OK first of all I know I haven't updated in forever. My computer on the blink for an while and then life got in the way of me updating. Anyway I'm really sorry for the delay and I promise I'm going to try and update more regularly like once a or twice a week. Thankyou all for your reviews.

A/N: Flashbacks and thoughts are now in italics


Chapter 10 – Into the fire


As soon as Spike stepped through the door he immediately got an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Increasingly being made worse by Mr. Giles constant stare.

Stepping into the hallway he could actually feel the older mans eyes burning into the back of his head.

He sighed inwardly knowing he was gonna have to endure it.


--

Meanwhile upstairs..Buffy was having second thoughts herself. Kneeling on the floor trying desperately to find her note book, under the watchful gaze of Willow.


"Buffy if you don't go down now he'll leave" Willow exclaimed "He's down there with dad, and I really don't think that's a good thing!"

Rupert Giles had a way of interrogating each boy who came calling for his daughters. The girls soon learned to change their plans.

Faith always met her dates at the bus stop down the street or failing that. Sun Cinema.


Willow turned her attention back to Buffy who was pulling their bedroom apart piece by piece. "What are you looking for now?"


"Math book" Buffy mumbled never turning round.


Willow glanced around the room. "Uh....Buffy?"


"Yep"


"Isn't that that it?" she pointed "The red one with the rest of your books?"

Buffy looked over to the pile that lay on her bed and sighed "I can't do this Will"


"Yes you can Buffy, it's just tutoring. You've done tutoring before"


"But it's him" she replied.

Willow looked over at her sister. Her face a mask of apprehension. "Buffy, don't make me go into stern face mode. Your going to go down there".


--

"So...How'd you know Buffy?"

The two men were now waiting anxiously at the bottom of the stairs. Spike moving from one foot to the other and Rupert Giles leaning against the sideboard, curious to know more about the young man.

To say uncomfortable would be an understatement.


"I..uh-" Spike started


--

"Spike"


Descending the stairs she noticed both men anxiously awaiting at the bottom. Spike looked up at her. She couldn't quite read the expression in his eyes.


God she's beautiful he thought. Casually walking down the stairs, books in hand he watched her stroll over to stand in front of him.

"Dad, this is ..uh..William. I'm tutoring him" she added quickly. Nice one Buffy let him know your nervous.


"I know" Giles replied. He's was obviously not impressed with his daughters choice of 'friend'. "We've met. This afternoon in fact". Buffy's face paled. How could they have met? She asked herself.

She brang herself back into reality to realize Spike still standing there.

"Oh..shall we get started?"


"Thought you'd never ask luv. Lead the way"

Spike straightened cautiously walking passed the older man. Even though no eye contact was made he could still feel his eyes. Spike had the feeling this wasn't over...


*****

"So what's pie again?"

The couple had been at it for three hours straight now and were still only halfway through algebra. Buffy still had biology and English yet to go through with him. Buffy reached for a handful of chips. "You should know this by now!"

"What makes you think that I don't?"

"Oh I don't know. The fact that I'm tutoring you and that your repeating?"

Spike looked up at her feeling a slight pang in his chest. " that was for something entirely different". He cringed at the memory. "Besides math's isn't really my thing".

"So what is your thing?" she said imitating a bad imitation of his accent.

"I don't know...drawing, writing, music"

"What do you write?" she asked

Buffy noticed Spike's smile straighten a little. Maybe she'd hit a nerve. "It's not very exciting luv, just poetry is all" He looked to see any sign of amusement in her face. There was none. Just a curious glare.

"What kind of poetry?"

you know..thoughts, emotion stuff like that" Great he thought probably sound like a right nancy boy.

"Can I see some?" she asked

"Sure. Maybe I'll write some for you..if you want.." he trailed off leaving the room silent.

Buffy realized she didn't really know much about Spike. His life wasn't exactly an open book. Although she did see a pang of bitterness in his eyes once when they were talking about his family. It also made her curious as to when he'd met her own.

"What did you do?"

Spike looked up confused. "Huh?"

You must have done something. Why else-..never mind"

Spike smirked suddenly knowing what she was talking about. "S'nothing..Just late for class"

She knew it had to be something like that.

"Come on luv" Spike started to stand which had Buffy off the floor.

"What? Where?.........SPIKE" She called after him following him into the hallway. "you need to know this. You have a test on Friday".

"So I'll miss one test. It's o big deal. You need to relax a little, lets go and see a movie or something". She watched as he put on his coat his hand reaching for the door. She couldn't help but want to go. Spike, a movie and a dark room. Spike, a movie and a dark room. Spi-

"You coming luv?"

Buffy snapped out of her thoughts to look up at Spike. She couldn't help herself saying "okay"

The couple quickly headed out the door leaving their books behind on the coffee table, seemingly unaware of the watchful eye at the top of the stairs.


*****

tbc...

Don't worry the next chapter is gonna be up real soon. I'll try and make them a little longer like before.