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Chapter 3 – Quality Time


After they finished eating lunch, Buffy cleared away their dishes, taking them to the sink.

‘She wasn’t kidding about having a big appetite. For being so petite, she sure can pack it away. But she still has the body of a goddess,’ Spike thought, smiling.

They both heard a knock on the door, as Spike went over and opened it. A blonde man not much younger than him was standing there, unabashedly staring up and down Spike’s body.

‘Who the bloody hell is this?’ he thought, feeling uncomfortable at the scrutiny. ‘He’s not dating Buffy, right? I’d hope not, because I think this bloke might be gay.’

“Hi, Andrew,” Buffy said, approaching the two men. She couldn’t help but giggle when she saw how Andrew was appraising Spike.

‘It would be funny if they hooked up. Although, I think Andrew might be too much of a nerd for Spike.’ She paused. ‘What exactly is Spike’s type? A sophisticated kind of guy? But didn’t he say that his friend Xander was in construction? So maybe a muscular guy?’ She mentally chided herself. ‘Stop it, Buffy. You shouldn’t be thinking like this.’

“Hey, Buffy,” Andrew said, tearing his eyes off of Spike for a second to look at her before returning his gaze to Spike. “And who are you?”

“Spike,” he said, extending a hand. Andrew shook it, but when he didn’t seem like he was going to let go, Spike pulled it back and shoved both of his hands in his pockets. Buffy bit her lip to keep from laughing.

‘I think this is going to be quite a nice living situation. Andrew can stalk Spike, and I can continue to ogle him, knowing that I’ll never have him,’ she thought before frowning. ‘Besides, you don’t need a relationship right now. Not so soon after Riley.’ She paused again. ‘Or maybe that’s exactly what you need.’

“I’ve got some stuff to catch up on,” Spike said, looking at Buffy. She nodded, and he quickly walked away to his room, shutting the door behind him.

“That’s your new roommate?” Andrew squealed, grinning from ear-to-ear. “He’s gorgeous! With a body like that, I bet he has the pectorals of Viggo Mortenson.”

‘Oh, he really does,’ Buffy thought happily. ‘But Viggo has nothing on Spike.’ She paused. ‘Stop that!’ she chided herself again.

“So, what can I do for you, Andrew?” Buffy asked, trying to steer the conversation off of Spike.

“I saw you helping someone move in before and wanted to see who it was,” Andrew smiled. “And boy, am I happy I did! How come you have such good luck when it comes to finding guys?”

“Au contraire,” Buffy replied sadly. “I have horrible luck.” She leaned closer to Andrew. “Spike’s gay.”

“Really?” Andrew shrieked as Buffy nodded. “I thought I caught a vibe there, but I wasn’t sure.”

‘Is Andrew beaming?’ Buffy thought, raising an eyebrow. ‘Oh dear, he’ll be devastated when Spike starts dating someone else.’ She frowned. ‘So will I. Not that I have a chance, but…Buffy, you really need a man in your life. Of the straight variety.’

“Can you maybe put in a good word for me?” Andrew asked. Buffy hesitantly nodded, trying her best not to laugh at how excited he seemed. “Thanks! You’re a peach.” He sighed, smiling. “Well, I’m going to head back to the apartment. See you two around.” He walked down the hallway to his apartment as Buffy shut her door.

‘Time to go talk to Spike,’ she thought. ‘Hopefully Andrew didn’t make him want to move.’

She walked to his room and knocked on the door before opening it, seeing Spike standing in front of his open window, smoking. He looked at her and Buffy finally let herself laugh at what had just happened.

“I don’t think it’s bleedin’ funny,” Spike said, flicking the cigarette out of the window.

“Sure it is!” she said, crumbling into hysterics. “He was sizing you up like you were his prey!” She sank to the ground, bowled over laughing, clutching her stomach and letting tears roll down her cheeks. “I wish I would’ve taped that!” She tried calming down, catching her breath slightly before laughing again. “He compared you…to Viggo Mortenson!” Spike started chuckling before going over to her and helping her up, both of them laughing.

‘She’s beautiful when she laughs. Drop dead gorgeous.’ He smiled. ‘She’s always like that, though.’

“Sorry,” she said, finally composing herself, wiping off her cheeks, looking up at Spike’s eyes. She noticed how he was looking back at her and was surprised.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen a gay man look at me adoringly,’ she thought. She cleared her throat and took a slight step back, noticing how Spike broke out of his daze.

“Is he a friend of yours?” Spike asked, sad that she moved away from him a little, before frowning, wondering if she wasn’t interested in him.

“Not really,” she said before grinning. “He lives just down the hall.” Spike frowned, and she started laughing again.

“Just keep on laughing, luv,” Spike said sternly, crossing his arms. On the inside, he loved it.

‘Any chance to see her be happy like that is fine with me, even if it’s at my expense.’

“Well, I’ll let you return to whatever it is you ‘had to catch up on’,” Buffy said, heading for the door, still giggling a little. “I’ll be up in my room…Viggo.” She broke down laughing again as she left, and he heard her upstairs even a couple of minutes later.

'Yeah, you think it’s so funny,’ Spike thought with a smile, shaking his head. ‘How would you like it if a gay guy was interested in you, pet?'

* * * * *

A few days later, Buffy rubbed her neck in exhaustion as she walked through the front door of
her apartment. She had been studying at the library for the past three
hours, and she was physically and mentally wiped out from staring at stacks
of books and rows of computer screens.

Tossing her keys on the kitchen counter, Buffy smiled when she saw Spike
sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn. It had been a week since he
moved in, and the two had settled into a comfortable relationship, enjoying
the opportunity to spend time with each other, instead of going out most
nights. Buffy was thankful to have gained not only a roommate, but a man
who was turning into a very good friend.

‘Plus, when the guy is incredibly hot, that’s just a bonus…even if he is off
limits.’

“I was beginning to get worried, pet,” Spike said, moving over so Buffy had
a place to sit down.

“Sorry,” Buffy replied, collapsing on the couch next to him and immediately
curling herself into a ball and laying her head on his shoulder.

Spike smiled at the tender gesture, slipping his arm around her shoulders as
her hand snaked around to grab a handful of popcorn. “Hey,” he said with a
smile. “Go get your own.”

Buffy giggled, deliberately popping the kernels in her mouth before looking
to see what he was watching.

“You like ‘Friends’?” Buffy asked, turning to look at him.

“One of the only things you bleedin’ Yanks have going for you,” Spike said
good-naturedly, smiling when Buffy smacked him on the chest. “Why? You
don’t like it?”

“No, I do,” Buffy replied, nodding her head before turning her attention
back to the TV. “It has its high points, aside from being funny, that
is.”

“Such as?” Spike asked, eating some more popcorn.

“Well, the whole friends thing for one. All of the meaningful relationships
were as a result of strong friendships. I think that’s the best way to
really be with somebody. You should really get to know the person beforehand- it just seems to have a better result in the end.” Spike didn’t say anything as Buffy turned to face him. “You don’t agree?”

“No, I think you’re right,” Spike said with a reassuring nod. “But what
happens if they break up? They lose the friendship.”

“Not necessarily,” Buffy argued. “I guess it depends on the break-up and if
both want to salvage the relationship. Look at Ross and Rachel. They got
together, broke up, got together again, broke up again, got married, got
divorced and had a baby.”

“You really do like this show,” Spike said with a smile.

“It’s fun. It’s a nice way to unwind at the end of the day.”

‘Well, if I have to be friends with you for a while, that’s fine with me,’
he thought. ‘As long as no other bloke swoops in and tries to steal you
away.’

“Where were you tonight, pet?” Spike asked, deciding to change the subject.

“The library,” Buffy replied with a groan, letting her head fall back on the
couch. “I swear it’s just a modern torture device for college students.”

Spike chuckled. “You’re probably right.” His smile slowly faded as he
watched her squeeze her eyes shut as her hand went up to her neck. “You
okay?”

“I’ve been better,” Buffy murmured with a sigh.

“On the floor,” Spike said, moving to sit up straight.

“What?”

“Get on the floor.”

Buffy did as she was told, watching him in confusion. Her face slowly
relaxed as his hands began moving along her neck and back, working the
stress out of her muscles.

Buffy moaned in pleasure, resting her head on his leg, creating a more
intimate setting as Spike fought his growing arousal while still trying to
continue his movements.

“You have magic hands,” Buffy murmured in a breathy voice.

Spike bit his tongue against any sexual response. Focusing his attention on
her, he fought the urge to let his lips brush against the exposed skin of
the back of her neck, remembering what she said about being friends first.
If that was important to her, then he wasn’t about to let the opportunity
pass him by.

“You’ve turned into the best roommate of all time,” Buffy said with a smile,
leaning her head back to look at Spike upside down.

“Is that right?” Spike replied with a smile, unable to resist as he leaned
forward and playfully kissed the tip of her nose.

Buffy giggled at the affectionate side of him, slowly getting to her feet
and stretching as Spike suppressed a groan.

She resumed her seat next to Spike, giving him a kiss on the cheek in
thanks before grabbing the bowl of popcorn and putting it on her lap.

“Hey!” Spike cried in mock indignation. “I told you to get your own.”

“But this is already here,” Buffy said with a pout, immediately smiling when
Spike grinned at her. “And you do make the best popcorn.”

Spike chuckled, unable to resist her. They turned their attention back to
the screen as ‘Friends’ ended, only to be replaced by an episode of ‘Will &
Grace.’

‘Well, isn’t this ironic,’ Buffy thought with a raised eyebrow. ‘Me and my
gay roommate, watching a show about a woman and her gay roommate.’

Buffy smiled slightly as she shook her head a little. Spike glanced at her
but didn’t say anything as the show began.

“This is a good show,” Buffy said after a few minutes.

“Yeah,” Spike agreed. “But the guy doesn’t seem that gay.”

“Jack?” Buffy asked in surprise. “He’s the stereotype of gayness. Even more
so.”

“Not Jack, the other one.”

“Oh, Will,” Buffy said with a nod. “I guess they wanted to have diversity.
Not everyone is that open about it, right?” she asked, looking at him.

“I guess not,” Spike agreed.

Both looked up after a moment when there was a knock on the door. Buffy
got up, walking over to the door. “Who is it?” she asked with her hand on
the doorknob.

“It’s me.”

Buffy began unlocking the door before she heard Spike’s voice.

“Who’s ‘me’?”

“Our own personal Jack,” Buffy said, smiling at Spike’s confused look.
“It’s Andrew.”

“Bloody hell,” Spike muttered.





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