Spike sauntered slowly up the cold marble steps to his bedroom. He looked around. There was a large, plasma screen TV with an X-box, Playstation and a whole bookcase of videogames. His bed was king-sized and the comforters were satiny and black-sexy… He had a walk-in closet full of rich, pricey clothes, all of which were black and red. He had a balcony and his carpet was a creamy color and very plush. He sat back in a recliner and thought about his earlier encounter with Buffy. He remembered thinking about her swimming in White bread's pool…that gave him an idea…

He smiled but his thoughts were interrupted when his cell phone rang. " 'Ello?"

"Hey, Spike, baby."

Spike rolled his eyes and let out a groan of annoyance. "Hi, Harmony."

Harmony, however, did not pick up on his aggravation. "You came to school today…"

"Yes. I did. I even said hi to you."

"Yes but you are my boyfriend and you were not with me."

"Yes I was."

"For about a whole four minutes you were with me before you went and practically raped Buffy Summers in front of the whole school and not to mention my best friends. Flirting with other girls does not make us look like a happy couple, Spike. You're smart enough to know this and if you-"

"Oh, just shut up, Harmony." Spike interrupted his girlfriend's tirade. " It's not like you don't do the same. I know you go and sleep with the whole poncy football team every chance you get. Don't go and act all high and mighty with me about me flirting with one girl when you go and sleep with 12 guys. I have a great idea!"

"What?" Harmony asked sardonically. "We break up?"

Silence.

"What?! You're breaking up with me?!" Harmony squealed after realizing that Spike wasn't about to say anything.

"Yep." He replied very easily.

"You can't do this to me. You love me. I love you! You'll want me back. This is a huge mistake! And you'll regret it and then come crawling back to me you little-"

"Yeah. Bye, Harmony." Spike sing-songed into the phone before turning it off. He smiled. He'd been waiting to do that for a while. He just couldn't find the right time. And then he remembered he had some scheming to do. He glanced at the clock. It read 5:30- a little too late to be swimming but then again, it was a little hot out. Maybe they were swimming…come to think of it, Buffy did have a bag on her. Looked like she was carrying a towel in it…maybe they would like me to visit… The thought made him smile and he looked out his balcony. Sure enough, Buffy and Riley were splashing around in Riley's pool. Spike quickly changed into swim trunks and walked nonchalantly down the street towards Riley's house. He opened the back gate and strutted in confidently.

"Hello, Buffy. We gotta stop meeting this way, luv." He smiled and sat down by the pool, his legs dangling off the side in the cool, clear water.

"What are you doing?" Buffy asked, climbing out of the pool and standing beside him with her hands on her hips. Riley followed except stood in a less girly stance.

"Visiting. I thought you would enjoy my company so I'm gracing you with my presence." He smirked and got up, standing very close to her-they were only mere inches apart.

Buffy couldn't help but laugh at Spike's cockiness. "Are you kidding me?"

"Nope."

"Spike, go away." Riley demanded in a very firm voice.

"My, Buffy. How wonderfully tan and down right sexy you look." Spike smirked at the girl and she blushed but stood her ground. Riley suddenly noticed how close his girlfriend and his arch nemesis were and pulled her back a bit. "What's wrong, White bread? Afraid I'm gonna steal your honey?"

Silence.

"That's right, mate. Be afraid. Be very afraid."

"Get off of my property before I call the cops on you." Riley yelled, pointing a finger in the direction Spike had come from.

Spike held up his hands in a sign of surrender. "Alright, alright. No need to get the authorities involved."

"It's not like you haven't dealt with them before you animal." Riley said.

"Well, I try my best to avoid them…" he trailed off and smiled before kissing Buffy on the cheek. "See you later, Luv."

Riley huffed indignantly but stood still.

They stood there quietly for a couple minutes before Buffy asked, "Why are you not leaving?"

"Why are you not making me?"

"You're so frustrating!"

"Go on, pet. Make me leave."

"I will." She turned him around and began to push him out the door.

"I just knew you couldn't resist me. Too much sex appeal."

Buffy immediately removed her hands and huffed. She thought of a great idea! She walked to the gardening shed in the corner and grabbed a broom from it. Spike's eyes widened before he shot off towards his house.

"Does he always come into your backyard like this?" Buffy asked after replacing the cleaning utensil. She sat back down by the pool and Riley sat next to her.

"No. He barely even tries to talk to me. He's been acting up lately…"

Buffy kept silent. She had a theory that maybe he was acting up because he'd seen her but maybe she was just being overconfident. He might've been that way but then never bothered Riley…but why start now then? So it is Buffy after all.

He probably just wants to bug Riley. I think this is bothering Riley. He doesn't really show his botheredness… Buffy frowned but Riley didn't pick up on it.

After another hour, they went inside and watched a movie snuggled comfortably on the couch and under a light blanket. Buffy didn't pay much attention to the movie but Riley was totally enthralled.

After it ended, it was about 9:30.

"I'm gonna head home, Riley." Buffy smiled, stood up and stretched.

"Oh, let me drive you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Of course. It's late. Wouldn't want anything happening to you or anything."

"It's fine. You have to take that really big test tomorrow so go study. I'll walk. It's Sunnydale for Pete's sake. Whoever Pete is..." Buffy smiled and pecked Riley on the cheek before stepping outside. The crisp summer air hit her and made her smile like a young child does whenever she sees her mother coming through the front door after a long day of work.

She walked slowly, enjoying the air. As she walked past Spike's house, she couldn't help but stare in hopes that he would come out and walk her home. She mentally slapped herself when she caught herself thinking these thoughts. The short walk past his house seemed to stretch for miles and miles.

But at last, she made it past his house without interruption. She let out a breath that she had not realized that she had been holding in the first place. Telling whether or not she was disappointed or relieved was hard and finally, she realized she was in denial.

She tried to keep herself blind to the fact that she was attracted a little too much to…him but she couldn't hide it any longer. Spike was charming and funny and witty and smart and down right sexy. Buffy smiled goofily as she thought about the young man. It gave her a high feeling but that feeling quickly dissipated and replaced with that of guilt when a sudden, unwilling picture of Riley flew through her mind.

The smile immediately dropped off her face and she stared at the ground as she walked home all alone. The summer night didn't seem so beautiful anymore.