Chapter 2

"We're here." Spike said.
When he looked over to Buffy, he found her sound asleep.
He opened his door and walked up to the house, took out his key and unlocked the door.
"Cordelia!" He called as he threw his keys on the coffee table.
"Yes." He heard her call form the kitchen. He walked into the kitchen where he found her sitting eating a sandwich and reading a magazine.
"Listen, when I was at work this girl came in and hid under a table, then her boyfriend came in very angry, yelling for her. She is obviously in a very abusive relationship. Her name is Buffy. Well I offered to let her stay here for a while." Spike said quickly hoping Cordelia wouldn't be mad at him.
Cordelia was far from mad. "That poor girl! I'm so glad you didn't make her go back to him." Cordelia said as she gave him a hug and a kiss. "You are so wonderful. Where is she?"
"In the car, she fell asleep. I'll go...."
"I'll get her." Cordelia interrupted. "It'll probably be easier for her to talk to a girl about her situation."
"OK Cordy be my guest." Spike said sarcastically.
She rolled her eyes at Spike as she walked out of the house and to the car. She went over to the passenger side and opened the door to see a little blonde girl sleeping. Cordelia smiled and tapped her lightly on the shoulder.
"Buffy?" She whispered.
Buffy stirred and her eyes fluttered open. She turned to Cordelia. She was confused.
Cordelia noticed. "Buffy? I'm Cordelia, Spike's girlfriend. I'm going to take you inside so we can talk. OK?" She said with a smile.
Buffy extremely tired nodded and pulled herself out of the car. Cordelia wrapped her arms around Buffy to aid her into the house. Cordelia had helped Buffy into the house and into the room she would be staying in.
The room had white walls, a nightstand with a clock and a bed with white sheets and a white comforter.
Buffy was now sitting on the bed with Cordelia.
"Buffy you can stay here as long as you want to." Buffy nodded still feeling uneasy about staying at a stranger's house.
"Buffy, I know what it's like to be in an abusive relationship." Buffy looked up confused and surprised. "Spike?" She asked.
Cordelia smiled and shock her head 'no'. "Of course not Spike would never hurt me. I was 16 when I had that boyfriend. His name was Angel." Buffy's eyes widened
"Angel?"
"Yes. Why?" Cordelia saw the look in Buffy's eyes.
"Angel's my boyfriend." Cordelia gasped eyes widening.
This little girl is dealing with Angel? God I can't believe that bastard is at it again.
"Oh Buffy. I'm going to tell you something extremely important. OK?" Buffy looked up and nodded.
"Angel is extremely dangerous. Promise me you will never go back to him."
"I promise."
The brunette actually cares about me? Buffy thought. It feels good to be cared about.
Cordelia smiled. "Get some sleep" She said as she stood up off the bed and headed for the door. Cordelia walked into the living room to see Spike watching TV and smoking a cigarette.
"Those things will kill you."Cordelia said easily with her arms crossed relaxed.
Spike smiled
"How is she?"
"Broken." Cordelia sat next to Spike on the black leather couch. "You wouldn't believe this."
Spike turned to her. "What wouldn't I believe?" Spike saw the worried look in her eyes.
"Her boyfriend is Angel."
"What! That bastard got a hold of another girl. Damn it!" Spike jumped off the couch pacing around.
"Spike calm down. I made her promise to never go back to him again." She said placing her hand on his back.
"When I was bringing her home Angel came along and said she would come back to him. How can you be so sure?" Buffy was now lying in bed staring at the ceiling. She was thanking god for Cordelia's kindness.

Buffy had met Angel at 18. He treated like she was a queen and like she was the most beautiful creature in the world, but when Buffy's mom died Angel knew that was his opening for control over her.
With Cordelia the opening was when her family went bankrupt.
Right as he predicted Buffy came running into his arms. He knew she didn't have anywhere to go and that she wouldn't be able to live if he didn't take care of her. He knew that she knew that. He also took advantage of her vulnerability. After he had set everything up to where she wouldn't be able to survive without him, that's when the abuse started.


She'd do anything to sparkle in his eyes
she would suffer she would fight and compromise
she's been wishin' up the stars that shine so bright
for answers to questions that will haunt her tonight

She must rinse
this all away
she can't hold him this way
she must rinse
this all away
she cant love him
this way

she needs to be held in his arms to be freed
but everything happens for reasons that she will never understand
till she knows that the heart of a woman will never
be found in the arms of a man

she must rinse
this all away
she can't hold any body this way
she must rinse
this all away
she can't love him

and as she runs away she fears she won't be followed
what could be worse than leaving something behind
and as the depth of oceans slowly become shallow
its loneliness she finds
if only he was mine

she'd do anything to sparkle in his eyes
she would suffer she would fight and compromise
she's been wishin on the stars that shine so bright
for answers to questions that will haunt her tonight

she must rinse him

she must rinse him

she cant rinse him

she cant rinse him

she can't, she won't, she must rinse him

she can't, she wont, she must rinse him

she must rinse
this all away
she cant hold him this way

she must rinse
this all away

she cant love him

this way