Chapter 8

" So take your pick. Do you want to do history first, or algebra?", she asked, letting him choose.

Spike shrugged, playing with his pen. "I don't know."

Buffy sighed. She and Spike might have gotten to know each other better and weren't arguing with each other anymore, but he was still hopeless at his studies. "Okay, algebra it is then."

"So, how are you and Faith? She didn't really mention anything about that night, or if you two had made up.", Spike said, half curious and the other half not wanting to do schoolwork.

" We haven't made-up. That's going to take some time.", Buffy answered. "Right now, I'm just going to totally forget about that night. And think it never happened."

"And that's going to make everything better?"

Buffy stared up at Spike. Her hazels eyes up at his blue ones. "No, but it makes me feel better."

They held that gaze for a moment. " Buffy, I'm sorry."

Buffy looked startled. 'That came out of nowhere' "What? Sorry for what?"

Spike looked down, ashamed. "You know, for all those years I ignored you and how I treated you. I'm sorry."

Buffy smiled slightly. " Its okay."

"No it isn't. I mean how can you be nice to me, after all I've done to you.", Spike asked in disbelief.

" I forgive you. It doesn't matter what happened in the past. All that matters is what is happening now.", Buffy spoke, taking his hand.

" Are we friends?", he asked hesitantly. Buffy smiled, gently taking his hand in hers.

"Yeah. We're friends."

Spike softly smiled back. 'Cor, she's so beautiful.'

" Well, we better get back to work.", Buffy said, picking up her book.

Spike's smile was quickly replaced by a scowl. " Bugger this.", he stood up and picked up his duster, that Buffy gave back to him earlier.

Buffy frowned. "Where are you going?"

"Don't you mean where are we going?", he asked, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief.

"We?", Buffy asked. "What do you mean we?"

"I want to take you somewhere.", Spike grinned.

"Where?"

"I'm not telling you. It's a surprise."

"What makes you think I'm going with you?", Buffy asked, crossing her arms.

Spike took her hand. "Come on." and before Buffy could reply they were out of his room.

When they got to his car, Buffy spun around facing him. "We're not going. We have a lot of studying to do. We can't just leave."

Spike groaned. "Come on. Don't you ever get out and have some fun? Its called having a social life."

Buffy glared at him. "Well have you ever heard of something called, graduating?"

Spike sulked. "Please?"

Buffy trying hard to keep glaring, but started to soften when she looked into his eyes. She knew she was going to totally regret this later. "Okay, fine, but I still don't like this."

Spike grinned and said nothing.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Oz and Angel stared at her. "So, you mean that chick was Buffy?", Angel slowly said.

Faith nodded, taking another swing at her beer.

" And you slapped your own sister?", Oz asked.

Faith flinched at those words, but slowly nodded. Angel and Oz glanced at each other. Faith had just told the both of them the whole story that had happened. About Buffy getting a make-over, she slapping her, she trying to apologize, etc. They both couldn't just believe they hadn't known until she told them.

"So, then Spike ran after her.", Angel said.

"Yeah."

Oz opened his mouth to say something, then just closed it.

Faith frowned. "Were you going to say something?"

Oz hesitated but then said, "Are you jealous?"

Faith stared at him ,taken aback, "What? No. Of my sister? Of course not. What would I be jealous of?"

"Its just that you know. Spike being friends with Buffy."

"Spike is not friends with Buffy.", Faith protested. "I'm his best friend. I would know."

Oz shrugged. "Well he did run after her at the party, and gave her a ride home."

"Probably did it out of pity.", Faith said.

" Okay, whatever. I'm just wondering you know.", Oz said. Faith looked around the room, uncomfortably. She didn't know why the words Oz said, were haunting her. Maybe what he said was true, but she didn't know. The loud music of the Bronze were distracting her thoughts, and she was glad. She wanted to be distracted. 'Hell with this. I'm supposed to be having fun and all I'm doing is moping about.'

"I think you should give her some time.", Angel spoke.

"What?", Faith said, waking up from her thoughts.

"I think you should give her some time.", Angel repeated. " Sometimes forgiving people is hard."

Faith sighed. "Yeah, whatever. I'm going off to get a drink." She walked off, heading toward the bar, thinking about everything her friends had said.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~~*~~*~*~

"Okay, close your eyes.", Spike said.

"What? No.", Buffy protested.

"Come on. Its going to ruin the whole thing if you don't."

Buffy groaned. "Fine, alright.", she covered her eyes with her hands. Spike led her through a couple of tomb stones, making sure she didn't trip on one, then stopped. "Okay ,can I open my eyes now?", Buffy asked.

"Not yet, luv.", he opened the door of the crypt and took her inside.

Buffy was curious as hell, to find out what he was so excited to show her. She was a bit distracted though, with his warm hands on her shoulders.

"Okay, you can open now."

Buffy opened her eyes, to find herself in a dimly lit room. "Okay…what is this place?"

"Its my crypt.", Spike said.

"Crypt?", Buffy repeated.

"Yeah, I found this place, one day after I was walking through this cemetery.", Spike said, nervous of what she thought.

Buffy's back was to him, so he couldn't see her reaction or expression. She was slowly walking around, as if she was inspecting the place.

"I come here sometimes. Sometimes to think, or just to get out of the house. ", Spike spoke.

Buffy saw a couple of his belongings on the floor. "It looks like you live here."

"Well I come here often."

Buffy turned around to him. "This is so cool.", she grinned.

Spike relieved, said, "You don't think its kind of weird?"

"No. Well, I guess it kind of is, since its in a cemetery, but I think its kind of cool. Its like having your own place. Have you told anyone else of this place?"

"No. No one except you."

"Not even Faith?"

"Nope."

Buffy watched him. " So, why are you showing me this place? I mean why am I the first person to see your crypt?"

That was the question that had been in his head. Why was he showing Buffy his private and secretive place? Spike shrugged. "I guess because I knew you wouldn't laugh at me or think it was creepy."

Buffy smiled. "Well, I'm glad I'm your first person to see your crypt."

Spike was mesmerized by her. She was beautiful, smart, and witty. 'But she doesn't feel that way back, you bloke.', the voice at the back of his head said. He knew that. Why would Buffy like a guy like him? He shook his head, sadly and smiled back weakly at her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~~*~~*~*~*~~*~*~~*~*~

"Buffy did you hear about the new librarian?", Willow asked, playing with her school lunch. She had , unfortunately ,forgot to bring her lunch, so she had to buy one. It didn't resemble anything that looked like food.

"Librarian?", Buffy repeated.

"Yeah, there's a new librarian.", Xander said.

"Whatever happened to Mr. Aidan?", she asked.

"He retired early."

"Oh, well I guess I'll meet him this afternoon.", Buffy replied, sipping her grape juice. "I need to research on my history paper. What's his name?"

Willow shrugged. "I don't know. Something with a M."

Buffy nodded. "I'll tell you his name, when I meet him."

"Hey, where were you last night?", Xander asked. "I called you a million times, but all I got was the machine."

"I was at Spike's remember."

"Yeah, but it was 9. You should've been done, a long time ago.", Xander said.

Buffy sighed. She didn't want to her friends about her and Spike's friendship. They probably hate her, but she couldn't keep it a secret from them. That would make her feel guilty. But on the other time, now just didn't seem the time to tell them. "I must've been asleep. I was exhausted when I came home, so I just fell asleep.", she lied.

"Okay, I was just wondering.", Willow and Xander accepted it.

Like Buffy said before, she hated lying.

~*~*~*~*~*~~*~~*~*~~*~*~~*~~*~*~*~~*~~*~*

Walking and reading are non-mixy things. Buffy walked through the empty halls of her school, her face stuck on a book. She walked on, not really watching where she was going, slammed right into someone.

"Ow..", she moaned.

" Are you okay, luv?"

Buffy smiled to herself mentally. She could recognize that voice anywhere. " God, Spike don't you ever watch where you're going?", she asked, pretending to be mad.

Spike smirked. " And don't you know that it's a hazard to read and walk at the same time?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. Spike helped her up, handing her book to her. " The Great Gatsby.", he read. " Is it good?"

"Yeah.", Buffy nodded. " You should read it."

Spike stared at her. "I hate school and literature. What makes you think I read a book for fun."

Buffy rolled her eyes again. "True."

"Where are heading off to?", he asked.

"The library."

" Oh. Why?"

" History paper.", she replied.

Spike nodded. " Okay, well I guess I'll see you later. Angel is waiting for me outside."

Buffy smiled. "Okay, see you later."

Spike started to leave, but then turned back around. He hesitated but said loudly. "Wait."

Buffy turned around, with a bit puzzled look on her face. "Yeah?"

'Bloody hell. Just ask her out. You've done that a million times before.' He took in a deep breath. "I'm just wondering if you like to go out with me sometime."

Buffy raised any eyebrow. "Go out? As in a date?"

"What, no. I mean just you know as friends. Like hang out.", Spike said quickly. He immediately regretted it. 'That's not you want, you bloody pounce.'

Buffy gave a little smile, surprised. "Uh, sure. That sounds cool."

"Okay then..well.", Spike began.

"We better get going.", Buffy finished. Spike nodded and started to leave again. 'Hang out? God, I'm such a whelp.' he shook his head. 'Why am I getting all stuttery after her anyway. She's no different than any other girl I met.' The question left unanswered, he left it alone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

'I am so stupid to think that Spike would actually ask me out. As if.', Buffy thought to herself. 'I mean why would he like me if he could have any girl he wanted?' She opened the door of the library. She was greeted by a old man in a suit. He stood in front of her.

"Um, hi. I'm just here to research on some stuff for a paper.", Buffy said, with a confused expression on her face. The man didn't budge. Instead he was glancing at her, raising an eyebrow. "Do you think you could , uh, move. Not to sound mean or anything but-"

The man interrupted her. " Is presume your name is Ms. Buffy Summer."

Buffy gave him a look of suspicion. "Who wants to know."

" So I'm guessing you are.", he said, inspecting her from head to toe.

Buffy glared at him, crossing her arms. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

" I never expected you to be so….vulnerable-looking.", he said in distaste.

Buffy opened his mouth wide open, in shock. 'How dare he.' "Vulnerable-looking? Who the hell are you to be saying I'm vulnerable- looking?"

" Its not very attractive to have you mouth gaping about like that.", he spoke.

Buffy clenched her fists, almost ready to give the old man a piece of her mind. "Look, Mister-I think-I-can-boss-everyone-around."

"Merrick."

Buffy gave a blank stare. "Huh? Whats a merrick?"

He rolled his eyes. " My name is Merrick. Its not Mister-I think-I-can-boss-everyone-around."

Buffy glared at him. "Does it look like I care what your name is? Look, I'm just here to find some stuff on my history paper. Not here to get insulted by a rude middle-aged tweed-wearing man."

He raised his eyes higher in amusement. " Oh really. I never expected you to be pig-headed too."

"Expected me? Why were you expecting me?"

"Ah, now we're getting somewhere.", he smiled.

" Getting somewhere?", Buffy said. "Look Merrick. I have no idea what you're doing here but-"

"I'm the librarian.", he replied.

Buffy stared at him with a horrified look upon her. "You're the librarian? You're the man that replaced Mr.Aidan? Has the school gone nuts?"

" Apparently so. Look lets get to the chase here."

"Look, I know tak-won-do so, if you try anything funny-"

He rolled his eyes, sighing. " I'm not going to hurt you."

"What do you want?"

"I'm your watcher.", he simply replied.

" A what? Whats a watcher?", she asked. Her eyes widened. "You're not a stalker are you?"

"what?", Merrick said in disbelief. "Of course I'm not."

" Than whats a watcher? Because from the sound of it, it doesn't sound anything good.", she asked, waiting for him to answer.

"You are the Vampire Slayer.", he told her, his face completely going serious.

"What?", she said, waiting for him to say something that indicated he was joking.

" You are a Vampire Slayer.", he repeated.

"Listen, I'm not here for jokes. I'm here to do something important.", she said rolling her eyes. " Vampires Slayers.", she muttered to herself. "As if." She walked past him, but Merrick pulled her back.

"Listen, I'm not joking."

" Don't' touch me.", she snapped.

Merrick sighed. "Please hear me out. I know it really hard to believe but hear me out."

Buffy glared at him. "Fine, but if you lay, so much a finger, on me, I'm going to make sure you never get to see the day light again."

"Deal. You are the Vampire Slayer. The one to slay the evil in the world, or to be more specific here. The hell mouth."

"Okay what the hell are you talking about?", Buffy demanded looking at her new librarian, as if he was delirious.

"I said you're the one."

"One for what?"

"The one to fight the demons and vampires. You are the Chosen One.", Merrick said slowly, with a dead

serious look on his face.

" Please tell me you are kidding."

" Sadly, I'm not.", Merrick said slowly. "Look, I'll explain it better tonight. I'll prove it to you."

"And what makes you think I'm going? You could be a psycho child-molesters for all I know.", she said.

" Please.", he pleaded, with a weary look. " Just trust me on this."

Buffy stared at him. " Why would I trusts you. I don't even know you."

" This is just one of those things, you let your instincts take over.", he said. " Just show up tonight and you'll believe me."

Buffy didn't know what made her change her mind. She certainly didn't like Merrick, but he did seem sincere and he didn't look like the psycho type. She sighed. "Vampires and Demons are real?"

A/N: Hey guys!! I'm having a bit of a hard time writing the 8th chapter, but I'll make it through. I hope you guys liked the chapter! Pretty Please review with sprinkles on top?? Haha :^)

Look out for the next chapter which is coming out soon, I hope.

~*~Di~*~