(I know that Buffy isn't an artist...But I couldn't resist adding it in! It seems so right with the story! Enjoy!)
Buffy slunk in through the front door, shivering in her pyjamas. She glanced at the clock, realising with a jolt that she had been gone for six and a half hours.
Please, God,I never asked for anything before, but please, let Dawnie still be asleep! She thought frantically, closing the door behind her with a snap that was definitely too loud for half six on a Sunday morning. She ran her fingers through her wet hair and crept into the kitchen.
Dawn was sat at the counter, eating cereal and reading a book. When she heard Buffy come in she pushed her bowl forwards and folded her arms.
"Where have you been?" She asked.
"Uh...oh, me? I...uh...went out..."Dawn raised her eyebrows. "For a walk..."Buffy finished lamely, collapsing onto a stool next to her sister.
"Uh-huh? You went out for a walk, at six a.m, and you miraculously come back wearing Spike's coat?" Dawn did an eye-roll that Buffy herself would've been proud of, and carried on eating.
"What...this old thing? This is...have you never seen this?" Buffy lied quickly."It's been in my closet for years!"
"I've tried on every single thing you've got in that closet, Buffy." Dawn said. "And I've never seen that in my life."
"O-k...well, maybe it wasn't in the closet-"
Dawn raised an eyebrow and reached into one of the pockets of the duster, producing a silver plated lighter and a packet of cigarettes. She dumped them on the table in between them.
"Face it, Buffy. You were out with Spike, and you lost track of time." She told her, emphasizing each point with a wave of her milky spoon. She paused, took another mouthful, then said, spraying cereal everywhere:"Can I have the coat?"
"No!" Buffy snapped, hugging her shoulders protectively. "And this isn't Spike's, I told you. It's mine." She snatched the cigarettes and lighter and walked out of the room.
"Whatever."Dawn called after her, and Buffy silently cursed her sister for figuring her out so easily.
"Need some sleep," Buffy muttered a few minutes later, staggering through the piles of paper still littering the floor. "Just for a few minutes..."
"D'you think we should wake her up?"
Willow and Tara were stood outside Buffy's bedroom door. Her deep breathing was audible. Willow chewed her lip and looked worried.
"She's gonna be late if we don't..."
"How long's she been asleep?"
"Six or so hours, according to Dawnie." Willow said, checking her watch. Tara gave her a look. "Ok, we'll wake her up."
They went into Buffy's room. She was curled into a small leather ball on the bed.
"Buffy...Time to rise and shine!" Willow called softly, opening the curtians with a wave of her finger. An irritated look passed over Tara's face, but she didn't pursue it.
"Job interview!"Tara added. Buffy's sleeping face clouded over, and she slowly opened her eyes with a groan.
"What...what time is it?"
"Twelve. You've got an interview at the Studio at one."
Buffy groaned and swore loudly.
"'Kay. I'm comin'" She mumbled, and they left.
She turned over and dozed off for a few seconds, then dragged herself out of bed.
In about half an hour, she had showered, dressed, plucked, preened, moisturised, practised her sociable voice in the mirror and yelled frustratedly at Dawn when she couldn't find her portfolio. She flicked through it now, wondering if they were too amateur to be considered good enough to sell.
She paused at a sketch she had done of Spike. It was mid-head-tilt, his hair curled at the corners. She had drawn it in charcoal the night she had come back. The eyes were the only sources of colour on the page, done in blue-chalk tones. Even the picture-Spike's gaze made her want to melt.
"Buffy!" Dawn came and sat net to her on the sofa. "Wow." She said softly, staring at the picture. "That's really cool."
"Yeah, I really should be going now..."
"You really-"
Buffy grabbed Spike's jacket and pulled it on-it was her good-luck charm.
"So, so late, y'know, late late late!" She babbled.
"Love him-"
"Wish me luck, I'll bring dinner back with me!"
"Don't you?" Dawn added softly, but the door had already closed behind her sister...
"You do realise that this is a full-time job, Miss Summers."
Buffy nodded and tried her sociable voice.
"Yeah. I know, I'd probably have to make sacrifices-" The woman folded her arms in a final sort of way. "But, y'know, that's ok. I can deal."
"Ok. You see, I need someone who can be devoted, devoted to the job and the work."Buffynodded, desperate now, wondering where she was going with this. "I love your work, Miss Summers. I just don't think you're cut out for the job."
"Ok. Yeah, that's fine," Buffy lied, knowing that it was far from fine.
"While you're still looking, I hear there are some vacancies downtown. You should go down there."
"Will do! Thanks again. Bye." She gave a last false smile and fled from the room.
Buffy knocked on the crypt desperately. She had a bag of blood and groceries clutched in her arms, along with her rejected artwork,and was almost near to tears. There were some old women with flowers giving her strange looks.
"Spike! If you don't get out here now you will be Dust-Boy!" She hollered, and he opened the door as cool as ice and smelling of soap.
"Good Evenin'," He called to the two women, who looked shocked and muttered to each other. Buffy laughed as Spike closed the door, and placed the bag on the stone coffin.
"'Kay, gotcha some weetabix, blood, uh...nutmeg, chicken, candles, matches, and cigarettes." She said as she took each item out of the bag.
"It went wrong, didn't it, pet?"
She turned to face him and her shoulders sagged, changing her entire stance.
"She said I should look downtown. I swear she thought I was looking for some call-girl job."Buffy said.
Spike walked over to her and she rested her head on his chest without thinking.
"It's ok, luv," He reassured her. "Bloody ponces, the lot of 'em."
She moved away from him, embarrassed, and gestured at the groceries.
"What's with the nutmeg?" She asked, sniffing at the small bottle.
"Makes the blood taste better." Spike informed her, pleased to see that she didn't even seem disgusted."So, what do I owe you for all that?"
"Nothing." Buffy looked startled. She had gone shopping for Spike for the simple reason that she had wanted to. It was a good way to learn what he liked and what he didn't.
"Don't be stupid, pet," He said with a grin that made her legs wobble.
"I needed some stuff." Buffy lied. "I told Dawnie I'd get dinner."
"Well, shouldn't you be there now, then, pet?"
"I rang. Said I was doing a quick patrol. Y'know," Buffy gestured.
"Like yesterday?" Spike said quietly.
"Oh, God. I'm sorry." Last night's patrol flooded back to her andshe remembered how upset he had been.
"It's 'k, luv. Anytime. I'll always be waiting."
Buffy perched on the stone coffin, and Spike walked and sat next to her. It was almost as if the silence was saying all the things that they weren't.
"You've not said it yet." Spike said when their eyes met.
"Said what?" Buffy could feel herself falling deeper and deeper into Spike's eyes.
"That you didn't mean it. That I was pathetic, thinking that it meant more than it did." He said, breaking her gaze momentarily.
"Well, it did. I..."She paused. The heat of his gaze made her want to hold onto him and never let go, but she swallowed and carried on. "I did it because...I love you, Spike."
