A/N : Thanx to; Elizance, spikeswife1, Lady Savage, naiya-isis, ForeversEnough, pixiecorn, sunnyhell, Mr Lennox I pressume, velja, electricgurl, wings(of)paper, Higgy's Red, Mita427, lindsay, AnitaBlake/BuffyFan, Scarlet Ibis, i luv spike, for the reviews. Love the ideas that you give me and whilst some may get incorporated I obviously have my own to write too and they'll have to come first. Hope you continue to enjoy the story anyway...here's the next chapter...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 10 - Some Enchanted Evening

It was Friday lunchtime at Sunnydale High School and the dominating gang of Seniors were just taking their places around the usual table.

"And it was like, hello, how could you out vote me?" Cordelia complained as she took her seat between Xander and Buffy. She'd just finished a meeting of the Prom committee, and she was not happy about some of the decisions that had been made "It was all that stupid Marcie's fault, like she should ever be on the committee in the first place!" she continued as many of her friends rolled their eyes and surpressed their laughter, Cordy really did get far too involved when it came to things like Prom. "Anyway we finally got it figured out" she sighed, picking up her fork and taking a mouthful of salad. More than one person figured they might actually get a word in now, but they were wrong as she swiftly swallowed and went on to her next important topic "So anyway, Bronze tonight for clothes conference?" she asked the girls "You know I have an allergy to shop bought dresses but there's still a chance you girls might pick out a colour that'll clash with my outfit and I don't want to have to avoid you all night, especially since it's the last big event before Prom"

She was referring to the traditional Pre-Prom party that was held each year for the graduating Sunnydale High students, at the Bronze. Just one week before the actual event, it was everyone's last chance to make final arrangements with their friends and partners, and a far less formal affair than the Prom itself.

"Don't sweat it Cor" Faith shrugged, stealing some fries from Angel's plate to the left of her, laughing when he playfully slapped her hand away "We'll be there for your little conference, no big deal"

"Guys, you know that I can't" Buffy piped up from the other side of the table, looking uncomfortable. The more time she spent with her friends lately, the less she felt she belonged. They were all coupled up and constantly talking about topics that didn't interest her like they used to, plus her mind was often elsewhere thinking of Spike...

"Oh yes, Buffy has to go sell rabbits feet and newts eyes to freaks tonight" Angel laughed at his own joke as Faith tried not to join in.

"C'mon guys" Oz admonished "it's not her fault"

Usually the guitarist didn't say anything during this type of conversation, but he felt his girlfriend's shoulders tense beneath his arm when Buffy was getting insulted, and he refused to sit by whilst Willow got upset.

"Some of the books in the store are actually pretty cool" she said, smiling at Oz for helping out her friend "all about spells and the origins of witchcraft and stuff"

"Oh come on Will" Xander rolled his eyes "that stuff is for weirdoes"

"Speaking of..." Cordelia half smiled, elbowing her boyfriend to get his attention.

All eyes moved across the room to see a familiar student coming towards their table. Buffy lowered her head to her plate as William approached. She couldn't say she liked him exactly but he wasn't all that bad and Angel and the gang always gave him such a hard time. She didn't like to see the pain in his eyes when they were so mean to him, it made her feel all the worse for not being nicer to him herself.

"Hey William!" Angel called out "How's life in the geek lane?" he smirked.

"Fine, thankyou" the boy grinned, as if the question had been purely innocent. Angel frowned.

"What's he so happy about?" Xander looked between the grinning boy as he disappeared and his friend who was looking decidedly confused.

Andrew, who had been silent til now, had a possible answer to that question.

"Maybe he's got a girlfriend or something?" he suggested, and there was a pause before almost everyone else at the table burst out laughing at the very idea. All except Buffy, who shared a look with the boy beside her. It seemed neither of them understood why that was quite so amusing, but then they were the only two single people at the table.

- - - - - - -

After school, Buffy walked to the Magic Box alone. She knew it would have been faster to get Cordy to drop her off in the car, or less lonely if she'd taken up Willow's offer of walking with her but she couldn't deal with the company right now.

Thoughts of Spike were driving her to distraction. Although it was a dream come true meeting him the way she had, it was a complete nightmare not knowing when or if she'd ever see him again.

As Tara showed her around the store, pointing out the shelves of spell books and history books, and showing her how to work the cash register, Buffy found her mind was still only half on the topic at hand.

"Okay, I think that's everything" Tara said finally with a warm smile on her face "Any questions, just ask"

"'Kay" the younger girl answered absently, like she hadn't really heard a word. Tara reached out a hand to her arm.

"Buffy?" she said with a slight frown "Look I know you don't really want to be here and your father kind of made you but I really do appreciate the help" she smiled again and Buffy felt bad. Tara was a nice lady and she didn't want to be rude to her. She was a good ten or fifteen years older than Buffy though she didn't look more than five, and she'd been her and Dawn's favourite baby-sitter when they were young enough to need one. She was always so kind and willing to listen and help out, it was a long time since they'd really talked, but right now Buffy didn't even know where to begin.

"It's okay, Tara" she nodded, putting her hand over the older woman's "I don't mind being here so much, it's just...well, my mind is on other things is all" she shrugged.

"Anything you need to talk about sweetie?" Tara asked with a concerned look on her features. Buffy forced a smile.

"No, honestly" she shook her head "I'll be fine"

It was over an hour since Buffy had arrived at the Magic Box and she was already seriously bored. There weren't all that many customers, and it seemed to her that Tara could cope with those that there were on her own. Maybe it was usually busier, perhaps today was just a slow day. Whatever the reasons, Buffy wanted to be elsewhere, but not just in a random place, she wanted to be with Spike. She was sitting on a stool behind the counter with her elbows leaning on the top, daydreaming about the mystery man she had met just once but who had haunted her dreams for months before and every moment since.

The jingling of the bell above the front door broke her from her silent reverie and Buffy sat herself up straight, expecting to see a customer as she looked over. Instead, she saw her annoying little sister.

"Hey!" Dawn grinned as she bounced into the store.

"Dawn, what are you doing here?" Buffy asked accusingly. Why would she be here when she didn't have to be?

"I came to see Tara" the brunette snapped back, the smile slipping from her face as she wondered for the fortieth time why William was even trying to get her sisters attention. Buffy could be such a total pain!

"Why?" came the blonde's next question as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Because she's my friend!" Dawn replied, as if it were obvious "She's nice to me, and she doesn't treat me like a kid" she emphasised each word as if Buffy were stupid, obviously implying that her sister was guilty of the aforementioned crimes. Buffy either didn't notice or simply didn't care as she rolled her eyes.

"She's in the basement fetching mandra root...or mantra root?" she frowned not really knowing what she was trying to say "Whatever" she waved a dismissive hand "she's down there"

With a begrudgingly given 'thanks' the younger sister stomped around the counter and down the stairs to the basement. Buffy sighed in frustration and decided to try and find something in the store to take her mind off Dawn and her annoyingness as well as Spike who she would probably never see again anyway.

Her back was to the door as she scanned a row of books, trying to find something, anything, that looked remotely interesting. She only half heard the bell over the door again and so did not turn until a slightly aged man called to her.

"Excuse me, Miss?"

She turned and smiled her best shop assistant smile, and the customer didn't seem to notice it was fake as he returned the look.

"Er, which of these candles creates a more...romantic mood" he asked her from across the room.

Buffy walked around the counter and turned her back to the door again as she looked at the scented candles on the shelf.

She sniffed at the wax and read the label on the bottom of one.

"Lemon Seduction..." she said to herself, repeating the process with the second candle in the row "Essence of Slug..." she wrinkled her nose at that one, "I think..."

"Excuse me Miss" he sentence was cut off by another male voice behind her and tapping on her shoulder.

"Just a sec, I..." the words died on her tongue as she turned around and came face to face with the man she'd been daydreaming about "Oh my God" she gasped, swallowing hard as she tried to take in what was happening.

"Hello, Buffy" Spike smirked at her shocked expression.

"You know my name?" she said in a dreamy voice that she couldn't identify as her own. Suddenly she felt very young and shy, in a way she never was with other guys.

"Excuse me, Miss?" the older man who wanted a candle was calling for her attention again but Buffy didn't even notice and it seemed Spike didn't either as he answered her question.

"Naturally, and you remember me it seems" his smirk turned into a real smile when she nodded madly.

"Of course I remember you, Spike" she smiled back at him, wanting to say something clever or just move off the spot, but finding it impossible whilst he was standing there, looking all hypnotically gorgeous and totally edible.

"Y'know I seem to remember something else being said that night we met" he tilted his head as if he were thinking about it, before he continued "something about you riding with me, was it?" he smirked again and Buffy thought she was going to burst with the thrill of it all.

"Are you serious?" she breathed, completely ignoring the customers attempts to get her attention.

"Bike's outside waitin'" Spike gestured towards the door "What'd'ya say, pet?"

"Are you going to assist me?" the by now irate patron of the magic store asked, and Buffy only really noticed because Spike looked over at him.

Looking down at the candle she held in her hands she turned briefly to shove it into the customers hand.

"Take the slug" she said, annoyed at the interruption "she's not gonna sleep with you anyway!" she said somewhat nastily before turning back to Spike and smiling "Let's go"

The literal man of her dreams opened the door for her and they left the Magic Box, Buffy feeling as if she was floating on Cloud 9 already.

With a look of disbelief and anger, the customer threw down the candle and stormed out of the shop just before Tara and Dawn appeared from the basement.

"Buffy had to leave?" the older woman frowned at Dawn's revelation "Why?"

"Tara, can you keep a secret?" the youngest Summers whispered, despite the fact the shop was empty.

"Of course, sweetie, what is it?" Tara asked as they sat down on the two stools behind the counter.

"Well" Dawn began "it's kind of a long story..."

Outside Spike handed Buffy a helmet and climbed onto the bike that was parked there as he'd promised. Buffy climbed on behind him and was suddenly petrified, not so much about being on the back of a motorcycle, she'd done that before, but being with this guy she never thought she'd meet til a week ago, and doubted she'd ever see again even then.

"Where to, luv?" Spike turned to ask her and she shook her head.

"I don't care" she answered honestly, "Surprise me"

"I can do that" he nodded, his smirk returning as he thought to himself what a surprise it'd be when he revealed who he really was. He revved the engine and shouted over the noise, "You better hold on tight to me" he told her, "Don't wanna lose you half way there"

Buffy was more than willing as she wrapped her arms tight around his waist, like she never wanted to let go - truth be told, she really didn't. The engine revved again and William thought he was going to be sick from the excitement and nerves as Buffy held on tightly to him and he pulled the bike away from the kerb. He knew exactly where he was taking her and he had a million things he wanted to say to her - finally it seemed he was going to get the chance.

To Be Continued...

A/N2 : Review please and let me know what you think! More Spuffy coming up in the next chapter! Oh, and I'm also updating Our Little Secret for those that are interested.