Changing Lives by Mabel Marsters

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Chapter 30

The next day was Tuesday so Spike’s first lesson was his counselling session with Monica.

“Hi, Monica,” he said as he sat in his usual armchair.

“Morning, Spike. You seem pretty cheerful.”

“Um, yeah, I think I am,” said Spike with a grin.

“That’s great! So what’s changed?” asked Monica.

“Wot do yer mean?”

“You know what I mean,” bluffed Monica.

Spike stayed quiet, turning her own technique back on her this time.

“Okay, Spike, you’ve got me,” thought Monica. She changed tack. “So what was going on with that locker search yesterday?”

Spike shifted in his seat and looked uncomfortable.

“I dunno,” he mumbled.

“So Principal Snyder didn’t give a reason for it?”

“No, he just went down and checked the whole row.”

“The whole row? It looked like he stopped at yours to me,” said Monica firmly.

“Um, well, he must ‘ave ‘ad something else to do,” said Spike.

“Oh come on, Spike, stop playing games. You know me well enough by now - just tell me the truth.”

Spike sighed, “Well that happy didn’t last long,” he said grumpily.

Monica chuckled, “Stop being a drama queen, Spike.”

“Okay, okay,” said Spike, “He was only interested in my locker. He expected to find something in there.”

“What?” prompted Monica.

Spike looked at her and raised his eyebrows, “Wot do yer think?”

“Did he find it?” asked Monica.

“Well since I’m sitting ‘ere talking to you, yer must know that he didn’t. I would’ve been expelled like a shot,” said Spike.

“Why do you think he suspected you had liquor in there?”

“I don’t know,” replied Spike.

Monica knew he wasn’t telling the truth.

“What was going on with you and Angel yesterday when I interrupted you?” she asked.

“Nothin’ much,” said Spike cagily, “We ‘aven’t really got on since …um…yer know.”

“Looked a little more serious than that to me.”

Spike just shrugged. Monica decided she’d pressed him enough for that session and lightened the mood by getting Spike talking animatedly about music.

Ooooooo

So it was with a spring in his step that Spike walked into the library for lunch.

“Hey, Rupert,” Spike called as he threw his bag down on the table in the main room. He started to sit down but before his butt hit the chair Rupert called out.

“Come in here, Spike.”

“What is it with these people today?” grumbled Spike as he walked into Rupert’s office.

“I had a visit from Principal Snyder this morning,” said Rupert.

“Oh?” said Spike, “Crap, Angel’s reported me.”

“He was asking me what drink you had with your lunch yesterday, even checked the bin. Why did he do that?”

“Um…well, he checked my locker just after lunch. I think he thought I was …er….was drinking again,” replied Spike.

“And you didn’t mention this to me because….?”

“I just forgot, Rupert, wot with going to the doctor about my hand and all,” said Spike, “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Rupert took a deep breath, “I’m sorry, Spike. It’s just I don’t like him being able to put me on the spot, the hateful little man.”

Spike snickered at that, “So yer not mad at me?”

“No, Spike, I’m not. How is your hand?”

“Bloody sore but not too bad I suppose. I know I’m going to get marked down for my writing being untidy. Is it okay if I get my lunch?”

“Of course it is,” said Rupert.

Spike walked out and sat down, leaning back in the chair and putting his feet on another, with his iPod in his ears blaring the Foo Fighters’ latest track and happily munching his sandwich.

Ooooooo

The end of classes found Spike wandering back to the library. He hadn’t seen Angel at school that day. He still couldn’t believe what he’d done. He worried about what he might have done if Oz hadn’t been there to stop him. Oz had been right when he’d said he’d lost it. The punch Angel deserved but the kick? Spike wasn’t sure. He was lost in his thoughts and didn’t hear his name being called.

“Er…Spike.” It came again.

The voice was a little louder but still tentative. Spike looked around.

“Yeah?”

“Um…I just wanted to say that I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? Wot for? You’re…you’re Jerry, right? English class,” said Spike.

“Yes, I am. Angel made me do it so don’t beat me up, okay? I only did it ‘cause I thought he’d do something to me,” babbled Jerry.

“Look mate, I ‘aven’t a clue wot you’re talkin’ about and relax - I’m not hitting anybody. Why would yer think I would?” said Spike, not liking the fear in Jerry’s eyes. It reminded him too much of himself before he came back and also made him ashamed that he’d ever joined in with Angel’s taunts.

“I was the one who told Snyder to look in your locker. I saw what you did to Angel after school.”

“You did?” asked Spike. Jerry nodded, “Look I know Angel was behind it. I’ve got no problem with you.

“Thanks, Spike,” said Jerry with relief and he started to walk away.

“Jerry?”

“Yeah.”

“Let me know if Angel causes you any grief, okay?”

Jerry nodded again and scurried away.

“Okay,” said Spike slowly as he watched Jerry leave, “Why did I say that? Spike the enforcer? Christ, who the hell do I think I am? Angel will probably cream me when he sees me next.”

Ooooooo

Spike was a little late getting to the library and Buffy was already waiting. She looked up at him as soon as he walked in.

“Uh oh,” he thought when he saw her expression, “Wot now? This is some day I’m having.”

“Spike,” said Buffy.

“Mm?”

She glanced at Rupert’s office and waited until he’d sat down before speaking again.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she said.

“Look, Buffy,” said Spike, “I’ve had a really weird day. Can you just get to the point, please?”

“Why didn’t you tell me that Angel had set you up with the stealing?” asked Buffy.

Spike looked at her, eyes widening a little.

“Would you ‘ave believed me?” he countered.

“What? Of course I would,” protested Buffy.

“You didn’t before.”

“When?”

“At yer mom’s gallery when I tried to tell you about the t-shirt at the mall. Can you remember wot yer said?”

Buffy blushed at the memory.

“So yer can see why I didn’t bother,” added Spike flatly.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, not meeting his eye.

“Bet it hurt to say that.”

She looked up sharply, retort on her lips, but didn’t say anything when she saw he was smiling at her. It turned into a grin when she smiled back at him.

“Oz told yer then?” said Spike, his heart still fluttering from the smile she’d given him.

“He had to, especially since I started telling him off for helping you out,” said Buffy sheepishly.

Spike started to laugh.

“Stop it,” snapped Buffy, “It’s not funny.”

Spike just laughed harder. It was infectious and soon Buffy was laughing helplessly too. Rupert looked out of his office at the pair of them, pleased to see they finally looked like they were getting along.

“Why did you laugh?” asked Buffy when they’d got their breath back.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to. It’s just that you’re always getting the wrong idea but you’re so adamant that you’re right.

“Hey! I am right – sometimes,” said Buffy, “So why did Angel set you up like that?”

“’Cause I was stupid, I reckon. I made it easy for ‘im. He didn’t make me drink though; I was stupid enough to want to do that. I could’ve said no,” said Spike. “I didn’t steal that t-shirt, yer know. Angel did but he gave it to me.” He looked at her to check if she believed him, “I don’t blame yer for not wanting to ‘ave anythin’ to do with me. I didn’t make a great first impression, huh?”

“But why did you tell me that you’d been in trouble with the cops before?” asked Buffy.

“I didn’t. You asked me if it was the first time I’d been taken away by the police. It’s not the same thing,” said Spike, “I was put in a patrol car in London. I ….um…was gonna run away….but the police found me waiting for a bus up to Scotland so they took me home again.”

“Why did you want to run away?” asked Buffy softly.

“Honestly? Mostly ‘cause I didn’t want to come ‘ere and also ‘cause I didn’t want to be a burden to Rupert. I mean I’ve pretty well messed up his life by him ‘aving to be my guardian.”

“I don’t think he sees it that way at all,” said Buffy firmly, “He’s proud of you. He told me.”

“He did?” asked Spike, “Before all the trouble, no doubt?”

“Nope,” said Buffy, “Just before you came in here tonight.”

“Really?” said Spike, “Wow.”

“Why so surprised?” asked Buffy.

“Well I ‘ave made a bit of a balls up of things ever since the…um….crash.” He looked down, avoiding her eyes.

There was an awkward silence, as neither really knew what to say. In the end Buffy broke it by suggesting they get on with the studying.

Spike grimaced as he went to pick up his pen and flexed his fingers a few times.

“Oh, what have you done to your hand?” asked Buffy, reaching out and touching it.

He pulled it away as if her touch scorched him, but it was the memory of her holding his hand in The Bronze that seared, not her touch.

“Did I hurt you?” asked Buffy.

“Um…no…well …a bit,” stuttered Spike.

“How did you do that?”

“I …er...fell over,” replied Spike, not able to meet her eyes.

“Yeah, right,” said Buffy.

She waited to see if he was going to tell her the truth but when he stayed silent she just started getting her books out and they got down to work.

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