A/N: Hey, guyz! Chapter 8: Half A Kiss! Duh-duh-duuuuh! ^^ lol, I'm a teeensy bit hyper ryte now, heehee. Okiez, this chappie makes up 4 the last 1, hence the name. ~wink wink~ ^.~ Lol, hahaa. Welp, I hope that u guyz enjoy this! Also, not ALL of the nu Barracudas are mentioned in this chappie, but u guyz WILL b in the very next 1....I swear. R&R & of course....ENJOY! ^,~

"Ooh, check it out, man! Babes at 2 o' clock!"

Following Vicious' eager stare, Spike smiled once he laid his warm gaze upon Faye and Mikaya, who were both waving wildly at them over from the sidelines by the football field.

"I was wondering when they'd show up," he announced, smirking as he adjusted his drum harness about his shoulders. "Faye promised me that she and Mikaya would come today, but I must admit that I was beginning to doubt her."

"Oh....so you invited her?," Vicious questioned, sending him a sly grin. "Dude, you're tellin' me that you actually like that vixen? Ha! Lemme guess....it's because of those huge jugs and that tight ass, right?"

Spike snorted with indignance. "Shut up, Vicious....it's not like that with us. Just stop pickin' on her, alright?"

"Why? All of a sudden you're so damn touchy about anything that involves Faye," Vicious observed, twirling his drumsticks between his long, slender fingers as he shot him a weird look. "Man, you really are sweet on her! Quit lying and fess up!"

"I am not lying!," Spike insisted acrimoniously, suddenly growing beet-red in the face. "We're just really good friends.....that's all."

"Yeah," Vicious agreed, "friends with benefits."

"Don't make me kick your ass," Spike warned between clenched teeth, his jaw tightening amidst his deep ire as they situated themselves within their blocks just like the other band members. "I've done it before, Vicious....you know I can."

Before he could reply, the drum majors called everyone to attention, bellowing authoritively, "BAND-TEN-HUT!"

"HUH!"

"BAND HORNS UP!"

Everyone complied obediently.

Realizing that the band members had followed their instructions, the drum majors continued, "Mark time, mark.....forward, move."

As the band began to move forward in a synchronized cadence, Vicious suddenly leaned over a bit more towards Spike and asked in a furtive whisper, "So do ya got the hots for Faye, or what?"

Spike scowled as he beat a random rhythm furiously upon his drumset, growling, "I told you, NO! Just shut the fuck up about it, ALRIGHT?!"

"Why don't you both shut the fuck up, Spiegel?," Randall suggested from a nearby block, immediately bringing his lips back up to the mouthpiece of his tuba once one of the drum majors looked his way. Easing it back down with caution once the coast was clear, he continued irascibly, "You killed my fiancee', you bastard, and for that you will pay!"

"Since she hooked up with a faggot like you, she deserved what she got," Spike returned dryly, not quite believing his own ears. "Ya know what I say about it? Good riddance."

That did it.

A sudden flash of rage glinted across Randall's deep, ebony irises like a crack of lightning, his profound emnity going out of control like a wild fire as he tore his tuba off of his shoulder and, without warning, careened the instrument straight into the side of Spike's unsuspecting face.

CROING!

"Dude....what the fuck?!," Vicious exclaimed, halting almost instantly as he rushed to the aid of his best friend. "Back off, Randall! Why don'tcha go fuck up some OTHER whore?!!"

"Stay out of this!," Randall growled, immediately bringing the tuba back down upon Spike's cringing body that seemed to be currently paralyzed by absolute shock. "This little brawl is between ME and SPIEGEL!"

By this point, the drum majors were rushing over towards the scene in a state of panic, a very worried Faye and Mikaya following closely behind as the band crowded around the three young men in wonder.

Realizing that help was on the way, Nami urged from nearby, "Hurry up and beat his ass, Randall! Arexu, Rachel, Samantha, Jazz and I are countin' on you, man! FINISH HIM!!!"

"NO! He's too CUTE to die!!!," Jazz wailed, grabbing onto her boyfriend by the arm and giving it a pleading squeeze. "Please, hun....just let him go! He's suffered enough!"

"He will NEVER suffer enough for what he did to Julia," Randall retorted dryly, removing his new girlfriend's arm roughly from his being as if it were a poisonous tentacle. "And I mean NEVER."

"Do you want my drumsticks?," Rachel suddenly offered as she pushed through the crowd in a desperate attempt to reach her two fellow gang members. "On second thought, just screw it. Oh, man....hurry up, Randall....they're almost here!!!"

Considerably encouraged by his fellow "Barracudas'" words, Randall nodded, then eased the tuba back up into the air in a formidable fashion, bringing it down just as the drum majors seized him by the arms from behind.

"Fall out, Buetonski!," the blonde one barked, pulling him back away from Spike and Vicious in an instant. "Go into the school and don't come back until I say so, ya hear?!"

"Fine with me," Randall retorted sourly under his breath, the second drum major accompanying him like an extremely irritating chaperone as he stormed on over towards the entrance of the school in a haughty state.

Turning back towards the band, the blonde drum major announced, "Since we're currently in such a state of disarray, we're gonna go ahead and take a 15 minute water break. I expect you all to be back in your blocks by no later than 12:30, and if you refuse to comply, I'll be expecting 10 push-ups from your person. Everybody fall out."

The band dispersed in an instant, clearly very eager to escape their little Hell that was also known as band camp as Vicious stooped down to Spike's level, asking with concern, "Dude, you ok? That sonofabitch nailed ya real good in the side of your face!"

Spike shrugged, grumbling profanities under his breath as he staggered unsteadily up to his feet, only to find himself face-to-face with a very distressed Faye Valentine.

"You're bleeding!," she exclaimed, gasping as she continued to watch the thick runnels of scarlet ooze forth from the fairly deep gash above his eyebrow and down to his chin. "Do you need a bandaid?! I could go and get you one from the-"

"I'm fine," Spike insisted curtly, pushing her away as if she were some type of diseaseful organism. "Just leave me alone, ok? I need some space."

"A-alright," Faye stammered, watching on miserably as Vicious took Spike by the arm and led his dazed friend on over towards the blonde drum major, who was currently preparing the first aid kit that he kept handy.

Noticing her best friend's sudden predicament, Mikaya urged gently, "Don't let him get to, Faye. Just try to understand that he's still hurting inside......every time he's reminded of Julia, he bleeds just a little bit more."

Faye nodded, returning weakly, "I know....and it's all my fault! I'm sorry, Mikaya, but I want to help him get through this hellish year more than ever! I-I know that I promised you that I wouldn't get involved with him, but now that I have, I get this warm, indescribable feeling when I'm with him. In fact, I hate to say it, but it's almost as if-"

"You're in love?," Mikaya guessed, trying her best not to smile.

Faye blushed, then nodded in accedence. "Yeah.....that's right......I think."

Mikaya suddenly grew silent, her impassive face reflecting only a deep-set sense of stolidity as she urged softly, "Then promise me that you at least know what you're doing, Faye. I don't wanna see you end up like Julia or any of the other whores that were head-over-heels for his movie star good looks. You're the good girl, Faye....promise me that no matter what happens between you two, you'll stay that way!"

"I promise," Faye acknowledged, forcing a small smile as they shook hands as if to seal the deal. "I truly believe that my heart knows what's best for me, and right now it's telling me to be in love with Spike Spiegel. I can't help it, Mikaya.......it seems that it was just meant to be."

"So it would seem," Mikaya agreed softly, letting out a soft sigh. "I'll be happy for you, no matter what happens, and that's my little promise to you."

"Oh, Mikaya....thank you!," Faye exclaimed, embracing her friend so tightly that it seemed as if she had damaged one of her internal organs."You have no idea how much it means to me that someone is actually on my side, so again.....thank you!!!"

Mikaya smirked, pushing her away gently as she acknowledged, "Yeah, sure, sure, whatever....just promise me that you'll never hug me like that again."

Faye smiled warmly. "Agreed."
**********************************************************************************************************************
"Can I offer you a ride home?"

Faye blinked, staring back at Spike alongside her in his red Corvette in utter disbelief. "I.....um......huh?"

Spike laughed, then motioned for her to come in, replying, "I'll drive you back to your house......it's the least that I can do since I dragged you along to watch our lousy band practice."

"Yeah.....and since you also made me miss church," Faye added, smirking as she opened up the car door and slid in. "Thanks to you, I'm probably forever damned."

Spike grinned as he began to back out of the school parking lot, replying, "Yeah, most likely, so maybe we'll be neighbors in Hell."

Not liking the idea in the least, Faye frowned deeply as she turned on the radio, then sank back into her seat with contentment as a rock tune filled up the car. (Bowling For Soup's "Girl All The Bad Guys Want" plays)
Spike shot her an interested glance. "You like this kinda stuff, too?"

"Yeah....I guess I'm what you'd call a punk rock kinda girl," Faye replied as she casually rolled down her window and allowed the gentle breeze to tousle her lush violet locks. "Oh.....guess I should letcha know when we come to my house, huh?"

Spike chuckled. "Ya know....that's not a bad idea. Lead the way."

Faye smiled, then shook her head with amusement, admitting softly, "You know, I'm really glad I met you when I did. You're truly the only person in this world who could possibly understand what I'm going through, so thanks for taking a chance to get to know me. I really appreciate it."

"Yeah, I um.....I'm glad, too," Spike mumbled, keeping a guarded gaze on the road ahead of them as he continued to drive. "Right or left?"

"Right," Faye instructed, motioning listlessly towards the direction as if it didn't really matter whether they chose to go that way or not. "Um...you're not annoyed with me for bringing all that up.....are you?"

Spike shrugged. "Nah...I'm just don't tend to wear my feelings on my sleeve....that's all."

"Oh," Faye murmured, folding her arms as she looked about them to see if she recognized their current location. Finding that she did, she continued, "See that road up ahead? Go down it. My home is the 3rd house on the left."

Spike obeyed in a heartbeat, turning the sporty vehicle down the the broad road as he began to count each passing home aloud. "1........................2.....................3. This the place?"

Faye nodded. "Yep.....home sweet home."

"Killer," Spike commented, not able to suppress a large grin from consuming his facial features as he parked the car in the driveway and stared up at the large brick house in awe. "Your foster folks must be rich."

"Yeah.....they are," Faye admitted softly, not really feeling completely comfortable about the topic at hand. "Look, Spike....whatever you do, please don't tell the others! I don't want you guys to think that I'm some rich, snooty bimbo!"

"We don't," he assured her, smiling as he placed a gentle hand over her own in a sudden gesture of comfort. "The gang thinks that you're a kick-ass babe that's ready for anything. We're really glad to have you as a member."

"Really?," Faye demanded, her vibrant jade eyes clearly reflecting her apparent skepticism. "I find that I don't believe you somehow."

"Ok, ok...that's just me talking," Spike admitted, grinning a broad grin that set Faye's heart aflame in an instant. "It may be a little biased, but I don't really give a damn."

Seeing her reach for the door handle in a sudden burst of trepidation, he urged briskly, "Er, wait, Faye.....please stay.......just for a little while longer."

At hearing his voice she instantly obeyed, her hand falling limply off of the door handle as she turned to face him, his warm, two-toned irises burning over with an emotion that was never amidst those incredible orbs before.

Reaching out a gentle hand, Spike touched the smoothness of Faye's pale, satin cheek, her heart doing the tango within her bosom as his free hand gingerly cradled her hip, his mesmorizing eyes continuing to captivate her being to the point of near-suffocation as the realization of their sudden closeness dawned on her and brought a deeper crimson to her already slightly flushed cheeks.

Faye closed her eyes and let out a fervid sigh once she felt Spike's warm, satin lips subtly brush over her own in a moment of heated desire, her cell phone ringing its loud, piercing ring within her jacket pocket like an alarm, thus jolting them both apart before they could complete their kiss.

Faye felt Spike's body tense up in frustration as she moved away from him and dazedly brought her cell phone up to her ear, asking with slight uncertainty, "H-hello?"

"Smoochie, smoochie!," came the ecstatic reply, a series of light-hearted giggles resounding within the air before the voice added blithely, "Spike-person and Faye-Faye are being naaaaughty!"

"ED?!," Faye shrieked, suddenly growing a bit paranoid. "Where ARE you?!"

"Ed is spy-spying on you from the window!," the young adolescent explained proudly, followed by another long series of giggles. "Did you use Scope, Faye-Faye? You don't want those spoooooky germies to take over!"

"Ed, that is NONE of your business!," Faye growled, her cheeks aflame in reddish hues as she sent Spike an embarrassed glance. "What you think you saw DIDN'T happen, so hush!"

"Okies! Ed won't tell mother-person that Faye-Faye was being naaaaughty today," the young adolescent promised, bouncing up and down on her tippy-toes with a sudden burst of sheer delight. "Come inside and play chess with Ed now, Faye-Faye! Pleeeeeease?"

"A-alright," Faye agreed, hanging up before her nosy stepsister could reply. Turning to face Spike, she began uneasily, "Look....I, uh....I've gotta-"

"Go," he supplied, nodding. "I understand.....I'll just see ya tomorrow in school."

"Bye," Faye returned softly, stepping out of the car and shutting the door behind her as Spike revved up the engine and began to back out of the driveway, only pausing to wave before he took off into the distance.

Faye just continued to stand there, a burning sensation from where Spike's mouth had caressed her own searing across her lips as she began to tremble, just conceding what she had done.

"I would have kissed him if it weren't for Ed," Faye realized, hugging herself for warmth as an odd, tingly sensation surged throughout her veins the more she thought about it. "What will happen between us tomorrow morning? Is it actually possible that our feelings are finally mutual?"

A/N: So how wuz that??? o.o ~looks @ u hopefully~Wuz it alryte? lol....cliffhanger ?'s 4 u! ^^ Haha. Will SxF FINALLY get 2gether, or iz this, just like many other thingz in their lives, a fluke? If u don't R&R I may NEVER put it up! BWUAHAHA!!! lol, haha....can ya tell I LOOOVE reviews??? They honestly inspire me & allow me 2 write my VERY best, so please support me & review!!! ^^ Luv ya bunches!
3 Kendra Luehr