Chapter 16
Buffy lay quietly on her bed, eyes closed, lost somewhere between hazy consciousness and deep slumber. She turned on her back and draped her arms over the warm blankets resting them on her chest, when a soft noise broke through the sleepy mist that surrounded her mind. She tried to open her eyes, but her lids seemed to hold the weight of the world, so she kept them closed, but when she felt her mattress move, she quickly opened them. Her sight was foggy and it took a while for her to focus on the approaching figure that climbed onto her bed and cat-like crept its way up her body. She didn’t need to see him to know who he was; the clear scent of alcohol and cigarettes surrounding her was evidence enough. She held her breath as he crawled all the way up and hovered over her frozen form, his weight resting on his forearms that lay on either side of her.
“Spike, what are you doing here?” She tried to sound angry and outraged, but to no avail, as the word came out like a fragile whisper.
“Shh….” She heard him say before he buried his head in the nape of her neck, lightly kissing his way up to her earlobe.
She gasped as she felt him rest his weight on her, one of his legs between hers as his left hand wormed its way under the covers, pulling them off of her before tugging at her nightgown.
“Sp…” She tried to speak but the words got caught in her throat as his fingers dug into the outside of her thighs hitching up the nightdress.
She heard him moan, as he thrust his pelvis against hers and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his hips. Her hands pulled and tugged at his red shirt, trying to drag it over his head, but he wouldn’t let go of her. His arms wrapped around her, one resting on her thigh, the other on her neck as he pulled her towards him for a bruising kiss. She felt him rub against her and let out a muffled cry into his mouth, running her nails over his clothed back.
He pulled away abruptly to stared down at her, their breaths coming in short urgent pants.
“You’re beautiful, Summers.” He whispered, before diving for her neck once more.
She arched up letting out a moan as she felt the hand on her thigh move between her legs to tug at her panties.
“God… Buffy.” She heard him gasp as his fingers pushed the elastic band to the side.
“Buffy… Buffy, wake up!”
Her eyes snapped open to meet the figure of her mother standing by her bed, lightly shaking her out of her dream.
“Mom?!” Buffy asked confused as a frown settled over her eyebrows.
“You’re going to be late for school, missy.” Mrs. Summers warned her daughter. “Now, get out of bed. I’ll come up before I leave to check if you’re up.” She said as she left the room.
Buffy propped herself on her elbows, her hazy stare scanning the empty room. Her eyes widened as the memories of her dream assaulted her mind.
“Oh… my God.” She whispered to herself but, as a couple more images flashed before her eyes, she repeated with a high-pitched tone: “OH, MY GOD!”
~+~
She quickly scurried down the hall, through the multitude of teenagers with her head bowed and her books tightly clenched against her chest, trying hard to avoid the places where she thought he might be.
“Hey, Buffy!” She heard Willow’s familiar voice and turned to see the redhead standing by her locker next to Oz, waving her hand.
The petite blond smiled and was about to go meet with her when she saw a flash of white hair and black leather turn the corner and head towards Willow. Buffy’s eyes widened and she quickly shouted:
“I can’t now. I’m late for class.” And with that she whirled around and continued down the hall.
Willow frowned at her best friend’s statement.
“Late for class? The bell hasn’t rung yet. And since when is Buffy paranoid about being on time… And for English lit to top it?”
Oz simply shrugged.
“Hey.”
Willow jumped up as she heard the deep male voice coming from behind her.
“Hey, Spike.” She quickly replied while Oz gave him a light nod.
“You guys seen Buffy?” He asked.
“We just saw her on her way to class.” Willow explained.
“Already?” Spike furrowed his brows.
The two redheads gave Spike a shrug.
“Well, I’ll see you guys later then.” The bleached teen said as he quickly sprinted down the hall on his way to class.
~+~
Buffy scurried down the corridor, looking through her books to find her class schedule. She was so engrossed in her current task, she didn’t even notice the curious glances thrown her way, or the incessant whispering that seemed to affect every student she passed by. She let out a satisfied sigh as she found what she was looking for.
“Wednesday… Wednesday…” She muttered as her finger ran over the table printed on the small piece of paper. Why couldn’t she remember what class she had? “Stupid dream!” She mumbled, returning to her search. “English lit.” She said before looking up to see where she was. “That way.”
As she reached the classroom, she looked both ways before turning the knob and entering. She closed the door behind her and let out a deep sight of relief, closing her eyes.
“Safe. Good old English lit, ah.”
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open.
“English lit? That’s with-“
She wasn’t able to finish her sentence as someone opened the door she was leaning against and sent her sprawling to the floor. She groaned as she hit the hard surface, her hair coming to cover her face but she quickly scrambled to her feet. Exhaling sharply, she sent her blonde strands flying away from her face. She had to suppress a high-pitched squeak when she saw who was standing in front of her, holding the door open.
“Spike.” She groaned, rolling her eyes as she turned on her heels and made her way to her desk, by the window.
“Hey, luv! Nice to see you too.” He mumbled sarcastically, closing the door behind him.
“What are you doing here?” She asked with an annoyed tone, trying hard to repress the memories of her dream, which seemed intent on flashing before her eyes.
“Question would be: why are you here, luv? Class hasn’t started yet.” Spike noted coming to lean on the desk next to hers.
Buffy ran her fingers over her tired eyed, pushing back the nasty images and groaning.
“Are you ok? Is it because of yesterday? Cause I thought-“
“No, I’m fine.” She grumbled.
“Oh, yeah, you’re just peachy, luv.”
“Can you please quit calling me that?” She practically begged.
Spike melted down to his seat and stared at her.
“Is it cause of you’re mom? Cause-“
“Spike, stop trying to analyse me. I told you – I’m fine. I’m just tired. Had a really, *really* bad dream.” She moaned as she rested her head between her hands, her elbows on the desk.
“Sure that’s just it?” He asked and couldn’t help letting a hint of worry filter through to his tone.
“Spike, why are you asking me all these questions?” She groaned finally looking up at him.
He was about to answer, when the classroom door was opened.
“How’d you kids get in here?” Mrs. Kennedy’s voice hovered into the room and the two teens quickly turned to face her.
“Hey, Mrs. Kennedy.” Buffy greeted awkwardly.
“Ms. Summers.” The 30-year-old woman nodded, resting her things on her desk. “Never thought of you as someone to come early to class. I thought you hated English Literature.”
“I- I… don’t… I…” Buffy stumbled over the words.
“No need to stutter, Buffy, I’m glad to see you’ve taken an interest in my class.” Mrs. Kennedy smiled and winked at the petite blonde from under her glasses.
Buffy let out a sigh of relief while Spike stood up and strolled over to speak to the teacher. Buffy frowned as she watched the two quickly exchange a few words, with Mrs. Kennedy nodding before the bleached teen turned on his heels and took his place next to Buffy.
“Why are you smiling? I don’t like it when you do that. It’s a sign of bad things to come.” Buffy grumbled, raising her eyebrow.
The school bell rang and Mrs. Kennedy opened the classroom door to let in a flood of pimpled teens. A wave of gossip and whispering soon filled the room as everyone eyed the blonde couple now seated together.
“Aren’t you going to take you’re seat?” Buffy questioned.
Before Spike could answer, Mrs. Kennedy called out:
“Ms. Kendal.” She had no answer as the blonde teen enthusiastically chatted with a fellow student while eyeing the infamous couple. “Harmony Kendal!” Mrs. Kennedy called once more and this time the girl acknowledged her. “If you wouldn’t mind, I would like you to change seats with Spike.”
Buffy’s eyes widened, staring at Spike while he wiggled his eyebrows at her and smirked.
“What?! Why?” The teen whined.
“Because from now on, Spike will tutor Buffy in her English Literature studies. And it would do you good not to be so close to your cheerleading colleges. You seem to have a great deal of difficulty concentrating when you’re near them.” Mrs. Kennedy answered as she turned to write something on the board.
“But-“
“Not another word, Harmony.” Mrs. Kennedy warned, not bothering to turn and face the teen.
Reluctantly, the blonde teen picked up her things and mumbled as she dragged her feet across the room to reach her new desk:
“Tutoring, my ass…”
“I heard that, Ms. Kendal.” Mrs. Kennedy warned before starting the class.
An hour later, the school bell rang once more and a combined sigh of relief coming from the students was heard, as instantly the teens began packing their books and preparing to leave.
Spike leaned on his new desk watching as Buffy awkwardly stuffed her things into her backpack.
“Are you nervous, pet?” He finally asked, cocking up a curious eyebrow.
She had spent the entire class avoiding him, frantically scribbling on her notebook. If he didn’t know her better he would have thought she was actually trying to learn something. Every time he’d glance at her or call her, she’d turn bright red and would just stare down at her books.
“I’m fine.” She breathed, putting her bag over her shoulder.
“Well, you look kinda jittery to me.” He insisted as they walked out the door together.
“I’m just busy. I-I gotta go.”
And with that she was sprinting down the hall, leaving behind a dumbstruck teen.
~+~
Two days passed and Buffy continued intent on avoiding him, being quite successful at it. She had only seen him once, on Thursday, and she had managed to hide before he saw her.
She let out a content sigh as she entered the house and dragged her feet up the stairs. She plopped down on her bed, lying on her back, staring up at the ceiling, when the phone rang. She grunted as she reluctantly crawled her way up her bed to her nightstand and picked up the receiver.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Buffy.” Willow’s peppy mood was heard from the other side of the line.
“Hey, Wills.” The blonde teen mumbled, rolling onto her back and closing her eyes.
“So, what time tonight?”
“Tonight?” Buffy frowned as he mind drew a blank. “What about tonight?”
“The Bronze… remember?”
“Oh… right.” Buffy uttered with little enthusiasm.
“Don’t tell me you’re not coming.” Willow begged as she knew her best friend all too well.
“Well… I’m kinda tired and my mom-“
“Oh, come on, Buffy! You said you’d come, you promised.” Willow whined.
“Why do you want me to come?” Buffy wondered.
“Well, I-I… you’re my best friend and-and… it wouldn’t be any fun if you didn’t come.” The redhead stammered.
“Right… Now, let’s try this once more, and without the pathetic attempt to lie.” Buffy mumbled, pressing her fingers against her shut eyelids.
“I-I’m not lying.”
“Come on Wills. You couldn’t lie if your life depended on it. Now out with it!” Buffy ordered with a light tone.
“Oh, alright!” Suddenly, Willow’s tone became giddy with childlike excitement. “I’m not supposed to tell you this but…” There was a moment of pause before the hysterical redhead shouted into the receiver: “Oz’s band it playing tonight!”
Buffy jumped up, letting go of the phone to rest her hand on her ear. A string of curses passed through her clenched teeth before she picked up the receiver.
“Buffy, are you there?”
“Yeah, I’m here. I’m bleeding from my ear, but I’m here.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry! It’s just that… OZ IS PLAYING TONIGHT!” Willow yelled once more causing Buffy to jump up again.
“Ok, Willow, which part of ‘I’m bleeding from my ear’ didn’t you get? Was it the ‘ear’ or ‘the bleeding from’?”
“I’m sorry.” Willow said in a small voice. “It’s just that I’m so excited.”
“The constant ringing in my ear is definitely proof of it.”
“I’m sorry.” The redhead begged.
“It’s ok, Wills. No biggy.” Buffy said as she stuck her finger into her ear and cringed.
“So you’re coming right?”
There was no answer.
“Oh, come on! You gotta come. I’m bringing a video camera and all!!!” Willow’s excitement was evident in her high-pitched tone.
“I…”
“Pleeeeease.”
“I can’t promise anything. But I’ll try, ok?”
“Ok. I gotta go now. Gotta pick my least non-sexy outfit.” Willow giggled.
“Bye Wills.”
“Bye.”
Buffy remained lying on the bed, on her back, letting the busy signal from the receiver echo in her ears for a few seconds before putting it back in place. She closed her eyes and was slowly drifting to sleep when she heard the door to her room swing open.
“Honey?” Her mother’s voice filled the room.
“Mom? What are you doing home?” Buffy asked as she slowly propped herself up on her elbows. She frowned when she saw what her mother dressed up and… “You’re wearing make up!”
“Yes.” Mrs. Summer nodded, tightening her grip on the peach-coloured shawl that was draped over her slender shoulders.
“You never wear make up. Not even on your last few dates.” Buffy noted suspiciously as she sat up straight.
“That’s true.” Another annoyingly peaceful nod was thrown Buffy’s way.
“Why are you wearing make up?”
“I’m going on a date.”
“Again?! You’ve gone out on dates every night this week.” Buffy noted a bit outraged by her mom’s behaviour.
“Buffy, I’m a grown woman and I have the right to go out as much as I please.”
Buffy sighed in frustration as she stood up.
“I know mom, but… “ She paused, choosing her words. “Is it serious?”
“What is, honey?”
“The person you’re going out with… Is it serious? I mean if it’s make up worthy, it’s probably serious.” Buffy stated.
Mrs. Summers pressed her lips together. She really didn’t want to talk about this right now.
“Honey… I don’t know.”
“Am I going to have to meet him?” Buffy questioned with a hint of desperation.
A soft smile crept over the older woman’s lips as she shook her head.
“Not just, yet.”
“Good.” Buffy sighed in relief walking back to her bed while her mother stayed at the doorway.
“Are still going out tonight?” Mrs. Summers asked.
“I don’t know. I might.” Buffy mumbled as she plopped down on the bed.
“Well, have fun.” Her mother started to leave, when she stopped and her face gained a light shade of red. “I-I might be late tonight.”
Buffy tilted her head and cocked a suspicious eyebrow before she asked:
“How late?”
“Late.” Mrs. Summers clearly tried to avoid the subject.
“How late, mom?” Buffy insisted.
“I might not come home tonight.” Mrs. Summer’s blurted out, finally finding the courage to word it out. But before her daughter could say anything, she closed the door, sprinted down the stairs and out the front entrance, leaving Buffy sitting on her bed, trying to pick up her jaw.
~+~
She walked around in circles in her room, clenching and unclenching her hands at her sides, her nails digging into her sweaty palms.
“My mom is having sex with a stranger?” She mumbled the words in disbelief for the 100th time that evening. “My mom. Is having sex. With a stranger.” Her stomach turned, doing a couple of painful flip-flops. “Oh, God… I think I’m gonna be sick.” She managed to word out as she ran her way down the hall and into the bathroom, kneeling in front of the toilet to throw up.
After the nauseating deed was done, she let her body fall limply to the white tiled floor and leaned on the cold wall, closing her eyes tightly shut. She grumbled under her breath as she heard the doorbell and contemplated just letting it ring. She really didn’t feel like getting up right now. Eventually, the clear resonant sound started to dig into her brain causing a major migraine and she forced her tired body into the standing position, sluggishly making her way down the stairs while the ringing became incessant.
“I’m coming, I’m coming. For Christ sake will you just hang on a sec?” She shouted just as she swung the door open. She rolled her eyes as she was greeted by the familiar peroxide blond.
“You’re not dressed yet.” He noted as he saw the thick, white robe she was wearing and the cute bunny shaped slippers.
“No? Really? You have such cunning observational skills. You amaze me!” She uttered with fake enthusiasm as she dragged her feet to the living room.
Spike frowned as he walked in, closing the door behind him and followed the petite blonde.
“I see you’re in you’re usual peppy mood tonight.” He said watching her plopped down on the couch and idly flip through the channels.
“Don’t push me Spike, I’m not in a good mood.” She grumbled, her eyes never leaving the flickering images coming from the TV.
“Oh… that’s new.” He retorted.
Rolling her eyes once more, she turned to look at the black-clad teen and realised he had his hand conveniently concealed behind his back.
“What are you hiding?” She asked, trying to sound uninterested.
“Nothing.” He answered with a grin.
“What is it?” She insisted sitting up straight.
“Nothing.”
Without a word, she stood up and walked over to him. He immediately stepped back.
“Come on. What’re you hiding?” She repeated.
His grin grew wider as she tried to circle around him, but he kept turning, never giving her the chance to see what he was concealing. They played the cat and mouse game for a while, and eventually, Buffy was trying to keep from giggling as she attempted to reach his back, pushing and pulling at him. Suddenly, she violently tugged his forearm, causing him to lose his balance and, instinctively, he brought both arms to his front to find support on the coach, revealing a single red rose in his left hand.
Buffy frowned:
“A rose? For me?” She asked a bit confused.
“No. It’s for your mom.” He quickly answered, seeing the sparkle in her eye die out.
“Oh…” She mumbled embarrassed.
He felt a pang in his heart and quickly told the truth:
“I’m kidding, luv. It’s for you.”
She didn’t say anything, just looked up at him with a puzzled expression on her face.
“Why?”
“It’s our one week anniversary. I was going to bring you a bouquet but I thought you’re mom might get suspicious.” He explained.
Buffy narrowed her eyes. Was he blushing?
“One week anniversary?”
“Yeah. We agreed to our fake dating scheme a week ago, remember? ‘We’ll hold hands?’”
“Oh… right.” It was her turn to blush as she picked the rose from his hands.
“I-I know, it’s stupid. I-I shouldn’t have-“ Spike started awkwardly.
“No-no. I-I like it.” Buffy stuttered as she went into the kitchen to get a glass of water and put the rose in it.
“If you don’t like it, you can just throw it away. I don’t care. It was just…” Spike nervously began to ramble.
“No, I like it.” Buffy repeated with less hesitation.
A moment of unbearably awkward silence filtered between them as they stood together in the kitchen. Buffy was the one to break it.
“Do you want something to eat?”
“No, thanks. I already ate. And we’re going to be late anyway, if you’re still going to get dressed and all.”
“I don’t think I’m going.” She replied.
“What do you mean? You’re not going to short stick’s gig?” Spike question frowning.
“Short stick?” Buffy cocked up an eyebrow.
“Oz. Red’s boyfriend.”
“Short stick… right. Look who’s talking.” Buffy grinned as she eyed the bleached teen up and down.
“Hey!” He protested.
Buffy smiled triumphantly, but it soon crumbled as realisation came.
“Wait a second. Willow told you about it? I thought it was supposed to be a secret.” Buffy said with a pout.
“Wasn’t her. Was Oz. Told me while we were playing football.”
“You and Oz play soccer together?”
“And the whelp.”
“And Xander?”
Spike nodded.
“And Oz told you about the concert.” Another nod. “Since when are you and Oz buddies?”
“What can I say? People are just naturally drawn to me.” He shrugged. “So are you getting dressed or not?”
Buffy sighed forcibly before, nodding and sprinting up the stairs.
“Give me 5 minutes.” She shouted back.