Chapter 5: Secrets Unfolded

Monday morning came faster than Buffy would have imagined and with it brought the first day of school. Spike had promised he would be by on his motorcycle to pick her up for school. She had the perfect outfit picked out too, a red skirt and white shirt that was a v-neck. She would pull her hair back so it wasn't too messed up by the wind.

This summer, Spike had already seen her at her best and worst. When you spend all day together, it was hard to look your best all the time. She had figured that today would be the moment her parents would probably figure out something was going on. But it hadn't worked out that way.

Giles left for school early wanting to get settled into the library for the first day of school determined that students would want to check books out right away. He didn't seem to mind that he had been there everyday over the summer assisting with summer classes. He instead acted like a schoolboy anxious for his first day of school and just as nervous as one too.

Joyce was already at the gallery so when Spike showed up putting his leather jacket on her to protect her from the wind as she slipped on the pink helmet they had bought to protect her head during the summer, she was nervous. She wasn't sure how her dad would react when he found out who she was dating. She had purposely kept it a secret knowing Spike had a bad rep even though he was really a great guy.

He was an excellent student who was dedicated but refused to dress in the norm preferring his leather coat, tight shirts and black jeans. Combine that with his bleach blond hair, chains that held his wallet in place and his combat boots, he wasn't the normal type of male that a dad would want his daughter dating.

Buffy didn't care though. She loved Spike and wanted to be with him always and he loved her.

She stepped off the motorcycle as he handed her back her backpack and took the coat from her shoulders. She shook her hair gently as she took off the helmet handing it to him, which he attached to the front with his before locking it into the bike rack.

He took her hand as she put her backpack on her back and she felt all eyes on her. Spike had warned her about this but she was determined to be strong and stand by her man.

Spike led her to her locker where he leaned over to place her lunch into the locker for her and gave her a kiss, whispering in he ear, "See you at lunch. You are doing great Goldilocks."

Buffy smiled at him whispering, "See you then and thanks."

He gave her a wave as he stood up straighter walking with his head held high towards his locker on the other side of the school. Within seconds, Buffy found herself surrounded by Xander, Willow, Anya and Oz all flinging questions at her. She straightened up her skirt and shirt as she attempted to decide which question to answer first.

Finally she held up her hand just as the bell rang signaling they needed to get to class. Buffy had homeroom alone unlike Willow and Xander. Both had their last name's staring with H so the had homeroom together.

Buffy made a promise, "I'll talk to you in Art class in 2nd period since we all have it together."

After homeroom, her first class was with Oz so she would tackle him first alone before dealing with the others in art class. She then walked next to Oz who had met her outside of her homeroom to walk to class together , "So you and Spike have a thing?"

Buffy frowned at the word thing, "A thing? No we have a relationship."

"You know his rep right? He doesn't do relationships. He does flings."

Buffy shook her head as she took her seat, "No. He dated Drusilla through Middle School and into High school. Last year he dated Harmony."

Oz frowned as he replied to the teacher's role call, "Here."

Then he turned towards Buffy, "He used Harmony. He barely had any feelings for her."

Buffy laughed softly, "Harmony has feelings? Have you forgotten how she treated Cordelia just because she was dating Xander? The girl has no feelings so I wouldn't think anyone could have feelings for her."

Oz's expression grew serious, "Harmony passed it all around school how he even cheated on her with some girl who had his baby."

Buffy shook her head, "It was a lie. Did anyone ever see this girl who had this baby of Spike's? Ever see anyone around town with a baby that looks like him? He has only been with two people and neither are pregnant. Drusilla left to go to L.A to go live with her father to be closer to some guy she had a crush on since she was a kid. Harmony definitely isn't pregnant unless she hid something well for a year."

Oz's expression was full of concern and Buffy could tell it wasn't to harm her but she couldn't believe he was really trusting Harmony's word over fact. Oz sighed, "True but I still don't like it."

Buffy had known people would be against them being together, "It will be ok. We have been together for three months now. Things have been great."

Oz nodded, "Well I wish you guys luck. Things are going to get tough for you before it's better. If he's serious about you, then he'll have work cut out for him. His rep is a bad one and will take a while to fix if it can ever be fixed."

Buffy smiled, "Things will be fine."

She spoke it firmer than she believed in her heart. She spoke, "Here" before turning around into her seat as her mind filled with her fears again wondering how she will ever make it through this.

Buffy sat down next to Willow and Xander. Xander looked unimpressed while Willow looked intrigued. They were drawing a basket of fruit as they were talking, "He's so sweet when we are alone. He really cares about me."

Xander rolled his eyes, "The sex is probably good."

Buffy looked shocked, "For your info not that you deserve it, we haven't had sex. We are waiting until I'm ready."

Xander looked shocked as Willow asked, "So what did you guys do all summer"

Buffy's eyes got all dreamy, "We went to movies, restaurants, dancing, the beach, the zoo and Oh my God, he took me out on his Aunt's boat for a whole week! That was so much fun. We read stories and watched the stars and it was amazing."

Willow's eyes looked just as dreamy as Buffy's but Xander still looked unenthusiastic. Buffy sketched the basket part as she smiled at Willow, "How was your summer?"

Willow grinned, "I went touring a lot with Oz. His band is amazing and he gets free room and board at most places that he was staying at due to his playing gigs."

Buffy grinned, "You guys shared a room together?"

Willow blushed and nodded and Buffy prodded ignoring Xander's glares, "How was it?"

Willow smiled wide, "Amazing. Nothing like it in the world. You are going to love it!"

Buffy grinned, "You guys are already 17. We are only juniors! Besides I turn 17 soon enough."

Willow laughed then grew quiet as the teacher walked behind them and admired Willow's work, "Great fruit Willow. You have a talent. Xander and Buffy, your twos look nice."

The teacher walked by and Buffy groaned, "Remind me why I agreed to take art with you?"

Willow laughed, "Because none of us can sing."

Buffy grinned, "So true. I should have taken Choral though. I'd be with Spike right now."

Willow shook her head, "I could have been with Oz then."

Xander shook his head, "Anya took dance. I wouldn't be caught dead in there."

Xander then turned towards Buffy, "You know you are with a user. He used Harmony and she swears some girl who he cheated on her with has a baby that's his and he doesn't even acknowledge that kid."

Buffy rolled her eyes, "I've heard all about it from Oz this morning and but it just isn't true. Spike has only been with two people, Dru and Harmony. Dru left to go to L.A. and Harmony isn't pregnant and doesn't have a kid, now does she?"

Xander shook his head but still insisted, "You should leave him before he gets you pregnant and leaves you first. That guy is trouble and bad news."

Buffy wanted to hit Xander but luckily the teacher interrupted her thoughts as she spoke, "Be sure to sign your autographs at the bottom of the paper before laying it on my desk. No homework as it's day one. Enjoy the rest of your day folks and see you tomorrow. By the way, welcome back!"

By lunchtime, when Spike and Buffy sat together at the lunch table with Oz, Willow, Anya and Xander, the whole school was buzzing with excitement about Spike being with Buffy.

Buffy felt a little embarrassed but was still too head over heels in love with Spike to worry about it too much. Oz broke the silence as soon as he sat down at the table with his school lunch, "So you guys going to Bronze it any time soon?"

Spike grinned, "When you do play next time mate?"

Oz shrugged, "Gig on Wednesday and again on Friday night. The gig on Wednesday is only for 2 hours. I play 6 to 8. Still early enough for a school night."

Buffy shrugged, "Depends on how much trouble I'm in when I get home."

Spike frowned placing a hand over Buffy's, "Perhaps your dad won't care as much as you think?"

Buffy laughed, "He not care? That's a laugh."

Willow frowned, "Giles doesn't know you are dating Spike?"

Buffy shook her head, "I never bothered to tell him."

Xander was amazed, "You guys have been dating for 3 months and your parents don't know? How did you pull that off?"

Buffy shrugged again a bit nervous to talk about it, "Well you see I didn't tell them I wasn't hanging with you guys. I was using you two as excuses…"

Willow's frown deepened, "You should have told them Buffy."

Buffy nodded, "I know. It just got easier not to."

The rest of the lunch half hour was spent with the others talking around her but Spike and Buffy sitting and eating in silence. Buffy mostly picked at her ham and cheese sandwich and didn't even bother to open her diet coke.

As she walked to gym with Spike, she smiled at him, "We will make it right?"

Spike grinned with a nod, "We will. No worries about a thing luv."

Buffy nodded taking her seat on the blenchers eager to get this day over with.