Chapter 16: Surprises
“God, could that class be any more boring? Did you find that class boring? Because I sure as hell did,” Buffy said to Willow who giggled as they walked out into the quad. The two had just finished their chemistry class and were deciding to sit and do their study period for study hall rather than sit in the library. She loved Giles like a father but it was enough to see someone who was interested in books more than Willow at home.
“Yeah I thought today’s lesson was pretty boring and I usually like learning. I think you’re rubbing off on me,” Willow said, scrunching up her nose.
Buffy giggled, slipping her glasses onto her face. “What’s so bad about being like little old me.” Buffy thought back on how much trouble she got into in L.A. “On second thought maybe you shouldn’t make yourself like me.”
“Oh well I don’t think you’re so bad. Nor Faith. I mean, no offense but you’re kind of like Spike.”
Buffy raised her eyebrow at her new growing to be best friend. “I’m like a bleached hair male?”
Rolling her eyes Willow shook her head. “No. I mean you and Faith are both like these bad ass chicks and really deep down I know you’re softie just like Spike.”
Buffy felt her heart swell. Even though it was damaging to her and Faith’s reputation to be considered nice when they were really not, it was still one of the sweetest things anyone had ever said to her.
“Well thank you, Willow. But I suggest you never let Spike hear you say that.” Both girls laughed at the predictable reaction that they would get from Spike. They sat down together on the stone edge of the water fountain which served as a bench as well.
“So Buffy, I know you got into trouble a lot before moving here but how much trouble are we talking about here?”
Buffy looked down at her hands in her lap. “You know, just basic fights. That’s all I got suspended for. I was arrested once.” Willow’s eyes seemed go wide like saucers. “A guy kind of made a pass at Faith and when she said no, he wouldn't leave her alone so I took matters into my own hands.”
Willow understood what she meant. “Both you and Faith really care a lot about each other huh?” Buffy nodded her head ‘yes’ in response.
“I think it’s because when we were younger I used to take care of her when she and her mom had problems so now she’s basically paying me back. Though really we were close the minute we met. I don’t know, maybe there’s something inside of us that Faith and I share. Almost like we really are sisters.”
Willow smiled. “It’s sort of like me and Xander. We met in kindergarten after I cried to him on the first day.”
Buffy got an ‘aww’ look in her eyes. “What happened?”
“I broke the yellow crayon,” Willow said with a shrug, thinking her childish behavior at the age of five was kind of dumb. Buffy giggled.
“So what happened after you left the Bronze on Friday? You know Spike ran after you? Did he make it on time?”
Buffy pulled out a binder for her new chemistry homework. “Yep and yep.” Buffy gave Willow a knowing smile which left Willow all excited.
“Well?” She was squealing to find out if anything more had happened between the two blondes and their obvious attraction to each other.
“There was talkage. How come you never told me Spike went to jail?” Buffy questioned, her eyes flashed a darker hue as she pretended to be angry with Willow. The red head let out a squeak.
“Well...we....um....Xander said....and Anya said....” Buffy laughed at Willow’s obvious fright and began to feel bad for scaring the poor girl.
Patting Willow’s shoulder, Buffy softened her fake expression. “It’s okay, Wills, I’m just kidding. He was hesitant about telling me as well.”
“Oh ok. I was just unsure if Spike really wanted you to know. I mean it is kind of his story. We used to hang out with him before Drusilla and it was kind of sad to see him change into the mean person he was just before he was arrested but you know he’s back to his old personality now but just sticking with the look.”
Buffy blushed. “I like the look. I mean normally I don’t go for the whole bad boys thing or at least I try not to but I don’t know, there’s something about Spike. Kind of like me and Faith’s bond. Spike just seems to understand me. I mean we’re both a lot alike. Same interests in art. Both of our moms died and our dads skipped town. I guess I just feel safe with him.”
Willow’s smile seemed to brighten. “So were there smooches? And don’t bother lying I can see the smoochie expression evident on your face.” Buffy couldn’t help but blush.
“Oh boy, that was a lot of kisses.” Buffy thought back dreamily of her and Spike’s time together over the past weekend. The red head noticed and laughed but Buffy didn’t hear the girl’s chuckles.
“Earth to Buffy.”
Buffy shook herself out of her reverie as Willow called her name. “Oh sorry.” Willow just gave her a wicked, knowing smile.
“It’s okay Buffy. Can’t blame you, I think he’s pretty cute but you can have him.”
“She can have who, Red?” Both girls froze at the thought that Spike might have walked in on their conversation. Slowly their heads turned simultaneously to find Spike Thorndale standing on the other side of the fountain with that annoying, knowing smirk on his face. Neither girls answered him so he continued, “I hope you mean me.”
“Hi Spike,” Willow said with an embarrassing smile.
“Hello Red. Mind if I have a few minutes with my girl here?” Spike asked with a sweet, boyish smile. Buffy couldn’t stop the blush from blooming on her cheeks when Willow looked at her after Spike said ‘my girl’.
“Yeah...uh I just remembered I need a book for History class and it so happens to be located in the library...well because...that’s where books are.” Before another word could be spoken, Willow had hurried off. Buffy stared after her in wonder until she felt herself being lifted to her feet.
“I missed you,” Spike whispered against her lips before giving a good hello kiss. Buffy giggled against his lips and kissed back just as sweetly.
“I missed you too.”
They shared a few more kisses, each longer than the other before they broke apart to sit on the stone bench. Spike lay back so that his head rested on her lap and he looked up at her sun lit face. The light from the sun encompassed her body, making her seem like an angel to Spike. Her golden hair hanging from where she was looking at him shined and all Spike could do was reach up and touch it, twirling it between his fingers.
“Kitten, why are you so beautiful?”
She just smiled and reached down to stroke his high cheekbones, marveling over his own beautiful, handsome features.
“How come you’re not in class?” she asked, knowing Spike didn’t have study hall until the last period.
“Because the bloody teacher was talking worse than Harmony ever did today. I just came out here to get a smoke.” Remembering what he had come out for Spike grabbed his pack of cigarettes from his duster pocket and placed one in between his lips. Surprisingly Buffy stopped caring about his smoking. She didn’t know how or when but she could withstand it. Besides he wouldn’t be the Big Bad Spike if he didn’t smoke.
“You know, one of these days I won’t be surprised if you get caught by that spineless man Snyder.”
“Now pet, are you wishing me bad luck because that wouldn’t be very nice.” He reached up to pull her head down for a kiss but she turned her head, scrunching up her nose.
“Cigarette breath.”
Spike threw the cigarette into the fountain. “Oh hush kitten.” He pulled her down and kissed her gently, eventually causing Spike to forget that he was supposed to be in class.
Buffy and Spike both ran in through the door of the art class hand in hand the minute the bell rang. All heads including Ms. Calendar’s turned to look at the pair before collectively dropped their jaws. The students at how the two blondes had really gotten together over the weekend, and Jenny Calendar because for once her nephew had been on time for class. They took their seats at their art tables and Ms. Calendar began to explain a new project they’d be working on.
“I would rather like to see you use black as your background and several, sort of neutral colors. Once you’re done you’ll see how the black makes the natural colors look bold. Now get started, this will be due by the end of class tomorrow.” She dismissed the class before turning to Buffy. “Ms. Summers do you have your project?” Buffy got up while picking up her covered canvas. Suddenly she found herself nervous as she walked up to the waiting art teacher, gripping the canvas tightly. “Why don’t we go into my office and look at it.”
Buffy just nodded and followed Ms. Calendar into the adjoining office. It had windows on one side of the wall that allowed the teacher to see into the class. There were different types of paintings and sketches hung on the wall ranging from scenery, to profiles of people. She looked around, it seemed to be just like Giles’ own office in the library. Ms. Calendar grabbed an easel stand and set it up for Buffy to prop it on.
The blonde girl stepped back, wringing her hands nervously and worrying her bottom lip as her teacher slowly pulled the sheet off. Closing her eyes Buffy heard her gasp and she wondered if Ms. Calendar thought it was horrific or good.
“Buffy this is...very...” Jenny began.
“Dark? Bad?”
“No...beautiful. You accomplished something that can take years for most artists to master. Making the viewers feel whatever emotion the artist wanted them to feel. I can practically feel the pain coming from this girl as if it actually happened.” Ms. Calendar moved closer to inspect the painting but she stopped when she saw familiar green eyes staring back at her from the painting. They were pleading for help. Startled at the familiarity Jenny Calendar looked at the small girl standing behind her. The shell that looked the same but deep down was a girl whom she knew was just trying to act tough. Like her own nephew.
Buffy looked up and stared at Ms. Calendar in the eyes, and at the look the teacher received, compelled Jenny to take the girl into her arms. Buffy didn’t mean to cry, she didn’t even see it coming until Ms. Calendar took her into her arms. As she hugged her, Buffy thought she reminded her of her mother. Buffy could tell Jenny was wearing a type of perfume that was similar to the one Joyce used to wear. Not only in that aspect, but Ms. Calendar was also currently rubbing her back and nurturing her like a mother and all Buffy could do was feel like she was 10 years old again, crying to her mother about a skid knee.
“It‘s okay Buffy...just cry.” And she was. She cried for her mother, cried for what the bastard Angel did to her, and she cried for the all pain she had caused her family. A minute later Spike walked into her office, noticing what was going on. Slowly Jenny eased Buffy into Spike’s arms. At the feeling of Spike’s leather bound arms wrapped around her, Buffy quickly responded, holding him tight.
Spike looked to his Aunt Jenny and she nodded her head, indicating that it was best if she went away, closing the door behind her and leaving the two teens in their comforting embrace. Once back into the classroom she ordered the students to go back to work after she noticed they were all watching Buffy crying through the windows of Jenny’s office.
“Pet, what’s wrong? Is it the painting?” He hugged her closer, feeling her tears stain his black cotton t-shirt. He felt her shake her head ‘no’ under his chin.
“It’s just...when your aunt hugged me it reminded me so much of my mom. I never got to say goodbye to her. And then I kept remembering everything.” Her voice was shaky but Spike could hear her quite well. She drew back her head and looked straight into his eyes. “Spike I‘m so scared. The nightmares won’t go away. On Saturday night when you stayed with me they didn‘t come but last night they did. Everything is over and done with where Angel is concerned but he still haunts me no matter where I go. No matter how far I try to move away. This stupid scar is going to follow me, reminding me of the day he held me captive for hours just torturing me with words and slowly making me lose hope before dumping me on my porch as if I was already dead. Spike, you had no idea how much I wanted to die the day I ended up on suicide watch. I didn’t want to deal with it. Still don’t. I’m scared I’m too weak for it.”
Spike pulled her even more closely to him, feeling his own tears spilling for her pain. He had never wanted to ever kill a man more than he did right now towards Angel for the things he put this wonderful girl through. She didn’t deserve this pain and the misery she was feeling. Spike believed whatever higher being there was, was having fun in screwing Buffy up as much as possible.
Placing his hands on either side of her head, Spike wiped away her tears that stained her cheeks. “Pet it’s understandable to be scared. But always remember that you have me, Faith, the niblet, Giles, and a whole new slew of friends now. I will do my hardest to keep you safe and never let you feel that pain again.”
Looking into his iridescent blue eyes, Buffy’s breaths shortened as she saw the love in Spike’s eyes. He was telling her he was willing to stand by her side and protect her. He had declared his feelings for her the previous Saturday night. Surprisingly Buffy didn’t run. Even though she had only known Spike a little over a week she knew she had felt safe when he came in just a few minutes ago, as well as the night she spent with him at her house. For once Buffy was going to put her heart out to him as much as she could. She stood up on her toes and gave him a gentle, warm kiss, not caring or not even noticing the whole class had witnessed.
“Thank you,” she whispered to him when she pulled away. Maybe things would really go well.
“Ok B, you are going to love me so much you’re going to want to name your first child after me. Even though I know you will anyway because we promised each other that when we were ten.”
Buffy rolled her eyes as Faith walked up to her and Spike outside the school where they sat on the school steps, waiting for the energetic brunette. The brunette had run off the moment school had let out and said she’d meet Buffy and Spike out in front of the school. That had been twenty minutes ago. Devon sat on the railing of the staircase but Faith didn’t notice him.
“What is it Faith?” Buffy asked. She was sitting comfortably between Spike’s legs on the steps and leaning her back against his front. She sighed as he continued to twirl strands of her red and blonde hair around his fingers gently.
Faith dropped down next to them and pulled out a bright neon green flyer. “I found out from Xander that the guy in our Econ and Civs. class who sits at the back is-”
“You mean the one who sleeps all the time?” Buffy asked, cutting off her best friend.
“Yes now shut up so I can tell you my story,” Faith exclaimed. Buffy silently mimicked Faith with a screwed up face. The brunette didn’t notice but Spike did and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Anyway, Xander told me during study hall that the guy sleeps in class all the time because his dad owns the Bronze and he helps out there every night.”
“Oh you mean the wanker Scott Hope?” Spike asked, again cutting Faith off from her story.
“Haha. That’s funny. Hope. Faith. I wonder if there’s someone named dream or belief.” Buffy joked.
“You know I think he’s gay. If so he’s a ponce more than a wanker,” Spike interjected again. Neither blondes noticed the steam coming out of Faith’s ears.
“Will you please shut the fuck up?” Faith yelled, now getting aggravated.
“Language Faithey, language,” Buffy said in mock scolding.
Faith rolled her eyes. “Just be glad I said please. Now shut the fuck up.” The brunette blew a strand out of her eyes before continuing. “Anyway when I found this out I tracked down Scott Hope after class and I talked him into booking you for this Wednesday.” Faith said matter of factly, slamming the flyer down on Buffy’s leg. “We made it in the computer class just now.”
Buffy picked up the flyer and stared at it. Spike looked over to her shoulder to read it.
A New Singer Performing
Buffy Summers and her beloved Acoustic Guitar
Five Dollar Cover Charge
8 P.M.
She stared at it, unsure of whether she should be scared or happy. Yeah, she had wanted to go back to performing but so soon after moving? She had only been to the Bronze once and she was rather unsure of the music that they really liked to play there.
“Faith I don’t know...”
“Aw, come on B. This Scott is printing out the flyers as we speak and is going to hand them out tomorrow. You said so yourself, you wanted to find somewhere to sing.”
“Yeah, pet. Maybe you should do it. There’s no harm in it and it seems you have experience singing in front of people before,” Spike assured her, kissing the top of her head.
“See, even Bleach Boy agrees with me.” Faith pointed to Spike and ignored the glare coming from him for his new nick name.
Buffy began to do the thing of biting her lower lip showing that she was thinking. Finally, after staring at the flyer as if it would give her an answer Buffy finally agreed.
“You’re not going to regret it, B. We’ll even bring kiddo, and Uncle-G.”
Buffy nodded her head. “Yeah that should be great. Thanks.”
Faith looked up and finally noticed Devon. She looked confused, wondering if he had been there the whole time. The tall brunette from the Oz’s band hopped off the railing and came to sit on the other side of Faith, resting his arms on his knees.
“Hey Devon what are you doing here?” Faith asked.
“I need to talk to you,” Devon said and Faith looked at him, expecting him to keep talking. Figuring that Faith wasn’t going to reply Devon spoke again. “I was thinking since we’ve been kind of seeing each other I was wondering if you wanted to go out on a date this Friday.”
“Sorry I can’t, I have plans already.”
“Oh I see...well maybe some other time,” Devon said, trying not to show his disappointment. Suddenly the four teenagers heard the distinctive nasal voice of their principal.
“I shouldn’t bother to ask why you four delinquents are on campus right now, should I? Probably planning to do something illegal like kids like you always do.”
Buffy turned to stare at Snyder as he stood above them with a disgusted look on his face.
“Well first of all, you people complain that we don’t come to school enough and now you’re complaining at us for being here? No offense Snyder, but your system’s screwed,” Buffy challenged.
“School hours are over. And if anything’s screwed up it’s your generation. Don’t take that tone with me Ms. Summers, you are still on school grounds.”
Faith snorted, laughing. “Whatever. We were just leaving, nose hair man.” Faith grabbed her bag along with the others and walked off. Spike, Buffy, and Faith walked to Spike’s Desoto after waving Devon goodbye.
They pulled out of the parking lot and drove towards the middle school. Buffy turned around on her spot from the seat to look at Faith who was sitting in the back seat. She rested her elbows against the top of the leather seats and stared at Faith.
“Why’d you turn Devon down?” Buffy questioned. “You don’t have jack going on this Friday.”
Faith simply shrugged, “Well most likely I will. What’s it to you?”
Buffy tried not to roll her eyes at Faith’s sudden bitchy attitude. She was used to this where Faith was concerned.
“Man. If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were scared of Devon,” Buffy said with laughter.
Faith scoffed. “What’s there to be scared of? B you know my ways. I don’t date. I fuck and have a good time doing so. You know I hate being tied down.” Buffy nodded, knowing it was always the same with Faith, ever since they had started their freshman year. Unlike Buffy who was still a virgin, Faith had lost her virginity during Christmas Break at a Christmas party thrown by one of the Seniors at Hemery High when the girls had been freshmen. Afterwards the mysterious Senior who Buffy still never knew the identity of since Faith wouldn’t tell Buffy, didn’t called Faith, making her feel what it had only been. A one night stand of sex with no strings attached. Ever since then Faith had taken on a similar pattern. She’d find a guy to have her fun with him for a couple of days before moving onto the next target.
It seemed even though they had moved, Faith was doing the exact same thing with Devon. “Maybe he’s different,” Buffy offered and she winced at Faith’s hysterical laughter.
“Yeah B, right. Hey, he’s the one who initiated bed time with me the first night we met. If he had wanted to date he should have asked me to go out, not to go in.” Faith explained, pointing out the obvious.
Suddenly Buffy squealed when she felt her ass being pinched. “Spike!” She whipped around to give him a dirty glare. “Keep your hands on the steering wheel and off my ass, perv!” She couldn’t help but laugh though and she hit his arm lightly.
“But it’s such a cute ass,” Spike reasoned.
“Have to agree with him there B, you have a damn fine ass.”
Buffy just rolled her eyes again. “Anyway we’re not talking about my butt. You should really give Devon a chance.” The blonde girl’s expression went all serious again. “Here, ask Spike; he and Devon are good friends.” She felt her butt being pinched again and she let out another squeal, batting his hand away. “Spike! Tell Faith how good a guy Devon can be.” Buffy turned back in her seat noticing they were pulling to the curb of Dawn’s school. Buffy quickly spotted her littler sister and snaked through the window to wave Dawn over.
“Well, pet,” Spike said to Faith. “My mate is a pretty damn good guy.” He was unsure of what he should say exactly. “I agree with Buffy, you should give him a go.”
“Give him-who a go?” Dawn asked, catching the last part of Spike’s sentence as she entered the other side of the backseat.
“On going out with that guy Devon,” Buffy announced, pulling herself back fully into the car. She scooted across the bench seat to lean against Spike as he pulled the car back into the street traffic.
“Look I’m not going out with the guy. It was just a couple of nights’ sex and that's it,” Faith screamed, getting increasingly annoyed with the people occupying the car with her.
Not another word was said the rest of the drive except Spike’s constant humming to The Ramones. Buffy figured Faith was getting ticked off by the second at her being pressured to go out with Spike’s friend. Five minutes later Spike pulled up to the curb of the girls’ house.
“Uh...B.” Faith called Buffy. Buffy looked and found her best friend pointing at something through the windshield. Everyone turned to look at what she was pointing. A silver Porsche was parked right outside of the house, in front of Spike’s car.
Buffy suddenly felt dread as she pulled herself out of the car. “Oh crap,” Buffy muttered loudly. “What’s he doing here?”
There it was I wonder who it is....
Spuffy_obsessed