Chapter 35: Saturday Night's Alright, Part One
Author's Notes: This chapter is a little long so I'm posting it in two parts. However, part two is not ready to post yet so you'll have to make do with part one for now. I did not want to leave you hanging there with that last chapter's emotional intensity just simmering for a few days. I don't know about you, but I needed to get something else on the page to lessen the blow to my psyche that was left from chapter 34. Hope you can make that turn there with me now. And remember: How does Buffy cope? That's right. Shove it down deep inside where it won't smother you for a little while, and pretend it's okay until you can face it without dying from the impact. It works, although I don't recommend it long term. The chapter title is from Elton John's 'Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)'.
It was seven-thirty but Buffy hadn't come downstairs yet, and they needed to leave soon or they'd be late picking up Willow. John decided there was nothing for it but to go up and get her.
Finding the bedroom door open, he leaned on the doorjamb for a moment, watching the girl put the finishing touches on her hair. She'd been very quiet this evening but when he asked about it, she suddenly brightened and proclaimed that all was well and that she just had a lot on her mind. John was left with the impression that the visitation hadn't gone nearly so well as she was letting on, but that she was determined not to talk about it. Considering his lame advice that morning, he thought it was probably best he didn't push the subject. He really had no idea how to comfort and encourage a teenage girl with the kinds of problems this one had. Deciding that he'd better announce his presence before she noticed him and thought his staring was as creepy as he was beginning to feel, he leaned in and knocked on the door.
Buffy spun toward the sound and gave him a bright smile, grabbing her purse and her keys and announcing her readiness to go.
"Ready to dance the night away?" He asked softly with a smile.
"Oh
yeah," she affirmed cheerfully. "I
so need this tonight."
"Well then, let's go."
He stood back and let her pass him going through the door. He caught himself just in time as he unthinkingly started to place his hand on her low back to guide her through. Startled by the unconscious action, he took a deep breath and followed her down the hall.
*Holy shit.* he chastised himself. He was going to have to be more careful around her. Fortunately, she seemed oblivious of his lapses so far. He had to make sure things stayed that way. The last thing she needed right now was to deal with his ambivalence towards her. He needed to get himself back under control.
~~~~~~~~~
"Call me if you need a ride back home, girls." John reminded them. "Under no circumstances are you allowed to walk anywhere with anyone. That killer is still out there, and you aren't to take any chances. Got it?" he cautioned them severely.
"Got it. No walking. No strangers. Ride home with people we really know." Buffy nodded as she shut the car door.
John leaned out the driver side window and called to the girls as they walked away toward the club entrance, "Curfew at midnight!"
Buffy laughed and turned to face him, walking backwards a moment. "Yeah, yeah. Pumpkin time. I know." She turned back around, and she and Willow disappeared into the club.
With one last long look, he drove away. He realized suddenly that he wouldn't be able to relax completely until he knew she was home safe again. It was going to be a long four hours.
He shook his head. *That's one thing about six year olds. You always know where they are.*
~~~~~~~
After paying the cover, Buffy and Willow stood in the entry way for a moment. Willow was searching for her friends; Buffy was taking in her surroundings. The club had a raw industrial feel to it, in keeping with the neighborhood it was in.
The Bronze. Buffy decided the name suited it. Metallic. Hard Edges. Almost cold.
It was a huge club for a little town, and it was pretty packed tonight. Willow had said it was the only club in town, so it made sense that everyone would be there. Still, this was a lot of people. To the right was a large dance floor, with some tables along it's perimeter, and the stage for the bands. The floor was crowded and the band was still setting up, while canned music played for the dancers. Beyond the dance floor was a hallway with signs indicating that both an exit and the restrooms lay down it's corridor. To the rear was a long bar, crowded with patrons, while nearby four pool tables were currently in use. And to the front and left were tables and various sofas and upholstered chairs in intimate groupings. Stairs led up to a second level, where Buffy detected more tables and saw patrons leaning over the rails, watching the action below. She idly wondered if action of a different kind might not be going on in the shadows upstairs as well.
She was drawn out of her thoughts by a sharp squeal from her left. Willow had spotted her friends.
She followed her new friend toward a cozy area on the far left, where two chairs, a sofa, and a loveseat formed an intimate conversation grouping. As they walked up to the people there, a young man with his back to the girls was telling a joke to those seated around him.
"Three blondes walk into a building. You'd think at least
one of them would have seen it." he waggled his eyebrows at his punch line, then frowned when no one laughed. His friends just sat there looking past his shoulder. Slumping, he bowed his head and sighed in resignation. "There's a blonde girl standing behind me right now, isn't there?"
Now his friends smiled, and the boy turned around to see who had joined them.
Buffy was, once again, completely caught off guard. The boy telling the blonde joke was Brunette Boy from the Espresso Pump. Of course it made sense. If Willow was Little Red Haired Girl, one of her friends had to be Brunette Boy. But still, here he was, and she was as charmed by him as she had been that long ago day. He was a cute puppy dog kind of boy, the class clown type. She liked him instantly.
"Well, that wasn't awkward." He stood to introduce himself to the beautiful blonde girl that Willow had brought over to meet them. "Xander. Is me," he cleared his throat which had suddenly gone dry. "Xander Harris. Glad to meet you."
"Buffy Summers. Blonde girl. Glad to meet you, too." She grinned at him, and he relaxed again. Blonde Girl had a sense of humor. He still had a chance with her.
*No. Wait. Buffy Summers? That's the new girl.
Spike's new girl. Damn! He was right. She is
hot! And sadly, off limits.*
Willow walked over and happily hugged another tall brunette boy, who she introduced as Jesse. "Jesse's family moved last year to another town so we don't get to see him so much anymore." she explained to Buffy, then turned back to the boy. "I'm so glad you made it!"
"Me too, I missed you guys." He turned to acknowledge Buffy. "Glad to meet you. We've heard a lot about you."
Buffy's eyebrows rose. "Really?" This was news. They were talking about her?
Outside of Buffy's eyeline, Willow was shaking her head frantically to signal Jesse to drop it.
"Uh...I mean...Willow mentioned she was tutoring you and that you're pretty cool and I'm gonna just shut up now." He sat back down on the sofa and shook his head with a smile.
Buffy was not sure what to think, but Willow stepped forward and plowed on with the introductions. The boy seated on the chair opposite to Xander was Michael, who had a semi-goth thing going on. Very unlike the rest of the group. Surely there was a story there, Buffy thought.
"Drinks! You girls need drinks. What'll you have?" Xander clapped his hands together and acted as host.
The girls gave their orders as Buffy took her place on the still vacant loveseat, and Willow curled into the sofa, next to Jesse. Xander turned to go get the refreshments when Buffy suddenly sprang up in alarm.
"Oh! Wait!" she called after Xander.
He turned and looked questioningly at her. "Change your mind?"
"Um, no...I just...want to go with you. To help carry the drinks." Buffy smiled brightly and walked over to where Xander had stopped.
Xander was confused. "There's just the two drinks. I can get 'em."
"Yeah, but if I help you then you can fill me in on...stuff." Buffy offered lamely. She was going one way or another; she just had to get through this lame awkward part first.
Xander nodded with an uncertain smile, and motioned to her to accompany him to the bar.
"Well, that's not weird at all." Jesse remarked as the couple walked away toward the bar.
Willow frowned. "A little bit."
"I'll bet she just wanted to go to get to know Xand better." Michael theorized.
"I don't think so. She's kinda more interested in --" Willow stopped cold. She couldn't tell them that, it was a secret.
"Who's interested in whom, then?" Spike suddenly appeared and plopped down on the empty loveseat.
"Buffy. Interested in Xander." Jesse explained.
"No! No! She's not." Willow denied animatedly.
Spike turned toward Willow and eyed her carefully. "She is interested in someone though, and you know who it is." He waited.
Willow shook her head wildly. "No! I don't know anything. Really."
"Uh-huh. Right then." Spike raised an eyebrow. "
Clearly you know nothing." He looked at her pointedly.
"Well..." Willow was torn. She never had a girl friend like this to share secrets with before; the guys were her confidantes. And now she was hiding information from the guys. And it affected them, this hidden information. That she had to keep to herself. It was new territory for her socially and so far she didn't like it. She sucked at keeping secrets from the guys.
"Um...It's not my place to talk, okay?" Willow pleaded miserably. "You wouldn't like it if I spilled your secrets the minute someone asked, would you?" She ended on a defensive note.
Spike had to give her that. "No, you're right. If you promised the girl." he paused. "And I'm sure we'll figure it out soon enough, won't we?"
*Probably.* Willow sighed to herself. *Poor Buffy.* Willow just wasn't good at this whole girlfriend thing.
*I wonder if there's a book...*
Xander and Buffy returned with the drinks. He handed Willow her glass and Buffy held tightly onto hers. Xander plopped back down in his chair, and the only other empty place was now on the loveseat with Spike.
*Hmmmm....oh well. If the universe insists, who am I to argue?* Buffy told herself as she sat carefully next to her Great Coat Guy, crossing her legs and carefully sipping her diet coke. She tried to pay attention to the conversation going on around her but the nearness of the object of a year's infatuation was muddling her mind.
Spike similarly was having a hard time concentrating sitting so near to the girl. She smelled fantastic - a slight vanilla scent he thought. And she was so gorgeous. Once again he had a marvelous view of her thighs as she showed them off between a black miniskirt and high black leather boots. A shimmery silver halter top bared her back to his gaze, and as she moved he could clearly tell that she was braless beneath it.
"Dance with me, pet?" Spike turned those blue eyes upon her and Buffy suddenly froze up. After a few moments, realizing she hadn't answered him yet, she nodded numbly and put her soda down on a nearby table.
He held out a hand to her and she let him lead her to the dance floor just as a slow song started up. Buffy couldn't decide whether she was glad or not that the first dance was a slow one. Spike had no such questions as he stepped close and took her loosely in his arms, moving languorously with the music.
Buffy relaxed into the rhythm, and let Spike and the music take over and lead her wherever they would. This was exactly what she needed right now. To dance and laugh and forget there was anything else in the world to worry her. To forget. If just for a little while.
Tonight, she was going to have fun and get to know this boy she couldn't get out of her head for the last year. In her dreams she'd built fantasies around the boy in the mall, and despite Willow's warning, she just couldn't let him go so easily now that she'd actually found him and was dancing in his arms.
Spike pulled her in a little closer as they danced, and he loved the way she fit so perfectly with him on the dance floor. She raised her arms to wind loosely around his neck, and he couldn't help closing his eyes as her breasts softly touched his chest with the motion. His hands caressed her bare back a bit while they moved to the music, and he thought she was bloody amazing. So perfect, she was. Just perfect.
Buffy was in another world tonight. This boy, this Spike, was holding her while they danced and she could feel her nipples harden as they brushed up against him when she raised her arms to his neck. The sensations he was creating in her just by his presence, his mere touch, were amazing, even in their simplicity. She was intoxicated by him.
And she loved the way he smelled, too. Leather and cigarettes and... whiskey, she thought. She was startled that she found these things so erotic, since previously she really didn't like the scent of either smoke or alcohol. On Spike, though, they just added to his mystique. That sounded so shallow and wrong to her ears, so 'very special episode', but honestly she really found it quite sexy. Everything about this boy was sexy as hell.
Spike was mesmerized by this golden girl he held in his arms. He remembered, too late, that he was only interested in a poke and he'd be moving on, collecting on a bet as he went.
*Why was I doing that again?* he puzzled. *Oh yes, girls are faithless and not worth the pain of getting emotionally involved with them. That was it.* He frowned. *Wasn't that it?*
*Willow says he's just playing me, to get in my pants. I shouldn't trust him.* Buffy fretted. *But I
really like this guy, he looks at me and I get all tingly and gooey. How can I just pretend I don't care and walk away from him? How can I do that?*
*God, she's bloody marvelous. I don't think I've met anyone who affects me so quickly like this little thing does. And the way she looks at me, like I'm the only person in the room. No one has ever made me feel that way. But I barely know the chit. I can't just trust her when I don't even know her.*
*Well, what if he is just playing me? The end result is to sleep with me, right? Willow said he plays girls until they sleep with them, and then he leaves. Well, what if I don't? What if he doesn't get what he wants from me that way? What would he do then? If he was just interested in me for one thing, and he doesn't get it, he'd just move on to someone who would, right? And then I'd know for sure. Whether he was serious with me, or just playing me. Wouldn't I?*
*What the hell are you thinking? She's just a girl, like any other girl. Here one minute, gone the next, promises written in the wind. She'll break your heart if you let her, mate. Don't trust her.*
*I can't trust him though. All his sexiness and his words and his accent and those eyes that look right through into your soul...How could I ever believe anything he told me? How would I ever know that I wasn't just another one of the girls he seduces and discards? How long would it take, before I knew he was for real? A month? Two months? A year? Never?*
*Then I'll just
have to get to know her then. Find
out if I can trust her. Find
out if she's the one Willow told me to settle down with, start a real relationship with. If I never try, I'll never know. I could spend time with her, date her, try to feel her out and see who she really is. Couldn't I do that?*
*It's hopeless. I've been fantasizing about this guy for more than a year. About how his arms would feel around me. About how his lips would feel against mine. His hands touching me, caressing me... I could spend time with him, date him, see if he
is someone I could trust and have an actual relationship with. A
real boyfriend. Couldn't I do that?*
The song ended and there was an announcement that the band would soon start the evening's live entertainment. As other couples moved on and off the dance floor and a faster song started up, Spike and Buffy just stood there gazing at each other in silence. Their gaze intense, fully connected to the other, they each slowly began to smile.
*I could try.*
Spike took Buffy's hand in his, and led her back to where their friends were waiting for them.
Xander thought as he watched them return from the dance, that he was watching a master at work tonight. Spike had clearly mesmerized the girl and she was willingly following him already. There was a part of him that totally admired that.
*Damn!
Spike!* he silently exclaimed in awe.
Willow thought as she watched them return from the dance, that she was watching her new friendship with Buffy crash and burn right before her eyes. She'd warned her, but Buffy already looked smitten and too far gone to pull back now. She just hoped when Spike broke her heart, as she knew he would, that Buffy wouldn't turn away from her group of friends in her haste to get away from the sleazy user that was her friend Spike. She wanted to protect Buffy, to insist she not fall for Spike's considerable charms, but how much could she really insist, especially when their friendship was so new? She just wasn't in the position to make demands and stamp her foot down. She'd have to leave Buffy to make this decision on her own, and be there for her when it all went south.
*
Damn it, Spike!* she silently exclaimed in resentment.
From the stage, Oz quietly watched the end of the dance and the obvious attraction of the two blondes to each other. From where he was standing he could almost see the sparks flying between them, and he was amazed.
*
Damn! Buffy just caught smallpox. Did not see that coming.* he shrugged and picked up his bass to start the first song.
~~~~~~~
This is part one. Part two will be in chapter 36. I don't know which day part two will post, I'm sorry. Could be tonight or could be in two days. But it will come soon. There's a lot going on during these holidays, and so the chapters are going to be taking their time with each occasion and event. I'm really not trying to make this read as 'real time', believe it or not. There's just a lot to give to you during this time. Thanks for reading and leave a review if you can.
Sara