Disclaimer: I don't own BtVS, but if I did it wouldn't be over now!

AN: Sorry for the long delay, schools ending soon and my teachers feel the need to pile on as much homework as they possible can. *Groans*

Previously: Buffy and Spike go to the movies, and have to leave early because they break one of the seats . . . Anya sees Spike and Buffy dancing, but is okay with it, complimenting Buffy on her choice of guys.

Truth or Dare

Chapter 11: Bad Grades and a Pool Table

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Buffy frowned at the C's and D's dotting her report card.

"How'd you do?" Willow asked bouncily. "I did really well, almost strait A's! I mean, I have a few B's but it's the first semester of college, and that's supposed to be really hard-"

The redhead noticed the disappointment of Buffy's face, and she bit her lip worriedly.

"You didn't do very well, did you." She assumed.

Buffy silently handed Willow her grades as the bell for end of school rang.

"Don't worry." Willow said, trying to comfort her friend. "It's only the first semester, I'm sure you'll do better next time. You just have to get used to the whole college thing is all."

"I guess you're right . . ."

"How about we have a girls night! We can eat ice cream, watch bad movies, complain about boys and stuff."

"Thanks Willow." Buffy said, plastering a smile on her face. "But I just feel like being alone tonight."

"Alright sweetie. But I'll be at the dorm tonight if you want to talk about anything."

"Thanks."

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"Xander!" Willow called, catching up to the man walking down the street.

He stopped, greeting her with a smile. "Hey Willow, what's up?"

"It's Buffy's birthday on Saturday, we're going to throw her a surprise party on Saturday night! You can come, right?"

"Of course! Where is it?"

"Joyce's house. It'll just be you, me, Giles, Joyce, Tara, and you can bring Anya."

"I'll be there." Xander replied, and the two friends walked farther down the street.

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It was dark as Buffy entered The Bronze, surrounded by throngs of people. How could you live in a place as small as Sunnydale and not know so many people?

She sat down at the bar to order a coke, and then changed her mind and ordered a shot of whiskey-they never carded at The Bronze.

As her pocket got lighter the world got hazier, the glass in front of her emptying and refilling God knows how many times.

Buffy never would have thought she would let herself get completely drunk just because a couple of bad grades . . . she sighed, draining another shot.

Why was it so easy for Willow? 'I should at least get some credit for saving all people so often.' Buffy thought. 'You think the professors would let me off easy because of everything I do for them!'

Not that anyone actually knew she was the slayer. "I'm under appreciated." Buffy told the man sitting a few stools away from her, one of the few left in the club.

"I know how you feel." He nodded in sympathy. "I know how to make a pretty girl like you feel appreciated."

He reached over the stools, placing a hand on her upper leg and smiling suggestively.

"I already have a boyfriend." Buffy told the man groggily, pushing his hand away. "And he has very sharp teeth."

The man laughed but turned away from her, removing his hand and ending the conversation. Buffy pushed her glass forward, awaiting another shot.

Once she started drinking it was hard to stop.

"Sorry Miss." The bartender said, placing a hand over her glass. "But we're closing."

"S' only 2:00!" Buffy protested, glad she was wearing a digital watch.

"We always close early Wednesday nights. It's the one day of the week we do so."

She mumbled about once again being under appreciated, but left the club anyway.

After all, the still reasonable part of her brain argued, Willow's going to be worried, and you don't want to keep her up all night.

'You forgot to patrol.' A part of her mind that sounded remarkably like Giles reminded her. Never mind that she could hardly see strait, Buffy clenched her stake and headed towards the nearest graveyard.

She felt the familiar tingling on the back of her neck signaling the approach of a vampire. Something was different about this one though; it smelt so familiar . . .

"Spike!" She cried happily, throwing herself into his arms.

"What are you doin', luv?" He asked, noticing that she smelled differently than usual.

"Looking for bad things to kill."

"Sounds like fun . . . are you drunk?" He asked, smelling the alcohol on her breath.

"No!"

Spike raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"Well, only a little."

He snorted in disbelief. "C'mon, I'll walk you home. Do you want to go to my crypt or back to your dorm room?"

"Dorm, Willow's probably wondering where I am."

"Alright then." He said, wrapping a strong arm around her shoulders. "How'd you get so drunk anyhow?"

* * *

"Spike." Buffy stopped walking as they passed The Bronze. The club was closed up, windows bolted, doors locked. "Let's play pool!"

"The place is closed, luv."

"That's okay."

"C'mon, we got t' get you home."

"Just one game." She pouted.

Like he could refuse her pout. "Alright then."

He pulled a safety pin out of his duster pocket, and began picking at the lock on the door. The lock was simple, and within a few minutes he had it open.

"I'm gonna win." She told him, running over to one of the large green pool tables and arranging the colored balls.

"You wish. I'm goin' t' kick your cute lil ass."

"No way." Buffy countered, hitting the balls clumsily.

Spike picked up a stick, smirking as he hit three of the balls into their respective holes.

Buffy stuck out her tongue, once again trying and failing to hit the balls correctly.

"Looks like I'm winnin', pet." Spike commented, leaning over and aligning his next shot.

"No, I'm winning."

Spike looked up, but it was too late. The slayer had him flipped onto his back on top of the pool table. She straddled him, leaning forward so her blond hair brushed across his face. "I'm on top, so I must be winning."

He captured her lips with his, drawing her closer to him. She pressed her body against him desperately, wanting him, needing him.

And then Spike was on top again, as Buffy arched her back to let the pool balls slide out from under her. Spike pushed down and her body ground against the hard green surface as they joined, pleasure encompassing her entire being.

"Buffy . . ." He murmured, lips tasting her. "Buffy!" He screamed as the pleasure overtook him, as she overtook him.

Later-it could have been a few minutes, it could have been a few eternities- they lay panting, Spike's arms wrapped around Buffy.

"Amazing." She breathed. "You're amazing."

He answered by kissing her softly, his tongue running lightly over her lips.

"Sun's goin' t' rise in an hour or so." Spike commented after they had laid in silence for a few minutes.

"An hour?!?!" Buffy sat up quickly, dizziness overtaking her. She gripped the edge of the pool table as her vision cleared. "Willow's probably still waiting for me!"

Spike sighed. "Alright then, let's get you back."

Buffy slid down to the floor, collecting the articles of clothing she had lost.

The cold air bit at her skin as Spike closed the heavy door to the club behind them.

"Spike?"

Spike turned from the door to look at her.

"I, I think I had a little to much to drink." She collapsed, Spike catching her just before she hit the floor.

He picked her up gently; she looked so small and fragile lying in his arms. Time to take this slayer home.

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Willow turned over in her bed nervously. Buffy still wasn't back! Of course, she could handle herself, being the slayer and all, but Willow wouldn't be Willow if she wasn't worried.

When the knock sounded on the door, Willow jumped out of bed quickly. She threw open the door, which caught on the security latch and snapped shut again.

"Buffy?" She asked, the door again, this time just enough to see out of.

She was greeted with the site of Spike carrying her best friend in his arms.

"Is she all right?" Willow asked, unlatching the security chain and allowing the door to open wider. "If you hurt her . . ."

"She's fine." Spike responded. "Just a little drunk s' all. I ran into her on my way back to my crypt."

"Are you sure?" Willow looked at him suspiciously.

"I won't hurt her, Red. And she'll be fine come tomorrow, just with one hell 'f a hangover."

"Well . . . come in then." Willow said, hoping and praying Spike was telling the truth.

The vampire in question laid Buffy on her bed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

Willow watched as his fingers lingered over Buffy's face for a second before he turned and left the dorm room, closing the door behind him.

It was almost like Spike actually cared for Buffy. The way he brought her back when he could have easily given her to a demon of some sort, the way he handled her so carefully. And hadn't he said he 'won't' hurt her, not 'can't'?

Willow shook her head, it must be her imagination overreacting. Spike in love with Buffy? Like that would ever happen.

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AN: Review, please review! Reviews make we write faster, and we all want me to write faster, right? Right?