Chapter 7

That is What Best Friends Are For

Dawn moved slowly toward her sister. Buffy's hand was obscuring part of one of the pages, but Dawn silently read what seemed to be a hot interlude between Buffy and a mystery man. When Dawn got to the part that let her know that the man was Spike she couldn't help but shriek "Ahhh my." Dawn's untimely shriek brought her sister fully awake. Dawn jumped back and started to protest "I didn't see anything. Besides who wants to see your stupid book anyway. Not me I have better thing to do."

Buffy slammed the book shut and jumped up to stand in front of her sister. She had no idea how to respond to her sister. She finally said to her, "I guess you read some of it? You know it is another Buffy not me. Dawn I'll tell you what it says, but I want to read it first. Don't you understand?"

"Buffy do you think so little of me that you believe I can't tell the difference between you and some alternate? I'm not stupid." When Buffy gave her a sad embarrassed look, but said nothing, Dawn stomped out of the room and up the stairs.

Why can't Dawn understand I'm doing the best I can, Buffy thought. She decided she had to talk to her. She made her way up the stairs. There was no response from knocking on her sister's door. "Dawn please let me in."

After a few moments the door opened and Buffy quietly entered the room. "I have to get ready for school, so what ever you have to say it better be quick," Dawn uttered.

"What I've read so far are the things that Whistler marked. I haven't gotten that far, however the big difference is that she didn't meet Angel six years ago," Buffy informed her sister. She looked down at her hands and added, "She met Spike though and it seems she was taken with him, but he didn't seem to want her. I don't know why yet but he is helping her."

That peaked Dawn's attention and she asked, "Where was Drucilla?"

"That is my question too. She hasn't made an appearance in the journal yet. I don't know Dawnie. Maybe she doesn't exist there. Before you start asking a lot of questions I don't know the answer to, why don't you let me read more today and when you get home from school we can go over it together," Buffy said giving her sister a hopeful look.

Dawn smiled and gave her sister a huge hug. "Thank you Buffy."

After Dawn was off to school Buffy sat down at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and started to read more from the journal.

***

I have a date. A real date with a nice boy from school. We are going out tonight. I'm not going out with him because of Spike. Owen is a nice good-looking boy and he likes me. That is more than I can say for the horrid Spike. I'm sure I will have all kinds of wonderful things to write about when I get home. What should I wear? I want to look like I'm interested but not like a big ho. I'll get Willow to help me. That's what best friends are for.

***

My life is never simple and nothing ever turns out the way I expected. Owen and I ended up at the Bronze having a real nice time than everything just went to hell. First Spike shows up. I'm on the dance floor with Owen and we are dancing close and it is nice to have someone hold you. That was when I noticed him across the room. His eyes bore into me. Anger written upon his face. Why is he angry? He doesn't want me. I'm just business to him, nothing else. Oh my goodness he is coming my way with a very determined look.

When Spike got to us he gently asked, "May I cut in?" That was not what I was expecting. Nor was I expecting the smile he gave me.

Finally coming out of my daze I told him, "Spike I'm on a date. I really don't think this is th……." He cut me off with a raised hand and replied, "I'm not here to interrupt your date Sla…. Buffy. It's about work." He turned to Owen. "I'll only keep her a few minutes. You can understand that mate, can't you?"

Owen looked at me, "Didn't know you had a job. What kind of job do you have?"

"Haven't told the new boy about your job," Spike said with a smirk.

"Owen let me have a few minutes with Spike here. It won't take long I can assure you," I told my date giving him my most sincere smile. Owen told me he would wait for me at the table.

As I turned I felt strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me flush against his body. I tried to push him away, but he held me tight and whispered in my ear, "We have business luv. But if you're afraid to dance with me or be this close to me maybe we should conduct our business at your table. I'm sure the new boyfriend wouldn't mind."

"We have no business. We have nothing," I told him.

"I thought your business was being the chosen one. Saving the world and all that rot? Well, let me tell you something baby, while you're here playing with that boy your enemies are rising the Anointed One. I hear he will cause problems for you. Don't you think you should at least be out there trying to stop it? Isn't that what you hero types are suppose to do?" he said as his hands caressed my back.

I pushed him away from me and said, "I know all about the Anointed One. As a matter of fact, my watcher is on it right now. If he needs me he'll beep. As far as being out on a date, you're the one that told me to find a nice schoolboy, so I did."

He glared at me distaste and anger evident in his facial expressions and his body language. "You are the most annoying, infuriating, stubborn woman I've ever met. I don't know why I bother."

"Why do you bother? Is it some revenge thing for you? Did vampires kill someone you loved? Because I for one do not understand why you are involved" I told him as I started to turn away and exit the dance floor.

He grabbed my arm and spun me around. Devouring eyes entrapped mine and he declared, "It is my affair why I'm doing it. You should just be glad that I am. Because as long as I do you might get to stay alive. Slayers don't exactly have a long shelf life."

Of all the things he could have said to me that one hit home with such force that tears started to form in my eyes. "You don't think I know that," I said fighting back the tears with all I had. My voice was a little shaky as I continued, "I… I just want to have a date. Something normal. Is that so much to ask?" I looked up at him with pleading tear filled eyes.

His expression softened as looked at me. His left hand found its way to my shoulder and he lightly squeezed it. "Buffy you will never get to be a normal girl," he told me.

"It's not fair. I just want some of the things a normal girl has," I voiced.

"Maybe if you get to be as old as me, you'll understand that life isn't fair," he informed me as he guided me to my table and my date.

Before Spike had a chance to make an exit Xander and Willow came storming in. The next thing I know I'm off to stop the Anointed One and help Giles. Things were still going down hill fast. After I thought I ditched both Spike and Owen, wouldn't you know it they both showed up at the funeral home? Owen was trying to play hero and nearly got himself killed. Spike helped me killed the Anointed One. Or should I say the vampire that I thought was the Anointed One.

It was strange Giles and Spike talking all Britishy stuff, when I interrupt to say, "At least we don't have to worry about the Anointed One. You can chalk another one up for the good guys. Something good came out of tonight. If I just keep telling myself that, it won't be so bad, because I'll probably never get another date as long as I live."

Spike interrupted to say, "That wasn't the Anointed One. A decoy more than likely."

This just made my day, because it meant the Anointed One was still out there. Xander and Willow got Owen home ok and Spike drove me home. It was a silent drive neither of us knowing what to say. He parked the car in front of my house and followed me to my door.

"You know that boy will end up dead if he keeps dating you? He doesn't know rot about survival. He won't make it in your world " Spike informed me with sincerity in his voice.

I stopped and turned to see his face and quietly answered "I know that. The others they know the score. But, I doubt I have to worry about him asking me out again." I paused than continued, "Spike I think we should say goodnight now. For most people this night would have been considered a wild out of this world experience, but not for me. It was just another day in the crazy world of the Slayer."

"What if I'm not ready to say goodnight?" he said with a sexy grin that could melt an iceberg.

"No more business for tonight. I'm going in and take a shower than go to bed." At the mention of a shower and bed his eyes lit up and his breathing increased.

"No business, luv," as his lips found mine. My heart was pounding and I was lost. I don't understand how he can turn me into Jell-O with a simple kiss. I take that back a kiss from him is anything but simple.

I'm not sure how long it took me to come to my senses enough to remember that this man had told me he wasn't available. I broke the kiss and pushed him away. "You're not available. That is what you told me. You said we would never be lovers."

Spike looked at me hunger burning in his eyes. "I was wrong. I'm a fool to want you, because I know you're trouble. It was only suppose to be business." His hands were now playing havoc with my senses as they moved over my body. "I didn't like you being with that boy. I wanted to pull him away from you and scream, keep your bloody hands off my girl."

"Your girl. You were jealous?" I asked a little reluctantly.

"I shouldn't, but yes I bloody well was" he said with mischief in his beautiful azure eyes.

His lips found mine again and the world around me fell away. There was just he and I and the world of sensation I found in his arms, that was until I heard a high-pitched "I'm telling mom your making out with boys on the front porch."

It was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on my head. I turned to look at the annoying pain I have the misfortune to call a sister. "Dawn you were spying on me. How dare you. I'm telling mom you're spying. And it wasn't boys it was one boy. So there."

That was when Spike tried to get a word in as Dawn and I tossed insults back and forth. "Ahhh it's man not boy. Let's get that part straight" I heard him say between Dawn's denial of spying and her claiming to have better things to do than see her sister suck face.

After Dawn stomped off into the house I wanted to die. What would Spike think? She had just messed up the perfect moment. That was when I heard him laugh. He pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head than asked me, "How old is she?" I told him nine. He smiled and told me to wait until she was fourteen, it would get worse. He pulled out a card and pen and wrote down his phone number.

I have the most gorgeous, sexy boyfriend in the world. Than it hit me I don't know his last name. Note to self. Ask boyfriend his name.

***

Buffy was giggling as Willow entered the kitchen. Willow took one look at Buffy and the journal and said, "I'm sorry your busy I'll leave."

"Willow please don't go. Dawn and I had a little talk this morning and when she gets home from school we're going to go over what the journal says together. I was wondering if you would like to join us?" Buffy implored.

"Really?" Willow hoped.

"What are best friends for?" Buffy said smiling at her friend.