Summary: Buffy is a rich princess type, brought up by millionaire parents who care more for their reputations than for her. She meets Spike, an artist who's happy to work different jobs just to make a few bucks here and there. Of course, Buffy's parents don't exactly approve of their daughter's budding romance...How far will they go to stop them being together? And how far are Buffy and Spike prepared to go to do just that?
The next afternoon Buffy strolled down the main street of Sunnydale. She didn’t really feel like being out in public too much but she couldn’t stand being around her mom anymore while she extolled the virtues of the Finn family, clearly just parroting what she’d been told by her husband after last night’s party. Buffy figured that since it was daytime and the sun was shining brightly overhead she had nothing to fear from being outside. Walking further into town, she looked on in shock then curiosity as she recognized her savior from last night sitting on a little stool in the main square, sketching a tiny girl’s portrait while her parents looked proudly on.
Buffy walked up behind Spike, joining the small crowd that was there. She looked at his drawing – he was definitely a talented artist. She had always admired the artistic trait in others, not being blessed in that area herself. She waited until he had finished and got paid before walking around to the front of him. She was delighted to find that he looked very pleased to see her.
“Buffy, pet! ’ve been wondering about you all morning. ’m so glad to see you. How‘re you feeling?”
“Much better thank you. I just needed a good sleep after last night I think. Thank you again for helping me.”
“Ah, anybody would’ve helped out. That ponce better hope I don’t see him again or I’ll be force feeding him his front teeth.”
She flinched at the violent description and he apologized bashfully. He couldn’t believe he had thought her to be a heartless bitch last night – she was really such a sweet little thing. She suddenly looked at him with a slightly confused expression.
“Are you an artist and a waiter?”
“Well, the waitering was just for money on the side. My real passion is art but it obviously doesn’t pay very much. Although I’m not a waiter any more after last night. Realized I can’t stand rich people.”
She looked down at the ground and he mentally kicked himself as he saw a flash of pain in her eyes. “Sorry pet, I didn’t mean you. You’re really not like them at all. Most of them would never think to give a guy like me the time of day.”
She grinned shyly at him and giggled. “Well, it is the least I can do for my rescuer.”
He grinned and came up with an idea. “Buffy, would you let me sketch your portrait?”
“Oh, I’m sorry but I don’t have much money on me. I can’t afford it just now.”
“No problem pet, I’d be honored to do it for free.” She looked uncertain and he continued. “Honestly, you look so pretty today I’d love to try and capture it on paper.” Spike delighted in the blush that graced her cheeks. So, she was bashful huh? Not like those two chits that had been following him round last night. Buffy silently nodded and sat down on the second stool.
As they sat there he described to her why he was living in Sunnydale these days, explaining that he lived with his father while his mother was still in England.
“Do you like it here?”
“Hmmm. Din’ at first.” He glanced up into her eyes. “But things are looking up.” She tried not to let a smile show on her face in case he didn’t mean what it sounded like, but he caught the sides of her lips lifting up slightly.
“Spike? D’you mind if I ask how old you are? I’m sorry that it seems like a bit of a rude question.”
“Don’ mind pet. Been asked ruder ones in my day. I’m twenty-three. Twenty-three and still trying to figure out what to do with my life. What about you, luv?”
“I recently turned eighteen. Do you have any idea at all what you want to do?”
“If I could be anything in the world, I’d love to be a professional painter. I do have paintings at home that ’ve done, but I jus' don’ think they’re good enough. Would never make enough money to live on. So I need to get a proper job, one that will support me.”
“How d’you know the paintings aren’t good enough? Have you ever asked anyone?”
“Nope. I just know. Well, all finished kitten.” He cut her off from asking anymore questions and held up her portrait.
“Oh, Spike! Does it make me sound terrible to say I love it? You have to let me pay you, I really want to buy it.”
“I told you kitten, its free.” Buffy loved the nickname. In fact, she loved all the nicknames he called her.
“Actually, ’ve changed m’ mind. There is a price.”
She looked apprehensive.
“You have to come get a cup of coffee with me.” Her face relaxed in relief, and he even thought he saw a spark of pure joy.
“Okay! Done. Let’s go to the Espresso Pump, best coffee around. Actually in a small town like this its pretty much the only coffee around, but we can pretend we’re there out of choice.”
He laughed at her summation while folding up his stools and easel, then followed her to the main footpath. They walked happily next to eachother until the coffee shop came into sight.
Buffy was so excited. How did she end up on a date, or at least a semi-date, with the hot waiter she’d been sure just last night would never pay her attention? Sure she had to go through something pretty terrible for him to notice her, but she was a look-to-the-future, forget-the-past kind of gal. Surely he wouldn’t have asked her to coffee if he didn’t like her? After what he had said about rich people this afternoon, she realized that he probably thought she was going to be a bitch last night like so many of the women at the party. She couldn’t really blame them; some of those women were truly horrible and had such high opinions of themselves. Oh well, she’d just have to show him that she was nothing like them.
***
Spike was wondering what he had done right. This little blonde seemed excited to go out with him, as if she really to be in his company. He couldn’t remember a girl reciprocating his feelings since Dru a few years back in England, and really she had been the one to drag him into that rough crowd then abandon him. He remembered thinking last night that he was out of this girl's league, and just had to hope to himself that she didn’t realize that.
***
They managed to drink three cups of coffee each, not wanting to leave the shop and stop their conversation. Eventually Buffy knew that she had better head home before her parents started freaking out. Spike offered to walk her, not wanting her to be alone again as it grew darker. Not twenty minutes later, they slowed down in front of her driveway.
“Thank you for the coffee Spike. And the portrait. I love it and had a really good time today.” Her smile was shy as she glanced up at him from under her eyelashes, apparently waiting for him to say something. He snapped out of gazing at her and replied.
“ Me too luv, me too. Actually, I had such a good time I was wondering if you’d like to come out with me one night? I hear the Bronze is a nice place to go around here.”
Buffy looked thrilled. “Sure! I mean, okay, sure, I’d love to.” Her cheeks tinged pink at her enthusiasm.
Spike just chuckled, glad that she had said yes. “This Saturday night coming, pet? Pick you up at eight?”
“ ’kay.”
He leant down to brush a kiss across her cheek but she misread him and turned her lips towards his. He stood there shocked for a second as their lips touched before pressing his mouth to hers more firmly. She reciprocated and reached up to hesitantly hold his shoulders. Feeling her eagerness, his tongue came out and ran across the seam of her lips until she opened them. He gently pushed his tongue inside her mouth and she massaged it with her own. They stood there kissing for long minutes, their mouths sliding over one anothers. His hands had come up to tangle in her hair and her fingers bit harder into his arms. Eventually he pulled away, gazing down at her in awe. Her face held the same expression.
“Till Saturday kitten.” He pressed one more gentle kiss against her lips.
“Yeah.” Buffy sighed softly and turned to walk up the driveway towards her house. She knew he was watching her from where he stood so she had to wait until she had reached the front door and stepped inside before jumping up and down in excitement.
Spike stood there for several more minutes, staring at where she’d been standing with a smile on his face.