AN: Buffy deals with the breakup of Spike by running into Rileys arms. Little do both know in which danger they are. Next update on Wednesday!
Revenge chap 9
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"Come, you can clean up a bit in here."
Riley had taken Buffy to the teachers lounge, where he was allowed to come some times since he was an assistant. The young woman was still not over her shock of seeing Spike and him accusing her of cheating.
"Is he always this aggressive? Then you're lucky you got out of that relationship."
He said casually as he leaned against the wall, watching her as she washed her face and hands. She looked up at him through the mirror.
"I don't think of him as aggressive… And if he is it's not his fault. He has been very good to me but it wasn't meant to be."
Riley shrugged and left it at that, it wasn't any of his business. Although he was planning on making it his business, somewhere in the near future. He looked at Buffy and hoped she would feel the same way in time.
"Didn't you miss a few classes?"
She asked a bit sheepishly as she turned to him.
"I don't think we were missed very much, there are enough people in an auditorium. Want some coffee?"
"Sure."
Since Riley had already missed most of his classes and Buffy had not much of them to begin with, she thought it couldn't hurt much. Walking side by side they left the campus behind and made their way to the town of Sunnydale. Normally Buffy would have gone straight to the Bronze, but Riley seemed to have a different idea.
"Have you never been to the coffee house, It's great… and quiet."
"People say you should try everything at least once."
They both smiled and walked into the small bar where only a few more customers sat to enjoy their drink.
"Spike! Wait!"
Willow and Tara had finally managed to catch up with him, but Spike didn't want to listen. He turned to them and glared.
"Don't try to talk her out of this, I have seen it with my own eyes!"
"We won't… It's just… they weren't doing anything, Spike."
"What!"
"They just walked together. She has never looked at another guy when she was with you, Spike. Not even when you were away… maybe she just felt lonely."
"Sure… Now that I've come back she feels lonely."
He grumbled, but his anger had faded during Willows speech. He realised it maybe wasn't all Buffys fault. He had gone away to Oxford for months and although he had missed her very much, it was no reason fly back to America and stay with her.
"I'll go talk to her later, but right now I just need some time to think."
It was said in a soft voice and Spike was clearly at the end of his wit. Willow knew from experience this was the time when he was the most dangerous and when he bit back the hardest.
"Spike.. just… don't act out of anger, please."
She pleaded with him because she understood what he was about, although he had hurt her too after he had been shot. Like so many people, he had pushed her away, but unlike others, Buffy, Xander and Willow hadn't taken the no for an answer.
"Don't, Will… Leave me."
Willow wanted to try again, but Tara took her hand and lead her away. With much protest she came along and she was about to tell her girlfriend a piece of her mind when the soft spoken girl opened her mouth.
"I know you want to help him, Willow, but you have to let him deal with this on his own. They will get through this if they're supposed to."
"But he sees it all wrong! Buffy doesn't want anything to do with that Riley guy!"
"Let Buffy tell him that when he has calmed down enough. Just.. do like he asked."
Willow nodded, but she didn't have to like it that two of her best friends were not together anymore. She let Tara take her to the Bronze where they talked about the best way to deal with this break up, now they had to choose between Spike and Buffy.
"Wow, it's kind of cool in here… is this a new place?"
Riley smiled at the wonder in Buffys voice, she even didn't know everything in her own town.
"No, it has been for quite a while. Well, I think so because it was here when I started at university. The coffee is good, but they have other things if you like."
"No, coffee is fine."
When someone came to take their order, they didn't notice that the waiter passed it through an open window in the back. A young man with long black hair looked at the young couple with interest.
"A new man in town… always knew you moved fast."
He murmured as he poured the coffee for the both of them. If they stayed for a little while, maybe he would have the chance he had been waiting for during all those years he had stayed in prison. Her guard dog wasn't with her anymore and that boy she was with now didn't really seem like much of a danger.
