet thighs of yours, I never would have bothered."

Buffy gasped and raised one hand to cover her mouth, tears slowly rolling down her cheeks. "How could you say . . ."

'Stop this Spike. . .you're hurting her . . . this isn't what you wanted.' His own tears were getting ready to slip, but he took a deep breath and forced them away. 'Yes it is. . . the bitch deserves it.' His voice was now shaking so horribly that he could barely get the next words out. "Say what sweetness? That it was a fun ride? Come on . . . this is camp . . . you know how it works."

Tears were now spilling down her face rapidly. She took a few slow steps backwards, body quaking.

'Shit . . .she's really upset. Maybe she . . .' Spike quickly realized what he had done and reached towards the crying girl. "Oh god, Buffy . . .I didn't . . ."

Before he could finish, Buffy turned and ran away, leaving Spike alone with his stupid mouth.

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I know, I know - more angst. But things will cool off (or heat up) soon. I'm actually working on those chappies already. So, keep the faith. Thanks for the reviews and support. You guys kick butt!

Remember, "Summer Nights" is up for 'fic of the week' at www.spuffyarchives.com so go show your support there. Oh, and keep reviewing!