“Bad, bad, bad, bad,” Buffy moaned, her head dropping on the lunch table. Everyone gave her sympathetic looks.
“Is it really?” Fred ventured. “I mean, everyone’s getting along, right?”
Buffy just groaned again. She’d filled everyone in on the beach house vacation happening in only a few days.
Xander snickered. “I can’t believe you actually convinced him to come. What did you say?”
A small grin appeared on Buffy’s face. “I told him I’d tell Harmony he loved her.”
Everyone burst into laughter and Buffy joined in, shaking her head a little. “It was the best thing I could think of on short notice!” She admitted, still giggling.
“Oh no, it’s great!” Xander chortled, “I can’t wait to mercilessly tease Captain Peroxide about this.”
Instantly Buffy sobered. “No, don’t. I’ve got him coming, albeit reluctantly. Don’t screw it up for me.”
Xander frowned. “Fine, fine, I won’t.” He laughed again. “But when this weekend is over, I’m never gonna run out of things to say.”
Willow rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that well will never dry up. Buffy, was that smart though? Threats? I mean, it doesn’t guarantee…”
“He’ll be nice and friendly,” Buffy finished for her and then sighed. “Tell me about it. But at least we had a nice run this morning.”
Fred snorted. “Knowing you two, it means someone won and the loser is paying. Probably with money.”
Buffy’s face flushed a little. “Hey, we can so have a decent run without getting overly competitive!”
At the dubious looks, Buffy rolled her eyes. “Okay,” she confessed, “there was a bet. Only ten dollars, which is good I won because I don’t actually have ten dollars. And there may have been an… incident.”
Willow eyed the blonde warily. “What incident?”
“The kind where I maybe tackle Spike?” Her voice was innocent, but it got a disapproving look from both Fred and Willow.
“In my defense, he started it. Stupid tripping jerk,” Buffy muttered.
“This is definitely going to be an interesting weekend,” Xander said jadedly.
After lunch, Buffy and Willow walked to their classes which were both in the same wing. However, Buffy had chemistry while Willow was in Physics AP.
“Friends?” Willow repeated dubiously.
Buffy shrugged. She had just told the redhead about the other deal her and Spike and had made: the friends thing.
“B-but you guys…” Willow stuttered and then sighed. “This is boarder lining on weird.”
“Tell me about it.” Buffy rolled her eyes. “And it is definitely in the weird.”
Willow frowned, trying to figure out what exactly was going on. “So…you’re really friends now. What does that even mean?”
“Um, so far it means we run with each other in the morning,” Buffy answered.
Willow laughed a little. “Of course, wouldn’t expect anything else from you two.”
Buffy rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” Time to change the subject, she decided. “Where’s Tara?” She hadn’t been at lunch again for the third time in a row.
“Oh yeah,” Willow replied casually, “Turns out her aunt needed her at the shop and now she has the huge history project due this week. But we’re hanging out this weekend, movie, popcorn and chocolate.” She made a sympathetic face at Buffy. “I’d invite you but…”
“I’ll be in a beach house with Spike Giles,” Buffy grumbled, “So unfair.”
*************
It was another calm, sunny but not hot afternoon, perfect for running. Buffy happily walked out to the track after school let out and searched for Fred. They’d agreed to meet outside of the building, but she was no where to be seen.
She shrugged and continued to make her way to the field when she heard someone sprinting up from behind her: Fred.
She stopped, panting slightly with a sheepish look. “Sorry, I had to stay after for a couple minutes and then Wes asked me about a physics problem…” she sighed, “but I’m here now.”
Buffy grinned. “So I see.”
They walked side-by-side to the track and stood in the center, waiting for the rest of the team to show up. Buffy bent down to tie her shoes and then pulled her hair back into a ponytail. The length was still irritating her, especially while running.
Coach Alder clapped her hands, catching the girls’ attention. “Alright! Everyone head out by Hampton and work your way up to Fox and back down.”
Simultaneously, they all started running out onto the sidewalk in front of the school. Fred and Buffy lagged behind, taking it slow. Neither of them really wanted to try particularly hard today.
“So,” Buffy began, “How’s it going with you and Wes.”
Fred’s cheeks tinged pink and a grin formed on her lips. “We’re officially dating.”
Buffy smiled wide. “That’s great! You guys are totally perfect for each other.”
Fred turned shy. “I guess. He’s really sweet and fun and smart. We had the most amazing debate about whether quantum physics-“
“Say no more,” Buffy interrupted, holding her hand up. “You smarty-pants freak me out with finding intellectual debates a turn on.”
Fred’s blush deepened. “It’s interesting.”
Buffy grinned again. “Of course it, but I want the juicy details: good or bad kisser?”
Fred’s face, if possible, turned redder. “That’s not the only part of a relationship, you know? There has to be compatibility, interest a-and-” She stopped at Buffy’s look. “Amazing,” she confessed and the two giggled.
“Keep up!” Coach Adler’s harsh voice interrupted their private conversation and they picked up speed.
“What about you?” Fred inquired after a few moments.
“What about me?” Buffy replied, feigning ignorance.
“What’s going on with you and that guy-Riley right?” Fred asked, waiting for an answer.
Buffy shrugged. “We’re just hanging out.” Truth was he hadn’t called and it was kind of a disappointment. Spike, she figured, had scared him off.
“So it’s not serious?” Fred’s voice broke through her musings.
“No, definitely not,” Buffy said quickly. Serious was something she was staying far away from. She felt like the very idea of trusting someone like that again was too hard. There were only so many times her heart could be broken.
***************
The day before the long weekend was depressingly slow. The sky was cloudy, a rare for Sunnydale, and Buffy felt sluggish.
“Ugh,” she grumbled and Xander, who was walking with her, agreed.
“This is not what a day before long weekend should be,” he commented, rubbing his neck.
“Nope.” Buffy sighed and stopped, reaching into her bag for her English book they were reading.
All of the sudden Xander looked up, a look of horror mixed with some other unidentifiable emotion on his face. “Uh-oh, Queen C alert.”
Buffy glanced at the brunette walking towards them, her head held high with a glint of determination. She stopped in front of them, casually tossing her long hair back.
“Well, if it isn’t the loser Harris. Mommy run out of money for clothes?” Cordelia’s haughty gaze flickered over Xander’s cargo pants and Hawaiian shirt.
Buffy glared at the brunette, annoyed. She opened her mouth to say something-preferably a really good comeback that Xander was lacking-when Cordelia turned to her.
“Hi, you must be the new girl. I’m Cordelia Chase.” Her haughty expression didn’t change, but there was flicker of something in her eyes.
Buffy gave her a strained smile. “I’m Buffy but I’ve been here for two weeks, not exactly new.”
Cordelia’s eyes narrowed and her smile froze. “Well, I thought I’d introduce myself and if you want to fit in,” she shot another look at Xander, “my suggestion would be to avoid losers like him.”
Buffy all but glared at her. “Thanks but I think I can find my own friends.”
Cordelia scoffed. “Suit yourself. Nice to meet you, Muffy.” She walked past them and headed for Harmony who, when she saw Buffy, shot her an evil look.
“Well that was entertaining,” Xander mumbled.
“Yeah,” Buffy said, her voice tinged with sarcasm. She glanced back at Cordelia, trying to place her. Up close, the brunette looked almost familiar and she was fairly certain Cordelia recognized her too. “Let’s go, I don’t want Mr. Katz to be mad cause we’re late.”
“Ah yes,” Xander lamented as they picked up their pace, “the joys of washing the football team’s jerseys.”
****
“Buffy are you all ready?”
The blonde shoved her hairbrush into what little space left in her suitcase. Irritatingly enough, Joyce had decided that leaving right away after school was the best idea. Which meant Buffy was adding all of her necessities she couldn’t pack in the morning before school.
“Almost!” She called back, rushing around her room, searching for her CD player. It figures that as soon as she finished unpacking everything, she needed to pack again.
“We’re leaving in ten minutes. Rupert wants to beat the rush hour!” Her mother called out, sounding farther away.
What rush hour? Buffy wondered as she put her toothbrush and toothpaste in plastic bag.
There was a knock on her door as Buffy was trying to fit her face wash in her bag. Internally groaning, Buffy said, “Mom, I’m almost done! I just need to find my tampons!”
“That’s nice, luv, but I don’t think I know where those are.”
Buffy glanced up, surprised and, of course, her face burned. Spike stood in her doorway, a smirk on his face.
“God, I thought you were my mom. What do you need?” She tried to sound flippant and unaffected.
“Dad wanted me to remind you to bring your camera. Said you have a nice one,” Spike answered as he fiddled with the knickknacks on her dresser by the door.
Buffy glanced down at her suitcase, mentally reviewing the items in it. “I’ve got it,” she announced and returned to searching for the missing tampons.
After a few seconds she noticed Spike hadn’t left and glared at him. “Why aren’t you gone?”
Spike shrugged, tossing her little glass ice-skater figurine in his hands. “Bored. Need help?”
“No,” Buffy bit out, trying to zip her bag shut. “I’m fine.” With a final grunt, she managed to zip it. “Ha!”
Straightening her back, she glanced at Spike to see her favorite figurine in his hands, being juggled! Buffy walked over and yanked it out of his hands and set it down. “Leave my stuff alone and find someone else to un-bore you.”
“Buffy, William, are you guys ready?” Joyce’s voice cut through their glarefest.
“Yes!” They shouted back in unison. Buffy walked over to grab her bag when Spike stopped her, a hand on her shoulder.
“Luv, your tampons are under your bed.” His breath tickled her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
Buffy swallowed, trying to maintain her cool. “Thanks. Now get out and tell them I’ll be down in a second.”
“Fine,” Spike replied, his voice smooth and he practically sauntered out of her room.
“And don’t call me ‘luv’!” Buffy shouted after him. He chuckled in response, shutting her door.
She got down on her knees, reaching under the bed for the box of tampons. “Asshole,” Buffy grumbled. This was going to be worst weekend ever.