A/N: I wanna thank everyone who has reviewed so far but want to personally answer one review.

Anyanka0705 I'm sorry if you thought i was only writing for reviews. That is not what i'm doing. I wrote this story because i love the idea and it has been my favourite story to write so far, i am a huge spuffy fan. But, by asking for a certain number of reviews it isn't to boost my ego ior because i want just reviews. Of course reviews are nics, but i ask for a certain number of reviews because i want to know that people are reading and enjoying the story. Because if they don't i would much rather start on a new story that people will be more interested in. As i say i love the story. I am glad you enjoy it and hope you keep reading.(I hope you don't think this is rude, that's not my intention, i just wanted to explain why i ask for a certain number of reviews.)

Everyone plz, plz, plz, review

Chapter 9

On Tuesday morning when Buffy awoke Spike popped into her mind. She had been thinking of him a lot since the previous night. She he felt some sort of connection to him. It had felt really good when he opened up a bit more. He still was keeping things a little guarded but it was a start. Giles had told her that he didn't speak about what had happened, and it felt nice to think that she was the one he was beginning to talk to about it. And there was no denying that he was good looking; the man was was gorgeous, he had amazing eyes and they showed so much expression. She had time before she met him at noon, but she wated to stop by the Magic Box and see Xander and the others for a while, she had a funny feeling that they would all be there again. But first she was going to have a bath.

Willow and Xander stood huddled in the corner while Tara once again helped Anya behind the register. Xander was asking how her conversation had gone with Tara about wanting to move to Sunnydale

"I didn't tell her" Willow admitted almost sadly "i was going to but then Buffy came in and i lost my nerve"

"She needs to be told Willoaw" Xander insisted

"I know, but i'm scared. I love Tara so much, but i really like it here. I just don't know how to tell her"

Xander put a comforting arm around her

"You just have to be honest. Honesty is the best policy."

"Yeah, i guess" Willow reluctantly agreed "i'll talk to her later"

"Ok, but seeing as Tara is helping out here today, you wanna go do something. Go to the pier and have some fun at the shows?" he gave her a cheeky smile, knowing it never failed to persuade

"Ok. Sounds fun"

The bell above the door rang signalling Buffy's entrance

"Hey guys" she called out, as she walked further into the store, taking a seat at the table that was set up there

"Hey Buffy" Willow greeted her friend

"Hey Buff, where you been the past day or so?" Xander asked as he and Willow came to sit beside her at the table.

"Sorry Xan, been kinda busy. Hanging with Will" she told him

"So, you'd rather hang with the hot guy huh?" he said, holding a hand over his heart and pretending to be hurt

"Yup" she said smiling, popping the 'p'

"Fine. But i'm keeping Willow" he said, mocking a child's voice as the two bantered playfully.

The three chatted happily for a while, throwing in some playfullness every now and then. Willow felt happy. She really liked Xander he was a great guy. Buffy shared that opinion, she had no doubt that he would be a great friend.

"So what are you doing today?" Xander asked, directuing the question at Buffy, obviously knowing already what Willow was doing

"Meeting Will" she said. She wasn't giving details. For two reasons 1: because she wasn't sure herslf; 2: because she didn't feel they needed to know "What about you guys?"

"Going to the shows on the pier" Willow filled her in, looking quite excited

"We were there yesterday. It' s pretty cool" she looked at her watch, time to meet Spike "Well i have to go, have fun you two. Bye Tara, bye Anya" she called over her shoulder as she headed for the door.

Buffy and Spike reached the Espresso pump just about the same time. The greeted each other with a quick hey, and then started discussing what they would do that day.

"You wanna grab a coffee to go and the we can decide as we walk?" she asked, already making her way to the counter

"sure"

"What do you want?" she asked him as she took her place in line

"Cappuccino" he requested

"Ok, wait for me over there" sheinstructed pointing to a counter near the door.

She ordered his drink and her own iced latte and took them from the girl at the counter. After thanking her she made her way back to Spike. She handed his drink and they left the coffee shop walking down the street.

"So what are we ging to do then?" he asked her

"Well, i was hoping maybe we could stop by a book store so i could pick up some things for my final essay for British Literature"

Spike looked uncertain for a moment as a thought occurred to him. He just wasn't sure if it qwas something he really wanted to do or not. It would involve going to his apartment and he didn't know if he wanted her there. It would be like letting her get close. He didn't realise for a few moments that she was still talking.

"So, i really wanna get the essay done soon" she finished

Spike shook his head and pretended to have heard everything she had said

"Yeah. Look do you want some help. I still have some books that might be of help" he offered

Buffy smiled, looking grateful

"really?"

"Yeah, sure. Let's go" he changed the direction they were walking in, cutting across the street and turning left as he led her to his place.

Willow laughed as Xander handed the big teddy bear he had just won for

"For the lady" he made a big show of presenting it to her with a bow.

She took it from hom,. giggling as she did so and curtseyed slightly

"Thank you, kind sir" thr two laughed together. They were having a great time. They told stories of their childhood, and got to know each other. They were having a blast. They ahd been on the rides and played on a lot of the shows. It was like being a teenager again. Doing all the stuff they loved to do when they were in high school. It was brilliant.

Buffy closed yet another book. She and Spike had been through loads, he had alot of good books and she had gotten a lot of good information from them.

"Where did you get all of these?" she couldn't help but ask

"Bought them when i was still at college"

"Did you have a similar final essay question?" she asked next

Spike tried to avoid the question by just ignoring it, but she kept looking at him. Waiting for an answer.

"No"

"Oh, then why all the books on British literature?"

"Because i was supposed to take the class" he told her

"Supposed to?" she sounded confused

"I didn't finish college" he finally ground out

Buffy's eyes widened, suddenly realizing why he hadn't answered her question straight away

"Oh"

"Look can we just forget it. You can have the books" he said, anything just to put an end to the conversation.

"Thanks"

The same awkward silence that had not been an issue since they had started really talking the day before started to settle over them again. Buffy didn't like it; neither did Spike. He disliked the fact that just when he started to feel comfortable around someone something ruined it. He decided maybe the best way to fix that would be to tell he more about Dru.

" I saw Dru again when we came home for the summer. She was at the Bronze, it wasn't a place i usually went but i decided to check it out one night. She spotted me. Turned out her boyfriend dumped her again. Guess what happened that night. Anyway, it went a little bit differently from last time. She spent the best part of the summer with me. Moulding me into the kind of guy she wanted. She was magnificent, that was how i saw her. So i let her. I wanted to change if it meant she would love me. I wanted to be what she wanted me to be, so that i could have her, so that she would stay mine. I could never find a word perfect enough to describe her. She was my dark beauty. She was perfection. At least i thought she was. She changed my clothes, my hair. She wanted a bad boy. A guy that would fit with her look. And we looked good together. People always looked when we entered a room. It was dark and light, we made quite a pair. Her hair as dark as the night, and mine as light as the morning. Black and white, yin and yang. We were the perfect balance. Or at kleast it seemed that way on the outside."

He took a moment to think of how to put what he wanted to say next. There was still some things he didn't want to tell he yet, so he had to think about how to reveal some things without revealing other clodely related events.

Buffy was stunned, the words were truly those of a poet. She couldn't tear her eyes from him as he spoke. And she was waiting patiently on the edge of her seat for him to say more

"So, we were together for the summer. She was always in charge. I followed her, she was like a queen, everyone followed her. The things she used to do to me would make a porn star blush. Honestly not the kinda things i would have ever thought about doing, but i was in love, more than in love. I was hypnotised by her. She had a hold over me, and i didn't want her to let it go. Then just before the end of the summer she told me it was over. No reason why. She said it was over and then she was gone" he completed the story and let out a shaky breath. He was disbelieving of how much he had told her. It wasn't because he had feelings for her though he knew that. Fir him it was more just because he knew he wanted to talk to someone, and she wanted to know. She wanted to know the details of the poem and what inspired it. So he could vent, without having to get attached.

Buffy didn't say anything when he finished. They sat in silence for a while, befire starting to look through the books again.