Chapter 36: Saturday Night's Alright, Part Two
Author's Notes: Here is part two of 'Saturday Night's Alright' as promised. It's a little delayed due to being way too tired this week, and also having to plot out all of Part Two a second time so I can be sure everyone is in their correct places now for the story to unfold later. It's a whole thing. Anyway, on with the night! Hope you enjoy, and review if you can. It really helps. No, honest. It does.
Spike led Buffy over to the loveseat again, where he joined her and laid his arm behind her, along its upholstered back. He didn't permit his arm to actually touch her, but the gesture clearly indicated a certain territoriality that was not lost on anyone present. He was also seated closer than they had been prior to the dance. Buffy made no move to increase her distance.
Xander wanted to take notes, while Willow longed for telekinetic powers that she could use to fling them to separate ends of the loveseat. Michael and Jesse simply watched the show as it unfolded, curious as to the eventual outcome. They'd been down this road with Spike before.
Spike noticed Buffy's drink on the table and leaned forward to pick it up.
"Here you go, luv," he smiled gently as he held the glass out for her to take.
Buffy smiled at him and took her drink from his hand, staring at it for a moment while she tried to get her emotions back under control. The dance had affected her more than she had thought it would, and she was experiencing feelings that she'd never felt before.
*It's like I'm drunk on him, somehow, just from being in his arms. No, not just in his arms, in his presence. I've never known anyone to have that effect on me before. It's almost too much, but I don't want it to stop. I don't want it ever to stop.*
*God, look at her. She's just staring at that glass with that little smile, and all I can think is that I want to kiss her until we're both breathless. What's happening to me? It's as though I'm intoxicated with her, with being near her. I never want this to end. I want to feel like this forever.*
Xander stood suddenly and announced he was going back to the bar. "Can I get anyone anything while I'm up there?"
Spike sat forward with his arms leaning on his knees and asked for a soda, turning his gaze toward Buffy to offer, "Luv, do you want anything to eat from the bar? I can go get you something if you'd like."
Buffy snapped out of her daze and looked at Spike a moment before shaking her head 'no'.
The others replied in the negative, so Xander once again headed for the bar. And once again Buffy jolted to her senses and without thinking called out for Xander to stop.
Xander turned around and stared at her in confusion. "Uh, yeah?" he stared at her and waited.
"Um, I'll go with you. I'd like to get a drink." Buffy declared awkwardly.
She now had everyone's full attention.
Spike frowned and looked at her questioningly. "You've got an almost full glass there in your hands, luv."
"Oh!" Buffy stared down at the drink in her hands, and tried to think quickly. *They're gonna think I'm a nutcase,* she thought miserably.
She looked back and forth between Spike and Xander as she tried to explain. "I just ... this drink is old now ... the ice is all ... melty ... and I have a thing...about ... melty ... drinks ... um ... I'll just go with you and get a new one," she ended lamely and looked at Xander.
It wasn't that Xander minded having Buffy along, but this was the second trip she'd asked to make without any real reason to do so. It was pretty obvious to all present that she and Spike were attracted to each other, so this sudden need to accompany Xander to the bar was disconcerting. He didn't want to step on his friend's toes while Spike was seducing the new girl into his arms. He quite frankly had no idea what to do and was just staring with his mouth slightly open when Spike decided to take some action himself.
"I'll get you a new one, pet," Spike stood and faced her with a smile. "Diet Coke, wasn't it?"
Buffy looked up at Spike and realized she had absolutely no idea how to change this situation around to where she needed it to be without looking like a complete idiot. She'd already made it clear that she wanted a drink and frankly she was very thirsty after the dance. But she couldn't bring herself to drink the one in her hands and knew she couldn't drink one they brought back to her. She looked over at Willow for a moment to buy some time before she had to give her answer.
Willow was as confused as everyone else by Buffy's need to go to the bar with Xander again, and raised her eyebrows in question when Buffy looked her way. The look she saw on Buffy's face was a picture of misery and fear. Suddenly, Willow was struck by a thought that might explain Buffy's odd behavior. She couldn't be sure, but she knew she had to save her new friend from the weirdly awkward situation that was spiraling out of control right before her eyes.
"You know what?" Willow spoke up. "Why don't we skip the drink now, Buffy? Come to the restroom with me, and we can get something on the way back instead." She smiled and nodded hopefully.
All of the tension drained away upon hearing Willow's suggestion and Buffy pounced upon it gratefully. "You know, that sounds like a good idea."
The two girls stood and left in the direction of the ladies' room while the boys stared after them completely mystified.
"What just happened?" Xander looked at his three friends in confusion.
Spike just shook his head while he watched the girls disappear into the crowd. "No idea, mate," he frowned. "No bloody idea."
~~~~~~~~
When they were finished in the restroom, Willow checked to make sure they were alone before joining Buffy at the sink to wash her hands.
"You're really smart," Willow smiled, staring at Buffy through the mirror. "Most girls don't even think about stuff like that."
Buffy watched Willow carefully in the mirror to see if she was saying what she thought she was saying.
"Well, I'm from New York," Buffy gave her friend a little smile, hoping to make light of it. "Mothers teach their daughters to be careful from a very young age there."
Willow nodded to acknowledge the explanation, although she thought the fear she saw earlier on Buffy's face spoke of something more than normal caution. She wasn't going to pry, however. If there was something to tell, Buffy would tell her in her own time.
"Yeah, I get that," Willow nodded. "But you don't have to worry about the guys - Spike, Xander, Jesse, and Michael. They're good guys, they would never do anything horrible like spike someone's drink or drug them or anything."
Buffy just stared at the water circling the sink as she fought with herself to stay in the present. With a decisive shake of her head, she turned off the faucet and dried her hands. But she remained silent.
Willow noticed that Buffy had seemed to disappear for a moment. "Really. I'd trust each one of them with my life. They're good guys," she nodded in earnest assurance.
Buffy turned to look into Willow's eyes and saw that the girl she was beginning to trust as a friend was telling her the truth. Willow believed in the integrity of her friends without hesitation. It was hard to do, but Buffy decided that she would trust Willow's judgment about the boys, and try to ease the paranoia that had tightened its grip around her right now.
"That's good to know," she nodded. "Thank you."
Willow couldn't help herself, and stepped forward to give Buffy a little hug, which Buffy returned in kind. They stood smiling at each other for a moment.
"So! Spike, huh?" Willow changed the subject.
Buffy grinned, relieved that they were moving on now. "Yeah ... God, Willow, he's just so
amazing. When he's near me I just get all gooey and ... just... I want him so
bad." She paused and frowned. "
Is it bad, Willow? You said you trusted Spike with your life. But you also told me not to trust him, that he was just playing me. I don't know what to do here."
Willow was really torn. She knew that was Spike's original plan, to get Buffy into bed. Oz had told her as much. But she'd never seen Spike so
boyfriendly toward any of the other girls he'd seduced. There was something different about Spike's entire demeanor toward Buffy right now that gave Willow pause. It was subtle, but she could detect a difference. Maybe he was finally going to listen to her and try to have a real relationship with a girl instead of playing games on her for sex. She wished she knew for sure. She didn't want to see Buffy get hurt here.
"I don't know either," Willow admitted. "He isn't acting the same way he acted toward the other girls he was playing. He's just not as smooth and, well ... I don't know how to describe it, but he's just different. But none of the other girls was my friend, either. I don't know if you can trust it or not. But he does seem like he really likes you. I'm really worried though that you're gonna get hurt and I don't want that to happen." she finished miserably. She wanted to smack Spike right about now, for making such a conversation even necessary.
*Stupid boy.*
"Okay, then," Buffy nodded confidently. "I go to plan B."
"Plan B?"
"I really like him and want to get to know him, have a relationship with him. But I can't trust him yet, that that's what he wants, too. He could be playing me for sex. The only way I can be sure is to just not give him any. If he sticks around, then I'll know whether he wants me for me or for sex." She waited for Willow to give her opinion on the plan.
Willow gave Buffy's plan some thought. It could work, if Buffy waited long enough. How long was long enough, though?
"How long are you going to wait?" Willow asked. She suddenly realized that she had just asked her new friend when she was going to have sex with one of her best friends and the entire conversation quickly became confusing to her.
*Did I just ask Buffy when she was going to have sex with Spike?!*
"Well ... I don't know. That's kinda the kink in the plan. You see," Buffy leaned closer and whispered. "I've never had sex before. So it's a pretty big question, if you see what I mean."
"Oh! Right," Willow was startled by the admission. She idly wondered if all new girlfriends talked about this stuff so quickly. She was starting to feel in over her head here. She and Oz hadn't quite gotten to that step either she remembered. Why did it seem so completely ordinary and expected when speaking about Spike, when it was such a huge deal when speaking about herself or any of the rest of her friends? She was going to have to give that more thought sometime, when she wasn't in a club restroom talking about Spike's sex life with her new friend. Her new friend who was also a virgin.
*Yep, this is very weird.* she thought with a frown.
Buffy saw the frown, and worried about it. Willow had frowned when she'd said she was a virgin. Did her technical lack of virginity show up somehow, so that people didn't believe her when she said it? She wasn't a virgin in physical fact, but was one in her mind, so she had decided it was better to just claim it anyway. She really had no idea what sex was like. She didn't really know what it was like to make out in anything but superficial ways, either. She needed any guy she was with to know that without going through the whole story of her tortured past, which would probably either disgust them or scare them away. No, virginity was the way to go. At least, until she had to explain Katie. At that point she'd have to think of something to say. And she'd cross that bridge when she crashed into it.
"I don't know, Buffy. I'm kinda in over my head at this point. I've never had sex either, and I'm probably not a good person to go by. You'll just have to feel it out and decide when you think you trust him enough and also when you're ready to do it. You might trust him completely and still not be ready yet. I would trust Oz completely, but I know I'm not ready for that step yet. You know?" Willow smiled gently.
Buffy nodded and smiled back. "Yeah, that makes sense."
The two girls left the restroom to go to the bar for those drinks. Buffy stopped suddenly and grabbed Willow's arm.
"How long was the longest Spike waited for a girl he was playing?"
Willow gave a moment's thought, "I think the record was six weeks."
*Six weeks. So I have to be sure it's more than six weeks. Should be easy to do since I can't even imagine myself having sex
at all yet.* Buffy laughed to herself.
Willow raised an eyebrow at Buffy's small laugh and waited.
"Well, six weeks. That'll be easy." Buffy explained.
Willow nodded and they continued on their way until Buffy stopped Willow again.
"Willow," she whispered in her friend's ear. "How did he get the name 'Spike'?"
Willow blushed. "Not sure cuz I never had the guts to ask. But his first girlfriend - the one he was really crazy about but she hurt him - she gave him the nickname. I mean ... well ... I kinda imagine..." she shrugged as she trailed off in embarrassment.
Buffy got the picture, and blushed herself. *Six weeks. At least that long before I know for sure what that name is all about.* She blushed even more furiously when her mind popped up with the visual.
"Okay, then. Good to know," she smiled brightly and the girls continued on their way.
~~~~~~~
Willow was still blushing when they returned to their friends. The boys noticed but were so confused by the girls' behavior thus far that they didn't even want to ask what was going on now. They all settled in to listen to Oz's band play a few songs. At some point Jesse asked Willow to dance, and they left for the dance floor.
Spike turned to Buffy and asked, "Ever been here, pet?"
"To the Bronze? No, never."
"Well, you've stayed down here so far, would you like the tour upstairs?" he smiled hopefully.
Buffy was uncertain about his motives, but since she felt she had her own plan firmly under control, she decided she had nothing to fear from taking him up on his offer. Besides, it would be nice to have him alone for a while. She wanted to get to know him better, but it was hard to do when surrounded by his friends.
"Sure, I'd like that." She picked up her glass, deciding she'd better keep a close eye on it. If she had another 'need-a-new-drink-meltdown' tonight the whole lot of them would write her off forever as the 'crazy new girl' and stay away from her.
Spike took her hand and led her up the staircase to the balcony area. It was a little darker up there, Buffy noted, and in the even darker area, further back, she could see tables and sofas where couples were quite seriously making out as though they were in their own private little worlds. The fact that people could see them, albeit darkly, did not seem to bother them in the least.
*Is that where he wants to take me? Is he already thinking about screwing me even now? That's totally insulting.* Buffy frowned as she turned her head back to Spike.
Spike saw her eyes take in the couples in the back and then the frown, and he realized her train of thought.
"Oh, luv," Spike hurried to reassure her. "Believe me, there's nothing I'd like more than to take you in my arms and kiss you senseless, but I know better than that, truly. No, I brought you up here so you could watch the band and the dancers from the rail. It's a pretty sight, don't you think?"
She followed him to the front of the balcony rail, and had to admit that it was a pleasant view of the club. She smiled as she watched Willow and Jesse dance below, and saw Oz on stage playing bass, himself watching Willow with a smile. She thought it was nice that they had such trust, that Willow dancing with one of his friends didn't cause a stir in her boyfriend. They were such a cute couple, from what little she could tell so far.
Spike watched Buffy watching the dancers, and thought again how amazing this girl was. Just having her near took his breath away. He wanted her so badly he hardly knew what to do with himself. But he had to be careful. He knew Willow had told her about his habit of seducing girls and he didn't want Buffy to think he was doing that with her now. He had decided on the dance floor that he was really going to handle this girl differently, that he really thought they had a shot at a real relationship here. He didn't want to bollocks it up by being his natural piggish self. He found himself in the odd position of actually trying to play this girl, not to get her into bed, but to get her to be a real girlfriend. If he could just persuade 'little spike' of the necessity for the new plan he'd be a whole lot more comfortable in his jeans right now, though. He shifted himself in his pants, not for the first time that evening.
"Go out with me," he blurted before he even realized he was going to speak.
Buffy turned startled eyes to him, and sucked in a breath. *That was quick.*
"What did you have in mind?" *Think! Is it too soon for a date? What are you doing here?*
"Tuesday. Pick you up at six. We can go to dinner and then a movie."
It was such a regular date-like thing to do, what he was asking. Somehow she was reassured by the ordinariness of it all. It was comforting. A nineteen-fifties kind of date.
"Okay, I'd like that," she smiled at him.
"Alright, then. It's a date," he smiled back at her. He found himself staring at her lips, and leaned forward a moment before he caught himself and pulled back. He turned his head back toward the band.
*Damn. He looked like he was gonna kiss me just now.* she pouted to herself. *I'd like a kiss.*
She turned to watch the band again, and they both silently gave thought to the budding relationship that seemed to be building between them.
~~~~~~~
After a few more dances and some light conversation, it was getting late and Buffy was disappointed to see that it was time to go home.
When Buffy and Willow excused themselves to make Buffy's curfew, Spike immediately spoke up and declared that there was no need for Willow to leave, as Oz would wish to see her after their sets and he could take her home.
"I'll take you home now, luv," he turned to Buffy. "Don't want you to turn into a pumpkin now, do we?"
Buffy started at the quickly changing plans, but she could see that Willow wanted to remain at the club and go home with Oz rather than leave now with her. As though she understood her concerns, Willow nodded at Buffy to reassure her that going with Spike was a good plan. Buffy decided to trust Willow and just go with it. She wanted to be alone with him anyway. This way they'd get to be completely alone for the drive at least.
~~~~~~~
"It's a DeSoto." Spike declared proudly as Buffy stood staring at the enormous black sedan that Spike had identified as his 'baby'. It could have been the Hindenburg for all Buffy knew, but it certainly was big. And black. And big.
Spike played the gentleman and opened the door for her to get in. She took a deep breath as she settled in and waited for him to get behind the wheel. She thought to herself that she had never been in a car with a boy in her life, at least not this way. She felt like she was in some weird teen movie. She had always wondered how teenagers ever had sex in the back seats of cars. They simply were too cramped, she'd thought. Glancing at the back seat of the DeSoto, she could see that in this car at least that would not be an obstacle.
*So that's how they did it. Huge cars. Huh.* There was something to be said for the nineteen-fifties after all.
She turned around and saw that Spike had caught her staring at the back seat. She thought she detected a slight smirk, but then he wiped it off his face quickly, and all she saw was the gentle smile she was learning to love. The smirk was probably just her imagination overworking itself. Of course it was.
Spike started driving for her house when he realized that he wasn't supposed to know where it was. Fortunately Buffy didn't seem to notice and started giving him directions to follow. Other than her occasional 'turn right' here and 'head that way' there, silence lay over the car like a blanket. Neither knew what to talk about now that they were alone.
When Spike finally pulled up in front of her house, he killed the engine and turned to face Buffy. She smiled shyly at him from underneath long dark lashes and he thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Deciding not to over think it, he leaned forward slowly to see if she would accept a kiss goodnight from him.
Buffy watched in fascination as Spike leaned in toward her, staring at his lips as he grew closer and closer.
*He's gonna kiss me!* her mind screamed at her. She killed the voice in her head that told her to stay safe and avoid a kiss tonight, and leaned forward to accept the gesture. She wanted that kiss, and no amount of mature reasoning was going to keep it from her.
The kiss was slow and sweet and as chaste as could be. They both pulled slightly back and looked deeply into each other's eyes. Seeing nothing but a slight smile upon Buffy's sweet lips, Spike leaned in again and gave her another, slightly longer and firmer kiss goodnight.
She groaned inwardly when his lips moved away a second time, and she could see that without some definitive action on her part that that was going to be it for now. She sternly reminded herself that this was the most she could permit for now, if her plan was going to work. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and just get lost in him for awhile, but she couldn't do that. She had to remember her Plan B. She had to get control of herself.
"Goodnight, Spike." she smiled softly, and went to open the door.
Spike leaped out of his side and opened her door for her, helping her out of the giant car. He was going to do this right and walk her to the door. He had to remember that he was trying to win her for the long haul and not a quick roll. She was a lady, and he'd treat her as one.
She was charmed that he actually walked her to the door, and they stood awkwardly again upon the porch saying their goodbyes. Spike gave her another quick kiss and promised to call her before their official first date on Tuesday. She entered the house as he hurried down the walkway back to his car, and Buffy sneaked a look out a window, watching him as he drove away from her.
"A date! I have a date! With a guy!
The guy!" She turned and ran up the stairs with a laugh that brought John in from the family room.
John thought that Buffy was in an excellent mood after her night out with her friends, and couldn't help overhearing her exclaim about getting a date with some guy. John knew that dating was a perfectly normal sixteen year old girl activity. Of course it was. He knew that. Perfectly normal.
*I'd better have a talk with her. Don't want her getting into any trouble while she lives here with us,* John told himself, refusing to acknowledge the jealousy that had wound its way into his soul. *What kind of foster father would I be if I didn't watch out for her?*
He turned out the lights and trudged unhappily up to bed.
~~~~~~~
Well there it is. The end of Saturday night. Hope you liked. Review if you can. Please. :-)
Sara