Walking into the gym on Angelus’ arm, Buffy’s stomach was a ball of nerves.
Her eyes scanned the area as they walked through the crowd, looking for her
friends and preparing to intercept Spike if she needed to.
“Buffy, you look gorgeous!” Cordelia cried as she walked up to the couple.
“You too, Cordy!”
“And you are?” Cordy asked, turning toward Angelus with a fake smile.
“Angelus O’Connor,” he replied with his own smile, offering his hand. “It’s
a pleasure to meet you.”
Cordy’s smile turned genuine when he brought her hand to his lips and left a
gentle kiss on it.
“Who are you here with?” Buffy asked, smiling at her date when he hooked his
arm around her waist.
“Doyle. He went to get us some punch.”
Buffy was about to respond when Willow and Oz joined the group.
“Hi, guys,” Willow said brightly, wanting to give Angelus the benefit of the
doubt…at least until she had proof to the contrary.
“Wills, you look amazing,” Buffy said, giving her friend a hug.
“Goth alert,” Cordy muttered to the girls as Oz and Angelus began talking
about Oz’s band.
Buffy looked up, feeling her mouth go dry at the sight of Spike in an all
black suit. He wasn’t wearing a tie, choosing to leave the top buttons of
his shirt open, effectively making him the hottest guy in the room.
Drusilla was clinging to his arm, dressed in a red and black old-fashioned
dress, accentuating her skeletal arms.
‘That should be me,’ Buffy thought before shaking off the thought. ‘It
could be you, and you chose Angelus.’
* * * * *
Spike looked up as he walked into the gym, his eyes immediately settling on
Buffy. His blood pressure rose when he saw Angelus standing beside her.
Threats be damned, he was making good on his promise as soon as he got a
chance.
Studying her for a moment, he stared at the black dress that looked like a
second skin. Two spaghetti straps leading to a flattering sweetheart
neckline had Spike nearly gasping for air at the exposed cleavage. The
fabric clung to her body, and he had to restrain himself from walking over
and ravishing her when he saw the slit that extended up the length of her
thigh.
Drusilla led him over to her table of friends and sat down. Spike could
barely see through the crowd from his seat, and after several minutes, he
excused himself to get something to drink. Frowning when he looked around
the gym, he saw Oz onstage, getting ready to start the live music. Cordelia
was dancing with Doyle, and looking around the edge of the dance floor, Spike
finally spotted Angelus, Buffy, and Willow.
Willow was the first to see him coming and glanced at Buffy. Spike could
see her green eyes widen before he even approached.
“Why don’t you two dance for a while,” Buffy said with a smile. “I need to
go to the restroom.”
Angelus merely shrugged and offered Willow his arm. For her part, she kept
her cringe to a minimum as they walked onto the floor.
Buffy spun around on her heel and caught Spike as he reached the group,
grabbing him by the arm and jerking him into the hall.
“What the hell are you doing?” she asked, looking around and making sure
they were alone.
“I told you, luv. I planned on having a little chat with Captain Forehead
if you brought him tonight, and I don’t plan on backing down.”
“Spike, I don’t want you talking to him. Don’t think I won’t make good on
my threats.”
“I have plenty of information on you, princess…or did you forget?”
Buffy’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him. “What are you talking about?”
“How do you think your mum would react if she knew about some of your new
habits?”
“Like what?”
“Sleeping over at your boyfriend’s place.”
Her eyes widened as she took a step back. “Who told you that?” she asked in
a whisper.
Spike’s jaw clenched as he closed his eyes, trying to control his temper
before he said something he’d regret. “So it is true.”
“Jealous?” she asked through clenched teeth, angry at herself for being
tricked into admitting something she didn’t want to.
“Bloody right, I’m jealous,” he countered, taking a step forward and backing
Buffy into a wall.
“Spike…wh-what are you doing?” she asked, her voice coming out in a
breathless whisper.
“Taking back what’s mine,” he replied seconds before his lips met hers in a
tender kiss.
Responding to the kiss for a moment, Buffy’s brain finally caught up with
what he said as she pushed him away. “I’m not yours.”
Watching as she walked toward the door, Spike quickly caught up with her and
pressed his hand against the door, effectively keeping her from opening it.
“Spike, let me go,” she said, a desperate quality in her voice as she turned
around with pleading eyes. “Please.”
“I can’t,” he whispered. “I love you.”
“Don’t do this,” she said softly, shaking her head as tears clouded her
vision.
“Why? Are you starting to realize that you can’t love a rapist?”
“Stop using that word,” Buffy said through gritted teeth. “It was my fault
that I was so drunk…I knew what I was doing when I…when I told him I would
go home with him.”
The uncertainty in her voice reawakened the desire for violence in Spike as
he looked at the door, imagining Angelus’ face being smashed into it.
“You’re not safe with him,” he whispered, catching himself when Buffy shoved
him away.
Buffy jumped forward when the door opened behind her, nearly throwing her
into Spike’s arms.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Willow said, shooting a nervous glance back into the
gym. “But they’re going to announce the Homecoming queen and Angelus is about
to come looking for you.”
“Good,” Spike growled as Buffy shot him a look.
“I’ll be right in, Wills.”
The redhead nodded before disappearing through the door. “Don’t come near
him, Spike,” Buffy whispered, deciding to take a better approach.
Spike raised an eyebrow when she closed the distance between them, feeling
his breathing escalate when her small hands traced the muscles in his chest.
“Please.”
Her eyes were wide and innocent as she kept contact with his body.
“I’ll try,” he replied, his jaw clenched.
A genuine smile came across Buffy’s face before she hooked a hand around his
neck and pulled him down, leaving a gentle kiss on his cheek. Wiping the
lipstick off when she backed away, she breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank
you.”
* * * * *
After returning to Angelus in the gym and making up a lame excuse about why she had been gone for so long, Riley and Sam were announced as the Homecoming King and Queen. Buffy was happy for them, especially considering the fact that she didn’t feel like going onstage and leaving Angelus alone.
‘Because I could definitely see Spike walking over to him and starting something,’ she thought, feeling her boyfriend’s arm wrap around her.
“So, are you staying over tonight?” he asked her, his mouth close to her ear, making her shiver.
“Actually, Willow’s having an after-party, and it’s tradition for me to sleep over there,” she said, looking at the sad expression on his face. “Is that okay?”
“I guess,” he answered. “But it’d be nicer if you stayed the night at my place.” She frowned. “But if you want to hang out with your friends, it’s fine with me.” She smiled graciously at him and leaned against his side.
‘I’ll just make a couple of calls on my way home,’ he thought. ‘I’m sure I can find someone else to keep me warm tonight.’
Spike saw Buffy with Angelus and tried to restrain himself from going over there and pulling her away from him. Dru came over to him and noticed who he was looking at.
“What’s wrong, my Spike?” she asked, kissing his cheek. He looked at her and waved it off.
“It’s nothing,” he said, taking her hand in his. He saw Buffy and Angelus walking to the dance-floor and frowned. “Want to dance, pet?” She nodded and allowed him to lead her towards the rest of the dancing couples. He was close enough to Buffy and Angelus to watch her but far enough to not seem like he was purposely dancing with Dru so that he could keep an eye on his ex-girlfriend.
Willow was dancing with Xander right next to them and looked at Spike.
“Are you two coming to the party tonight?” she asked.
“Yeah, I am,” Spike answered before looking at Dru. “Want to come with me?”
“No, I’m going to the party at Amy’s,” she answered. “Did you forget?”
“Oh,” he replied, nodding. “Yeah. Sorry, luv, do you need a ride?”
“No,” she answered, surprised that he seemed so scatter-brained.
‘But then again, he’s been like that for awhile,’ she thought.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you tonight,” Willow said as the song ended. He nodded and watched Willow walk over to Buffy and Angelus with Xander.
‘I should be able to get my chance at Willow’s then,’ Spike thought. ‘This will be perfect.’
* * * * *
After leaving the dance, Angelus drove Buffy over to Willow’s house and stopped in front of it. She looked at him, confused.
“Aren’t you coming inside?” she asked, part of her hoping that he would while the other part was praying that he wouldn’t.
“No, I think I’m going to head home,” he replied. “I’m kind of tired, and I have an early morning.” She nodded, looking away. “Besides, you should spend some quality time with your friends.”
‘While I go to the Bronze and pick up a sweet young girl for the night,’ he thought, trying not to smirk.
“Okay,” she said, opening the car door. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow then?” He nodded. “Good night, Angelus.” She kissed his cheek and got out of the car.
“Good night, princess,” he said before she shut the door. He watched her walk inside before dialing a number on his cell phone. “Hi, Amy. Are you still going to the Bronze tonight with your friends?” He sped off into the night, never once thinking about the girl he had dropped off.
A few minutes later, Spike walked into Willow’s house, prepared to confront Angelus finally after waiting all night. When he saw Buffy talking with Willow and Cordelia, no Angelus in sight, he frowned.
‘Did the ponce not come?’ he thought. ‘I wonder if she told him not to so that I wouldn’t talk to him. Clever girl, she is. But one way or another, I’m still going to kick that wanker’s ass.’
Buffy saw him walk in and took a deep breath as he approached her and her friends.
“Hi, Spike,” Willow greeted. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Of course,” he smiled. “It’s tradition, isn’t it?” Buffy looked at him and had flashbacks to the three Homecomings prior that they had attended together before coming to Willow’s and sleeping over.
“Do you want a drink?” Willow asked, and he shrugged. “Buffy, why don’t you go and get one, too? You just said that you’re thirsty.” She shot her friend a look before sighing.
“Yeah,” Buffy said quietly, not looking at Spike. “Let’s go.” He nodded and followed her into the kitchen, happy that they were alone. As she opened the door of the refrigerator, he put his hand on hers and kept her from opening it. “What’re you doing?”
“I didn’t come in here for something to drink,” he said, slowly running his hand over her bare shoulder and down her arm. “Where is he?”
“He was tired, so he went home,” she answered, not looking at him. “What does it matter?”
“You know why,” he answered, and she finally turned to look at him. He saw the sadness in her eyes and sighed. “Someone has to step in and talk to him, luv. He’s a monster.”
“What are you talking about?” she hissed. “He’s not a monster! He didn’t rape me, he didn’t force himself on me, and he’s never hurt me, so will you stop acting like he’s a criminal or something? You’re driving me insane!”
“The feeling’s mutual,” Spike replied, smirking. “But it’s not because of the ponce- it’s that dress.” He leaned forward to kiss her, but she pushed him back before their lips could make contact. “What’s wrong?”
“I have a boyfriend, you have a girlfriend, and you were the one who dumped me,” she replied. “This isn’t right, and I don’t cheat when I’m in a relationship. I’m not like you.” He clenched his jaw.
“I never cheated on you,” he said, crossing his arms. She scoffed, looking away.
“So you were just innocently talking to Dru when we were together? You never flirted with her, or lied to me about spending time with her…you didn’t dance with her at the Christmas Dance?!” Buffy asked loudly, her anger overpowering her. “Don’t tell me that you didn’t cheat on me because whether or not you realize it, you did, William.”
“What do you want me to say, Buffy?” he said sternly, looking at her. “I’m sorry. I’ll apologize the rest of my life for making the biggest mistake ever. I love you, and I’m always going to love you. And if you don’t want to be with me, then you’re making a mistake, too.” She took a deep breath.
“Wanting to be with you in the first place was a mistake,” she said before walking out of the kitchen, leaving him standing there alone, tears forming in his eyes.
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