Thanks again for the wonderful feedback and support in the poll over at Spuffy Archives! "Summer Nights" was runner-up for week 6 (lost first by less than 10 votes!). Anyway, I'm up for fic of the week, again - so show your love! And take some time to check out the other fics. The web address is www.spuffyarchives.com.

25. Roller Coaster

Day 10

"Where's Buffy?" Oz asked as he threw Willow's small bag into the back of the van.

Spike looked around anxiously for the petite blonde. He'd thought about going over to her cabin after dropping his laundry off at The Crypt, but he wasn't ready to deal with her usual post-coital skittishness. They had a whole day to figure things out and be together again, without letting sex get in the way. He remembered what he told her when they first started this whole thing; that he didn't want it to become more about orgasms than the two of them. They had been really starting to connect on a more emotional level when she'd gone Los Angeles for the night. After that, things had quickly gone to hell in a hand basket. The only time they ever spent together lately was used for messing around. He had tried so hard to suppress his feelings for her, that when they were alone in the laundry room, he couldn't control himself. He should have put a stop to it the second she kissed him, but he'd known it wouldn't be a possibility. There was something between the two of them when together that made it impossible NOT to touch; and for that small moment they forgot all about the consequences.

"I'm here! I'm here!" Buffy yelled as she ran towards them with a very large duffle bag.

"What do you need all that for?" Cordelia asked. "We're only going to an amusement park?"

"Says the girl with the make-up bag the size of Texas," Xander responded, with an eye-roll.

Oz took the bag from Buffy and tossed it in the back with the others. "Ready to roll?" he asked, as he slammed the doors closed.

The group piled into the van, anxious to leave Sunny-D behind for the day. Willow sat in the passenger seat, while Xander, Cordy, Spike and Buffy lounged in the back. The redhead removed a map from the glove compartment and began giving Oz directions.

"Hi," Buffy said to Spike shyly. "Sleep well?"

Spike turned to the blonde, shocked that she was being so friendly. "Very well, thanks. You?" he asked, not letting the others in on their little secret.

She giggled softly. "Like a baby." She scratched her lower back and grimaced at him. "Actually, I think I must have done something weird to my back. When I was in the shower, I pulled out at least four splinters." Spike coughed loudly, and stammered a bit. "I should really have my mom send over the maintenance guy to check out the floors of the dance studio."

Spike blushed a bright shade of red. 'I think she's flirting with me. Maybe I was wrong about her reaction to last night.' He rubbed his knee tenderly. "I know what you mean. I was playing basketball yesterday; I think I may have skinned my knee a bit."

Buffy laughed and took a large sip from her water bottle. She smiled brightly at Spike and pulled a magazine from her bag. After leaving the laundry room she had decided to try and not make things weird for their day- off. She was going to take Anya and Willow's advice, and try to relax about the whole thing. Looking over to Spike out of the corner of her eye she caught him gazing at her curiously. 'He is unbelievably gorgeous. And the orgasms are a definite plus. Besides, I like him. So, I'm not going to obsess about the short time we have together. It's time I just enjoy life for a change.'

"Oh my god!" Cordelia screamed, startling the other counselors. "Who wants to hear what happened to me last night?"

Xander turned to the girl on his left. "Queen-C, do tell us of your great adventure. It's not like you weren't planning to anyway."

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Xander. Besides, this is really good."

Buffy put down her magazine and looked at the girl sitting across from her. "Do tell Cordy. I'm all for hearing juicy camp gossip." Spike smiled at Buffy. He really liked seeing her happy again.

"Well, I was down at the laundry room last night-" Buffy and Spike froze and looked nervously at each other. "-minding my own business. Actually, I spilled something on my new shirt from Club Monaco and had to . . ."

"You know how to do laundry?" Xander asked, shocked at the revelation.

Cordelia rolled her eyes and smacked him on the shoulder. "Shut up!" Xander motioned for her to cut to the chase. "So, there I was, standing outside of the laundry room, when all of a sudden I hear two people going at it inside." Cordy shot looks at Spike and Buffy, gauging their interest.

"You're kidding!" Xander exclaimed. 'This IS good.' "Go on, go on."

Spike glanced over to Buffy, who had her face buried in her magazine. His heart started pounding in his chest. 'We are so busted.'

"All I wanted to do was get a quick load in and couldn't because two horn- dogs decided they couldn't wait til the buzzer went off to get their groove on. At one point, I could have sworn that table they were doin' it on was going to give way."

Buffy blushed and saw Willow eyeing her in the rear-view mirror. She shrugged and shook her head, denying knowing anything about the event.

Spike cleared his throat, and raised his eyes to Cordelia. "Do you have any idea who it was?" he asked innocently.

"No," Cordy sighed in disappointment. "I couldn't make out the voices; it was basically a lot of panting and moaning." Buffy coughed and took another long sip of her water. Cordelia thought a moment and continued. "I think there might have been an 'Oh god,'" she shrieked the last two words, "in there somewhere." Buffy spit the water out of her mouth at Cordy's impression.

"Ewww, gross much," Cordelia said, moving away from the puddle.

Buffy pulled a small washcloth from her bag and wiped up the mess. "Sorry, it went down the wrong pipe."

Spike smirked at her response and turned back to Cordelia. "So, it sounds like they were having a good time."

"Definitely," she agreed, nodding her head rapidly. "That was one happy girl. . . let me tell you. Her man knows how to keep her satisfied. I wonder if she'll let me have a turn?"

"Hear that love?" he asked softly to the blonde sitting beside him. "Sounds like someone knows a good thing when they hear it." Spike pointed at Cordelia who was now giving Xander even more details about the experience. "How 'bout you?"

Buffy turned to Spike and decided to pay him back for that comment. "Well, one really can't judge someone's enjoyment level from the sounds they make. You do know that 75% of all girls fake it, right?" She smirked as he stuttered uncontrollably, then went back to her magazine.

Spike regained his composure. "Well, it sounds to me like that particular girl was pretty enthusiastic about what her partner was doing. Don't get me wrong. . .I'm sure in your day you've been left unsatisfied a number of times. But I think that laundry room romp was something transcendent; far and beyond the average shag. Well, in my humble opinion anyway. It's not like I was there or anything."

Buffy smiled at the bleached-blonde, deciding to let him off the hook. "You're probably right. I bet it was the 'shag' of the century." She leaned towards him so only he could hear the next part. "It's too bad they didn't have time to get to round two before they were so rudely interrupted."

Willow quirked an eyebrow at Buffy in the rear-view mirror. 'That talk we had didn't mean I was giving you a free license to jump his bones, Buffy.' The blonde caught her friend's eye and mouthed the word 'What?' trying to appear completely innocent.

----------------------

"I want to go on 'The Tornado!'" Buffy shrieked as she pulled Spike through the amusement park. The others trailed behind and watched as she jumped on Spike's back, directing him to the roller coaster.

"I take it they're ON again?" Xander asked, indicating the blonde duo. All eyes turned to Willow for the response.

"Don't look at me," she said, holding up her arms. "I'm just the best- friend. Doesn't mean I know anything. Besides, who ever really knows with those two."

"It's nice to see them happy," Oz said, as he squeezed Willow's hand tightly. "Less guilt for us."

Willow smiled at her boyfriend. Things had been going really well with them and she felt really badly that everyone else had to watch them be lovey-dovey all the time. "Oooo. . .caricatures!" She ran towards a small booth and waved for Oz to follow.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at the brunette pair. "As Willow goes . . .so goes my nation," he said, before joining her to pose for the artist.

"Great," Cordy sighed. "Everyone is pairing off." She turned to Xander and crossed her arms under her chest. "I guess that leaves us."

"Oh, so NOW you want to couple off with me. You know, without your flock of sheep watching your every move." Xander gave her a dirty look and walked over to a concession stand.

Cordy watched him leave, and slowly approached him. She placed a tentative hand on his shoulder, turning him around. "I'm a stupid bitch, what can I say?"

Xander gave her a weak smile. "Yah, well, I'm not going to argue with that. But, I know a way you could make it up to me." He pulled her towards one of the stands, and pointed to the vendor. "You're up."

Cordy looked around at the crowd around them. "No way. I am NOT doing this."

"You owe me after treating me like dirt for the last week."

She sighed and gave the vendor five dollars. "You better be REALLY good later, or else I am NEVER speaking to you again." She picked up the microphone. "I can't believe I'm doing this. Do you live to torture me?"

Xander laughed. "You're not wrong. Now, do your thing."

The first few bars of a ballad echoed throughout the theme park. Cordy glared at Xander as she began to sing.

**I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside.**

"I can't believe you remembered," she whined, momentarily pausing to talk to Xander. The night they were locked in the basement, Cordy had told him about a talent contest she entered in high school. She had embarrassed herself in front of the entire school with her awful rendition of "The Greatest Love of All."

"Shut up and sing!" Xander said, before borrowing a lighter from the man next to him. He lit it and waved the flame above his head.

**I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadow. If I fail, if I succeed, at least I'll live as I believe. No matter what they take from me, they can't take away my dignity.**

The crowd cheered as the girl shrieked horribly off-pitch. Everyone joined in for the chorus.

**Because the greatest love of all is happening to me. I found the greatest love of all inside of me.**

When the song ended, Cordy jumped off the small stage and playfully punched Xander in the stomach. "Now that you have completely humiliated me, I command you to win me a big stuffed teddy-bear." She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the games area.

------------------

"Buffy, slow down!" Spike yelled after the girl. She had dragged him all over the park, taking him from ride to ride. They were having a great time, but he was exhausted. He finally caught up with her in another line. "Do you think we can take a break? Maybe chat for a bit?"

Buffy jutted out her lower lip in a pout. "Why? I'm having fun. Aren't you having fun?"

"I'm having a blast, luv; but don't you think we should sit down and have a talk? Work out a few things?" He brushed a small strand of hair off of her forehead and tucked it behind her ear.

She covered his hand with her own, and bit one of his fingers lightly. "It's our day off, Spike. Can't we just enjoy it? Leave the drama for camp time?" Buffy really didn't want to get into 'deep conversation mode.' The day was wonderful so far; she hadn't worried about anything. She leaned in and placed a kiss full on his lips. Spike felt her slide her tongue into his mouth and gently pushed her away. "Luv, I think we should . . ."

"Next!" a deep voice boomed in front of them.

Buffy grabbed Spike's hand and pulled him towards the cart she wanted. "Come on, we're up."

Spike sighed. He didn't want to be a big poofter, but he knew they really needed to talk about where things were going between them. If all she wanted was a casual summer fling, he didn't know if he could participate. After all, he wasn't good at holding back his emotions; and being someone's 'fuck buddy,' wasn't very high on his agenda of things to do again, ever. He didn't want to scare her by forcing the issue, but they really needed to figure things out, or else it could blow up again. Spike didn't think he could take anymore of the hot and cold games she had been playing. He looked at his surroundings and laughed. 'Just like a bloody roller coaster ride.' There was no way around it - they had to talk.