Disclaimers: All the characters in this story belong to Joss Whedon and the lyrics belong to Ghost of the robot.
Chapter 25: School daze
They all felt discombobulated. They had to do a talent show whether they liked it or not and strangely, for some reason seeing them looking so mortified made Giles chuckle to himself. Maybe they would get what was coming to them. Make them grow up a bit. There was one thing that he was looking forward to seeing and that was his son. Singing. Ever since he was small he would always sing and from the age of eight, Giles taught Spike to play the guitar.
"How could Synder do this to us?" Xander moaned
Buffy and Spike looked at each other dumbly, quite disconcerted.
"Well, for one it's Synder, two he is a soddin' troll who will do anything to make students miserable-do I really need to continue?"
The other boy scowled at him and Spike rolled his eyes. Buffy said goodbye to her friends and followed Giles and Spike into the library to find the older Buffy and Vampire Spike were arguing, Dawn sitting a safe distance away.
"What was that?" Buffy demanded
"Oh, come- don't get your knickers twisted, I was-," he was interrupted by the slayer once again
"What ... was that?"
The vampire just stared at her. The trio looked on, perplexed at what this was about.
"The late-night stakeout, the bogus suspects, the flask? (Spike raises his eyebrows) was last night a date?"
"A d- Please! (pretending to be amused) A date? You are completely off your bird! I mean - (quietly) Did you want it to be?" he raised a quick brow
Buffy made a little groan, with an expression of disgust. She moved past Spike and towards the others. She couldn't believe it. She was so upset.
"Oh my god,"
Spike bit his lip, turned to watch her.
"Oh ... oh no. (turns back to Spike) Are you out of your mind?"
"It's not so unusual,two people ... in the workplace ... feelings develop,"
"No! No, no, feelings do not develop. No feelings," the slayer deflected it
The other Buffy and Spike stared on as they watched the scene unfold. Giles was slightly unnerved and Dawn just looked like she was about to explode with annoyance.
"You can't deny it. There's something between us,"
"Loathing. Disgust,"
"Heat. Desire,"
"Please! Spike, you're a vampire," she exasperated
"Angel was a vampire,"
"Angel was good!"
What? Angel was a vampire? You have got to be kidding me. Not only that he was vampire it also appeared that this Buffy had a relationship with.
"And I can be too. I've changed, Buffy,"
"What, that chip in your head? That's not change. Tha-that's just ... holding you back. You're like a serial killer in prison!"
"Women marry 'em all the time!"
"Uhh!"
He quickly realised that wasn't what he meant and backtracked.
"But I'm not ... like that. Something's happening to me. I can't stop thinking about you," he told her
"Uhh,"
She turned away from him yet again. Dawn wanted to interrupt them but didn't.
"(turns back) You don't know what you mean! You don't know what feelings are!"
The bleach blonde is clearly offended by this.
"I damn well do! I lie awake every night!"
"You sleep during the day!"
"Yeah, but - (through his teeth) You are missing the point. This is real here. I love-" he is interrupted by the slayer once again
"Don't!"
She put up a hand to stop him. He sighed. The younger slayer looked at them, then at the other Spike, lips parted in shock. Human Spike was equally as shocked. Giles, well he was nearing on fainting with the shock.
"Don't say it. (Spike stares at her) I'm going,"
She started to walk toward the door.
"Oh, come on, you can't exactly go anywhere and besides we need to talk-"
"(turns back) We don't need to do anything! Okay, there is no we! Understand?"
She turned to leave.
"Buffy...," her kid sister called after her, causing the slayer to stop in her tracks.
She looked at Giles and spoke with a harsh tone.
"The sooner you get us back the better,"
She opened the door and exited. Spike watched her go with a glum look on his face. The other Buffy looked at him, apologetically. The other Spike blinked.
"I'm glad you're not like that,"
The slayer nodded in agreement and then looked back at the sad looking vampire.
"Am I-is she like that all the time with you?"
"All the bleedin' time,"
The elder slayer sat in the school yard watching all of the students walking by. Spike's revelation had shocked her so much. She hated him and he was souless. A killer. Since seeing the human Spike she thought she had lightened towards the vampire but he tried to tell her he was in love with her she all but threw it in his face and told him he didn't know what feelings were. She was in a day dream when she saw him. Angel. Human and walking in daylight.
"Angel..." she murmured as she got off the bench and started towards him. Her soft features fell when he was joined by the dark beauty that was Drusilla. Angel pulled her into a passionate kiss and smiled into her eyes. Buffy bit her lip and walked off in the direction of the gate, only to be stopped by Cordelia.
"You must be the older sister of Betty, well you can give her a message for me, yeah?"
Buffy frowned.
"I'm going to wipe the floor with her,"
The brunette chuckled and walked away. Buffy groaned with anger. This world was turning out even creepier than her own. Human Spike. Giles was his dad. Angel was human and going out with that prostitute and Cordelia thought that she was her sister??? The slayer sighed and looked up to the sky.
"Don't tell me: Darla is a cheerleader here!" Just that moment who should walk by other than Darla, dressed in her cheerleaders uniform. Buffy started to laugh hysterically.
It had been a few hours after the argument. Dawn had found her sister outside the school gates. She had told the teen that she went wandering just to see if the town was any different to back home and to her surprise it wasn't really that different. Now the blonde sat on one sofa with her sister, whilst the vampire sat on the other one at the other end of the room. Spike had tried to talk to her but it wasn't working. The other Spike didn't like this situation. Guaranteed that they would bicker and shout at each other but now they were doing it in HIS home. Every time he walked pasted Buffy was throwing daggers at both of them and Dawn was smiling sweetly.
"Can I get you anything? Tea, coffee or perhaps something to eat?" the watcher asked his new house guests.
Buffy shook her head in the negative and the bit jumped up towards the kitchen.
"Ooh, whatcha got? Have you got any of those little pizzas? Do you even have those things in this dimension?" she questioned with a raised brow
Giles rolled his eyes and the bleached teen let a chuckle slip from his lips.
"Course we ave...,"
Spike started to go through the freezer and gave a bright smile that said told you so. Dawn took the box from him and started to unpack them. Buffy turned to see her sister being so rude.
"Dawn!" she shouted, making her way over.
"What?"
"You can't just go and eat them like that...sure if it was our Giles he wouldn't mind but it 's not," The middle-aged man smiled.
"No, no it's quite alright, whilst you are staying here you can have whatever you want,"
He abruptly turned his head and was not so pleased.
"What? You'd give them everything if they asked? And when I, your son ask for something you say bloody no," he exasperated
While all of this was going on, the vampire was looking around for the tv remote. When he flicked it on he smiled and then growled as the noise continued.
"I need blood and if you don't mind, keep the noise down coz passions is on!" Spike said, not taking his eyes off the screen. Everyone turned to look at the vampire. The slayer sat back down, allowing Giles to continue to do the cooking. While he was doing this he began to question his son.
"Any ideas on what you are going to sing?" Spike shrugged.
"No idea,"
Giles winced as he took the pizzas out of the microwave. He knew he shouldn't of done that but he was still shocked about the whole situation.
"Why don't you go and get your guitar and do a little practise?" he suggested
Spike's eyes widened at first and then softened.
"In front of them? Are you kiddin me? (sighs) fine fine, I'll do it but it has to be worth my while," he raised both brows for emphasise. His father shook his head. Spike grinned and told the other that he would be back in a bit.
Ten minutes later the teen returned, guitar in hand. Giles took the remote and turned off the television, much to the disapproval of the vampire.
"Hey!" he protested, frown etched on his forehead.
"Shut up," Buffy ordered
Spike mumbled something unrecognisable and then the other Spike sat on the armchair so that everyone could see him. Buffy refused to look him in the eye. What was his plan? Sing a song and hope that it wins her over or something? No chance of that EVER happening. Not in a million years. The teen cleared his throat. "This is a song I wrote a few months back and it is called Dangerous," He started to strum the guitar and tapped his foot to the rhythm before he began to sing.
I don't think you know my name
I think you'd leave me standing in the rain
You're a pretty little girl, got a thing for me
But you'd cut me open and let me bleed
But I'll be lookin' at you
With your long brown hair
Pretty little feet
Sparkling everywhere
You look so good
When you come my way
But I have to look down
When you talk to me
'Cause you're dangerous
Dangerous
Dangerous
And you don't even know it
Dawn was nodding her head to the song. The other Spike looking at himself as if to say I could do that and Buffy was memorised by his voice. She shook her head and tried to block his voice from her ears but it wasn't working. Spike continued to sing and play.
One baby, two, maybe three more years
You'll be a full hot baby, have all your curves
And here's a little taste of irony
You'll be a too-hot baby, too good for me
But I'll be looking at you
With your long brown hair
Pretty little feet
Sparkling everywhere
You look so good
When you come my way
But I have to look down
When you talk to me
'Cause you're dangerous
Dangerous
Dangerous
And you don't even know it
So little baby, you better stay set
Play with fire when you get too wet
So set me down and leave me be
You'll get a devil when you unchain me
But I'll be looking at you
With your long brown hair
Pretty little feet
Sparkling everywhere
You look so good
When you come my way
But I have to look down
When you talk to me
'Cause you're dangerous
Dangerous
Dangerous
And you don't even know it
Spike let his voice trail out as the song ended. Dawn was clapping enthusiastically. His dad smiled at him as he caught the nervous look that had crossed his features. Spike furrowed his brows.
"Well, was it any good?" he questioned
The bit started waving her arms around.
"Are you kidding me!!! you were freakin' amazing! I'll be surprised if you don't win it, right Buffy?"
Dawn turned to her sister, waiting for some form of agreement. She had to wait a few minutes before the blonde nodded her head and spoke.
"Not so bad,"
He smiled at her and put his hand on his chest.
"Thank the soddin' lord...I was worried I would be out of tune or something,"
The vampire scoffed and smirked.
"Listen mate and let me tell you a secret (turns his voice low and into a conspiratorial tone) we couldn't be out of tune if our lives depended on it,"
Now it was Buffy's turn to scoff and roll her eyes.
"What makes you think you would be any better than that?"
The vampire chuckled at the slayer.
"Is that a challenge, slayer?"
All she did was cross her arms in response. He rose out from the chair in a sexy fashion and strode over to Spike and held his hand out.
"Pass the guitar,"
The teen looked at his precious guitar and then back at himself. He sighed and reluctantly handed it over to the vampire. Spike sat himself back down on the arm of the chair and he cast a half smile/cocky look at Buffy.
"Be prepared to be shutted up," he warned her.
His moment to shine and show Buffy a different side to him. He had the perfect song to sing and he began to play the tune and sing.
I died
So many years ago
But you can make me feel
Like it isn't so
And why you come to be with me
I think I finally know
mmm-mmm
The whole room was stunned into silence as he carried on. Gaining power and such raw emotion as he went along. It didn't take her long to realise that the song he was singing was in fact about her and his feeling for her.
I know I should go
But I follow you like a man possessed
There's a traitor here beneath my breast
And it hurts me more than you've ever guessed
If my heart could beat, it would break my chest
but I can see you're unimpressed
So leave me be and
Let me rest in peace
Let me get some sleep
Let me take my love and bury it
Im a hole 6-foot deep
I can lay my body down
But I can't find my sweet release
Let me rest in peace
Why won't you
Let me rest in peace?
Both of the teens just stared at him. Spike looked worried. His other self sounded so much better than him.
"Now I'm thinkin' that I ain't as good as that and I don't stand a bloody chance!"
"Don't worry to sound like that you have to have experience and since I've been in this world for soddin' ever...well only makes sense that I'm good at whatever I do...not bein cocky there, it's the truth, so does that answer your question, love?" he asked, turning to Buffy.
She didn't allow herself to look him in the eye as her frown faded and she nodded her head.
The next day rehearsals had started for everyone. The whole of the afternoon lessons had been cancelled so that the students could establish what they were doing. Ms Calender had sat the girls in a row of chairs and she stood in front of them and asked each one what they wanted to do. Emily was going to do ballet. Fred was going to do stand up comedian and Cordelia said that she wanted to sing. The only people who had no idea of what they were doing were Buffy, Faith and Willow. The other girls had been told to go and sort out their routine, write it down on paper and then come back to her when they knew exactly what they wanted to do. While the other did this, Ms Calender took the opportunity to talk the the trio. All three of them looked to each other. Expressions matching each other. They looked positively clueless. The teacher sighed.
"So girls, do you have any idea what you are going to do?" she questioned
There was an awkward silent for a moment until Buffy spoke up.
"No idea...,"
Jenny pursed her lips and put a finger to her lips as an idea hit her.
"You could sing...(points to Buffy and then points to the other two) and you two can either be back up singers for her or..." she trailed off
Faith stared angrily at Ms. Calender.
"Or what?" Willow spat out, shakily and hesitantly
"Or you can act, your choice girls,"
Buffy looked extremely mortified at the thought of singing, not only in front of the whole school but in front of Spike. Faith and Willow just looked at each other and Jenny was getting tired of waiting for an answer and rolled her eyes.
"Look, have a think about it while I listen to Buffy singing (turns to her) let me hear you sing a song you're familiar with, ok?"
Buffy nodded slowly as she led her to the makeshift stage and handed her a microphone.
"erm..." Buffy started and Jenny nodded
"Just go with the flow,"
She closed her eyes and swallowed noisily. Her shaking hand held the mic up just in front of her face and began to sing. It was quite evident that she was a bag of nerves.
'Cause, baby, there
Ain't no mountain high enough,
Ain't no valley low enough,
Ain't no river wide enough,
To keep me from getting to you, babe
Buffy's voice was shaky but apart from that Ms Calender seemed to be really impressed and began to clap. Granted, she needed to work on her nerves and tune her voice a bit more but she had what they called in the business that was show; raw talent. The rest of the girls just ignored her, except Cordelia, who was scowling at her.
"Buffy, well done!...okay you need to work on breathing techniques and we need to boost your confidence up but...I think we have a winner in you," she complimented the blonde, causing her cheeks to colour ever so slightly.
"Thanks," she murmured
Faith and Willow were clapping along too. The red head looked to the other girl and sighed.
"I think we should do acting,"
The brunette nodded in agreement.
"O yea, wouldn't want to outshine her now, would we?"
"Faith!" Willow squealed, elbowing her in the ribs.
After Buffy and Ms Calender had a chat, the blonde was on her way to walk over to her friends when Cordelia came up to her. Mixture of anger and jealousy shone through her big, brown eyes.
"Oh my god, please don't tell me you think you're going to win the talent show with that whiny voice?"
Buffy shifted under her gaze.
"I don't think anything..."
And there was an eye roll from Cordelia and an exasperated sigh escaped her lips. Cordelia looked the blonde up and down and chuckled to herself. The slayer however knitted her brows into a frown.
"I would rather listen to cat's claws scraping down a black board than listen to your singing...no wonder your dad doesn't want anything to do with your pathetic self, blonde, skanky and oh a complete freak!"
Buffy tried her best to push down the whirlwind of emotions that suddenly hit her but it was to no luck. A tear slipped from her green/hazel eyes and before anyone knew it she ran out of the room, crying. Everyone stopped what they were doing and faced the now triumphant looking Cordelia. Willow ran out after her and Faith tossed her fellow brunette and furious look and spoke.
"This isn't over, bitch!" before running out after them.
The slayer ran and ran until she couldn't run any more. She heard her friend yelling after her but decided to just ignore her and ran straight into the girls bathroom and locked herself in one of the cubicles. Buffy crotched against the door, held her head in her hands and sobbed. The girls stopped outside the door, panting. When they had got their breath back, Faith decided to go in after her. She could hear her sobbing and sniffing. How could anyone be so cruel? One thing was for sure that Cordelia was going to pay. Faith would make sure of that. After a good ten minutes of trying to convince her cousin that what Cordelia had said wasn't true. The stubborn blonde wasn't replying and the brunette soon gave up. It was the red head's turn to try and get her out of there. While she was in there Spike, Vampire Spike and the other Buffy had come round the corner and saw Faith standing there looking thoroughly pissed and concerned. The bleach blonde teen strode over to her and gave her a quizzical look.
"What are you doin' here? Decided to become the bouncer for the girls bathroom...make sure none of us lads get in there is it?" he said, chuckling.
Faith frowned and hit him on his arm.
"No, you doofus, I was...(Willow walks out looking glum) any luck?" she asked, hopfully.
Willow shook her head in the negative and the other girl sighed.
"She isn't listening...well at least I don't think she is, she won't answer me...Oh god I hope she hasn't done something silly!" Red panicked
"Oh, like what? Hung herself with the toilet roll?...not very likely,"
Spike's nostrils were flared. What was going on? The other Buffy and Spike looked at each other.
"Will someone please tell me what in the buggery hell is going on?!?" he barked
"We were rehearsing and Ms Calender told B that she wanted her to sing, so that's what she did..." Faith started
"After she sung, Cordelia came up to her and said something...I have no idea what she said but it caused Buffy to go running out of the room, crying and now she's-"
"Locked herself in the bathroom?" Spike finished, nostrils flared even more.
Faith nodded. The bad boy stood in silence for a few minutes as Willow spoke.
"What are we going to do? How are we going to get her out?"
He looked around to check if anyone was around. There were only a few students so it wouldn't be much risk in it.
"I'm going in," he announced
They all looked at him, wide eyed.
"Y-you can't go in there!" Willow stuttered
"Have any of you got a better idea? (long pause) Didn't think so...now just stand guard while I go sort this out,"
That was it.
Spike opened the second door and let it shut, quietly. He could here little sniffs coming from the end cubicle and made his way over to it. Hearing her sob like this over something that stupid Cordelia had said to her made his heart break. As he came to the door he halted and pressed his ear against the door. After a moment, Spike pulled it away and took in a deep breath. Buffy didn't realise anyone was there until he spoke.
"Buffy, love..." he spoke so softly.
Buffy moved her head slightly and let her face fall into an expression of confusion. What was he doing in the here? Didn't he realise that if Synder found him in here or any of the girls came in while he was there that he would definitely be kicked out of school. She had now gotten off the floor and was standing face to face with the door. It was obvious that he didn't care about that. When she didn't reply he started again.
"Pet...whatever she said isn't true, you know that right?"
Sniff. Sniff.
This was getting silly now. Spike rolled his eyes and huffed. He then decided to change tactics.
"We should probably get out of here before Quirrel lets the troll in,"
Giggle. Aha! There was something new. Spike knows about Harry Potter? Spike reads full stop? Buffy unlocked the door and opened it to reveal her tear stained face to him. He looked her over and she sniffed once again. She raised a brow to him.
"You read Harry Potter?" she questioned
Eyes widened.
"What? Me? You've got to be kidding!"
She gave a half smile and a look that said 'I don't believe you' and he caved. Rolling his eyes once more.
"...Every single one, I've read every single bloody book,"
"It's ok, nothing to be ashamed of, unlike coming into the girls bathroom...people will begin to think your a perv, don't you care about getting exspelled?"
He shrugged in response. Now they had something in common other than slaying and Giles. Buffy grabbed a wad of tissue, walked over to the sink and wet it. As she was wiping her face, Spike came up beside her. He tilted his head a bit.
"She is right...Cordelia is right...I'm a complete and utter failure," she murmured
This definitely angered him more. How could she possibly think that? He got hold of her arm and spun her round so that she was facing him. Both of his hands rested on either shoulder
"Don't you ever think that about yourself, do you understand?" he practically barked in anger, causing her to jump a little.
"But-"
"But what, Buffy? If Cordelia jumped into a soddin' fire or murdered someone does that means she's right?"
"No...but she said I sounded worse than cat nails down a blackboard,"
"So what! She is only saying that because she sounds like that herself (runs his hand down and through her hair) jealous of what you've got," he whispered the last bit.
Spike's hand came to rest on her cheek. Thumb stroking her cheek.
"There is nothing to be jealous of..."
He sighed, trembling slightly as he brought his fingers and brushed them lightly over her plump, rosy lips.
"You're everything to be jealous of,"
He brought his hand to the back of her head and crushed his lips on hers. They let theirs tongues play with each other's. Buffy hooked her arms around his neck and responded to him. A few minutes of kissing, she abruptly pulled away. Hand went over her mouth in shock and she looked clearly mortified. Shocked. Eyes widened and Spike looked at her just as confused before she spoke.
"Oh my god..."
"Buffy, wait!" he shouted
But it was too late. Eye still wide she walked out of the bathroom, leaving him on his own.
So what do you think guys? Sorry it took me all week to update :( just had writers block but here it is! Thank you for the reviews. Keep it up! Please tell me what you liked the best as then i know what works and what doesn't.