Chapter 13: Seeing Red

Buffy walked to her locker, a tired look clearly registered over her features. Her eyes were half closed, she would give anything for some sleep at this time. But in a few seconds they were stretched open when she saw a peroxide head stalking over her. She clutched her thick math book firmly. Her tired look changed into a horrified one. 'Oh no!! He's coming! What am I gonna do?!?' Buffy stepped back a little. Her eyes grew wide but a slight disappointment was evidently inside them when she saw him fully clothed.

'Big NO to ogling at Spike's body! Bad Buffy, bad bad Buffy!!" Her hands began slamming her forehead with the thick book she'd been holding as if punishing herself. The rhythm became faster as Spike came closer. He grabbed her hands immediately to stop her once he was close enough to reach for her. "Whoa, pet! No need to damage your brain there. Although I can assure you, slamming your head to a locker door is definitely more efficient." He flashed her a sexy grin. Buffy looked up to him and blushed in crimson. 'Oh my god! Even his grin is sexy! Since when did he start doing that sexy grin?!?' She shook the thought off. She tried to come up for a reply when the bell saved her from the tormenting situation she was experiencing.

"Class! I-I-I better go," Buffy piped up and for the first time she was grateful to Snyder for ringing the bell so soon. She gave a tight smile before turning her heels around to go to her next class.

Spike furrowed his brows at Buffy's rushing steps. A smirk tugged at his mouth once he finally had his brain work out the reason for her recent reactions. For the first time ever since they met when they were little, he had never seen her so nervous and tense around him. 'Oh yeah, this is going to be a hell of a ride,' he thought. Taunting Buffy and making her squirm were always on the top of his favorite to-do list.


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"'Ello people!" Spike greeted his gang as he sat next to Buffy. She stiffened when his arm slightly brushed hers along with their thighs. Xander and Willow greeted back with a smile plastered on their faces. "So, where have you been with Cordy, Buff? Got some action going on?" Xander's hands waved in the air, mimicking the word 'action'.

"Huh?!? W-what actions?!?" Buffy stammered, she began fidgeting.

Spike suppressed his chuckle but failed miserably. Willow raised a delicate brow at him while her boyfriend replied to the petite blond.

"Y'know, going to places for photo shots. Who knows you might be offered to be a model like Cordy." Xander gave a 'duh' look.

"Oh. I-I don't think they would give me a thought, Xan." She said in relief. But soon she stiffened again when she heard Spike's comment.

"Yeah, she's more likely to be an observer than be the object of the observation." He chuckled again, feeling amused at Buffy's flushed face. Xander and Willow now gave weird looks to both blonds, not understanding what was going on. "Huh?!?" was all Xander and Willow could come up with. A confused expression still glued on both faces.

"My eyes were partially closed when that happened!" Buffy blurted out, panicking. She widened her eyes as she realized what her words could lead to. 'Oh God! That's just bad!' She tried to add something, but came up with nothing.

Spike pursed his lips together, closing his eyes briefly, clearly struggling to stifle his laughter.

"Again with the 'huh?!?'" Xander asked again, dumbfounded.

"I-I-I have something to do. I'll see you guys later." Buffy quickly packed her bag up and began walking off from her friends, not bothering to wait for a response. Once her retreating form faded, Spike burst into laughter causing the couple to frown at him.

"What's so funny?" Xander glared, he was completely befuddled and felt irritated at the apparent secret Spike held from him. Spike was his male best friend and he never hid anything from him, even the most 'exclusive' stuffs. Spike would confess everything, anything just like he would do that to him. Willow, on the other hand, made a mental note to herself to dig in the tales Buffy hadn't told her.

"Nothing, mate. Nothing at all." With that, he sauntered to the exit door, leaving two very puzzled teenagers.


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Buffy rummaged her locker, throwing her books inside more harshly than she intended to. She muttered incoherently under her breath, scowling at her stupid reactions around Spike. As she closed her locker door, Buffy yelped and jumped a little when she saw him leaning against the nearby locker, arms crossing over his chest and a cocky smirk tugging at his mouth. She took a deep breath wryly, both because he sneaked up on her AND because of the way he stood, looking extremely irresistible and manly.

"Do you know there's this little ritual where one needs to announce one's presence when he/she comes near his/her friends?" She scolded, sending a death glare to him.

"Sorry, luv. Doesn't apply to me." He shrugged his shoulders indifferently.

Buffy watched him cautiously as she spoke again, "H-how long have you been standing there?" She silently prayed that he didn't hear her babbling too clearly. She could die if he continued tormenting her with that embarrassing incident, and with the way she reacted towards him in these last 15 hours.

"Long enough to hear you mumbling about something being stupid and not your fault. I'm taking it this is 'bout last night, innit?" His grin grew wider when she blushed furiously. She tried to keep her heartbeat steady while she lowered her head for a moment.

"You're not gonna let this go so easy, are you?" She sighed wearily, her eyes pleading in desperation to let the matter go.

"Why should I? When I can watch you squirm like those tiny worms…" He tilted his head to the side and bit his bottom lip to contain his amusement.

Buffy scrunched her face at his respond. "Ugh, worms?!? That's just gross, Spike…anyway, that thing last night was stupid a-and embarrassing. So just drop it, okay!" She hurriedly begged again, giving another beseeching look.

His heart melted instantly by her pleading puppy eyes. 'Damn those puppy eyes!' Spike grumbled mutely, he would never be able to resist them. They always made him promise anything to make her feel better. He rolled his eyes and stood straight before he muttered his reply, "Oh bugger! Fine, I drop the case. So stop doing that wounded puppy act!"

Buffy sighed in relief as if loads had been lifted off of her shoulders. She smiled graciously at him. "Thank you. Now, shall we go to our next class?" She gestured towards the left end of the hall. Spike stepped forwards and walked side by side with her, hands inside his duster pockets. There was a brief silent before he said, "I was right, y'know."

"You were right about what?" She turned her head to look at him, a mischievous glint in his eyes and another cocky grin formed across his lips.

"About you being an observer. You do have a potential for that." He laughed when she smacked him on the ribs.