Chapter 4
Spike knocked on Buffy's door and took a deep breath. He had no idea why he was nervous. He'd been with her for a little over a month now. First date jitters should not be happening. It was ridiculous, really. But here he was outside her door, shifting from foot to foot, his hands knotted together behind his back and his heart was racing.
"William!" Joyce greeted. He looked startled to see her so Joyce tried to reassure him by smiling. "Come on in." After he entered and she closed the door, she asked, "Do you prefer Spike? You must if you've changed it. Forgive my not remembering."
"It's fine, Mrs. Summers. Whatever you want to call me is fine."
"I'll call you Spike if you call me Joyce."
"Okay," he agreed shyly.
"Hey," Buffy said, coming down the stairs. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
"I just got here," Spike told her, averting his eyes quickly as he didn't want her to think he was staring. It's not like he had never seen her in a dress before. In fact, he saw her in it last week at school and admired it but now it was here, touchable and tangible, not just some distant fascination. Seeing her like this was simply different than any other time because it was for the date; for him. He couldn't help but smile.
She nudged her shoulder against his arm, smiling. "Something funny?" He shook his head and she shrugged. She turned to Joyce and said, "I don't know when we'll be back. Not too late, though, okay?"
"No later than one," Joyce told her.
"One? Really?" Buffy asked excitedly.
"It's Spike...I know where he lives if you don't come home," Joyce teased. "Have fun, be careful...all those usual mom-isms."
"One o'clock curfew because I'm going out with you," Buffy said as she closed her door. "If I had known that would happen, I would have done this a long time ago."
"So you're just using me for a curfew?"
"And some other things..."
He opened the car door for her and then got in on the driver's side. "I didn't know what you would want to eat. Mum tells me there's a good French place hidden away off of Main but I wasn't sure-"
"Let's do the relaxing dinner instead of the overly romantic, bound to uncomfortable one," Buffy broke in.
"Uncomfortable?" he asked, confused.
"I don't know...it would seem like we're playing grown-up or something. We're barely eighteen...little French bistros are kind of beyond me at this point."
"What do you suggest?"
"How about Harry's? Good pizza and other things, then we can go see Oz playing at the Bronze."
"So no two of us activities, then?" Spike asked, a bit disappointed.
"I thought we'd do the date thing first..."
"That's not what I meant-"
"I know," she interrupted with a giggle. "We get some food, listen to some good music and then I have a plan for just the two of us."
"You're going to tell me?"
"Nope! It's a surprise. It borders on lame but it's just an idea I had."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Do you have a hat or something?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah..." He got off the bed and rummaged in his closet. "Here you go."
"Baseball hat? I don't remember ever seeing you wear a baseball hat."
"My dad...took me to a game once. I think it's against the law to not buy massive amounts of useless shit when you go."
"I know what you're talking about. My dad used to take me to the ice show."
"Like figure skating?"
"Brian Boitano can change your life," she said with laugh. She put the little pieces of folded paper into the hat and shook it around. "You want to go first?"
"What's the point of this again?"
"We don't know each other...at all, really. This is how we're going to start."
Spike sighed. "You go first. And I have to answer it, too, right?"
"Yup." She put her hand in the hat and pulled out a piece of paper. After she opened it, she read aloud, "Why did you go back to England? Oops...I guess I can't really answer that."
"Why'd you put a question in there that you knew you couldn't answer?" he asked, his voice light.
She smiled and shrugged. "I really wanted to know."
"Fine, answer this instead. Why'd you move to Sunnydale?"
"Mom and Dad broke up...we had to go somewhere."
"I thought this was an exercise in getting to know the other better." Buffy nodded. "Well, what you told me, I had already figured out."
"I think Dad was cheating...I never heard anything concrete, but I think he was a little too fond of his secretary. They were fighting all the time, I wasn't even in the running for best daughter of the year and Dawnie was just...she got nothing but ignored. Makes me forgive some of her more annoying attributes."
"Okay...I went back to get away from here. Obvious answer, I know but there isn't a whole lot to it. My father split and as much as I wanted to stay here with Mum, I wanted to get as far away as I could get. I went and stayed with my grandmother and tried to escape but then I only ended up wanting to escape being there."
"Did you want to come back?"
"That's not part of the question," he joked and she rolled her eyes in that cute way of hers. "Yes and no. After Dru, yes...Had to get the hell out of there. But I wasn't looking forward to coming back here and dealing with a weepy Anne and all the manly responsibilities because Dad skipped out."
"Your mom seems to be doing really well, though. Our mom's spent a lot of time together over the summer. I think they started some sort of 'Left Wives Club'," she told him with a small smile. His hand cupped her chin, his thumb absently ran over her bottom lip. She quickly licked her lips, the tip of her tongue hitting his thumb, and waited for the kiss. She knew she looked surprised when he put his hand back on the bed and didn't make any other move but that. Then she smiled. He was behaving. They were behaving. They could actually sit and talk without pawing each other within minutes. Maybe they could do this, after all.
"My turn?" Spike asked. His smile left his face as he read the question to himself.
"See that's why I just read it. What does it say?"
"Uh...how many people have you slept with? What is with your bloody questions, Summers?"
"It's a valid question. If we were to...I mean, when we...or whatever...look, when that happens, I'd like to know..." Buffy stuttered, slightly embarrassed.
"None."
"What?" she asked, even though she had heard him.
"Zero."
"You and Dru..."
"No."
"Why?"
Spike sighed. "I don't want to talk about it."
"But...you've never and I've...None? Really?" She could feel her face flush and breathing was a little harder than before.
"Truly. Now you."
"No way," Buffy told him.
"Answer the question. You made me, I'm making you." When she still didn't answer, he said, "I know you and Angel...He used to talk about it."
"With you?" she asked surprised. "I didn't even think you knew one another."
"We didn't. Locker room talk."
"He used to talk about us in the locker room? Was he bragging? Giving details?"
"I shouldn't have said anything. It's not important-"
"It sure as hell is important. God, I can't believe him! That's just...grrrr!" Buffy threw herself back on the bed and sighed. "How could you not have said anything to me?"
"We weren't exactly friends, Buffy."
"But you can sit there and listen to him talk bullshit and not think 'hmm, Buffy might not like this'?"
"I'm sure you would have been like sunshine if I told you the things Angel had said," Spike scoffed.
"What kind of things?" Buffy asked quietly.
"I don't think you want-"
"What kind of things?" she repeated, strongly.
"Pet, the past is the past, right? Leave it there."
"No! He's lying...whatever he said, it was a lie."
"So you never...?"
"We did...once. It's a...I don't want to talk about that tonight. Let's just drop this. Shouldn't be talking about these things on a first date anyway."
"So, none and one. It should be interesting," Spike joked.
"Two," she corrected softly.
"Oh."
"This was a stupid idea. I'm going to go." She quickly got off the bed and grabbed her shoes. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" he asked, confused.
"For...I don't know. I just am."
"Let's finish. You don't have to be home for another hour."
"You think the other eight questions will be that awkward?"
"We can hope," he said with a smirk. She rolled her eyes and sighed before sitting back on the bed. "Your turn."
Buffy pulled out a piece of paper, read it and smiled. "Why did you hate me? Wow, subtle."
"Well, I try."
"Hate's a strong word. I didn't hate you. I didn't even dislike you...that much. Sure, that's what I told everyone because it just made things easier."
"I don't follow, Buffy."
"You move here from England, right? I'm just this stupid California girl and you're all bookish and brilliant and you have an accent that pretty much confirms that," Spike laughed and shook his head, "and when we went over to meet you all, you couldn't even say hello which really pissed me off. Then all my friends embraced you and that made me kind of angry. It's all completely irrational."
"Sounds like," he agreed and she playfully slapped his shoulder. "I couldn't say hello."
"Couldn't, wouldn't, whatever-"
"No, I mean I wanted to. In case you failed to notice, I was fairly shy when we moved here. I didn't exactly talk to girls. Most probably viewed me like you do-"
"Did."
He smiled. "Fine, did. I thought you were the prettiest girl I've ever seen."
Buffy blushed and ducked her head down. "Thanks. I thought you were very cute. Boys in glasses..."
"I'll wear them more often, then." They looked at each other and smiled.
"You have to answer, too. I'm not the only one who's going to look like an idiot for acting the way I did," Buffy told him.
"Didn't I just?" She shook her head and he shrugged. "I followed your lead. You didn't seem to like me at all and so I thought that I shouldn't bother trying. Once I started hanging about with your lot, you were so easily rattled and annoyed by everything I said...I ran with it. I was determined to be the most annoying person you would ever meet."
"Job well done, then." She held the hat out to him and he picked.
"Why did you break up?"
"You actually asked that? Huh, I'm surprised. You definitely have to answer," Buffy said, a bit too cheerfully for Spike's taste.
"Yeah, I know. Serves me right for being so bloody nosey. She cheated on me."
"You couldn't have been together that long and she cheated?"
"I met Dru about a week after I went over and we were together the whole summer until right before I came home. So, yeah, she didn't wait too long and it gets a bloke wondering if she was like that the entire time." Spike gestured for her to answer and she took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.
"After Angel and I...well, you know...after that, things just fell apart. He became mean, said I was bad in bed and any other hurtful thing you can think of. And when I would get angry enough and try to break it off, he'd do something nice to make me forget. That's how it went for the last six months. Back and forth, back and forth. He told me he was moving before he started school to become more familiar with the area and I told him to have fun." She shrugged after she finished, trying to make it seem like it wasn't a big deal. She turned on the bed and faced him, tucking one leg under and stretching the other out.
"So that's how it ended?"
"Pretty much. He tried to keep his hooks in me but by the middle of the summer, I told him to leave me alone. I was surprised that he actually listened but I'm not complaining. He's gone for good."
"Why would you put up with that?"
"I loved him...and I thought he was right."
"So is that reasoning behind number two?" Spike asked, resting his hand on her outstretched leg. It had been hurting him not to touch her in some way. He didn't want her to think that they couldn't just sit and talk but in that moment, he had the overwhelming need to feel her, even if it was in the smallest way. He was pleased when she didn't move away or tense up at his touch and he continued to run his thumb lightly over her skin while his other fingers rested softly against her calf.
"Yeah, but that's still a story for another time," Buffy reiterated. She reached for another question and read it. "One of mine. What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"Jesus, Summers," Spike mumbled.
Buffy flashed him a large smile. "They can't all be personal, you know."
"What do you want to be?"
She laughed and said, "I don't have a clue."
He nodded in agreement. "Neither do I."
"Oh, thank God. Willow has this seven year plan and it's rather irksome." Buffy glanced at the clock and frowned. "Time for one more."
He read the question and quirked an eyebrow. "What is with your questions?"
"Is that rhetorical?"
"If you could be doing anything right now, what would it be?" Spike scratched his head with his free hand, wondering if he should be a gentleman and not answer honestly or if he should just take the chance. "I'd be kissing you." Well, he never liked to lie anyway.
Buffy's breath hitched in her throat from her surprise. She didn't think he would take the bait. Even with the last month and the grope-fest that was them, he would still be shy about certain things. Buffy smiled and touched his hand; the hand that had been driving her crazy for the last five minutes with its light caress.
"Your turn, pet."
"Ditto."
"Looks like we're on the same wavelength, then."
"Looks like," she said. Her face lit up and her lips formed in a goofy grin as he leaned towards her. "Do you feel abnormally nervous or is it just me?"
"Bloody hell, Buffy. Don't you ever not say anything?"
"I was only comm-" She was cut off by his lips closing in on her mouth. She obviously knew he was moving closer and closer to her, she knew it was going to happen but she still made a noise of surprise when his lips found hers. There was that bit of time right as their lips touched that she felt her stomach twist around and the butterflies kick themselves into high gear. The happy thought of this is what a real kiss does to one's body floated through her mind and she smiled into the kiss. He inched his body closer to hers and she moved her leg from under her and placed it across his lap. Her hands went to his hair, languidly running through it. His hand moved higher on her leg, dipping under the hem of her skirt and he squeezed her thigh lightly, which caused her to gasp. She hooked the back of her foot into the side of his leg and pulled herself closer to him. Buffy slowly twisted herself onto his lap and locked her feet behind his back.
"Spike, are you still oh my god!" Anne cried out when she walked into her son's room. Buffy and Spike stopped kissing immediately but out of shock, fear and a little more than a lot of embarrassment, neither moved or unwrapped themselves.
"I...I should have knocked. Lovely to see you, Buffy," Anne stuttered awkwardly before she quickly turned and left the room, closing the door as she went.
They both let out the breath that they had been holding and leaned their foreheads against each other.
"I better get going," Buffy said, reluctantly. She didn't want to move. She wanted to stay here where it was warm and surprisingly comfortable.
"Don't want to be late. It might ruin future curfews," he teased as he lightly kissed the tip of her nose.
"Yeah..." Buffy bit her lip nervously and asked, "Is your mom going to be mad or not let me come over anymore?"
"I'll talk to her. It'll be fine," Spike reassured her, although he really didn't know what was going to happen. "I'll walk you."
"It's right there, Spike. I think I can manage."
He tightened his hold on her waist and pushed them off the bed. Her legs squeezed around him harder and he involuntarily groaned. Buffy's eyes went wide and she felt this odd feeling sweep through her. Pride or something pretty damn close to it. She wasn't exactly sure what it was. It was new, she knew that for certain.
"What you smirking at?" Spike asked, interrupting her thoughts.
"Nothing. I should probably unhook myself from you."
"Yeah, don't think Mum would fancy me walking you back home this way."
"She's no fun," Buffy grumbled and Spike laughed softly. She unwrapped her legs and slowly slid the rest of the way off his body. She slipped her sandals back on her feet and placed her hand around his. "Ready?"
He looked at their hands and could only nod his head. They made their way down the stairs, both grateful that Anne was nowhere to be seen and walked across the lawn to Buffy's house. He walked her to the front door and she leaned against it. She moved their linked hands back and forth out of nervousness. She wasn't entirely sure what to say.
"Tomorrow night...can I take you somewhere?" Spike asked, tentatively.
"I have to work at the gallery until seven. After that?" She saw the small smile appear on his lips before it left and he nodded his head. "Where are we going?"
"Not telling."
"You're not planning on chopping me into bits and leaving me somewhere, are you?"
"Bugger, how'd you know?" She loved it when he smirked at her. "So...I'll see you tomorrow, then?"
"Count on it," she answered. She grabbed his shirt and yanked him down to her mouth. She felt his lips move into a smile before he kissed her back and the fluttering feeling reappeared. It was a nice feeling; a strange combination of nervousness and arousal. When it began to spread from the pit of her stomach, she moaned. She found herself wondering if this was normal. She hadn't had this before or if it had been, it was too dull for her too notice. This shot through her and she welcomed it, wanted it, wanted more.
"Buffy, is that oh my god."
Buffy and Spike broke apart and she spun around. She gave a nervous smile to her mother and turned to Spike, "Um, I'll see you tomorrow?" Spike nodded, turned on his heel and quickly walked home. Facing her mother again, she said a meek "hey" before walking past her into the house.
"No, no, missy," Joyce said, grabbing her daughter's arm. "Sit. We're talking."
"I wasn't late," Buffy tried to reason lamely. Off Joyce's look, she rolled her eyes, sighed and headed to the couch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Spike, come here and sit a spell with me." Spike rolled his eyes and went and sat on the couch with his mother. "I think we need to talk about something."
"Mum, it wasn't what it looked-"
"I'm not mad, dear. I'm surprised. I didn't think you liked each other very much," Anne began.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We didn't," Buffy explained. "It's...new."
"New? Do you usually almost devour new friends on our front porch?" Joyce asked, sweetly but not masking the sarcasm that was there.
"It was only a kiss..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A kiss? Buffy straddling your lap is just a kiss?" Anne asked.
"See, you just happened to walk in at the wrong moment. There's a good explanation for that," Spike stalled.
"I'm eagerly waiting to hear it."
"She asked me to crack her back for her and so to do that...I had to get a hold around her back so I could you know," Spike explained, putting his arms in a circle in front of him and moving it towards him. Anne raised an eyebrow in much the same manner that he always did and he added, "Completely innocent."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Granted, my shock made my vision a little hazy but it didn't look that innocent, Buffy."
"It was a kiss!" Buffy exclaimed, thoroughly exasperated and tired of discussing this topic.
"Raise your voice again and you will be coming straight home after work tomorrow."
"Sorry," Buffy mumbled.
"How serious is this thing with you and William?" Joyce asked, resting her hand on her daughter's shoulder.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Not very, Mum. It was our first date."
Anne let out a pfft sound and Spike clenched his jaw. "On your first date, a date I'm still surprised that you went on due to the fact that the two of you have done nothing but bicker for the last two years, you...crack her back?"
"Yeah?" Spike replied. Where was that hole in the ground when you needed it?
"William..." Anne warned.
"You caught on to my deception. I wasn't cracking her back. Good on you."
"You will watch that tone with me."
"Sorry," Spike mumbled. Spike sighed again and decided the best thing to do was to be honest. "The snogging isn't new, just the date."
Anne's mouth dropped open and Spike quickly regretted his decision.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Let me get this straight, Buffy. The two of you have been doing whatever it is that you've been doing but tonight is the first time that you've gone on an actual date?"
"Yes."
"Are you sleeping with him?" Joyce asked, trying to remain calm.
"No, I'm not."
"Not yet."
Biting the bullet, Buffy said, "No, not yet."
Joyce's mouth dropped open and Buffy quickly regretted her decision.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Spike looked at his alarm clock. 3:30 a.m. and he wasn't the least bit tired. Buffy's light was out and he wondered how she could sleep if she got even half of the lecture that he had. That question was answered when he heard the scraping of the screen being lifted. He smiled and got out of bed and lifted it up the rest of the way.
"You're right. Much easier when you don't have an alcohol brain," Buffy said as she climbed through. "Were you sleeping?"
"Not at all. Actually lying here thinking how you could sleep," Spike told her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Did you get in trouble?"
"Not really. A bit of a lecture but Mum can be cool when she wants. You?"
"Big lecture all about the pros and cons of dating and sex and kissing on the porch. It wasn't fun."
"Oh, we were telling the truth, then? I think we got the same lecture," he amended with a chuckle.
"Is there a book or do you think they got together and discussed prior?"
Spike shrugged and asked, "Are we still going out tomorrow?"
"Yup," Buffy answered, stifling a yawn. She looked at him shyly and they smiled at each other. "I didn't think I was tired..."
"Get home. I'll see you tomorrow." He kissed her softly and when he pulled away, Buffy pulled him back to her. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Do you think there's more to this than our lips?"
Buffy smiled and put her hand against his cheek. "I think that I'm very willing to find out."