Faster! Buffy’s mind screamed. She pushed herself, widening her stride, letting her feet pound on the pavement.
He was close, inches behind her. Dammit! She struggled to pick up her pace for the last quarter of a mile. She was not going to lose!
Spike’s eyes were trained on Buffy with supreme intensity. He could see every muscle flickering in her thighs, the bead of sweat trickling down the side of her face. He extended his stride. He was not going to lose!
Buffy pushed onward, feeling her muscles protest. Their house was just appearing, the large oak partially concealing the side of the house. All she had to do was beat him there, no problem.
Gracefully, Buffy leaped over a branch, keeping her pace steadily increasing. She made a sharp turn to avoid the Hendersons’ garbage bins, and silently praised herself for not tripping over them like an idiot.
Unfortunately, Spike wasn’t so lucky.
She heard a hollow thunk and then a clatter. Surprised, Buffy turned around, slowing down somewhat. Spike, it seemed, had tried to jump over a bin, but nicked his foot on the edge, sending him sprawling on the asphalt.
“Bloody soddin’ fuck!” Spike cursed as he picked himself up, wincing as he dusted off his scraped knee.
Buffy’s eyes widened and then laughter burst out of her mouth. Unable to stop herself, the giggles continued as Spike glowered.
“Shut up,” he grumbled, bending his injured knee.
“I-I’m sorry,” she gasped, still laughing.
“Well it won’t be so funny when I beat you, will it?” Spike gritted out.
Instantly, Buffy sobered. She’d almost forgotten about the race! “See ya,” she called out and then ran.
Spike let out a growl of frustration and followed, trying vainly to catch up with her. He’d just touched the blacktop when Buffy ran into the garage, slapping it with her palm.
“I win!” She shouted, exuberant. To Spike’s amazement, Buffy started to do some kind of dance complete with sticking her tongue out at him.
“Bloody hell,” he said, flopping down on the grass, closing his eyes. He felt Buffy settle down next to him.
“Okay, Spikey, time to spill,” she said gleefully.
“Hey!” He protested. “I bloody tripped!”
“So?” Buffy asked with a look. “It was your fault.”
“You and I both know I would have beaten you if I hadn’t tripped,” Spike told her matter-a-factly.
Buffy scoffed as she sat up. “Yeah right, I was winning. Now, ‘fess up, what did Xander make you do?”
“Now wait one moment. It’s only fair that you tell your story too, since we’ll never know who actually won,” Spike countered, raising his scarred brow.
Buffy was too curious to turn it down. “Fine,” she reluctantly agreed, “but you also have to tell me how you got that scar on your eyebrow.” She ghosted a finger over said scar.
Spike leaned back slightly, avoiding her touch. “Deal. But you go first.”
Buffy’s eyes narrowed, but she did comply. “My drunk story…” she began, musing. “Okay, the one that really stands out happened, like, two years ago. It was probably the first time I’d ever actually drank, and to say I was lightweight would have been pushing it.”
Spike snorted a little at the imagery, but a look from Buffy silenced him.
“Anyway,” she continued, “my friends and I were at this rich guy’s house. His dad had this whole bar thing set up in the basement. It was really cool, very professional looking. I think they had a lot of parties at his house.
“So, we get there and my friend Katie hands me a drink. I didn’t think much of it so I gulped it down. Of course, it was spiked and I promptly spent the next five minutes coughing like crazy. Then, the guy I had a major crush on, Tyler, came up to me and we started talking and he wanted to know if I’d play quarters. I agreed, and a half hour later, I was drunk. Katie, who was definitely not sober, suggested we do a little dancing, for fun.”
Buffy paused, looking a little embarrassed. “Unfortunately, I got the bright idea we should do some table dancing, and the next thing I knew, I was up on the bar with Katie, dancing my little heart out…topless.”
Laughter sputtered from Spike. “That is priceless, pet. First time drunk and you give the whole what-sophomore class?-a dance. Wish I had seen that.”
“No,” Buffy said firmly, her face tinged pink, “you don’t. It was completely mortifying. I spent the next two months trying to convince everyone I wasn’t a stripper by night.” She straightened and zeroed in on Spike. “Now, I’ve told my drunk story, let’s hear yours.”
Spike eyed her warily. “Whatever is said, never leaves this spot on the lawn, got it?”
Buffy nodded. “Same for me.”
Spike nodded in response and exhaled sharply. “Right. Well, just before summer, my girlfriend broke up with me for some git. Idiot that I was, I coped with massive amounts of Jack Daniels.
“During one of my…less sober evenings, Xander thought’d be amusing to see what I would and wouldn’t do while drunk. Like I said, turns out there isn’t much. There was the worm eating bit, the streaking bit and…the kissing bit.”
“Kissing?” Buffy interrupted, her voice dubious. “And how is that worse than worm eating and streaking?”
“If you’d shut your gob, I’d tell you,” Spike responded impatiently. Buffy just waved in a ‘take it away’ motion.
“So Xander convinces me to do another shot after the streaking, and then proposes that he’ll select one girl and I’d have to go up to her, without saying a single word, and kiss her. Easy enough, right? I thought Xand was off his rocker if he thought that was hard. So I agreed and he selected a brunette. I walked, or more like stumbled, right up to her, spun her around and kissed her full on the mouth.”
Buffy’s nose scrunched up. “So? Like that’s-“
“But,” Spike cut her off, his voice low and his gaze fixed on the grass. “It turns out she was a bit more of a he.”
For a moment Buffy just stared at Spike, her brain processing his words. Then, a grin overtook her face. “No!”
“Yeah,” Spike mumbled.
“No way!” Buffy was full out grinning. “You didn’t!”
“Yeah, I did,” he responded with a wince.
“You kissed a guy!” Buffy squealed with laughter.
“In my defense he had long hair!” Spike said defensively, but it did nothing to stop Buffy’s howling laughter.
Her face was flushed pink and her insides ached. “Oh my god!”
“Yeah, well, it fuckin’ happened,” Spike grumbled, kicking the grass, embarrassed as Buffy continued to roll around, laughing.
“Sorry,” she giggled. “I just have this picture of you and some…” she couldn’t finish her sentence.
“Come on, Summers, get over it,” Spike snapped as he flopped back down on the grass.
“Fine, fine,” she agreed, letting out one last giggle. “I’m done.”
“Thank you,” Spike said sarcastically as they lay back on the grass, side by side. They were silent for a moment before Buffy spoke.
“So, does this mean you’re bisexual?”
************
After showering and dressing in casual sweats and a tank top, Buffy waited by the front door with her dress, shoes and a bag filled with necessities.
Willow was picking her up in mere minutes and driving them, along with Fred, to Anya’s house.
“You leavin?” Buffy turned to see a freshly showered Spike walking down the stairs in jeans and a shirt, his feet bare.
“Yeah,” she answered. “Getting ready for the dance and all that.”
Spike made a face. “Girly.”
Buffy rolled her eyes. “What guys don’t do stuff together before dances?”
“Unless you’re counting buying condoms…” Spike trailed off with a slight smirk, his eyes capturing hers.
Buffy found it difficult to tear her eyes from his, almost entranced by the blue. His smirking lips parted slightly, his tongue peeking out, licking his bottom lip.
Foretunately, Willow's horn beeping broke their locked gazes.
Buffy’s face flushed, and she awkwardly picked up her bags. “And to that, an extreme see you later.”
“See you at the dance, Summers!” Spike called after her, enjoying her flustered state. He couldn’t deny that making Buffy Summers squirm was absolutely delicious.
Buffy stomped down the walkway and climbed into Willow’s car.
“What was that?” Fred asked and Willow made a sound of agreement.
“Just Spike being an ass,” she grumbled and then brightened. “Come on, let’s go to Anya’s.”
“Will do,” Willow replied cheerfully.
Ten minutes later, Willow pulled her clunky Volvo into one of the longest driveways Buffy had ever seen.
“Whoa,” she breathed, taken back by the rows of neatly trimmed bushes leading up to a large Spanish style mansion complete with a fountain in the front.
“I knew Anya was rich, but…” Buffy trailed off in awe.
“Yep, her dad’s like the CEO of some major company. Something to do with computers,” Fred answered as Willow parked the car in the spacious garage.
The garage door flung open and Anya ran out dressed in a lace bra and matching silk shorts. “Yay! You’re here!” She turned to Buffy, “I need help curling my hair, pronto.”
”Okay,” Buffy responded, “let’s get started.”
********
“Ouch!” Buffy cried as Anya yanked the flat iron.
“Oh, stop being a baby,” Anya retorted with a dismissive wave.
“I wanted straight hair, not no hair,” Buffy grumbled, rubbing the sore spot.
Anya pushed her hand away. “Stop,” she commanded, “if you want your hair to look nice.”
Fred peered over Anya’s shoulder. “I think your hair looks great, Buffy.”
Buffy pouted at her reflection. “It’s too short.”
“Grow it out,” Willow suggested from the bedroom.
“It used to be long, and then my friend convinced me to cut it and dye it brown,” Buffy explained, touching a strand of her hair.
“Well that was stupid,” Anya said bluntly as she ran the flat iron over a chunk of hair.
Buffy rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.”
Fred stood next to Buffy and leaned in, examining her reflection. “Are you sure this lipstick isn’t too red?”
“No,” both Anya and Buffy said in unison.
Twin wrinkles appeared on Fred’s brow. “Really?”
Willow popped her head in. “Yes, you look awesome.” She glanced into the mirror and nervously fiddled with her much shorter hair. It had taken much persuasion from Buffy, Anya and Fred, but finally Willow had submitted to getting her haircut. The shorter look was styled, the ends flaring out slightly at base of her neck.
Buffy noticed Willow’s nervousness. “Oz’ll love it, trust me,” she said, meeting the redhead’s eyes through the mirror.
She nibbled on her lip. “Right, of course.”
“You look hot,” Anya added helpfully and then stepped back to admire her work. “Okay, you’re all done.”
Buffy turned her head this way and that, watching as her hair shimmered. Anya had straightened it to pin-straight perfection and pulled two pieces back from her temple, keeping the hair off her face. She smiled. “I like it, thanks.”
Fred shot a glance at the clock. “We should probably get going, everybody ready?” Her gaze flittered to Anya who was still in her bra and shorts. “Except for Anya,” Fred added.
“Yep,” Buffy confirmed, smoothing her hand over the front of her dress, and slipped on her ankle breakers.
Willow grabbed her tiny purse and shawl. “Ready!”
Anya rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I didn’t spend the whole time getting you guys ready.” She walked over to her massive walk-in closet and took a garment bag off a hanger.
After unzipping the bag slowly, Anya pulled out the dress in a dramatic fashion. “Tada!” The bright crimson dress swished in the air, and Anya eagerly pulled off her bra and shorts, slipping the gown over her head sans underwear.
The dress clung to Anya’s figure with a slit up the side and a plunging neckline. Paired with her matching red heels, she looked stunning.
“Wow,” Buffy said. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Um,” Willow began, her mouth dropped slightly. “Isn’t it a little much for a high school dance?”
Anya shrugged. “Who cares? I’m gonna knock Xander Harris’s socks off.”
Fred blinked. “No kiddin’.”
Anya snatched her red satin purse and opened her bedroom door. “Are we going, or not?”
“My car?” Willow suggested as they walked down the large marble stairs.
“Are you serious?” Anya asked. At Willow’s confusion, she rolled her eyes. “No, we’re using the limo.”
Buffy blinked, her head tilted. “Did she just say ‘limo’?”
*********
The inside of Sunnydale High’s gym had been transformed for the ultimate Halloween dance party. The dance committee had decided to go with a Dracula theme and made the walls look like castle walls. The ceiling was littered with cobwebs with fuzzy spiders and bats dangled in corners.
A few cardboard coffins were leaned against the walls, and a wooden one, Buffy hoped it wasn’t real, was the food and drink table.
They had substituted florescent lighting for black and orange lights, giving the place a creepy glow. The Dingoes Ate My Baby had been hired as the band for the dance and was up on stage playing their famous “Pain.”
“Oz wrote this for me,” Willow said, more like yelled, in Buffy’s ear.
“Really? That’s sweet!” Buffy yelled back in Willow’s ear as they head-bopped along to the music and surveyed the crowd.
Anya and Xander were already missing. Xander had taken one look at his not-girlfriend, gulped, and led a happy Anya off to a dark corner.
Fred and Wesley were hanging out by the punch and Cheetos, heads inclined, discussing something. Probably about the latest Physics problem, Buffy surmised.
Gunn and Gwen had stopped by briefly to say hi. While Gunn had been openly friendly to Buffy, Gwen’s tight smile definitely implied that she didn’t like the blonde. What Buffy couldn’t figure out was why.
“Hey,” Buffy said, surprised the thought hadn’t occurred to her before. “Where’s Tara?”
Was it her imagination or did Willow stiffen at the mention of one of her best friends? “She’s not feeling well,” Willow answered, and quickly added, “Look, Spike’s here.”
Buffy’s eyes followed Willow’s to see Spike had, in fact, arrived. He was dressed in a pair of black pants and a blue button-down. His hair was slicked back and she could see he was still wearing his thick jewelry, and she was pretty sure those were his combat boots, but Spike definitely looked…different.
“Cleans up nicely,” Willow commented, nearly echoing Buffy’s thoughts.
She shrugged. “I guess.”
Willow gave Buffy a strange look.
“What?” She said defensively.
“Nothing! It’s just that…well…you and Spike,” Willow stuttered.
“What about me and Spike?” Buffy replied carefully, her eyes not quite meeting the redhead.
“I don’t know…” Willow hesitated, looking very anxious. “Do you like him?”
Buffy’s heart skipped a beat. “Of course not,” she answered quickly and let out a strained laugh. “I can’t believe…what made you think that?”
Willow’s face was void of all nervousness now. In a calm voice she simply said, “I think he likes you.”
Another bubble of anxious laugher rose up in her. “What? Where would you…how…” Buffy shook her head. “No, a world of no.”
Willow nodded slowly. “Okay.”
Feeling the redhead was unconvinced, Buffy pushed. “I’m serious. There is nothing.”
Willow tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Totally hearing you, Buffy. 100% friends only.”
“And not even that,” Buffy countered. “It’s just…”
“You and Spike,” Willow finished.
“In a non-romantic sense,” Buffy added.
“Of course.”
There was a pregnant pause. “Wanna get a drink?” Willow suggested.
Sighing with relief, Buffy nodded. “Lead the way.”
********
An hour later, the others joined Buffy and Willow. Buffy had managed to semi-push the whole conversation with Willow out of her mind and enjoy her evening, which was going really well despite the whole no-date thing.
Currently, Fred was telling a story about driving a tractor when she was five back in Texas where she grew up on a ranch.
“Wait, so your parents just let you?” Xander repeated, stunned. He couldn’t get his own parents to sign him up for Driver’s Ed, let alone actual driving.
Fred snorted. “It’s not like I gave them much of a choice.”
Wesley smiled at his girlfriend, intertwining his hand through hers. Buffy couldn’t help but beam at the cute couple.
And speaking of cute couples, Willow and Oz were snuggling next to her, talking about a new computer device. Sweet, Buffy thought, but kinda scary.
Buffy took a gulp of her punch, fanning herself. The gym was stifling with all the people packed together, especially out on the dance floor. She and Anya had danced together a couple of times, but Buffy couldn’t help but be slightly disappointed by the lack of cute guys.
A tap on her shoulder startled Buffy, and she craned her head to see Spike standing behind her.
“Dance?”
Buffy automatically glanced at her friends, but they were all preoccupied by their significant others.
“Uh…I guess,” Buffy accepted hesitantly and stood up. For a second they stood awkwardly before walking out to the dance floor.
Awkward moment number two, Buffy thought as they slowly hedged closer. She rested her hands on his shoulders and Spike’s hands settled on her waist. They probably looked like fourth graders being forced to dance.
Moving a little closer to not look like an idiot, Buffy tilted her head up so their eyes met.
“Having a nice time, Summers?” Spike asked courteously.
“Yeah, I am,” Buffy responded with a genuine smile. “You?”
Spike shrugged. “I’ve been worse.”
Buffy nodded and for a couple of minutes they swayed in silence. Spike, Buffy was noticing, was a nice dancer. He moved well and didn’t do that clumsy shuffle most guys did. He also smelled really good.
“Where’s your date?” Spike asked, interrupting the silence.
Buffy turned her head away, looking at the other dancers. “I don’t have one. Where’s yours?” Anya had mentioned Spike had gotten a last minute date.
Spike cleared his throat. “She’s, uh, in the bathroom.”
“Harmony?” Buffy couldn’t keep the surprise and disdain out of her voice.
Spike exhaled loudly. “God no. She’s a friend of mine. It’s not really a date, exactly. Besides, Dawn’s fourteen.”
“Fourteen?” Buffy echoed, scrunching her nose.
“Like I said, Summers, she’s a friend of mine, family friend really. The girl couldn’t go to her Homecoming Dance so I thought it’d be nice to take her here.”
“I didn’t know. That’s nice of you, I’m sure she appreciates it,” Buffy finally said.
They lapsed back into their silence for another moment.
“You going to Willow’s afterwards?” Buffy asked.
“Yeah, I’m gonna drop Dawn off at her house then I’ll be there.” A smirk spread across Spike’s face. “You gonna do a nice repeat of that dance?”
Buffy’s mouth fell open, and she slugged him in the arm. “Pig,” she said half-heartedly.
“And you love it,” Spike responded cheerfully as the song came to an end. “Well, I’m off to find Dawn. See you later, yeah?”
Buffy nodded. “Yep.” She turned to walk back to her table, when it occurred to her. “Hey Spike!”
He turned, looking puzzled. “Yeah?”
“You still owe me a story,” she said with a smirk of her own.
Rolling his eyes, Spike called back, “Hold your horses, Summers. The night isn’t over yet.”