Ch. 3
Hope & Crush
Spike was right on time that night and the gang was having a great time. Buffy just wondered what she'd say when she had to go patrol, but when the next song came on Buffy stopped worrying and followed her friends to the dance floor.
"So, how are things going with you and Spike?" Willow grinned, having to raise her voice to be heard over the music but not letting anyone else hear.
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked.
"Oh, come on, Buffy! I saw the way you were looking at him today...and tonight."
"Snoop," Buffy accused teasingly.
"So, do you like him? Does he know?"
"No and no." Willow shot Buffy an I-know-you're-lying look. "Well, maybe yes for the first question..."
"Maybe?"
"Okay, okay. I really, really like him. But we're friends. It was no different than when I liked him in kindergarten."
"Kindergarten? I didn't start noticing boys until, like, third grade."
Buffy smiled slightly. "I know. There was just always something special about Spike. Something that made him stand out." Buffy glanced over at Spike dancing near Tara.
The song ended and a slow song began a few seconds later. Oz asked Willow to dance, and she accepted. The rest of the gang headed back to the table.
"Cute together, those two are." Spike nodded towards Willow and Oz. "What about you two?" he asked Xander and Tara. "You together?"
"Us? No, no. Definitely not. Nope," they replied quickly.
"What about you, Buffy?" Spike looked over at her from across the table. "Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No. No boyfriends for Buffy...lately. And when I say lately, I mean forever."
"Well, the guys around here obviously don't know what they're missing out on," he smiled fondly.
Buffy blushed and Xander stared at them, wondering what was going on.
A little while later, Buffy realized she'd better go patrol so she would get home before her mom went crazy wondering where she was. She was even worse since she'd found out that Buffy's the Slayer a little less than a year ago.
"I'd better go. It's getting late and weird people come out," Buffy said, trying to get the message across to her friends without Spike noticing anything. "My mom worries."
"Oh, weird people, right. People who are weird that are good to avoid," Xander said, understanding what Buffy meant. "See ya tomorrow."
"Bye, Buffy," Tara said.
"Be careful," Willow warned.
"Don't worry, always am." Buffy got up.
"Want me to go with you?" Spike offered.
"No, I'm sure Buffy's fine by herself," Xander answered quickly for her. He was starting to get the feeling that there was something going on between Buffy and Spike, and was getting jealous because he liked Buffy and didn't want Spike to swoop in and take her away.
"Thanks, but I'll be fine. Trust me." Buffy gave him a slight smile before turning to go. Spike stared after her.
Buffy breathed a sigh of relief when she was clear of the Bronze. She'd been tense all day around Spike, and it wasn't because of the slayer thing. She was falling hard for him and she couldn't stop.
After Buffy had made a quick sweep of the cemetery and running into nothing, she headed toward home. She was greeted by her mother, Joyce, when she walked through the front door.
"Honey, hi. Did you have a good time?"
"Yeah. It's nice to have Spike back around." Buffy had told her mom about Spike being back that afternoon.
"I never liked that boy much. He was always getting into trouble and sometimes dragging you into it, as well, and you weren't even the Slayer yet!"
"He's better, Mom," Buffy assured her.
"I still want you to bring him by sometime. I want to know who you're hanging around with."
"I'll bring him by, I promise."
"Good. And don't think I'm going to forget about it!"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "I'm sure. Look, it's kind of late and I'm beat. I'll see you morning."
"Goodnight, sweetie," Joyce said and kissed Buffy on the forehead before Buffy went up to her bedroom.
Buffy was looking at an old picture she had of her and Spike that had been taken a week before he'd moved. She smiled. She was so glad he was back.
"So, he's back?" Buffy looked up to see Dawn standing in her doorway.
"Yeah. His hair's different, though."
"What's it like?"
"It's a platinum blonde color and slicked back and..."
"And you're totally into him," Dawn finished.
"What? No! Spike's my friend."
"Oh, yeah, right. I'm 14, Buffy. I think I can tell when a girl likes a guy."
"Well, you're wrong," Buffy lied.
"Come on, Buffy. I think it's sweet," Dawn smiled warmly.
"OK, so I like him. Why does it matter?"
"It matters because now you have to find out if he feels the same," Dawn replied.
"No. I'm not going there."
"Don't worry. You'll be able to tell if he does."
"How?"
"Well, when he tells you that he likes you, that's a usually good sign."
Buffy laughed. "Thanks, Dawnie. I hope you're right."
END OF CHAPTER 3
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