Buffy sat alone in the woods, a lonely tear sliding down her cheek. 'Did that just really happen?' she thought. 'God, am I that dumb? A guy that I have strong feelings for, really strong feelings for, tells me something I've been longing to hear my whole life, and I reply with 'thank you' and then take off? Nice one Buffy, real smooth. If only I could rewind time and say something different.'
"Buffy?!"
She looked up from the ground when she heard the call of her name. Right away she knew it was Spike, who else would it be? She tried to make herself invisible by wrapping her arms around her knees and pulling them up to her chest.
"Buffy?!"
Was she going to reply? She didn't want to face Spike; she couldn't, not after making such a fool of herself in front of him. What would she say? Sorry?
She heard a few branches crunching, and knew that he was growing closer. But she still stayed still, motionless and speechless. As if trying to blend in with her surroundings.
"Buffy, pet, are you okay?"
She could see his feet stop just before hers, and bending down, he came face to face with her. She looked away; her face was probably bright red from embarrassment.
"Buffy, say something," he said, touching her cheek.
"I-. .I don't know what to say," she said. "There's nothing to say except how much of an idiot I am."
"No," he said. "That's not true luv. It's my fault, I'm the idiot. You weren't ready to hear that, I was pushing."
This was her chance to tell him how she felt, but she couldn't find the courage to say it. She stood up, wiping the dirt off her jeans. Spike stood up too, looking at her with concern.
"Do you remember the way back?" she asked, laughing oddly. "Cause I don't."
"Yeah, 's this way," he said, taking her hand.
She protested slightly, but allowed him to lead her. She didn't want to get too close to him. She was only going to be here for two months, and if she fell for him, which she knew she would, her heart would only be broken in the end.
The night went by quick. As soon as they had gotten back, Buffy had curled up and fell asleep instantly. She didn't know why she was reacting this way. She wasn't mad at him, if anything, she thought him to be mad at her. After all, he was the one with the reason.
Buffy woke up, stretched and sat up. She looked around, forgetting that she was in the middle of the forest. Spike was saddling up the horses, and he looked over at her when he heard her mumble something.
"You're awake," he said.
"What time is it?" she asked, standing.
"Eight o clock. We should be heading back now. I know where we are. I took a ride out to the main road, it isn't far from here, only a five minute ride at the most," he said.
"I'm sorry about last night Spike, I don't know what came over me," she said. "Probably just my stupidness kicking in."
"Stop putting yourself down," he said. "'S not good for the skin."
"Please," she said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Don't be mad at me."
He turned around, taking her hand in his. "I'm not mad at you luv, so stop thinking it. I was wrong to say what I said, I'm sorry."
"You're not the one who should be apologizing. I should've told you that I love-. ."
"Buffy, I love you. I'm not telling you to love me back. I'm just not one to keep my feelings inside. Life's too short," he said, handing her the reigns while he went to collect the blankets.
She stood there, still thinking about what he had said. 'Life's too short'. Life isn't going to wait for you. And its not going to last forever. You only have one chance to live in that one moment, and then its gone. 'Unless of course, you have some kind of time machine,' Buffy thought. 'Whoever has that would be like. . Immortal.'
"All set luv?" he asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.
She nodded and handed him his reigns before mounting Rocket. She waited for Spike to get Black into a trot before following along behind him quietly, thinking to herself.
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