Chapter 19: A knight in leather.
It was prom night, the event of the year and everyone was looking forward to it. Everyone that is except Buffy. She sat in the bay window staring out at the horizon as she gave a deep sigh. The sun tinged the evening sky with a montage of pink, red and orange rays as it slowly began its decent. Buffy's green eyes flickered to the small, grey alarm clock by her bedside table; 6pm. The guys would all be getting ready now. She gave a sad smile at the thought of Cordelia pruning Willow's hair and Xander fumbling unsuccessfully with his tie.
Rolling off the window seat and shuffling across the carpet, Buffy threw herself on her double bed and pulled a pillow in close as she curled into the foetal position. It had been a hard week, trying to hide her disappointment from her friends. Everyone had coupled up. Willow was going with Oz. She had been so excited and so Buffy, along with Cordelia, had been dragged into every single shop to look at beautiful, expensive prom dresses that she knew she wouldn't be able to wear. Buffy smiled slightly at the thought of Willow and Oz, it was clear they liked each other. She hugged the pillow tighter as she thought about how lucky they were and felt a brief stab of jealousy. She shook her head as she thought about the rest of her friends.
Xander much to everyone's confusion was going with Nona. Nona had the looks of a before model and the personality of a dish cloth. They would have assumed he'd been drunk if they themselves hadn't been witnesses. Cordelia had also appeared to abandon all sense of reason and was taking a freshmen, who when stood at his full height only reached her elbows and appeared to have an allergy to everything.
Buffy rolled over in her bed her eyes glued to the clock again. The minutes seemed to be dragging by like hours. It looked like it was going to be a long night. She closed her eyes and dared to imagine what it would be like. She had desperately wanted to go. It would be the last time everyone would be together. There would be no doubt that everyone would go their separate ways after graduation.
The gang had all tried to convince her to go, but she couldn't face being the only girl without a dance partner. She used Angel as her excuse. Xander and Oz had both promised her a dance, well Xander had practically grovelled, but it just wasn't the same, so she respectfully declined. The truth be told she hadn't thought much about Angel, there was someone else filling her mind. Earlier that week, Buffy had quizzed Cordelia to see if Spike was going but before the girl could answer, Xander jumped in and informed them all that Spike never went to a school dance, believing them to be a stupid tradition.
A light knock at the door made her jump. Slowly, Buffy turned over and pushed herself up so she was leaning against the headboard. She gazed over at the door to find her sister leaning against the fame. Before Buffy could asked, Dawn practically ran into the room. "I got you something," Dawn said, smiling as she produced a dress from behind her back, "I saw it a while ago, and I thought you could wear it to the dance tonight."
For a couple of seconds Buffy just gaped, her eyes flitting between her sister and the dress she was holding. The dress was absolutely stunning and much better than anything she would have chosen for herself. "Dawnie, it's beautiful, where did you…how did you get this?" Buffy asked as she scrabbled unceremoniously off the bed and walked over. She ran her hand along the length of the silky dress.
"I stole it," Dawn said in her own unique brand of sarcasm, "I waited until the dead of night and abseiled down in my commando gear," she noticed Buffy's confused and horrified look, and shook her head, "geez Buffy… I saved my allowance." Buffy relaxed at that.
"Eh he hem!" Joyce Summers, who was leaning in the doorway wearing her pale pink dressing gown and slippers, coughed and Dawn looked sheepishly at Buffy.
"Well Mom helped a little." Dawn said and continued when she saw Joyce raise her eyes brows, "Ok! Mom helped a lot!"
Buffy let out a small laugh, "you guys are the best and the dress, it's beautiful, but I'm not going."
"Oh Buffy, why ever not?" Joyce enquired as she came into the room and motioned Buffy to join her on the bed. She put her arm lovingly around her daughter's shoulder and neither noticed Dawn's flickering eyes and nervous swaying.
"I don't have a date…" Buffy stammered feeling betrayed once more by her former boyfriend, even though she knew she couldn't blame him completely, she had said no to everyone that had asked her. Joyce looked sympathetically at her daughter and was about to launch into her 'you don't need a date to have a good time' speech when Dawn squealed excitedly, "Are you sure about that Buffy?" she asked, grinning like the Cheshire Cat as she pointed past her sister and out of the window.
Buffy turned and soon the same huge smile spread across her face. Jumping off the bed, she ran over to her bay window. Her heart gave a slight flutter. Taped on Spike's bedroom window was a giant sign that read, 'Get your glad rags on Summers!' in big bold letters. Buffy gave a squeal of delight and ran straight out of her bedroom. Joyce smiled as Dawn ambled over to the bedroom door and held the dress with an outstretched hand. Less than ten seconds later, Buffy ran back in grabbed the dress and rushed straight back out again.
An hour later, Spike stood nervously on Buffy's front porch. There was a warm breeze in the air and yet Spike was shaking. He'd been here millions of times, he'd pushed the doorbell on countless occasions and yet something was different this time. His hand reached for the doorbell and ran away for the third time in as many minutes. On the fourth time his other hand smacked him in the face, "Get a grip, ya bloody ponce!" he scolded himself under his breath. Eventually he plucked up the courage and Joyce answered the door, "well don't you look handsome, come on in Spike," she said stepping aside.
Spike walked into the hall way, he could already feel his palms starting to sweat, but he calmed at Joyce's warm reassuring smile and then he noticed Dawn winking at him and some of his confidence swaggered back into control, "is she ready yet? Or shall I come back tomorrow?" he teased earning a laugh from Joyce.
"I'm ready," came a voice from the top of the stairs. Spike turned and his breath caught in his mouth. His eyes travelled from the bottom up. Buffy was absolutely radiant. She wore a long, emerald green dress that showed off her perfect figure and really brought out the colour of her eyes. Her normally straight blonde hair hung down in waves, framing her face and her smile. The months of sneaking around, the uncomfortable suit jacket, it was worth everything to see that smile; it was the brightest he had seen in a long time.
Spike wasn't sure how long he'd been staring but Dawn's polite cough snapped him out of it, "you…" he stammered, his mind working overtime, 'are beautiful…gorgeous…stunning' keep it together Spike! It's just Buffy…beautiful, brainy, brilliant Buffy…she's looking at you, say something you bloody moron!
"You scrub up alright Summers," he finally managed, shaking off his geeky grovelling look and straightening to his full height.
Buffy giggled at that although she couldn't help but blush under his intense gaze, "thank you, Spike," she said moving down the steps.
The minute she'd seen him standing at the bottom of the stairs her heart had skipped a beat. He looked so handsome. His platinum blonde hair was smoothed back and he wore a black tuxedo, with a velvet blue inlay that matched his shirt and brought out his striking blue eyes. "You're…" 'Dapper… elegant…an Adonis' her thoughts screamed at her, 'Buffy calm down it's just Spike…suave, smart, sexy Spike! Omg you didn't just think Spike was sexy…you can't think that about your best friend! Bad Buffy! Oh great, now he's staring at you…say something you idiot!
"You're not so bad yourself," she finally settled on as she reached the bottom step.
Spike spread his arms out and did a mock twirl so she got the full effect, she studied him closer, "something's missing," she said suddenly. He looked at her perplexed as she grabbed his leather duster off her mother's coat stand, "take your jacket off," she commanded.
Joyce and Dawn were just as confused as Spike was, but he did as she asked. She hung his suit jacket on the coat stand and held open his duster, hinting that he should put it on. Once he had, she straightened out his collar and took a step back. If possible an even brighter smile fell across her face, "there's my Spike," she said, blushing when she realised she'd said it out loud. 'My Spike? Where did that come from?'
Spike tilted his head sideways at her, a twinkle of wonder and joy shining in his eyes as a thin smile appeared, 'Her Spike? 'I like the sound of that.'
Dawn placed herself between them and smiled brightly, "ok kids, have fun and Spike I want her home by 10." Spike grinned at Buffy's embarrassment and looked over at Joyce, who smiled and signalled that it didn't matter what time they got back. Spike swelled with pride at the thought she trusted him so much. As they left, Spike winked his thanks at Dawn and led Buffy out of the house. Once the front door had closed, Joyce and Dawn high-fived each other in triumph and quickly ran into the living room to spy on the teenagers.
Spike offered Buffy his arm as he led her down the driveway towards his car. Courteously, he opened the door like a true gentleman. Buffy slipped into the passenger seat, she bit her bottom lip nervously as she waited for him to join her and she fiddled nervously with the straps of her clutch bag. As Spike walked around to the driver's seat he gazed up at the stars and took a deep breath as he made up his mind, 'I'm going to tell her…tonight!