Part 10: Saturday's Child Work's Hard for It's Living
A/N: Sorry for the delay in postings so in retribution- TWO chapters for your viewing pleasure! Whee! (the second chap will follow in a day or so) I'm taking a course to make up for some credits at my uni for the next few weeks to graduate next year so I might not be Johnny-on-the- spot with updates now. But rest assured gentle viewers (Andrew's the shiznit, LMAO) I have some chaps done up in advance so I won't get behind in the long run. There are a few people I'd like to give a great and amazing thanks to though. Firstly to my awesome and wonderful betas- Magz (credited for the Anya line- "Tact is for suckers.") and Miss Kitty, who are always on the ball and right there when I need them. William's Girl, Info Gal, Mer, Daywalker *pokes Day back*, Webbsk, Echidna, Spikesfool, Renee, Lady Anne and Sweetie- you all leave such nice reviews that give me a laugh, keep me smiling and encourage me to keep going, even when I think I suck. So keep it up!
* * * * *
Buffy prayed for an earthquake, a tidal wave, an alien abduction - anything that would prevent her from ever seeing Spike again. She did not regret kissing Spike. Oh no, she was sure she had been born for that. She just didn't know how she was supposed to face him now. She had heard too many bad things about co-stars who get involved, and they were just now starting to be friends. What if they had ruined that? *It would almost be worth it though, just to feel his lips on mine again*. Buffy smiled sadly, but knew that it was for the best. She had to be strong; she was strong, especially after being through crappy relationships before. She didn't want another one. *I just want naked Spike on my bed, ready and waiting for me. I have to take a cold shower. *
She rushed into the bathroom and got into the shower stall, hoping to satisfy the lust she felt by herself.
* * * * *
"How in the hell did that chit get into my head so soon? Just two days ago I hated her guts, didn't want to see her ever again and now here I am, trying to figure out an excuse to stumble into her room and fuck her silly." Spike muttered to himself as he readied his things to go to the shower. The image of Buffy looking up at him, shocked eyes filled with want for him, lips swollen from kissing and then running out, her fine ass swaying quickly to get away from him.
*I won't let it happen. She's been burned, I've been burned. We're both working toward establishing a name for ourselves in movies, and this is wrong. This can't happen. We could ruin the movie - AGAIN - if we get involved and break up. I can't kiss her and hug her and have sex with her and. AUGH!*
Spike quickly stripped off his swimwear and rushed to the shower stall. With the water pounding down his back he brought himself off, the name of the girl he couldn't let himself have falling from his lips.
* * * * *
Buffy emerged from the shower a little calmer than when she went in. She had stayed under the spray for so long that her fingers and toes were wrinkled and pink. Maybe she would be less tense around Spike, now that she had taken care of the problem they had started with their kiss. Now if she could just avoid him for the nest two months.
Buffy sighed and suddenly shook her head. *I'm an adult. A controlled, able adult who can keep her emotions in check. This is going to be fine!*
She dug through one of the drawers in her room for her Disc Man and put her ear-buds in, hoping to drown out any more thoughts of the bleached wonder. The Chicago soundtrack started blaring in her ears and she went about putting on her makeup in the bathroom, focusing on the music.
She started to get into the beat and bobbed around the bathroom as she cleaned up from her shower, throwing towels over the rack, shoving her makeup into it's case. She danced into the bedroom in her fluffy, complimentary hotel robe, which she let drop to the floor so she could get dressed. She picked out a pair of blue jeans, black camisole and white men's button up top to go over it to wear for the day, and after dressing she went back to dancing around the room. She grabbed her brush and started singing to 'Cell Block Tango', taking the part of Velma that Catherine Zeta-Jones played.
She started dancing around the massive room to the music, remembering some dance steps she learned for plays in university. She started to sing even louder, getting into the part, picturing herself on a stage with the bright lights and hundreds of people staring at her. She missed the thrill of live performing, hot lights, rushed stage cues, but now she was on to better things. She came to Velma's big solo and started singing in earnest, speaking along with the lines before reaching the singing.
"They had it coming! They had it coming! They had it coming all along! I didn't do it! But if I'd done it- how could you tell me that I was wrong?" She twirled her way across the room, kicking every now and then, grinding in that Cabaret way. Her still-wet hair slapped across her face as she swung around, her hairbrush still in her hand.
She whirled around to face her bedroom door and shrieked, dropping the brush to the floor. "What are you doing here?"
"Sorry, luv, didn't mean to startle you." Spike smirked at her, leaning against the doorframe. "I knocked but you obviously didn't hear me. I could hear you from the hallway, so I tried the door."
"Um, right. Uh- sorry. I-I- I'm never-" Buffy fumbled, embarrassed that he had caught her in one of her silly moods, especially writhing and swaying as she was. Her cheeks flamed more.
"Quite the show you had going on there. Including the voice." Spike smiled genuinely at her. Buffy just shook her head and walked past him to the bathroom. He stood in the doorway, watching her brush her hair furiously. "I take it you did some musical theatre at some point."
"Just a couple of times. Nothing major." Buffy took out her hairdryer and drowned out any attempt he had of persisting in the conversation. He didn't give up so easily however.
"Ever consider trying to cut a demo?" He asked when she shut off the hairdryer.
"Nope. I don't sing in public for anything other than an acting job. Never going to." She told him, squeezing some styling product into her hand and smoothing it through her hair. Spike had the urge to reach out and run his fingers through her man after her but kept his mind on the topic at hand.
"Never say never, luv."
"Never," She retorted, brushing past him into the bedroom.
"You're in for a surprise, pet," he murmured so she couldn't hear him.
* * * * * *
"Like I told you, I think you might be kind of bored this afternoon. You won't even get to hear a lot of the songs we're doing tonight cause we're not doing a full rehearsal, just a run-through. But there will be a couple other women here for you to hang out with. Girlfriends of other members of the band," Spike told Buffy as they got out of the car they had taken to the club.
"So you bring your girlfriends to all your gigs?" Buffy asked as he paid the driver.
"The others do. I don't. Haven't had anyone to bring in awhile." He flashed her a genuine smile as they reached to door and he opened it for her. Her insides twisted a little at that but was distracted by the total darkness that surrounded her as she stepped from the patented California- only bright day into the nightclub dark building.
"Here he is!" Someone yelled from the other end of the club. As Buffy's eyes adjusted to the black she could see some guys setting up instruments on a stage surrounded by tables, the small dancefloor behind them.
"It's about damn time you got here, Giles." Someone else yelled, as he jumped from the stage and waited for them to come to him.
"Sorry. I got behind in the time," he told the grinning man, none too apologetically.
"Behind in the *times*, maybe," the guy chortled, an obvious dig against Spike's look. Spike took it in good spirit and rolled his eyes before turning to Buffy.
"Buffy meet Kevin, Kevin, this is Buffy Summers. She's my co-star in the movie I'm in," He introduced them. "Careful of Kevin, he's. just watch out for him."
Kevin grinned and took Buffy's hand to kiss the back. "Such a pleasure to meet a beautiful lady such as yourself. As beautiful as the stars themselves."
"Nice to meet you, too," Buffy said politely, taking her hand back. "Always nice to know there are still guys who use cheesy pickup lines like that to remind girls of what they aren't missing."
"Oooh! Burn!" Came a chortle from the stage. Kevin just grinned at Buffy. The other three members of the band came to meet Buffy as well, all shaking her hand in turn.
"Meet Aaron, Steve and Charlie. Aaron's on drums, Steve plays keyboards and some guitar, Charlie plays guitar, a flute-like instrument, and the piano and Kevin and I play guitar. Guys, this is Buffy. She's my co-star in the movie I'm filming."
"The one you ditched us for, huh?" Charlie teased.
"If I got to work with her, I would have too!" Kevin exclaimed. Everyone just rolled their eyes at him.
"Alright. Over here is where you'll watch us from with Anya and Amy." Spike told Buffy as he led her away from the guys and they returned to setting up their equipment.
"Don't you guys have someone to set all this up for you?" Buffy asked.
"For our concerts we do but for these gigs we like to keep it small, and because it's local. We don't need a lot of fuss. OK, Buffy, this is Anya," he told her, directing her attention to the blonde and brunette sitting at the table. "And Amy."
"Hi." Buffy smiled at the two who looked at her curiously.
"Hello there. I'm Anya." She held out her hand to Buffy who shook it. "Are you here to watch the boys?"
"Yes, I'm sitting in on today's performances."
"Good, good. Just remember to stay away from Aaron. He's my boyfriend. I like his penis very much." Anya told Buffy with a straight face. Buffy just turned to Spike with an odd look. He laughed and whispered in her ear.
"She's 'armless. Just play dead, try not to give off the smell of fresh meat and she'll leave you alone." With that he left her standing at the table, watching the two girls and being watched.
"Is Spike giving you many orgasms?"
* * * * *
"So?" Charlie asked when Spike got up on stage to tune his own guitar that the guys had brought with them.
"So what?" He avoided Charlie's gaze.
"What's the deal, Giles? You don't just bring a co-worker with you on outings. Who is she?"
"She's Buffy. She's a friend who I've gotten to know over the past couple of days by decree of the studio heads for fear of getting fired." Spike explained.
"Right." Charlie nodded as the others listened in. "That's why you aren't at all on edge about performing tonight with as little practice as we've had in the past month, making sure she's integrated well with everyone and you've got this stupid, goofy look on your face."
"Spill, Spike. What's up?" Aaron asked him. Spike sighed and sat one on of the speaker boxes.
"That's just it, I don't know what's up," he replied, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "She makes me want to throw her across the room one second and then the next I want to kiss her senseless. And she'd let me too, if she didn't have her own hang-ups. Which is another thing. Maybe. I don't know. Can't be a thing when I don't know what we are, right?"
"Sounds like Giles has it bad," Kevin laughed. "What's she like?"
"She's. amazing. Fire and ice, tranquil and a spitfire, makes me laugh and want to scream at the same time. She's just plain amazing. And she's got a good right hook," He chuckled to himself, rubbing his nose lightly.
"I mean what's she like in the sack, man," Kevin teased. Spike just shook his head, and stood up. This was the signal for everyone to finish their work. Charlie stayed behind.
"Look, man," he started. "If she's that great don't let her get away. Just- don't get mixed up with another Dru, ok? Cause we need you. I need someone to keep Kevin from landing in a Mexican jail because he followed some jail-bait back to her car."
"I hear you, Charlie. And don't worry, mate, she's better than Dru ever was. Certainly too good for me," Spike told him, his gaze falling on Buffy sitting at the table, her cheeks suspiciously red.
"So a mean right hook, huh?" Charlie asked, following Spike's eyes. Spike grinned.
"You have no idea."
* * * * *
"So how long have you and Spike been together?" Anya asked innocently, for the third time since Buffy sat down, in the third, and most direct, way. Buffy just sighed and looked at Anya wearily. Anya shrugged in response. "Tact is for suckers."
"I'm not dating Spike, remember? We're friends, co-stars, acquaintances, merely passing each other on the road of life..." Buffy reminded her.
And again Anya didn't believe her. "Please. I've been around here, with the band, for a long time now and I've never known Spike to bring a girl to a performance, let alone for the rehearsal. Something must be cooking between you two." She persisted.
"And again, I had to come because the movie producers made us spend two days together. This is Spike's day to decide how we'll get to know each other."
"I'm still not convinced." Anya decided, sitting back in her chair with her arms crossed. Amy just sat in her chair, silent.
Not knowing what else to say Buffy sat back as well and tuned into the band, doing a sound check. They had been rehearsing for over and hour now but Buffy had barely heard anything over Anya's direct questioning. She admired the blonde's willingness to say anything but her direction was a little personal. She didn't want to think about potential Spike orgasms or his penis. Not out loud anyway. But she was a little worried about Anya's insistence that she and Spike were together, even though Buffy denied it at every opportunity. If Anya was this sure and she had only known her for an hour maybe she was right in saying that Spike didn't bring anyone else here and this was something more. She hoped that it wasn't but she would have to talk to him now to make sure he understood her position. It was better for both of them that they didn't open that can of worms.
"Alright guys, that should be good for now. Let's go get some grub!" Spike announced a few minutes later as they finished a song. There was a general tone of agreement among the whole group.
"Hey, what'd you think?" Spike asked as he jumped from the stage and headed straight to Buffy.
"Have to admit that I was a little distracted so I'll have to catch the whole thing tonight." Buffy admitted, rolling her eyes in Anya's direction who was distracted by Aaron. Spike just smiled and took her hand to help her out of her chair.
"Did you get the third degree?" He asked, not letting her hand go. Buffy pulled it away carefully and pushed her hair over her shoulder.
"More like the third degree cubed. She's. outgoing." Buffy laughed.
"Yeah, that's Anya. Never been on to shy away from the really important things. Like sex and penises." Buffy nodded in agreement. "Course, they are important things to some people, I suppose. I'm more interested in things pertaining to the opposite sex, especially tiny, volatile blondes but-"
Buffy cut Spike off. "Spike, we need to talk." With his eyebrow raised he nodded at her to continue. "This," Buffy gestured between them. "Can't happen. I mean, it could, but it won't. Because we're costars and we are trying to make a good movie, you know? I'm just getting to know you as a friend and this whole innuendo thing you have going is a little unsteadying. Maybe I'd acting like a prude, I don't know but I just want to do really well with this and I like being your friend, cause you're nice, once you get to know you. I'm sure you know that. But that's beside the point. I just- don't feel comfortable with the remarks and suggestions. I- I. I'm babbling." Buffy took a deep breath and looked up at Spike who was staring back at her with an amused look on his face.
"I'm sorry Buffy. I didn't realize that my comments made you so uncomfortable. I just- I'm. I - like being your friend too, so I would never want to do anything to harm that. I'll try to be on my best behavior." Spike told her, wincing as he stumbled a little. He wanted to tell her that he liked her. He didn't know how she would react to that however so it might be best to let things play out on their own. She was rattled by him though, he knew that, and not necessarily in a bad way.
"Good. Good, that's very good." Buffy nodded her head. "We've worked hard to get where we are right now and that's important."
"You're right, it is. Hungry?" He asked. Buffy stared at him for a moment before saying she was. He gave her a quick smile to go round up the others, leaving her to think.
*That was easy. Too easy. Or just easy enough. Maybe he doesn't have a thing for you, that kiss was all just a misunderstanding and he just wanted an easy out.* She didn't think he would agree to tone down his Romeo act so easily. She also wasn't sure how she felt now that they were going to be just friends. * Am I disappointed? She wondered to herself. Nah, I asked for this and I got it, simple as that. I don't have to worry about feeling funny around him now.*
Spike smiled at her from across the room where he was talking to Anya and Aaron as the others got together. Buffy felt her breath hitch as she watched him, his hair gleaming under the dim lights, his blue eyes electric to her, even though she was really too far away to see clearly, and his smile warming her from the inside out.
*Oops,* Buffy thought weakly as they all started to leave the club to go to dinner. *Only you Buffy, only you.*
* * * * *
"So this guy decides to run to the ladies room before she gets there and take EVERY single roll of toilet paper he can, just so he could get revenge on her," Kevin laughed, pointing at Spike. The whole table roared, in hysterics for the past half hour over memories of band exploits.
"The crazy chit gave us a terrible review. What else was I supposed to do? Sit there and take it?" Spike covered himself, looking around the table for support. His gaze fell on Buffy, across from him and wiping a tear from her eye from laughing so hard. He took a deep breath when he looked at her, wishing he could kiss her again, or even just hold her hand. But she had made her feelings perfectly clear that afternoon when she'd asked him to cut out the suggestive comments that he'd been making to her. It wasn't something he did to be a rude or uncouth guy, it was his way of flirting. He knew that she liked it because she had responded to it time and again, but now she asked for it to stop. So he would. And wait for her signal.
"At least none of you got *hurt* in any of our pranks," Aaron grumbled, good-naturedly. Seeing Buffy's confused expressions he explained, "The guys decided that they needed some form of initiation for me when I joined, as I was the last guy. So they got me to agree to do this stupid 'trick'. They got me to pull down my pants, get a piece of toilet paper the length of my body and stick it between my butt-cheeks. The set the paper on fire and I had to drink a glass of beer before the fire reached my ass. Sounds easy, right? Cause the fire would reach a plateau and burn slow enough for me to chug the beer. What I didn't realize till after I had blisters on my ass is that they were standing behind me splashing beer on the paper. Assholes."
Everyone laughed again, besides Anya who snuggled into Aaron. "If I had known you then I would have kissed it and made it better." She told him. Aaron smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her, eliciting a groan from the other guys in the band.
"Come on!" Kevin threw a piece of bread at the kissing couple. "Get a room."
Kevin and Anya separated, Anya looking more that a little perturbed. "It's not like it wasn't ten times worse when it was Spike and Dru." Kevin said. A silence fell over the table at that and Kevin turned red, realizing what he'd said.
Spike rolled his eyes. "Guys, bugger off it. It's not like you can avoid talking about her or us completely. She happened, we happened, it's not a secret. We make mistakes and move on."
"Yeah, but what about." Kevin made a motion with his head in Buffy's direction. Both Spike and Buffy rolled their eyes this time.
"Guys! We're not dating! Co-stars, friends, strangers in the night. It's what we ARE. I swear, you all are worse than a dog with a bone. We *aren't* dating." *And likely never will,* Spike lamented internally, but laughed with the others. Buffy stayed silent, wondering what would have happened if she had let things go the way they had been ad they'd gotten even closer.
*No point in wondering what could have been. Focus on what is.* She gave herself a little pep talk and snapped back to reality.
"Spike, were we going back to the hotel before you had to go back to the club?" She asked. He nodded and stood. The left the table, left money for the bill, and told everyone they would be back in a little while so they could change.
As soon as the blonde couple left the rest of the table looked at each other. Anya was the first to speak.
"I've got fifty that says they're going to be giving each other orgasms by the end of the week."
"I'll take that bet. I say it'll take a month." Steve threw his bill in the middle of the table. Everyone else anted up, choosing the date they thought Spike and Buffy would finally cave. The sparks between the two were so hot it wasn't a matter of if they got together, it was when.
A/N: Sorry for the delay in postings so in retribution- TWO chapters for your viewing pleasure! Whee! (the second chap will follow in a day or so) I'm taking a course to make up for some credits at my uni for the next few weeks to graduate next year so I might not be Johnny-on-the- spot with updates now. But rest assured gentle viewers (Andrew's the shiznit, LMAO) I have some chaps done up in advance so I won't get behind in the long run. There are a few people I'd like to give a great and amazing thanks to though. Firstly to my awesome and wonderful betas- Magz (credited for the Anya line- "Tact is for suckers.") and Miss Kitty, who are always on the ball and right there when I need them. William's Girl, Info Gal, Mer, Daywalker *pokes Day back*, Webbsk, Echidna, Spikesfool, Renee, Lady Anne and Sweetie- you all leave such nice reviews that give me a laugh, keep me smiling and encourage me to keep going, even when I think I suck. So keep it up!
* * * * *
Buffy prayed for an earthquake, a tidal wave, an alien abduction - anything that would prevent her from ever seeing Spike again. She did not regret kissing Spike. Oh no, she was sure she had been born for that. She just didn't know how she was supposed to face him now. She had heard too many bad things about co-stars who get involved, and they were just now starting to be friends. What if they had ruined that? *It would almost be worth it though, just to feel his lips on mine again*. Buffy smiled sadly, but knew that it was for the best. She had to be strong; she was strong, especially after being through crappy relationships before. She didn't want another one. *I just want naked Spike on my bed, ready and waiting for me. I have to take a cold shower. *
She rushed into the bathroom and got into the shower stall, hoping to satisfy the lust she felt by herself.
* * * * *
"How in the hell did that chit get into my head so soon? Just two days ago I hated her guts, didn't want to see her ever again and now here I am, trying to figure out an excuse to stumble into her room and fuck her silly." Spike muttered to himself as he readied his things to go to the shower. The image of Buffy looking up at him, shocked eyes filled with want for him, lips swollen from kissing and then running out, her fine ass swaying quickly to get away from him.
*I won't let it happen. She's been burned, I've been burned. We're both working toward establishing a name for ourselves in movies, and this is wrong. This can't happen. We could ruin the movie - AGAIN - if we get involved and break up. I can't kiss her and hug her and have sex with her and. AUGH!*
Spike quickly stripped off his swimwear and rushed to the shower stall. With the water pounding down his back he brought himself off, the name of the girl he couldn't let himself have falling from his lips.
* * * * *
Buffy emerged from the shower a little calmer than when she went in. She had stayed under the spray for so long that her fingers and toes were wrinkled and pink. Maybe she would be less tense around Spike, now that she had taken care of the problem they had started with their kiss. Now if she could just avoid him for the nest two months.
Buffy sighed and suddenly shook her head. *I'm an adult. A controlled, able adult who can keep her emotions in check. This is going to be fine!*
She dug through one of the drawers in her room for her Disc Man and put her ear-buds in, hoping to drown out any more thoughts of the bleached wonder. The Chicago soundtrack started blaring in her ears and she went about putting on her makeup in the bathroom, focusing on the music.
She started to get into the beat and bobbed around the bathroom as she cleaned up from her shower, throwing towels over the rack, shoving her makeup into it's case. She danced into the bedroom in her fluffy, complimentary hotel robe, which she let drop to the floor so she could get dressed. She picked out a pair of blue jeans, black camisole and white men's button up top to go over it to wear for the day, and after dressing she went back to dancing around the room. She grabbed her brush and started singing to 'Cell Block Tango', taking the part of Velma that Catherine Zeta-Jones played.
She started dancing around the massive room to the music, remembering some dance steps she learned for plays in university. She started to sing even louder, getting into the part, picturing herself on a stage with the bright lights and hundreds of people staring at her. She missed the thrill of live performing, hot lights, rushed stage cues, but now she was on to better things. She came to Velma's big solo and started singing in earnest, speaking along with the lines before reaching the singing.
"They had it coming! They had it coming! They had it coming all along! I didn't do it! But if I'd done it- how could you tell me that I was wrong?" She twirled her way across the room, kicking every now and then, grinding in that Cabaret way. Her still-wet hair slapped across her face as she swung around, her hairbrush still in her hand.
She whirled around to face her bedroom door and shrieked, dropping the brush to the floor. "What are you doing here?"
"Sorry, luv, didn't mean to startle you." Spike smirked at her, leaning against the doorframe. "I knocked but you obviously didn't hear me. I could hear you from the hallway, so I tried the door."
"Um, right. Uh- sorry. I-I- I'm never-" Buffy fumbled, embarrassed that he had caught her in one of her silly moods, especially writhing and swaying as she was. Her cheeks flamed more.
"Quite the show you had going on there. Including the voice." Spike smiled genuinely at her. Buffy just shook her head and walked past him to the bathroom. He stood in the doorway, watching her brush her hair furiously. "I take it you did some musical theatre at some point."
"Just a couple of times. Nothing major." Buffy took out her hairdryer and drowned out any attempt he had of persisting in the conversation. He didn't give up so easily however.
"Ever consider trying to cut a demo?" He asked when she shut off the hairdryer.
"Nope. I don't sing in public for anything other than an acting job. Never going to." She told him, squeezing some styling product into her hand and smoothing it through her hair. Spike had the urge to reach out and run his fingers through her man after her but kept his mind on the topic at hand.
"Never say never, luv."
"Never," She retorted, brushing past him into the bedroom.
"You're in for a surprise, pet," he murmured so she couldn't hear him.
* * * * * *
"Like I told you, I think you might be kind of bored this afternoon. You won't even get to hear a lot of the songs we're doing tonight cause we're not doing a full rehearsal, just a run-through. But there will be a couple other women here for you to hang out with. Girlfriends of other members of the band," Spike told Buffy as they got out of the car they had taken to the club.
"So you bring your girlfriends to all your gigs?" Buffy asked as he paid the driver.
"The others do. I don't. Haven't had anyone to bring in awhile." He flashed her a genuine smile as they reached to door and he opened it for her. Her insides twisted a little at that but was distracted by the total darkness that surrounded her as she stepped from the patented California- only bright day into the nightclub dark building.
"Here he is!" Someone yelled from the other end of the club. As Buffy's eyes adjusted to the black she could see some guys setting up instruments on a stage surrounded by tables, the small dancefloor behind them.
"It's about damn time you got here, Giles." Someone else yelled, as he jumped from the stage and waited for them to come to him.
"Sorry. I got behind in the time," he told the grinning man, none too apologetically.
"Behind in the *times*, maybe," the guy chortled, an obvious dig against Spike's look. Spike took it in good spirit and rolled his eyes before turning to Buffy.
"Buffy meet Kevin, Kevin, this is Buffy Summers. She's my co-star in the movie I'm in," He introduced them. "Careful of Kevin, he's. just watch out for him."
Kevin grinned and took Buffy's hand to kiss the back. "Such a pleasure to meet a beautiful lady such as yourself. As beautiful as the stars themselves."
"Nice to meet you, too," Buffy said politely, taking her hand back. "Always nice to know there are still guys who use cheesy pickup lines like that to remind girls of what they aren't missing."
"Oooh! Burn!" Came a chortle from the stage. Kevin just grinned at Buffy. The other three members of the band came to meet Buffy as well, all shaking her hand in turn.
"Meet Aaron, Steve and Charlie. Aaron's on drums, Steve plays keyboards and some guitar, Charlie plays guitar, a flute-like instrument, and the piano and Kevin and I play guitar. Guys, this is Buffy. She's my co-star in the movie I'm filming."
"The one you ditched us for, huh?" Charlie teased.
"If I got to work with her, I would have too!" Kevin exclaimed. Everyone just rolled their eyes at him.
"Alright. Over here is where you'll watch us from with Anya and Amy." Spike told Buffy as he led her away from the guys and they returned to setting up their equipment.
"Don't you guys have someone to set all this up for you?" Buffy asked.
"For our concerts we do but for these gigs we like to keep it small, and because it's local. We don't need a lot of fuss. OK, Buffy, this is Anya," he told her, directing her attention to the blonde and brunette sitting at the table. "And Amy."
"Hi." Buffy smiled at the two who looked at her curiously.
"Hello there. I'm Anya." She held out her hand to Buffy who shook it. "Are you here to watch the boys?"
"Yes, I'm sitting in on today's performances."
"Good, good. Just remember to stay away from Aaron. He's my boyfriend. I like his penis very much." Anya told Buffy with a straight face. Buffy just turned to Spike with an odd look. He laughed and whispered in her ear.
"She's 'armless. Just play dead, try not to give off the smell of fresh meat and she'll leave you alone." With that he left her standing at the table, watching the two girls and being watched.
"Is Spike giving you many orgasms?"
* * * * *
"So?" Charlie asked when Spike got up on stage to tune his own guitar that the guys had brought with them.
"So what?" He avoided Charlie's gaze.
"What's the deal, Giles? You don't just bring a co-worker with you on outings. Who is she?"
"She's Buffy. She's a friend who I've gotten to know over the past couple of days by decree of the studio heads for fear of getting fired." Spike explained.
"Right." Charlie nodded as the others listened in. "That's why you aren't at all on edge about performing tonight with as little practice as we've had in the past month, making sure she's integrated well with everyone and you've got this stupid, goofy look on your face."
"Spill, Spike. What's up?" Aaron asked him. Spike sighed and sat one on of the speaker boxes.
"That's just it, I don't know what's up," he replied, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "She makes me want to throw her across the room one second and then the next I want to kiss her senseless. And she'd let me too, if she didn't have her own hang-ups. Which is another thing. Maybe. I don't know. Can't be a thing when I don't know what we are, right?"
"Sounds like Giles has it bad," Kevin laughed. "What's she like?"
"She's. amazing. Fire and ice, tranquil and a spitfire, makes me laugh and want to scream at the same time. She's just plain amazing. And she's got a good right hook," He chuckled to himself, rubbing his nose lightly.
"I mean what's she like in the sack, man," Kevin teased. Spike just shook his head, and stood up. This was the signal for everyone to finish their work. Charlie stayed behind.
"Look, man," he started. "If she's that great don't let her get away. Just- don't get mixed up with another Dru, ok? Cause we need you. I need someone to keep Kevin from landing in a Mexican jail because he followed some jail-bait back to her car."
"I hear you, Charlie. And don't worry, mate, she's better than Dru ever was. Certainly too good for me," Spike told him, his gaze falling on Buffy sitting at the table, her cheeks suspiciously red.
"So a mean right hook, huh?" Charlie asked, following Spike's eyes. Spike grinned.
"You have no idea."
* * * * *
"So how long have you and Spike been together?" Anya asked innocently, for the third time since Buffy sat down, in the third, and most direct, way. Buffy just sighed and looked at Anya wearily. Anya shrugged in response. "Tact is for suckers."
"I'm not dating Spike, remember? We're friends, co-stars, acquaintances, merely passing each other on the road of life..." Buffy reminded her.
And again Anya didn't believe her. "Please. I've been around here, with the band, for a long time now and I've never known Spike to bring a girl to a performance, let alone for the rehearsal. Something must be cooking between you two." She persisted.
"And again, I had to come because the movie producers made us spend two days together. This is Spike's day to decide how we'll get to know each other."
"I'm still not convinced." Anya decided, sitting back in her chair with her arms crossed. Amy just sat in her chair, silent.
Not knowing what else to say Buffy sat back as well and tuned into the band, doing a sound check. They had been rehearsing for over and hour now but Buffy had barely heard anything over Anya's direct questioning. She admired the blonde's willingness to say anything but her direction was a little personal. She didn't want to think about potential Spike orgasms or his penis. Not out loud anyway. But she was a little worried about Anya's insistence that she and Spike were together, even though Buffy denied it at every opportunity. If Anya was this sure and she had only known her for an hour maybe she was right in saying that Spike didn't bring anyone else here and this was something more. She hoped that it wasn't but she would have to talk to him now to make sure he understood her position. It was better for both of them that they didn't open that can of worms.
"Alright guys, that should be good for now. Let's go get some grub!" Spike announced a few minutes later as they finished a song. There was a general tone of agreement among the whole group.
"Hey, what'd you think?" Spike asked as he jumped from the stage and headed straight to Buffy.
"Have to admit that I was a little distracted so I'll have to catch the whole thing tonight." Buffy admitted, rolling her eyes in Anya's direction who was distracted by Aaron. Spike just smiled and took her hand to help her out of her chair.
"Did you get the third degree?" He asked, not letting her hand go. Buffy pulled it away carefully and pushed her hair over her shoulder.
"More like the third degree cubed. She's. outgoing." Buffy laughed.
"Yeah, that's Anya. Never been on to shy away from the really important things. Like sex and penises." Buffy nodded in agreement. "Course, they are important things to some people, I suppose. I'm more interested in things pertaining to the opposite sex, especially tiny, volatile blondes but-"
Buffy cut Spike off. "Spike, we need to talk." With his eyebrow raised he nodded at her to continue. "This," Buffy gestured between them. "Can't happen. I mean, it could, but it won't. Because we're costars and we are trying to make a good movie, you know? I'm just getting to know you as a friend and this whole innuendo thing you have going is a little unsteadying. Maybe I'd acting like a prude, I don't know but I just want to do really well with this and I like being your friend, cause you're nice, once you get to know you. I'm sure you know that. But that's beside the point. I just- don't feel comfortable with the remarks and suggestions. I- I. I'm babbling." Buffy took a deep breath and looked up at Spike who was staring back at her with an amused look on his face.
"I'm sorry Buffy. I didn't realize that my comments made you so uncomfortable. I just- I'm. I - like being your friend too, so I would never want to do anything to harm that. I'll try to be on my best behavior." Spike told her, wincing as he stumbled a little. He wanted to tell her that he liked her. He didn't know how she would react to that however so it might be best to let things play out on their own. She was rattled by him though, he knew that, and not necessarily in a bad way.
"Good. Good, that's very good." Buffy nodded her head. "We've worked hard to get where we are right now and that's important."
"You're right, it is. Hungry?" He asked. Buffy stared at him for a moment before saying she was. He gave her a quick smile to go round up the others, leaving her to think.
*That was easy. Too easy. Or just easy enough. Maybe he doesn't have a thing for you, that kiss was all just a misunderstanding and he just wanted an easy out.* She didn't think he would agree to tone down his Romeo act so easily. She also wasn't sure how she felt now that they were going to be just friends. * Am I disappointed? She wondered to herself. Nah, I asked for this and I got it, simple as that. I don't have to worry about feeling funny around him now.*
Spike smiled at her from across the room where he was talking to Anya and Aaron as the others got together. Buffy felt her breath hitch as she watched him, his hair gleaming under the dim lights, his blue eyes electric to her, even though she was really too far away to see clearly, and his smile warming her from the inside out.
*Oops,* Buffy thought weakly as they all started to leave the club to go to dinner. *Only you Buffy, only you.*
* * * * *
"So this guy decides to run to the ladies room before she gets there and take EVERY single roll of toilet paper he can, just so he could get revenge on her," Kevin laughed, pointing at Spike. The whole table roared, in hysterics for the past half hour over memories of band exploits.
"The crazy chit gave us a terrible review. What else was I supposed to do? Sit there and take it?" Spike covered himself, looking around the table for support. His gaze fell on Buffy, across from him and wiping a tear from her eye from laughing so hard. He took a deep breath when he looked at her, wishing he could kiss her again, or even just hold her hand. But she had made her feelings perfectly clear that afternoon when she'd asked him to cut out the suggestive comments that he'd been making to her. It wasn't something he did to be a rude or uncouth guy, it was his way of flirting. He knew that she liked it because she had responded to it time and again, but now she asked for it to stop. So he would. And wait for her signal.
"At least none of you got *hurt* in any of our pranks," Aaron grumbled, good-naturedly. Seeing Buffy's confused expressions he explained, "The guys decided that they needed some form of initiation for me when I joined, as I was the last guy. So they got me to agree to do this stupid 'trick'. They got me to pull down my pants, get a piece of toilet paper the length of my body and stick it between my butt-cheeks. The set the paper on fire and I had to drink a glass of beer before the fire reached my ass. Sounds easy, right? Cause the fire would reach a plateau and burn slow enough for me to chug the beer. What I didn't realize till after I had blisters on my ass is that they were standing behind me splashing beer on the paper. Assholes."
Everyone laughed again, besides Anya who snuggled into Aaron. "If I had known you then I would have kissed it and made it better." She told him. Aaron smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her, eliciting a groan from the other guys in the band.
"Come on!" Kevin threw a piece of bread at the kissing couple. "Get a room."
Kevin and Anya separated, Anya looking more that a little perturbed. "It's not like it wasn't ten times worse when it was Spike and Dru." Kevin said. A silence fell over the table at that and Kevin turned red, realizing what he'd said.
Spike rolled his eyes. "Guys, bugger off it. It's not like you can avoid talking about her or us completely. She happened, we happened, it's not a secret. We make mistakes and move on."
"Yeah, but what about." Kevin made a motion with his head in Buffy's direction. Both Spike and Buffy rolled their eyes this time.
"Guys! We're not dating! Co-stars, friends, strangers in the night. It's what we ARE. I swear, you all are worse than a dog with a bone. We *aren't* dating." *And likely never will,* Spike lamented internally, but laughed with the others. Buffy stayed silent, wondering what would have happened if she had let things go the way they had been ad they'd gotten even closer.
*No point in wondering what could have been. Focus on what is.* She gave herself a little pep talk and snapped back to reality.
"Spike, were we going back to the hotel before you had to go back to the club?" She asked. He nodded and stood. The left the table, left money for the bill, and told everyone they would be back in a little while so they could change.
As soon as the blonde couple left the rest of the table looked at each other. Anya was the first to speak.
"I've got fifty that says they're going to be giving each other orgasms by the end of the week."
"I'll take that bet. I say it'll take a month." Steve threw his bill in the middle of the table. Everyone else anted up, choosing the date they thought Spike and Buffy would finally cave. The sparks between the two were so hot it wasn't a matter of if they got together, it was when.