Chapter 7: Remember When
After Buffy thoroughly kicked Spike’s lily white ass at the gym, the pair had seamlessly slipped into their old-age custom of going to the diner across the street and dissing each other’s taste in music.
The diner had one of those old jukeboxes and Buffy skipped over and placed a quarter in, picking a random Britney Spears song.
She joined Spike at the booth with a smug smile on her face. She wasn’t a fan of Britney, but seeing Spike’s face as the saccharine music filled the diner was priceless.
“Bloody hell, you did not just pick Britney fuckin’ Spears did you?”
Buffy shrugged, the smile never leaving her face, “It’s way better than the Sex Pollies or whatever.”
Spike looked enraged, “It’s the Sex Pistols, and don’t you forget it!”
He muttered something under his breath about no appreciation for fine music as he opened the menu.
Buffy rolled her eyes as she opened her own menu, studying the breakfast choices.
Amazing, she noted, how they could fall back into their old habits even after four years apart. Spike always seemed to be there
In high school she saw him constantly and it was oddly a small comfort knowing she could always count on Spike for some sarcastic remark. But, Buffy reminded herself, comfort is what got you into this mess.
“So,” Spike asked, breaking through her thoughts, “Decided on what you’re getting?”
“Um…” She eyed her menu and sighed. “Either the Pancake Deluxe or the Eggs ‘N’ Bacon.”
Spike scoffed, “What? You can’t handle the Triple Stack?” He glanced up from his menu to see Buffy frowning.
“I can! You’re the one who hurled after eating it, remember?,” She retorted, followed by a muttered, “Lightweight.”
“Lightweight! Oy, I can drink you under the table till your soddin’ unconscious!” Spike shot back and then broke out in a grin.“I know it for a fact Summers, you’re the lightest weight of all. Halloween party? Junior year? Ring any bells?”
Buffy’s eyes widened comically as she shook her head vehemently. “NO! We do not need to bring that up!”
Spike smirked evilly and rubbed his hands together comically, “As I recall, it was at Red’s house while her parents were out at some protest…”
Cosmopolitans are yummy, Buffy decided before downing her fourth fruity drink.
After the trick-or-treating fun, Willow had invited everyone back to her house since her parents were in LA for the night. With Buffy having already confirmed with her mom that she’d be staying over at Willow’s house, she was free to party.
Spike had offered to mix drinks and when she demanded something yummy and fruity, he complied, providing her with the stream of pretty pink drinks.
“Come on Spikey, give me another!” She whined as she slipped off her stool.
“NO,” Spike answered with a roll of his eyes. “You’re completely pissed.”
Buffy stumbled, clutching the counter for support.
“No I’m not!” she insisted with a frown, “I’m not mad at anybody.”
Spike walked around to the where Buffy was leaning against the counter and hoisted her into a chair.
“It means drunk, Summers,” Spike explained with a scowl. Buffy stared at him for a moment with a blank look on her face before leaning over to snatch one of the vodka bottles.
“I’m taking this,” She declared with a huff and stalked off, swaying slightly.
She wandered over to where Anya and Cordelia were having a loud discussion about whether thongs were overrated or underrated. Buffy stood there, taking a swig of vodka before giving her opinion.
“Thongs rock!” She half-yelled and then added as an after thought, “Though sometimes they get stuck in my ass crack.”
Cordelia snorted which caused both Anya and Buffy to break into peals of laughter. Apparently Buffy wasn’t the only one who was drunk.
Buffy stumbled past Fred and Gunn who were making out in the corner of the living room, the pair completely oblivious to their major PDA-ing.
“Blech,” Buffy shuddered as she witnessed the couple’s vigorous uses of their tongues. Seeing the kissing reminded Buffy that she had her own boyfriend. She was pretty sure that he was in the Rosenbergs’ rec room watching the college football game.
She slowly made her way down the stairs, only slipping once. At the bottom she took another gulp of vodka before throwing herself on the couch where everyone else was entranced by the game.
“Go! Catch it dammit!” Angel yelled and then jumped in surprise as an arm flung out and hit him in the face. He turned to see his girlfriend sitting there, glassy eyed and not just a little drunk. She held a bottle in her hands and Angel wondered whether Spike was manning the drinks anymore.
“Buff?” He said gently and Buffy gave him a bright smile.
“Hey Angel,” She slurred, “Guess what? Spikey gave me my own bottle!” She attempted to sit up, but flopped back on the couch. “Oof.”
Angel’s eyes narrowed but he helped Buffy sit up and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes.
“Sweetheart, been hitting the bottle a little hard, huh?” He asked, slightly amused.
Even though a drunken Buffy wasn’t a good thing, she was just too adorable.
Buffy tilted her head and pouted, “I didn’t hit the bottle!” She gave a little giggle, “God, you and Spike are weird. He thinks pissed means drunk. Loser.”
She tilted the bottle back and took another mouthful, shuddering as the burning liquid slid down her throat.
“Buffy, maybe that’s enough for now,” Angel said gently and attempted to remove the bottle from her hands. Buffy shook her head and leaned over to whisper in his ear.
“Let’s go upstairs.”
Angel tensed, debating between following his girlfriend and doing the right thing. His brain won out and he shook his head.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea right now,” He spoke carefully. A look of surprise and hurt flashed across Buffy’s face, and which then turned into a glare.
“Fine. See if I care,” She snapped and unsteadily made her way back up the stairs before Angel could say anything else.
“Stupid boyfriend,” Buffy grumbled as she sat on the couch, nursing her bottle of vodka. Who was he to turn her down? She pouted at the blank wall.
“Well, well, well,” A British voice drawled. Buffy rolled her eyes.
“What are you doing up here without your honey, Summers?”
“He’s being stupid,” She sulked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Spike let out a laugh and sat down next to her with his beer.
“Well I could have told you that,” Spike said in a ‘duh’ tone of voice and Buffy glared at him, “Shut up Billy!”
Spike chuckled at Buffy’s slurred her words. She was utterly drunk face and what a sight it was.
“Exactly how much alcohol have you had, luv?” Spike asked with a wary glance at her bottle.
“I’m not your ‘luv’,” Buffy replied customarily. “And I’ve only had…” Buffy faltered as she stared at the bottle and tried to count how many Cosmos she’d had.
“This and three drinks!” She said smugly, “How ‘bout you?”
“Two beers. Summers, I think that’s enough for tonight, say bye-bye,” Spike said as he plucked the bottle out of her hands and held it up out of reach.
Buffy gasped and fixed her gaze on the bottle, “Gimme!”
“If you want, come and get it,” Spike taunted and chuckled as Buffy lunged forward.
She reached up, trying to grab the bottle, but in her tipsy state was having trouble gaining the balance and coordination to stretch her arm far enough.
“Grr…” She growled and lunged again but completely missed her target, falling intointo Spike’s lap.
“Oof,” She mumbled into his lap, her voice muffled. She was silent for a moment and Spike uneasily shifted, uncomfortable with the intimacy of her face near his crotch. He swallowed, hoping she couldn’t feel his hard on. Bloody hell, he wondered, why was he reacting to Buffy fuckin’ Summers?
“Hey,” Buffy said slowly, “Where’s your costume?”
“You notice that now?” Spike asked incredulously.
Buffy, with a little bit of help from Spike, managed to remove her face from his lap and slouched against the couch once again.
She ignored his question and continued, “How can you not have a costume? It’s tradition!”
“Yeah,” Spike replied, “Not really one for tradition. Besides, Halloween’s just a time to get candy and put on something ridiculous. I’ll pass, thank you very much.”
“No,” Buffy said struggling to sit up straight, “It’s ‘come as you aren’t’ night!”
Spike blinked, “Meaning?”
Buffy motioned to her costume consisting of a little white dress and apron, finished with a red cape.
“You’re supposed to wear something you aren’t!”
Spike stared at her, wondering if all the alcohol had completely obliterated all of her brain cells.
“And I care because…”
Buffy tried to scowl, but it quickly turned into a grin. She stood up quickly and the room spun, causing her to grab a hold of Spike’s shoulder.
“I have an idea! We can find you a costume!”
Spike balked, “No, Summers I’m not wearing any soddin’ costume.” Buffy ignored his protest and tugged on his hand, pulling him with her.
He sighed, “Bloody hell, this is a stupid idea! It’s almost midnight anyway.” He stopped resisting Buffy’s pull and she tumbled, bringing Spike with her.
“Ugh,” Buffy squeezed out as Spike’s body lay sprawled on top of her.
“Oof, you’re heavy,” She slurred, trying to push him off with little success.
“You bloody idiot,” Spike snarled.
Buffy began giggling like a mad woman when she realized how pathetic they must look struggling to stand up and repeatedly collapsing. Spike stared down at Buffy’s face and open mouth and couldn’t help but start to laugh as well.
Then Buffy went rigid beneath him, her face pale.
“Oh,” She managed, her stomach sloshing dangerously, “I think I’m gonna be sick.”
Spike’s eyes widened and with a stream of curses, he scrambled off her. She ran to the bathroom down the hall and barely made it to the toilet before her stomach emptied out.
Buffy’s face burned and she closed her eyes.
“Oh my god, I cannot believe you just told the whole diner about my one night fling with alcohol.”
Spike chuckled at her utter embarrassment. “Come on luv, it wasn’t that bad.”
Buffy whimpered, “Not that bad? Spike, I was hung over for like two days. And once again, my mother grounded me.” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, “Why is it I always got grounded with you around? Were you setting me up?”
Spike feigned an innocent expression, “Why would I do that?”
Buffy’s eyes expanded and she gasped, “You did all that on purpose!” She gaped at him, “You’re evil!”
Spike let out a low, growly laugh. “That’s why you love me Summers,” He said, his voice husky.
Buffy swallowed, a blush, once again, working it’s way up her neck. Red alert, Buffy’s mind screamed and she realized, with no small amount of horror, that she’d leaned forward sometime in the course of their little storytelling and now their faces were dangerously close.
“Uh,” She let out oh-so-eloquently, staring into Spike’s eyes which were a deadly shade of navy blue.
The high-pitched ringing of her phone brought her out of her stupor and Buffy quickly answered it, grateful for the interruption.
“Hello?” Buffy greeted eagerly.
“Hey Buffy, how are you?”
Buffy instantly drew back and reclined against the upholstery, avoiding Spike’s gaze.
“Hi Riley!”
*************************
The following afternoon, Buffy sat in one of the comfy chairs at the round table in the Magic Box, twirling her pen and watching as a tall blonde wearing a white translucent dress gushed about Spike’s book.
“Omigosh, Jake is so hot!” she gushed. “Seriously, even though you can’t actually see him, you can totally picture him!”
Buffy snorted at the blonde’s squeals and tried to focus on Dawn’s school forms.
The book signing had only been going on for an hour, but already the line was looping through the store and out the door. Her gaze was fixated on Spike as he gave the blonde a smile and thanked her. As soon as the blonde was out of his sight he shook his head, mouthing something to himself. Buffy smirked and returned to her papers.
Just then the back door of the Magic Box swung open to reveal Anya and Xander. Buffy gave them a smile, “Hey, you’re back!”
The couple ignored her greeting and sat down opposite her, in the midst of a heated discussion.
“Ahn, I’m sorry but I have no control over Jesse’s business trips!” Xander said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Anya pouted, “But you should, dammit! It’s our wedding!” She ran her hands through her currently blonde hair, examining her wedding planner.
“Now what are we going to do? Buffy has no one to walk down the aisle with and you no longer have a best man!”
“Uh,” Buffy waved, “Buffy’s sitting right here.”
Xander looked up and gave her a strained smile, “Hey Buff, good to see you again.”
“Likewise. What’s up?”
Anya rolled her eyes, “Xander’s ‘friend’ here decided he needed to go away on business the week of the wedding and now Xander needs a new best man.”
“Ahn,” Xander said soothingly, “The wedding is still two months away. We’ll find someone- I’ll just ask one of the guys.”
“What guy?” Anya asked, gesturing to her chart. “Everyone left already has an important part in the wedding!”
Buffy studied the chart and noticed Oz, a close friend of Xander’s, was listed as the ring bearer.
“What about Oz? You can always have a cousin or something be the ring bearer,” She suggested.
Xander shook his head, “Oz said he is too far away to commute from Tibet to Sunnydale for all the practices and best man is too much commitment for him. Plus there’s a speech involved.”
Buffy looked impressed, “Oz said all that?”
Xander’s lips quirked, “Actually, all he said is, and I quote, ‘too much pressure.’”
Buffy nodded, “That’s Oz all right.”
Anya sighed loudly, “That’s great that Oz is living up to his one-liners but I have a serious issue here!”
“Anya, just bump one of the ushers to best man,” Xander said impatiently, “It’ll be fine!”
Anya examined the chart once again and then spoke. “Who?”
Xander took the sheet and eyed the names.
“Well, we can’t move the couples…wait!” Xander brightened, “Spike!”
Buffy blanched, “S-Spike?”
Xander nodded excitedly, “Sure, you and Spike go way back. So my cousin Jack will now be paired with Hallie.”
“That’s not so bad,” Anya admitted and took out a sharpie, rearranging the people.
Xander jumped up, “I’m going to go ask him right now.”
“Spike and I won’t have to hang out a lot will we?” Buffy ventured.
Anya gave her a bright smile, “Of course you will! You’re my maid of honor and Spike’s the best man. It’s like you’re the second couple only you’re dating Riley and all. You two will sit together at all the parties and you get to give speeches together! This is so much fun!” Anya clapped gleefully.
“Great,” Buffy muttered, casting a glance at Spike and Xander, who both looked happy. “Just great.”
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Author's Chapter Notes:
thanks for all the reviews and thanks to my beta! hope you like this chapter!
Be sure to review! :)
Be sure to review! :)