15 Minutes of Fame

Chapter 7

UCLA Campus…

Buffy could hear the phone ringing from outside her door. She scrambled to insert her key into the hole and unlock her door. 'Please don't hang up, I'm coming!' She twisted the knob forcefully and threw the door open. She dashed to the phone and picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Mornin luv."

"Spike? Hey, how's it going? Did you get my message?" Buffy asked, suddenly very excited.

"Yeah I got it," Spike said. "I just called to read you something."

"Read me something?" Buffy asked. "No offense Spike but I've done just about enough reading for the rest of my life."

"Just listen," Spike said laughing, "This is straight out of the Examiner. Ah hem," he started, "'While his actual time on stage was limited," he read, "newcomer William O'Conner, a student at the prestigious Academy of Theater and Arts, delivered a wonderful performance as the witty and charismatic servant Eliot. We'll be looking for bigger and better things out of this one, so keep your eyes peeled.' Can you believe that?"

"Oh my God," Buffy said excited. "Spike, that's completely awesome. You're like a real actor now. Congratulations!"

"Thanks," Spike said. He took a deep breath and mentally prepared himself for the next step. "So I was thinking…umm…" 'C'mon mate, you're blowing it.' "I was just wondering if you'd want to come out here over Thanksgiving break."

"Oh wow," Buffy said, taken back. 'He wants me to come out there? Out to New York City?'

"C'mon, I'll show you the city. We can go to the big parade, I know a great little restaurant where we can get dinner, it'll be a good time. What d'ya say?"

Buffy thought for a minute. "But where will I stay?" she asked. "I mean, are there any hotels near the campus?"

"No need for a hotel luv," Spike laughed. "My roommate's going back to Chicago for the holiday. He already said you can have his bed."

'Wow, he's really got this all planned out. I guess it could be fun.' "That's sounds like a lot of fun," Buffy said. "I'll check with the parentals, but I think they should be okay with it."

"That's great!" Spike said. He stood up and did a short-lived victory dance as Xander stared in amusement. "I'll call you back when I have more specific details."

"Alright, I'll talk to you later Spike," Buffy said.

"Okay," Spike said. "Bye Buffy."

"You're going where?" Willow asked.

"I told Spike that I would come visit him in New York City over Thanksgiving break," Buffy answered. "We're gonna watch the parade and tour the city. It'll be fun."

"That sounds so romantic," Willow said.

"Romantic?" Buffy wondered. "Spike? Spike being romantic…I just can't imagine that."

"But isn't that why you're going?" Willow asked. "To spend time with him. In a romantic sense?"

"Oh God no!" Buffy laughed. "Please Spike and I are just friends. Nothing more."

"Okay, if you say so," Willow teased.

"Wills please, it's Spike," Buffy argued. "He's been my best friend since junior high. He's like a brother to me."

"And isn't that how it always starts in the movies?"

"Well…"Buffy thought for a moment. 'She has a point there. That's how all these movies go—NO! Oh my God, this is Spike, Buffy! Snap out of it!' "Sure that's how the movies work, but those are just movies. That stuff doesn't really happen. Does it?"

"I don't know," Willow smiled. "I hear a lot of those romantic films are based on actual events."

Buffy paused for a moment, a million thoughts floating through her mind. "No way," she finally said. "C'mon we're gonna be late for Psych."

New York City…

"So let me get this straight," Xander laughed. "You told her that she could stay in my bed because I was going back to Chicago for the holiday?" Spike nodded in confirmation. "Spike, I'm not even from Chicago!"

"I know that," Spike said. "But I had to tell her something. I don't want her in some hotel room in lower Manhattan. God only knows what would happen to her there!"

"Okay I get the whole worrying thing," Xander said. "But meanwhile, where am I supposed to stay for the weekend?"

"I don't know," Spike said beginning to pace around the room. "Why don't you talk to your friend down the hall? What's his name? His roommate is never there anyhow."

"Ray?" Xander asked. "I guess I could ask him. I just can't believe you told this girl that she could have my bed."

"Well I really couldn't ask her to come out here and then tell her that she was going to be sharing my bed with me, could I?" Spike asked. Immediately Xander's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "That was rhetorical," Spike said.

"I'm just sayin, it couldn't hurt to suggest it. You never know what might happen."

"Buffy's not that kind of girl," Spike said, stepping up to her defense. "She wouldn't be cool with something like that."

Sunnydale, California…

Joyce had found a moment of peace at the hectic art gallery she ran, and sat down deciding to check her email. 'Let's see here, lower your mortgage, consolidate your bills, escape credit card debt, enlarge your penis?! Where are these people getting my address?' Feeling more and more disgusted as she scanned through the list, Joyce deleted nearly all of the messages, except for those ones from her husband and daughter. 'Let's see what Buffy's got to say, shall we?' Opening the document, Joyce began to read:

Hey mom,
 How's everything in good old Sunnydale? Still boring as ever? Thought so.
I have something I need to ask you, and I know you're gonna freak out so please just read ahead at your own risk. I got a call from Spike yesterday, and he invited me to visit NYC over Thanksgiving holiday. It would be such a blast to go and see the city, the big parade, and Spike. So I guess what I'm really asking is, can I go? I know you probably don't like the idea of me wandering around a strange city all alone, but here's the best part: I won't be alone. Spike knows the city pretty well by now and he'll be with me the whole time. Sooo…what do you think? Can I go?
Love you bunches,
Buffy

Joyce stared at her screen for a moment contemplating her response. 'She wants to go to New York City?' she thought. 'Not so sure about that…'

"Joyce," Lorraine called, peaking her head into her boss's office.

"Yes," Joyce answered looking up from her computer.

"There's a Mr. Aaron White here to see you."

"Ah yes," Joyce said suddenly remembering her scheduled appointment. "Tell him I will be right with him." Lorraine nodded and left. Before leaving her office Joyce sent daughter a quick email, promising to discuss the trip with her husband.


Okay, so there's another chapter. Sorry it took so long, but my muse was playing hide-n-go-seek. That thing knows all the good hiding places!