Ch.2 Who Are You
The rest of the short trip to Spike’s apartment was made in a comfortable silence. Each too lost in their thoughts. They parked her car in the garage just like he promised and made their way upstairs to his home.
“Make yourself at home Pet.” Spike told her when she entered the door. “I’ll give you the grand tour.” He chuckled.
It wasn’t a large apartment. The entrance was a small living room with an old couch, wooden coffee table, and a medium sized television. Buffy furrowed her brow when she noticed there were no pictures or keepsakes adorning the plain white walls or available space. Spike picked up on her thoughts and quickly explained.
“Just came back from London. Haven’t really finished unpacking.” He looked around the room. “Don’t rightly think I ever will though.” He said more to himself than out loud.
He led her through a tiny hallway. To her right was a basic kitchen with a bar top and two wooden stools. In front and to the left of her were three closed doors. He indicated the one in front of her as his own bedroom. The door right next to her was the bathroom and after that his spare room.
“I know it’s not much, but right now it’s home. You can use this room here.”
The room consisted of a single bed against one wall, a tall wooden dresser against the opposite wall, and an array of marked boxes.
“It’s a very nice apartment. Thanks for letting me stay here…” Her eyes widened with realization. “Oh my gosh. I don’t know your name.”
Spike’s heart fell at her statement, and he had to remind himself that he looked nothing like the nerdy poetry writing ponce he used to be when he knew her three years prior.
“My name is Spike.”
“Spike? What kind of name is that?” She giggled.
“It’s my name alright.” He said angrily.
He was getting frustrated because he wanted her to remember while at the same time not, lest she remember him and turn away. He wouldn’t be able to stand it if she wasn’t the same girl he remembered. It was a double-edged sword from his point of view.
He put her bag on the bed and led her to the couch. She sat down and watched him disappear into the bathroom and reappear with a first aid kit. She didn’t mean to make him angry. That was the furthest thing from her mind, but she was sure he had been joking about his name.
He returned a few minutes later with a wet washcloth and a bag of ice. When he handed her the ice, their hands touched and she felt as if sparks flew between them.
'Very clichéd Buffy.' She smiled inwardly.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh at your name.” She looked up at him through her lashes. “I’m Buffy Summers.”
He almost said, “I know,” but bit his tongue.
“It’s alright Pet. It is an unusual name, I know.” He smiled then held the washcloth near her split lip. “May I?” He asked her.
She nodded and he wiped the dried blood from her lip and chin. He took a seat beside her on the couch and began mending his hands. He was curious as to why this young woman who he knew to be so kind and well liked was attacked. He wanted to know why she couldn’t go home. He tossed the idea of asking around for a few minutes until his curiosity got the better of him.
“Luv, if you don’t mind my asking, why can’t you go home tonight?”
Buffy was taken by surprise. She didn’t think he would ask her. If someone else had asked, she would’ve avoided the subject altogether, but she felt a connection with Spike. That maybe he was just as lonely as she was. She started to think it would help to finally talk to someone about her life, and who better than the handsome stranger who saved her.
After a moment of silence he felt like a complete git for asking, and was about to take it back when she spoke.
“Are you sure you want to know? It’s kind of a long story.”
“Only if you want to share Buffy. I’m a really good listener though.” A small smile graced his lips.
She nodded then looked up at him. She studied his features from the scar through his left eyebrow, to the ocean blue of his eyes, his sharp cheekbones, to the curve of his lips. He looked so familiar to her, but at the same time just what he was… somebody she’d only just met.
Buffy sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“When I was twelve my parents died in a car accident.” She could feel the tears coming, but she just wanted to get through this without all the drama. She just wanted to let it out and tell someone.
“I’m sorry Luv. My mum died when I was ten and my dad not to long after that.”
“Wow. I’m sorry. What a coincidence though. I wish we didn’t have that in common.” Buffy felt more comfortable now that she knew he understood the pain of losing a parent, especially both.
Spike had long since let go of the fact that he was left without parents when he was so young, but he truly felt for this girl. He could already tell that her experiences were far worse than his.
“My only surviving relatives are my uncle Luke and his wife, my aunt Lilah. They took me in and that’s when I moved here from L.A.”
“Well we have that in common too Pet. My uncle took me in as well.”
She frowned a bit, but continued. “Things started out okay, but when I reached high school that all changed.” Buffy paused and took another deep breath.
Spike tried to his best to keep a straight face and not let his emotions show. He knew that one of things he hated most was pity. He didn’t want people to feel bad for him; he just wanted somebody to listen. That was part of why he changed who he was. He had a feeling that Buffy was the same way.
“Lilah isn’t as bad as Luke. She talks a lot of crap and tries to bring me down in everything I do, but honestly the worse thing she does is turn the other cheek when it comes to Luke. Isn’t it sad that I’m at my happiest when my only surviving blood relative is away on a business trip? Too bad he doesn’t do that often enough.”
Spike didn’t think she was looking for an answer, so he remained silent tilting his head to the side showing her he was ready to hear more and was interested in what she had to say.
“I’m always on edge when Luke is home. He hates everything about me. If I so much as breathe the wrong way he’s in my face… grabbing my arms. He tries to make me think I deserve his punishments. I don’t know why he hates me so much. I’ve always been good. Done what I was told.” She paused again. “He hasn’t beat me that many times, but once was already too much.”
Spike placed his hand over Buffy’s that was resting on the couch between them.
“But lately… it’s getting worse. He’s been threatening me more. Telling me Lilah’s not enough anymore. It scares me the way he leers at me sometimes. He told… he told me… if I came home tonight I’d regret it. But the way he said it, was like he thought that I would, even if I found a place to stay tonight. Like I want his torture. I would’ve slept in my car if I had to.”
Spike’s anger rose with every word out of her sweet little mouth. He couldn’t believe that this was the life she was living when he thought her to be such a happy girl all this time.
“He’s hasn’t…touched you before, right?” Spike knew he had to help her. He couldn’t know all of these things going on in her life now and be able to sleep at night.
“No. Not yet. But I’m scared that’s it’s going to come to that.”
“Bollocks! I’d rip his bloody hands off before he even got within five feet of you.”
Buffy was happy to hear that someone cared about what happened to her that much to say that, but she didn’t want Spike to get hurt because of her.
“He’s leaving on a business trip tomorrow. Not even Lilah knows where.”
“Have you told anyone about all this? Someone who could help?”
“I tried a couple of times. God forbid the perfect, well-known, and well liked Luke and Lilah Summers ever do such a thing.” She said sarcastically. “No one believed me. They thought I was just looking for attention because of my parents. So I gave up.” She finished dejectedly.
“I’m sorry Luv.” He squeezed her hand, and Buffy felt like she did the right thing by telling him. Like a weight that she’d been carrying was lifted from her shoulders. “No one should have to live through this. You’re very strong Buffy.”
“Thanks Spike. Thank you for listening, I really do feel better now. But I’m getting out of there soon. I’m eighteen now and high school is over. I’ve been working at the Double Meat Palace saving up my money to get out of this godforsaken town. I’m leaving to a place where no one has ever heard of me, or Lilah and Luke Summers.” She said with determination in her voice.
Spike knew he’d only spent a couple of hours with Buffy, but he could already tell he was falling for her. Fast.
“Sounds like a plan.” He glanced over at the time on his cable box and decided the long night had to come to an end, even though he wanted nothing more than to sit and talk with Buffy and find out more about the girl she had become.
”Well Pet, if it’s okay with you I’m ready to get some kip.” When Buffy just stared at him he explained.
“Sleep.” He chuckled.
“Oh.” She giggled. “Yeah, that’s fine. I’m pretty tired myself.”
“I’ll make breaky in the morning.” He continued before she had a chance to protest. “Please let me. I love to cook.”
“Okay if you insist. ‘Cause me and cooking are un-mixy things.” They stood up, said their goodnights with a quick hug, and made their way to their respective bedrooms.
Spike had gotten changed and sat up in his bed against the headboard. He found his old notebook in which he used to write his poetry. Feeling nostalgic, even though he thought his work was awful; he decided to look through it. He placed his glasses upon his face now that his contacts were put away, and began to read.
As he was reminded of the person he used to be, Spike started to think about the first time he truly noticed Buffy and what a beautiful person she was. It was three years ago. He was eighteen and graduation was around the corner.
'The final bell had rung indicating the end of the school day. He was at his locker putting his book away when another teenaged boy called out to him.
“Hey Taylor! You ready for some more fun.” The big dumb jock laughed. “Well, maybe more fun for me.”
Next thing he knew he was being pushed head first into the locker almost breaking his glasses. Again.
“Oh come on you retarded loser. Fight back!” The boy said while pushing him repeatedly into the locker. He balled his fists, and was just about to fight back for once, when he was spun around and almost in slow motion watched a fist coming at his face.
“Larry! No! Stop!” A tiny blond girl ran in front of him, and the big jock dropped his fist.
“Buffy, what are you doing? Are you crazy?” Cordy asked her, mouth agape. “Come on Larry.”
Larry followed his girlfriend Cordelia Chase down the hall to her locker.
Buffy turned around to find William with his head ducked down, glasses askew, and his unruly long brown curls falling over his forehead.
“Hey, are you okay?” She asked softly. He nodded. His cheeks were flushed with embarrassment and he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. “Hey, they’re a bunch of idiots you know. Don’t let them get to you. Besides you’re the lucky one.”
His eyes shot up to hers at her declaration. He cocked his head to the side, his brow furrowed in question.
“You’re almost out of here. I still have three more years.” There was pure sadness in her eyes.
He was about to ask her for her name, when someone shouted to her from down the hall.
“Buffy! Come on let’s go!” He turned his head to see Cordy with Larry’s arm around her waiting for their friend.
“Coming Cordy!” She looked back at him with an apology written on her face. “Sorry, I got to go.”
“Buffy!”
“What Cordy!” She yelled as she ran towards her friend.
William stood in the Sunnydale High School hallway and he couldn’t take his eyes off the spot that the girl who just saved him vacated.
“William?”
“Uncle Giles.” He said in a refined British accent. He turned to see his uncle, the school librarian, coming towards him.
“Are you alright?” His uncle asked upon seeing him up close. “Good lord, what happened?”
“Nothing” He replied to quickly.
Giles was a very intelligent and perceptive man in his late forties. He had a feeling he knew what had just transpired, but wasn’t going to keep questioning his late sister’s son.
“Was that Buffy Summers?” He paused and continued when William didn’t answer. “It’s a shame such a sweet and bright girl associates herself with such an indecent sort. Oh well,” he sighed. “Come along then William. Time to go.”
William just rolled his eyes and followed his uncle out of the school.’
Spike turned off his beside lamp and let sleep claim him. He was a different person now, and he would help Buffy. Maybe she would learn to like him just as much as he liked her.
Buffy sat on the end of the bed staring at the boxes on the floor. She had been thinking about everything that happened that day, and felt a surge of hope that things would change for the better now that she made a new friend as nice as Spike.
She was just about to get under the covers when a diploma sticking out of one of the boxes caught her eye. She knew she shouldn’t be nosy, but she really wanted to know his real name.
She reached over and picked it up. She was surprised to see it was from Sunnydale High School. She quickly opened it to reveal a name she never would have imagined to see. A small gasp escaped her lips, and she had to say the name out loud to truly believe it.
“William Taylor.” She smiled wide, and placed it back in the box, then got into bed. The last thing she thought of before she drifted off to sleep was that her life was definitely changing and for the better. She couldn’t be more excited for morning to come.
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