Chapter 50
Cheers roared throughout the audience as the cascade of black mortarboards rose in the air only to rain back down upon the graduating seniors.
A series of excited whistles and calls erupted from Elizabeth’s companion, causing her to cast a skeptical look his way. It had been all she could do to keep Spike from snoring out loud as the head of the college read from the seemingly endless list of names. Spike’s current vibrant enthusiasm almost made her doubt that he’d been drifting off five minutes before.
In the end, she really couldn’t blame him. After all, she was excited that the ceremony was over, too. She’d come to the conclusion that no matter how hard any school tried, graduations were just plain boring.
Elizabeth’s attention turned from her lover back to the graduating procession as the new graduates escaped the crowded outdoor auditorium. Although Elizabeth had managed to nab seats only five in from the central aisle, her vertical handicap still meant that she really couldn’t see a thing. In vain, she stood up on her tiptoes, jumping occasionally and studiously ignoring Spike’s pointed chuckles.
“Tara’s passin’,” he informed her, trying to cover up his amusement and failing miserably.
Finally giving up and admitting that, yes indeed, she had a problem, Elizabeth stood up on the collapsible folding chair behind her to wave at her friend.
Several other people were laughing at the short freshman’s antics now. Elizabeth merely shot them a dazzling smile and waited for Willow to pass.
“Uh…you sure that’s safe?” Spike was eyeing the swaying folding chair nervously.
Elizabeth just shrugged and then waved excitedly when she saw Willow passing.
Willow gave her a wide grin and held up her diploma proudly.
Elizabeth clapped and jumped up and down a few times.
Spike promptly caught her around the waist and lifted her bodily back down to the ground. He glared at the rickety chair like it was some kind of deathtrap.
“Worrywart,” Elizabeth accused lightheartedly. She remained on solid ground now that her friends had passed, though.
He shrugged. “Fancy breakin’ free of this crowd and findin’ our illustrious former RA?” he inquired, a hint of desperation in his voice.
Elizabeth nodded and followed his remarkably quick progress through the jostling students with a little grin. “Does the Big Bad not like crowds?” she teased.
An annoyed scowl was her only response before they broke free of the turmoil. “Cuttin’ around behind the math building,” he explained their rather bizarre path now that they actually had room to walk side-by-side.
Elizabeth noticed the melancholy in his voice and flashed him a reassuring smile. “Will and Tara will both be great in graduate school,” she decided perkily. “And we’ll all manage to live without them. We’ll just have to e-mail and call a lot.”
“But will that really substitute for all that chocolate they stuff you with after ‘ve made an ass of myself?” he retorted with a glint of humor in his eyes.
Elizabeth glared at him. “Like right now?” she teased.
He let out an annoyed snort and turned onto the hidden little path between the math and biology buildings.
“It’s okay to admit you’ll miss them,” Elizabeth insisted. “There’s no need to put on this surly act.”
“Funny,” he countered. “Was just about to say the same thing about you, but replacin’ ‘surly’ with ‘chipper’.”
They exchanged an irritated look…and then began laughing.
“God, we’re screwed up,” Elizabeth decided.
“But at least we’re screwed up in a mutually compatible way,” Spike countered.
She smiled softly at that and then slipped an arm around his waist, breathing in the comforting scent of Spike and leather before she rested her head on his shoulder. “What am I going to do when it’s you leaving?” she asked softly.
His arm sneaked around her shoulders for a reassuring squeeze. “Won’t ever happen,” he insisted vehemently.
“You’re going to graduate,” she pointed out.
“Doesn’t mean ‘m going anywhere,” he countered.
“You can’t just let me hold you back,” she retorted. “You’ve got a life, too, and—”
“—You’re the most important part of it,” he cut her off. “You can’t hold me back from my life when you’re an integral part.”
“But you’ve got to have some ambitions!” Elizabeth insisted.
“I don’t even have a major!” he shot back.
Elizabeth shook her head, smiled, and brushed her lips across his forehead. “We’re not ever going to stop fighting, are we?” she asked rhetorically.
“God, I hope not,” Spike agreed as they emerged from the path right behind the tent that had been set up as the site of celebration for this year’s graduating science majors. It took him only an instant to spot the characteristic red head amidst the crowd.
Willow spotted his platinum curls equally quickly and waved them over.
They quickly found themselves among the small circle of Westing House students that had remained in town for the graduation ceremony.
Oz, who had taken up the role of lead singer during Devon’s summer internship, would stay in Shady Glen the entire time, playing at the Blue Club.
Xander’s wanderings were vague, as usual, and he’d remained for this occasion even though there were tentative plans to meet Anya in New York at the end of the month.
Cordy’s rather bizarre satire of the world of college students had been performed the night before to amused audiences gathered for the graduation. The absurd props depicting a frighteningly accurate view of student furnishings had been a screaming success, although Spike still shuddered to look at them.
The rest of the house had scattered for the summer, making their good-byes as their buses departed. Willow had bawled her eyes out through it all. She was doing it again now.
“I *sniff* love you guys,” she announced, snatching up Oz in an impromptu hug that – surprisingly – had his cheeks flushing red. “You’re *sniff, sniff* the best friends ever!” She broke down again before she caught sight of an elderly woman wearing the somewhat ridiculous garb of a professor of the biological sciences. She took to inform her professor, amidst tears, how much she’d enjoyed all of her classes.
Spike looked at the professor, snickered, and put a hand over his mouth. Xander joined him in their amusement.
Elizabeth tried to rein in her own mirth. “Mature much?” she demanded.
“Oh, come on, Summers,” Spike retorted, “the woman’s wearin’ a sunflower on her head!”
A chortle of laughter escaped Elizabeth’s lips at the bright yellow tassels that ran all around the rim of the professor’s hat. She had to admit, it did look like someone had plopped a sunflower straight on the head of the poor, unsuspecting woman.
Willow returned at that moment, and Elizabeth fought for her composure. “Oz, have you seen my parents around anywhere?” she asked, still sniffling slightly.
“They were about two rows in front of us.” Oz gestured to Xander. “They should be here soon.”
Willow nodded and bit her lower lip. “Do you think I have time to go over to the humanities tent and see Tara?” she asked anxiously. “Or, maybe, Tara’s coming over here…or maybe she’s waiting for me over there…or maybe we’ll both decide to go check at exactly the same time, and then we’ll miss each other and then—”
“Red?” Spike interrupted her.
“Yeah?”
“Babbling,” five voices informed her in perfect unison.
“Right.” Willow took a deep breath.
“How about we go find Tara and you wait for your parents?” Elizabeth offered.
“Right. Good idea.” Willow looked like she was torn between wringing her hands nervously and breaking out into tears again.
“Look at it this way,” Spike offered before he and Elizabeth vanished off into the crowd, “at least you don’t ‘ave to wear the sunflower hat yet.”
Willow’s diploma landed squarely on the crown of his head with a gentle thwap, and laughter accompanied his all-out flight from the science’s division.
“Baby,” Elizabeth teased lightly when she noticed he was still rubbing his head pitifully at the non-force of the blow.
“Should’ve known I couldn’t get any sympathy around here,” he insisted, jutting out his lower lip in that manner that he was thoroughly convinced wasn’t sulking.
“None whatsoever,” she agreed with an unrepentant smile as they escaped yet another human traffic-jam to emerge before the humanities tent.
“See her?” Spike inquired, doing a bit of his own jumping to see over the crowd. After all, he wasn’t particularly tall, either.
“And you mocked me…” Elizabeth shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest in an irritated manner.
He let out an annoyed snort and continued his futile search of the crowd.
“My guess is that she’ll be someplace quiet-ish,” Elizabeth finally pointed out.
Spike, being Spike, of course refused to acknowledge that she was right, even after their quick scan of the perimeter found Tara sitting on the steps of the International Studies building, smiling shyly at the professor that was congratulating her.
Spike and Elizabeth arrived just as the teacher left, and Elizabeth pointedly ignored Spike’s comment about the overall silliness of academic hats to receive Tara’s wide smile and hug.
“You did it!” Elizabeth said with a little squeal. “Congrats.”
Tara practically beamed and, in an uncharacteristic display of boldness, hugged Spike as well.
This had the rather amusing effect of turning Spike’s face beet-red and causing him to duck his head in a bashful manner as he murmured his congratulations.
“Are you waiting for someone?” Elizabeth inquired. “Family?”
“My family?” Tara retorted with a roll of her eyes. “They’re still appalled that I’m not locked in the kitchen twenty-four seven, serving their needs.” Tara looked around hopefully. “Where’s Willow?”
“Stuck waitin’ for her folks,” Spike provided, face still flaming. “She sent us to invite you over to the Westing celebration.”
“Great!” Tara agreed enthusiastically.
Elizabeth gave her a curious look.
“It’ll be nice to hang out with people I actually know,” Tara provided. A wicked little smile crossed her face, and she reached up to give Spike a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for coming to get me, sweetie.”
Spike’s face was purple once more at this, and Tara and Elizabeth tried very hard not to laugh as they wound their way back to the science’s division.
“Kitty-cat,” Elizabeth insisted, giving his hand a little squeeze.
He lamented that he was still too off-balance to retort.
* * *
The post-graduation party had been grudgingly hosted by Joyce and a recently-returned Rupert Giles. Even more grudging had been their agreement to host boxes of various students until they had properly shipped them. The dorm had officially closed the previous afternoon, leaving the Giles’ living room a maze of stacked cardboard boxes.
As a result, the festivities had occurred out back by the lake, and a barbecue grill had been set up to provide the necessary nutrients. Fortunately, Joyce and Giles had been able to capture the Rosenbergs in an academic debate, keeping them from turning their noses up at the whole affair and allowing the students to spend their last afternoon together in peace.
The afternoon had been spent recounting the most embarrassing stories they could think of in an effort to mortify Willow and Tara out of their nostalgia. However, even the constant repetition of The Great Food-Fight Of ’98 didn’t seem to be sending Willow running away screaming like it usually did. The former lovers had separated from the group several times that afternoon to share quiet giggles off by themselves. No one had begrudged them their time alone.
Oz had been the first to leave, owing to the gig he had that night. Xander and Cordy had agreed to accompany him, while Willow’s parents had fled back to their motel and Willow and Tara had gone off on a walk together before Tara’s bus left at eight.
Half-heartedly, Elizabeth and Spike had offered – well, actually Elizabeth had offered while maintaining a vise-like grip on Spike so that he couldn’t escape – to help with the clean-up.
Much to Spike’s relief, Joyce had insisted that they go out and enjoy the last night of the school year…after all, tomorrow they would be lugging all those boxes out of the living room.
The blond pair had found themselves wandering aimlessly down Cedar Avenue, just enjoying the first time they’d had alone together in a long and hectic day.
Elizabeth had always been a bit amazed by this – how they could not speak a word and yet be just as comfortable together as they were when enjoying one of their little arguments.
“’ll miss ‘em,” Spike’s soft-spoken statement interrupted her introspection.
A satisfied smile sneaked onto Elizabeth’s countenance. “Oh?” she inquired.
“Won’t be the same without ‘em next year,” he shrugged, burying his hands in the jean pockets. The June heat was finally enough that even Spike had been forced to admit defeat and leave the black leather duster at home.
Elizabeth nodded in agreement and tried to keep her eyes from watering. “I refuse to lose touch,” she insisted vehemently.
He chuckled. “Just another reason for me to stay by your side,” he commented off-handedly. “You can keep in touch with all the friends ‘m too lazy to write to.”
She shook her head. “No way, buster. You are so going to have to fend for yourself.”
“Stubborn bint,” he sighed wearily.
“Persistent jerk,” she teased back.
A chuckle, and they returned to their quiet walk. The sun was setting now, setting the sky ablaze with a palate of reds and oranges that made the artist in Elizabeth instantly jealous.
“That reminds me,” she began, “Joyce said you’ve got her copy of Hibbard’s Bernini hidden away somewhere. I need to borrow it.”
A raised eyebrow.
“Required reading for Steinberg,” she provided.
He nodded. “’S all yours, luv.”
“Good,” she agreed, turning back to the sunset, “I’ll need it to beat your grade.”
He chuckled at that. “Tryin’ to best me again, kitten?” he teased fondly.
“Perpetually,” she agreed.
“I did get an A in that class, you know…”
“Then, I’ll just have to get an A+,” Elizabeth concluded.
“College doesn’t allow those,” he pointed out.
Her nose scrunched up in a frown. “Then I’ll just have to kick your ass at something else,” she decided. “Fancy a bout or two in the gym before it closes?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he agreed.
She sighed and followed him on their altered course. “I’m really pushy and obnoxious,” she finally pointed out.
“Yeah?”
“Jerk-ass!” she scowled at him. “You’re not supposed to agree with me!”
“What, I can’t agree with you even when you’re tellin’ the truth now?” he teased.
She grumbled certain obscene British cursewords she’d picked up over the past year just loudly enough that he could hear them before continuing. “I’m amazed that you can put up with me,” she finally concluded.
“Well, you put up with me, don’t you?” he countered.
“And quite an effort it is, too,” she teased, giving his waist a quick squeeze.
A smile quirked upon the edges of his lips. “Think it’ll ever get any easier?” he inquired.
“I doubt it,” she countered, “but it wouldn’t be half as much fun if it did. You?”
“Feel exactly the same way,” he agreed with a shy smile before the Big Bad returned with a vengeance. “So, I love you, you love me, can we sing the purple dinosaur song now?” he demanded, sarcasm dripping from his words.
“God, you’re such a pain,” she informed him, climbing the stairs to the gymnasium. “I am so going to kick your ass for that comment.”
“No doubt,” he grumbled, holding the door open for her.
With a smile of triumph, she pushed a lock of golden hair behind one ear and entered the gym.
“Thought you were gonna dye that,” he demanded, following her inside.
“God, you’re never going to stop about that now, are you?” she complained as the door swung behind them.
The door shut with a metallic clang just as the sun sunk beneath the horizon, bathing the earth in a deep, rich blue, and in the silence that followed, Spike’s perpetual reply could just faintly be heard:
“Never.”