23. Dodging the Issue
Revello - 7 p.m.
"So where were you?"
Buffy looked up from her magazine to see Willow standing in her doorway. "Shit, I forgot. I'm so sorry," the blonde lied. She had been avoiding Spike since their awkward morning chat and couldn't face him. "What's the plan?"
Willow entered the room, closing the door behind her. "Hey, Anya," she said, giving the other girl a small wave.
Anya acknowledged the redhead and went back to the latest issue of Glamour. The article about hair dye, and its ability to makeover the soul, was riveting.
Willow plopped down next to Buffy on the bed. "We decided to go to that new amusement park that just opened. It's only a few hours away. . .should be fun."
Buffy smiled, she loved roller-coasters, they gave her such a pure adrenaline rush. "Cool. Who's driving?"
"We're going to leave at about 10 a.m. Oz has this really cool van that we can all squeeze into."
'More time with Spike in large moving vehicles? That could be interesting.' Buffy shook the thought out of her head. "Good deal."
"Spike seemed a little out of it. He didn't talk much, which is weird." Willow said, trying to feel out her friend's mood.
Buffy sighed and sat up on the bed. "Really? He usually doesn't shut up. Then again, I never know what he's thinking, so the words usually don't make much of a difference."
"Hmmm. . ." Willow tried to appear disinterested, and picked up Buffy's discarded magazine.
"Well, unless he's being a complete ass, throwing insults around. Then the words can be pretty meaningful." Buffy leaned against the wall behind her bed. "Could he be more annoying?!"
Willow looked at her friend, and began leafing through the June issue of Cosmo. "I'm so not getting into this conversation with you."
Buffy's mouth dropped open. "Please, I really need your help this time," she whined.
Willow slammed the magazine closed, and whacked Buffy on the arm playfully. "No way. The last time I tried to help you went all 'Ahhh,'" she accentuated the little yell by waving her arms around frantically, "and told me to stop meddling."
Buffy grabbed Willow's hands and gave her the big puppy dog eyes she knew her friend couldn't resist. "Please . . .," she pouted. "I need you. So- " she slapped Willow's knee, "-meddle away."
"Fine," she groaned, throwing the magazine to the floor. "Are you sure you want to do this in front of . . ." she pointed at Anya quickly, trying not to let the other counselor see the action.
"Sitting right here," Anya said. "Besides, I don't really care. Go right ahead and talk about sex without me."
"I didn't say anything about sex!" Buffy shrieked. Although, she really shouldn't be all that surprised, considering Anya ALWAYS had sex on the brain.
Anya sighed and continued reading her magazine. "Whatever. I just think that you and Spike should face facts. You're both horny little bunnies, who want to do it every chance you can get. Kind of like that song by Nine Inch Nails." Willow and Buffy looked back and forth at each other, and shrugged. "The one where they want to fuck like animals?" Anya stood up and moved over to the two girls. "He brings you closer to god, right?" she asked, taking a seat on the floor.
Buffy blushed, and looked away from Anya's prying eyes.
"Fine. Don't admit it." Anya threw up her hands. "My point is-"
"Finally," Buffy muttered under her breath.
"-there's more to a relationship than just sex. Even I know that. You two don't want to deal with the implications of your actions. Or you're just too scared to figure out what this thing with you really is. So, you skirt the issue, never really talk, and, instead, work out your confusion with loud shouting matches and lots and lots of sex."
Willow and Buffy stared incredulously at the intuitive woman. "She does have a point, Buffy."
"There hasn't been all that much sex." Buffy said defensively. "Just that ONE time."
"You know what I mean." Anya rolled her eyes at her co-counselor. "The sooner you realize that you can enjoy a good orgasm, while still developing a real connection with someone, the happier you'll be." At that, she stood up and went back to her own bed.
Willow eyed her friend curiously. "Something happened again, didn't it? I mean, besides the initial morning-after craziness."
Buffy placed her pillow in her lap and buried her face in it. "I don't want to answer that," she said through the material.
"It doesn't matter." Willow rubbed her friend's back tenderly. "But, I think you should know that Spike really cares about you. He only said those things because he saw you with Angel."
"Really?" Buffy asked, turning her face towards the redhead.
"He was really hurt, Buffy." Willow said softly.
Buffy sighed, and leaned back against the wall. "Yeah, well he hurt me too." She squeezed her eyes closed tightly. This was a big mess. "Why do people have to hurt each other all the time?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know," she responded, placing her hand on Buffy's knee. "Maybe we're all masochists. Or maybe love really can't exist without the pain."
Buffy dropped her head into her hands. "Love." She chuckled at the thought. "I don't even know what that is."
"You don't have to yet, sweetie." Willow lifted Buffy's chin in order to look in her eyes. "There's still a long time left of this camp season. Don't screw it up because you're confused. It would be weird if you weren't. But, at the same time, you can't push people away if they get too close, cause you're so afraid of being left alone. Cuz, pretty soon . . .you will be."
Buffy nodded, understanding her friend's words. "Would it be wrong of me to wait a little longer before I make up my mind? So, I don't rush into anything and make a huge mistake?"
"Of course that's ok." Willow said with a small smile. "But don't wait too long. I know a lot of female staff members who are dying to get their claws into a certain Billy Idol wannabe." She paused, and said the next part very slowly, making sure Buffy understood perfectly. "Specifically, a certain, very pale, vampiress, with a cockney accent." 'That should do it.'
"I'll be quick."
----------------------------
DAY 9 - Midnight
Buffy avoided Spike for the next day and a half. She still didn't know what to do, or what to say, and she was really afraid of screwing everything up. Well, screwing it up more than it had already been screwed. She decided to take use the night before her day off to relax and take a load off in her room. Angel had wanted to get together, but she REALLY didn't want to go there.
She curled up in her bed and picked up her favorite book, Blast From the Past. She was getting to a really good part; where the two protagonists have wild sex in the back of a strip club, in front of lots of mirrors. 'I really need to try that.'
Buffy heard a loud laugh from the hallway. "I am so not in the mood for this," she muttered, marking her spot in the book. She stood up from the bed and made her way out of the room. The hallway was empty, so she decided to listen in at each door to find the cause of the disturbance. All the rooms were silent, until she got to Dawn and Janice's room. She could hear faint giggles from behind the door, as well as a distinctly male voice. 'I really don't want to deal with this tonight; considering it is technically my day off.'
Buffy swung open the door and found Conner lying next to Dawn on her bed. "Out."
Not wanting to start anything with the angry counselor, Conner shot out of the bed and ran from the cabin. Buffy folded her arms and gave Dawn a disapproving look. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Nothing." Dawn shrugged. "We were just talking."
Buffy looked further into the room and saw that the other three girls were sound asleep. She motioned for Dawn to join her in the hallway, and shut the door behind them. "I really don't care. He's not supposed to be in here."
"But you said. . ." Dawn protested.
"I also said NOT to argue with me if I decide to break up your make-out sessions."
"Whatever," Dawn crossed her arms under her chest. "I guess the rules don't apply to you then."
"What?"
"Come on Buffy. We've all seen Angel wandering around the hallway; coming to meet you for a late night rendezvous." Dawn paused, and decided to go for the big guns. "Or is it Spike tonight?"
Buffy's face flushed red with anger. "That's none of your business. Now go back to your room." She pointed towards the door. The teenager rolled her eyes and turned around towards the back door of Revello. Buffy grabbed her shoulder, halting her movements. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Don't touch me," Dawn spat, and ran towards the door. Buffy chased her out and watched in horror as the girl stumbled down the steps.
"Dawn!" she yelled running to the girl's side. "Are you ok?" Buffy tried to help her stand.
"Ow!" Dawn yelped. Her arm was killing her; it had broken her fall, and was now cradled in her good hand.
Buffy reached for her young charge. "Let me see it."
"No . . . it hurts."
Thinking fast, Buffy told Dawn to sit down. "I'll be right back, ok?" She hurried back to her room and searched her desk for the On-Grounds list. 'Shit, I barely know any of these people. Better start making new friends Buffy.' She scanned the list of numbers and found the one she wanted.
Spike inserted the final quarter into the dryer. He was so proud that he figured out how to work the blasted machine. His clothes were getting ripe, and laundry really needed to be done. He heard his staff cell go off and wondered who would be calling him this late. "Hello?"
"Spike, it's Buffy," the voice on the other end said.
He froze. Why was she calling him? They hadn't spoken in almost two days . . .why now? "Yah?" He listened as she explained what happened. "Calm down. I'll be right there."
In no time flat he was at Dawn's side. "You alright, nibblet?" he asked, moving her hair from her face.
"It's my arm. I think it's broken."
He silently asked her permission as he felt her arm for any breaks. With a sigh, he went over to Buffy, who was standing in the doorway. "I don't think it's broken. Probably just a bad sprain."
Buffy's lower lip quivered. "What do we do?" 'This is all my fault. If I didn't over-react, she would be fine.'
Spike eyed Buffy's shivering form. 'She's really freaked out.' Still upset over her behavior he answered sharply. "Let's get her over to the nurse." He softened a little when he saw her eyes begin to tear. "Everything's going to be fine."
Buffy nodded and followed Spike over to where Dawn was sitting. She watched in awe as he lifted her in his arms and led the way to the health center.
--------------------
About an hour later, Buffy and Spike left the nurse's office. He was right; it was a sprain. The nurse gave the teenager a sling and told her she could spend the night in the infirmary. Dawn protested, until she discovered that the rooms had TV.
Buffy looked over at Spike and spoke softly. "Thanks for your help. You handled yourself really well back there."
He nodded, without responding.
She nervously continued. "Not like me. I completely freaked out." She laughed at herself. 'Four years as a counselor and I let something like a sprain get to me.'
The silence was getting to be uncomfortable, so she tried again. "It was really sweet how you told her about your little sister; and the time she fell off her bike and skinned her knee."
Spike kept walking, really not wanting to deal with any of Buffy's small talk.
"And that joke about the little girl in the coal-bin really got her laughing. You made her forget all about the pain." Buffy gave up, he obviously didn't want to talk to her. 'Can I blame him?'
The rest of the journey was spent in silence. When they reached Revello, Buffy turned around to thank him again. She was shocked to see him walking away, without out a simple goodbye or even a polite 'your welcome.'
Revello - 7 p.m.
"So where were you?"
Buffy looked up from her magazine to see Willow standing in her doorway. "Shit, I forgot. I'm so sorry," the blonde lied. She had been avoiding Spike since their awkward morning chat and couldn't face him. "What's the plan?"
Willow entered the room, closing the door behind her. "Hey, Anya," she said, giving the other girl a small wave.
Anya acknowledged the redhead and went back to the latest issue of Glamour. The article about hair dye, and its ability to makeover the soul, was riveting.
Willow plopped down next to Buffy on the bed. "We decided to go to that new amusement park that just opened. It's only a few hours away. . .should be fun."
Buffy smiled, she loved roller-coasters, they gave her such a pure adrenaline rush. "Cool. Who's driving?"
"We're going to leave at about 10 a.m. Oz has this really cool van that we can all squeeze into."
'More time with Spike in large moving vehicles? That could be interesting.' Buffy shook the thought out of her head. "Good deal."
"Spike seemed a little out of it. He didn't talk much, which is weird." Willow said, trying to feel out her friend's mood.
Buffy sighed and sat up on the bed. "Really? He usually doesn't shut up. Then again, I never know what he's thinking, so the words usually don't make much of a difference."
"Hmmm. . ." Willow tried to appear disinterested, and picked up Buffy's discarded magazine.
"Well, unless he's being a complete ass, throwing insults around. Then the words can be pretty meaningful." Buffy leaned against the wall behind her bed. "Could he be more annoying?!"
Willow looked at her friend, and began leafing through the June issue of Cosmo. "I'm so not getting into this conversation with you."
Buffy's mouth dropped open. "Please, I really need your help this time," she whined.
Willow slammed the magazine closed, and whacked Buffy on the arm playfully. "No way. The last time I tried to help you went all 'Ahhh,'" she accentuated the little yell by waving her arms around frantically, "and told me to stop meddling."
Buffy grabbed Willow's hands and gave her the big puppy dog eyes she knew her friend couldn't resist. "Please . . .," she pouted. "I need you. So- " she slapped Willow's knee, "-meddle away."
"Fine," she groaned, throwing the magazine to the floor. "Are you sure you want to do this in front of . . ." she pointed at Anya quickly, trying not to let the other counselor see the action.
"Sitting right here," Anya said. "Besides, I don't really care. Go right ahead and talk about sex without me."
"I didn't say anything about sex!" Buffy shrieked. Although, she really shouldn't be all that surprised, considering Anya ALWAYS had sex on the brain.
Anya sighed and continued reading her magazine. "Whatever. I just think that you and Spike should face facts. You're both horny little bunnies, who want to do it every chance you can get. Kind of like that song by Nine Inch Nails." Willow and Buffy looked back and forth at each other, and shrugged. "The one where they want to fuck like animals?" Anya stood up and moved over to the two girls. "He brings you closer to god, right?" she asked, taking a seat on the floor.
Buffy blushed, and looked away from Anya's prying eyes.
"Fine. Don't admit it." Anya threw up her hands. "My point is-"
"Finally," Buffy muttered under her breath.
"-there's more to a relationship than just sex. Even I know that. You two don't want to deal with the implications of your actions. Or you're just too scared to figure out what this thing with you really is. So, you skirt the issue, never really talk, and, instead, work out your confusion with loud shouting matches and lots and lots of sex."
Willow and Buffy stared incredulously at the intuitive woman. "She does have a point, Buffy."
"There hasn't been all that much sex." Buffy said defensively. "Just that ONE time."
"You know what I mean." Anya rolled her eyes at her co-counselor. "The sooner you realize that you can enjoy a good orgasm, while still developing a real connection with someone, the happier you'll be." At that, she stood up and went back to her own bed.
Willow eyed her friend curiously. "Something happened again, didn't it? I mean, besides the initial morning-after craziness."
Buffy placed her pillow in her lap and buried her face in it. "I don't want to answer that," she said through the material.
"It doesn't matter." Willow rubbed her friend's back tenderly. "But, I think you should know that Spike really cares about you. He only said those things because he saw you with Angel."
"Really?" Buffy asked, turning her face towards the redhead.
"He was really hurt, Buffy." Willow said softly.
Buffy sighed, and leaned back against the wall. "Yeah, well he hurt me too." She squeezed her eyes closed tightly. This was a big mess. "Why do people have to hurt each other all the time?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know," she responded, placing her hand on Buffy's knee. "Maybe we're all masochists. Or maybe love really can't exist without the pain."
Buffy dropped her head into her hands. "Love." She chuckled at the thought. "I don't even know what that is."
"You don't have to yet, sweetie." Willow lifted Buffy's chin in order to look in her eyes. "There's still a long time left of this camp season. Don't screw it up because you're confused. It would be weird if you weren't. But, at the same time, you can't push people away if they get too close, cause you're so afraid of being left alone. Cuz, pretty soon . . .you will be."
Buffy nodded, understanding her friend's words. "Would it be wrong of me to wait a little longer before I make up my mind? So, I don't rush into anything and make a huge mistake?"
"Of course that's ok." Willow said with a small smile. "But don't wait too long. I know a lot of female staff members who are dying to get their claws into a certain Billy Idol wannabe." She paused, and said the next part very slowly, making sure Buffy understood perfectly. "Specifically, a certain, very pale, vampiress, with a cockney accent." 'That should do it.'
"I'll be quick."
----------------------------
DAY 9 - Midnight
Buffy avoided Spike for the next day and a half. She still didn't know what to do, or what to say, and she was really afraid of screwing everything up. Well, screwing it up more than it had already been screwed. She decided to take use the night before her day off to relax and take a load off in her room. Angel had wanted to get together, but she REALLY didn't want to go there.
She curled up in her bed and picked up her favorite book, Blast From the Past. She was getting to a really good part; where the two protagonists have wild sex in the back of a strip club, in front of lots of mirrors. 'I really need to try that.'
Buffy heard a loud laugh from the hallway. "I am so not in the mood for this," she muttered, marking her spot in the book. She stood up from the bed and made her way out of the room. The hallway was empty, so she decided to listen in at each door to find the cause of the disturbance. All the rooms were silent, until she got to Dawn and Janice's room. She could hear faint giggles from behind the door, as well as a distinctly male voice. 'I really don't want to deal with this tonight; considering it is technically my day off.'
Buffy swung open the door and found Conner lying next to Dawn on her bed. "Out."
Not wanting to start anything with the angry counselor, Conner shot out of the bed and ran from the cabin. Buffy folded her arms and gave Dawn a disapproving look. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Nothing." Dawn shrugged. "We were just talking."
Buffy looked further into the room and saw that the other three girls were sound asleep. She motioned for Dawn to join her in the hallway, and shut the door behind them. "I really don't care. He's not supposed to be in here."
"But you said. . ." Dawn protested.
"I also said NOT to argue with me if I decide to break up your make-out sessions."
"Whatever," Dawn crossed her arms under her chest. "I guess the rules don't apply to you then."
"What?"
"Come on Buffy. We've all seen Angel wandering around the hallway; coming to meet you for a late night rendezvous." Dawn paused, and decided to go for the big guns. "Or is it Spike tonight?"
Buffy's face flushed red with anger. "That's none of your business. Now go back to your room." She pointed towards the door. The teenager rolled her eyes and turned around towards the back door of Revello. Buffy grabbed her shoulder, halting her movements. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Don't touch me," Dawn spat, and ran towards the door. Buffy chased her out and watched in horror as the girl stumbled down the steps.
"Dawn!" she yelled running to the girl's side. "Are you ok?" Buffy tried to help her stand.
"Ow!" Dawn yelped. Her arm was killing her; it had broken her fall, and was now cradled in her good hand.
Buffy reached for her young charge. "Let me see it."
"No . . . it hurts."
Thinking fast, Buffy told Dawn to sit down. "I'll be right back, ok?" She hurried back to her room and searched her desk for the On-Grounds list. 'Shit, I barely know any of these people. Better start making new friends Buffy.' She scanned the list of numbers and found the one she wanted.
Spike inserted the final quarter into the dryer. He was so proud that he figured out how to work the blasted machine. His clothes were getting ripe, and laundry really needed to be done. He heard his staff cell go off and wondered who would be calling him this late. "Hello?"
"Spike, it's Buffy," the voice on the other end said.
He froze. Why was she calling him? They hadn't spoken in almost two days . . .why now? "Yah?" He listened as she explained what happened. "Calm down. I'll be right there."
In no time flat he was at Dawn's side. "You alright, nibblet?" he asked, moving her hair from her face.
"It's my arm. I think it's broken."
He silently asked her permission as he felt her arm for any breaks. With a sigh, he went over to Buffy, who was standing in the doorway. "I don't think it's broken. Probably just a bad sprain."
Buffy's lower lip quivered. "What do we do?" 'This is all my fault. If I didn't over-react, she would be fine.'
Spike eyed Buffy's shivering form. 'She's really freaked out.' Still upset over her behavior he answered sharply. "Let's get her over to the nurse." He softened a little when he saw her eyes begin to tear. "Everything's going to be fine."
Buffy nodded and followed Spike over to where Dawn was sitting. She watched in awe as he lifted her in his arms and led the way to the health center.
--------------------
About an hour later, Buffy and Spike left the nurse's office. He was right; it was a sprain. The nurse gave the teenager a sling and told her she could spend the night in the infirmary. Dawn protested, until she discovered that the rooms had TV.
Buffy looked over at Spike and spoke softly. "Thanks for your help. You handled yourself really well back there."
He nodded, without responding.
She nervously continued. "Not like me. I completely freaked out." She laughed at herself. 'Four years as a counselor and I let something like a sprain get to me.'
The silence was getting to be uncomfortable, so she tried again. "It was really sweet how you told her about your little sister; and the time she fell off her bike and skinned her knee."
Spike kept walking, really not wanting to deal with any of Buffy's small talk.
"And that joke about the little girl in the coal-bin really got her laughing. You made her forget all about the pain." Buffy gave up, he obviously didn't want to talk to her. 'Can I blame him?'
The rest of the journey was spent in silence. When they reached Revello, Buffy turned around to thank him again. She was shocked to see him walking away, without out a simple goodbye or even a polite 'your welcome.'
