After school…
School went bye extremely slow after lunch. If Buffy was totally honest with herself it went by three thousand times slower, than it normally did, and it was driving her nuts. No if she was totally honest with herself, it wasn't that the day was lagging on slowly that was bothering her. He who shall remain nameless had been starring at her all day! It was unnerving….and yet a part of her a very small infinitesimal part, that was locked away so tight would die of a combination lack of air, and room to move. Thought it was kinda cute, wait no cute wasn't the right word. Nice? No that wasn't it either…you know what forget labels for a moment. The fact of the matter was he had been staring at her all day.
He had been eyeing her up during Senior speech. Sure she was in front of the class talking but he never looked up from his desk, in class. Fine we won't count that one, are you happy? But then in American Probs class she had turned around to borrow a pencil and he was starring at her again. He turned away instantly like it caused him pain to see her or something. Alright fine we'll chalk that one up as just another attempt to through a paper ball at my head. God you guys are hard to convince.
But finally something happened that you couldn't ignore, or write off as him being mean, so there. Ha! He had come to Study Hall! It was the last class of the day which meant he skipped it like everyday. But there he was, sitting in his assigned seat behind her, drumming his fingers on the desk as if it wasn't a big deal that he was there. A look into her compact confirmed that he was still looking at her. He was wearing that stupid smirk that she had come to hate during High School, but now knowing all the times he had been looking at her today it made a small smile creep onto her face. Not that she cared…it's just.. just…I don't have to justify myself to you.
Spike saw Buffy flip up her compact. She was not as bright as everyone claimed she was if she believed he hadn't noticed her checking him out. She had been stealing glances at him all day, which only made him laugh. She had no idea what was coming, after school, and he just couldn't wait for it.
Giles let them out early but Buffy had stayed behind talking to Giles. Spike was pacing the hallway for what seemed like the hundredth time. Why won't she just go out to the bloody quad already? He ran a shaky hand throw his hair, loosening the gel some. What the fuck could she be talking to a teacher about anyways? He turned around so lost in thought he didn't see Buffy as he walked right into her.
"Oh god I'm sorry!" Buffy said apparently having not been paying attention either.
"Yeah you should be sorry Summer's." Spike said in what he hoped was an agitated voice and not a happy one, seeing as she was finally out of sodding room, 'bout bloody time.
Buffy rolled her eyes as she side stepped Spike. To her surprise he let her go…no argument or fighting. That was weird, maybe he really was being nice to her. She made her way to the quad not noticing her stalker right on her heels. She spotted Angel standing with some of the other Football Jocks. She almost bypassed him completely but he had waved at her as she passed by. Well in her general direction, seeing as he didn't call her name when he waved.
"Hi Angel." she said as he bowed his head to kiss her on the forehead.
"Do you got a minute? I kinda wanted to talk to you." he said grabbing her by the elbow and leading her away from the prying eyes of his team mates. She stumbled as he pulled her towards the tables.
"What's that all about?" Riley asked noticing how rude Angel had been to his girlfriend.
"You mean you didn't hear" Forest asked tossing the foot ball back to Graham. Upon seeing Riley shake his head he continued. "Angel's trading ass in value." catching the ball being thrown back to him.
"Huh?"
"He's breaking up with her and getting with Dru something or other." Graham and Forest continued throwing the ball as if it were nothing. Riley looked over to where they were now sitting at a table. She looked so lost. That's when he saw Spike, what a loser always creeping around her. That was one of the things he hated about Angel, he just let that loser mess with her constantly. If she was his girlfriend he would treat her like the frail princess that she was.
"Do you got a minute? I kinda wanted to talk to you." the moment Spike heard the words it was like he had gone to heaven and he got his 72 virgins. He smiled cruelly as he watched the Poofter drag Summer's away. Staying back far enough so as not to draw to much attention to himself he leaned back and prepared to watch the show.
Buffy practically ripped her arm out Angel's grasp. Her eyes turned cold as she looked at him.
"Ow come on, Buff. Don't be that way." he gently ran his hand up her arm. Her look faded and she smiled.
"What did you want to talk about?" she could see him tense up, she knew exactly why he did it too. She had heard from an apologetic Willow who had told her at lunch how he had gotten so beaten up. He deserved every cut and bruise in her book. He looked like he was going over something really important in his head. Probably trying to find a way to make it my fault. "Angel?"
"Buffy…I got excepted into UCLA." she hadn't been expecting that. "And I was doing some thinking and I'm going to go there next year and…" she nodded her head not entirely sure what to say to that. "You've been really distant lately."
I knew you'd get around to it all being my fault, somehow.
"And since you don't seem completely devoted to this, I think we should see other people in college. I'm mean long distant relationships never last, and what with your short attention span to things like monogamy, I don't think we could make it work."
"…What?" she had meant for it to come out angry but she sounded confused.
"Oh come on Buffy. It's all around school. Don't pretend you don't know." Now she was pissed.
"NO I don't know."
"Everyone in school knows about you and Spike having sex behind the bleachers." the hate behind his words was intense. Buffy just froze, staring at him. Spike almost choked on his cigarette when Peaches finished his sentence.
"WHAT?! NO! NO!" Buffy couldn't even form a complete thought as she noticed he had kept talking.
"Yeah that's right I know, and no amount of begging would get me to take you back now. I mean Spike? Come on, Buff I thought you had more respect for yourself than that? He is a complete loser, I should of figured it out sooner though. I feel really stupid. I mean if you weren't having it with me you were getting it somewhere."
"Angel we never…you….you are the one that cheated on me!" Buffy was now screaming at him. Officially getting the attention of everybody that was still at school. Angel was looking over her head trying to figure out a way to finish this without bringing anymore attention to himself.
"After you did." She exhaled a deep breath and he could tell she was angry now. "Look lets not end on a bad note. I mean what we had was special. So lets not play the who cheated on who first game, okay. Let's be adults about this." she seemed to by that and calmed down some.
"Your right. We can be adults. Nice bruises by the way. How did it feel when Spike beat the shit out of you?" Angel clenched his hands into fists. "He's got one hell of a left hook, doesn't he?" Angel exhaled a deep breathe. She was really starting to piss him off now. "But do you know the one thing he is better at then fighting, is?" she stopped a moment daring him to do something with her eyes. Then she rubbed her hand down her stomach while making a moaning noise. "And he can go for hours not minutes…" the venom in her voice was powerful. Angel had, had enough. He pulled back his arm and hit her cheek causing her to fall off the bench she was seated on. She hit the ground holding her face, her eyes were blazing with fire.
"Oh god! Buffy I'm so sorry. You know I would never hurt you right?" he apologized bending down to help her up. She batted his hand away getting up on her own, then pushed past him walking away not looking back even as he called after her.
Spike watched the whole scene unfold, he just stood there staring at her retreating form. Had she just stood up for him?
:
At home….
The walk home had been made in peace. Running through the events of the day through her head. An enemy flirting with her, a knew rumor to deal with, and her ex-boyfriend hitting her. The only thing it was missing was flying monkeys and she would swear she wasn't in SunnyDale anymore. After along talk with her mother about how rough of a day she had been through she was excused from supper. With wishes from her mother to feel better in the morning.
Sitting in her room she was trying to do ground control. No one would take Angel's side knowing that he hit her so she wouldn't be alienated tomorrow, god he was such a loser. She could feel her face swelling, sigh just one more thing to add to the what else could go wrong to Buffy list. The rumor though, she had no idea how to kill it. She was praying that Angel had been lying about it being all over school. The nice side of Spike she had been seeing today would completely vanish if people were thinking that. Okay so maybe nice side was a huge assumption, more like less evil? Kinda friendly? Who knows with him…
She knew what he really thought of her, so she guessed it wouldn't really last anyways. What did he say? Oh yeah…"I wouldn't touch you with a 30 foot pole." Sighing she looked out her bedroom window, it was raining, that made her smile. Her mom used to say, "That when it rained it was the angel's way of letting you know it was going to be okay. So you didn't need to cry, because they were doing it for you." The smell was perfect, and she was so lost in the sensation that she didn't hear the door open.
"Hi, honey." a drunken voice said, causing her tense up, and her grip on the window sill to become almost painful as she heard the door close and then lock.
Why was he here? He wasn't even sure himself. She had to an extent stood up for him in her own conceded, annoying, nice way, oh Bollocks. He should just turn around, go home, have himself a pint of logger, and pretend he hadn't seen anything. He turned around to leave walking all the way to the mailbox when he changed his mind turning around again. He was here he was going to talk to her, and that was that. He could see a shadow in the window. The rain was pouring around him harder than before now. He felt bloody stupid as she opened the window her form practically hanging out, with him standing under the tree to her bedroom soaked to the bone, like a stalker. She smiled closing her eyes, did she see him? She must have, he was pretty hard to miss.
He looked down at his combat boots drawing up the strength necessary to talk to her. When he looked up at her window it was closed, not even a shadow to be seen up there. Where did she go? Then a thought popped into his head. Bitch wants me to go to the door like a child, and ask politely to talk to her like some love sick puppy. Well I'm not that grateful, so you can just forget it. He was turned around to leave again walking all the way to the end of the street. He finally looked back up at the window out of curiosity, still black. She wasn't going to stop him to see what he wanted? She could be so fucking stubborn. Well he wasn't going to go back again. No way in hell. He continued to stare at the window kicking his boots through a puddle he walked up to the door. Still Fucking Summer's Bitch. He knocked on the door preparing himself to see Buffy's smug face behind it.
Mrs. Summer's opened the door a huge smile plastered on her face. "William it is so good to see you." she said giving him a huge hug. He hugged her back reluctantly at first but finally gave in seeing as she had once been like his second mum. "What brings you out on such a rainy night? You should be a home, dry and warm in bed you know?" she teased in a motherly way.
"Yeah well I 'spect to once I'm done speaking with your eldest." he said clearing his throat like a boy preparing for his first date. Her face look distressed for a second but it quickly changed back to the happy smile that she had always worn. He figured it was because she was afraid they would be fighting in a minute.
"Oh…I'm sorry but she wasn't feeling well and went straight to bed." he nodded his head knowing she wasn't going to let him up to see her, and it's not like he was even here to fight with her. "How about you come in for a bit to warm up and have a cup of coco?"
"I really should be…"
"Nonsense. I haven't had a coco buddy in along time. You can take two minutes for an old woman." she said ushering him into the house. "Hang your coat up, and come then into kitchen."
Spike did as she said, taking his time to look at the house. It hadn't really changed that much since the last time he was there. Same pictures on the wall of Dawn and Buffy when they were 5. He started making his way to the kitchen which was cluttered with boxes, some filled, some empty. He maneuvered his way to the table, and after some difficulty sat down.
"Sorry about the mess. Buffy designated this her packing area." Spike sent a smile her way as she continued boiling the water. His eyes roved over the boxes again. There was clothes in some, books in another, pictures books in others. Wait, pictures. "Still like the little marshmallows?"
"Yes, mum." he said leaning over to pick up the photo album. Mrs. Summer's caught the motion out of the corner of her eye.
"I know, I told she wouldn't need to take them, seeing as she will only be living across town, but you know her. She has to have her pictures everywhere she goes." she grumbled. Spike flipped it open, looking at the first picture in the book. A small smile crept onto his face. "What are we looking at?" Mrs. Summer's asked setting his cup down on the table. Leaning over his shoulder she laughed at the picture.
In the picture Spike and Buffy were dressed up for Halloween. He was dressed as batman and she was dressed as Cat-Woman. In the picture they were arguing, like they always were.
"Do you remember this?" he shook his head no, even though he completely remembered every last detail about it. Mrs. Summers sat down across from him taking a sip of her drink. "I had asked to get a picture of you two before the two of you left for trick-or-treating. As I was getting the camera ready Dawn goes commenting on how Cat-Woman is Batman's girlfriend. I'm not sure what was said next but you started yelling at the top of your lungs how gross the idea of her being your girlfriend was gross. And she was yelling back saying she make a good girlfriend." she faded off lost in thoughts of memory. He continued the memory in his head as if it were really happening.
"I am so your girlfriend!" Buffy said placing her hands on her hips. Leaning forward so that she was in his face.
"Ewww no! You got cooties!" He said not backing down from her.
"Yeah well now you do too!" and she leaned forward and kissed him. Why wasn't there a picture of that? That would be something he would of liked to of had a copy of. Wait no I don't. Bloody hell she's gone and made me fuck up. He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard a large crash.
"What was that?"
"Oh that would be Dawn. She's been grounded to her room, so of course she is trying to sneak out. Sigh. When you're a father you'll understand everything." he smiled but it quickly disappeared as a thought of kids with Dru crossed his mind. Mrs. Summer's knew that look and tried to change the subject.
"Are you busy packing for college too? Or are you already packed, like she should be?"
"Already packed." he closed the book placing it back in it's box, finally acknowledging his cup.
"Where are you going?" she said sipping her coco, enjoying the conversation.
"UC SunnyDale, unfortunately. I couldn't get a better scholarship."
"I'm sorry about that dear. But at least, you can keep an eye on Buffy for me. You know how trouble seems to find her." Smiling as she watched he drain the rest of his cup. He was glad to hear her say that, maybe he would keep an eye on her. Just so he could laugh at her pain, yeah. It's not like he had picked the school after he heard she had. No, no other motive here.
"I should be going…" he said standing. He could tell she wanted him to stay but the rain was still going on outside, and he didn't want to be a drowned rat at the end of the night, and he felt slightly guilty for getting her chair and floor wet.
"Yes, yes." she said following him to the door. He shrugged back on his soaked leather duster. He felt like shivering but he wasn't going to do that in front of her. "Your welcome here anytime, William. So don't be afraid to drop by." she sounded so sad, like she was loosing one of her kids.
"I'll be sure to do that mum." he said being pulled into a another hug even though he was drenching her now. But he understood, she loved him, she was always going to be his mom.
"Night."
"Night, mum."
She closed the door smiling, he felt good, really good. He turned around just in time to see a body drop from the tree, and take off running. Nibblet? Spike was running after her now. But as the chase continued he noticed that it was Buffy, not Dawn. She was just plowing though puddles not stopping for anything.
"Summer's, stop!" he yelled at her, but it was like she didn't hear him. "Buffy!" a car pulled onto the street nearly taking her out. It honked it's horn not bothering to slow down at all. Fucking Americans. but she kept running as if nothing had happened. Spike was almost in arms length of her when he saw another car coming. Hurling himself on top of her tackling her to the ground as the car swerved and screeched to a halt, nearly hitting both of them. She was sobbing uncontrollably beating on his chest with closed eyes, he just held her to him letting her vent.
"Oh my god are you okay?!" the guy from the car said opening his door, walking over to them.
"Fine, you can go!" Spike said trying to soothe her by wiping at her tears. She had stopped trying to hit him and was letting him hold her. The guy continued his approach.
"I don't know. You do need to get to the hospital or something?"
"Get the Bloody hell out of here!" Spike snapped.
"Is she alright?" he said continuing to walk towards them. Spike turned around and growled at the guy. He took the hint and started making his way back to his car real fast.
Spike just couldn't handle girls crying even on a good day, let alone when an annoying wanker like that ponce, just wouldn't leave him be so he could take of her. "Buffy?" he whispered sweeping a stray strand hair out of her face. Her face was all red and puffy now and when she opened her eyes they looked hollow, he knew something bad had happened. Spike opened his mouth to speak but she punched him in the ribs where Angel had done some serious damage and he let her go as he hit the ground holding his ribs. She was up like lightning running in the same direction she had been going. He was only thrown for a second and then he was right behind her again holding his ribs but keeping up none the less.
"Buffy! Slow down already!" Spike yelled trying to get threw to her before another car appeared out of nowhere. Suddenly she skidded to a halt and he blew past her trying to stop. When he turned around she was already heading up the someone's apartment walk way.
"Let me in! Please let me in!" she sobbed pushing the door bell, while weakly banging on the door. Spike slowly walked up behind her. Did she know he was there at all? She looked pretty out of it, did she even know where she was? The door opened and to Spike's surprise it was the Librarian. What was his name again? Guyles?
"Buffy?" he asked confused. Before he could say anything else she launched herself into his arms crying even harder than she had been before, in Spike's.
Spike didn't know what to do. Should he leave, stay, go over there and hold her, or just stay put? Giles seemed to spot him and as he carried Buffy into the apartment, he waved for Spike to follow them in. Spike entered the flat shutting the door behind himself. Giles laid Buffy on the couch much like he had the other night. Spike couldn't hear the whispered conversation the two had. Giles eventually got up returning with the blanket from the other day draping it on her like he had the other day. She continued to cry not really aware of what was going on. The two men watched as she slowly cried herself to sleep. Neither saying a word to each other, but both waiting for the other to.
"Tea?" Giles finally asked breaking the silence, after he was sure she was a sleep. He said it in a tone that just seemed to say this was a normal everyday thing. Spike nodded his head and the two men made their way to the kitchen.
"Want to explain to me what that was all about?" Spike asked in as calm a tone as he could muster. Giles began to boil the water.
"Certainly. Once she tells me I'll tell you."
Hi again. Alright please don't be mad, but I guess I couldn't blame you if you were. Seeing as my writing has been slacking lately, which totally ain't my fault. But I've been hired to do a 3D animated short movie, before Christmas. So I'm going to be wicked busy with that for the next couple of months. So I won't be posting for awhile, sorry. I will still be writing though, trust me after 4 hours straight of creating in Light wave, you need a release. But if I do any posting it will be few and far between. Please forgive and don't be angry. And keep an eye on my writings anyway, cause I don't plan to stop, I love writing Spuffy's and the feedback is amazing. Those of you who have commented on my work, thank you. You really make me feel like I'm not wasting my time. Thanks.