Chapter 5. Herbie Goes to Sunnydale.
The next day, Buffy pulls out of her driveway and pulls into Xander's. Xander comes out of his house and sees Buffy. He stops for a second.
"Are you going to get in?" asks Buffy.
"Yeah," says Xander as he walks over to the passenger seat. Buffy drives to school and meets her friends at the parking lot. When she sees Spike, he doesn't look happy, especially when Xander comes out of Buffy's car.
"Where the bloody hell were you last night?" asks Spike.
"Spike, calm down," says Buffy. "I had some car problems. I couldn't make it."
"You do have a phone. Why aren't you using it and why wouldn't you answer?"
"I was busy handling the situation. My phone got pushed to the bottom of my purse and got turned off by accident. I'm sorry."
"Maybe next time, I'll turn off my phone when I'm with my boys." Spike walks away.
"I didn't do it on purpose."
"Ah Buffy, don't worry," says Willow. "He was just worried."
"Nah," says Xander as he puts his arm around Willow and then notices Buffy was feeling a little left out. He then puts his arm around her as well. "I think he's just PMSing. It's been known to happen to guys on occasion." Buffy and Willow laugh at Xander's comment and head into the school.
Xander heads to his class, while the girls head to their class. On their way, they see Spike and he is talking to some dark haired woman, who is barely wearing much. Her breasts are practically out there and you can see her thong from behind in her little shorts.
"Who is that?" asks Buffy.
"Oh, that's the new girl," says Willow. "Her name is Faith and Cordy is going to have a fit that she is dressing sluttier than she is."
"He's all over her."
"Buffy, don't worry. I think Spike won't fall for that."
"Right, if he's blind maybe. Look at her; she is totally the opposite of me. That is what Spike is."
"No, he isn't." Buffy looks at Willow. "Okay, maybe he is, but he loves you."
"Not enough to grab the next curvy woman that comes along. I mean, his last girlfriend said he had sex with her on the first date and she was 15."
"So, you haven't had sex? That doesn't matter, right?"
"It kind of matters now. I mean, I told him we would when I was ready and older and perhaps married even."
"Oh, I'm sure he respects that."
"What if he's tired of it and wants it?"
"No way. Spike would never do that."
"You think?"
"I hope so." The two enter their classroom. Buffy could not think about school. She could only think of Spike with that girl.
After school, she meets up with Xander. He looks at her and wonders what she is thinking. She looks at him and smiles.
"What's up?" asks Xander.
"Nothing," replies Buffy. "Wanna ride?"
"Sure."
On the ride home, Buffy is completely quiet. As she pulls up to his driveway, Xander stops before he gets out and looks at Buffy. Buffy is surprised that he is looking at her.
"What?"
"Is something up?"
"No. Um, I owe you a Bronze night out. How about tonight?"
"I'm there. Are you sure there is nothing wrong?"
"Everything is peachy." Xander nods his head and exits the car.
That night, Buffy picks Xander up and the two head to the Bronze. Buffy is wearing the prettiest pink dress. He was mesmerized by it, but he tries not to gawk.
When they get to the Bronze, they spot Willow and Riley getting drinks. Willow is surprised that Xander is at the Bronze and even more surprised that he is with Buffy.
"You know Willow, of course," says Buffy as she introduces Xander. "And this is, Riley. One of the nicest football players."
"And smartest, too," says Willow with a giggle.
"That's because of you, Willow," says Riley.
"Where's everyone else?" asks Buffy.
"Um, Angel and Cordy couldn't make it," says Willow.
"Where's Spike?"
"Um, Buffy…"
"He's probably on the second floor. I'll get him. Be right back." Buffy goes through the crowd and heads for the stairs.
"What's up, Willow?" asks Xander.
"Spike is not alone," replies Willow. Xander quickly goes after Buffy. Willow gives Riley her drink and runs after Xander.
Buffy makes it to the second floor and looks around for Spike. She finally finds him and he is behind the brunette he was with at the school hallway. Buffy's eyes widen at what Spike is doing with her and her eyes fill with tears. Xander finds Buffy and walks over to her. Buffy turns away and bumps into Xander. Her head is down and she grabs hold of him.
"Take me home, please," says Buffy in a soft voice. Xander looks at Spike and then down at Buffy. He puts his arm around her and leads her down the stairs. Willow goes up to the two and sees Buffy hiding her face in Xander's chest.
"Take care of her," says Willow to Xander. Xander nods his head and leads Buffy to the exit. Riley walks over to Willow. "Poor Buffy. I really didn't see this coming."
"Spike's an as…" Willow looks at Riley. "Pardon my French."
"I know."
Xander drives Buffy home and they stay in the car for a long time. Xander looks at Buffy, who is wiping away her tears and looking straight forward. He looks down at her hand, which is clutching the seatbelt and grabs it in his. She turns her head around and looks at him, with a very sad expression.
"I'm so stupid," says Buffy.
"No, you're not," says Xander.
"Yes, I am. How could I not have seen this coming? He's been pressuring me every time we go out to…and I just knew it."
"Don't blame yourself. He's an idiot." Buffy leans against Xander's chest as he soothes her head. She closes her eyes and begins to drift off to sleep. "How could any guy lose a girl like you is beyond me…" Xander looks at Buffy and realizes she is already asleep. He tries to get as comfortable as possible and not wake Buffy. "Herbie, windows down just an inch." The windows roll down an inch. "Thanks. Goodnight."
The next day, Buffy opens her eyes and realizes that she fell asleep in her car. She turns around and sees Xander asleep. Buffy then looks for her cell phone and sees that there are 12 missed calls.
"Oh, no," says Buffy. "My parents are going to kill me." Xander stutters as Buffy starts moving about in the car. "Xander, wake up." She quickly opens the door and steps out.
"What's the matter?"
"What's the matter? I never came home last night and my parents have probably called the police by now."
"You fell asleep. I didn't want to wake you."
"If they disown me, could I stay at your house?"
"They're not going to disown you." Xander gets out of the car.
"This is the second time this week I worried them like this. What am I going to say?"
"Better think of something fast." Xander looks straight forward.
"Why?"
"Cause they're at the front door." Buffy's eyes widen when she looks at both of her parents at her front door. They had their arms folded over their chests and did not have a smile on their faces.