Chapter Twelve
"Buffy come down here! You were supposed to leave fifteen minutes ago!" Joyce yelled up the stairs. She patted her hands gently against her hair to make sure it was still in place. She went with a more curled than usual look, as suggested by her daughter, and she was actually very happy with it. In the past when Buffy wanted to touch up her mom it included dying her hair different colors.
"Okay, I'm coming." Buffy rushed down the stairs in light blue khaki's made of sweat pant material and a white tank top. "I'm ready, you ready? Whoah, mom you look like you're going to the Oscars."
"It's a big performance."
"I appreciate the enthusiasm mom," Buffy said with a huge smile then urgently said, "you can't wear that."
"Why not?"
"Because it'll be blatantly obvious that you never get out- I mean… it's just going to look weird with you in your slinky black dress while everyone else is in casual wear."
"She can't change or else I'll look stupid," someone said in the kitchen. They stepped out into the hall so Buffy could see them.
"Dad! You came!" she shouted. It took all she had not to jump into his arms and just give him a big bear hug. "And you're wearing a tux."
"We'll be the best dressed parents," he said.
"Spike, you're late. You needed to be at the school-"
"I know mum," Spike replied, frantically looking around his room.
"What on earth are you doing? You just need to arrive, everything you need is at the school."
"No, yesterday I accidentally brought home one of my shirts. I put my coat on over it and completely forgot I was wearing it when I came home and now I can't- found it!" Spike exclaimed. He hugged the shirt and then quickly remembered he needed to get the hell out of here.
"Come on Spike," Anne said, as if reminding him he still needed to leave.
"I'm ready. Let's go!" He pushed his mother out the door and into the car.
At the school everyone was frantic: Willow was rushing from backstage to the dressing room to the make up station and then back to the dressing room, Giles was looking at a clipboard and already had his glasses off, Xander was repeating lines to himself and then gargling water in between (just because he always saw people do that in the movies), and Oz was… well Oz.
Buffy ran inside and gave her parents quick hugs and kisses. "Do they have VIP seats for parents of the star?" her dad asked.
"I don't think so. I think you just have to get here early."
"Will you just let her go get dressed," Joyce asked.
"Sorry. We'll see you after sweetie."
"All right. Bye mom. Bye dad." Buffy darted down the hallway and into the girl's changing room.
"Where have you been!" Mrs. Ferns cried out as if she had been lost. "We must get you ready. Go to make up then come back here. We'll get you dressed and then we'll do your hair." The woman handed Buffy a sheet of paper.
"Got it." Buffy went over to the cafeteria table where a make up station was set up. Two students and two adults were looking from people's faces to pieces of paper which were their blueprints. It was insane. It was like everyone was on Speed and couldn't get things done fast enough. Kinda like when Buffy was punching the clock to save the world. Although this might have been worse. She quickly jumped into the seat next to Cordelia.
"You're late," Cordelia remarked, her eyes closed for shadow.
"Thank you Cogsworth." Buffy handed the girl the paper of what make up she needed and then sat, waiting for instruction.
Spike made his way down the hall and into the men's dressing room. "Spike, there you are," Giles stated. "We've been wondering where you were. You need to get into make up right away and then come back here for your costume- where are you going with that fake bush? It needs to be backstage. Bugger!" Giles pushed past Spike and followed the person dressed in black that was carrying the two dimensional bush.
Spike walked towards the make up station and noticed Buffy was there. Her eyes were closed as the girl ran a brown pencil against her lids. His breath stopped when he realized Cordelia finished, leaving a vacant seat right next to his Juliet (literally). He cleared his throat and sat down.
"Where's your sheet?" the brunette asked.
"My what?"
"The sheet that tells me what to put on you," she said as if he was an idiot.
"I don't have a sheet," he replied as if she was the idiot.
"Who are you playing?"
"Romeo."
The girl picked up a box and started shuffling through the pages. Finally she came across the right one and pulled it out. "Thankfully they have copies." She started with the foundation.
"So how have you been?" he asked, making the first move.
"I've definitely been better," his make up artist answered.
"Not to be a prat, but I was talkin' to her." He pointed to Buffy.
Buffy took a breath before answering, "Nervous. And excited. Nervously excited I guess."
"Or excitedly nervous… wait…" he said, realizing how stupid that sounded.
"Actually I'm really glad you're here. I needed to talk to you about-"
"Done. Here's you sheet. Anyone else need make up?" the girl interrupted. Jonathan moved in and urgently waited for Buffy to get up.
"Okay, well, I need to get dressed but I'll be right back." Buffy walked into the dressing room where Mrs. Ferns was doing a quick sew job on Harmony's dress.
"I think the top of this dress needs to be trimmed to," Harmony suggested.
"Why?"
"Because you can't really see my chest."
"This is Romeo and Juliet Harmony, not Moulin Rouge," Buffy commented.
"All right Harmony, you're all patched up. Buffy, let's get you dressed." Harmony pouted, sad she didn't get her way and Buffy happily ignored her. "Thank you for that. That girl has been talking the entire time I had been sewing her gown."
"Oh believe me, I understand." Mrs. Ferns pulled out the extremely bright red dress that Buffy hated. Thankfully she didn't wear this dress as much as the others but why does have to be so ugly anyway? The other things she wears are so pretty and elegant and this looks like a four year old colored in a picture in a coloring book. It clung to her chest but then just hung, giving her no shape (like an angel you put on top of your tree), and then the sleeves clung to her upper arm but then became bells a little before the elbow. There was also an annoying gold trim around the collar that just looked hideous. Oh, yeah this is the best dress in the world, in that it's-extremely-ugly-and-I-wish-I-could-burn-it way.
"They're starting," a couple girls spoke in a whisper as they ran into the room. "I think that Jonathan kid's gonna puke."
Jonathan warily stepped out onto the stage and looked out at the huge crowd. It
looked like the whole town was here, or at least what you could fit. He gulped loudly and took a few more steps, finally resting at his mark. Willow was backstage watching with dread, praying within the next minute he will actually speak. Jonathan took a deep breath, closing his eyes quickly as he did so and opened his mouth to speak: "Two households,
both
alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From
ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil
hands unclean."
Willow took a breath of relief and watched as he finished his speech.
"Which,
but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two
hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears
attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend."
Everyone clapped as he
walked of the stage. Jonathan stopped once he entered the safety of back stage and took numerous breaths. "I did it."
"Good job Jonathan," Willow congratulated.
"And I didn't throw up!" he said with excitement. Unfortunately he got too excited and he fell to the floor.
"Jonathan?… Jonathan?…" Willow grabbed him by the arms and pulled him to a couch that was against the wall. "Thankfully we have two acts to go before he's on again." Sampson and Gregory took the stage like pros and started their dialect:
"Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals."
"No, for then we should be colliers."
"I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw."
In the hall Buffy went to see Spike but he was gone. She sighed and rolled her eyes. Then she walked towards the men's dressing room, hoping Xander was standing around it somewhere. "Xander," Buffy said, as he got a Coke from the soda machine. "Is Spike in there?"
Xander opened the door and peered in. He pulled his head out and answered, "Yeah."
"Well can you get him for me?"
"He's half dressed. In case you haven't noticed Buffy there is a play going on here and what is that dress?"
"I know, it's hideous."
"It's like the color of drag queen lipstick."
"You have puffy sleeves," Buffy countered. "And a weird… neck thingy. What is that?"
"I don't remember what it's called." He took a sip and then went into the dressing room. Buffy tried to find Spike before the door shut but he must've been behind the rack of clothes.
After about ten minutes Spike came out, fully dressed in a dark red, velvet costume. "Buffy," he said in surprise. "Way to give a man a heart attack."
"Sorry. It's just… I need to talk to you."
"About what love?"
"Us?"
Spike stopped in his tracks and faced her. "Us? I know last night I wanted you to decide quickly but I didn't know it would be this quick. You're kinda a procrastinator."
"About last night, did I, uh, this is gonna seem weird but did I come over to your house?"
"No," he said slowly not sure what she was getting at.
"Ok good. Or not good. Anyway," she said, shaking her head to return to the now. "That subject's pretty much been the only thing on my mind the past couple months and it certainly wasn't a joy ride. I've gotten very frustrated and accidentally punched a hole in the living room wall but thankfully there's a fake plant to help hide that and… I'm rambling, Sorry."
"Spike! Get back here and get your mike!" Willow yelled, and somehow in a nice way.
He hurried himself to the auditorium and hooked himself up. Buffy followed, hoping to finish her thought. "Now, I'm going to turn this on and you can not say anything because otherwise everyone will hear it okay. Red means you can talk, green means you can't. Backstage that is. You can talk onstage with the green light on but not-"
"I got it red." He flicked the switch on and Buffy turned to walk away. Willow grabbed her hand and handed her a mike. Willow attached it to Buffy while she watched as Spike took the stage and captured everyone's glance. He is so amazing.
Next was the most anticipated scene of the entire production. Everyone watched the rest just to see the party scene. Romeo and Juliet fully define the phrase "love at first sight" and seal it with a kiss. Everyone waited in anticipation to see how well Buffy and Spike play out the forbidden, heart wrenching love that was so well portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.
But no pressure.
"Then
move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
Thus from my lips, by
yours, my sin is purged." Spike moved in and kissed
Buffy. It was short and sweet but completely short of what Buffy wanted.
"Then have my lips the sin that they have took."
"Sin
from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
Give me my sin again."
He moved in again but this time their tongues touched
and twirled around each other. Buffy put her hand on his cheek and pulled him in closer as if they could kiss any deeper. Everyone was shocked at the passion, considering the completely public hatred they display toward each other. A few sighs of longing were heard form the audience and two stray clappers. Remembering there was still a play to perform, Buffy pulled away.
"You kiss by the book," she said with a small smile. Spike started moving in for another kiss; off script but what the hell did he care.
"Madam, your mother craves a word with you," Anya intervened, making Spike turn to her and take a step back. Buffy looked up at him with a hint of sadness in her eyes and then walked off stage.
"What is her mother?"
"Marry,
bachelor,
Her mother is the lady of the house,
And a good lady,
and a wise and virtuous
I nursed her daughter, that you talk'd
withal;
I tell you, he that can lay hold of her
Shall have the
chinks." Anya looked out at the audience and smiled; someone
could have been taking pictures.
"Is
she a Capulet?
O dear account! my life is my foe's debt."
Three scenes, an intermission and five scenes later, it was the death scene. How metaphoric of what the real Romeo and Juliet were going through.
"Arms,
take your last embrace! and, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal
with a righteous kiss." Spike laid his lips against
Buffy's and she remained motionless while her blood rushed from his touch. "A dateless
bargain
to engrossing death!
Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide!
Here's to my love!" He drank the cranberry juice provided in the small vial. He
started to gasp and held his hand towards his chest. "O true apothecary!
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss," he leaned in one more time, "I die." His body lay limp on the bed next to her.
After about a minute of complete quiet, Buffy's torso shot up from the bed as she took a deep breath. "Where is my lord?
I
do remember well where I should be,
And there I am. Where is my
Romeo?"
"Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead.
Come, go, good Juliet,
I dare no longer stay." the friar spoke. The kid was wearing a bald cap with
black hairs drawn on with a black permanent marker. He hustled off the stage as Buffy remained next to her true love.
"What's
here? a cup, closed in my true love's hand?
Poison, I see, hath
been his timeless end:
O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly
drop
To help me after? I will kiss thy lips;
Haply some poison
yet doth hang on them,
To make die with a restorative." She
gently brushed against his mouth, as if she
were kissing the head of a baby. "Thy lips are warm."
"Lead, boy: which way?" someone called from off stage.
"Yea, noise? then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!
This is thy sheath;" Buffy acted as if she had plunged the dagger into her stomach and using a red handkerchief, she made it look as if blood was spilling out of her body.
"There rust, and let me die." She rested her head against Spike's chest as she slowly closed her eyes.
The rest of the scene went off without a hitch. Everyone was on queue and was prepared with their lines, and finally, everyone's eyes rested upon Jonathan as he spoke the famous last words:
"A
glooming peace this morning with it brings;
The sun, for sorrow,
will not show his head:
Go hence, to have more talk of these sad
things;
Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished:
For never
was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo." He
bowed and then the curtain closed.
Everyone quickly cheered and clapped and whistled. The curtain open and people started coming out into the shifts that they were told. The last two of course were Spike and Buffy who received a standing ovation and the loudest roar of satisfaction. They bowed together and then stepped back for the final bow with everyone.
When the curtain closed again all the actors were ecstatic with how well the play was received. Everyone was jumping and hugging and screaming about how awesome they all were. Buffy and Spike hugged each other tightly. "That was amazing!" Buffy exclaimed.
"I know," they parted, "you were incredible."
"You were incredible. Your death scene was so good."
"What about yours?"
"You didn't even see it, you were dead."
"Can't you just accept a compliment?" They smiled brightly at each other but then came back to the reality that there was still somewhat unfinished business between them.
"Spike-"
"Everyone out front!" Willow called. The entire crew swiftly stampeded her as they hurried to the hall to receive their flowers and congratulations from everyone.
"Why can't I finish a sentence!" Buffy yelled.
Out front everyone told Buffy and Spike how great they were and how believable they made the relationship seem. You have no idea, they both thought. Half the crowd still had red, puffy eyes from crying. Buffy's mom and dad gave her a big hug and handed her an exuberant bouquet. "Where were you guys hiding this?"
"Your father ran out to get one during intermission. The ones they were selling weren't big enough."
"I'm surprised the rainforest was." She gave them each a big hug.
"Are you coming with us or catching a ride with Willow and Oz."
"I'm riding with Will."
"All right. We'll see you at home. I am so proud of you," Joyce said with one more hug.
Anne kissed Spike on the cheek. "You were breath taking sweetie. Oh, sorry, I got lip stick on ya."
"S'all right mum. I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"Enjoyed it? It was amazing. I can't wait to see it tomorrow."
Spike smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll see you later okay?"
"All right." Anne looked at him once more and gave him another hug as if he were leaving the country. "You were great."
Anne also told Buffy how great she was, as did Joyce and Hank inform Spike.
Within an hour the school had quieted down and most the people were gone. Willow and Oz were told to go ahead and leave so Buffy could do some quick patrol and Giles was passed out in the library from exhaustion; Buffy didn't have the heart to wake him up. She covered him with his jacket and went to leave, but stopped when she saw flowers on the counter. She checked the tag and noticed they were from him to her. You were amazing Buffy. I would expect nothing less from you. Love, Giles. Buffy smiled and took the bouquet with her, shoving a stake in the middle. Perfect.
As she walked down the hall she saw someone coming towards her. "There's no one to interrupt you now," Spike said.
Buffy smiled and stopped in front of him. "No, I guess not."
"So what did you want to say?"
He knew what she wanted to say but she understood that he needed to hear it for himself. "Well, after all this annoying preparation for the play and the-" She was interrupted by his lips pushing against hers.
"Can we skip the preface?" he asked.
"Okay." She looked in his eyes for a moment and then said, "I love you Spike."
Some how the smile on his face became bigger. "There, was that so hard?"
"Yes," she said with a smirk. She kissed him deeply, her tongue massaging his as she held him closer. "Wanna come slay with me?" she asked.
"Way to ruin the moment."
"How did I ruin the moment? What's not romantic about slaying vampires and demons?"
"Are you asking because you don't want me to feel left out or because you really do want me to come with you?"
"Do you care?"
"Nope." He held his hand out for her to take, which she gladly did. Their fingers intertwined and Buffy rested her head against his arm as they exited the school.
THE END (really)
Author's Note: Yey! I hope you liked it! And, for those who asked, if you want to read my other stories just click on my name and you'll get a list.
