***Author's Note*** I'm SOOOOOO sorry for taking so long with putting up chapter four guys! Family problems in RL have kept me pretty busy and pre-occupied. I promise to work harder to get the next chapter up in a timely fashion! Please keep R&Ring. that is my life's blood!

Chapter 4 - My Hero?

Buffy woke up with Willow the next morning so that they could go grab breakfast together in the cafeteria. Then Willow was off to class and Buffy headed off to find the campus book store. She needed a bunch of school supplies, as well as the requisite textbooks, which she didn't realize until she got there of course. After checking out she was weighed down with textbooks, binders, loose-leaf paper, pens, markers, the classic dry erase board and a few other odds and ends. It was a balancing act to say the least.

"Need a hand, pet?" She spun around, almost dropping everything in the process. He slid on that cocky grin of his.

"Oh! Uhmm." She looked down at the overfull bags and her tan arms which were already starting to quake from the weight. "Actually?" She smiled gratefully as he took the two heaviest bags and easily hoisted them over his shoulders.

"Where to?"

"Stevenson Hall." He nodded and they fell in step beside eachother.

"Is this how I'm always going to find you, luv? All damsel in distress like?"

"I was SO not in distress," she defended herself. He raised his scarred eyebrow. "I wasn't! I coulda made it back.. Eventually."

"Sure pet. So, how do you feel like repaying me for this second rescue? Dinner tonite perhaps?"

"I'm sorry," she replied, and she actually was, "but I can't. I'm seeing someone."

"Already? It's the second day of your first year. You move kinda fast."

"Ha, ha," she replied, slightly irritated at her insinuation of her being easy. "We've been together for three years. He's a sophomore here."

"Followed the boy, did you? Well, good for you." She forced a smile onto her llips. He could tell that she was getting annoyed, which made his smirk return. A girl who wasn't trying to stick to him like glue, and not only that, she almost seemed eager to get AWAY from him. This was definitely new territory.

And for her as well. She hadn't been hit on by anybody since she'd started going out with Riley. Everyone in their home town knew that they were together, and the first guy to try his luck with her was severely beaten, as if a message to the rest to stay away from her. Apparently this guy didn't know Riley or of his violent reputation.

"Do you have a name?" Buffy asked him, "of should I just refer to you as Billy Idol?"

"Oooh. feeling witty now, are we? The name's Will, but everyone calls me Spike."

"Like, the dog?" His eyes narrowed at her comeback.

"No." he growled. "And what about you?"

"Buffy." He laughed.

"Buffy? That's a name?" Now it was her turn to scowl.

"As a matter of fact, it is. It's short for Elizabeth."

"Then why don't you go by Liz like a normal girl?" She sighed in frustration.

"It's a long unexciting story. I wouldn't want to bore you to death."

"Try me.." He let the words roll off of his tongue almost as if he were purring. It sent a shiver up her spine.

"Okay, fine." she said, shaking off the sensation. "When I was little, my grandpa used to call me Bethie, but I couldn't pronounce the T-H so well, so it sorta came out like Beffy, then grew into Buffy, and it just sorta stuck." She could see that he was about to laugh. "Shut up, you asked."

"No, no luv. I think it's cute." She rolled her eyes.

"Sure, and what about you? Where'd Spike come from?"

"You don't wanna know," he told her, making it sound all dangerous. She only shrugged.

"Whatever. I was just trying to continue on with the small talk." The walked the rest of the way to her dorm in silence. "Well, thanks for the help." she said, reaching for the bags he'd been carrying.

"What's your rush to get rid of me?" he asked, pushing past her through the open door into her room.

"Why don't you come on in." she said, following him in and dropping her bags next to her desk at the foot of her bed.

"Hey Buffy, who's your friend?" Buffy winced. Cordelia had finally made it back from her frat party.

"Cordelia," she said through a strained smile, "this is Spike. Spike, Cordelia."

"Pleasure to meet you, luv." Cordelia flashed him her million dollar smile.

"Likewise." Spike grinned, knowing that if he couldn't get Buffy, he'd surely have the brunette in his bed by the weekend. Only thing was, he like the challenge that the blonde provided, his only challenge so far after coming to the states. Something about his accent, looks or attitude seemed to pull them all right in like flies to a jar of honey. But he wasn't complaining, he'd just always longed for someone he'd actually have to pursue to get them. Here was his chance.

"Well, if you don't mind, I really do have to get going to class." Buffy said, gathering the books and supplies she needed for Psych 101 and hoping that he wouldn't insist on joining her.

"Don't mind at all actually, had to get going myself. Places t'go, people t'see."

"Well, thanks again then, and I guess I'll see you later Cordelia."

"Yeah," the brunette replied, brushing her off. "It was nice meeting you, Spike."

"Don't worry, pet. I'll be seeing you again, I'm sure." Cordelia looked star struck, but her composure held as she responded with a bright smile, her eyes twinkling. "And to you, until I save you for the third time, this is goodbye." He bobbed his eyebrows, and then, just as the night before, he turned, his long leather duster swinging behind him, and he was gone. Buffy rolled her eyes, waved to Cordelia, and was off to class. Her own hero. Yay! Not.. It was only nine thirty in the morning and she was already tired.

***Author's Note*** Thanks for reading again guys! Stay tuned for Chapter 5 - Busted. Please keep the reviews coming, and I'll see you again next week. Ciao!