Roomies

Buffy blinked as she was pushed down the last step and out into the brilliant California sunshine. Turning around to push him back she found that Spike was no longer behind her. He grinned and pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arm arounr shr shoulders and pushing her to the floor before taking off.

He had never gotten over a hangover so quickly in his life. And he had gotten drunk enough times to know better than to drink on a school night, but he really didn’t care. He had his mom living close by, he had good grades so far and he had his oldest girlfriend living with him.

She just didn’t know it.

Willow stared at Xander, incomprehensively.

“I’m just sayin’ Will, she’s a college girl, let her have some fun.” He told her again, her face clouded with confusion.

“But Xander? This guy went and told her mom he planned to marry her!”

“But she said no?” Xander queried, “Right?”

“I’m just worried that she might use William as a rebound guy. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt.” She argued.

“They’re old enough. She knows what she’s doing.”

“Please Xan?” Willow pleaded, “Just talk to him. Be a guy friend.”

“He thinks I’m gay!” Xander cried shrilly. He looked around, red with embarrassment, “But I’m not.” He added to the whole cafeteria.

“He does not.” The small redhead defended. “He just needs a guy friend. You have to do this.” She smiled, if there was ever any doubt that he wouldn’t do this, it would be gone now, “For Buffy?”

He groaned, that was a sure-fire way to get him to agree to anything. All you had to do was convince him that it was for the beautiful blonde and he would do anything in his power to make it happen.
“Fine.” He submitted, “But only this once, and if he calls me gay, I’m outta there.”

Willow grinned, “Thank you.” She told him sincerely, “I don’t want to see him get hurt.”

“Him?” Xander demanded. “He hurts our Buffernator and he’s a dead man walkin’!”

“Who hurt the Buffernator?” Oz asked as he sat down, sliding his tray across the Formica table. Stealing one of his fries before he answered, Xander excused himself for his mission while Willow and Oz got reacquainted.
hey hey dating?” Oz pointed at Buffy and Spike, who were fooling around with their trays in the lunch queue.

“Dunno.” Came the reply as his girlfriend dug into his meal, waiting for the blonde pair to join them.

Spotting her friends Buffy dragged Spike over so that they could sit together. It felt good to have fun, laughing and joking. She hadn son so worried that after the almost kiss, things would be awkward and she would have to avoid him or move out, but he hadn’t even mentioned it. Which was fine with her. Was she a bad kisser? she panicked. Of course not. It wasn’t even like they kissed. It was just a peck. Not even that. It was a”

“Buff?”

“Nothing!” Buffy told them chirpily. “What were you saying?”

“Just wondering when the Cal-State finals is.” Her best friend replied, watching her closely. Ie die didn’t want to talk about ice skating then something was definitely amiss.

“Feb 12th.” Buffy told her, wondering why her friend was suddenly so interested in her skating. Her friends knew better than to mention ice skating and risk setting her off. She could talk about her passion for hours, boring the life out of her friends. Willow smiled,

“That’s great, we can all go and watch you.” She replied enthusiastically. “Right Spike?”

Spike grinned. Watching Buffy in a tight leotard? Hell yeah he was gonna be there!

“Course Red. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He leered at Buffy so she threw a some fries at his head making him retaliate in kind.

“Hey.” Oz broke up the mini brawl, pointing towards the lunch lady who was glowering in their direction.

“I gotta run.” Willow broke the new found silence picking up her book bag and kissing Oz goodbye. Sensing her chance, Buffy bid goodbye to the two men and followed the redhead out.

“OK, spill.” She demanded as they stepped outside. Willow grinned,

“So you like him?”

“I didn’t say that!” Buffy blushed. “But don’t you think he’s cute?”

“Buffy, he was cute when he first arrived. You just didn’t see it.”

“He was?”

“Of course! So you think he’s cute and you like him?” The redhead teased. She was happy now. If they really liked each other then no one was gonna get hurt.

“Yeah. I think I do.” A frown settled across her face. “What if hesn’tsn’t like me?”

“Of course he does. He even said he’d watch you skate!” She grinned. “Come on, lets hit Starbucks!” The blonde grinned in return. Coffee and Spike. Sounded good to her.

“You think I have a chance?” Spike asked the quiet musician. Receiving a nod in response he carried on talking. The peroxide blonde had never felt like this about anyone. It was intense and they hadn’t even kissed properly. 'I’ll fix that' He thought, leaving Oz as he went to find the object of his affections.