“What was that?” Anya demanded as Buffy returned to her seat.
“What was what?” Buffy asked, playing dumb.
“You were dancing with the Bleached Wonder!” Xander answered for Anya. His wild gestures would have been funny except for the fact that everyone’s eyes were on her. Even Oz looked interested, well as much as Oz could look interested.
Buffy shrugged. “We were just dancing.”
“Um, don’t you hate Spike?” Willow spoke up. “I think we’ve had a couple conversations about Spike being a pain in the ass.”
“He is,” Buffy affirmed, “but I don’t hate him.” At everyone’s looks, she added, “Well, not all the time.”
Fred giggled a little. “I think you guys looked cute.”
Buffy’s nose scrunched. “That’s just pushing it.” She leaned down to grab her purse, and stood up. “Okay, I’ve gotta use the bathroom,” she announced and walked off, trying not to trip in shoes.
Without thinking, Buffy pushed open the bathroom door, startling a coltish brunette who jumped back. “Whoa!”
“Sorry,” Buffy immediately apologized.
“It’s okay,” the girl replied, looking relieved. “You just freaked me out.” She brushed her dark hair off her shoulders and smiled a little.
Buffy smiled back, still feeling bad for scaring her. The girl looked younger, Buffy noticed, even though she was taller than her.
“I’m Dawn,” the girl said, aware of Buffy’s staring. “I don’t go here, if that’s what you were wondering.”
“I’m Buffy,” she replied.
“Oh!” Dawn said, realizing who the blonde was. “You’re Joyce’s daughter.”
“Yep, and you are Spike’s date for tonight,” Buffy responded. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Dawn let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not really his date. My mom and Giles have been friends for a long time. Actually, you might know her, Mrs. Calendar?”
Buffy’s jaw dropped. “She’s your mom?”
Dawn nodded. “Yeah. I’m just glad I go to a private school. It would suck mucho if I had my mom as my teacher.”
Buffy chuckled. “Yeah, it would. Hey, just so you know, Spike’s looking for you,” she remembered.
“Oh, thanks,” Dawn said. “I was gonna go find him now. It was nice meeting you. I’ll see ya around.”
“You too,” Buffy called out as Dawn exited the bathroom.
Buffy quickly used the bathroom and washed her hands. She was checking her make-up and hair in the mirror when door opened revealing Cordelia and Harmony in their full-on skankiness.
“Hi,” Buffy said with a false smile. “Do you need something?”
Cordelia stood there in a dangerously low-cut black silk dress, her arms crossed with Harmony behind her same dress from April Fools. “Don’t think I’m not on to you.”
“O-kay,” Buffy said slowly turning around to face them. “And what exactly does that mean?”
Harmony scoffed. “Please, like you’re not totally stealing Blondie Bear from me.”
Buffy couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m stealing Spike from you? First off, Spike broke up with you. Get it? You’re not together anymore. Second, I don’t like Spike.” She shook her head in wonder. “What is with everyone?” She asked out loud. “When did I ever say I liked him?”
Cordelia lips curled cruelly. “Just know, I’m fully prepared to out you as the slutty whore you are.”
“Yeah!” Was Harmony’s brilliant input
This was getting ridiculous. “Really?” Buffy questioned, her eyebrows raised in amusement.
Cordelia leaned closer. “Figures you don’t remember,” she hissed. “Last year at UCLA’s Halloween party,” she paused as Buffy’s eyes widened in recognition.
“Yeah.” Cordelia smirked. “I was there, and I saw you and your even sluttier cousin. You make a great stripper by the way, have you ever thought of that as a career option?” She asked, her voice dripping with mockery. “Just remember… one word and everyone knows the truth.”
Buffy’s jaw clenched with fury. How could this be happening? She’d had her fill of petty, vindictive bitches, and now this one could ruin her new life here.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Buffy told her.
Harmony laughed. “What are you gonna do about it, Slutty?”
Cordelia brushed an imagery piece of lint from Buffy’s dress. “So,” she said casually, “think about what I said, okay Muffy?” Cordelia spun on her heel and walked out. Harmony followed, but not without giving Buffy one last sneer.
For a moment Buffy just stood there fuming. She shook her head, trying clear her thoughts. Stop, she told herself, just go out and have fun.
She walked out of the bathroom where she nearly ran into her friends. “Hey,” she greeted them, smiling. “What’s up?”
“We’re gonna head to my house now, ready?” Willow asked, her arm looped through Oz’s.
Buffy quickly glanced over at the dance floor where Harmony and Cordelia were huddled, then her gaze flickered over to Spike and Dawn dancing.
A swift pang of…something shot through her. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
Anya grinned at her. “Goody! Time for the after party where there will be many delicious fruity drinks.”
Buffy let out a weak laugh. “A drink sounds good right about now.”
“Okay then,” Xander announced, rubbing his hands together. “Onwards to the limo!”
*************
An hour later, Buffy gulped down her third Cosmopolitan, and hummed in pleasure as the sweet liquid slid down her throat.
“Another Cosmo, bartender!” She shouted over the music to Xander.
He gave her a wary look, but complied. “Just don’t overdo it, Buff.”
Buffy made a ‘pshaw’ noise. “I’m no lightweight.” With a new drink in hand she wandered over to the couch, plopping down between Willow and Oz.
“Okay spill, Wills,” Buffy began in a serious tone, “how did you get your parents to let you have a party while they’re in LA?”
Willow fidgeted a little. “Um, they don’t exactly know I’m having a party right now,” she confessed.
Buffy stared at her friend in shock. “Willow Rosenberg!” Then her shock morphed into a grin. “Good girl.”
Willow laughed. “Buffy, are you okay?”
“I think she’s a little drunk,” Oz commented.
Buffy ignored both the question and comment. “I’m gonna go find Fred,” she declared and slightly wobbled her way down the hall.
She passed Willow’s room, then her parents’ bedroom looking for the thin brunette. “Fred?” She called out, wondering if she’d missed her.
Buffy then heard a muffled noise and then a squeak. Frowning, she turned to the closed guestroom. “Fred?” She put her ear up against the door, listening carefully.
After a few moments, Buffy concluded she was hearing things and turned back around to the kitchen. She walked in to witness Xander and Anya playing tonsil hockey, much to her disgust. “Ack! Stop it!”
Xander pulled away with reluctance. “Did you find Fred?” He asked the blonde as she plopped down on a stool.
“No,” she replied with a pout. Her fingers danced over the rim of her glass. “You know, I’ve always wondered what’s in a Cosmo. I mean, I’ve had one before, but I never really think about what goes in it. I just think ‘yummy’. O-or what’s in a Martini? And why is there an olive?” Buffy looked up to see the couple had resumed making out.
“Never mind,” she muttered. Reaching over the bar, Buffy poured vodka into her glass. “There,” she said with nod of her head. “All better.”
Standing up, Buffy gulped the vodka, choking as it burned down her throat. “Whoa, that was definitely not a Cosmo!” she yelled to nobody in particular.
Buffy wandered back into the living room only to see Willow and Oz were now engrossed in each other as well. She let out a little sigh. “Well, more for me then,” she said to herself and took another gulp.
“Red? You here?”
That voice, Buffy thought. She walked over the foyer and saw that Spike had arrived. He was putting his jacket on the coat hanger still calling for Willow.
“Oh.” He stopped calling at the sight of Buffy. “It’s you.”
“Yep, it’s me. Buffy Summers,” she confirmed, taking another sip of drink.
“Where’s Red?” Spike asked, heading into the kitchen.
“They’re all busy making out,” Buffy told him, and then frowned. “Well, except for Fred, I can’t find her,” she paused, “or Wesley either.”
Spike raised his eyebrow at her. “They’re probably off together,” he said slowly as if she was stupid.
“Duh,” Buffy replied, trying to cover up that it hadn’t occurred to her.
Spike poured himself a shot of Jack Daniels and knocked it back. Buffy watched his throat muscles move as he swallowed. She noticed that a drop of liquor was hanging on his lip, almost calling out to her.
Buffy shook her head, trying to clear it. No, she told herself, that’s not what it’s doing. “I’m bored,” she announced. The house was quieter than she remembered; someone must have turned the music down.
Spike looked around, seeing Oz and Willow on the couch, obviously busy. “Let’s play a game,” he suggested and then added, “in a different room.”
Buffy’s eyes narrowed and she looked at Spike for one long moment before shrugging. “Okay, but I’m not taking my clothes off,” she warned.
Spike snorted. “Like I want to see your skinny self.” He grabbed a bottle of liquor and led the way to Willow’s guest room.
“Um, I don’t think that’s-“
Spike quickly slammed the door shut. “Bloody hell!” He cursed.
“-a good idea,” Buffy finished.
Spike glared at her. “Thank you, Summers.” His voice oozed sarcasm.
Buffy waved her hand at him. “Lead the way, Spikey.”
Spike walked down the hallway, pausing at the basement door. “We could go downstairs.”
Buffy shook her head negative. “Blech. There’re bugs down there. Nuh-uh,” she told him, “no way.”
“Fine,” Spike agreed, and turned to a set of doors. “Office it is.” He opened the glass doors and ushered Buffy in.
She attempted to sit in the swivel chair but missed, falling flat on her butt. “Oof!”
“Come on, Summers,” Spike said impatiently. His eyes burned into hers accusingly. “Are you drunk?”
“No!” Buffy snapped in a petulant voice. “I’m just a little tipsy.”
Spike didn’t believe her, but instead he just pulled out the bottle he’d taken and a deck of cards. “So Summers, how’s your poker face?”
*********
“Fuckin-A, Summers. You’re not supposed to grin like an idiot when you have a good hand!” Spike exploded.
Buffy just giggled harder, dropping her hand. “I-I’m sorry! It’s-“ She gasped for breath, trying to calm her laughter.
“How many shots have you had now, pet?” Spike asked in a gentler voice.
“Only two,” Buffy said defensively. “Plus two more and the Cosmos were yummy.”
Spike rolled his eyes. “Good god. Alright, you’re officially cut off.”
Buffy tilted her head in confusion. “Did it hurt?”
Spike exhaled loudly. “Oh boy,” he muttered, tugging the bottle from her hand.
Buffy stubbornly pulled back. “No! Spikey let go!”
Spike pulled back. “No, Buffy, let go. Come on, be a luv, and just…let go,” he said soothingly and then shook his head at himself. “Good, I sound like a pansy.”
“Pansy!” Buffy sputtered in laughter, rolling on the ground. “You’re a pansy!”
“Okay, Summers, up you go,” Spike said, pushing himself up off the ground, extending a hand to Buffy.
She ignored his hand or maybe didn’t notice it, Spike wasn’t sure, and continued laughing manically.
“This is the fuckin’ last time I’m playing any sort of drinking game with you,” he muttered, leaning down to pull the tiny blonde up.
Buffy, however, had other plans. She grasped his hand, and yanked hard.
Spike tumbled on top off her. “Bloody soddin’ hell,” he groaned, trying to prop himself up.
Buffy half-heartedly tried to heave Spike off her. “You should get offa me,” she slurred, pushing at his chest.
“Well it was your brilliant idea to pull me, you stupid chit!” Spike retorted.
Buffy scowled. “I’m not a chit, I’m a woman. And you fell on me!”
Spike stared down at Buffy, his eyes meeting her slightly unfocused green ones. Instantly, he was struck by the sweet pink of her lips, the heat of her skin. “Buffy,” he murmured, swiping a few stray strands of golden hair from her face.
“Spike,” she echoed, her eyes drifting to his lips. They were nice lips, she thought distractedly, soft, nice lips. “You should kiss me,” she half-whispered.
Spike needed no prompting. His lips descended on hers softly, searchingly. When she didn’t pull away, he deepened the kiss, tracing her luscious lips with his tongue.
Buffy parted her lips, eagerly anticipating the heat of Spike’s mouth. Their tongues danced, and she curled an arm around his neck, pulling him closer.
This is what she wanted. This is what she needed, right here, right now. She succumbed to the pleasure of Spike’s mouth, mewling slightly.
Spike nearly came undone at the sounds coming from Buffy. She was so hot, her mouth scorching him with delectable wet heat and purely Buffy taste mixed with the slight bitter taste of alcohol.
Oh right, his mind faintly remembered, drinking, lots of drinking. A very drunk Buffy.
With every ounce of power in him, Spike grudgingly pulled his mouth from Buffy’s and sat up. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He couldn’t go any further with her, not while she was drunk like no other.
Gradually, Buffy realized Spike had stopped kissing her. His oh so pleasant lips and tongue were gone. “Hmm,” she mumbled. “Spike? Why’d ya stop? Don’t stop.”
“Because, Summers,” Spike began, unable to resist touch her hair. “You’re drunk.”
Buffy struggled to sit up. “So?” She asked sluggishly.
“I’m not taking bloody advantage of you, it’s not right,” Spike explained edgily.
A frown settled on Buffy’s face. “I want you take advantage of me,” she insisted, her words slurred.
Spike shut his eyes, sucking in a breath. “No, you don’t. I don’t.” He stood up, and put his combat boots back on, and grabbed the reminder of the bottle and the cards. “Night, pet.”
Buffy watched with her mouth open as Spike walked out of the room. What? She thought, incredibly confused. Everything was great and then all the sudden he leaves?
“Dammit,” she grumbled, flopping back on the carpet. Within seconds, she was snoring away, sleeping the sleep of the very drunk.
A/N: 1. the line with where buffy says 'did it hurt?' comes from the actual line in Beer Bad, Season 4, when Xander tells her she's cut off.
2. Since school is starting very, very soon :( My updates will probably be once a week. In a couple of weeks, I'll have a better idea of which day.
Thanks,
Ria