Buffy glanced up at the clock and began scribbling even faster, her writing barely legible. As the buzzer sounded behind her, she crossed her last t and dropped the pen, flexing her hand with a grin forming on her face. She looked out of the corner of her eye at Xander, still frantically scribbling away at his paper, the panicked look he had been growing over the past month set firmly on his face.

She reached out he leg and kicked him as the supervisor wandered up the aisle towards them. Xander nodded his thanks as he placed his pen down, mimicking the actions of his surrounding class-mates, and flexing and massaging his fingers.

The main supervisor stood from the desk where he had been watching the students from under his thick, scraggy eyebrows. 'You may check that your name has been written on every sheet of paper. Place them in three piles on your desk and silently leave the room. I must remind you that you are still under exam conditions until.'

Buffy stifled a yawn and glanced at her watch. The exam had taken longer than she had thought, and she didn't want to miss having good-bye coffee with the rest of her friends. They were all leaving tomorrow, to stay at a retreat in Canada for a week.

All except Buffy.

She had spent all the money that she had earned at the Magic Box of Coffee long before they had planned the holiday and her mother had refused to lend her the money, reminding Buffy that if she was on the retreat then she had no way of earning the money to pay her back. So Buffy was all set for a lonely three weeks full of serving coffee.

Oh well, she mused. At least it's away from here and studying. I doubt it can get any harder and this is just first.

'.now you may go, quietly.'

Buffy sprang from her seat, only to find that her legs had fallen asleep and she swayed, to be caught by Xander before she crashed into her desk. Smiling gratefully, she put her arm around his waist and staggered from the room.

The gang was waiting for them outside, complete with Faith and Dawn, the two other girls who shared the Top Floor, as they had affectionately dubbed the.well.top floor.

When Xander saw Anya he released Buffy's waist quickly, causing her to stagger around until she grabbed a hold of Oz and Willow who reached out to steady her, the former's face stoic as usual and the latter's torn between annoyance and amusement at Xander's little crush on the straight-A economics student.

They made their way to the cafeteria, the feeling gradually returning to Buffy's legs. She sat down on red faux velvet couch in the corner as Dawn and Willow went to order the coffee. Faith plonked herself down on the couch next to Buffy, tucking her legs up under her.

'So, B, how d'ya think ya went?'

Buffy sighed, 'I'm not sure, I don't really wanna think about it 'till we get back.'

'Hey, speaking of, that spare room on the Top Floor is taken. We're getting a new roomie.'

Buffy turned her head in Faith direction. 'Wow, I though that room needed to be fixed up, it's all crumbly.'

Willow handed Buffy her coffee and settled herself by Oz's feet, disregarding the spare seat next to him. 'What's happening?'

'Faith thinks that some unfortunate person is going to live in that room next to the kitchen.' Anya replied, taking a sip of her iced vanilla latte.

'Yeah?'

Tara looked up, 'Yeah, dad said that they are gonna fix it up while we're gone.'

'While we're gone.' Buffy unconsciously echoed.

She slumped back, nursing her mug, losing herself in the blessed realm of nothing; something she hadn't done in months. She had been so determined to do well in these exams that she had reached a point where even her dreams had been filled with dates and formulae.

'Deep thoughts Buff?' Xander questioned with a grin.

'Nope,' she grinned back. 'No thoughts at all. Wonderful, wonderful world of no thoughts and coffee and.shit.'

'Huh? Shit? How is that good?'

'No, no! BP alert BP alert! Code red code red. Shit, shit, shit! What a way to ruin my last.Riley! Hi, how are you?'

'Hey Buffy,' Riley sat down on the spare seat and the entire group glared at Willow who hid her face in her hands.

'So.' he smiled.

'So.' she replied, trying to remember how many conversations they had had over the past six months consisting of that word, repeated over and over again. Anya began tapping her foot against her chair and Faith squirmed uncomfortably. Xander stared up into space, humming restlessly and Dawn stared into her cup, wincing at the silence.

'So.' Riley tried again.

'U-huh,' Buffy replied.

'.'

'Um, doing anything in the next three weeks.'

'Yep,'

'Going away?'

'Nope.'

'What are ya gonna do?'

'Work.'

'Ah, bummer.'

'Yep.'

'Oh God,' Faith groaned into her mug.

'What?' Riley looked at her concern.'

Buffy kicked her, albeit half-heartedly and shook her head as Faith opened her mouth, an evil glint in her eyes.

'Nothing, just a conversation piece.'

'Interesting.'

'Not really.'

Silence fell again and Buffy stared into her now empty mug, wishing she could shrink and crawl into it and hide until he left.

'So,' Riley tried again.

Anya slammed her mug down. 'If you say that fucking word once more in my presence I swear to God I will wreak vengence upon you and remove your testicles slowly and painfully.

Buffy bit her lip to keep her from giggling at Rileys bemused expression.

'Ah, right, I'll remember that.'

'Anyway,' he continued. 'I was wondering if, since you aren't going anywhere you might wanna hook up at some point.

Buffy's head jerked up. 'Er.'

Oz suddenly stood. 'Buffy, packing.'

'Huh?'

'Packing, you haven't and you need to.'

Buffy stared at him like he had grown two heads, The entire Top Floor had been laughing at her for having most of her packing done two weeks before and then having to unpack every time she needed something.

Suddenly something in her fuzzy mind clicked, 'Oh yeah, silly me. So much studying and no packing, gotta run.'

She grabbed Oz's arm and dragged him out of the cafeteria.

Riley stared after her and turned to Willow. 'Isn't he your boyfriend?'

'Yep,'

'So why is he running off to help her pack?'

'I lend him out sometimes when I need extra cash.'

'Oh.'

'Oh for God's sake! Now she has gone and we are stuck here with you for no good reason.' Six heads whipped around to stare at Anya who shrugged. 'What?'

********************

Buffy staggered out of Oz's van when it pulled up in front of her house, still chuckling. 'Anya! That's horrible. The poor guy, you're gonna give him a complex. I heard about what you did to him when he liked Kendra.'

'Hey! He deserved it.' Anya jumped out after her followed by Willow, Tara and Xander. Oz remained at the wheel.

'Oh, I'm gonna miss you guys.' Buffy said with a sniffle. 'Try not to have to much fun without me.'

'Aw, sweetie, we could never have to much fun without you,' Tara reassured her with a hug.

Xander bent to crush her tiny frame with his arms. 'Although, Ahn, nearly makes up for it.'

'Hey!' She swatted him away.

He stepped back and held his hands up in mock surrender. 'I said nearly, as in not completely.'

'Did you hear that?' Willow squealed. 'It's taken him until college, but he's finally on to medium sized words.'

'Hey!' Xander took a swipe at her. 'Completely isn't a medium word.'

'Oh, my mistake. Sorry guys, false alarm. He's still on the wittle words.'

Buffy rolled her eyes as the two chased each other up the road and picked up her bags. She kissed Anya and Tara and smiled at Oz who nodded back.

She dragged her bag from the back of the van. 'Okay, guys. I guess you are off to have lotsa fun without me. Make sure you call me.'

She said the last bit looking hard and Willow and then Oz, she knew that Xander and Anya would be having too much fun to remember she existed. With a last wave to Tara, she turned and the van rumbled off.

***************

Buffy collapsed into her old bed. She turned over and snuggled down, savouring the comfort and familiarity of the wooden structure.

A knock sounded at her door and she smiled, 'come in, mom.'

'Just came to tuck my little girl in. I've missed her.'

'Awwww, that's so sweet.'

Joyce smoothed a strand of hair away from her daughters face. 'So, what are you doing tomorrow? I was going to offer to take you shopping, but an overdue order should be arriving at the gallery and I don't trust anyone but me touching it.'

'Nah, that's ok. I heard from Giles, and he wants me to start work right away tomorrow, some new person that he wants me to help train.'

'All right honey, you'd better get some sleep then. I'll make you a nice welcome home breakfast tomorrow and we will go out to eat tomorrow. I will brave whatever awful place you want me to eat in.'

Buffy chuckled. 'I won't choose any place too.young and hip for you.'

'Hey,' she gently swatted Buffy's arm. 'Are you saying I'm passed it?'

'Noooo, just that you are nearing the top of that hill.'

'Goodnight Buffy.'

'Night, mom.'

*******************

At 8:30 the next morning Buffy bounced into the Magic Box of Coffee.

'Giiiiiles! Giiilllesssss! Where are you Giles?'

'Dear Lord! What is that bloody awful racke- Buffy?'

'Yep!' Buffy grinned as she gave him a hug. 'It's me. All here and ready to work.'

'Er, well,' stuttered Giles, unaccustomed to public displays of affection and early morning energy from his staff. 'That's, that's er.good.'

Buffy collapsed into a chair in front of the counter. 'That constitutes as being happy and cheerful for work doesn't it?'

'Er, y-yes I'd say so.'

Buffy raised her hands from her arms. 'Good, then you can tell mom, when she checks that I was happy and cheerful when I arrived. Something about creating a good impression. I told her that you already knew me; and making with the happy happy joy joy impressions wasn't going to change anything, but she made me.and I know I'm rambling but tiny amount of awake and coherency having Buffy was lost in that early morning bouncy Buffy act and I refuse to do anything until you dose me with caffeine.'

'Er, right then. I'll be sure to pass that on to your mother. The coffee is in the pot over there, and when have become.er.awake and coherency having.I want you to meet our new member of the staff. I have put you in charge of training him.'

'Whatever, Giles,' came muffled from under Buffy's arms. 'Just give me a moment to move.'

She staggered to her feet and dragged herself over to the bench where a pot of coffee was steaming. She poured herself a cup and took both it and the pot over to the office where she sank down into her favourite old chair, planning o make the most of the twenty minutes or so that she had before she Magic Box opened. Unfortunately the chair was already occupied.

'Bloody, fucking hell!' came a startled yell from below her, causing her to leap to her feet. Effectively spilling the entire contents of her cup and the coffee pot over her and the person who was already in the chair.

'What in the bleeding name of everything holy and unholy are you doing, you dozy bint?'

Buffy stood stupidly, holding the now empty cup and dripping coffee pot and staring at the furious figure on the chair.

'Huh?'

'Oh, what a bleedin' wonderful way to start my morning in this hellhole. Having coffee dumped on me by a dumb blonde.'

'Hey! I am not a dumb blonde.'

'Well, what the 'ell did you think you were doing?'

'I, I just didn't realise there was anyone here.'

'I just didn't realise there was anyone here' the platinum blonde mimicked in a high-pitched voice. 'Did you consider actually lookin?'

'I just, early morning.needed coffee. Still half asleep.and I can safely say I didn't expect to find someone asleep on my chair.'

'Your chair? When did this become your chair? Last I knew it was old Rupes chair.'

'Rupes? Oh, you mean Giles, who would call him Rupes?'

At that moment said Rupert entered the office, polishing his glasses. 'Oh, Buffy, good. I wanted to talk to you about your trainee today before he arrives. His name is William and he.er.is already here. Giles affixed his glasses firmly to his nose as 'Well, I'll do the introductions now. Buffy, this is William, William this is Buffy. Buffy is the daughter of my old friend Joyce and on holiday from university. William is the son of my old and departed colleague Quintin.and what are you doing here, William? I didn't see you come in and.Good Lord, why are you all wet?'

'I'm here because I got kicked outta my apartment, I'm wet, cuz this stupid cow sat on me and spilt coffee all over me an' for the last bleeding time, it's Spike!'

Buffy's eyebrows drew together in confusion, 'what's Spike?'

'I am,'

Buffy stifled a chuckle. 'Well, pleased to meet you 'Spike".

'Wish I could say the same.'

'Look, I'm sorry. But how was I to know that some strange guy would be sitting on a chair when he isn't even supposed to be here.'

Giles cleared his throat, 'As riveting as this conversation is, we do have a shop to open. Buffy, you will be showing Willi.oh, very well Spike then, how everything works. You can start him on the serving and work him up to making the coffee. Spike, Buffy is my most experienced employee, pay attention to her and follow her lead.'

******************

'No, you press that button, then that one and the 'till should open.and you take the money.that's it.thank you ma'am. Then you type in the money they give you. No! She gave you $20 and you typed in $200, there you press that button if you make a mistake. Ok, $20 and that amount in the top corner is the change, yep, that's it. Sorry about this ma'am, trainee - it's his first day.'

'Do you have to do that?' He growled under his breath as Buffy smiled at the next customer.

Buffy looked at the bleached blonde. 'What?'

'Tellin' them that I'm a bleeding trainee.'

'A caramel latte with cream, yes that will be $3.50, thank-you sir, if you wait up there then it shouldn't be a moment.'

Seeing that the line had come to an end Buffy turned to face Spike. 'But you are a trainee.why can't I tell them that?'

A light blush rose to Spikes cheeks. 'It's just so.pathetic. Please excuse this loser, he doesn't know what he's doing.'

Buffy chuckled. 'Awww, are we damaging wittle Spikey's ego? I though it would have been damaged enough.'

'What's that s'posed to mean?'

At that moment Giles came up to the pair. 'You two can take a break now, be back in half an hour.'

'Thanks, Giles.' Buffy flashed him a quick grin as she untied her apron and made her way out the back, Spike hot on her heels.

'What is that supposed to mean?'

'What is what supposed to mean. Oh, just that with that bleach and leather thing happening you must have had lotsa comments about your twenty year old Billy Idol wannabe look.'

'What's wrong with the way I look?' Buffy ran her eyes up and down his body, taking in his lean, muscular frame clad in black jeans and a fitted black shirt. *Hmmmm, he does have a nice body and those eyes are kinda.NO! Bad Buffy! No lusting after the bleached British blonde*

Spike smirked as she didn't answer, her eyes getting a slightly glazed look to them. 'Like what you see, luv?'

'Huh? What? NO! Geez, arrogant much?'

'Ooooooh, big words from the little dumb bottled blonde.'

Buffy stared at him in fury. She had been battling the dumb blonde stereotype since she had been in high school. It hadn't helped that she hadn't been the smartest student in the world and being best friends with the brain of the year didn't do much to make her look smarter. Now that she was in university she had hoped that the barbs would finally stop, she had chosen subjects that she was good at and she figured that this age people would be more mature than kids in high-school. She narrowed her eyes at the taller man in front of her, fighting the despair that she would be forever known as the dumb blonde.

'Hey Mr. Hypocrite. Have you looked in the mirror lately? Although with that vampire thing happening you may not have a reflection. Interesting theory.have you checked the mirror lately? I shouldn't think so.you might change your fucking pathetic Billy Idol wannabe look if you did. You do know that he went out of fashion twenty years ago don't you?

Seeing that Spike looked slightly put off by this tiny blonde ball of fury she continued while she had the advantage. '

Or maybe you are one of those guys who think they look good when actually they look like shit. Do you have a girlfriend? No, I didn't think so.not looking like that, I don't know anyone who would have you, not to take you seriously anyway and.Oh God.'

She stopped her ranting as she saw tears welling up in the angry blonde's eyes. The fury and grief on his face told her that she had crossed some invisible line.

'Oh God, Spike.I didn't mean. just got carried away.it was the dumb blode call, I've always been sensitive.Oh shit, I am so sorry.'

'Fuck you, bitch!' He blinked rapidly and his hand flashed up to roughly brush away a tear that had escaped his eye.

Buffy took a step back as he moved towards her, his eyes glittering in rage.

'Spike, I, I am so sorr.'

'Save it for someone who cares.' With a last furious glance in her direction he stormed out the front.

*************

The rest of the day was so busy that Buffy didn't have a chance to talk to Spike who was studiously ignoring her, at the end of the shift as she emptied the washing up water down the sink she looked up to see his shrug on a black leather duster and disappear out the door.

'Shit!'

Giles head sprang up. 'Buffy?'

'Oh, sorry, Giles. Hmmm, maybe you can help me. Spike and I had a fight and I said something.I'm not sure what it was exactly, but he went crazy. Is there anything that I shouldn't talk about in front of him, or say to him, cuz angry Spike is uber scary.'

'Ummm, no I don't think.w-wait a minute, I think there might have been a problem back in England, but I'm not sure what. He won't talk much about it.'

'Dammit, well I'll apologise again tomorrow. I'm gonna go now, Giles. I gotta get home, cuz mom and I are going out tonight.'

'Y-yes, well do have fun.'

'See ya tomorrow, Giles.'

'Goodnight, Buffy.'

**********

'Wow, this place is amazing.' Buffy looked around in awe at the restaurant that she was sitting in. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling over the tables. The carpet was a deep red and the walls were a pale yellow and seemed to flicker from the light of the candles on the table.

'I though you would like it. It opened after you left and I was just dying to come here, but I thought I would wait until I had a good enough offer.'

Buffy opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off when her mother continued, 'but none came along so I had to settle for you.'

'Awwww, and here was I thinking that you wanted to spend time with your only daughter.'

They were cut off as a waiter handed them their menus. Buffy bent her head to read it, her hair falling over her face, effectively hiding it from view.

'Would you ladies care for any drinks while you're lookin' over the menus.'

*Shit* thought Buffy as she recognised the British accent.

'Yes, please. I'd like a glass of white wine please,' replied Joyce pleasantly.

'And for yo.bloody hell.'

Buffy smiled weakly up at Spike, whose mouth was hanging open.

'Um, hey, you work here too huh? I'd just like a diet soda.'

'Huh?' Spike seemed to have lost the flow, 'Oh, soda yeah. Hang on, be back in a jiff,'

Joyce looked curiously after the departing figure to Buffy, whose head was in her hands.

'Do you know that young man, Buffy?'

She nodded, 'Kinda, he is the guy I'm training at the Magic Box, but we got off to a kinda rough start, barely avoiding blood spillage.'

'Oh, what a shame, he seems like a nice boy. What happened?'

Buffy though furiously, not wanting to talk about Spike crying. 'Um, I kinda sat on him and spilt coffee on him and he called me a dumb blonde.'

Joyce winced, feeling sorry for the poor unsuspecting boy.

A different waiter placed their drinks in front of them and they placed their orders. Buffy selecting a pasta dish that she couldn't pronounce while Joyce opted for a soup.

Buffy saw Spike crossing the room, moving to where she saw a sign indication the restrooms and the staff only area.

'I've gotta go to the bathroom, be back in a minute.' She got up and walked towards the bathroom, at the last minute veering off out the other door.

She found herself in a back alley and cautiously made her way around to where she could here a masculine voice. She ducked back as she heard Spike talking to someone.

**************

After storming out of the Magic Box, Spike had gone back to his apartment to pick up his belongings. After being kicked out of the apartment for picking fights with the staff, Giles had offered him a room at his house if he agreed to help pay the bills and split the grocery costs.

Now he paced around the room that Giles had given him. He felt like punching something, but knew that putting a hole in the wall on his first night would not be a good way to endear himself to his host.

That stupid bint. Who the hell was she to say those things. He like the way he looked. He knew it was different, but that made him happy, he had never been one to follow the crowd and it had been for Dru..

It wasn't his fault that Dru had left.

Spike shook his head as he sank to the floor, leaning his head on his arms, which balanced on his knees.

Alright, it was his fault. He hadn't been enough of a man for her. He had tried to change. He had bleached his hair, he had started dressing in black and listening to punk music. He had completely changed who he was just for her. And while he had liked these new changes, they hadn't been enough for Dru.

He knew he didn't deserve her, that she was so much better than him that he didn't deserve to even look at her. She had reminded him of that frequently.

Then, on their one-year anniversary he had gone to her flat to surprise her and found her in bed with another man. Two other men actually.

Spike shut his eyes as he remembered her sandwiched between the two, her head thrown back in ecstacy. Reaching blindly into the closest box he pulled out a bottle and drained the last remnants.

'Fuck!' that was his last bottle.

Glancing at his watch he knew that he didn't have time to buy another one, he had to get to his night job.

************

'Hey, Travers!'

Spike looked up, to see the manager bearing down on him. He stood quickly.

'Table four is occupied, and if I recall correctly that is one of your tables.'

'Yeah, it is.'

'Then what are you doing smoking out here? Get inside and serve if you want to keep this job.'

Spike ground out his cigarette with his heel and pulled a notebook and pen out of his pocket, walking back inside.

He headed to the table in question, well, it was only two women, and they couldn't order much. He grabbed two menus and placed them on the table.

'Would you ladies care for any drinks while you're lookin' over the menus.' He smiled at the older woman and wrote down her order and turned to the younger one.

'And for yo.bloody hell.' Looking up at him, looking like she had been caught with her fingers in the cookie jar was Buffy.

She was wearing a dark red, low cut top and while he couldn't see what she was wearing on her lower half he had to swallow down the dryness that had invaded his mouth. Well! She wasn't a bad lookin' bint out of uniform. Her hair was gently curled and cascaded half way down her back. Her eyes looked larger than they had at the coffee house and her lips were full and red with a touch of gloss.

Pity she was such a bitch, he might have tried chatting her up, another time and another place.

He noticed with slight satisfaction that she sounded uncomfortable and her voice wavered slightly as she ordered her drink. His eyes, however were firmly attached to those lips, the way they formed words, and the way her little pink tongue darted out to lick them in nervousness.

Huh?' He pulled himself together with an effort.

*Get a hold of yourself. This is Buffy, the bitchy chit from the Magic Box, the one who was such a cow about Dru*

The thought of Dru roused him from his thoughts 'Oh, soda yeah. Hang on, be back in a jiff,'

Making his way back to the kitchen he pulled aside on of the other waiters. 'Larry, mate. How do you feel about swappin table four with me. I know the chit and we don't get on, don't wanna start a fight in the middle of the ev'nin. Don' think our esteemed manager would appreciate it.'

Thanking the football player profusely he went out the back to pour some drinks.

'Hey, Travers,' one of chefs pulled him to one side. 'There's a chick out the back asking for ya.'

'Huh?'

'Yeah, she said it was important. Kinda hot, and British like you.'

'Fuck!' Spike knew it could only be one person. 'Ok, I'll be back in five.'

He walked towards the back of the restaurant, not noticing the small blonde slip out after him.

He lit a cigarette and looked around. 'Dru.where are you, luv?'