AN: Sorry, Wednesday became Thursday… next chapter will be up Saturday or Sunday.
Revenge 8
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Spike didn't want to go back to his aunt and uncle. He had troubled them enough over the years and he thought it was time he came up with his own solutions. He knew only one place where he could stay, in the dorms with Willow. He snuck down the hallway of the university, it was past curfew and he wasn't supposed to be there. He knew this from his time in Oxford, but there were always ways to get around it.
"Will?"
He knocked softly on the door. A sleepy Willow opened the door, barely able to keep her eyes open.
"Spike? What are you doing here?"
"Buffy and me are having problems. Can I stay?"
Willow seemed to hesitate for a moment, but nodded. She let him in and closed the door behind her. It was only then he noticed there was someone else in the room.
"Why didn't you say something, Will? I'll find something…"
"No." Tara said from her spot on the bed. It was a dorm room for two, but Tara and Willow apparently slept in one bed. "You… you can stay, Spike, no problem."
"Thanks, love." He said with a smile.
"Have the other bed, Spike, it's not like we're using it."
Spike was a little surprised by the ease Willow seemed to talk about her relationship. He nodded and shed his duster, jeans and shirt, diving under the blankets. He was confident about his body, having trained it for years, but two women staring at you was not immediately what he was looking for.
"Goodnight, Spike."
"G'night, pet." He mumbled before closing his eyes. He hoped the morning would bring him some better news, because his return to America had not been successful until now.
Buffy had cried herself to sleep, in the embrace of her mum. Joyce had wanted to strangle Spike at first, but he had always seemed like a sensible young man, even though a little angry. She would comfort her daughter and listen to her, but she wouldn't interfere, she vowed to herself.
The next morning Buffy woke up with a headache from her late night tears. She was not so much sad anymore as angry. Especially at Spike for not even listening to her when she tried to explain nothing happened. Because he didn't understand that she trusted him hundreds of miles away in England, but he couldn't trust her! Grumbling she skipped breakfast and went straight to university.
"How sad is it that I have to go to class to take my mind of things." She muttered as she walked along on campus, books under her arm. She noticed Riley a bit further on and decided she was allowed to talk to other men. Spike had said they were broken up, right?
"Riley." She smiled as she approached him. Apparently the young man hadn't seen her coming, because he seemed genuinely surprised.
"Hey Buffy, I thought you didn't have classes until this afternoon?"
"I'm going to study a little in the library, I think." She only then realised Riley had been right. She didn't have anywhere to go for the next hours.
"Wow, devoted student."
"That's me, devoted Buffy." She answered and in reaction, Riley smiled. He was a nice guy, she decided as she looked at him. Not like Spike, although he had changed over the years. No, she wouldn't think of Spike anymore!
The object of her thoughts had, unnoticed to Buffy herself, moved around campus as well. He had eaten breakfast with Willow and Tara and was now walking them to class in not one of his best moods before he would head off to his aunt and uncle. Suddenly a flash of blonde caught his eyes.
"Oh, I didn't think Buffy had classes this morning." Willow said in his place as she noticed Buffy as well. Right then Riley walked up next to the girl.
"Now you know why she is here."
Spikes voice was cold as ice when he said what neither Tara or Willow dared to mention. He had never thought Buffy would cheat on him, but the prove was right there, only a day after they broke up.
"That is how much I mean to her." He sighed. He didn't know whether to be angry or just plain tired, but he wasn't going to let her get away with it.
"Buffy!" He shouted as he approached them rapidly. The girl startled but Riley had no clue who was coming towards them. He wasn't intimidated and just thought him a punk friend of Buffy, although he didn't know what such a bright girl was doing with him.
"Is he the assistant?"
"Spike…"
"I asked you a question."
"Yes, I'm the assistant of professor Walsh. Why are you so desperate to know?" Riley asked rather curious.
"Like you don't know, ponce." Spike hissed before looking at Buffy again. "I hope you have a nice life, luv, without me in it. I will never forgive you for this." With that he stalked away, not looking back. Tears welled up in Buffy's eyes and she turned to Riley.
"Your boyfriend?"
"Ex, obviously." She replied softly, her head buried against his chest. Riley had put protective arms around her and it seemed a little safer to her. She could just stay in them for a little while.
"Spike!"
The angry Englishman didn't listen to the cries of Willow and Tara, but disappeared through the gates of the campus. He had enough of America already.
