Chapter 5: Dancing
At a few minutes after 10:00PM, Cordelia arrived back at Stevenson with Harmony, Stephanie and Diana, three of her sorority sisters, to head out for KET. The six girls strolled along towards the frat, chatting about schedules, the upcoming rush and who was back from summer break. Before long they had reached the party.
The door was opened by Xander, who waved a cup of adult beverage at them, motioning them inside.
“Well hello, ladies, and you are all looking fine tonight!” He gave a low wolf whistle as they filed past him.
“If you have bags or whatever, you can put them in a room at the end of the hall. We’re keeping it locked up, so you don’t have to worry about your stuff going missing. Spike is back there, he’s the key man right now, so he’ll let you in.”
Buffy offered to take all of their purses and a few light jackets back so the others could move into the main room where the band was playing. She moved down the hallway towards the back, which obviously led to a kitchen of some sorts, her arms full.
“Spike? Spikey? Where are you?” Buffy called, not sure he could even hear her over the throbbing bass coming from the front of the house.
“Hey Goldilocks, you came.” He popped his head out of the kitchen and she ventured further back. He took a moment to savor the sight of Buffy, wearing a pair of tight leather pants and a red top with some tiny little straps holding it up. Her hair framed her face in soft curls and he was sure that she’d never looked lovelier.
“Yeah, I heard you were the all important key man. I’ve got to drop off these purses in wherever you guys are locking them up.”
He pulled the keys out of his pocket and directed her down a small side hallway to a door. And stopped short as she preceded him down the hallway. She didn’t have anything on her back, except a few small threads.
“Um pet, I think you forgot something at home.” Buffy turned around, puzzled as he moved past her to unlock the door to the small room and allow them inside to the twin bed where various items had been tossed.
“I don’t think so. I have my keys, a tube of lipstick and some cash. Do I need an ID or something? You guys know how old I am.”
Spike swallowed. Suddenly this space seemed too small and close. “No, I mean, your shirt, the back is missing.”
Buffy laughed. “Oh Spike, it’s supposed to be missing. It’s a backless halter. Come on, you’ve got to have seen other girls wearing them this summer.”
“Well yeah, but they weren’t you.” Spike suddenly stopped, aware how that sounded. His mind raced, trying to figure out how to retract the statement, when he realized that wasn’t going to be a problem as Buffy interpreted his words quite differently than how he’d meant them.
“Look Spike, I appreciate you helping us move, I appreciate all your advice, but you are not my big brother.”
Suddenly the talk from this afternoon came rushing back, complete with Cordelia’s surprise about her lack of sexual adventures.
“You scared everybody off in high school. It was cool. I appreciated you keeping me safe. I wasn’t ready to fend off some of those guys myself.”
She moved closer and he found himself backed against the wall.
“But Spike, this is the grown up Buffy. I’m an adult now. I can look out for myself. You haven’t been around to take care of me for the past three years and I’ve done just fine. So don’t think, just because I’m back, that you can get all overprotective again. If I want to wear a backless halter I will. If I want to go out there, do a few shots and strip for the crowd, I will. And if I want to go home with some random guy tonight, I will. Got it?”
Spike stared down at her, a little overwhelmed by the random jumps his brain was making. First thought, “She is so hot when she’s fired up.” Second thought, “She’s never going to see you as more than a big brother.” Third thought, “Buffy doing a strip tease.” His pants got a little tighter. Fourth thought, “If she tries to strip, I’m picking her up and taking her home to Giles.” Fifth thought, “Or I could take her home with me and spank her.” His pants got even tighter and he hoped she didn’t look down.
He had yet to form a thought fully composed enough to reply to her when she whirled around on her heel and stalked out of the room and back towards the party. He let out the breath he’d been holding and exited the room, locking it back. He was in for a very long night, but maybe, just maybe, he’d find a way to get a little closer to her and make her see him a little differently. Now where was the next wanker who was supposed to hold these keys? He needed to get into the main room.
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Buffy was still breathing hard as she made her way down the hall. How dare he jump on her choice of clothing? It wasn’t indecent. She wasn’t exposing anything important. Half the girls here were wearing less than her. She realized as she calmed a little that he hadn’t really criticized her, just seemed a little too protective as usual. She knew part of her anger was probably due to the fact that she was frustrated that he never saw her as something other than someone to be looked after, a little girl. She pushed the thoughts aside, plastered a happy smile on her face and joined her friends grooving away on the crowded dance floor.
The band was pretty good and she soon found the rhythm as she gyrated with abandon. She laughed at Willow, trying to dance with Xander. Xander was many things, but a dancer, he was not. She watched the couple, trying to see if there were any signs of more than friendliness in his demeanor as he and Willow bounced around each other, but she couldn’t be sure. Suddenly, she was startled as she felt a hand slide round her waist and a warm body slide in behind her. She swivelled her head to see Angel smiling down at her.
“Hey, Buffy.”
She couldn’t hear him clearly over the music, but she figured it was a greeting and she mouthed a reply as she turned toward him and they danced closer. She laughed as they continued to move to the music, exhilarated to be here, in this place, with the wild beat and Angel, tall, handsome and much desired, dancing with her. She caught the envious looks from several of the other girls as Angel pulled her hips back against his. She could feel his erection against her and smiled, enjoying the power as she shimmied back and draped her arms around his neck, arching herself against him . As the dance finally ended, the band segued into a slower number and he turned her around, as she stared up at him.
“Care for another dance?”
He smiled down at her and Buffy felt a little weak in the knees. Here was a man who could appreciate her and not treat her like a child. She nodded and tucked her head under his chin as they swayed together.
Spike entered the main room, finally relieved of his key duty, ready to look for Buffy and try to make amends for his earlier comments. Maybe if he could just explain to her, she’d understand and he could…well he wasn’t sure exactly what, but he felt he needed to clear the air.
He suddenly stopped dead at the sight of Buffy nestled in Angel’s arms, a contented expression on her face as he held her close. He would have sworn he could feel actual pain in his heart at the sight of her blonde head so close to his dark one.
*That should be me. I’m the one that loves her, damn it. He just wants a quick fuck, a one night stand. I can’t let this happen. I can’t.* Spike stared at the couple as his thoughts raced and he fought to keep his temper in check.
He realized he was still staring and that the song was coming to an end. He couldn’t bring himself to look away though, as the pair broke apart and Angel looked down at Buffy, planting a soft kiss on the tip of her nose and murmuring something in the quiet created by the lull as the band left the stage for a short break.
Angel pulled away from her and looked up, immediately heading towards Spike as she waltzed over to her friends, to give them a bloody blow-by-blow of what is was like to be in Angel’s arms, no doubt. Spike breathed deeply, trying to get himself under control before Angel reached him. He had no right to feel this way. Buffy had made her feelings perfectly clear earlier to him and he knew she’d always been head over heels for Angel. But if he was relegated to the role of big brother, he sure as hell intended to act like one.
“Angel, saw you dancing with Buffy out there.” He aimed for casual, wasn’t sure he achieved it.
“Yeah, can you believe what a fox she’s become? Guess merry old England agreed with her.”
“That’s true. She and Willow have both become beautiful young women.” Did he just say that? Could he sound more like Giles?
“You’re right. Willow is looking pretty hot to trot herself. Cordy told me she has quite the gossip to catch me up on later. Apparently Willow’s not the little innocent she used to be. Got into some girl on girl action. Wouldn’t you have loved to have caught that?”
Spike smiled without enthusiasm, determined to get to his point.
“Yeah mate, that would be something, gotta love those redheads. Anyway, about Buffy…”
Angel stopped him. “Spike, man, I know how you feel about her.”
Spike jerked back, eyes narrowing. “You do?”
“Of course. You have been so protective of her ever since she came to Sunnydale. You had that weird little family thing going on with Giles and Jenny. It’s cool. You don’t want your baby sister to be taken advantage of. So I’m being straight with you. I like her. I want to date her. I promise I’m not going to take advantage of her or anything. I want to see if there’s something real there. I’ve played the field for a long time and I’m ready to settle down. So, I’m declaring my intentions to you. I won’t push her into anything. But Spike, as long as I’m not hurting her, I’ve got to ask that you don’t get in the way. I know you like to chase the guys off and I’m not going anywhere.”
Spike nodded, burying the pain. “Angel, I’m holding you to that. If I see you pushing her or hurting her in any way, all bets are off. But you treat her with respect and I’ll stay out of your way if she’s interested in you.”
“Oh, I think she’s interested.” Angel smiled. “Thanks, pal, I’m glad we had this talk. I just want to make her happy. I know how much you love her, Spike.”
He turned and walked away, not hearing Spike’s low whisper. “No, you really have no idea.”
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Buffy swiftly downed the shot she’d been holding and laughed at the joke Willow was telling. She felt a little flushed after the dancing and the alcohol probably wasn’t helping, but she didn’t care. This was like a dream come true. Angle had danced with her. He’d asked if they could dance later. He’d offered to walk them home.
She nervously reached for a second shot, and downed it as well as she looked around the room. What if he forgot about her before the break was over? What if he had already moved on to someone else? She hated the fact that Angel seemed to just bring out her insecurities, but for some reason he always did.
She realized suddenly that someone else was staring at her. She turned her head and looked straight into Spike’s eyes. *Wow, does he ever have the baby blues going tonight.* she thought. She reached for a third shot, almost without thinking, and held it as she walked over to where he was standing against the wall, almost as if pulled in by his gaze.
“Hey Spike. How are you doing?”
“Okay, pet. How are you?”
“I’m good.”
She downed the final shot, shivering a little as she realized that was probably one too many. She felt a little sick, and she found Spike taking the glass from her hand and guiding her down the hallway and out the back, to sit in a small porch swing that was miraculously unoccupied.
“Whoa, a little too much. I’m not so good with the drinking, Spike.”
“That’s alright pet, a little fresh air will make you feel better.” He carefully sat her in the swing and then sat down beside her.
“Buffy, there’s something I need to talk to you about, but please don’t get mad at me.”
He caught her chin in his hand and turned her face to his. She found herself fascinated with his eyes again, which seemed darker, more of a midnight blue now on the shaded porch. Without thinking, she blurted out, “You have the most beautiful eyes.”
He blinked and pulled back slightly. Where had that come from? Oh right, she was drunk. Her head fell against his shoulder as she leaned against him, her hair tickling his neck.
“Spike, I’m sorry I yelled at you earlier, I just don’t want to be treated like I’m still fourteen.”
He nodded his apology.
“I know, Buffy. I didn’t mean it that way. I just wasn’t expecting it. I’ll try to be more open to your grown up ways.”
She laughed a little against his neck which she still lay curled against and he decided to try again.
“Buffy, I saw you dancing with Angel, does that make you happy?”
“Yep,” she replied, squirming a little closer.
“Pet, are you okay?” He was a little disconcerted by her enthusiasm for Angel while she was practically crawling into his lap. He’d better watch her around the booze, apparently it made Goldilocks a little on the friendly side.
“I’m fine. Angel danced with me and he’s going to walk me home later. Isn’t that cool, Spike? He was a gentleman too, not too grabby or anything. Well maybe just a little, but in a good way.”
Suddenly she sat up and looked straight at him.
“You’re a gentleman too, aren’t you?”
Startled, he looked at her.
“I try to be, luv.”
“Well why haven’t you danced with me then? Xander danced with me and stepped on my toes and Angel danced with me. Why haven’t you danced with me?”
“Buffy, I don’t really dance well, it’s not my thing.”
“Surely you can slow dance. I mean, you don’t even have to move hardly. C’mon Spike, this is kind of like a welcome home party for me. Aren’t you gonna dance with me too? Please?”
She batted her eyes at him and he knew that was it. He gave in.
“Sure, Goldilocks. Let me know when you want to dance, and you can drag me out there.”
He paused. “Buffy, are you feeling better now?”
She nodded slowly. “Yeah, I’m good. Just a little too much, too fast. I’m ready to go again.”
Suddenly she threw her arms around him and pulled him into a tight hug, kissing him lightly on the cheek.
“Thanks for looking out for me, Spike. I do appreciate it. And I’m holding you to that dance later.”
She was up and gone as the first strains of the band starting back up could be heard. He stared after her retreating form, not sure of what he had gotten himself into.