The Gypsy: 1st day of forever

"I'll be back at 3:30 to pick you up, then you can come to the University with me or I can take you home." Rupert sat with his son, parked in front of the high school. It was a bright sunny California day, kids past by the car talking and smiling all happy to be back at school and be with their friends. The feeling inside the car was extremely different. It was like a black cloud had followed Spike since he woke up. He now sat under that black cloud and had no intention of moving out from under it. He slumped in the passenger sit and studied the floor.

"If you have any problems you can call me and you have Ms. Summers's phone number. I'm sure it'll be fun, you'll get to meet lots of new people."

"Yeah sure." Spike opened his door and climbed out. The door Slammed behind him and Rupert watched his son swagger off into the building. Rupert gripped the steering wheel tight and pulled away from the curb

……………..

After registering in the office and getting his schedule and got to homeroom just before class ended.

"Hey man, I didn't think you were going to make." Xander waved to Spike. Spike bit the inside of his lip and went and sat in the empty desk next to Xander.

"What's your schedule look like?" Xander held his out to compare it with Spikes. "Looks like we've got next period and fifth together, that means we'll have lunch together. I hope Buffy and Willow have the same lunch that would be awesome."

"Yeah terrific." Spike said without any hint of enthusiasm, though inwardly he was hoping he wouldn't have to sit alone at lunch on the first day.

Classes were pretty uneventful Spike wasn't really paying much attention to what was going on and the other kids weren't talking to him even though they were going out of their way to look at him.

At lunch he did sit down with Xander, Willow, and Buffy and they introduced him to some other kids. He remembered one of the guy's was named Oz and he had seemed cool enough, but the girl Cordy or something she wasn't his type too bossy, but Xander really seemed interested in her.

His class after lunch was art. He had to have an elective and he didn't feel strongly one way or another about painting or drawing. The teacher Mr. Loren was an interesting character. Spike didn't know what the guy had been doing during the day but he was covered in green paint. Art classes were always good to find interesting characters; there was one girl who kept looking at him from a table across the room. She was dressed in a lacy black dress; her hair was long and dark like her big eyes. Spike felt like an ant under a magnifine glass when she looked his way, her gaze almost going through him.

Mr. Loren was explaining the rules of the art class room stuff like "always wash the brushes and put them back where you got them from," then there was a knock at the door a student sitting in the back opened it and another student came in and handed a piece of paper to the teacher who quickly read in. "Mr. Giles you're wanted in the office." Mr. Loren handed Spike the slip of paper. It said he was wanted in Ms. McClay's office.

…………………

After a couple wrong turns Spike made his way to the main office and the secretary directed him back to the guidance office and Ms. McClay's office. Spike signed under his breath, it was always a great day when he had to visit the shrink, it was just his most favorite thing in the world to do, HA.

Spike walked like a man headed to his execution slow and with no intention of getting there. To his dismay his feet carried him straight to the office. He stood outside looking into the office that's door was wide open. Ms. McClay looked up from her computer "William?" Spike nodded with defeat.

"Come in, close the door, and have a seat." Ms. McClay smiled sweetly and Spike did as she asked. "Welcome to Sunnydale William or do you prefer Billy?" Spike slouched down in his chair. "No William."

"William then." The counselor smiled again and Spike didn't sense any insincerity and he straightened up a little. "I invited you down here to see if you were finding everything alright. We like to do this with new students especially students that have moved here from as far as you have. So what do you think of California?"

Spike thought for a second, what did he think of California…land of rich, pompous, tan, airheads. It wasn't home… "It's alright."

"I imagine that's it quite different."

Oooohh So different and yet just the same old same old. "It is I guess."

Ms. McClay stayed positive in spite of William's unwillingness to talk at any length. "Have you been sleeping alright, is your appetite normal? Are you finding things to keep busy? "Spike felt the color drain from his face, what did she know? Who told her?

"Why? What?...:" Spike shifted uncomfortably and looked to the closed door hoping it was open so he could make a faster getaway.

"Those are all symptoms of culture shock. If you are experiencing any of those or start to I'd like you to come and see me and we can talk about it. My door is always open…well unless I'm in here with another student. But you can come by at anytime or leave me a message and we can set up an appointment."

"UUmmm alright." Spike's eyes shifted to the door again. Ms. McClay nodded her head.

"You can go back to class now. I think seventh period is about to start." Ms McClay scribbled on a piece of paper. "Here's a pass incase you don't make it in time." She handed Spike the slip of paper and he thanked her. "Remember my door is open if you need anything. Or just to talk. I know moving to a new place can be hard" Spike jumped out of his set said thanked her again and slipped out of the small room.

Tara McClay watched her newest student leave. She wrote down some notes on a piece of paper. Mostly his short answers and uneasy body language. She knew his history it was all down in his file. The fights, the accident, his mother's death, moving half way around the world. In the twenty minuets she'd spent with him she new things weren't good she'd always had good intuition. She hoped he'd give her the chance to help him, she was doubtful about he was going to give her the opportunity. Still she could hope and still she could keep a watchful eye. And as always her door would be open.

To be continued…

Looking for inspiration writer's block is painful and only slows the writing of this story. As much as I want to see the finish of the story I don't know where it's going…help! If you want more I'd love to hear your thoughts! Thank you thank you. -M J