Disclaimer/Rating: Prologue!

A/N: This chapter is going to skip ahead about 2 weeks, and it's before the spring dance. In the time you didn't read, Spike and Buffy had become shaky friends, who had a shoulder to cry on, and who understood.

Chapter 2: Tears, Fears, and Men

I sighed, again. Right now I was in Science class, the only class I have with the most gorgeous guy on the planet. -You, gentle readers, may be asking yourselves why I have any classes with William, but it's because he's never gone to many classes, so he has a ton of credits to make up. Starting with the ones he missed in freshman year.- He turned around and grinned at me, winking, then turning back quickly like someone would see him winking at me,a Library Musketeer.

Groaning again at the idiocy of men, I sat up straighter and smiled at my lab partner, Wills of course. Leaning over I whispered, somewhat angrily. "We're friends, right? I mean, he's been to my house, 'course you-know-who wasn't home, and I've been to his. 'Course I've been there before to visit Giles, but the other day I went there to visit him. So why does he have to keep acting like we're 'secret' friends?" I was whining now, and Willow patted my back sympatheically.

"Honey, guys are all like that. You've known me for what? 4 years now? And I've been after Xander since grade two, and I still haven't gotten him. Guys are morons." She looked at me, then up at Spike. "Why do you hang around with him, if he does that anyway? Doesn't it hurt?"

I sighed, what was it the 15th time that class? "Yeah, like a bitch, but -" Tilting my head up I looked into the very angry eyes of my science teacher, Mr. Budgie. "Hey there, Mr. B, how are you today?"

Mr. B smirked at me and Willow, then did the thing we're so used to happening to us, he pointed in the direction of the principal's office. Of course, Willow didn't have to go, she never has to, comes with being the smartest girl in school. Wills grinned sheepishly, and I smirked to her without the teacher seeing, grabbed my books, and walked out of the room. Not before having to pass Spike though. "Psst. Come by later, I have a present for you." he whispered, and I grinned slightly at him, before dissappearing for my fate.

--After the principal meeting--

I walked into the library, surprised to see Spike in there. He hadn't been back since that day with the Concordat. And I was even more surprised to see him and Giles arguing like there was no tomorrow.

"No! You are not going to that party, you will go to the dance!" Giles yelled, extremely aggravated at his son, for even suggesting to go anywhere but to the dance.

"If I was in Oregon I could go! There I'd be my own man!" He yelled, his defensives falling short.

"Your in California! Not Oregon! So your going to the dance, and you'll enjoy it. I spent all that money on the tux, because you said you and Dru were going to the bloody dance, so you will go!"

"Dammit, Dad! I told you, Dru wants to go to the party!"

Right about then is whenGiles looked over and noticed me. "Oh, Buffy, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize you were standing there. Forgive me." Giles said, habitually taking his glasses off and cleaning them.

"Uh, s-sure, Giles." I say, walking further into the library and shooting Spike a 'Huh?' look. Spike shook his head impreceptively and stormed out of the library. The thing was, I had thought him and Dru were broken up, and today he was going to ask me to the dance. What a present that would have been! "What's up, Giles? You look all... disheveled and stuff." I say, hoping up on the library counter, over it, and onto the library computer. It had the only version of the internet I liked installed, MSN Explorer, everything else was Netscape.

"Buffy, if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, don't use that computer." He said, walking behind he counter to hover at my side. "And as for what you witnessed, ignore it. William is just being idiotic." He sighed, turning away and walking towards the shelves as Miss Calender walked in. The way his face lit up was so special, I just couldn't stop grinning. They dissappeared into the stacks, murmuring something about a book they needed.

"Yeah, the only book you need is the one on safe sex..." I mumbled, shaking my head and laughing. As they leave, Spike walks back in.

"Is he gone?" He asks, meaning his father.

"No, him and Miss Calender went into the stacks to look at 'books'." I respond, waggling my eyebrows suggestively.

Spike smirks and hops up beside me, sitting on the counter. "Wannasee that present I got you?"

Smiling brightly I nod, "Sure." He turned away and pulled something out of his pocket, then turned back to me with a jewerally case the size of a bracelet. Smiling I take it and open it up, inside is a silver bracelet with diamond studs and the inscription on the middle panel is 'To my Friend.' Of course it's fake, but it's the thought that counts right? The only problem is the inscription. Friend. That's allI was, he didn't even put down 'best', just 'friend'. Smiling hugely, but plasticly, I hug him. "Thanks so much! It's beautiful." Taking it out I put it on and marvel at the glittering it makes under the flourescent lights in the library.

Spike smirked at me and hopped off the counter. "I was never here." He said, motioning towards the stacks, where a sudden 'OH MY GOD!' shot from. I grinned, and he cringed. "Ever." He repeated, and left.

Sighing I went back to my email to my father. I wasn't saying anything about the beating, I was telling him about Spike. This is how it went:

Dear Dadda,

how's italy? sorry it's messy, but i'm standing up in the library, listening to Giles and Miss C doing it in the stacks :P anywayz, i just wanted to tell you about the guy i like. remember him? spike? well, he just gave me a bracelet.

the bracelet's silver and has fake diamond studs in it. kinda cute, and it's inscribed. 'to my friend' (but with caps, daddy) what does that mean? help! and he's always weird around me at school. looking around to make sure no one's watching when he waves or winks at me. and he makes sure i don't tell anyone we see each other. he's a big meanie. but then he gave me the bracelet, even if it doesn't have a 'best'. i'm so confused, please email me soon, daddy.

your angel, and baby girl, Buffy"

Want to know the worst part of that email? He never emailed me back. He never does, but I still love him, and try to get ahold of him. Maybe if I told him about the beating, he'd come back? Yeah right, sure. Sighing, I turned the computer off and hop back over the counter, heading to detention. I have it afterschool every day this week. Ted'll be ecstatic.

--Home, after detention--

"Oh Buffy!" Dawnie said as she ran into my room, throwing herself around me. Wincing in pain, I gingerly hug her back. "How could someone do this to you? Your perfect!"

I smile a little. I should tell you about me and Dawn's relationship. Typical sisters, she has fits and gets her way, I have fits and get a slap. Dawn is more favoured by Ted, but he still hits her when he gets really mad. But, Dawn and me are closer than even me and Willow. She's been through it all, from the first day we met Ted, to today, Dawnie's been with me, and we've banded together. When I first got hit by Ted, Dawnie came into my room. I was 9 and she was 3. She was so scared, and had ended up sleeping with me. That night we vowed to protect each other from the evil Ted monster. Now I protect her, and she protects me in a different way. I'm the guardian angel, and she's just the angel. She's the emotional protection, I'm the physical.

"Dawnie, honey, I'm not perfect. Far from it." I cough slightly as I sit up, and move Dawn so she's sitting curled into my side. As an 8 year old she's become more responsible and definately more mature. She's always crying over my wounds, and cursing Ted secretively for hitting me and not her. She wishes to take the pain, even though she can't.

"Yes you are, you always will be to me." She leaned up and kissed my not-so-bruised cheek. "I love you, my guardian angel."

"I love you too, muppet." With that we fall asleep curled around each other like two frightened kittens.

A/N: How's it going? This chapter was quite longer, and took quite the time for updates. So sorry! But please tell me if it was worth the writing (my muse has left me and I've been sick, and fighting with my computer. So sorry!!) Review and make my muse love me again!