Thanks everyone for the great reviews! Your feedback has been amazing (you make me blush).

Great news!! Nikita has kindly offered to host my fic at her site. So go check out www.geocities.com/nikitas_fic . I guess she's toying with the images and stuff, I'm really curious to see what it looks like tomorrow morning.

For those of you who were wondering - "Summer Nights" is my first fic - so don't waste your time searching around for other stories on the net. This is it. (Unless you want some of my old college papers - but they don't have Spike in them, so probably not.)

Anyway, thanks again to Flames, Lady Anne, and my fantastic readers. You guys rock. Remember to check out www.spuffyarchives.com. Join in on a tennis fic, people seem to be having a lot of fun with them.

Read and review away!

32.Brains & Blood

DAY 14 - Midnight

Buffy sat on the back steps of Revello, waiting patiently for him to arrive. He had approached her during dinner at the cafeteria, requesting her to meet with him that evening. She was hesitant, but obliged. She knew they had to talk this thing out, before any additional confusing messages were sent.

"Hey," she heard a soft voice say from the darkness.

She looked up and smiled shyly at the man in front of her. "Hi. I'm glad you came."

Spike smiled and took a seat next to her on the steps. "Well, it was my idea, pet."

Buffy laughed softly and punched him playfully in the shoulder. "So. . .good game today."

"I guess." Spike shrugged, then rotated his swollen ankle slowly. "This hurts like a bitch, though."

She quirked an eyebrow at him. "And whose fault is that exactly? I was really worried that you . . ." she stopped herself before saying too much.

Spike studied her carefully. "You were?"

She swallowed sharply, and nodded slowly. Off his curious gaze, her face broke out into a slight smirk. "Well, for like. . .a second."

"Of course," he said, with mock seriousness, before chuckling softly. He slowly reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers tightly. She looked down at their joined hands and gulped; she couldn't tell where his fingers ended and hers began - it felt right. He stood up and pulled her arm lightly. "Come on." He tilted his head indicating for her to join him.

Buffy stood up and let him lead her into the darkness.

Spike walked only a few feet before laying his duster on the ground, gesturing for her to take a seat beside him on the makeshift blanket.

Buffy leaned back on her elbows and looked up at the clear sky. "Wow," she breathed. Of course, she had seen the twinkling skies above Sunny-D many times, but tonight the stars seemed to sparkle much more brightly. "It's so beautiful."

"Yah, it is." Buffy turned to Spike, and found him staring at her. She blushed and quickly directed her eyes back to the starry night sky. "So . . ." she started.

"Yah-" he echoed her thoughts, taking a deep breath. "-So . . ."

Neither of them wanted to begin the conversation that needed to take place between them. They knew that without it, they would fall apart; but neither wanted to speak the words.

Buffy decided to break the unbearable silence. "So. . .you and Drusilla, huh?" Buffy asked quietly, hoping her voice didn't betray her and allow Spike to hear the jealousy that was buried there.

"Who told you that?" He asked looking at Buffy, who was now sitting with her hands folded in her lap."Is it because you saw us. . ."

"Well, I've just seen you with her a lot lately, and just assumed . . ." her voice trailed off.

Spike let a large groan escape his mouth. "Buffy . . .you have to . . ."

Buffy held up her hand, signaling him to stop. "You don't have to say it. If you want to be with Drusilla, that's fine."

Spike felt his anger rising. 'Does she always have to be so impossible?' "Just because you've seen me. . ."

Buffy scoffed at him and rose to her feet, hands placed on her hips. "Seen you?! How could I not? You're like, ALWAYS all over each other."

Spike stood up, not wanting to be beneath her for one second. "Are you checking up on me now?" he asked in disbelief. "Are you the only one who's entitled to have a little snog?"

"That's not what. . ." she snapped, the large lump forming in her throat preventing her from finishing the statement. She took a deep breath and slumped back to the ground. She lifted her eyes, now rimmed with tears, to his flashing blue ones. "What do you mean . . .snog?" When he rolled his eyes, she clarified herself. "No . . .I know what a snog is; but why did you say that I was having one?"

Spike sighed and took a seat next to Buffy once again. He squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to face her when he spoke the next words. "The other day . . .I saw. . ."

Buffy gasped and lifted her hand to her mouth when she realized what he was referring to. "Angel."

Spike turned his eyes to the woman next to him and nodded slowly, trying to control the anger, fear, and confusion rising within him.

"Spike-" she started, taking his hand, "I don't know what you think you saw. . ." When he turned his face away from hers, she gently turned him towards her again, forcing him to look in her eyes. "But I did NOT kiss Angel."

He searched her eyes, desperate to find the truth within them, but he still couldn't understand what she was saying. He'd seen it- his eyes hadn't lied! He'd SEEN them kiss.

It was like she'd read his mind. "No," she said simply, shaking her head. "He kissed me."She paused for a moment, and then giggled quietly. "If you can call THAT a kiss, anyway."

Spike looked at her, eyes filled with hope. "So, you're not. . ."

"No," Buffy said simply.

He let out a sigh of relief, and looked back to the stars. "Thank god," he muttered under his breath.

Buffy dropped his hand and looked down to the ground again. "But that still doesn't answer my question about you and Dru. . ."

"Yeah, I pass the time with her," his voice lowered to barely above a whisper, "I TALK to her because I can't talk to you." Buffy nodded numbly, understanding perfectly. "You must be daft to think that some other girl could mean anything to me." He used the pad of his thumb to wipe away the lone tear that had fallen to her cheek. Her eyes fluttered closed and he used the opportunity to lean in and press his lips to hers.

Buffy moaned into the kiss and slowly allowed his tongue access into her mouth. The kiss started off tentative, and sweet; but Buffy soon felt the heat rise in her body, and snaked her arms around Spike's shoulders, pulling him closer to her to intensify the kiss. I love his mouth . . .' she thought as she nibbled on his bottom lip. He tastes so good. . .' She climbed atop his lap, straddling his legs. I need him right now-'

Buffy said as she pulled back from the kiss, gazing dizzily at the man in front of her through hooded eyes. We need to slow down, before it gets out of control - like usual.

Spike was panting slightly from the intensity of their impromptu make out session. I totally agree, he breathed, before his hands traveled to rest on Buffy's backside, seemingly of their own volition.

Buffy's hands travelled up to Spike's hair, and she began absently twirling the soft locks between her fingers. We should take it slow. . .maybe try out being friends for a while.

Spike squeezed her ass gently, and Buffy watched mesmerized as his tongue shot out to lick his lower lip slowly. Friends . . .definitely. . .

Buffy leaned her forehead against his as her eyes fluttered close. Swallowing heavily in her throat, she spoke only slightly above a whisper. Friends can kiss, right?

he said quickly, before moving his hand to her neck, pulling her towards him again. He crushed his lips to hers, and she eagerly thrust her tongue into his mouth. She massaged his tongue with hers slowly at first, then quickened the pace.

Spike moaned as Buffy wiggled in his lap, causing his erection to spring to life. Lightly she pushed him backwards, to lay flat on the ground fully, so she could lie on top of him. They continued to kiss as Spike smoothed one hand up the back of Buffy's shirt, lightly running his fingertips over the smooth skin beneath. Needing to feel him as well, Buffy moved her hands beneath the front of his t-shirt. His stomach muscles twitched as she grazed over his belly button, causing his erection to swell even more.

Buffy tore her lips away from his mouth, and began a new attack on his neck. Spike arched slightly off the ground as she nipped at his jugular while rubbing her center against him. He slowly moved his hands to her small ass, and began kneading it in time with her gyrations.

The friction was almost too much for her; she needed him NOW. Buffy rose up, so she was now sitting across his pelvis. Spike groaned as he felt run her fingernails across his jean-clad erection, before unfastening his fly. She quickly removed him from the constraints of his pants, before lying flat against his body once more. They kissed hungrily, neither able to keep their eyes open, as Buffy held his cock firmly in one hand, and pulled aside her shorts with the other. Spike's hands tangled into her long blonde hair and gently massaged her scalp. Buffy broke off the kiss, and rested her forehead to his. They both gulped for air, and squeezed their eyes closed, as she brought him to her entrance.

The moment the head of his penis probed her opening, two pairs of eyes darted open, realizing for the first time what was happening. Both Buffy and Spike froze, and stared at each other for a few moments before breaking away.

Buffy scrambled off of him, and pulled her shorts back into place. She took a few steps away from him, and crossed her arms beneath her breasts protectively.

Meanwhile, Spike jumped up and tucked himself back into his pants, before zipping up quickly. He bolted to the other side of the duster, away from Buffy, trying to regain control over his traitorous body.

Buffy stared at the ground and let out a nervous giggle. I don't think friends do THAT.

Spike chuckled and shook his head. Definitely not. . .

They gazed at each other longingly, before Buffy finally turned her eyes back to the ground. So . . .we should try . . .you know . . .being friends for awhile. Spike nodded, knowing she was right. Try to learn how to relate to each other WITHOUT the orgasms, she lifted her eyes to his and gave him a small smile, make it about US for awhile.

Spike's face broke into a huge grin at her words – remembering that he had used them once before. Granted, it would be hell not touching her, but if this meant that she wanted to try to develop something deeper between them, then it was a sacrifice he was willing to make. I think I can manage that, Spike said as he leaned over to collect his duster. He draped the black leather coat over his left arm before walking towards Revello.

Where are you going? Buffy asked in confusion, as he walked away from her.

He stopped and turned to face her. Friends are allowed to walk each other home, right? He offered her his elbow, and she giggled, before running over to loop her arm through his.

Less than 30 seconds later they reached her back steps.

So I guess this is good night, she said as she pointed to the door, letting her eyes fall ever so briefly over his lips.

He quickly stuck out his hand, and she shook it, trying to ignore the sparks that shot through her body when he lightly brushed his thumb over the back of her hand.

she said quietly as he walked off into the night. She went to open the door only to stop when she heard the sound of footsteps approach once again. There was Spike, at the bottom of the steps, with a serious expression plastered on his handsome face.

We're not friends, he said simply.

Buffy felt her heart drop into her stomach. What? Why?

He looked directly into her eyes, trying to convey the meaning of the words. We'll NEVER be friends.

Buffy felt her heart return to its normal position in her chest, before it began pounding wildly. I know, she whispered. They contemplated each other for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Spike watched her slip inside Revello, before heading back to The Crypt. We'll be in love till it kills us both.' He looked down at the duster draped across his arm, imagining what almost had happened atop it not five minutes earlier, not to mention what happened beneath it on the bus. We'll fight, we'll shag,' he recalled the painful words they'd shouted at each other over the last two weeks, we'll hate each other till it makes us quiver, but we'll never be friends.' He smiled sadly at the cabins as he passed by, watching as flashlights flickered behind darkened windows. Real love isn't brains, children, it's blood - screaming inside you to work its will.' He reached into the pocket of his duster, and caressed the contents tenderly. I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it, he said aloud, before tucking the piece of paper back into his pocket. He had found the letter he had written to Buffy inside the pants she left at The Crypt that morning. Saying that he was surprised to discover she was carrying around his love note, would be a definite understatement. We'll never be friends, but I guess we can pretend for a little while.'