(For disclaimer etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 10

"Sounds good" Faith grinned as she stepped out from behind the drum kit.

The Chosen were due to play tonight at the Bronze and due to various scheduling difficulties they hadn't had much time for practice lately. The last minute rehearsal however had gone astonishingly well and the whole band were pleased.

"Yeah, and that song you wrote is bloody brilliant Oz" Spike complimented his friend as he pulled the guitar strap from over his head, "Can't imagine what the inspiration was" he smirked, "Or should I say who?" he amended.

"Actually try whom" Oz shot back smartly, trying not to blush as he escaped from the stage.

It was true that Buffy's friend Willow had a major affect on him when they met last week and by the following night he'd composed his latest song 'The Wish' based on his feelings for her, though he didn't plan on admitting that any time soon.

"So, Spike, how goes it with you and Miss Summers?" Xander asked his friend as they hopped down off the stage and headed towards the bar to grab a couple of beers before the club opened.

"It doesn't go, or do anything else for that matter" the bleached blond told Xander firmly, "Me and Miss Summers, as you would call her, do not get along and are never bloody likely too" he said definitely as he popped the top off two bottles, handing one to Xander and grabbing a third as Faith strutted over and hopped up on a stool.

"You still talking this crap, Spike?" she smiled, shaking her head, "You so want that girl, it's unreal, man"

"You're bloody delusional, luv" Spike disagreed, "I'd sooner take you for a spin than her" he said, taking a slug of his beer.

"Well, all you have to do is ask" Faith told him with a sexy look as she sipped from her beer bottle, causing Xander to almost spit his own drink everywhere.

"Please" he said, wiping his chin with the back of his hand, "Do you guys have to do that in front of me!" he complained.

"Breathe, Xand" Faith laughed loud as she slapped him on the back, and got down from her stool, taking her beer with her, "You guys do the guy thing, I got somewhere else to be" she winked and Spike watched her heading towards the latest barman, possibly the only one other than him she hadn't bedded yet.

"My cousin is just impossible" Xander complained and Spike shook his head.

"She's alright" he defended Faith, since she might be annoying on occasion, but she was at least entertaining most of the time, "You want impossible then we're back to Miss High and Mighty Summers"

"Yeah, where is she anyway?" the brunette checked, "It's her club, and on a Saturday night, I kinda figured she'd be here"

"Hasn't been round much of late" Spike told him, "Not since the trouble last week, with the fight and all. Just pops in to get the takings, locks herself in her office on occasion. Doesn't bother me" he shrugged, "I could run this place with my eyes closed and one arm tied behind my back, plus I got Doyle's help, when he's not chasing skirt of course"

"Oh yeah, that Cordelia girl, right?" Xander recalled, "He getting anywhere with her yet?"

"Not so's you'd notice" Spike smirked, "Reckon she likes him well enough but she's no pushover. He'll have to work for it, but I got a feelin' he'll get there eventually"

"So I guess he's in charge tonight, if we're playing" the brunette guessed as he finished up his beer.

"Dunno, mate" Spike admitted, "Buffy was sayin' she might be in I reckon, but we'll wait and see I s'pose. Stupid bint'll probably sell the place before the year's out anyway, doesn't seem that interested anymore"

"I guess Daddy will just have to come up with something bigger and better to impress his little girl" Xander smirked as the beer bottles were disposed of and the pair headed back up to the stage.

They both laughed at that as Spike checked his watch. Less than half an hour til the doors opened and then another show began.

The Chosen reached the end of their opening number 'Welcome To The Hellmouth' and received the usual rapturous applause for their efforts. The girls at the edge of the stage were practically falling over themselves to get closer to Spike and the other guys, giggling like kids as they tried to get their attention. Spike didn't like to be distracted when he was playing, and usually got so into the music be barely noticed the screaming women, til later of course. If they wanted to get their hands on him after the show, well then who was he to complain. Everybody liked to be wanted, and he was no different.

Spike glanced back at the band just as Oz's face lit up like a slot machine hitting jackpot. His friend followed his gaze to the door and wasn't at all surprised to see Willow had just walked in, though it seemed a little strange to see the red head without Buffy. He shook his head, it didn't mater where the boss was at, he had a show to be getting on with.

"S'pose now would be a good time for your latest?" he said to the bass guitarist, hand covering the mic so the crowd didn't hear. With Oz's agreement he let Xand and Faith know the change to the set and then addressed the audience.

"Slight change to the order of things, folks" he told the crowd as the girls held back the screaming to a dull roar, "My mate Oz here got a bit inspired and wrote a little something for a young woman he'd like to know better... Can't think who she might be" he smirked as Willow spun around to look at the stage.

She was so completely distracted by the song that seemed to be about herself, and though Spike was singing it she knew Oz had written the words and she couldn't take her eyes off him.

"Will! Willow!" Buffy hissed from the door that led to the staff area.

"Oh sorry" the red-head quickly apologised, picking up the two drinks from the bar and hurrying over to her friend. Oz looked disappointed when she disappeared through the door, but hoped she understood the song was about her and was suitably impressed. He'd never felt this way about a woman before.

If he could see beyond the door she'd just gone through, he would be in no doubt to how Willow felt as she grinned broadly and rambled to Buffy about why she was so long fetching them both a drink.

"Buffy, I think he really likes me" she smiled as her friend took one of the glasses of mineral water from her hand and sipped it.

"That's great, Will" she smiled back, meaning it genuinely, "Oz seems like a really nice guy, just be careful is all. You don't know him all that well"

"I know" the red-head nodded, "but I'd kinda like to, and y'know just cos Spike has made you angry, doesn't mean Oz is like that, just cos they're friends" she said, almost annoyed by the implication.

"I know that" Buffy sighed, as they went back to her office and closed the door behind themselves, "I wouldn't say a bad word against Oz, not unless it were true" she swore, "But Spike deserves to be taught a lesson and he will be" she said firmly, taking off the long coat she'd been wearing since she slipped into the club a few minutes ago. Underneath was an outfit made specifically to show off everything she had to full effect. It was a little more slutty than she would usually go for but it had seemed like a good idea at the time. Spike's comments about never wanting to touch her should've made her happy, after all it wasn't as if she wanted him to like her or come onto her in any way, she had a boyfriend and she was very happy with Angel. She'd just found a little fun in making him want her when she knew he could never have her. She was playing with fire, but as yet was too naive to realise.

Buffy watched as Willow leaned out of the door, craning her neck towards the stage.

"Will, just go" she smiled, "Go hear your song and gaze at your honey"

"He's not..." the red-head began to protest but Buffy cut her off.

"Maybe not, but he might be soon, and a whole lot faster if you're actually in the room when his band are playing the song he wrote for you" she pointed out and Willow grinned before disappearing back into the club.

Buffy took a drink of water and then got the mirror from her purse, checking her appearance. She looked good and she knew it, and in the next few minutes Spike would too. He was going to regret dissing her. She was going to drive him crazy tonight.

"So all I can say is...
I wish, that one day my dreams come true!
I wish, cos all that I want is you!
I wish, tell me what else can I do?
Baby, I wish for you"

The Chosen's latest song, The Wish, came to a crashing end and the usual cheer went up for the adored band. Willow was as close to the stage as she could get without being attacked by rabid fan girls, clapping for all she was worth and smiling widely at Oz. He smiled back, pleased that she looked so happy, and hoping she realised the song was about her. He'd worried when she disappeared shortly after the song began but she'd come back fast enough, he was certain now she hadn't run out on him on purpose.

"Okay, back to the old favourites then" Spike yelled into the mic to make himself heard, "Here's one you all know" he told the crowd, who fell into near silence for a moment until the first few bars of a song they did indeed recognise began to be played. It was one of the first songs Spike had ever written, and it was called Lover's Walk.

"Your mother told you 'play it cool, be good'
She didn't know you like she thought she should
You took my hand, you smiled, you said 'Let's go,
I know a place where we can be alone'

And then I knew you weren't plannin' to talk
When we went strollin' down to Lover's Walk
You knew exactly what was on my mind
I knew you were the girl I'd been longing to find

That night, down in Lover's Walk!"

It was at this point Buffy emerged from behind the Staff Only door and moved across the floor, catching almost every guy's attention as she went. Several asked her to dance but she declined every time as she moved through the crowd of girls all dancing by the stage and joined in with them.

Spike didn't notice her at first, she was of course the last person he'd expect to see in amongst the writhing fan-girls that covered the dancefloor each time The Chosen performed. He continued with the song, not even sparing her a glance.

"All those guys told me you were too damn clean
And way too straight-laced to be good for me
They never knew you like I got to know
You made me quiver, babe, from head to toe.

Because I knew you weren't plannin' to talk
When we went strollin' down to Lover's Walk
You knew exactly what was on my mind
I knew you were the girl I'd been longing to find

That night, down in Lover's Walk!"

Buffy frowned when she realised Spike hadn't even noticed she was there. She glanced at the other girls all around her who seemed to be getting plenty of assorted male attention. The way they moved, well it was hardly dancing in a traditional sense, but Buffy wasn't going to fail now. In desperation she moved further towards the stage, copying every seductive, enticing, and dirty move she saw the other girls doing. Spike was entranced by her in seconds and having severe problems remembering how to play guitar as he watched her shake what she'd got on the dance floor right in front of him. The bigger shock came when he realised who it was in the skimpy clothing, as she turned round and he saw Buffy's face attached the body of a goddess. He almost forgot to start singing again when the music reached the third verse of the song.

"Oh baby, when we kissed it felt so right
And with our bodies oh so close and tight
I need to..."

Between the words he was saying and the moves Buffy was using, whilst making it perfectly obvious every shimmer and shake was meant for him alone, Spike completely lost the plot and the words to a song he'd written himself and known off by heart for years completely vacated his mind. Such was the effect Buffy Summers could have on him and he hated her for it.

By the time the chorus kicked in he was back on track and with his eyes closed he got through the rest of the song without a hitch.

"And then I knew you weren't plannin' to talk
When we went strollin' down to Lover's Walk
You knew exactly what was on my mind
I knew you were the girl I'd been longing to find
That night, down in Lover's Walk!"

The crowd cheered as it always did, Spike's little mess up forgotten already. He was too perfect in the eyes of too many young women for one little moment of lyrical amnesia to count for anything. Still it bothered his band mates.

"What happened, man?" Oz asked him, having not noticed Buffy at all. He only had eyes for Willow tonight.

"Bloody bitch" Spike seethed, away from the microphone as he pulled his guitar strap over his head and lay the instrument down, "Gonna soddin' kill her" he muttered as he hopped off the edge of the stage. Buffy was already gone, knowing how mad she would have made him and not wanting to cause a scene. She'd hurried back to her office where they could argue without interruption if they needed to.

"Er, we're gonna take a short break now" Xander laughed nervously as he addressed the crowd, "Don't go away" he grinned, before glancing back at Oz and Faith for some kind of explanation. They merely shrugged that they had no idea what was going on.

Spike was incensed as he pushed through the crowds of women that wanted a piece of him and headed for the Staff Only door, promising he'd see them all very soon, he just had something to deal with first. He was beyond mad at Buffy. The whole sexy dance thing was purely designed to get him going and make him screw up and look like an idiot. He actually thought she might've been a bit nicer of late, he'd helped her out enough with one thing and another, seemed this bint liked her games though, and thought Spike was the best playmate she was ever going to get.

"Well, guess again, sweetheart" Spike said to himself as he stormed into the office, slamming the door behind himself.

"What the bleedin' hell is wrong with you!" he yelled at Buffy who had her back to him when he came in. She smiled to herself before she turned to face him.

"Nothing, I'm perfectly fine" she said sweetly, "But thank you for asking"

"You really are twisted, y'know that?" he said, her cute and innocent routine making him want her no less, only more if it were possible, "You got some circuitry loose in your head or something? Or is this how all rich bitch daddy's girls behave?"

"Oh so we're back to that now?" Buffy snapped, her plan going to hell as he insulted her and started to make her mad, "Jealous of my money, Spike, or just the fact that I'm better than you?"
He laughed at that, getting in her face when he answered her.

"You're no better than me, in fact you're worse" he told her, "There's a word for women like you, who shake what they've got in public" he told her nastily as his eyes roamed her body, "S'pose you're one up on some given that you don't charge"

That earned him a slap in the face and he was quite surprised by the force behind it, but then what he'd said to her had been a little harsh. She'd just made him want her so much and he hated that he felt that way. He hated that, even now, seconds after she'd struck him, all he wanted to do was throw her on that desk and have his wicked way with her.

"You're lucky my mother brought me up decent enough not to hit women" he told her as his cheek stung, he was sure she'd left an impressive print of her hand on his face.

"You don't wanna hit me" Buffy smirked, knowing it for a fact as she stood millimetres from him, "There's stuff you want to do, I can see that in your eyes, but it doesn't have anything to do with hitting"

Buffy was about thirty seconds away from seeing Spike completely snap, in which case she really would've ended up flat on her back on the desk like he'd thought before, but the presence of another person in the room put paid to that.

"Buffy?" he said, not looking entirely happy when he realised it was indeed his girl dressed in that slutty attire and practically pressed up against some bleached blond idiot he'd never seen before.

"Angel?" she gasped, backing off from Spike fast, "I... I didn't knew you were coming back today, but it's so great that you did" she laughed part-happy, part panicking as she dodged around Spike and threw herself into her boyfriends arms where he hugged her tight, glancing down at the back view of her clothes and not loving the view. Sure it was sexy, but he didn't want the whole world seeing what his girlfriend should only be offering to him.

Buffy made a big deal of kissing him then, something Spike thought was probably for his benefit, showing him what he couldn't have. She was one for games it seemed, fancied getting his motor all revved up then backing off with an innocent look like she had no idea what she'd done. Now she had tall dark and forehead to hide behind too.

Without a word, Spike stormed out of the office, dodging round the still kissing pair. He had no time for bints like her, and their poofters that they dated.

Just as soon as he cleared the door back into the main part of the club, one girl quite literally fell into Spike's arms. She was rambling on about how gorgeous he was and how much she loved him, all a load of crap he was sure. You couldn't love a person genuinely when you didn't even know them, she was just a hyped up fan that was a bit worse the wear for booze, but god she had a grip on her and she was not letting go of him.

He was still trying to prise the girl off his body when Buffy and Angel followed him into the club from the back. Immediately he spotted them he noticed she was staring with distaste as he battled with the young woman he'd now realised was called Harmony. He'd seen her around before, she was quite obviously gorgeous, and hot for him.

On some level Spike knew it was wrong as he took the girl by the hand and whispered in her ear making her giggle as they headed back behind the stage. He knew what he was about to do would make him feel better for a while but would ultimately not stop the want he was feeling for Buffy Summers. Still it was worth it, he told himself as he glanced at her, a moment before she went out of his sight. He enjoyed the look on her face when she realised he could have all the fun he wanted with another girl so it didn't matter that she didn't want him. His world could revolve without her and for whatever reason he knew that hurt her.

To Be Continued...