Buffy and Willow walked through the mall, Lemonades clutched firmly in their hands.
"I want an outfit that will make Spike flip," Buffy said, stopping in front of a display window.
"Do you have a budget?" Willow asked. "Because this store is kind of expensive."
"I do have a budget. Basically, I shouldn't even be doing this," Buffy admitted.
"But…"
"But, the only clothes I bought are slay friendly. Tonight I want something sexy," Buffy said.
Willow arched an eyebrow, "So, we're going in?"
"Most definitely," Buffy answered and proceeded to throw out her lemonade into a nearby trashcan and march proudly into the shop. Willow shook her head and with a look of amusement of her face followed the Slayer.
"I haven't been shopping in ages," Buffy said when she felt Willow's presence behind her.
"Don't you go with your friends in LA? I mean, I thought it was like…shop city there," Willow asked.
"Things are pretty expensive in lA, but there are definitely enough shoes to keep me happy," Buffy said with a humorless laugh. There was an awkward silence, which the Slayer broke. "To tell you the truth I don't really have any friends. I used to. I used to be miss popularity. Then I started slaying and I didn't have time for friends. Now I either drag Spike someplace with me or go alone."
Willow placed a comforting hand on the Slayer's back. "I know how you feel."
Buffy looked at the redhead with surprise.
"Xander and I are pretty much on our own. We started demon hunting with Mr. Giles and any friends we did have we lost. There used to be three of us; Myself, Xander and another boy, Jesse. Jesse moved to New York, Xander and I met Mr. Giles and the rest is a very lonely history," Willow said.
"I'm kind of glad I became the Slayer. I hated it at first, I've seen so many people I care about dead," Buffy admitted, thinking about Merrick. "But I've also met so many great people. I feel closer to you and Xander than I've felt to anyone for a long time."
Willow smiled. "Enough of this sappy stuff. Let's find you the sexy outfit you want."
**************** ********* *******
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Xander asked, coming into the room in back of the library where Spike was doing push ups.
"What are you talking about?" Spike asked.
"Earlier, in Giles office. You said you had something to talk to me about. Was it just because you wanted to see how I did on the paper or was there something else?"
"A few things actually," Spike said. The Vampire got up from his push up position and walked over to the corner where he had thrown his shirt upon entering the "training room."
"You gonna' tell me what you wanted to say or just stand there with your shirt in your hands?" Xander asked sarcastically.
Spike rolled his eyes before putting his shirt on. "When I helped you on your paper you mentioned something about not having a date to a school dance. I promised to help you." Spike reminded Xander.
"I remember."
"When is the dance?" Spike asked.
"Next Friday night," Xander answered. "You think you can get me a date?"
"Don't worry about it. I'll have an address of a girl for you to pick up at seven o'clock next Friday night."
"But the game starts at six," Xander protested.
"That's why you're getting there at seven," Spike explained. The vampire shook his head, annoyed at Xander's lack of knowledge about the ways of women. "You, my friend, have a lot to learn about girls."
************* ************** **************
"So, Spike was talking to me about some dance that he's trying to get Xander a date to," Buffy said as she slipped into a short red dress inside one of the changing stalls at the small boutique she and Willow had stopped at.
"Yeah. The homecoming dance is next Friday and Xander is dying to go," Willow told the Slayer.
"Are you going to go?" Buffy asked.
"I don't think so. I'm not really a dance person. And I don't have a date," Willow said.
"Well, maybe you'll find someone tonight. Some cute guy you can ask to the dance."
"Ask to the dance," Willow squeaked out nervously.
"Yeah. How else are you going to find a date?" The Slayer asked, oblivious to the source of Willow's nervousness.
Willow bit her nails as she paced nervously outside the stall where Buffy was changing. "I'm kind of, not so good with the making a move. I usually wait for a guy to ask me out, and that has only happened once."
"I didn't know you'd gone out with someone. Tell me about it," Buffy said, excited at the prospect of gossiping about boys. She had enjoyed getting to talk about Spike with someone and was excited that Willow would be reciprocating.
"There is not much to tell," Willow said.
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked.
"It was Xander, I was ten." Willow stated simply.