Chapter 3: Bad Day

'Cause you've had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work up a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day'

"Buffy!" Dawn yelled up the stairs.

Buffy sat up and turned her stereo off. "Yeah Dawn?"

"Riley's here."

Buffy smiled and headed downstairs. "Hey baby." Buffy said as she hugged Riley.

"Hello sweetheart. How are you?"

Buffy looked up at him. "Well I've been better."

Riley looked down at Buffy. "What's wrong?"

Buffy took his hand and guided him to the couch. "You know how I moved away from Sunnydale when I was a teenager?"

"Yeah you moved when you were 18 because of all the family problems."

Buffy frowned. "Well that's a tiny bit true, but you see there's more to it than that."

"More to it? What could be more to it?"

"I had this best friend, his name was William. We were best friends from diapers to graduation. I was kind of a wild child in high school and I did stupid things all the time, but every time I came down from one of those many stupid things William was always there for me. I can't count the many times he helped me get out of trouble. Anyway the night before I moved I ran to Will's house. I climbed his tree and I told him that I loved him. Not just best friend love, but love with my whole heart. And he said nothing. In fact he just let me stand there. That night my heart was broken and I haven't seen William since."

"Wow that's a story, but Buffy what does that have to do with what happened to you today?"

"Have you heard about the band that's playing at my club next month?"

"Yeah Firewall rocks. You're really lucky that you got them to play there."

"Yeah yeah whatever, Riley the point is that the lead singer of Firewall is William."

"Spike is your childhood friend?"

"Yeah, I didn't want to really talk to him but he came in my office to say hi and we argued and of course memories came back."

"I see, well what are you going to do?"

"Deal with it I guess. I mean the club needs this."

"Yeah it does," Riley said as he leaned down to kiss Buffy, "Well baby I have to run. I'll be home for dinner."

"Home?" Buffy asked.

"Well I am here a lot so I do sort of consider this home."

"Oh well uh that's good Riley. I um I have to go start on dinner. I'll see you later." Buffy kissed Riley then went into the kitchen.

Riley shrugged and walked to the door.

"She loved him a lot you know." Dawn said from her seat on the stairs.

"Did he love her?"

"Yeah he really did, but he couldn't tell her. He told me the next day what had happened between them. I was 14 and even I saw how much he really loved her."

"Thanks Dawn." Riley said sarcastically.

"I wasn't trying to help you Riley."

"Then what were you trying to do?"

"I just wanted you to know so that you weren't surprised when the inevitable does happen."

"Surprised by what?"

"You'll see." Dawn said as she got up and headed to her room.

"Whatever." Riley said as he walked out the door.

Buffy sighed as she sat on the deck stairs. She hadn't wanted to tell Riley everything that she'd told him, but she had anyway. "Damn it." Buffy said as she pulled a pack of cigarettes out of the planter. She pulled one out and lit it up.

"You going at this alone or can I bum one off of you." Spike said as he came out from beside the house.

"How long have you been there?"

"A minute or two." Spike said as he took one from Buffy and lit it up. Spike sat next to her and waited from her to break the silence. When she didn't he decided to. "How long has this habit been going on?"

"Since I moved to LA. How long has it been going on for you?"

"Since you left."

"Ah."

"You know I never could figure out exactly why you left?"

Buffy looked at him. "Please you know damn well why I left."

"I came here in the morning, but nibblet said that you'd already gone."

"I heard about that."

"So who was Captain Cardboard I saw earlier?"

"Captain what? Oh you mean Riley, well he's my boyfriend."

"He reminds me of Parker."

"He is nothing like Parker."

"Okay whatever you say Buffy."

"Why are you here Spike?" Buffy said as she took another hit from her cigarette.

"I came to apologize."

"Apologize for what?"

"For the song…for putting that moment into a song."

"Don't be sorry Spike. I love that song."

Spike smiled at Buffy. "You would love a song like that."

"Damn skippy. Spike do you think we can ever be friends again?"

"Depends love, you still hate me?"

"No I don't hate you. I'm not sure that I ever did. I missed you way too much to hate you."

"I missed you too. Can you believe it's been 5 years since we talked like this?"

"Wow it really has been that long. I'm glad you guys are here."

"So am I Buffy." Spike said as he wrapped an arm around Buffy's shoulder.

"There you are." Dawn said as Buffy walked in the back door.

"Yeah I was on the deck."

Dawn smelled the air and glared at Buffy. "What happened to I quit?"

Buffy sighed. "You ever heard of stress?"

"Yeah I think it goes hand in hand with Riley."

"Dawnie." Buffy warned.

"I know…I'm sorry, but you know how I feel about the guy."

"I know Dawn, but he's my boyfriend."

"Yeah I know that, but that doesn't stop me from hating him."

"Fine whatever Dawn. I'm going to take a shower. When Riley gets here tell him I didn't feel good."

"Oh he called while you were outside. He said he's working late so he's just going to go to his place."

"Figures…okay goodnight Dawn." Buffy said as she walked up the stairs.

Dawn sighed then headed outside to check the deck. She had a sneaking suspicion that her sister hadn't been alone. Dawn giggled as she sad down next to him. "We have got to stop meeting like this William."

Spike laughed. "You know Buffy and you are the only two that are allowed to call me that nibblet."

"Good, we're family so we're the only ones that should have that right."

Spike crushed his cigarette out under his boot. "Is she happy?"

"Honestly…no she hasn't been happy for years. I think the only time she is even remotely close to being happy is when she's at the club."

Spike stood up and smiled down at Dawn. "I thought so. Good night Dawn."

"Good night Spike." Dawn said as she watched him leave. 'Oh yeah he still loves her.' Dawn thought to herself before she went inside.

-2 Weeks Till The Concert-

"Okay so we may need a few extra tables for the concert." Buffy said as she walked around with Willow as they looked at the layout of the club.

"Okay we can do that. Oh Buffy we're going to need a play list from the guys."

"Okay I'll go ask them for it. Are they still back there?" Buffy said as she pointed to the stage.

"Yeah or at least they were last time I saw them."

"Thanks Willow." Buffy said as she headed backstage.

"Ello there love." Spike said as Buffy walked behind the curtain.

"Ah! Bell neck look into it."

"Come with a nice leather collar does it?" Spike said as he winked at Buffy.

"You're funny." Buffy said as she smiled at him.

"So what brings you back here love?"

"Well I need a play list from you guys, you know since the show is 2 weeks away."

"Oh yeah sure I can get that for you."

"Okay thanks. So here write them down here them being this to my office okay?" Buffy said as she handed him a piece of paper.

"Yeah sure love." Spike said as he took the paper from her.

"Spike." A dark haired woman said as she walked backstage.

Spike looked at her and smiled when he recognized her. "Drusilla?"

"Spike." Drusilla said as she walked into his arms.

"Dru what are you doing here?"

"I missed you so terribly love." Dru said.

"Oh pet I missed you too."

Buffy took this as her queue to leave and began inching away.

"Buffy wait," Spike said as he grabbed her hand, "Dru I want you to meet someone. Buffy this is my girlfriend, Drusilla. Dru this is Buffy, my childhood friend."

Buffy smiled at Dru. "It's very nice to meet you."

Dru nodded. "You too pet. I've heard a lot about you."

"Well Spike I really have to go." Buffy said as she smiled at him.

"Okay I'll drop this by later."

"Okay." Buffy yelled over her shoulder as she walked away.

"So that was Buffy." Dru said as she snuggled into Spike's arms.

"Yeah that sure was." Spike said as he pulled Dru closer to him.