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Part Two: Explanations


In the end, they compromised. He felt odd, being
half dressed in a houseful of people, so she allowed
him to fasten the bottom three buttons after securing
his promise that she would be allowed to UN-button
upon request.

They joined the others in the kitchen. Buffy sat down
and ate an entire slice of pizza in the time it took
Spike to fill a glass with ice and pour soda for her.

When she was halfway through a second slice, she
looked up and caught him watching her. "What?"
she asked, swallowing.

"I just don't understand it," he said, shaking his
head. "You're such a little thing. Where do you
put all the food you consume?"

She shrugged and winked at him. "Fast metabolism,
baby. Plus...I get a lot of exercise."

Xander wadded up a paper napkin and tossed it
into the trash can. "This is nothing," he said. "You
should see her on all-you-can-eat barbecue rib night
at the Steak Shack. She's a wonder to behold."

"Very funny," Buffy muttered.

"Yeah, but it's true," Willow piped up. "The waiters
used to take bets on how many ribs she'd polish
off."

Buffy looked up, horrified. "They didn't!"

"Buffy's right," Xander confirmed. "I'M the one who
took the bets." She threw a piece of sausage at him,
which he ducked. "Saved up the down payment on
my car, thanks to her."

"Oh, shut up," she grumbled good naturedly.

"All right, that's enough," Spike said. "Before this
turns ugly, explain the ritual of the slumber party," he
requested, sitting down and pulling Buffy onto his lap.

"Oh! Let me!" Anya said, raising one hand. "I learned
all about it on the Internet." She folded her hands in
front of her, like a schoolchild answering a teacher's
question. "It's a female adolescent bonding ritual,
usually commemorating a special occasion such as
a birthday. The participants gather at a pre-appointed
time and location, bringing with them all the necessities
for being away from home overnight; such as a hairbrush,
a toothbrush, sleeping apparel, a bedroll, and a par-
ticularly cherished stuffed animal companion."

She took a deep breath, then continued.

"Although there are some deviations, the evening
usually follows a pattern of an unwritten yet traditional
schedule of events, including making annoying
and anonymous telephone calls to complete
strangers; eating a great deal of non-nutritious
food; listening to music played at an extremely
high volume, grooming each others hair and
nails; and talking behind the backs of people who
aren't present to defend themselves, usually
in a highly derisive manner."

"And let's not forget the time honored activity of
sneaking out and covering some innocent person's
house with toilet paper," Xander interjected.

Anya stared at him, offended. "Xander! I'm telling it."

He closed his mouth and gestured for her to con-
tinue.

"Now," she said, "there are certain things that will
happen without fail. At one point during the evening,
a game will be played. This game offers one the
choice of answering a question designed to embarrass
them, or performing a disgusting stunt, such as
drinking from a fish tank."

"I'll pass," Spike murmured in Buffy's ear.

"At least one guest will lose something important,
such as an earring or a dental appliance. Someone else
will have forgotten something important, such as an
asthma inhaler. Something unidentifiable will stain
the carpet; someone will accidentally eat something
they're allergic to; marginally frightening movies will
be shown, followed by not at all frightening stories
being told, some of which have achieved a legendary
status over the years."

"Ohh! Yes!" Willow interrupted. "Like the one about
the kids on lover's lane and the guy with the hook,
and..." She caught Anya's baleful glare. "...sorry."

"Well, tell me this," Spike said. "After doing all those
things...when do you actually slumber?"

Buffy, Willow, Xander and Tara all looked at him as
though he'd uttered a blasphemy.

"You don't," Anya said. "The name is a misnomer. No
one slumbers at a slumber party. If people slumber at a
slumber party, then the slumber party wasn't a very
good slumber party, as slumber parties go."

Buffy nodded. "It's a flop," she explained.

"So...what do you do in the morning?" Spike inquired.

"You get dressed, go home and go to bed," she re-
plied. "THEN....you slumber."



TBC....

Next..Part Three: Truth or Dare

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