Chapter 3
Buffy and Xander made their way through the rows of seats in the movie
theater. Finding two together, they sat down and began settling in just as
the preview slides began on the screen. After a few minutes, Buffy felt
Xander’s arm come to rest on the back of her seat. Stiffening slightly at
the more intimate contact, Buffy forced her body to relax as she watched the
previews. She suddenly squinted as a flashlight was shining in her face.
“Are you Buffy Summers?” the usher asked.
At Buffy’s nod, he continued. “You’re wanted in the lobby.”
The young man turned around and walked away, leaving a perplexed Buffy
behind.
“Do you want me to go with you, Buff?” Xander whispered.
“No,” Buffy said, shaking her head. “I’ll be right back.”
As Buffy made her way to the lobby, she was suddenly grabbed and pulled
into a darkened hallway. Before a scream could leave her throat, a hand was
clamped over her mouth. “It’s just me, luv,” the familiar voice said, letting go of her.
Buffy gasped for air as she tried to slow her accelerated heartbeat
before getting angry. “You know, you could have just waited out in a nice
bright area and not lurk in the shadows like some creature of the night.”
Spike smiled at her description. “I wasn’t lurking, I was waiting.”
“And the difference is?”
“That’s not important,” Spike said dismissively, waving his hand.
“Then why are you attempting to kidnap me?”
“Just wanted to ask you a question, luv.”
“Okay…”
“Go to the Bronze with me tonight.”
“That wasn’t a question- that was a request, and I can’t believe you’re
even here! I’m here with another guy!”
“That ponce doesn’t know what to do with a girl like you,” he said,
looking her up and down and moving closer to her.
“And what kind of girl would I be, Spike?” she asked, crossing her arms
over chest angrily.
“The kind who needs a big, strong man to look after her,” Spike said with a
smile.
This didn’t make Buffy any happier. “Yeah, it’s too bad there’s not one
of those around here.”
Buffy turned to make her way back to her movie when she felt Spike’s hand on
her arm. “What about tomorrow?”
Buffy felt her heart flutter at the request but kept her resolve face in place. “No.”
Spike seemed taken aback by her answer as she pulled free of him and
headed back into the theater. “You know, luv,” he called after her. “The
more you resist, the more it’ll make me want you.”
Buffy felt a shiver go up her spine at his words but refused to give him
the satisfaction of turning around. Spike smiled at her back as he bit
his lip and watched her go. This one was definitely going to be worth the
extra effort.
* * * * *
Spike made sure he was at the Magic Box the next day at the end of Buffy’s
shift. As Buffy left the store, she groaned at the sight of Spike leaning
against the side of his vintage black Desoto.
Spike merely smiled at her. “Why don’t you like me, Summers?”
“I think the better question would be, why do you like me all of a sudden?”
she retorted as she walked past him.
Spike met her stride and walked with her as she headed home. “Because
you challenge me, pet.”
“Challenge you?” Buffy asked as she raised an eyebrow at him. “Don’t
you mean I’m the first girl to turn you down?”
“Well, that, too.”
“At least you’re honest.”
“I can be a lot more things than honest, luv,” he replied in a seductive voice.
Buffy merely rolled her eyes. “Spike, I told you, you’re not my type.”
“You know what I think, Summers?” Spike turned around and began walking
backwards, facing her. “I think you’re scared of me.”
“Not a chance.”
“Yep,” Spike said, turning to walk straight again. “You’re scared that
you’ll actually like me and you’ll lose control.” When Buffy didn’t
say anything, Spike smiled. “That’s what I thought.”
“No, you know what, Spike?” Buffy said angrily, turning to face him.
“Maybe I do think that, but if you’re so interested to know what I think, then
I’ll tell you. I think you’ll get what you want out of the relationship, and
then you’ll do what you always do. You’ll leave. I don’t want to be
with somebody who only wants me for one thing.” Buffy turned and left a
stunned Spike standing behind her as she walked the rest of the way home.
* * * * *
Buffy sat on the couch later that night, watching an old movie on TV.
She had decided to forego a night out with her friends in favor of her comfy
jeans and “Casablanca.” She had been looking forward to spending some
long overdue quality time with her mother until Joyce had announced she was
leaving for Los Angeles for the weekend, and Buffy was once again alone.
Buffy sighed when the doorbell rang and slowly got up from her place on the
couch. When she opened the door, she had to suppress a groan as she
looked at Spike, standing on her porch.
Spike stared at the girl in front of him and felt his heart skip a beat.
Dressed in a pair of worn jeans and a black sweater, she looked
beautiful with her golden hair framing her face.
“What do you want, Spike?” she asked in a drained voice.
“I come bearing gifts,” Spike said, holding out a plastic bag. “Or, more
accurately, a peace offering.”
“A peace offering for what?” Buffy asked.
Spike looked down sheepishly before raising his eyes to meet hers. “To
let you know that I’m not interested in you for only one thing.”
Buffy looked at him skeptically as he handed her the bag. She smiled
as she looked inside. “You know you’re not going to get laid just because you
brought me ice cream. Even if it is cookie dough.”
Spike smiled at her. “Never crossed my mind, luv.”
Buffy stepped back and gave him a smile, her resolve gone. “Come in,
Spike.”
Spike gave her a grateful look as he crossed over the threshold,
following her into the kitchen. “Nice house, pet.”
“It’s okay.”
“Something wrong, luv?”
“No, I’m fine,” Buffy said unconvincingly, shaking her head as she
pulled two spoons out of the drawer and began to walk back into the living
room.
Spike stepped in front of her before she made her escape. “I’m not buying it.”
Buffy sighed as she looked into his eyes. “I just feel lonely, I guess.”
“Well…I’m here now. Not alone anymore.”
Buffy smiled as he tried to cheer her up. “That’s true. Thank you, Spike.”
Spike returned the smile before stepping out of her way and following
her into the living room. Once they were situated on the couch, sharing
the tub of ice cream, Spike looked over at her. “Can I ask you a question,
luv?”
“Sure,” she said around a spoonful of cookie dough.
“Do you really think I just use women?” Spike asked as he stared down
at the ice cream.
Buffy swallowed and started to feel bad for what she had said to him
earlier. “I honestly don’t know, Spike. I mean, that’s just your
reputation, and I guess I’ve let myself believe it over the years.”
Spike nodded as she continued. “So, can I ask you a question?”
“Anything, luv.”
“Is it true?”
Spike stared down at his lap for a moment, contemplating his answer.
“It used to be,” he said quietly.
“Used to be?”
He looked up and met her eyes. “When I was a junior in high school, I
was dating a girl that I thought I was in love with. I found out she was
cheating on me throughout our entire relationship, and it tore me up
inside. So, yeah, for a while there, I just used girls the way I felt like I was
used.”
“And now?”
“I don’t know. I’m still not perfect, pet. Guess I never will be…and
I’m not going to lie to you. When I saw you yesterday, getting you into my
bed was one of the first thoughts in my mind.” Buffy blushed at the statement.
“But, I also wanted to know you. No one’s ever been completely honest
with me the way you have. You definitely got my attention.”
Buffy smiled as she stabbed at the ice cream. “I’m still not going to jump
into bed with you.”
“Good.” Buffy’s head shot up, a pained look on her face. Spike saw
the look and shook his head. “I just mean, I’m glad you would wait. Makes
it more special.”
Buffy nodded, still feeling slightly uneasy with the way he’d agreed with
her but decided to ignore it. “Can we start over?” she asked timidly.
Spike smiled. “I’d like that, luv.”
Buffy held out her hand. “Buffy Summers, senior at Sunnydale High.”
Spike laughed and shook the outstretched hand. “Spike Giles, sophomore
at UCSunnydale.”
“Nice to meet you,” Buffy said with a dazzling smile.
“You, too.”
Buffy and Spike, once again, began to dig into their snack when the
phone rang. Buffy went to answer it, and Spike frowned at the conversation
that he picked up on.
“No, it’s okay…I really understand…yeah, it’s not a problem. Okay, I
love you, too…bye.”
Spike watched as Buffy trudged back to the couch, a distant expression
on her face.
“Something wrong, luv?”
Buffy shook her head. “No, just my mom.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“She’s just going to be gone for the rest of the week. No big deal,”
she said with a half-hearted shrug.
“This happens a lot?” he asked softly.
Buffy shrugged again as she pushed the ice cream away from her. “It
could be worse.”
“You miss her,” Spike said.
Buffy nodded. “A lot.”
“I know what’ll cheer you up.” Buffy looked at him expectantly as he
continued. “Movie night. Tomorrow, we’ll do the whole night with the
works- popcorn, cheesy horror and teen movies, your friends over here.”
Buffy brightened. “You’d really want to hang out with a bunch of high
school kids?”
“I really want to hang out with you,” he said softly.
Buffy blushed at the compliment, biting her lip in a way Spike found
endearing. “You’re on! You bring the popcorn.”
Spike laughed at her sudden bossiness. “That I can do, pet.” Standing
up, Buffy gave him a pouty look. “Sorry, luv, but I better be going. I
told my dad I was going to stop by tonight.”
“That’s sweet,” Buffy said, getting up with a smile.
“What’s that, luv?”
“Well, it’s just, you’re twenty years old, and you still worry about making
your dad worried when he doesn’t know where you are. It’s cute.”
“It is bloody well not cute!” Spike exclaimed indignantly, which only
served to make Buffy giggle.
“Sorry,” Buffy said, getting her laughter under control. “You’re right,”
she continued with a stern look. “It’s not cute, it’s manly. Very,
very manly,” she finished with a firm nod.
Spike laughed at her attempt to appease him. “Okay, if you say it’s
cute, I’ll let you get away with it. But only you,” he said, pointing a
finger at her.
Buffy nodded as she walked him to the door. “Thanks for the peace offering,
Spike. It really does mean a lot.”
Spike smiled as he opened the door. “Not a problem, pet. Friends then?”
“Friends,” Buffy agreed with a smile. Spike returned the smile as he turned to walk away.
“Spike,” Buffy called out to him as he stepped onto the porch. He
turned to look at her questioningly as she stepped outside with him. “Thank
you,” she whispered as she pulled him down to leave a soft kiss on his cheek.
Spike felt the heat rise to his face as he looked down at her. “What was
that for, luv?”
Buffy smiled shyly. “For being here when I needed someone. And for
planning Movie Night tomorrow.”
Spike nodded as he took her hand in his and left a gentle kiss on the
top of it. “My pleasure, Buffy.”
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