The Girl Across the Hall

by: Fashiongrrl

A/N: Yes, I'm terrible about leaving y'all hanging with my other stories. Finished up a test today, got inspired to write based on a conglomeration of recent muses. Anyways, enjoy!

Summary: Starts off in Fall 2004, somewhere in California. Med student Spike comes home to find Buffy, his neighbor from across the hall drunk and upset. Ah, the start to a beautiful friendship.

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine obviously. I just like to play with them. I borrowed them from Joss. He doesn't mind.

Dedication: This one is for W.

Prologue

11:30 pm. He hoisted his backpack over his shoulders and dragged himself towards the exit. He'd been in the hospital since 5:00 am, and he had to be back at 6:00 am the next morning. Six and a half hours to eat, attempt to study, and sleep - possibly not even in that order. He pulled his weary body off the elevator and trekked the four blocks to the darkened parking lot where students were forced to leave their rides. Hands fumbling in his pockets, he pulled out the keys to the DeSoto, threw himself into his car, gunned the engine and sped home. Hell, he could get pulled over by a cop, he could crash, he could fall asleep behind the wheel - but running on 3 hours of sleep, tired from constantly having to be on his toes, berated day in and day out by residents and attendings, Spike Giles didn't really seem to give a damn.

He pulled into his apartment parking lot, fingers mindlessly reaching to shut off a radio that was playing God only knew what at this hour, trying to remember the normally easy tasks he had to do to shut off a car. Spike ran down a mental checklist, knowing it was the only way to preserve his sanity at this hour. Lights off, car in park, pull out key, get backpack, get out of car, close door, lock car, find bed.

Spike ran his hands through his platinum blonde hair, then wiped at his glasses as the elevator doors opened. Instead of a peaceful silence, the air was peppered by random sobs and moans as he made his way towards his door. Confused, he squinted and saw a shape huddled across from his apartment. Putting his glasses back on and letting his eyes adjust to the light, he saw the blonde girl from across the hall crumpled up in front of her door, lip-gloss slightly smudged, and the contents of her purse on the floor. Her hands tried aimlessly to find the keys that were only inches out of reach.

And tell me why this isn't awkward? Spike thought to himself as he approached. From what little he knew of his neighbor, she had blonde hair, she was a 21 year old senior in college, and whenever her hulking mass of a boyfriend came over, their sexually charged screams and moans easily penetrated into the hallway. Sighing, he opened his mouth to speak.