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Part Six....


Three days went by, with no sign of Spike Devlin.

Buffy wasn't sure whether to be relieved or disappointed, or
a combination of both. After her rather vivid dream she had
actually considered calling in sick at work, afraid he might
show up. She wouldn't have been able to even look him
in the eye, and she had a terrible feeling that he would
know why just by looking at her.

But her students were counting on her and, as always, they
were the ones who really mattered. For some of them, the
only stability they had was found at Willow Tree Preschool.

As the days passed, Buffy began to relax and to believe that
her experience with Devlin was a one shot deal. He'd probably
just been bored in their bucolic little town, and needed something
different to do to fill in his time before he left to go wherever it
was he was going.

Then, Friday afternoon rolled around.....


*********************************************************


"Miss Buffy? Tanner took the straw from my juice box!"

"Tanner...give Melody her straw back... NOW...please
Tanner! Thank you... Michael, do you need help with your
thermos?... No, turn it the other way...Be careful when you...It's
all right...Go inside and ask Miss Willow for a towel...Don't
get upset...It's only apple juice...Megan, your mother wants you
to eat some of those carrots...No, BEFORE the cookies, not
after...Because you'll be too full to eat them...You may save one
for the bunny, but that's all...David, bring me your orange and I'll
peel it for you...How about if I get it started?...Kyle, sit still...Be-
cause when you bounce up and down that way, you shake the
whole bench...Just pick it up and throw it in the trash can,
Mia...Not when you drop it outside, no...Tyler, that's NOT what
your sleeve is for. Please go inside and get a tissue..."

"Miss Buffy?"

"What, Samantha?"

"Your boyfriend's here."

Buffy's head whipped around so fast that her neck
popped unpleasantly.

**************************************************

Her heart lurched in her chest. Half of her was thrilled
that he'd returned, wondering if he had actually meant the
things he'd said the other day.

But the other half, the sensible Buffy, was scared witless
at the whole idea.

She turned around. "If you're finished with your lunch, you
may throw away your trash and play for the rest of the
hour."

The children seemed to be in no hurry to leave. Normally,
they would have taken off before she could utter the final
word.

Today, sensing that something was up, their little butts
appeared to have been hot glued to the bench. Trying to
make a good show of things, they fiddled with the remains of
their lunches, remains that had been destined for the garbage
only a moment ago.

Crusts of bread, some squishy raisins at the bottom of
their bags, the four or five drops of juice left in their
drink boxes and thermos bottles...even the granola
bars that they universally detested...all of this was
being consumed slower than an arthritic snail as they
methodically went about qualifying for membership in
the "clean plate" club.

She closed her eyes tightly, deciding that he was an
illusion brought on because she'd been thinking about
him so much...much more than was actually good
for her.

Opening her eyes, she turned around again.

The "illusion" smiled and waved.

With a look of grim determination, she rose to her
feet and, once again, headed across the play yard.

Several of her students started to follow after her, but
she turned on them and stopped THAT misguided notion
with a look that meant business.

*****************************************************

She halted five feet from the fence he was leaning
on. "What part of 'private property' and 'you'll
have to make an appointment' was I unclear about?"

Spike Devlin smiled and shrugged. "How do you I
didn't?" he challenged.

**Yeah, right!** she scoffed, inwardly. **Like Willow
would be able to keep THAT to herself!**

"Fine. The main office is over there," she said, pointing
in it's direction. "Goodbye."

"All right, all right," he said when she began to leave. "I'll
tell you the truth."

The words stopped her in her tracks, and she waited.

"I lied."

Buffy turned and faced him.

"I wanted to see you again," he confessed. "Is that a
bloody crime...Miss Buffy?"

"Yes," she answered tartly. "When I asked you to please
leave, it became trespassing."

Devlin chuckled. "Good luck getting THAT one to stand
up in court."

She was just about to give him his walking papers yet
again, when the office door opened and Willow stepped
outside with a piece of paper in her hand.

"Buffy?" she asked absently, not looking up. "Do you
know when the supplies for the copier came in? I think
I've been billed twice for the same..." Finally raising
her head, she was startled into silence when she saw
who Buffy was talking to.

"Oh!" she said, when she found her voice. "You're him! You're
Spike Devlin! Buffy!" she turned to look at her. "This is
Spike Devlin! Here! In our school!"

"Will wonders never cease," Buffy muttered.

"Wow," Willow continued to gush. "I can't believe this. I
am such a fan of Blue Eyed Devil. I mean...I went to
see you guys at Union Jack's but I had this...stupid
emergency and I had to leave. But, you're here!"

Sighing in disgust as she watched her employer
de-evolve into a teenage groupie right before her eyes, Buffy
made the introductions. "Willow Rosenberg...Spike
Devlin," She paused for a moment, then crossed her
arms over her chest and gave him a look. "Who is interested
in the school."

Willow gasped. "Really? In MY school? I mean...OUR
school? I mean...THIS school?"

Spike Devlin smiled charmingly. "It's nice to meet you, luv,"
he said. "This is a real sweet little place you're running here."

Willow blushed, her cheeks turning the color of her hair.

"Well, thank you!" she said. "What a nice thing to say."

"Yeah," Buffy added. "Nice." She looked at Willow. "You
should take him into your office, Wils," she suggested
pointedly. "Show him our curriculum."

Willow seized on the words. "Sure! Great! How old is
your child?" she asked giddily.

"To tell you the truth, pet," he answered. "I don't have
one...just yet."

Spike allowed his gaze to linger on Buffy for a moment
longer, his expression making it clear that he knew
exactly what she was about.

Oh, GOD...he was going to enjoy this! Pursuing little
Miss Buffy would be wildly exciting...and definitely worth
the chase....


TBC.....
Feedback is very welcome!





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