Chapter 21: Getting Along
“So?”
“She let me keep it!” Buffy said excitedly as she sat down at the lunch table.
Willow let out a little squeal. “Now you have no excuse not to come to the dance.”
Buffy pushed her re-refried beans around with her fork. “Except for the fact I don’t have a date.”
The redhead waved dismissively. “Please, Fred’s right, this isn’t a date-needed dance. Everyone just goes in groups. Besides, with your dress, some cutie is gonna ask you to dance for sure.”
“What cutie?” Anya asked as she plopped down next to Willow, munching on a French fry.
“The cutie that’s gonna drool all over Buffy in her new dress,” Willow answered with a grin.
“Ooh! Dresses!” Anya said, her eyes lit up with excitement. “What’s yours look like?” She asked Buffy.
“It’s a dark green silk halter dress,” Buffy answered. “Which I will be paying off for the next…oh, twenty years.”
Willow made a sympathetic noise. “Well, at least your mom didn’t make you take it back.”
“So what are you going to do?” Anya inquired, eating another fry. “Other than wallow in debt for the next twenty years?”
“Actually,” Buffy began slowly, “that’s what I wanted to ask you about. Is your store hiring by any chance?”
Anya’s eyes lit up at the mention of ‘store’ and ‘hiring’. “Absolutely! We’d be happy to accept your application. Have you had any previous work experience?”
“Anya, this isn’t an interview, it’s lunch time,” Willow told her with a roll of her eyes.
Buffy bit her lip. “Not really, but I’m a fast learner and extremely desperate.”
For a moment Anya stared at Buffy thoughtfully. “Okay, you’re hired!”
“Like that?” Buffy wondered out loud.
“Well, you still have to fill out an application and I have to give you an interview, but it’s all very pointless,” Anya explained and then clapped her hands. “Ooh! We are going to have fun, fun, fun!”
Willow giggled a little, giving Buffy a look that said ‘hey, you asked for it.’
“Fun,” Buffy responded with false enthusiasm. Definitely not what she thought of when the word ‘job’ was uttered.
Xander and Fred joined their table, Wesley a minute later. Of course, the conversation fell to the upcoming dance.
“So, Buffster, who’s your date?” Xander asked, followed by an “Ow!” as Willow stomped his foot.
“I don’t have one,” Buffy admitted.
Xander looked sheepish. “Well I could always fix you up…” he offered.
A world of no, Buffy thought, but out loud she declined politely. “That’s okay. I can go stag, no biggie.”
“I don’t know why you just don’t go with Spike,” Anya said with a shrug, ignoring Willow’s vehement shake of the head. “At least you could have a date, even though it’s not really a date date.”
Buffy’s mouth dropped. “Uh…I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” she finally managed to squeeze out, shocked.
“Spike doesn’t have a date?” Fred questioned, taking a bite of her sandwich.
Anya shook her head negative. “Nope, Harmony tried, but he turned her down.”
Buffy was slightly curious by that comment. “Really?”
Shrugging, Anya took a sip of her water. “He doesn’t seem all that interested in anybody, which is kinda weird for Spike. He always has some girl clinging to him.”
“Well, maybe he’s tired of having some girl clinging to him,” Willow suggested and then looked defeated. “Okay, probably not.”
Xander snorted. “Oh, he has someone alright. Mentioned a new girl, didn’t say her name though, but I guess he likes her ‘cause he’s being all defensive, like he was when he started going out with the Vampire Queen.”
Buffy felt a strange wave of disappointment at that. Stop it, Summers, she berated herself. Liking Spike was definitely not her thing. At all. So there was no reason to feel disappointed that Spike likes some slut.
The bell rang, effectively cutting of Buffy’s inner rambling. She quickly grabbed her bag and books, tossing her lunch out in the garbage. She and Willow headed to their next classes and Buffy pushed aside any thoughts about Spike and another girl.
Really.
*********
Buffy and Anya had agreed to meet by the main doors after practice, but so far only Buffy was there.
She looked around, not a little annoyed. “Where is she?” She asked out loud, peering over her sunglasses. Buffy sat on a step, running a hand through her hair, watching the parking lot.
Her eyes followed a red sports car as it zoomed across the parking lot and, much to her surprise, squealed to a stop in front of her.
Anya grinned at Buffy from inside the car. “Hop in.”
Buffy couldn’t help but grin back. She stood up and hoisted herself over the door, sliding into the smooth leather seat.
“Nice car.” She didn’t bother to hide her awe.
“I know,” Anya replied cheerfully. “A present for my sixteenth birthday from Daddy Dearest.”
Buffy’s eyebrows rose at the sarcasm at the mention of her dad. “Not your favorite person?”
Anya pulled away from the curb and sped through the parking lot. “Let’s just say he isn’t exactly around all that much, he’s too busy working and screwing his secretary of the month.”
Buffy let out a bitter laugh. “Trust me, I know what you mean. My dad isn’t winning Father of the Year awards either.”
Anya glanced at the blonde with a rueful smile. “Well, at least we can’t do worse.”
A half-smirk flittered across Buffy’s face. “Hell no.”
Anya jerked the steering wheel to the left, pulling into a small parking lot. Buffy eyed the words written on the building. “The Magic Box”
“You work at a magic store?” Buffy asked, clearly surprised.
Anya swung open her door. “Yep. You’d be amazed at the profits. Come on, you can meet Mr. Jeff Dumphry”
Buffy scrambled out of the car, trying to keep up with Anya’s fast pace. “Who?”
“The owner,” Anya responded, opening the door. “Mr. D! I’m here!”
Much to Buffy’s amazement, a handsome man, maybe in his late twenties, stepped out from behind the back door. “How many times have I told you to stop calling me that, Anyanka?”
Anya’s nose scrunched up. “If you’d stop calling me Anyanka, I might stop too.” She turned to Buffy. “Jeff, this is my friend and future employee. Buffy, this is Jeff, your future boss.”
Jeff shook Buffy’s hand warmly and smiled. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Buffy replied, finally finding her voice. She turned to Anya. “Um, not to sound stupid or anything, but who’s Anyanka?”
Anya rolled her eyes. “It’s my real name. I know, it’s awful, I don’t know what my mother was thinking.”
“So,” Jeff spoke, “you’re interested in working here?”
Buffy nodded. “Yeah, I really needed a job and Anya’s always talking about how much she likes her job, so I thought I’d apply.”
Anya walked over to the desk and leaned over, grabbing a sheet of paper from the other side. “Here,” she said, handing the paper to Buffy. “It’s an application. Fill it out and then give it to me tomorrow at school.”
Jeff’s eyebrow rose. “You haven’t filled out an application yet?”
Buffy shrugged, feeling sheepish. “Well, I just asked Anya about a job today.”
“Well,” Jeff replied, clapping his hands. “I think it’s safe to say you’re hired.”
Buffy blinked. “Really?”
“Really,” Jeff confirmed.
“Oh, thank you,” Buffy said gratefully with a beam. “I can’t wait to start.”
“I like that,” Jeff told her with a firm nod. “Why don’t we start with a tour?”
“Right now?” Buffy asked doubtfully.
“Sure, unless you have plans,” Jeff answered.
“Nope, I’m plan-less,” Buffy said cheerfully.
Jeff smiled. “Great, let’s start with the back room…”
*****
After receiving the full tour, Anya drove Buffy home just in time for dinner.
“So,” Anya began as she pulled the car into the Summers/Giles’ driveway. “What’d you think?”
“Jeff seems nice, and the store is really cool,” Buffy answered. “Thanks, by the way, for, you know, vouching for me.”
Anya shrugged. “That’s what friends do. I’ll see you tomorrow, don’t forget the application!”
“I won’t!” Buffy replied, stepping out of the car. “Bye!”
Anya waved and then pulled out the driveway and with a roar, sped down Revello Dr. Buffy watched her go for a second, shaking her head slightly, before opening the door.
“Mom?” She called out. When no one responded she tried, “Giles?” Again, silence.
Buffy walked into the kitchen and spotted a note on the counter. She read it quickly, skimming over the words.
Buffy and Wiliam:
Rupert and I are having dinner with some friends of ours. Sorry we didn’t tell you sooner, they just called me this afternoon. We should be home before 11:00. Have fun and behave!
Love,
Mom (Joyce) and Dad (Rupert)
P.S. There’s 20 dollars for food, no pizza!
Buffy sighed and wandered into the living room. She didn’t really want to spend the evening with Spike, especially since they still weren’t technically talking. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail, Buffy sat down on the couch and turned the TV on.
After a few minutes of mindless TV, Buffy heard a car pull in the driveway. She could tell immediately it was Spike’s by the loud engine. Ignore the impulse to jump and run upstairs into her room, she stayed in front of the TV, fixated on flipping through channels.
The door slammed shut and Spike’s heavy boots clomped as he walked into the kitchen. The boots stopped and Buffy assumed he was reading the note.
“Bloody hell.” She heard him mutter. Then, “Summers? You here?”
“Yeah,” Buffy called back, her voice monotone. “Watching TV.”
Spike walked in, holding the twenty. “Right,” he paused. “How was practice?”
“Good,” was Buffy’s response.
“So…” Spike drawled and Buffy glanced up.
“Yeah?” She asked, prompting him to continue.
He held up the money. “Pizza?”
A faint smile graced Buffy’s lips. “Sure. Pineapple with extra cheese.”
A half hour later, the pizza had arrived, half pineapple with extra cheese and half everything, and Buffy and Spike were sitting in the living room eating and watching Fear Factor.
They had done the small talk thing and were now just focusing on the TV and their pizza.
“Could you do it?” Spike asked, referring to the woman being buried in bugs.
Buffy shrugged. “Maybe, I don’t know. Bugs aren’t my favorite things.” She turned to Spike. “What about you?”
“Nope, I’d bloody shoot myself before laying there covered in crawly things.”
Buffy was surprised at how quickly he answered. “Really?”
“Yeah,” Spike confirmed, looking a little defensive. “Don’t like bugs, haven’t since I was a kid.”
“And yet you ate one,” Buffy replied, remembering their conversation the last time they’d watched Fear Factor.
“Well, I was drunk, pet,” Spike said as if he was pointing on the obvious.
Buffy rolled her eyes and took another bite of pizza.
“What, you’ve never been drunk?” Spike asked, leaning back against the couch.
“No, it’s just I don’t think I eat worms when I’m drunk,” Buffy retorted.
Spike smirked. “Then what did you-“ His question was cut off by Buffy.
“What are you doing?” She asked, sitting up.
“Talking,” he replied slowly.
“Yeah but,” Buffy stopped and sighed before speaking again. “You’ve been avoiding me all week, ever since we…we came back from the beach house, and now you wanna talk?”
“I wasn’t avoiding you, Summers,” Spike responded with a roll of his eyes.
Buffy scoffed. “I’m pretty sure not talking to someone and ignoring them constitutes as avoiding.” She watched Spike’s face carefully as it turned cold. “Is this about…the kiss?” She said the last two words in a whisper.
“No!” Spike answered strongly.
“Good,” Buffy replied firmly. “Because it was just a thing. I was crying, you were being…not you, and it was just a fluke, right?”
Spike met her eyes. “Right.”
“Good,” Buffy repeated. “Now we go back to being whatever it is we are.”
“Friends,” Spike responding, almost like an offering. “Of sorts.”
Buffy smiled. “I like that.”
“Running tomorrow?” Spike asked, knowing the answer.
“Duh,” Buffy replied, rolling her eyes.
“And the bet?”
Buffy tapped her chin. “Hmm…I win and you tell me what Xander made you do that makes eating a worm look like eating cake.”
Spike’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. I win and you tell me your drunk story.”
“Deal,” Buffy said and they shook hands.
Spike picked up his dishes. “I’m heading out. See ya later.” He said after rinsing off his dishes and putting them in the sink.
Buffy followed suit. “Okay, later.”
Spike nodded and grabbed his keys and jacket before walking out the front door. As soon as he was gone, Buffy flopped back on the couch, flipping the channel. She tried to focus on The Breakfast Club, but her mind kept wandering back to their new bet.
Never had it been so important that she won, and Buffy Summers was definitely planning on leaving Spike’s ass in the dust.
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Author's Chapter Notes:
thanks for all the great reviews and in case I forgot to mention it in the A/N-thanks for whoever nominated me at Love's Last Glimpse round 16!
Thanks to my beta-you're awesome!
Thanks to my beta-you're awesome!