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Thank you for reading and the lovely reviews so far.
HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA


Summary: A lot is going on in this chapter. Buffy is acting mysterious; but then again, so is Spike.

Dawn Summers proves to be more insightful then ever and Willow has some insight of her own.


Act II: ‘Romantic Things; Like Hearts & Swings’


Buffy was in a quandary (a big one)and that was no overstatement! She had made it through most of the week at school; Spike Giles hunting her down aside, without too much drama.

Here was the situation: Buffy wanted to break up with Riley; had wanted to for a while really. Since the interlude with Spike on the Bronze balcony, Buffy had been even more ‘encouraged’ to end it with Riley.

After Willow spilled her guts at lunch on Monday? Well, Buffy was set to break it off with Riley Finn, as soon as possible. The problem was, soon as possible turned out not to be quite soon enough.

For three days now, Buffy had kept both Riley and Spike at a distance. Riley had shrugged it off; Buffy’s busy; Buffy’s overwhelmed; Buffy’s this and that. The truth was, Riley was so wrapped up in himself and his life? Buffy had figured a while ago that her so-called boyfriend really didn’t notice Buffy’s life at all.

Now, Spike was another thing and that was for sure. Spike had hunted Buffy down after Trig on Tuesday; made it clear, again, that he would be more then happy to help her with her homework.

On their alternate school schedules; Buffy had Trig with Spike on Monday and Tuesday and Thursday. That was acceptable; until she found out some ‘exciting’ news on Wednesday morning that is.

When Buffy had wondered, half dazed into her English Lit class on Tuesday? Lo and behold, who was the new student in that class also? Yeah, William ‘Spike’ Giles. Apparently, Spike had his whole schedule changed and who knew when he’d pop up in another one of Buffy’s classes?

On Wednesday, when Buffy met Willow and the gang for lunch, she was acutely aware of Spike gazing at her. If Riley or any of the other snobs in her gang noticed this; they never said a word; well, Willow did, after school that day.

“He was watching you, all during lunch today and Trig yesterday, Buff,” Willow giggled wickedly. “I think its darling,” the red head added in a secretive whisper.

“Oh Buff,” Willow sighed in her most out there dream-like voice. “You are being wooed! It’s obvious; Spike is wooing you! It’s so…..”

“Willow,” Buffy mumbled as she took a bite of her crummy turkey sandwich. “You are definitely reading too damned many romance novels.”

“Am not,” Willow grumbled under her breath.

“Are too,” Buffy countered in a questionably mature tone.

“Am not and…..” Cordelia and Angel broke up the conversation when they joined the two girls.

“What’s the what?” Cordy asked with a phony smile as she reached over and snatched one of Willow’s fries.

‘Maybe you’re not reading too many romance novels my red-haired compadre,’ Buffy thought to herself. She couldn’t help but grin at the idea that what Willow said was true. William ‘Spike’ Giles, Buffy Summers’ first real beau was completely smitten with her. Now, just how did she really feel about him?


{Later that night; at the Summers’ home}


“Daddy!” Buffy called into the room that served as a private den for her father.

“What is it, honey?” Hank Summers replied from his favorite chair in ‘his’ den.

“I was wondering,” Buffy stammered shyly, suddenly more then a little embarrassed by her request. “I was wondering if you could maybe, uhm, well maybe bring the old rope swing out of the garage? You know, the one you put up for me; when I was seven, on the avocado tree in the back yard?”

Hank looked at his eldest child with a raised dark brow. “The rope swing?” He asked, suddenly intrigued, if not confused.

“Yeah,” Buffy mumbled as she looked away from her father, a bright blush on her face.

“I just, well, I thought it would be kind of fun to have the swing put up again,” Buffy offered her lame explanation. “Dawn might like it and…”

“Oh,” Hank grunted, studying Buffy’s flushed face; then he went back to reading his newspaper. “Dawn might like it, eh? Well, yes, I can do that,” he murmured, not looking at his daughter.

“I’ll go out in the garage, tonight,” Hank continued evenly. “I’ve got the swing stored on a shelf out there and it’ll need a bit of cleaning. Remember, your mother, Dawnie and I have that out of town thing to go to afternoon, right after work and school. I can put the swing up tonight, though,” he added thoughtfully.

“Thanks Daddy,” Buffy purred as she planted a light kiss on her father’s cheek. She tried to ignore the amused smile on her dad’s mouth.


“I wish you were going with us, Buffy,” Dawn sighed wistfully. The two sisters were again in Buffy’s bedroom, later that evening.

“I don’t know why I can’t stay with you,” Dawn whined with a pout.

“Honey,” Buffy began in her best older sister tone, “I turned eighteen last month and you’re not even thirteen. Mom and Dad would never leave you here alone with me; not for four whole days and three nights.”

“I know,” the younger child sighed again, a little more dramatically this time. “It’s just I don’t want to go to Frisco with Mom and Dad. Dad will be doing the business junk and Mom will drag me to theatre matinees. You know she thinks I need more culture.”

Dawn frowned, suddenly, at the thought of being dragged to museums and theatres in San Francisco. She much rather would have been home, in Sunnydale, with her idol Buffy. There was a basketball game, on Saturday and Buffy would be there with the cheer squad. This was much more to Dawn’s liking.

“I know, honey,” Buffy smiled warmly at the dark haired younger girl. “When the time comes, Mom and Dad will let you stay home, alone and all. You’ve just got to be patient and…..”

“Why did you have Dad put the swing back up?” Dawn suddenly asked Buffy. There was a sly smile on the younger sister’s pouty mouth and a mischievous gleam in her blue eyes.

“Well,” Buffy stammered as she tried to hide the pink blush on her face. “I just, I don’t know, Dawnie, it’s just…..” Buffy turned her head away from Dawn so she could focus on the suddenly interesting photos on her wall.

“It’s because of William, I mean Spike, Giles, huh?” Dawn asked with, well more like giggled.

“What!” Buffy gasped incredulously. “Why would I have Dad put up that old swing because of Will?” Buffy nearly choked on her own question, especially since Dawn had hit the nail right on the head.

“Because,” Dawn began in a smug little tone, “I saw you, back then. When William kissed you; by the swing that day. I watched you two out of my bedroom window and…..”

“Why you little sneak!” Buffy exclaimed; her voice nearly cracked from her high pitched screech.

“Buffy, come on, I was like six-year’s old for Pete’s sake!” Dawn cried defensively. “Besides, I never told anyone, honest,” her blue eyes were wide and sincere.

“Oh. Well, I know you were just a kid and all. I well, thanks, Dawnie, for not ever spilling your guts, kay?”

“No problem,” Dawn assured Buffy with a shrug of her slim shoulders. “But, I know you had Daddy put up the swing, just to put you in mind of William. I’m right, huh?”

Dawn gave Buffy a wicked grin, which only widened when the blond blushed and nodded her head. “Yeah, it was to remind me of that day,” Buffy whispered shyly.

“You’re pretty smart for a kid, you know?” Buffy stood up and went to her bed where Dawn lay. “Pretty darn cagey, Dawn Summers,” Buffy murmured as she hugged the younger girl tightly.

“Yes, I am,” Dawn replied proudly.


Buffy sat in the library, after school on Thursday. Willow was with her; sitting on the other side of the huge library table The red-head was desperately trying to help Buffy make sense of some Trigonometry mumbo jumbo.

“I hate Trig and I stink at it!” Buffy grumbled under her breath. She was well aware of where she was and knew better then to raise her voice.

“You don’t stink at it,” Willow whispered seriously, “you just need some help with it. It’ll all click soon and…..”

“Can I help make it click then, Princess?” Spike Giles leaned over Buffy and scanned the pages of her Trig book. His mouth was twisted in a naughty smirk and Buffy felt a shiver go down her spine.

“Well, uhm, Willow is kind of helping me today, Spike and…..” Buffy began nervously as she shifted in her seat.

“Spike’s probably much better at helping you with homework, Buff,” Willow whispered across to the couple. Willow noted how close Spike was leaning into Buffy and how affected the two blonds appeared to be by their closeness.

“I need to go home anyway,” Willow proclaimed in a louder voice. “I need to firm up the plans for me to spend the night at your house and get my school things for tomorrow. I’ll see you tonight, kay Buffy?”

“Okay,” Buffy mumbled, not even looking at her best friend as she left. Spike called a ‘goodbye Red’ to the girl and sat down next to Buffy at the table.

“Willow’s spendin’ the night, eh?” He asked Buffy non-chalantly. ‘Wish it was me,’ he thought to himself as he envisioned Buffy and him; at her house and…..


“My folks and Dawn, they’re leaving for San Francisco tonight. Dad has business there and Willow’s going to spend the night.”

“Oh,” Spike mumbled as his imagination ran completely away at this confession. “I suppose no-neck is going to drop by later and…..”

“Sppiikke,” Buffy hissed a silent warning to her friend; but she grinned despite herself.

“Actually,” Buffy began carefully, “it’s just Willow and me, for tonight. I’m not even going to tell Riley that my folks are out of town, because…..” her voice trailed off and she suddenly became silent.

“Because?” Spike asked her with a raised brow. He gazed soulfully, he hoped, into Buffy’s green eyes; his heart began to thump, steadily. He had a feeling that Buffy was about to make some life-altering confession (for them both) and he suddenly felt light headed.

“Willow, she told me, Spike. About the day in PE, in the locker room. How you stood up for me and…..” Buffy blushed bright red, but she refused to break her gaze from Spike’s intense blue eyes.

“I, I didn’t want to hurt you, sweetheart. So I didn’t tell you myself,” Spike mumbled sheepishly. His own voice sounded foreign to him and he couldn’t help but look away from Buffy, for just a nano second that is.

“I understand, really, Spike,” Buffy sighed and shook her head. “Its okay, Spike; it is. In fact, it’s just another good reason for my breaking it off with Riley.”

“You’re breaking up with Riley?” Spike exclaimed; embarrassed by the squeak of excitement in his voice. His heart began to pound even harder as he contemplated the implications of Buffy’s heartfelt statement. He stared at Buffy; his eyes wide with shock and hope.

“It’s been coming for a long time,” Buffy spat, barely concealing the contempt in her tone. “He’s been too full of himself for a while now and it’s not like I lo.....” She bit back the word love and looked away from Spike once again.

“I’m just trying to find the right time,” she mumbled instead. “He’s starting in the big basketball game, Saturday afternoon. I may just be being vain, but I don’t want to upset him too much before the game. The team needs him at his best and I hate to make waves before then. You know?”

“I know sweetling. There’s a good girl then,” Spike whispered tenderly. Without thinking; he reached over and tucked that adorable strand of loose hair behind her left ear.

Buffy smiled at him, even though she blushed profusely at his touch. There was something about William Giles that had always drawn her to him. She could not be sure if it was his beautiful deep voice and accent, or the way he spoke words of affection and endearment; so poetically. He just had a way about him that touched her heart and soul. Why had she never really considered all of this before now?

“Hey,” Buffy blurted, changing the perplexing subject. “Does Oz still date Veruca?” She neglected to look Spike in the eyes as she asked.

“What? Why?” Spike asked suspiciously, wondering why the object of his affections was asking about his friend.

“Well, there’s a certain red-haired girl that is quite ‘taken’ with Mr. Daniel Osbourne. I guess I’m kind of testing the waters for her and….”

“Oz is a good bloke,” Spike offered happily, relieved that Buffy was obviously asking for Willow, not herself. “Veruca and him broke up, a while back. Veruca’s family is moving to LA and they figured it would be best to move on from each other.”

“Oh, well, I guess the move won’t be too hard on Veruca. She’s a junior and has another year of high school,” Buffy countered sympathetically.

“You know, Oz has asked about Willow before. Oh, he’s noticed her alright.” Spike stated with a deep chuckle. “Old Danny boy called Willow an ethereal Irish Sea Goddess. He’s a bit of a poet, Oz is.”

“Really!” Buffy gasped in stunned delight. “She’s isn’t Irish, of course, but that wonderful description of her would just tickle Wills pink!”

“I’ll give him a talk, tomorrow at school,” Spike offered. “Oz is a bit ‘out there’ and all but I think he’ll be stoked about this.”

“Thanks, William,” Buffy murmured in a hushed tone. “For standing up for me, I mean back in the locker room. For talking to Oz and well, for a lot of things, okay?”

“You’re more then welcome, Princess.” Spike whispered tenderly as he tucked that stray golden tendril back behind his girl’s right ear once again.

“Will,” Buffy murmured, choosing her next words cautiously. “Are you ‘wooing’ me?” She dropped her eyes, her lids closed half-way over the green orbs.

“Yeah, I am,” Spike answered honestly. “I hope I’m not making a complete arse of myself either.”

They sat in somewhat uncomfortable silence together. Both Spike and Buffy ignored the librarian, Rupert Giles’ benevolent smile as watched the young couple. You see, Rupert Giles, Spike’s father, was somewhat of a romantic himself; just like his son.

“Walk you to your car?” Spike asked quickly as Buffy stood to leave the library.

“Kay,” she replied quietly. “I’m in the senior parking area.”

The blond couple strolled out of the library and to the lot where only seniors were allowed to park. Neither Spike nor Buffy noticed that they were being watched by a pair of jealous, dark brown eyes.


Friday after school had been a nightmare for Buffy Summers. First off, Cordelia had angrily barked at Buffy at least ten times during cheerleader practice. It was almost as if Miss Chase, head cheerleader, had a clue as to Buffy’s intentions with Riley.

Then, after practice, Riley was waiting to meet Buffy outside of the school. This wasn’t unusual, but the big hulking Riley seemed more brooding then usual, at least to Buffy.

“Why can’t you come to the Bronze with me tonight, babe?” Riley asked, barely masking his disappointment and anger.

“Because, you kept me out too late the other night and I broke my punishment curfew,” Buffy whined defensively. “I told you I needed to get home, last Saturday, early and all. You didn’t listen and drove up to Inspiration Point. My folks….”

“Your fucking folks seem to forget that you’re eighteen years old, Buff,” Riley growled in a raspy voice.

“I still live under their roof, Riley,” Buffy retorted, her own anger was bubbling to the surface.

“Oh, by the way, I’d appreciate if you didn’t disrespect my parents, Riley,” Buffy snapped back at him. She was beginning to re-think her whole stance on waiting until after the game to tell Riley to ‘fuck’ off.

“I’m sorry, babe, it’s just that you’ve been so; I don’t know, distant lately. I get the feeling that…..” Riley’s tone sounded so desperate and sad that Buffy felt a bit sorry for him at the moment.

“My folks think I should spend more time at home, for a while,” she muttered half-heartedly. This wasn’t far from the truth, really, as her parents had mentioned this very thing.

Apparently, Hank and Joyce Summers were a little afraid that Buffy had been socializing too much and studying too little. No time like the present to start listening to dear old mom and dad, right? What difference did it make if they were not on the home front premises at the time?

“I am going to the victory party at Xander’s house, on Saturday night,” Buffy offered. She hoped this would be a kind of peace offering for Riley and he did seem to accept her olive branch.

“Meet me there, then? After the game?” Riley asked hopefully. “I’m sure we’ll win this two-bit team we’re playing on Saturday. We can celebrate together, right?”


Riley wore that ‘hang dog’ self-pitying look of his that always got to Buffy in some way.
‘He looks like a puppy nobody wants,’ Buffy thought sympathetically. “Yeah, I’ll meet you there. After the game I need to uhm, well I need to go home, eat and then yeah. I’ll meet you at Xander’s house; I’ll drive my Mustang there.”

Buffy tired hard, not to flinch when Riley leaned over and gave her a deep kiss.


Buffy Summers maneuvered her Mustang into the ‘drive-through’ line at the Double Meat Palace. After she had paid for and received her double ‘Double Meat’ special value meal, she sped, no make that fled to her home.

Even though the big two-story Summers’ house was devoid of any other humans? Buffy welcomed the solitude that she would have that Friday night.

There was a quart of Triple Fudge Brownie flavored ice cream in the freezer. Buffy had TIVO’d a week’s worth of All My Children episodes for just tonight.

“I have really got to eat better.” Buffy vocally chided herself as she snuggled into the comfy couch in the den. Effortlessly, she clicked on the TV via remote and hit the play list menu.

After taking a huge first bite from her Double Meat burger; which she had daintily set up on a TV tray. Buffy watched the TV screen, intently tuned in to whatever nonsense the residents of Pine Valley were up to this time.

It wasn’t even 10:00 PM, on a Friday night, and Buffy was yawning widely. Although she was only through two All My Children episodes, Buffy was more then bored.

“How much of Erica Kane hostessing a faus pax Madri Gras can we viewers take? They just don’t write soaps like they used to,” Buffy snorted as she clicked off the television with the remote.

A noise outside of the house back door caught her ear and Buffy pulled on a heavy coat. It was still early February and even Southern California was cold and damp at this time of the year.

Buffy scanned the perimeter of the family back yard before she ventured out into the night. Hank Summers had hung the old rope swing up, just as he promised and it seemed to beckon to her.

“Must have been a cat,” Buffy mumbled to herself as she made her way over to the swing. Without a second thought, she settled into the seat of the swing and began to pump her legs.

As she glided through the air, Buffy was oblivious to the bleached blond male that sidled up to her. In fact, Buffy didn’t notice Spike until he was right in front of her.

“Shit!” Buffy screeched at the top of her lungs. “Spike, you asshole! What are you doing here?”

Spike nearly fell on his arse, he was laughing so hard. Buffy was as pale as the undead and her green eyes were the size of saucers.

Yeah, it was hilarious alright; until said beautiful girl jumped out of the swing and came after him; eyes ablazing. Buffy leapt at Spike like a wild animal.

“You son-of-a-bitch!” Buffy squealed as she knocked Spike to the ground, with her smack on top of him.

“You, you….” Buffy stuttered incoherently. “I should…..”

“Not that I mind this position, pet,” Spike laughed heartily, wrapping his arms about Buffy.

“It’s just that this grass is a bit damp and I do rather like this leather duster of mine.” Spike grinned evilly at Buffy who was still glaring at him, her face just inches above his.

Buffy pulled out of Spike’s arms and hopped up from on top of him.

“Screw your precious leather duster,” Buffy huffed. “I should call the cops,” she continued in self-righteous indignation. “You…”

“I come bearing gifts,” Spike purred seductively as he stood up and stalked the few feet to Buffy. When he stopped, just inches in front of her, Spike smiled charmingly down at her.

“Why ‘are’ you here?” Buffy sighed in exasperation. Well, in mock exasperation that is. Actually, she was rather pleased that Spike was here with her.

“I couldn’t take watching ‘no-neck’ brood about at the Bronze any longer,” Spike chuckled.

Buffy didn’t miss the incredible sarcasm in her friend’s voice.

“Riley’s at the Bronze, brooding no less?” Buffy asked with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

“Yeah, he’s missin’ you, I guess,” Spike grunted with contempt; his left hand slithered into his duster pocket. Spike dug out a cigarette and lit it up, ignoring Buffy’s disapproving glare.

“Good,” Buffy spat, “he deserves it. I still can’t get over him talking about our sex life. In front of God and everyone,” she hissed angrily.

“Right,” Spike grumbled; a wave of jealousy washed over him. He truly hated Riley Finn and the thought that the fool had taken his Buffy to bed. It made Spike want to puke, that was for sure.

“On a good note,” Spike began evenly, “Willow was there and Oz got up the nerve to ask for a dance. You should have seen the looks on those gits’ faces, when Red and Oz danced together. It was bloody priceless,” Spike snorted good-naturedly.

“Oh, I wished I’d have been there,” Buffy sighed wistfully. “Just to see Cordelia’s pinched look of shock would have been worth it!”

“Where’s your car?” Buffy asked suddenly aware that neighbors might ‘talk’ and her parents might be pissed. She truly hoped Spike had been careful when he parked his vehicle. All’s Buffy needed was for that those nosey neighbors; Mr. and Mrs. Klaffke to report to Hank and Joyce.

“I drove me dad’s Harley,” Spike explained with a shrug. “Parked it around the block,” he added with a mischievous wink.

It was always a pleasant mystery to Buffy, and a lot of Sunnydale folks, that solid old Rupert Giles had a Harley parked in his garage!

“Thank God,” Buffy sighed in relief. “Hey,” she exclaimed suddenly, “you said something about bearing gifts?”

Spike grinned at Buffy and took her by the hand. He led her back to the swing, and then motioned for her to sit on the seat.

Buffy did as she was directed, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Well?” She asked; her right fair brow raised up in question.

“Well, I brought you a little belated birthday gift,” Spike murmured, suddenly quite self-conscious about this whole thing.

“Spike,” Buffy whispered in disbelief, “my birthday; it was weeks ago. You remembered my birthday?” She squealed incredulously.

“Yup,” Spike replied simply. “I know your birthday, sweetheart. It’s January 18th, every year,” he finished with a proud smirk.

“I, I don’t know what to say,” Buffy whispered in a hushed tone. “You…..”

“Came to give you this,” Spike finished for her. He held out a slim, long velvet box, which Buffy attentively took form his hand.

When she opened the beautiful box, Buffy gasped in delight.

A thin gold chain rested, daintily, on the white silk encasing of the jewelry box. On the end of the chain, there lay a fairly good sized heart shaped pendant; fashioned with diamonds and rubies.

“Spike, William!” Buffy gasped again, “I can’t believe this. It’s too much, Will,” she continued in a husky voice as she tried to fight the tiny tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.

“Not really,” Spike mumbled humbly. “I do have a part time job you know and…..”

“No, I mean it’s too much for you to…” Buffy lost it and began to weep.

“Now I didn’t mean to make you cry, Princess,” Spike moaned as he took the girl in his arms. “I wanted you to like the gift, sweetheart.”

“I do, I really do, William, I just….” Buffy sobbed loudly, snuggling her golden head into Spike’s chest.

“Oh, sweet little Buffy,” Spike murmured tenderly as he stroked her golden hair. “Look at me,” he commanded gently.

Buffy did as she was told and looked up at the handsome blond young man. The intensity of his blue-eyed gaze caused her to shiver again. She noticed that Spike shivered too, and not because it was too cold tonight. Suddenly, it didn’t seem necessary for her to weep so much.

“This bauble, sweet, it’s nothing, really,” Spike murmured and cupped Buffy’s cheek with his hand. “It’s merely a piece of metal, sprinkled with some stones, precious or not.”

“But,” Buffy began, only to be caught off by Spike’s fingers, placed gently on her lips.

“It’s ‘my’ real beating heart you’ve always had, Buffy. You always will,” he finished in a soft voice.

“Oh, Will,” she rasped. Unable to bear the honest intensity of Spike’s indigo eyes, Buffy focused her gaze on the necklace.

“Will you clip it on me?” Buffy asked quietly, even as she pulled her hair up and turned her back to Spike.

“Of course,” Spike replied, gallantly taking the necklace from the box and slipping it about Buffy’s sleek neck. He fashioned the chain about her neck and snapped the fastener together.

“There then,” Spike murmured huskily, unable to resist the opportunity to run his fingers lightly down the side of Buffy’s neck. He felt her flesh shiver, slightly beneath his whispery touch.

“Are you cold, pet?” Spike whispered hoarsely when he felt her tense, slightly under his hand.

“Nnn,nno,” Buffy stuttered softly before she relaxed into his touch.

“Oh, Buffy,” Spike moaned just before he buried his mouth into the golden flesh of her neck. He didn’t even try to be anything but passionate as he ran his lips up and down Buffy’s soft neck and shoulder.

“Will,” Buffy gasped desperately; her right hand flew up and clasped Spike by his golden head. She pulled his face to her neck; encouraging him to continue his ministrations.

Spike spun Buffy around to face him and pulled her tiny body to his. He noted that he had never seen her emerald eyes quite so wide, or fiery in the entire time he had known her.

This was all Spike could see or think of as he crashed his lips into Buffy’s.


A/N: Well, I hope that was enough of a cliffhanger for you all! (grins evilly)

The next chapter; there will be a bumpy moment or two between Buffy and Riley, but I promise old no-neck will be gone before long!

Thanks for reading and please review, spufette.





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