Chapter 5: A Night With Friends

In the two months since that day in the alley Buffy and Spike had
grown increasingly close. They talked about everything, she knew that
she could tell him anything and she wouldn't judge. That day he had
walked her home and she had told him all about where her mom had
gotten the idea that she was a slut.

'It was a year ago, my fifteenth birthday. I had started Sunnydale
High, I was new here and I wanted people to like me. Well, that
didn't last long because I met Xander and Willow and we just clicked.
I needed real friends, but I did still rebel. My parents had broken
up about six months or so before and I was hurt." she confided
quietly "I met this guy and he was nice, at least I thought he was.
My friends warned me against him because he was popular but I didn't listen. I was so sure he was a good guy." she couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh, looking back on it now she couldn't believe that she thought so. They spotted a bench and decided to sit for a moment until she finished.

"So what happened?" he asked.

"Well, we went out for about two months when I was fourteen. On my fifteenth birthday a girl, popular girl invited me to a party, just
because of Owen. Willow got to go too. It was a sleepover. It was
boys and girls obviously. So rebellious me, thinking I could trust
Owen agreed to go to a separate room with him for a while to make
out. But that's not exactly how things went".

Spike's jaw clenched, he had a vision of what she could say next and
he was afraid to ask, but he couldn't help himself "Did he..?" he
couldn't finish the question, unable to say the word.

Buffy looked at him with tenderness in her eyes "No, he didn't rape
me," she assured him "but he did manage to persuade me to sleep with him. He knew exactly what I wanted to hear and I was hurt and wanted to be loved because at that point I didn't think I was. To be honest, I still don't."

Spike turned and put his hands on her shoulders, making sure that she
was looking at him.

"Buffy, you are loved. Your mum loves you, I'm sure of it, she just
misunderstands you and has wrong ideas about the kind of girl you
are, but she's still your mum. She loves you." he was trying hard to
convince her, and himself too.

She smiled at him "Thank you." it came out as nothing more than a
whisper but it was most definitely heartfelt.

Nothing more was said, the just stood up and walked the rest of the
way home. Where he met her mom and sister. Joyce looked him up and down and automatically came to the conclusion that he was no good, based solely on the clothes that he wore. Dawn, Buffy's sister liked him straight away. Joyce walked over to them.

"Buffy Anne Summers you should have been home ages ago." she said angrily.

"I'm sorry." she muttered, eyes facing the ground.

"Mrs Summers," Spike cut in "that was my fault, I insisted that Buffy
join me for a coffee after her session as a treat. She did really
well today. She deserved it."

"Well, William, you may think so but she didn't let me know and that
will not be tolerated." she told him.

Spike felt compelled to defend the girl again..

"I'm very sorry, I didn't think. I take full responsibility for it.
But you should know Buffy is very bright"

Joyce was suspicious, what could he know he looked like a thug.

"Yes well, let me ask, what is it that you do?"

"Um, well, I study creative writing and history at UC Sunnydale." he
informed her "I love to write, I hope to be a writer or a teacher of
English when I get my degree." he smirked inside knowing exactly what the woman thought even if she didn't say it.

After that Joyce's opinion of him changed drastically and she broke
out into a smile.

"Well that's wonderful" she gushed "Dawn, come here and meet William."

The young girl ran over with a wide smile, stopping in front of Spike
she waved a hand at him and Joyce gave the introduction.

"William this is Buffy's sister Dawn, Dawn this is William."

"Please call me Spike." he insisted

Dawn giggled, it was obvious she had a crush on him.

"Hey Spike, I like your hair." she complimented, a slight blush
rising in her cheeks. Buffy looked on in amusement.

"Thanks bit, well I better get going, I'll see you the day after
tomorrow Buffy." he smiled and waved as he walked off in the
direction of his own house.

"Well," Joyce stated "looks like I was wrong this morning. I highly
doubt William would be interested in you. I think he probably has
higher standards." she walked away.

Buffy went inside and the tears fell her mother just looked at her
and Buffy had had enough, she snapped.

"Why do you hate me?" she screamed "What could i have possibly done?"

"Don't speak to me like that Buffy." Joyce reprimanded her daughter.

"Mom, I don't get it." she whimpered.

"Well then let me explain. You dress like a whore about to go to work on a street corner. You sleep around. You fail most of your classesand for the best part of a year you were completely defiant of
everything I said." the woman yelled.

"But I didn't, I don't. I slept with one person mom, and yes it was a
mistake, but I was hurt, I wanted to feel loved. I know what you've
heard mom, but it isn't true. The wrong people found out and rumours started but it's not true. At least give me a chance." she begged.

Her mother looked at her pitifully.

"Buffy, I don't know if I can trust you."

"Try please, give me the opportunity to prove that you can." her
voice was desperate. Her mother sighed.

"Ok, but I'm giving you one chance. I will give you the benefit of
the doubt. You better redeem yourself." she warned.

"Thank you." Buffy whispered. It was all she wanted. The chance to
show her mom that she wasn't as bad as she seemed to think."

Things had been better since then, not perfect, but better. There
were still arguments but not as many, but she knew her mom still
didn't really trust her. Spike and she had become more and more
attracted to one another but nothing had happened, neither of them
wanted to risk the friendship they had built in the past couple of
months. But Buffy would admit, she wanted to be with him. She was
falling for him. Unlike before she knew that Spike actually cared
about her. She was thinking about that day while he was at the
counter getting drinks, at the end of their Saturday tutoring
session. She snapped to attention when she saw him coming towards her from the corner of her.

He knew she was thinking about something, she was tapping her fingers on the table the way she always did when she was lost in thought, but he also knew that she had noticed him coming. He sat the warm mugs on the table.

"What you thinking about blondie?" he asked, sitting down.

"Nothing."

"Liar."

"Ok," she said "I was just thinking about how things have been better
with mom recently."

"I'm glad." he said honestly, smiling warmly at her. While thinking
how much he wanted to kiss, well more accurately how he wanted to
bend her over the table and screw her brains out, but he would stick
to the kissing for now. Not that either was happening.

"So, where is your mom today?" he inquired.

"Oh she and Dawn are in LA this weekend." she told him.

"Oh yeah, that interview."

A sad look came over her face as she thought about where her mother
was. Her mother had been thinking about taking a job in LA for about
the last month, but Buffy didn't want to go back. She couldn't bear
to leave, she was finally happy again and she couldn't bear to lose
her friends or Spike. But, it was up to her mom.

"Yep, that one. She said she hasn't decided what she'll do if she
gets it. But she wants to try anyway. I don't want to go." she said
quietly.

"And I don't want you to." he admitted shyly.

She smiled, "Thanks, but hey, we don't know what's going to happen so let's not think about it. Willow and Xander are coming over to watch movies later. Want to come?" she offered, pouting a little so that he couldn't refuse.

The minute he saw her pout his mind was made up for him.

"Sure."

"Great," she exclaimed "come by around seven. I need to go."

She stood up, grabbing her bag she gave him a kiss on the cheek as a
means of saying goodbye and ran for the door.

Spike sat back in his seat and sighed. Nothing had even happened
between them and he was whipped. This was going to be a great night.
Joyce Summers smiled at the man behind the desk. She had a good
feeling about this. She may not have made her mind up for sure yet,
but she was fairly certain what she wanted to do. The girls wanted to
stay in Sunnydale, but she also wanted to take the opportunity. All
she needed was the push that would make her decision. She held her
hand out to shake the hand of her would be employer.

"Thank you, Mr. Jones. I'll get back to you really soon." she smiled
once more and left.

Back in the reception area Dawn jumped to her feet..

"Mom, Janice just called, she's having a sleepover and I really want
to go, do we have to stay here all weekend." she whined.

"Dawn". Joyce started to object, but stopped. Thinking for a moment
her niggling doubts about Buffy came back to her. She was trying to
keep her end of the deal, but she just didn't know if she trusted
Buffy alone in the house alone all weekend. She looked at Dawn and
saw the hopeful look on her face, with a loud sigh she agreed.

"Ok, we can go home. I'll call the girls see if they want to go out
for a meal. Buffy has her friends coming over for movies. Let's go."

They walked out of the building to her parked car and got in. Driving
towards the highway to make their way back to Sunnydale.

Buffy opened the door to find Willow and Xander on the doorstep.

"Hey Buff." they chorused in an eerily cheery tone.

"Hi guys," she greeted, looking at them as if trying to decipher
their good mood "You guys are awfully cheerful." she observed.

"Are we?" Xander looked confused, Buffy couldn't tell if he was
faking it or not. She made her way back to the living room and the
others followed closing the door behind them.

"Sit down get comfortable." she ordered.

They did as the were told and Buffy spoke again.

"Oh by the way," the sound of the doorbell interrupted her "Spike's
coming" she finished as she went to let him in.

She opened the door with a wide smile.

"Hi Spike." she greeted.

He gave her a smile, the same shy smile that he saved only for her.
It seemed that she was the only person that he didn't play his bad
guy persona to.

"Hey Buffy." he remained standing on the doorstep while Buffy waited for him to come in. However he didn't want to do so without her invite. She soon realised and smiled at him again.

"Come in, Spike."

He smiled back as he crossed into the hallway.

"Come on through. The others are here." she told him. He followed
close behind her into the living room.

When he got to the living room he saw a dorky brunette boy and a cute red head. Making out on the couch. Spike looked at Buffy and thought that if her eyes got any wider they would fall out of her head. Spike had to fight to suppress the bark of laughter that was fighting to
get out. The other two teens were oblivious to their presence in the
room. It became obvious to Spike that Buffy was unable to do
anything, so he cleared his throat, letting them know that they had
company and smirked when he saw them jump apart.

"What? How? Huh?" was the most complex thing that Buffy could think of to say and Spike couldn't help it he laughed. The other three
glared at him.

"What?" he asked through his laughter "Well you lot should see your
faces. It's bloody funny."

"Spike," Buffy scolded "It's not funny, I just caught my two best
friends making out."

"Yeah, pity your two best friends aren't female," he leered "now that
would be fun to watch." Buffy slapped him on the shoulder.

"Ok, bleach boy, that's enough from you. I changed my mind we're not watching movies tonight."

The others thinking that she was angry or upset with them were going
to apologise, but they never got the chance. Buffy had an idea on how
to find some things out.

"No, we're going to play ten fingers," she announced "and every time
you lose a finger, you have to explain what happened in the situation
the thing is related to." she announced.

The others groaned and Spike was quick to protest.

"Buffy, I don't think that's such a great idea. I mean I'm older than
you so..." he left the question hanging, knowing that they probably
knew what he meant but he wasn't getting away with it that easily.

"Oh no you don't mister. We are all playing." she told him, her voice
telling him she was serious. He nodded in muted agreement.

"Great." she chirped "Okay. Well Wills, Xander you guys move
everything out of the way so we have room on the floor. Spike helme
get snacks and all that stuff." she instructed.

Ten minutes later the four were sitting in a circle, Buffy was about
to start the game when Xander spoke.

"Don't we need more people?"

"Nope, we'll make do. Now let's start. Wills you go."

The shy redhead tried to think of something. It wasn't that she had
done many things, she just didn't want to sound like a baby in front
of Spike, having one very little.

"Um, I've never had a one night stand," she mouthed an apology to

Buffy, as she watched her friend and Spike put down a finger. Xander
waited patiently for the story.

"You guys all know my story." she mumbled.

All eyes turned to Spike, who looked sheepish.

"Um well, do I have to?" he looked at Buffy who gave him a look that told him he did "Well, I've had more than one." he admitted "Um, one with a girl, she was at a college party. Harmony, really annoying but I'd just been dumped and I was hurt so it happened." the other three shared a look saying that they were all thinking the same thing.

"Was that a girl from your college Spike?" asked Xander.

"Yeah, she was doing design, so I never see her around."

"Um Spike, what was her surname?" came Buffy's voice.

"Um, it began with a K. Oh, Kendall."

The three teens looked at each other and broke into simultaneous
laughter.

"What!?" exclaimed the confused bleach blonde.

"Um Spike, Harmony Kendall doesn't go to UC Sunnydale." Buffy
informed him.

"What does she live near here or something, you know her?"

"Something like that." sniggered Xander earning himself an elbow in
the gut from Willow.

"No, she doesn't live around here. I do have a few classes with her
though." Buffy told him with a grimace..

Spike choked on the water he had just taken a sip of.

"Wh, What?" he stammered.

"Spike Harmony goes to school with us." She repeated patting his
shoulder, part of her wanted to laugh and the other felt sorry for
him.

"Oh God" he groaned "I'm a monster. I slept with an underage girl."

"Spike, it wasn't your fault. Quite frankly Harmony is a big slut.
She lied to you."

"I know but."

"No buts" she shushed him "it happened but she lied. Don't blame
yourself." she ran her hand up and down his back to comfort him.

Willow and Xander watched the affection between them and shared a
smile. Xander was still worried, but Spike seemed to genuinely care.

A few minutes later Spike decided to get the game back on track, try
and forget the previous question.

"Ok it's my turn." he yelled.

Everyone turned their attention to him and waited, an evil smirk
covered his features.

"I've never cum in my pants." the question was directed at Xander, he
couldn't help himself. Everyone burst out laughing, everyone except
Xander anyway, when he put his finger down.

Red faced Buffy asked him to share.

"You're evil." he shot at Spike.

"What can I tell you? I've always been bad." he smirked.

Grumbling Xander started his story.

"Well, Faith," Willow bristled hearing the name, Xander offered no
explanation as to who she was, quite frankly Spike didn't care "well
at the Bronze, she followed me to the bathroom. I had that crush on
her and she had been writhing around all night, and I was hard as
nails. I went to the bathroom and locked myself in a stall, and I was
jerking off furiously. Well next thing I know there's a loud knock on
the door and I jump, I then learned that I hadn't locked the door
like I thought. I hadn't stopped so when the door came flying open
she saw everything. I was so embarrassed. Anyway, I put my pants back on. She said some stuff and did some stuff and then left. I followed her to where she was dancing and she was writhing again. Next thing I know she's pressed up against me and I was getting closer and closer while I watched her. Next thing I know she grinds herself into me, and I couldn't stop. I blew." by the time a crimson faced Xander finishes the rest of the group is laughing hysterically.

The rest of the evening continued in a similar fashion. It was filled
with laughter and stories and generally just four friends having a
good time. By 11.30 though everyone was leaving. Spike offered to
stay and help Buffy clean up, and she gladly accepted. So after
saying their goodbyes they were back in the living room.

"Thanks for offering to help Spike."

"No problem. I helped make the mess in all the fun." he grinned.

"I really do appreciate your help though Spike. And I don't just mean
the cleaning."

Spike turned to look at her "Buffy, I love helping you. I love
spending time with you, I love you." he halted. He put a hand to his
mouth not able to believe what he had just said. Was it true though.
He had never really thought about it . He knew he cared about her and
had a crush on her. But thinking about it now, yes, he did love her.
Buffy was looking at him in wide eyed astonishment, she had dreamed
of him saying those words but never imagined he actually would. She
knew that she had to be honest with him.

"Spike, you have no idea how much hearing you say that means. But I
can't help thinking about..."

"I'm not him, Buffy. I don't just want sex from you. In fact you're
too young I don't want a repeat."

This time Buffy interrupted.

"Spike, difference is I haven't lied to you. I'm not her. I want you,
the whole package." she told him..

He inched closer taking her chin in his fingers and pulling her to
him.

"Are you sure Buffy?" he asked, he had to be sure, even though he
knew that the age thing, not the difference, but her being sixteen
was wrong. If she was sure and she felt the same way, then he
wouldn't fight it.

"I'm sure, I love you too, Spike."

That was all he needed. He brought his lips to hers in an earth
shattering kiss.

A/N: DUM DUM DUM. What did you think? Am I Evil? Let me know what u think.