~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy groaned in frustration and threw Mr Gordo across the room. 'Auuggghhhhh.'
A head poked in the door, 'What's up?'
'Oh, hey Oz.' Buffy smiled briefly at the green-haired guitarist.
'You ok?'
Buffy sighed and flopped down on her bed. 'Yeah, it's just this stupid party. I'm being all avoidy of Riley so I said I'd go with Spike to the party and we are gonna spend the whole time fighting with each other and I'll have to stay with him the whole night so I can avoid Riley and I have nothing to wear. Life sucks.'
Oz just looked at her.
'And you can stop laughing.' Buffy said, annoyed.
'Laughing?'
'I can see your eyes doing the twinkly thingy. It may only be me and Will who can see it, but it's there.'
'Twinkles stopped.'
Buffy rolled her eyes. 'Thanks ever so.'
'No problem.'
'Are you gonna say anything helpful, or are you gonna do a Xander and be a pain in my ass?'
'Well, I can't do anything about Spike and Riley and I'm not the best person to give fashion advice. I have green hair. So I'll do the latter.'
Buffy stood, picked up a brush and held it warningly above his head.
Oz took a step backwards, 'Or I'll get Willow to help.'
'Much better plan,' agreed Buffy, lowering the brush. 'Can you get me some coffee while you're gone.'
Oz nodded and headed for the door.
'And stop doing the mental eye-roll thing as well.'
**************** A knock sounded at the door and Buffy removed her head from under her pillow. 'If that's anyone but Willow, then get the hell away from my door or I'll strangle you with my bare hands.'
'Hey, Buff. Oz said you needed some girl help and so here I am. all girly and helpy.'
'Oh, thank God. Will, this is night is doomed before it even starts. I can't avoid him all night and I'm so stressed I'm gonna take it all out on Spike and our whole truce thing will be over and that will make you sad, which will make me sad. and make me guilty. and there'll be much sad and guiltiness.'
'Hey, calm down. We'll take each step as it comes. What is the immediate, right now and in your face problem?'
Buffy looked up, pouting. 'I have nothing to wear.'
Willow rolled her eyes as she turned to the closet that was absolutely overflowing with clothing. 'Buffy, you go and have a nice relaxing shower and I'll pick something out for you to wear.'
Buffy stood reluctantly to leave, muttering as she went. 'As long as it isn't filled with nasty naked Spikeness. I've had enough of that to last me a lifetime.'
Willow bit her lip to keep from laughing as she recalled the story Buffy had blushingly told her, after Willow had found her removing everything of Spikes from the bathroom and placing it outside his bedroom door before she would have her shower.
As the door closed behind Buffy, Willow giggled as she remembered Buffy's face when she had asked her to rate Spike's body from one to ten. Buffy had refused to answer, and after Faith and Anya had informed Willow of the little encounter between the five of them in the corridor, Willow had decided to keep an close eye on her best friend and Spike. she had a feeling that Faith and Anya were closer to the mark about Buffy's feelings than she was admitting.
However, Buffy had never been open about her feelings. she was suppresso girl when it came to things like that. Willow couldn't remember the last date Buffy had gone on. She had had a crush on Angel, Willow knew that, but after Angel left town, Buffy had refused to have feelings for any other guy. although she was far from opposed to using them as eye-candy.
Willow was getting worried about her, she knew how lonely and empty she was before she found Oz, and if Buffy was feeling anything like that. well, Willow didn't really want to go there. So, if there was even a hint of something more than just friendship between Buffy and Spike she was going to push it for all it was worth.
Sighing, Willow began searching through Buffy's clothes. If she was going to push the two together, she had better start by making Buffy look absolutely perfect tonight.
****************
Buffy sat slumped on her bed as Willow added the finishing touches to her eyes.
'It's not worth all this trouble, Will's. It's only Spike who's taking me, and he's not gonna give a rats ass how I look, and making me up and whatever is only going to make Riley even more of a drooling idiot. I don't even wanna go. can't I just stay here with you guys and watch movies?'
'Buffy.' Willow paused to look her friend in the eye.
'Resolve face,' Willow gestured towards her face with the mascara wand, nearly knocking her eye out in the process.
'You are gonna go with Spike, and you are gonna ignore Riley and above all, you are gonna have fun.'
'How can you put Riley, Spike and fun in the same sentence? They do not make for fun Buffy time, they make for annoyed, scary Buffy time.'
Willow was prevented from making any further comment as a brief knock sounded at the door, before it swung open and Anya and Xander entered.
Anya's face lit up as she took in Buffy's frazzled appearance. She began to smirk and Buffy closed her eyes in frustration and mortification as Anya's explicit diatribe began.
*********************************
Oz closed the door behind him and leaned against it with a sigh. Shaking his head he pushed himself away from the door and made his way down the corridor to Buffy's room. He could hear Anya's shrill voice coming from within, and mentally steeling himself he knocked.
When there was no answer, he pushed it open to hear the last of Anya's most recent speeches.
'. . . and then you can both resolve the sexual tension with many long- overdue orgasms which, if they are at all like the ones that Xander gives me, will leave you both sated and satisfied, yet craving for more.
Oz smiled sympathetically at his extremely pale girlfriend and winced as he watched Buffy emerge from under a pillow, her face murderous.
'Um. . . Xan?'
Xander jumped around eagerly. 'Yeah. . . Oz, friend, pal, ohmyherocometorescuemebuddy.'
'Uh, yeah. Spike kinda needs some. . .'
'Whatever he wants, it's his!'
Xander bolted out of the door like a frightened rabbit, with Oz following more slowly.
'Holy bejesus, I never want to go through that again. I refuse ever to be any part of any advise giving of clothing, jewelry, conversation topics for any date, ever ever again.' Xander's arms flailed in the air and his eyes were darting to the closed door of Buffy's room like it was about to open and eat him alive.
After taking a few, melodramatic, deep breaths he turned to Oz. 'So, what does the King of Bleach of want?'
'Er. . . advice on what to wear tonight for Buffy.'
********************************
'Oh God Noooooooooooo!'
Spike paused, his head caught in the fifth shirt to try on that night as he heard his friend's cry echoing up and down the corridor.
********************************
An hour later, after much frustration from both parties, and giggling and cursing from those who moved in between different rooms to assist with accessorizing and pep-talks, they were ready to go.
Willow, whose hair was mussed from the frequent gripping of her skull, collapsed on the sofa in the TV room next to Xander.
'Blah.' She commented.
'Uh-huh, blah just about sums it up.'
Willow raised her head to look at the clock. 'Well, I was gonna make a cameo at the party, but for some unexplained reason I don't have the enthusiasm any more. You wanna get pizza?'
Xander sat up straight, rubbing his hands together 'Oooooh, Pizza! Pizza with movies?'
'Why not. . . just wait until we get those two out the door. Although, Buffy really doesn't wanna go, I don't know if we should be pushing her into this.'
'Relax, Will. It'll take time, but you should have seen Spike all worried about what he should wear, and then try and pretend he didn't care what she thought. . . and if Buffy was all stressed about that too. . .'
Willow sighed, 'That's just it, she wasn't worried about clothes to impress Spike. She was trying to make excuses so she wouldn't have to go. I hope Spike doesn't take it to personally when she decides to sit in a dark corner, by herself and do nothing for the next few hours.'
'Somethin tells me, that he probably will.'
A loud creak sounded from the corridor and Xander thumped his head against the back of the lounge. 'I have heard that squeak about 50 gazillion times more than is healthy for one day. If Spike doesn't get that damn door oiled I will rip it off myself.'
Willow raised an eyebrow. 'As you are studying carpentry and architecture, shouldn't you know how to fix it without ripping it off?'
Xander smiled goofily. 'Yeah, and I do, but from my position as one of the figures on an unemployed survey, I believe I should be paid for undertaking a task such as this.'
'Xander, you are my best friend, but you can be a real dumbhead sometimes.'
'Dumbhead? What kind of a word is that, oh my eloquent, honors English class taking friend? Anyway, Spike is the only dumbhead round these parts, d'ya know he tried on seven different shirts. . . all black. . . all looking exactly the same, trying to figure out which one looked the most. . . and I quote "manly"'.
Willow rolled her eyes, and hit Xander in the stomach as Spike entered the room.
'Hey, Spike!' Willow grinned a little to chirpily and Xander wheezed something similar as he fought for his breath.
Spike looked at the pair, taking in Xander's fish impression and Willow's huge, slightly insane looking grin.
'Um, Red. You haven't been consuming anything with sugar or caffeine, have you?'
'Nope,' Willow shook her head from side to side, her hair flying around her face the grin still fixed in place.
Xander looked at Willow and shook his own head, sadly. 'She's under a lot of pressure. I'm gonna go tell Buffy you're ready. If she starts to swell or turn any alarming shades of purple or green: run, and don't look back.'
Knocking of Buffy's door he called through, 'Spike's ready, Buff.'
The door opened and Xander stood back to see a miserable Buffy looking back up at him. 'This night is a complete mistake, Xander. I'll be stuck in between a guy who I spend more time fighting with, than not talking too and a guy who I'm ready to fall asleep in front of, before he has even finished saying hello.'
Xander grasped her shoulder and steered her into the corridor. 'Come on, Buff, it's not that bad. All you have to do is avoid Riley all night. . . and well, maybe Spike wont be that bad tonight. He did offer to take you, so you didn't have to go with Riley, maybe he'll try not to get on your nerves tonight.'
Buffy smiled wanly.
'Anyway, if he does, all you have to do is pack him one of your massive punches and both he and Riley will leave you alone forever.'
Buffy chuckled. 'I dunno, Riley is awfully persistent, he could be a closet fan of woman dominatrix.'
Xander smiled, seeing he had managed to cheer her up somewhat. 'But you'll have got rid of Spike.'
'I doubt it, I already clocked him one, and left a bruise across his jaw might I add, and he's still around, more annoying than ever. . . he just has better reflexes around me, now.'
Before Xander could reply, Buffy had pushed open the door to the TV room and they stepped inside.
***********************
'What is wrong with you?' Buffy exclaimed as she spun around, the bottom of her mid-thigh length black skirt flaring out slightly and her purple silk blouse rippling, as she stared exasperatedly at the man before her. 'I'm beginning to think Riley would be better company. He would at least pretend to listen to what I was saying, and even he doesn't stare as openly as you do. If you have something to say, say it, I'm sick of all this silent criticism.'
'You look nice `s all.' Spike shifted uncomfortably as they stopped outside a door, from which the sounds of a party emanated.
Buffy's tense expression softened slightly as she looked at the, for once not clad from head to toe in black, figure.
'Sorry,' she apologized. 'I'm just kinda wound up, I'm not really looking forward to seeing Riley. And you look nice too.'
She stepped closer to him and fingered the fabric of the blue button-down shirt he was wearing, possibly with two more buttons undone than was absolutely necessary - not that she was complaining, mind you.
'This is nice, I didn't think you owned anything other than black and red.'
*I'll wear it every day for the rest of my life, if it makes you happy* Spike shook his head and took a step back from Buffy, before he completely lost his senses.
'Neither did I, pet. Anya found it at the bottom of a box of stuff I never use, insisted I wear it if. . .' he broke off.
'If?'
He shook his head, 'Never mind.'
Buffy titled her head and scrutinized him through her lashes. 'Is Spikey out to impress someone?'
'No!' Spike cringed, even he could tell that had come out way to fast.
'So that's why you were so eager to take me to the party!' Buffy snapped her fingers in realisation.
*Shit, how could she have found out?*
'You needed someone you knew at the party, so you had an excuse to come, but not someone who would care who you went home with afterwards.'
'Er. . .'
'Well at least now I have some reason to be at this party. . . to set you up with thus girl. All I ask is that you save me from at least one dance with BP.'
'Well, I. . .'
'Just promise me it isn't Harmony.'
'Buffy, I promise you it isn't Harmony.'
Buffy flashed him a sweet smile, that made his stomach do strange flip- flops and she grabbed his arm and practically dragged him through the door. 'Let's go get you your girl.'
****************************
As Willow had predicted, Buffy was sitting in the darkest corner of the room, by herself, in an enormous half broken chair that seemed to swallow up her tiny form. The initial elation she had felt as they had entered the party had fled, and she was left feeling lower than when she had begun the evening, nursing a plastic cup of tepid beer.
She had danced with Spike, but for some reason he was uptight and looked tense. Buffy had immediately put it down to the fact that he was unhappy not to be dancing with whoever this girl was that he was here for, and she had stepped back, telling him to go find his girl. She was a bit hurt, but dismissed it as due to the fact that he wouldn't tell her who this girl was, and she hadn't had time to mull the point for long anyway. As soon as she had taken three steps away from Spike, Riley was standing in front of her, begging a dance.
She excused herself, saying she needed the bathroom, but on appearing from the bathroom had found him standing not far from the door, obviously waiting for her, even though he tactfully did not glance in that direction. She used his politeness, to be impolite herself, and slipped away in the opposite direction.
After that, she realized that she couldn't go out on the dance floor, as he would see her, so had gotten herself a beer and found the darkest corner to hide in, and hope that after a decent interval, she could leave Spike to make his own way home. . . if he was even planning on coming home.
Glancing at her watch for the tenth time in four minutes, she forced herself to remain for another twenty, before she could leave. Suddenly she saw Riley out of the corner of her eye and curled up even further into the seat, shrinking back into the darkest shadows she could find. He was coming nearer. . . nearer. . . nearer. . . oh boy.
Buffy clenched her eyes shut, and after a few moments opened then, to see Riley talking to one of his equally boring friends, Forrest, she thought his name was. From his gesturing, Buffy could tell he was asking Forrest if he had seen someone, and a jerk of his head over to the ladies bathrooms confirmed it was her.
Very quietly she got up, and slid around behind them, making her way quickly onto the dance-floor, hoping she was inconspicuous. She was nearly at the door, nearly there. . . skirt around this couple, dodge the flailing of that Xander-like dancer. . .ah - the door. She had nearly made it when a strong, obviously male hand grabbed her arm and stopped her.
*Shit*
She reluctantly turned around to face. . . Spike.
'Oh God, its just you,' Buffy breathed a sigh of relief.
'I thought you were Riley,' she explained at his quizzical expression.
'You mistook me for Captain Cardboard?' Spikes tone was scandalized.
Buffy giggled, 'No, he was looking for me, so I ran away and then you grabbed me and I panicked.'
Spike opened his mouth to say something but Buffy beat him to it.
'I'm glad I found you anyway, I'm gonna take off now, and I didn't want you thinking you had to find me if you. . .' she blushed slightly.
Spike raised his eyebrows, 'If I. . . what, pet?'
'If you decide you aren't gonna come back to the Top Floor.'
'Why wouldn't I . . .?'
'I didn't want to, you know, cramp your style by you having to hurry off and tell some other chick you aren't gonna be home to night.'
Spike threw back his head and laughed and laughed and laughed, while Buffy stared at him in surprise, confusion and finally annoyance.'
'`m sorry, pet. You aren't cramping my style as you put it. I'm not going home with anyone but you tonight.'
Buffy cursed herself as she blushed again at the innuendo that he probably hadn't even realized he'd used. 'What about. . . whoever she was?'
'Let's just say that we didn't hit it off.'
Buffy stared at him for a moment, wondering if he had gone mad, then shook her head. 'Well, either way, I'm leaving, so I'll see you tomorrow.'
'Hang on, luv. This party was getting boring anyway, you want to go get coffee or something.'
*Hey, got something right for once, mate. Not to eager, not to casual. . . and bleeding hell you're a right ponce*
Buffy smiled, 'Yeah, why not. I think the Expresso Pump is still open. Not as good as Giles', but still good coffee.'
'You wanna have one last dance before we go, Goldilocks?'
Buffy looked up at his hopeful face. 'Ordinary, Spike, I'd love too, but the risk of Riley catching us. . . let's just say, I'd rather spend all night with you in the Expresso Pump, than even risk seeing him again.'
Hah! Take that you wanker, she'd rather be with me than him.
*Well, that's hardly a huge barrier to cross*
Sod off.
***********************
Buffy sipped her caramel latte slowly as she watched Spike walk over with his own drink. He placed it on the table and hooked his leg around the chair opposite her, dragging it back before he sank into it.
They sank into what appeared to be a companionable silence, but Buffy could practically feel the vibes of tension rolling off him.
'What's wrong?' she asked, after the silence became to much for her.
'Wha- oh, nothing, sorry. I was just thinking.'
'What about?'
'Hmm, um, well. . . nothing important. Sorry, didn't mean to zone out on you.'
Buffy shook her head slightly, but let it go.
'So, um. . .'
Spike looked up at her, 'What, luv?'
'Oh, nothing really. We just never really talk outside of fighting and stuff, so I thought this could be. . .well. . .'
'. . .an unofficial version of Red's "get to know you gathering"?'
'Something like that.'
Spike took another sip of his hot chocolate. 'So, tell me something about yourself.'
Buffy raised her eyebrows, 'Like what? You already know my darkest secret. No one else knows it. . . except Angel of course, and maybe Cordy now they're married. . .'
Buffy trailed off with a slight pained look in her eyes.
'`m sorry, luv.'
Buffy shook her head, vigorously and gave him a smile. 'Don't worry, I should be over it, and I'm getting there. . . but I'm sure you don't wanna have another angsty conversation about my failed teenage love-life. . .especially without the alcohol. Anyway. . . I meant you tell me a bit about yourself.'
'Hmmm, an autobiography, `ey?'
Buffy laughed, and returned his teasing tone, 'Think of it more as an official introduction. . . instead of the coffee covered fiasco we actually had.'
'Well, m' name's William Andrew Travers, commonly known as Spike due to a penchant for dog collars in the Punk stage of my adolescence, which incidently was when I was introduced to the painful, yet stylish world of bleach. I turned twenty-one in August, am an only child, and also an orphan due my beloved mum's death when I was twelve, followed by my wanker of a father's death at the beginning of the year. I have had exactly one girlfriend, named Drusilla Rayne and am planning on remaining in this country until the authorities deport me. My favorite band is the Sex Pistols, favorite food is Spicy Buffalo Wings, I both drink and smoke and am ashamed of neither habit, much to my late fathers dismay. I played guitar and was the lead singer in a band, back in the Mother Country and I have no idea what I want to do when I graduate.'
Spike sat back and grinned as he watched Buffy process all that information. 'Anything I forgot, Goldilocks?'
'Yup,' Buffy smirked. 'Favorite TV program.'
Spike flushed for a brief moment. 'Didn't forget, luv, merely didn't tell.'
'Why not?'
'Cuz it ain't good for the Bad-ass rep.'
'It's only me. . . and I already know you aren't a "Bad-ass."'
'Sorry, Slayer, not tellin.'
Buffy pouted a bit and batted her eyelashes, 'Please Spike? I won't tell anyone. . . it can't be that bad.'
Spike wearily rubbed his hand across his forehead. 'Bollucks. Fine then, luv, but this goes no further than this table and you have to promise not to laugh.'
Buffy nodded. 'I promise.'
'Passions.'
'WHAT?!?!?!?!?' Buffy screeched so loudly that the entire room turned to look at them, before she erupted into giggles that left her pink in the face and gasping for breath.
'Tell the bloody world would you, luv.' Spike hissed through his teeth, his face now a glowing red.
'I'm, I'm sorry,' Buffy giggled. 'It's just. . . that is one of the lamest shows on the planet.'
'Have you watched it? You shouldn't go around making all high and mighty comments about a show you haven't watched. It's bad form, luv.'
'As it happens, Bleach Boy, my mom is absolutely obsessed with the show. I came home from th Magic Box during vacation to find her crying about that stupid doll Timmy, being down a well.'
'Hey! He's not a stupid doll. And that was one of the best storylines on the show. Rupes made me miss it, so many times over those two weeks. I nearly quit the damn job so I could watch it.'
'Right, good for you. Make a stand about working hours during TV time, hope it works out for you.' Buffy rolled her eyes and pushed back her chair.'
'Oy, where do you think you are going?' 'Home to bed. I have to visit mom tomorrow. . . she wants me to have lunch with her and Giles.'
'Oh, bollucks. . . I told Rupes I'd join him for lunch tomorrow, at "the house of an old and dear friend".' He said, mimicking Giles stuffy accent.
'Guess that's your house, luv.'
'And the fun around here just never stops.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Sigh*
I am so sorry for that chapter. I think the exams scrambled my brain. . . I had to think for nearly ten minutes before writing each sentence. . . and that was one of the wrost things I have ever written in my whole entire life.
The next chapter. . . well, I hope it is better than this one. I have a whole storyline planned, but to get into the storyline a need these couple of filler chapters. . . and they aren't flowing.
Grrrrrr Aurrrg.
Heeheee, I just watched Bargaining Pt 1 again. . . and just noticed that the little finger puppet Tara gives Giles when he leaves is the little Mutant thing at the end of the credits. . . and she says Grr Aurg. I never noticed that before. . . it's so CUTE.
Ok, sorry. I'm gonna go stress over the chapter I am writing in Consequences. . . which also isn't working. Dammit.
Buffy groaned in frustration and threw Mr Gordo across the room. 'Auuggghhhhh.'
A head poked in the door, 'What's up?'
'Oh, hey Oz.' Buffy smiled briefly at the green-haired guitarist.
'You ok?'
Buffy sighed and flopped down on her bed. 'Yeah, it's just this stupid party. I'm being all avoidy of Riley so I said I'd go with Spike to the party and we are gonna spend the whole time fighting with each other and I'll have to stay with him the whole night so I can avoid Riley and I have nothing to wear. Life sucks.'
Oz just looked at her.
'And you can stop laughing.' Buffy said, annoyed.
'Laughing?'
'I can see your eyes doing the twinkly thingy. It may only be me and Will who can see it, but it's there.'
'Twinkles stopped.'
Buffy rolled her eyes. 'Thanks ever so.'
'No problem.'
'Are you gonna say anything helpful, or are you gonna do a Xander and be a pain in my ass?'
'Well, I can't do anything about Spike and Riley and I'm not the best person to give fashion advice. I have green hair. So I'll do the latter.'
Buffy stood, picked up a brush and held it warningly above his head.
Oz took a step backwards, 'Or I'll get Willow to help.'
'Much better plan,' agreed Buffy, lowering the brush. 'Can you get me some coffee while you're gone.'
Oz nodded and headed for the door.
'And stop doing the mental eye-roll thing as well.'
**************** A knock sounded at the door and Buffy removed her head from under her pillow. 'If that's anyone but Willow, then get the hell away from my door or I'll strangle you with my bare hands.'
'Hey, Buff. Oz said you needed some girl help and so here I am. all girly and helpy.'
'Oh, thank God. Will, this is night is doomed before it even starts. I can't avoid him all night and I'm so stressed I'm gonna take it all out on Spike and our whole truce thing will be over and that will make you sad, which will make me sad. and make me guilty. and there'll be much sad and guiltiness.'
'Hey, calm down. We'll take each step as it comes. What is the immediate, right now and in your face problem?'
Buffy looked up, pouting. 'I have nothing to wear.'
Willow rolled her eyes as she turned to the closet that was absolutely overflowing with clothing. 'Buffy, you go and have a nice relaxing shower and I'll pick something out for you to wear.'
Buffy stood reluctantly to leave, muttering as she went. 'As long as it isn't filled with nasty naked Spikeness. I've had enough of that to last me a lifetime.'
Willow bit her lip to keep from laughing as she recalled the story Buffy had blushingly told her, after Willow had found her removing everything of Spikes from the bathroom and placing it outside his bedroom door before she would have her shower.
As the door closed behind Buffy, Willow giggled as she remembered Buffy's face when she had asked her to rate Spike's body from one to ten. Buffy had refused to answer, and after Faith and Anya had informed Willow of the little encounter between the five of them in the corridor, Willow had decided to keep an close eye on her best friend and Spike. she had a feeling that Faith and Anya were closer to the mark about Buffy's feelings than she was admitting.
However, Buffy had never been open about her feelings. she was suppresso girl when it came to things like that. Willow couldn't remember the last date Buffy had gone on. She had had a crush on Angel, Willow knew that, but after Angel left town, Buffy had refused to have feelings for any other guy. although she was far from opposed to using them as eye-candy.
Willow was getting worried about her, she knew how lonely and empty she was before she found Oz, and if Buffy was feeling anything like that. well, Willow didn't really want to go there. So, if there was even a hint of something more than just friendship between Buffy and Spike she was going to push it for all it was worth.
Sighing, Willow began searching through Buffy's clothes. If she was going to push the two together, she had better start by making Buffy look absolutely perfect tonight.
****************
Buffy sat slumped on her bed as Willow added the finishing touches to her eyes.
'It's not worth all this trouble, Will's. It's only Spike who's taking me, and he's not gonna give a rats ass how I look, and making me up and whatever is only going to make Riley even more of a drooling idiot. I don't even wanna go. can't I just stay here with you guys and watch movies?'
'Buffy.' Willow paused to look her friend in the eye.
'Resolve face,' Willow gestured towards her face with the mascara wand, nearly knocking her eye out in the process.
'You are gonna go with Spike, and you are gonna ignore Riley and above all, you are gonna have fun.'
'How can you put Riley, Spike and fun in the same sentence? They do not make for fun Buffy time, they make for annoyed, scary Buffy time.'
Willow was prevented from making any further comment as a brief knock sounded at the door, before it swung open and Anya and Xander entered.
Anya's face lit up as she took in Buffy's frazzled appearance. She began to smirk and Buffy closed her eyes in frustration and mortification as Anya's explicit diatribe began.
*********************************
Oz closed the door behind him and leaned against it with a sigh. Shaking his head he pushed himself away from the door and made his way down the corridor to Buffy's room. He could hear Anya's shrill voice coming from within, and mentally steeling himself he knocked.
When there was no answer, he pushed it open to hear the last of Anya's most recent speeches.
'. . . and then you can both resolve the sexual tension with many long- overdue orgasms which, if they are at all like the ones that Xander gives me, will leave you both sated and satisfied, yet craving for more.
Oz smiled sympathetically at his extremely pale girlfriend and winced as he watched Buffy emerge from under a pillow, her face murderous.
'Um. . . Xan?'
Xander jumped around eagerly. 'Yeah. . . Oz, friend, pal, ohmyherocometorescuemebuddy.'
'Uh, yeah. Spike kinda needs some. . .'
'Whatever he wants, it's his!'
Xander bolted out of the door like a frightened rabbit, with Oz following more slowly.
'Holy bejesus, I never want to go through that again. I refuse ever to be any part of any advise giving of clothing, jewelry, conversation topics for any date, ever ever again.' Xander's arms flailed in the air and his eyes were darting to the closed door of Buffy's room like it was about to open and eat him alive.
After taking a few, melodramatic, deep breaths he turned to Oz. 'So, what does the King of Bleach of want?'
'Er. . . advice on what to wear tonight for Buffy.'
********************************
'Oh God Noooooooooooo!'
Spike paused, his head caught in the fifth shirt to try on that night as he heard his friend's cry echoing up and down the corridor.
********************************
An hour later, after much frustration from both parties, and giggling and cursing from those who moved in between different rooms to assist with accessorizing and pep-talks, they were ready to go.
Willow, whose hair was mussed from the frequent gripping of her skull, collapsed on the sofa in the TV room next to Xander.
'Blah.' She commented.
'Uh-huh, blah just about sums it up.'
Willow raised her head to look at the clock. 'Well, I was gonna make a cameo at the party, but for some unexplained reason I don't have the enthusiasm any more. You wanna get pizza?'
Xander sat up straight, rubbing his hands together 'Oooooh, Pizza! Pizza with movies?'
'Why not. . . just wait until we get those two out the door. Although, Buffy really doesn't wanna go, I don't know if we should be pushing her into this.'
'Relax, Will. It'll take time, but you should have seen Spike all worried about what he should wear, and then try and pretend he didn't care what she thought. . . and if Buffy was all stressed about that too. . .'
Willow sighed, 'That's just it, she wasn't worried about clothes to impress Spike. She was trying to make excuses so she wouldn't have to go. I hope Spike doesn't take it to personally when she decides to sit in a dark corner, by herself and do nothing for the next few hours.'
'Somethin tells me, that he probably will.'
A loud creak sounded from the corridor and Xander thumped his head against the back of the lounge. 'I have heard that squeak about 50 gazillion times more than is healthy for one day. If Spike doesn't get that damn door oiled I will rip it off myself.'
Willow raised an eyebrow. 'As you are studying carpentry and architecture, shouldn't you know how to fix it without ripping it off?'
Xander smiled goofily. 'Yeah, and I do, but from my position as one of the figures on an unemployed survey, I believe I should be paid for undertaking a task such as this.'
'Xander, you are my best friend, but you can be a real dumbhead sometimes.'
'Dumbhead? What kind of a word is that, oh my eloquent, honors English class taking friend? Anyway, Spike is the only dumbhead round these parts, d'ya know he tried on seven different shirts. . . all black. . . all looking exactly the same, trying to figure out which one looked the most. . . and I quote "manly"'.
Willow rolled her eyes, and hit Xander in the stomach as Spike entered the room.
'Hey, Spike!' Willow grinned a little to chirpily and Xander wheezed something similar as he fought for his breath.
Spike looked at the pair, taking in Xander's fish impression and Willow's huge, slightly insane looking grin.
'Um, Red. You haven't been consuming anything with sugar or caffeine, have you?'
'Nope,' Willow shook her head from side to side, her hair flying around her face the grin still fixed in place.
Xander looked at Willow and shook his own head, sadly. 'She's under a lot of pressure. I'm gonna go tell Buffy you're ready. If she starts to swell or turn any alarming shades of purple or green: run, and don't look back.'
Knocking of Buffy's door he called through, 'Spike's ready, Buff.'
The door opened and Xander stood back to see a miserable Buffy looking back up at him. 'This night is a complete mistake, Xander. I'll be stuck in between a guy who I spend more time fighting with, than not talking too and a guy who I'm ready to fall asleep in front of, before he has even finished saying hello.'
Xander grasped her shoulder and steered her into the corridor. 'Come on, Buff, it's not that bad. All you have to do is avoid Riley all night. . . and well, maybe Spike wont be that bad tonight. He did offer to take you, so you didn't have to go with Riley, maybe he'll try not to get on your nerves tonight.'
Buffy smiled wanly.
'Anyway, if he does, all you have to do is pack him one of your massive punches and both he and Riley will leave you alone forever.'
Buffy chuckled. 'I dunno, Riley is awfully persistent, he could be a closet fan of woman dominatrix.'
Xander smiled, seeing he had managed to cheer her up somewhat. 'But you'll have got rid of Spike.'
'I doubt it, I already clocked him one, and left a bruise across his jaw might I add, and he's still around, more annoying than ever. . . he just has better reflexes around me, now.'
Before Xander could reply, Buffy had pushed open the door to the TV room and they stepped inside.
***********************
'What is wrong with you?' Buffy exclaimed as she spun around, the bottom of her mid-thigh length black skirt flaring out slightly and her purple silk blouse rippling, as she stared exasperatedly at the man before her. 'I'm beginning to think Riley would be better company. He would at least pretend to listen to what I was saying, and even he doesn't stare as openly as you do. If you have something to say, say it, I'm sick of all this silent criticism.'
'You look nice `s all.' Spike shifted uncomfortably as they stopped outside a door, from which the sounds of a party emanated.
Buffy's tense expression softened slightly as she looked at the, for once not clad from head to toe in black, figure.
'Sorry,' she apologized. 'I'm just kinda wound up, I'm not really looking forward to seeing Riley. And you look nice too.'
She stepped closer to him and fingered the fabric of the blue button-down shirt he was wearing, possibly with two more buttons undone than was absolutely necessary - not that she was complaining, mind you.
'This is nice, I didn't think you owned anything other than black and red.'
*I'll wear it every day for the rest of my life, if it makes you happy* Spike shook his head and took a step back from Buffy, before he completely lost his senses.
'Neither did I, pet. Anya found it at the bottom of a box of stuff I never use, insisted I wear it if. . .' he broke off.
'If?'
He shook his head, 'Never mind.'
Buffy titled her head and scrutinized him through her lashes. 'Is Spikey out to impress someone?'
'No!' Spike cringed, even he could tell that had come out way to fast.
'So that's why you were so eager to take me to the party!' Buffy snapped her fingers in realisation.
*Shit, how could she have found out?*
'You needed someone you knew at the party, so you had an excuse to come, but not someone who would care who you went home with afterwards.'
'Er. . .'
'Well at least now I have some reason to be at this party. . . to set you up with thus girl. All I ask is that you save me from at least one dance with BP.'
'Well, I. . .'
'Just promise me it isn't Harmony.'
'Buffy, I promise you it isn't Harmony.'
Buffy flashed him a sweet smile, that made his stomach do strange flip- flops and she grabbed his arm and practically dragged him through the door. 'Let's go get you your girl.'
****************************
As Willow had predicted, Buffy was sitting in the darkest corner of the room, by herself, in an enormous half broken chair that seemed to swallow up her tiny form. The initial elation she had felt as they had entered the party had fled, and she was left feeling lower than when she had begun the evening, nursing a plastic cup of tepid beer.
She had danced with Spike, but for some reason he was uptight and looked tense. Buffy had immediately put it down to the fact that he was unhappy not to be dancing with whoever this girl was that he was here for, and she had stepped back, telling him to go find his girl. She was a bit hurt, but dismissed it as due to the fact that he wouldn't tell her who this girl was, and she hadn't had time to mull the point for long anyway. As soon as she had taken three steps away from Spike, Riley was standing in front of her, begging a dance.
She excused herself, saying she needed the bathroom, but on appearing from the bathroom had found him standing not far from the door, obviously waiting for her, even though he tactfully did not glance in that direction. She used his politeness, to be impolite herself, and slipped away in the opposite direction.
After that, she realized that she couldn't go out on the dance floor, as he would see her, so had gotten herself a beer and found the darkest corner to hide in, and hope that after a decent interval, she could leave Spike to make his own way home. . . if he was even planning on coming home.
Glancing at her watch for the tenth time in four minutes, she forced herself to remain for another twenty, before she could leave. Suddenly she saw Riley out of the corner of her eye and curled up even further into the seat, shrinking back into the darkest shadows she could find. He was coming nearer. . . nearer. . . nearer. . . oh boy.
Buffy clenched her eyes shut, and after a few moments opened then, to see Riley talking to one of his equally boring friends, Forrest, she thought his name was. From his gesturing, Buffy could tell he was asking Forrest if he had seen someone, and a jerk of his head over to the ladies bathrooms confirmed it was her.
Very quietly she got up, and slid around behind them, making her way quickly onto the dance-floor, hoping she was inconspicuous. She was nearly at the door, nearly there. . . skirt around this couple, dodge the flailing of that Xander-like dancer. . .ah - the door. She had nearly made it when a strong, obviously male hand grabbed her arm and stopped her.
*Shit*
She reluctantly turned around to face. . . Spike.
'Oh God, its just you,' Buffy breathed a sigh of relief.
'I thought you were Riley,' she explained at his quizzical expression.
'You mistook me for Captain Cardboard?' Spikes tone was scandalized.
Buffy giggled, 'No, he was looking for me, so I ran away and then you grabbed me and I panicked.'
Spike opened his mouth to say something but Buffy beat him to it.
'I'm glad I found you anyway, I'm gonna take off now, and I didn't want you thinking you had to find me if you. . .' she blushed slightly.
Spike raised his eyebrows, 'If I. . . what, pet?'
'If you decide you aren't gonna come back to the Top Floor.'
'Why wouldn't I . . .?'
'I didn't want to, you know, cramp your style by you having to hurry off and tell some other chick you aren't gonna be home to night.'
Spike threw back his head and laughed and laughed and laughed, while Buffy stared at him in surprise, confusion and finally annoyance.'
'`m sorry, pet. You aren't cramping my style as you put it. I'm not going home with anyone but you tonight.'
Buffy cursed herself as she blushed again at the innuendo that he probably hadn't even realized he'd used. 'What about. . . whoever she was?'
'Let's just say that we didn't hit it off.'
Buffy stared at him for a moment, wondering if he had gone mad, then shook her head. 'Well, either way, I'm leaving, so I'll see you tomorrow.'
'Hang on, luv. This party was getting boring anyway, you want to go get coffee or something.'
*Hey, got something right for once, mate. Not to eager, not to casual. . . and bleeding hell you're a right ponce*
Buffy smiled, 'Yeah, why not. I think the Expresso Pump is still open. Not as good as Giles', but still good coffee.'
'You wanna have one last dance before we go, Goldilocks?'
Buffy looked up at his hopeful face. 'Ordinary, Spike, I'd love too, but the risk of Riley catching us. . . let's just say, I'd rather spend all night with you in the Expresso Pump, than even risk seeing him again.'
Hah! Take that you wanker, she'd rather be with me than him.
*Well, that's hardly a huge barrier to cross*
Sod off.
***********************
Buffy sipped her caramel latte slowly as she watched Spike walk over with his own drink. He placed it on the table and hooked his leg around the chair opposite her, dragging it back before he sank into it.
They sank into what appeared to be a companionable silence, but Buffy could practically feel the vibes of tension rolling off him.
'What's wrong?' she asked, after the silence became to much for her.
'Wha- oh, nothing, sorry. I was just thinking.'
'What about?'
'Hmm, um, well. . . nothing important. Sorry, didn't mean to zone out on you.'
Buffy shook her head slightly, but let it go.
'So, um. . .'
Spike looked up at her, 'What, luv?'
'Oh, nothing really. We just never really talk outside of fighting and stuff, so I thought this could be. . .well. . .'
'. . .an unofficial version of Red's "get to know you gathering"?'
'Something like that.'
Spike took another sip of his hot chocolate. 'So, tell me something about yourself.'
Buffy raised her eyebrows, 'Like what? You already know my darkest secret. No one else knows it. . . except Angel of course, and maybe Cordy now they're married. . .'
Buffy trailed off with a slight pained look in her eyes.
'`m sorry, luv.'
Buffy shook her head, vigorously and gave him a smile. 'Don't worry, I should be over it, and I'm getting there. . . but I'm sure you don't wanna have another angsty conversation about my failed teenage love-life. . .especially without the alcohol. Anyway. . . I meant you tell me a bit about yourself.'
'Hmmm, an autobiography, `ey?'
Buffy laughed, and returned his teasing tone, 'Think of it more as an official introduction. . . instead of the coffee covered fiasco we actually had.'
'Well, m' name's William Andrew Travers, commonly known as Spike due to a penchant for dog collars in the Punk stage of my adolescence, which incidently was when I was introduced to the painful, yet stylish world of bleach. I turned twenty-one in August, am an only child, and also an orphan due my beloved mum's death when I was twelve, followed by my wanker of a father's death at the beginning of the year. I have had exactly one girlfriend, named Drusilla Rayne and am planning on remaining in this country until the authorities deport me. My favorite band is the Sex Pistols, favorite food is Spicy Buffalo Wings, I both drink and smoke and am ashamed of neither habit, much to my late fathers dismay. I played guitar and was the lead singer in a band, back in the Mother Country and I have no idea what I want to do when I graduate.'
Spike sat back and grinned as he watched Buffy process all that information. 'Anything I forgot, Goldilocks?'
'Yup,' Buffy smirked. 'Favorite TV program.'
Spike flushed for a brief moment. 'Didn't forget, luv, merely didn't tell.'
'Why not?'
'Cuz it ain't good for the Bad-ass rep.'
'It's only me. . . and I already know you aren't a "Bad-ass."'
'Sorry, Slayer, not tellin.'
Buffy pouted a bit and batted her eyelashes, 'Please Spike? I won't tell anyone. . . it can't be that bad.'
Spike wearily rubbed his hand across his forehead. 'Bollucks. Fine then, luv, but this goes no further than this table and you have to promise not to laugh.'
Buffy nodded. 'I promise.'
'Passions.'
'WHAT?!?!?!?!?' Buffy screeched so loudly that the entire room turned to look at them, before she erupted into giggles that left her pink in the face and gasping for breath.
'Tell the bloody world would you, luv.' Spike hissed through his teeth, his face now a glowing red.
'I'm, I'm sorry,' Buffy giggled. 'It's just. . . that is one of the lamest shows on the planet.'
'Have you watched it? You shouldn't go around making all high and mighty comments about a show you haven't watched. It's bad form, luv.'
'As it happens, Bleach Boy, my mom is absolutely obsessed with the show. I came home from th Magic Box during vacation to find her crying about that stupid doll Timmy, being down a well.'
'Hey! He's not a stupid doll. And that was one of the best storylines on the show. Rupes made me miss it, so many times over those two weeks. I nearly quit the damn job so I could watch it.'
'Right, good for you. Make a stand about working hours during TV time, hope it works out for you.' Buffy rolled her eyes and pushed back her chair.'
'Oy, where do you think you are going?' 'Home to bed. I have to visit mom tomorrow. . . she wants me to have lunch with her and Giles.'
'Oh, bollucks. . . I told Rupes I'd join him for lunch tomorrow, at "the house of an old and dear friend".' He said, mimicking Giles stuffy accent.
'Guess that's your house, luv.'
'And the fun around here just never stops.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Sigh*
I am so sorry for that chapter. I think the exams scrambled my brain. . . I had to think for nearly ten minutes before writing each sentence. . . and that was one of the wrost things I have ever written in my whole entire life.
The next chapter. . . well, I hope it is better than this one. I have a whole storyline planned, but to get into the storyline a need these couple of filler chapters. . . and they aren't flowing.
Grrrrrr Aurrrg.
Heeheee, I just watched Bargaining Pt 1 again. . . and just noticed that the little finger puppet Tara gives Giles when he leaves is the little Mutant thing at the end of the credits. . . and she says Grr Aurg. I never noticed that before. . . it's so CUTE.
Ok, sorry. I'm gonna go stress over the chapter I am writing in Consequences. . . which also isn't working. Dammit.