Chapter 12

"I can't believe she hit you." Spike said as he touched the mark on Buffy's cheek. They were both sitting outside her house later that night.

"Well, she was pretty angry." Buffy replied and Spike wouldn't accept that.

"She still didn't have any right hitting you. Wasn't the diary thing Dawn's idea?" He asked and Buffy nodded.

"Yeah, but Harmony figured I did it. I just let her think what she wants. It doesn't really matter to me." Spike wrapped his arms around Buffy and pulled her closer to him. He then pressed his lips softly to the bruise and she closed her eyes at the touch.

"Does that feel better?" He whispered to her and all she could manage to do was nod. Spike gently licked her cheek and she felt chills go up and down her spine. He started to kiss her on the lips and she was eager to respond. He slipped his hand underneath her shirt and caressed her stomach as the kiss grew more passionate. They both then pulled away suddenly, when the back door opened and an angry Joyce came out.

"I think you should go home now, William. I need to speak with my daughter." She said and Spike nodded as he stood up. He gave one more look to Buffy before he walked away. Buffy had a feeling she knew what her mother wanted to talk about. "Get inside this house, young lady." She said and Buffy sighed as she stood up and followed her mother into the house. Joyce closed the door and then looked at Buffy. "What has gotten into you lately? Your sister is upstairs crying her eyes out right now because of what you did to her at school. How could you have done that, Buffy? You have been acting up ever since you started seeing William. Maybe it would be best if you two spent some time apart." Buffy couldn't believe what she was hearing and decided to speak up.

"He has nothing to do with this. Harmony is the problem, mom. Why can't you ever see that? She has always been your favorite. Hell, she's everyone's favorite and excuse me for wanting that to change. I'm sick of going to a school where they only know me as Harmony's little sister. I wanted to be recognized for once." She explained and hoped that something would get through to her mother.

"So, you decide to embarrass your sister in front of her friends? I am surprised at you, Buffy. I love all three of you equally." Buffy crossed her arms over her chest as she looked away from her mother.

"You have a funny way of showing it." She mumbled and it was loud enough for Joyce to hear.

"Look, this kind of behavior isn't acceptable. I want you to go upstairs and apologize to your sister." Buffy felt like laughing at that suggestion, but she held it back.

"I have nothing to apologize for. She never apologized to me for everything that she's done, so why should I? I don't regret what happened; I would do it again if I could. She's a bitch and it's about time people realized that." Buffy knew she said the wrong thing when she saw the look on her mother's face, but she couldn't seem to care.

"I want you to go to your room and think about what you've done. You are not to go out anywhere for the next few weeks. You are only allowed to go to school and then come straight home. I don't want you with that boy again, not until you are ready to apologize and behave yourself. Do I make myself clear?" She finished in a surprisingly calm voice and Buffy gave her a hard stare.

"Crystal," she replied as she then ran upstairs and into her room.

"Wow, that's harsh. You're not even allowed to see him?" Willow said on the phone after Buffy told her what happened.

"Not unless I apologize to her royal highness. It'll be a cold day in hell before that happens." She said and Willow nodded, even though Buffy couldn't see her.

"You shouldn't have to apologize. I'm sure your mom will come around." Willow said and tried to make Buffy feel better.

"I doubt it; you know how my mom can get. I'll just have to find a way around it." She explained and Willow was curious now.

"You mean you're going to sneak around? Are you sure that's a good idea?" Buffy shrugged as she played with the cover on her bed.

"Harmony's done it enough times; I think I could pull it off. I just can't apologize to her, Will. And I can't go weeks without seeing him either." She said and Willow agreed. They talked for a few more minutes, until Buffy realized that she should probably end the call. "I have to go now, wouldn't want mommy dearest to know I'm on the phone." She stated and hung up after Willow said goodbye. She then heard someone knock on her door and Dawn walked in a few seconds later.

"Hey, I heard what happened." She said as she closed Buffy's door and moved over to the bed. "Why are you taking the blame for this? It was my idea to screw Harmony over; you didn't even really wanna do it." Dawn said as she sat on her sister's bed.

"There's no reason for both of us to get in trouble. Harmony thought it was me and I didn't exactly correct her. It's not a big deal, Dawny." She said and that didn't stop Dawn from feeling guilty.

"I just feel bad that you got grounded for something that was my fault." Buffy smiled and tried to lighten the mood.

"Now you have some competition. You shouldn't be the only one to get grounded around here. There's a first time for everything." Buffy said and Dawn smiled also, even though she was still feeling guilty.

"Well, good luck trying to catch up to me. I've been grounded twice in the last two months." Buffy rolled her eyes at her sister's obvious excitement over the idea.

"Yeah, that's really something to be proud of. You're such a bad seed." Buffy said as she playfully slapped Dawn on the arm.

"You better believe it. I'll probably end up having sex before you." She claimed as she stuck her tongue out at Buffy.

"You better not even be thinking about that. You're way too young." Dawn rolled her eyes this time.

"Please, like you're not thinking about it. How can you be with Spike and not think about having sex?" Buffy blushed as she looked away from Dawn.

"Okay, this discussion is over." Dawn laughed at her sister's embarrassment.

"I so knew it." Buffy pushed Dawn and almost caused her to fall off of the bed.

"Shut up, brat." She said in a teasing tone and Dawn stuck her tongue out again. Joyce then opened the door, without even bothering to knock.

"Dawn, go to your room. Buffy is not allowed to have any company right now." Dawn rolled her eyes again as she got up and walked over to her mother. She didn't say anything as she left the room and Joyce looked at Buffy. "You should get to bed." She told her.

"Yes, mother." Buffy replied in an emotionless voice. Joyce only sighed as she shut her daughter's door. Buffy has never talked back before and Joyce was really starting to become worried. She didn't know what she was going to do with her.