Life of Experience

Part Four


A heavy sigh escaped Spike's lips as he sat under a tree in the school yard. Pops was furious with him. After two days of Spike's promise that he would never touch Xander, well, he couldn't help but lock the annoying brat in the basement, not forgetting to lock the windows of course. Otherwise the kid would have gotten away. Spike was supposed to get him out before his Pops came back, but as usual, things never went good with him.

Spike still didn't know why he did that. Was it what Oz said? That he was very angry that he didn't score at Harmony's party and had to put up with Devon's prattle about the possibility of him being a poof. Therefore, he lashed it out on the boy whom he was supposed to be treating like his younger brother? That made sense. But would his father accept that? Big fat NO! His father never even asked him why he did that. He just yelled at Spike and grounded him. The blond boy was not allowed to leave the house except for school. He was not allowed to call his mates, or have them calling him. And every afternoon, he was supposed to water his father's plants in the garden. For a whole month.

~ Like I'm gonna stay at home for a whole month! ~ That was his first thought when Rupert chose his punishment.

Whenever Pops grounded him, Spike would escape in the middle of the night. And after two days, if Spike was too careful, Rupert would forget that he actually grounded him. And then, everything would return to normal.

But now things changed. With the bothersome whelp living with them, he would always remind Rupert of Spike's punishment. And yes!! Spike did stay home for one whole month! Thank you very much!! ~ God, I hate that kid! ~ Spike thought fumingly.

Now, to he other problem. What the bleeding hell was wrong with him? At Harmony's party, Anya Jenkins, one of the finest birds on the campus, was all over him and he couldn't get it up. Of course that was what Devon needed to start his Spike-is-gay shit.

He was not gay! He just didn't meet the right girl yet. Ok, that sounded gay. Spike sighed.

"Yo, Spike!" Parker called his name as he ran towards him. The brunet boy dropped next to him and lit a cigarette.

"You got another one?" Spike asked. He sure needed to smoke right now.

Parker shook his head. "Sorry, man. But hey, I have something better." His hand searched in his pocket and then he pulled out something resembling a cigarette, but was thinner and a bit longer.

Spike stared at it for a minute then his eyes widened. "Bloody hell, is that drugs?"

"Shhhh," Parker shushed him irritably. "You want us to get caught!"

"Us? It's just you, mate. I don't want nothin' to do with drugs!" He was about to get up, but Parker pulled him back down.

"Hey, it's okay, I've been having this stuff for a week," the brunet said it like it was okay.

"A week?" Spike exclaimed. "When? I've never seen you have one."

"Where's your brain, English? I'd never use them out in the day. Do you want me to get caught?" Parker scoffed, and then told his story, "A week before, a friend of Dad's had one and gave it to me," Parker explained simply putting the object in his pocket.

"He just gave it to you?" Spike exclaimed with disapprobation.

"Yeah," Parker replied thoughtfully. "Maybe coz I'm already 18, you know, adult at last." There was a childish gleam in Parker's eye that Spike rarely saw. Whenever the subject about adulthood was mentioned, the brunet would get excited and never shut up about the possibilities an adult could do. That would involve booze and girls, you know, Parker's only interests.

"Anyway," his friend went on. "I liked it so much and bought a bunch from him."

"And your Pops doesn't know about it?"

"He knows, he just doesn't care." He grinned. "That's the beauty of careless parents. They just let you have what you want. But even if he said something, I'll just say I'm 18, I can do whatever I want." He chuckled happily and laid down to enjoy his smoke.

Spike stared at Parker for a while. His friend's life saddened him. As much as the bleached boy wanted Rupert Giles to leave him alone sometimes, he would never wish his life to be like Parker's. The brunet's parents got divorced when he could barely walk. He ended up with his father, while his mother never wanted shit from him. Parker's dad was an awful drunk. He never cared about his kid. All he cared about was watching stripper women while drinking Vodka. Parker eventually turned out like his father. Spike never minded Parker's father. He was cool, always rode motorcycles with them and let them watch the Play Boy channel.

But drugs were a serious subject. Maybe Spike was not the good boy type, but he knew that drugs equaled wrong in a big way. Spike exhaled watching his friend lying there and smoking with a dreamy look on his face. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "Do Oz and Devon know about this?"

Parker shrugged. "Your old man won't let me talk to you whenever I call. Something about me being a bad influence and other stuff that I didn't really hear. Anyway, you were in detention. Devon is a chicken, he'd freak out right away and I don't want to see that. And I never see Oz of late, probably with his goodie-good girlfriend." His dark-headed mate sneered at the mention of Tara. Parker never liked her. Spike always thought it was because she wouldn't let Parker shag her.

"Anyhow," Parker said. "I know they won't approve or go for it. So I didn't bother telling them."

"Wait a minute," Spike suddenly exclaimed. "You told *me*! You think I'd use that stuff?" he couldn't sound more slighted.

"Why not? We both drank what was left of Dad's Whisky when we found it in the bathroom."

"That's a different story and we only wanted to see what it tasted like."

Parker scoffed. "We had lots of drinks after that. Remember when we sneaked to the frat house and got totally drunk?" How could Spike forget that night? They both ended up naked and licking gums in third street's dumpster. That was one of the times his father grounded him for three months. The grounding lasted four days only.

"But you don't get addicted to booze, Parker. Drugs, you do!"

Parker pouted. "But it makes me feel so good." He frowned, looking confused at Spike. "What's gotten into you anyway? You were more fun before. I guess it's because of spending too much time at home."

Spike shook his head raising his hands in a surrender gesture. "I don't need this shit right now." He got up and was about to leave.

"Spike!"

The blond boy turned around looking bored at the brunet with the cigarette. "If you change your mind, you'll find me home alright? I'm not going anywhere."

Spike stared at him for a second before leaving.

*****

Spike huffed angrily as he came home. Today was shit. He met up with Devon and his new chit making with the smooches in the school's hole. The ponce just couldn't hold the gay insult in. It was when Spike noticed Anya near her locker and ran to her. At first she refused to have anything to do with him after Harmony's party's disaster, but she gave in eventually. Well, no one could resist him.

~ What did it do to me anyway? ~ He scowled to himself. Again he failed to have an erection. Even though Anya did the most erotic things to him, it still didn't work. What was wrong with his bloody cock? When a beautiful bird sucked and bit your tit, your cock should erect a mile. But it seemed that his was meant to be for the undead. Anya got all humiliated and started blaming him for making her doubt her talent and sex appeal. Then she left him standing naked and confused.

'Maybe it was Anya.' Was what Oz said. But Spike doubted it. Anya wasn't the only one he didn't get hard for. All the girls before her didn't seem to satisfy his bloody cock. ~ I'm not a poof! I'm not!! ~

The laughing snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned around and spotted his father and Xander laughing out loud in the kitchen. He walked over there and stood by the door. They were obviously laughing about something his father said. ~ Never knew Pops could pull a joke, ~ he thought amused.

"So, what's with the cackling?" he asked bored watching the two notice him. Xander immediately stopped giggling and had a little smirk that looked adorable on his boyish face. Spike frowned. ~ Why is the little brat smirking? I'm not liking this. ~

Rupert was still chuckling and obviously wanted to stop. After a few brief seconds his father succeeded in composing himself. He looked at Spike with laughter shining in his eyes. "It's nothing really. We were just talking about the entertainment that we're going to include for Xander's 13th birthday party next week."

Spike raised a scared eye brow at Xander. "Well, what do ya know, sprout's gonna be 13? Thought he was 10 or somthin'."

Xander glared. "I lived in this house for more than a month and you still don't know how old I am?"

Spike shrugged. "Didn't really care. Just judged by the way you look." He smirked at Xander's fuming face and then turned to Rupert. "By the way, why discussing the birthday party with the whelp? Thought kids liked surprise parties."

Rupert was about to answer, but Xander spoke first. "First, I'm not a kid. Second, I want to be involved with whatever plans Giles was having for the party."

Spike had an evil grin on his face. "Now you're spending Pops' money for your own pleasure? Already took the role of his son I see?"

"William," His father warned.

A flash of hurt crossed Xander's face but was immediately covered with anger. "For your information, I offered to pay for the party myself with Dad's money …"

"No," Rupert interrupted looking firmly at Xander. "Your father's money is for you when you come of age. Now I'm your guardian and I pay for whatever you want …"

He was cut off by the phone ringing. Rupert sighed and headed to answer it, throwing an angry glance at Spike on his way out. The blond was glad the phone interrupted his father's pep talk. He was not in the mood for a Rupert/Xander dramatic family scene. He turned to look at Xander, who had that maddening smirk on his face again. "What is it, whelp? If you have something to say just say it?"

"Well, I heard the most amusing thing at school today." Xander's annoying smirk got bigger. "There's a rumor going around about a high school band, Dingoes Ate My Baby. So I thought, isn't that Spike's band? It turned out that one of the members is kinda … um how should I put it? Gay."

Heart pounding, Spike stared at the source of his annoyance, trying hard not to show emotions. "Where are you getting at?"

Xander looked smug. "I heard that it can't be Oz since he's dating a girl named Tara. Not Devon too, coz he's also dating now. And the girls never shut up about Parker's skills in bed. So who's left? Let's just say I wasn't that shocked, dear big brother."

Spike's lips trembled with rage. This was too much. Parker was using drugs. He could not perform with girls and had that accident with Anya today. He knew there was something wrong with him. The thought of being a fag scared him and he hated the reminder. Like Devon wasn't enough. Now this little fool was making fun of him!

Fuming with anger, Spike stalked towards Xander, who giggled and was about to run around the kitchen's table, but Spike got there faster and pushed it violently blocking Xander's way. The brat froze looking at him startled. Spike grabbed him and threw him into the wall and watched as the back of Xander's head hit hard. The young boy fell and looked like he was seeing stars.

Spike took a big spoon and started beating Xander's tender skin. ~ That bloody brat! How could he? How COULD he?!! ~ His mind screamed with fury, while he was striking the other boy with the spoon. Xander was curling into a ball, his face hid between his knees and hands. He was hissing painfully with every blow.

Spike was blinded with anger and only saw Xander in front of him. He wanted the kid to hurt and bleed. Maybe bleed to death. How could he say that shit about him? Spike was NOT a poof!

Suddenly, his hand was grabbed and the spoon was taken from him. He was pushed backwards and was about to fall down but he stopped himself. He didn't know what happened and didn't care. His eyes were on the shivering boy on the floor and he wanted to beat more shit out of him. He moved towards the kid but was stopped. He tried to push the person that stood between him and the fucking boy. The person raised his chin and he was looking at his father's heated eyes.

Spike very soon realized that Rupert was yelling at him for a long time. He just didn't seem to listen to what his Pops was saying. His mind was rambling about teaching Xander a lesson for calling Spike 'gay'.

Rupert shoved him outside the kitchen and was yelling furiously. Spike awkwardly stumbled into the main lobby while his father walked after him. He turned around and looked directly at the grim face.

"What in God's name were you doing back there?!" Rupert spat out.

"He was saying some shit 'bout me!" Spike growled wrathfully.

Rupert raised his finger in a 'shut up' gesture. "I thought I told you to never speak such words in this house, young man." He sighed and lowered his hand. "And whatever Xander told you, I'm sure he was just teasing you."

Spike huffed. "Oh it bloody didn't feel like it!"

Rupert sighed again. Spike was glad that he didn't disapprove of his usage of those words again, because he was too angry to watch his words. "What did he say?" his father asked instead.

"He said …" Spike stopped. He wasn't sure what his father would say about that rumor. "Nothing," he finished looking away.

His father rubbed his forehead in exhaustion. "Look William, I warned you before. Do not come near that boy again …"

"Why are you always sticking up for him?!" Spike screamed thinking he would faint. It was very obvious that he was having a problem, yet his father acted like he cared more about that … that …

"He's just an annoying little piece of shit!!!"

"William Giles!" Rupert howled. "Stop coursing around, and God never mention that to him! He just lost his father."

"Well, I lost mum, too. Don't I deserve a little compassion?" Spike knew he sounded childish but really didn't care. ~ And what's with the he-just-lost-his-father shit? It's been nearly two months. The kid should just get over it! ~

"Yeah, but you have me. He doesn't have anyone but us," his father reasoned. He knelt forwards to whisper the next words. "His mum doesn't want anything to do with him."

"Why should she?! He's a bastard!"

*Slap*

Spike's hand touched his cheek while he stared at his father in shock. "You smacked me for *him*?" he whispered in disbelief. His eyes burnt with angry fire. "Fuck you, Rupert!" he shouted and then ran outside the house.

*****


Giles heaved a tired sigh. What had he ever done to deserve this wearisome child? Why couldn't he be more like Xander? Remembering the younger boy, Giles raced towards the kitchen.

Xander was hugging his knees to his chest, looking slightly shaky. There were bruises on his arms, Giles figured there were more but covered under Xander's clothes. The boy raised his eyes to him. They were wide and full of fright and shock. The man knew that Xander had heard what William said. Giles walked towards the boy and soothingly pulled him into a warm embrace. "Are you hurt?"

"A little. Mr. Giles?" Xander asked in a frightened whisper.

Giles felt unease. Before, Xander used to call him Mr. G. Now that it got formal between them, Xander simply started calling him Giles. But Mr. Giles? Things must have gone pretty wrong for the boy now. "Yes?" he said to Xander.

"What Spike said … is it true?" the last words came wavering.

"No," Giles shook his head quickly. "It wasn't true, Xander. William was just angry. That's all," he lied, but he knew it was for the best. He hoped Xander believed it.

******