Chapter 16: The Best Laid Plans
Buffy drifted through her remaining classes, her emotions soaring at the remembrance of the past 24 hours with Spike and the trepidation of the upcoming evening with Angel. She was going to be glad when this was over and she could put it behind her, but she wanted Angel to learn that he couldn’t just toy with women and expect no consequences.
She hurried back to Stevenson as her last class finished and wasn’t surprised to find Willow waiting when she unlocked the door.
“Buffy!” Willow bounced up from her desk where she had been unsuccessfully studying for the past 30 minutes as she waited for her friend to return and dish. “How are things? I’m assuming the plan worked?”
Buffy dropped her bag beside her desk and flopped back on her bed. “Oh yeah, it worked.” She rolled to her side to face Willow. “It was absolutely the best night of my life. Willow, it was so incredible. Spike was, well, he was perfect. And then,” Buffy blushed slightly, “we met back here at lunch again today.”
“You did not? Buffy, you aren’t wasting any time, girl! You two are going to be like rabbits for the next few months.” Willow laughed as Buffy nodded, then ducked under her pillow.
She reemerged after a moment. “Okay, no more kiss and tell here. I don’t make you tell me all the details about Xaaander, now do I?” Willow laughed again and nodded.
“Alright, so what’s the new plan? I got your message this morning – Spike wants to make some changes, do it tonight?”
“Yeah, he made some good points, but.it may require some creative computer stuff on your part.”
“Like what?” Willow inquired.
“Is there any way, once we set up a profile for Angel at that website, that you can send an e-mail to this guy named Lorne’s account so that it looks like spam, but contains a link he’ll be sure to investigate? Spike says he the biggest busybody in the frat, always knows and tells everyone’s business. There’s no way he’ll be able to resist telling about this one. So, can you do it?”
Willow stared at Buffy for a long minute before cackling gleefully. “That is classic. It’ll be a total whisper campaign and no one’s going to believe that Angel’s not a closet transvestite this way. I can so do that, I’ll set up a dummy account and send the e-mail to Lorne that way. So are you ready for tonight?”
“I guess so. I can tell Spike’s kinda nervous, he’s worried about how, well persuasive, I’ll have to be with Angel. He’s going to hang out in Xander’s room tonight until it’s over. You want to come?”
“Sure, why not. What are you going to wear?”
“Well, I was thinking that I’d wear just a nice skirt and top, datish, you know. But I’m packing a bag, and I’m going to take that long white negligee. It’s pretty covering, but virginal, I think it will fit the image Angel’s got. I’m going to ask if I can change after we get there, let him know I’m wanting to do the deed, but then get all weepy and nervous and give him the psycho-babble line to get him ready for the shots. If all goes well, I’ll be in and out of there in 30 minutes or so.”
Suddenly there was a knock at the door, startling Buffy from her plans. She hurried over and peered through the peephole, spying Spike in the hallway. She quickly wrenched open the door.
“Spike, come in.” She dragged him in, and shut the door behind him. She leaned up to kiss him lightly, but found herself getting a little more involved than she’d planned with the simple peck. Willow’s wolf whistle caused the two to break apart.
“Well, so much for the floor show. Hey Spike, I hear you had a nice night.” Willow winked as both of the pair blushed slightly.
“Yeah, I did. And thanks Red, I hear you assisted in that little scheme.”
“No problem, you two were meant to be together.”
Willow couldn’t help but smile as she caught the looks of utter adoration passing between the couple at her last comment. Yep, those two were definitely meant to be. She really was pleased to see Buffy find someone who made her happy.
Buffy pulled Spike over to sit by her on the bed. “So, you just drop by to say hey?”
He smiled, “Well, I actually brought you a present.”
Buffy realized he had been carrying a bag when he entered. He reached inside and pulled out a small black device.
“A walkie-talkie? Spike, why do I need a walkie-talkie?”
“Well, pet, I want you to take this with you tonight. See,” he put the small device in her hand and showed her the proper buttons, “you can set it to an open-channel and then I can hear what’s going on in the room.”
Buffy stared at him. “You want to mic me tonight?”
Spike beamed. “Well, I guess you can look at it that way, yeah.”
Buffy glared at him. “Spike, this is going to be hard enough to pull off without an outside audience. Don’t you trust me?”
Willow jumped up. Clearly this was headed towards a serious ‘talk’ and much as she’d like to observe, she was pretty sure they needed some privacy for this. “Hey guys, I’m going down to the snack machine, see you later.” She hastily exited, realizing that the pair had barely acknowledged her leaving.
Spike jumped up as Willow pulled the door shut and began to pace up and down in front of the bed. “Buffy, I just thought it would be better for you to be able to alert us if something happened, or Angel got too pushy or tried to force you or something.”
“So you don’t think I can handle this? Spike, I know what I’m doing. You said you were cool with this. Don’t get all super-possessive on me now.”
Spike stopped and stared at her. “Super-possessive? Bloody hell, woman, if I were super-possessive you wouldn’t be setting foot in Angel’s room. Do you think I like the fact that you are being picked up for a date in a few hours by another man who plans to try to sleep with you tonight? Do you think it makes me happy to know you’re probably going to be kissing and touching him soon? I don’t care if it is an act Buffy, it doesn’t make me leap for joy to think about it.”
He held up his hand to shush her as she started to protest.
“I know why you’re doing this sweetheart. I understand the reasons and I agreed to it this morning.” Spike stopped and dropped to his knees in front of her on the bed. He took her hand in his. “All I’m saying is that I want this to be over and you to be safe, okay? So will you do this, for me?”
Buffy looked down at Spike and breathed deeply. “So you trust me? And you aren’t going to be weird afterwards about what I may say to him, or what it may sound like? Cause you know this is all gonna be an act tonight Spike. It’s not real.”
He nodded. “Promise Buffy. It’s not that I don’t trust you. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be helping. I just want you to be safe.” He paused and look down for a moment. “And I don’t like that wanker touching you.” He looked back up at her. “Buffy, I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be so possessive, I know we’re just getting started, but, well I’ve spent the last few months thinking he was the man you wanted. I just haven’t quite moved past that yet.” He dropped a kiss on her hand that he held still. “I’m trying, pet, I really am. Just bear with me?”
Buffy looked into his eyes, darkened now with his emotions, and realized he was sincere. She thought she could understand where he was coming from. She knew he’d been burned badly with the whole Drusilla thing, and in some ways, he was probably more sensitive about the thought of her with another man than she had been when she learned of Angel’s infidelities. As hard as it had been to experience her parents’ problems second-hand, it was nothing compared to walking in on the woman you loved in your bed with someone else, as he had. Angel’s little flings hadn’t really touched her the same way, other than some righteous indignation that he wanted to use her like that. She nodded. “Okay. I’ll take the walkie-talkie. Show me how it works?”
He smiled up at her and pulled out the matching device so they could coordinate the channels. Once they had everything set up and the walkie-talkie safely stored in her bag, Spike prepared to leave so she could finish getting ready.
“Buffy, would you like to come by tonight after this is all done? Maybe we could catch up on our Passions?” He tried to be nonchalant with the invitation, tried not to seem pushy. Just because he wanted to spend every minute with her didn’t mean she was ready for constant companionship.
“Yeah, actually, we were thinking Willow could set up her laptop there and we could all see the final product when she’s done.”
“Oh, so you and Willow will come by then?”
“Uh-huh, and Xander, if that’s okay?”
Buffy had to suppress a laugh at his thinly disguised disappointment as Spike nodded, “That’s great. The whole gang, well some of the gang.”
“And then they thought they’d take advantage of the empty dorm room.”
She did giggle then as Spike perked up suddenly. “This empty dorm room? As in a Buffyless dorm room?”
“Yep, I thought I’d take advantage of your open offer of hospitality this morning, I’m thinking I’ll need someone to erase the images I’m going to be getting of Angel in red satin panties. Hmmm, you think you can help me out with that, big boy?” Buffy batted her eyes as she sashayed over to where he stood by the door. After all, he did look like he needed a little reassurance.
Spike snorted, both at her over-the-top antics and the thought of Angel’ s attire. “Oh I can definitely help you out. Red satin? Luv, let me take a look at them.”
Buffy giggled and ran over to her dresser drawer, where she pulled out a pair of large women’s underwear in a shocking red lace and silk combination. Spike doubled over in laughter. “Sweetheart, I’m gonna need copies of those pictures for long-term blackmail. You really think you’re going to get Angel to put those on?”
“He’s a greedy bastard, if he thinks that’s the only way he’s gonna get me, I think he will.”
Spike peered past Buffy into the overflowing lingerie drawer. “Um pet, is there any lingerie in there that’s say, more your size? Like, I don’t know, a black teddy? Or maybe,” he tried to scoot past her to explore further, “something in a leopard print?”
Buffy slammed the drawer shut before he could explore. “Yeah, Xander mentioned your Tarzan/Jane fantasy. Guess you’ll just have to wait and see, now won’t you dear?” She kissed him lightly, resisting the urge to run her fingers down his toned chest and explore him further. Their little nooner had left her hungry for more and she definitely couldn’t wait to be in his bed tonight. Hopefully he’d catch on that she was really, really enthusiastic about being with him, while the thought of Angel simply left her cold. Now, the only question was what to wear, since he was so excited about seeing some of the lingerie she’d bought. She broke her train of thought as she realized she was leaning in for more Spike touchage and firmly anchored her hands behind her back.
“Go, shoo, I have to get ready and it’ll totally give stuff away if you’re here. I’ll turn the walkie-talkie on after we get to Angel’s room, ‘kay?”
Spike gave her one last kiss and moved to leave just as Willow reentered the room, carrying a bag of chips.
“Later Red, you want me to pick you up to take you over to Xander’s for the Buffy and Angel theater?”
“Sure, but how about I come over to your place as soon as Angel picks her up?”
“It’s a plan, see ya.”
As the door shut behind him, Willow dropped to the bed beside Buffy. “So, first fight? How’d it go?”
Buffy grabbed for a chip. “I don’t think it would qualify as a fight. More a light tussle? He’s just worried and he wants me to carry this walkie-talkie thingie so you guys can hear what’s going on.”
“That should be entertaining. It’s probably not a bad idea.”
“I know, that’s why I agreed,” replied Buffy. “It’ll just be weird to have to be all sex kittenish with you guys sitting there listening.”
“Hey, just forget about us. You got everything together?”
“Almost. I’ve got the negligee, the handcuffs, the underwear, the digital camera, the blindfold and the massage oil. Wasn’t that everything? Oh, and I thought I’d try to find something special to wear for Spike later – he’s all excited about that.”
Willow snorted as she crunched another chip. “I love that men are so easy. Wear the little black number, ohhh and take those killer heels too – he should like that.”
Buffy giggled as she pulled out the second outfit, some clothes for the next day and her makeup bag. “I’m going to have to get two sets of everything if I keep going over there so much. This lugging stuff around is a pain.” She packed the second bag. “Will you drop this off at Spike’s for me Will?”
“No prob.”
Preparations completed, Buffy sighed and pulled out her Calc textbook. Not the best way to soothe her nerves, but she had a while before Angel showed up.
<><><><>
Xander looked furtively up and down the hall as he used the master key to unlock Angel’s door. He knew the big guy was at practice, but it wouldn’t do for any of his brothers to see him slipping into the room. Most people were out at this time of day, so he made it in safely.
Xander pulled the lacy thong Cordelia had passed along to him earlier in the day out of his pocket and looked around the room. He needed to plant it somewhere Buffy could easily “stumble” over it, but not somewhere too obvious that Angel would notice. He snapped his fingers, “Under the bed.”
Mentally patting himself on the back, he pulled the comforter back slightly and laughed out loud. There, two inches under the bed where he’d planned to plant the evidence, lay a lacy black thong next to a crumpled empty condom wrapper. Xander dropped the comforter, made his way back to the door and after listening for sounds of anyone in the hall, made his way back out, carefully relocking the door. He hurried back down to his room three doors down and grabbed the phone.
“Hey Will?”
“Hey, sweetie! Did you get it done?”
Xander starting laughing again. “Didn’t have to. I was going to put them under the bed, and low and behold, there lay a pair already, next to a empty Trojan wrapper.”
“No way! Well, I’m thinking this was meant to be then. I’ll pass the word on. Spike’s going to bring me when he comes. We’ll be over just a few minutes after Angel picks up Buffy.” Willow paused. “Thanks, Xander, for doing this. I know Angel’s been your friend for a long time.”
“It’s okay, Will. We haven’t been close for a while now. I’m glad I can help. I’ll see you soon babe, love you.”
“You to.”
Willow hung up and turned to the waiting Buffy. “So? What happened?”
Willow rolled her eyes. “You are not going to believe what Double O Xander found.”
<><><><>
Buffy slammed her book shut, satisfied no further school work was going to get accomplished at this point. She glanced at the clock, realizing she’d managed to kill a few hours. It was now after 5. She should probably start getting ready. Willow glanced up as Buffy started to gather her shower stuff and changed into her robe.
“You getting ready?”
“Yeah, thought I’d shower, then get prettied up. Kinda Angel’s thing you know. He likes the eye candy.”
Willow nodded and turned back to her book as Buffy left the room and entered the hall bathroom, deserted at this time of day. She hung her robe on the hook, turned on the shower and stepped inside, letting the warm water soothe away the tension from the study and the nagging thoughts that had been whirling through her head as she’d pondered things since Spike had left.
Why was she doing this again? It made her nervous. She wasn’t all that comfortable with the plan they’d devised. It was clearly bothering her boyfriend. It might backfire and make them look stupid and vengeful.
She shook her head as she picked up her razor and began to shave her legs. Angel was wrong, clearly. But was what she planned to do right? Spreading lies about him behind his back? She was pretty sure Angel wasn’t a closet transvestite, he was just a blatant womanizer who gave little thought to anyone’s feelings and emotions other than his own. From what she’d heard, he rarely went after girls who didn’t want him, he just never made emotional commitments, took what was offered and moved on when he was no longer satisfied. She suspected his little scheme with her was a first for him, a new low. Cordelia’s comments really made it sound like he’d been serious, he’d actually thought he could make her fall in love with him, get married, do the whole white picket fence thing, except with her money he was probably planning on a lot more than a picket fence.
Buffy felt her anger start to rise again as she began to shampoo her hair. That had been pretty low. Angel obviously had no conception of what a supremely unhappy marriage would be like. If he thought he could marry someone just for their money and expect it to work, then he just didn’t have a clue. Her thoughts jumped back to the night’s plan. Would this really teach him a lesson? He’d probably just get mad and put it down to her hurt feelings that she hadn’t been his one and only, that he hadn’t been all about Buffy from the start. She doubted it’d slow him down that much, other than the rumors.
Her thoughts flipped to the other man this affected as she opened a bottle of her body wash and squirted some out, remembering how he’d gone and tracked down this scent for her, just because he knew she liked it. Spike was clearly not okay with tonight’s events, even though he was trying very hard to be supportive. She wished the timeline had been different, that this hadn’t all crashed down at once. It did seem a little cruel to show up, declare her love for him, sleep with him, then drop the bomb on him the next morning that she wanted to plan a seduction of her ex to get revenge. She doubted she’d have been so understanding if the events had been reversed. And the fact that it was Angel just made things so much worse. They had always been a little competitive. Angel always needed to one-up Spike in stuff and that just made things a little worse here. Was she asking too much of Spike to just blindly trust her after all that had happened, the mix-ups, the jealousy, the confusion between them?
Buffy stared at the shower wall, watching the drops of water as they splashed and slowly slid down the tiles. Somehow, it just wasn’t clear. She wished she knew what she should do.
<><><><>
Angel knocked on Buffy’s door a few minutes after 7. He’d rushed home after practice, set up some candles, picked out some mood music, and generally straightened up. So the little vixen just couldn’t wait. If he’d been reading her right this afternoon, Buffy was very much ready to fall into his arms. He whistled as he waited for her to unlock the door. Cordelia had warned him today that Buffy was seeing a therapist and had really been working through her childhood issues. He could deal with that. He’d lay on the tenderness and understanding, be gentle with her, lots of hearts and flowers. He’d even picked up a bottle of champagne, he figured a little alcohol might help loosen her up. In some ways, this might be better, get past the first time tonight, really lay on the romance the next night.
Buffy opened the door. “Hi Angel, how are you?”
He smiled. “Good.” He produced a single red rose from behind his back. “A rose for the rose.”
Buffy smiled politely as she took the flower. “Thanks, Angel, that’s very sweet.” She laid the rose on her desk as she gathered her bag to take with her.
“Do you mind if we stop by the lounge, I just need to tell Will something before we leave.”
“Sure, no problem. Are her and Xander going out tonight?”
Buffy nodded. “Later I think. They have plans.”
Angel waited as she ducked through the door into the lounge.
<><><><>
“Hey Willow, I’m leaving.”
Willow looked up from the sitcom rerun she was idly watching.
“Angel’s here?”
Buffy nodded. “Yeah.” She dropped her voice. “Hey Willow, can you do something else for me?”
Willow quirked an eyebrow. “Sure, what?”
“If the walkie-talkie gets cut off, don’t let Spike coming charging in, okay? I’ll scream if I need some help.”
Willow looked at her for a minute, then slowly nodded. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Alright then, see you after. You’ll come to Xander’s room?”
“Yeah. Wish me luck.”
Willow gave her a quick hug and Buffy exited the lounge to rejoin Angel.
<><><><>
Angel looked up as Buffy re-entered the hallway.
“Girl talk?”
“Something like that.”
They made idle chitchat as he drove them back to the frat, and Buffy realized that, had this not all occurred, she would liked to have been friends with Angel. He definitely had his downsides, but they’d had some decent times when they were just hanging out. There just had never been the spark, well it was a lot more than a spark really, that she’d found with Spike.
They entered the frat at the rear and took the back stairs up to Angel’s room, entering only moments before a agitated Spike and slightly flustered Willow came up the front to Xander’s room.
They knocked on Xander’s door and entered.
“Xander, tell Spike to calm down. He’s been pondering all these doomsday scenarios all the way here and getting all worked up over nothing. Spike, she’ll be fine. Buffy’s not stupid, she’s had self-defense classes.”
Xander patted Spike on the back. “Calm down man. It’s cool. She took the walkie-talkie, right? I’ve still got the master key. Buffy’s fine.”
Spike quickly switched on his receiver to pick up what was happening a few rooms down.
<><><><>
Angel watched as Buffy moved around his room, checking out the layout, taking in the candles, etc. She’d been a little distant since he’d picked her up, refusing to meet his eyes. He decided she must be feeling a little shy, now that they were here.
“Can I take your sweater, Buff? It’s a little warm in here.”
Buffy nodded and shrugged out of the light sweater she’d worn over a sleeveless top, silently handing it to him. Her mind was racing as she tried to decide what she needed to do. She’d continued her internal dialogue on the pros and cons of this plan as she gotten ready for Angel’s arrival, but had yet to reach a conclusion.
“Did I mention how beautiful you look tonight Buffy? I love your hair when it’s curled and falls down your back like that.”
Angel stepped closer to where Buffy was somewhat nervously picking up various objects on his desk and drew her over to sit on the bed, still clutching the bag she’d brought with her. “You know, I’d love to see what you looked like with all that hair spread out on my pillows. I bet you’d be even more gorgeous then.” He ran his hand down her bare arm, “You have such soft, smooth skin.” Buffy looked away, and he caught her chin in his hand and slowly turned her to him. “Buffy, it’s okay, you don’t have to be nervous.” He gazed at her with his soulful brown eyes. “I think I’m falling in love with you. I want to be with you, baby. I promise I’ll make this good for you.” Buffy stared at him wordlessly as he leaned in closer, his lips skimming along her jawline as he crooned into her ear, “Don’t you want to be with me?”
Buffy suddenly pulled back from Angel and he jerked his head up, surprised by her sudden skittishness. She grabbed the bag she’d been clutching and began pawing around until she found what she was looking for. Then she straightened up, moved away from Angel, and seated herself in his desk chair.
“Angel, I think we need to talk.”
<><><><>
“Don’t you want to be with me?”
The words hung in the air as the walkie-talkie suddenly went dead, the sound no longer carrying. Spike grabbed the small device and began frantically pushing the buttons, to no avail. The other walkie-talkie had clearly been cut off.
The other couple watched as Spike leapt up and made for the door, grabbing the key off Xander’s desk. Willow made a small eep as she realized that Spike was headed to Angel’s room. She jumped up and threw herself in front of the door to bar the determined man from his mission.
“Xander, stop him.”
Spike stopped. “Willow, get out of my way, I have to get to Buffy.”
Willow shook her head vigorously. “Spike, no. Buffy asked me to not let you come in there if she cut it off. She, she was nervous, Spike. She didn’t need an audience. She told me she’d scream if there was a problem, but she was pretty specific.”
Spike stared at Willow, then slowly sat back down in the desk chair as Willow moved away from the door and back to sit beside Xander on the bed. She turned to see Spike make a second dash for the door. Just as he reached for the knob, Willow’s words made him pause.
“If you go in there, she’s never going to forgive you for not trusting her Spike.”
He stopped, his hand poised as her words sank in. He knew in the back of his mind she was right. This was all a setup. No matter how seductive Angel’s little play, she wasn’t in there to cheat on him. He closed his eyes as the image of Drusilla smirking at him flashed through his mind for the hundredth time that day, almost gleeful that he’d walking in to find her being fucked by another man in his bed. Buffy wasn’t like that. She’d told him she loved him just last night. She wasn’t Dru, she didn’t want to hurt him. He owed her this, to show her his trust in her and what they could have. Slowly he turned around and plodded back to the chair, sighing heavily as he dropped his face into his hands.
“Spike, you okay?” Xander looked worriedly at Willow as he watched his friend run his fingers though his bleached hair.
Slowly, Spike lifted his head. “Yeah. Willow’s right. I have to let it go. She’ll let us know if she needs help.” He sighed. “It’s just so bloody hard.”
Willow jumped up and walked over to give him a hug. He gingerly returned it as she squeezed harder. Willow pulled back. “Spike, Buffy’ll probably kill me for this, but how about I tell you all the ways I knew Buffy was in love with you from way back when?”
His face softened as Willow began to tell him about how Buffy used to react when she’d get news from him and the way she describe her “friend” William to the girls in the hall they’d lived in during boarding school. He slowly began to lose some of the tension that had been gripping him since Buffy had told him of this little plan this morning.
<><><><>
“Angel, I think we need to talk.”
Angel looked at Buffy in surprise. The shy, unfocused girl who’d entered the room and had barely met his eyes suddenly was looking at him directly, with a grave expression on her face. He was confused, this wasn’t the normal reaction to his seductions.
“Angel, can we just cut the bull and be honest here?”
“What bull? Buffy, I thought..”
“Angel, you thought wrong. I’m sorry. I have some things to say to you, so please listen, because I don’t want to go through this twice.”
Angel stared. Was this some weird technique that the therapist had suggested? Whatever, he’d play along. “Sure, Buff, go right ahead. I’ll be happy to listen.”
Buffy sighed. Clearly Angel still hadn’t caught on, but he was about to.
“Angel, we haven’t been entirely honest with each other. Let me tell you some things that I haven’t been honest about. Aside from a stupid schoolgirl crush, I don’t think I’ve really ever felt anything for you, other than maybe as a friend, and I really don’t even feel that for you now. I don’t want to see you anymore and I’m not going to the formal with you. I mistakenly thought I was shielding your feelings to not tell you this a few weeks ago, and I regret that now. Angel, I’m in love with someone else and they love me as well.”
Angel jumped up and stalked over to where she was sitting, towering over her. “What are you talking about? You’ve been cheating on me? How dare you? It’s Spike, isn’t it? I always knew that brother-sister routine was a load of crap. What, have you been doing him since high school, Buff? Playing the little innocent virgin routine while you screw your big brother?”
Buffy marched over to his bed and reached under to where Xander had indicated the underwear was. She found the wrapper and thong and pulled them out. “For your information, Angel, I am in love with Spike, who’s a better man than you’ll ever be. And, no, I was not screwing him in high school. I came back here and started dating you because I really thought we might have something. If I’d had a clue what a prick you were in high school, I might have realized what I was missing with Spike a long time ago.”
She waved the items she’d retrieved from under the bed in his face. “Angel, I know all about you. I know about you and Darla.” She almost laughed as his startled look. “I also know about you and Cordy.” Bull’s eye. She’d been right, Cordelia had been sleeping with him too. “And I know about your sad little plan to make me your cash cow. Angel, I’m sorry. I’m sorry you are so self-centered that would think up such a plan. I’m sorry you are so conceited that you’d think you could pull it off. But you know what I’m the sorriest about? I’m sorry that you are so clueless that you have no idea what love is about, and I’m not sure you ever will.”
She stepped away from as she saw the rage growing on his face. “Angel, I came here tonight because I wanted to get revenge on you. I wanted to do something really mean and nasty and embarrass you. But you know what? I don’t need to do that because you are enough of an embarrassment to yourself.” She tossed the underwear and condom wrapper at him and reached for her bag.
“Little Miss High and Mighty. You think you can just tell me off and walk out? Oh, it’s not that easy, sweetheart. I’m going to tell everyone what a frigid little loony bitch you really are, with all your therapists and psycho problems. Spike deserves what he gets with you. Hope he has better luck prying apart the thighs of an ice princess like you.”
Buffy turned at the door. “Whatever, Angel. I don’t see a therapist and I’m not a ‘frigid loony bitch’. I can only hope you’ll get what you deserve. I had hoped we could be civilized here, but I guess not. Have a nice life.”
She walked out the door, not surprised when she heard something crash against it as she pulled it shut. She refused to look back as she walked the short distance to Xander’s room and knocked softly. The door opened and there stood Spike, apprehension and love written across his face. He smiled as he saw her.
“Honey, will you take me home now?”
Spike nodded as he pulled her into the room and guided her to a chair. He didn’t think she realized it, but she was white as a sheet and shaking like a leaf now that this was through. He sat down and pulled her into his lap as she held onto him tightly.
“Buffy, you okay?” Willow was relieved when Buffy slowly raised her head, looking tired but oddly content as she curled against Spike.
“Yeah. I didn’t do it Will. I just couldn’t. I mean, I thought about it a lot this afternoon, and really, it just makes me as scummy as him to start that kind of rumor. So I told him the truth. I tried to break it gently, but well, apparently Angel doesn’t take rejection well. He got pretty nasty, then we screamed at each other some. I told him I knew all about him. It was kind of cathartic. I don’t think we’re going to be friends anymore.”
She turned to Spike, kissing him softly on the cheek. “Oh, honey, I think you better be prepared. Angel intends to tell everyone what a frigid bitch your new girlfriend is.”
Spike turned red until he realized that she had calmed considerably. He nuzzled against her neck. “Well, I think I could dispel that notion pretty quickly, luv, but I’m a gentleman.”
She laughed softly and looped her arms around his neck. “How about we call it a night then?”
He nodded and stood up, carrying Buffy in his arms. “Right then, we’re off. Xander, thanks for your hospitality. Willow, thanks for the advice.” He nodded in her direction. “We’ll see you both tomorrow. Xander, we’re picking the ladies up at 7:30 for dinner, right?”
Xander nodded. “Yeah. I guess we should just consider Angel out of the dinner group. Did you say Faith was going with Jonathan now? How ’bout I give him a buzz, see if they want to fill in?”
Spike nodded, slightly distracted by the warm bundle snuggled in his arms.
“I’ll see you tomorrow Willow, thanks guys,” Buffy called as they exited the room.
She laughed as Spike continued to carry her as he made his way down the stairs and out the main exit of the KET house to his car. They passed several of the brothers on their way out and Spike called greetings and smiled, but kept on going.
Penn watched as the blonde couple exited the front door, watching as the girl began nibbling on Spike’s ear as he hurried to his car.
“Damn, she’s a hottie. Lucky man.” He looked again, faintly puzzled. “Wonder who she is? She looked familiar.”
Lorne stared at Peen as though he were nuts. “Man, don’t you know who that was? The little chickie Spike just strolled out of here with was Angel’s girlfriend, well, I’d say ex-girlfriend now. Whew, we should see some fireworks tomorrow night.”
<><><><>
Angel stared at the shards of glass that now littered his floor from the remains of the shattered paperweight he’d thrown as she’d walked out. He could not believe this. She’d dumped him. He’d never been dumped in his life. He let girls know when things were done. Aside from Cordelia walking away, of course, but they’d had an agreement. Suddenly his eyes narrowed. Cordelia. She’d ratted him out, she must have. There was no way that Buffy could have known otherwise. Well, she’d pay too. But first, he needed a date for tomorrow night. His eyes fell on the lace thong still lying at his feet. Darla, she’d do, even if she was a little slut.
He reached for the phone and grabbed his little black book, flipping though until he found her number.
“Darla, hey baby, it’s me, Angel. How are you?”
Darla bit her lip and struggled to regained her composure as she steadied the tremor in her voice. “Angel, hey, I’m good.” There was a pause before she continued, “I didn’t really expect to hear from you. I thought you said you were trying to work things out with Buffy again?”
“Yeah, that really didn’t work out. I finally realized there’s no point fooling with a little girl like her. What I need is a real woman, like you, Darla. I’m sorry about giving you the brush-off, baby. That was so stupid. I just needed a few days to come to my senses, you know? So I was wondering, would you be my date to the formal tomorrow night?”
Darla gasped. She hadn’t seem that coming. He actually wanted to go out with her? Not just screw her? Maybe her luck had changed. And she hadn’t gotten those test results back yet. The doctor could be wrong. They were probably negative. “Angel, I’d be delighted,” she purred. “When will you pick me up?”
“About 7:30?” How about I take you to that little French place in town, very quaint, for dinner.”
“Sounds wonderful. See you them.” Darla hung up, smiling and humming. Angel had asked her out. Now, if those syphilis tests just came back negative, everything would be great.