Chapter one:: false alarm.

Fear.

It was all Buffy Summers could feel as she stood onstage, guitar in hand and mic in front of her. She’d never sung in front of an actual audience before and her nerves were shot to hell.

“And now ladies and gentlemen, Buffy Summers. Go easy on the cup-cake will yuh? It’s her first time performing here.” Lorne, the manager/bartender for the Bronze.

He turned and wished her good luck, then left her alone onstage.

Buffy blushed furiously.

“Uh…Hi, my name is Buffy and the song I’m about to sing is called False Alarm.” She stuttered as she began strumming the first notes on her guitar.

“I’m trying to put this thing to bed,
I drugged it in it’s sleep.
There aren’t many memories
I’m comfortable to keep.

This ball keeps rolling on.
It’s heading for the streets,
Keep expecting you to send for me.
The invetation never comes.

Each time I turn around
There’s nothing there at all.
So tell my why I feel like I’m up against a wall.
But maybe it’s a false alarm
And all the answers sound the same.
Just colors bleeding into one
that doesn’t have a name.
Maybe I can’t see, maybe it’s just me.

Now the curtain’s coming up.
The audience is still,
I’m struggling to cater for
The space I’m meant to fill.
And distance doesn’t care.

I’m trying to put this thing to bed
I’ve drugged it in it’s sleep.
Remember what you said?
Are you comfortable to keep it?”

Buffy took a deep breath and waited for the silent audience to boo her off stage. But to her surprise they started clapping furiously. She couldn’t help but grin and feel proud of herself. She stood up and quickly made her way back to the table where her friends were waiting for her.

“Wow Buffy that was amazing! I didn’t know you could sing so well.” Willow Rosenburg, one of Buffy’s friends gushed, pushing her flaming red hair out of her face.

“Yeah B. You were pretty hot up there on stage.” Faith Lehane, Buffy’s best friend, and partner in crime complimented. “ Come on B, Tree-Girl. Let’s go get our boogie on. Besides I think Xander needs our help out there. I swear that boy was born without any functioning motor skills.”

“Faithy, I don’t think he’s dancing. I think he’s have a seizure.” Buffy replied sarcastically, nodding towards him. He was another one of Buffy’s friends and he was currently making a fool out of himself by doing something that resembled the chicken dance.

The girls laughed slightly before heading out to the dance floor.

“Hey guys!” Xander screamed over the loud music. “Buffy you were great up there! I’m having such a great time.”

He began dancing again, spinning, jumping, and making himself look like a complete idiot.

Willow began dancing along with him, neither one had any rhythm. Buffy and Faith just laughed, then turned and headed for the bar, grabbing a couple stools.
“So B. You were pretty good up there. How are things with your mom?”

“Ugh. The same. She thinks I’m a demon from hell and she’d kill me if she knew I was here. I don’t see why it matters. This was my first time and probably my last.
She’d take my guitar and smash it in half if she found out I had one. Then she’d probably smash me in half.”

Faith chuckled. And ordered them both a jack denials. “Like the time with the skates?” she asked referring to a time when Buffy was 14 and had a dream of being an ice skater. When she told her mother she freaked out, grabbed Buffy’s skates and through them out the window. Literally.

Buffy frowned at the memory.

“ I just don’t get it B. What’s her issue?”

“ It’s the whole shelf-life deal. My dreams have to be hers as well. I guess she just doesn’t want me to end up living on the street or something.” Buffy took one last swallow of her JD and then stood. “ I think I should be heading home. Before she calls Willow’s house asking for me. You’ll take the guitar back to your place, right?”

Faith just nodded absently as she watched Buffy turn and walk out the door without telling her friends goodbye.

********
Buffy arrived home at eleven o’clock and walked into the house to see her very angry mother standing in the kitchen with a cup of cocoa.

“SIT.”

Buffy gulped and walked slowly into the kitchen. ‘Oh man. What did I do now?’

“I called Willow’s mother. She said that she was at the Bronze… WATCHING YOU SING! Buffy how many times have I told you to give up on these stupid idiotic dreams of yours? After you graduate high school you’re going to go to collage and become a successful business woman. NOT A SINGER, OR AN ICE SCATER, OR WHATEVER ELSE YOU WANT TO DO. I am sick and tired of you disobeying me and hanging out with that Faith girl, and getting into trouble. Buffy, Faith is a wonderful girl and I really like her parents but from what they tell me, you are corrupting her.”

Buffy couldn’t help repressing a snort. That was a big fat LIE. She loved Faith and all but if anybody was being corrupted it was her.

“ I am sick of your wild ways so I’ve decided that you are going to start work at the gallery.”

Buffy sighed. “Well at least I get money.”

“Oh yes I forgot about that. The first month you don’t get paid at all.”

“WHAT!? Why not!”

“Because I am your mother as well as your boss and we’ll just see how you do. Then I’ll decide how you get paid. Now go to bed.”

‘Grrr.’ Buffy mentally growled as she stomped her way up the stairs and then slammed her bedroom door. The first thing she did was call Faith and tell her what had happened. Then she took a shower and got in bed. She whimpered slightly. ‘ I don’t wanna work with Spike.’

Chapter Two: Working Girl

**BEEP BEEP BEEP**

‘Grr,’ Buffy mentally growled and threw the covers off of her body. ‘I shouldn’t have drank that last beer. She slowly made her way to the bathroom and took a freezing cold shower, the water managing to wake her up.

After she got out she brushed her teeth and hair, then began to apply her make up. Thick black eye-liner and glittery black eyeshadow was applied on her eyes, as well as clear lip plump.

Buffy headed back to her room and began to get dressed. After a few minutes of rifling through her closet she decided on a pair of lose fitting hole-filled jeans, black and white stockings to wear underneath, a black Nirvana t-shirt, and a pair of battered chuck taylor converse.

After she got ready she grabbed her backpack from the corner of her room, and her ipod from her dresser and stuffed it in her pocket.

“Hi mom,” Buffy said to her mother who was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and the news paper.

“Buffy I want you at the gallery as soon as school lets out. At 3:45. No later then that.”

“Okay. Well I’m out. See you after.” And with that Buffy exited the front door.

********
Buffy arrived at school with about 5 minutes to spare. She spotted her group of friends and watched them for a minute. They were probably the weirdest looking group in the court yard.

They were the misfits, the kids that didn’t belong anywhere else so they sort of took each other in. The group included Willow Rosenburg, one of the smartest girls in school, Faith Lehane the school slut who also happened to be Liam ‘Angel’ Lehane(the most popular guy in school) sister, Alexander Harris the class clown, and last but not least Buffy herself.

Popular’s didn’t like her, she didn’t like them, she wasn’t nerd or gangster material and the punk/Goth’s didn’t like her because after two years she was still the new girl, but also because Spike Giles, a nineteen year old that graduated last year didn’t like her either.

The class bell rand and the students poured into the school. ‘Another day in hell. Thank god Christmas is almost here,’ She opened the door to her English class.

“Mrs. Summers go to the office!” A shrill voice interrupted her thoughts.
Buffy frowned, and looked at the clock. Tardy again.

********
The lunch bell had just rang and Buffy was the first person out of the classroom. She entered the cafeteria and headed towards her usual table in the back.

“Hey guy’s.” She said in a way to chipper voice as she sat down next to Xander. “eww! What are you eating, I think I just saw it move.” She stared at his lunch tray with some sort of mystery meat piled on top of it.

“Oh Buffy! I’m so sorry my mom told Joyce.” Willow said.

“It’s okay Willow. This is my last year with the uber-bitch. I’ll survive.”

“She just wants the best for you.” She replied.

“So anyways, bufster. What’s the damage?” Xander asked.

“I have to work at my mom’s gallery with Spike, AND no pay. For now anyways.” Buffy pouted.

“that sucks blondie. At least he’s hot, and good in bed.” Faith chuckled.

“Oh my god, you slut!” Buffy shrieked and scooted closer to Xander, in an attempt to get away from Faith who was sitting on her other side.

“I’m joking damn. Do you want me to go with you after school?”

“Ehhh no. My mom would have a cow. I’ll be fine. Besides I don’t know how long I plan on staying.” Faith just nodded.

“Hey Buffy how bout an encore on Friday. Your mom will be out of town so…”

********
Buffy pushed the gallery door open and mentally cringed when she heard the small bell above tinkle. It was such an annoying sound. She looked at her surroundings sadly and headed towards her mother’s office.

“I’m here. What do you want me to do.” Buffy slouched into a chair in front of the big oak desk.

“Well you could start by sitting up straight.” Buffy didn’t move. “You’ll be helping William with the inventory. Making sure everything is in it’s place, that none of the paintings are missing.”

Buffy looked slightly horrified. “You want me to work with… him… with… IT!?”

Joyce scold. “his name is WILLIAM as you very well know, and I would appreciate it if you called him that! I don’t see what the problem is anyways. He is a perfectly nice young man despite the em… piercing and that awful hair color.”

“Mom I can’t stand him. Please don’t make me work with him. Don’t make me work here at all. Your not even paying me.”

“Buffy I said we would see about the payment.” Joyce stood up and walked to the door. “Now follow me so I can show you how everything here runs. And then after you get the hang of it I‘ll leave you to yourself.”

Buffy muttered a few curse words under her breath and followed her mother.



An hour later Joyce was back in her office and Buffy was in the basement with Spike doing inventory.

“So take it your mom was real pissed off about your little performance at the Bronze last night. I can understand where she’s coming from. You were bloody horrible.” Spike mocked her whilst he scribbled things on a clipboard.

Buffy’s head shot up from her own board and stared at him, shocked. “Was I really… How do you know… I mean SHE TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT!”

Spike rolled his eyes. “No. She didn’t have to. I was there last night. And then all of a sudden your working here without pay. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out, love.”

She grimaced. “ Don’t call me that you bleached dork.”

“Oh don’t get your nickers in a twist Bunny.”

She looked up and stared at him. Why in the hell did her mother insist he was a nice guy?
Sure he was a real hottie with his bleached hair, sharp cheekbones and glacial blue eyes but did her mother not notice the scar on his eyebrow or the piercing just below it. And what about the black t-shirt, jeans, combat boots, AND leather duster that usually made up his outfit. They didn’t exactly scream Mr. Nice Guy.

“Who are you to make fun of my name PIKE.”

“The name’s Spike, Betty. And you’d do best to remember that.”

“Oh like that’s any better. You’ve named yourself after an inanimate object.”

Spike chuckled. “Trust me Bunny. It’s not inanimate.”

“THE NAME’S BUFFY YOU PERVERT!” She yelled and stormed up the stares into her mothers office. “I’m going home now.” Then she turned and walked out the door.

Muttering the whole walk home about stupid bleached blondes and how she’d like to cut of they’re “inanimate” objects.

Chapter 3: Wait… You have a band?

Friday had finally come and her mother just called for a cab to take her to the airport. And Buffy couldn’t wait. Joyce was going to New York for a week to buy some merchandise for the gallery and Buffy would have the house all to herself. But still, she wouldn’t put it past her mother to come home a day or 2 early just to catch Buffy in the act of doing something bad.

“Now the number for the hotel is on the fridge along with my room number in case you can’t reach me on the cell. Now Buffy you know the rules. No parties, no boys. The only people allowed over here are Willow and Faith. Oh and I asked Spike to check up on you and make sure you went to the gallery after school on Monday and Wednesday. Goodbye dear. I love you.”

She kissed Buffy on the cheek and then hurried outside to ask the cab driver to help with the bags.

About 30 minutes later when Buffy was sure her mom was aboard a plane she called Willow, Xander, and Faith in a 3-way conversation and they chatted about the Bronze and how Buffy would be performing again.

After they got off the phone Buffy went upstairs and ransacked her closet looking for something to wear.

Finally she settled on a pair of red leather pants and a simple black halter top. She straightened her hair and applied black eyeliner to her eyes. Then she walked back to her closet and grabbed her guitar case out of the top shelf. It had been carefully hidden from her mother behind some old quilts and called Faith again to come pick her up.

********
Her body gyrated to the pulsing music rushing through the club and she couldn’t help but smile to herself. For one week, even if it was such a short period of time her mother was gone. No rules and no disapproving looks that annoyed her so. She could sing and dance and laugh and have an all around good time without Joyce Summers breathing down her neck about collage and work.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice someone tap her shoulder, but she did however notice when a strong hard body pressed itself against her backside and began moving with hers. She smiled to herself. ‘This guy is a good dancer.’

“Fancy meeting you here, cutie” A gruff british voice broke into her thoughts and caused her to freeze. ‘OH MY GOD I’M DANCING WITH SPIKE!’

She whirled around and glared at him. “What the hell are you doing here?”

He stepped back and stared at her like she was a complete idiot. “Well I was dancing. But that’s not the real reason I came over here. I actually wanted to talk to you.”

“Okay. You’re here. So talk.” she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him awaiting his response.

“Look are you singing tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Well afterwards would you mind stopping at my table.” he pointed towards a table with about 5 other people sitting there. Some she recognized, some she didn’t. “I want you to meet my band.”

Buffy snorted at him in disbelief. “Wait… You have a band? What do you do in it, play the triangle?”

Spikes jaw clenched tightly. She was really working on his nerves. “No. For your information I play guitar and sing. Now I gotta get back to my table before the mates come looking for me. See you after the show blondie.” He then turned and walked away.

Buffy rolled her eyes and walked towards the stage. “Whatever you say bleach-brain.”

After fighting her way through the crowd and ending up backstage she was enveloped into a tight hug by Lorne.

“Oh cup-cake your performance last week was just marvelous. I’m so happy your doing another song. Do you need anything? Glass of water? I could get you a cookie!”

Buffy chuckled. She’d known Lorne for about four years now and he always acted like Martha Stewart on crack. “ No Lorne I’m fine. I’m gonna just get my guitar and do my thing. But I’ll see you after the show?”

“Oh absolutely, Hunny Bun. And you must tell me about that gorgeous blue eyed, blonde haired man you were dancing with!” And then he hurried onstage to introduce her.

She rolled her eyes absent-mindedly. Spike was so not gorgeous, but for some reason her body seemed to tingle when she thought of how good he felt pressed against her. ‘Eww gross. I’m having tingle feelings for Spike.’

Slowly she made her way on stage, smiled at the crowd and began to strum her guitar and sing. Exactly like the first time she had preformed for these people.

********
“Wow B. Better than last time.” Faith smirked at Buffy as they met up in the middle of the dance floor and began walking towards Spike and his ‘band’.

“Gee thanks. I wonder why Spike wants me to meet his friends.”

“You maken’ me go with you for moral support?”

Buffy smiled. “Exactly.”

They finally made their way through a throng of dancing bodies and ended up right in front of Spikes table.

Faith smiled saucily. “Hello boys.”

A course of hello’s rang out from the group. Buffy just waved.

“Guys this sexy bint here is Faith. And the annoying blonde brat with her is Buffy Summers. Ladies, I’m sure you already know this is Oz, he’s a bassist. That’s Gunn, he plays drums, and that’s Anya. She doesn’t really do anything in the band she just helps us get gigs.”

“Why am I here Spike?” Buffy asked, clearly annoyed.

“Well BUNNY. Clubs don’t want to show us as much anymore and when they do we don’t get paid as much, so we figured something different, like a female singer would catch their interest. Which I why you’re here. We want you to join the band.”

Buffy’s eyes widened hysterically. “NO. NO. NO. I cannot stress how big of a no that is. My mother would KILL me if she knew I was in a band. And then she would kill all of you for letting her precious little business-girl for asking me to be in your band.”

“Oh come on Buffy.” Faith said, surprising her. She never said her full name. “ Just tell her you’re getting Spike to tutor you or something if she asks where you are. And besides you know that anything that has to do with Spike will be an automatic yes. So really you have no excuse to say no. And besides you’ll be 18 in a month so really if she does find out she cant to anything about it. You’ll be a legal adult.”

Buffy glared at her, and then smiled. “Fine. I’ll do it. And if she does find out she’ll probably fire you. So there’s a plus. And ooh yay money.”

“ You like money to?” Anya said ecstatically. “I like her. Now I’m not the only one that likes money. Invite your other friends to sit with us. The dorky one that cant dance is cute.”

“Umm… She’s a little blunt.” Spike stated.

Buffy and Faith just laughed.
********