Choices

Chapter Six

Buffy was smiling so much; she thought her face was going to split. Willow had introduced her to her friends--boys, no--men. They were funny and easy going, nice and sweet. One of them, Xander, seemed to take a real shine to her. He was cute in a geeky way and she found herself drawn to him. It was nice to be able to relate to someone who thought they were weird too. He was in college and an English student. She found she could really talk to him about his studies being that Spike was always reading to her and making her read things. He was all about the literature and he made her love it just as much. It helped that he met some of the writers he made her read about, so she got a first hand account about what they were really like.

When they parted for the day, they made a plan to see the Shakespeare play that was going on at his school for the next night. Buffy's first thought had been of Spike, but she quickly shoved the thought down. This was about her making new friends. Maybe even getting a boyfriend out of the deal. She would tell Angel about it, but not Spike. He'd probably follow them, make sure he wasn't 'ogling' her. Angel would keep her date--was it a date?--a secret. She didn't remember feeling so excited about something. She was going on her first real date!

Practically skipping into the house, she went looking for Angel. She found Spike in the living room, staring blankly at the TV.

"Angel here?" She asked him.

He looked up at her, appearing annoyed. "No. He went out for a while to check on the gallery."

She nodded. "I'm gonna go see him."

"Pet, wait."

She turned to him and found the TV off and he was standing. "Yes?"

"We need to talk."

She sighed. "I know."

"Could you...could you come sit with me?"

She nodded her consent and made her way over to him. They sat down together on the love seat, knees pointing towards each other.

"I didn't mean to make you feel like a tramp. I didn't mean to make a scene, but I am not sorry for taking that guys hands off you. I didn't like it. I didn't like the way he looked at you, didn't like the way he touched you. Buffy...you're...innocent. You don't know scummy men like I do. Don't know what men are capable of like I do. Hell, you could place me in the same category as those scummy men. The idea of them touching you like that...it makes me angry and causes me to act irrational. I'm sorry for that."

"I can handle myself, Spike. You know that. I have an advantage over them: I can kick their ass." She smiled at that.

He smiled weakly, and nodded. "I know, but...I don't want you in that position where you have to do that. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes. Men are scummy and will try to take advantage of me because I basically scream virgin."

"It's not that you 'scream' virgin. It's that you are and you're innocent in the ways of men."

She cocked her head to the side. "Spike? Are we having the sex talk that my mother gave me when I was thirteen? I just had this discussion with Angel last night. I'm not a child, remember?"

"I know that. You're not understanding what I'm saying. I'm trying to tell you that the man touching you last night wasn't treating you like a lady. He was treating you like a peace of meat."

"This is sound advice coming from William the Bloody...The Big Bad."

Spike narrowed his eyes at her. "I'm serious, Buffy."

"I know, Spike." She sighed. "I'm well aware that there are scummy guys out there. Believe it or not, I have met some. You guys think of me as this innocent child, but you know, you forget what I do at night. I kill demons and vampires."

"Doesn't mean you know the games of love and sex."

"No, it doesn't. But, I'll never learn if I don't try, will I?"

He shot up. "Try? What are you saying to me? Who have you tried with?"

"No one yet, you big idiot." She rolled her eyes.

"Yet?"

"You're exhausting, you know that?" She said and put her head in her hands.

Spike sat down next to her and pushed some stray hair away from her face. She looked up at him and found him gazing at her tenderly. Their eyes met and he smiled.

"I don't like fighting with you like that, kitten. I missed you."

She smiled shyly at him. 'I missed you too."

"ou hou have plans with Willow tonight? Think you could squeeze in some time with the Big Bad?"

She smiled brightly then. This was more like it. "Yeah, I think I could squeeze you in."

"What would you like to do? Bag some vamps? Have a drink?"

"How about both?"

He stood and extended his hand. "Let's go, pet."

*********

"Okay, whiskey is just gross."

Spike chuckled as she wrinkled her nose in disgust.

She had a pained look on here. \e. "I can feel it literally burning a path to my stomach. That can't be good." She took a long swallow of water.

"So, whiskey and bourbon are out. What about vodka?"

"Nope, I've tried that. Don't like it."

He raised his eyebrow, "when have you tried vodka?"

"Should I start calling you dad, because you know, you sound more and more like one everyday."

Spike narrowed his eyes. "Force of habit when it comes to you. If you didn't get into so much bloody trouble..."

"I'd like to take this moment to remind you who I was with when I got into 'so much bloody trouble'."
pikepike scowled at her.

She smiled brightly. "That's what I thought." She looked up at the bar. "I want to try tequila. I've never done the whole salt, lemon thing."

Spike grinned. "I think you'll like it."

"I'll get it," she stood and then stopped and swayed a bit.

"You okay, pet?"

"I think the whiskey just hit me."

Spike laughed out loud. "Sit, kitten. I'll get the tequila."

An hour later, and five tequila shots later, Buffy was hammered. She was giggling a lot, talking a lot and seemed to have all the balls in the world when it came to talking to anyone who passed by. Spike watched her and laughed at her. Even drunk she was precious. He stayed sober, knowing that one of them had to be in control in case anything should happen. She didn?t seem to mind. Deciding it would be a good idea for her to have a chance to sleep it off, Spike escorted her home.

Opening the door for her, she waltzed in, laughing at something only she knew the punchline to.

"Are you drunk?"

Both looked to see Angel standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorjamb.

Buffy broke out into a wide smile. "Angel!" She bounced over to him and threw her arms around him. "How are you?"

He looked down at her, "not as good as you apparently."

"I like tequila."

Angel looked over at Spike who shrugged and grinned. "She likes tequila."

"I didn't like whiskey," she shook her head.

Angel smiled at her, "you're not going to like the hangover you have tomorrow either."

"I won't have a hangover. I know just what I need. Two Tylenol's and a tall glass of water! It's the cure all. I learned that in high school." She covered her mouth and giggled. Then she extracted herself from Angel and set to work to get her remedy.

Spike helped her by opening the bottle and getting the Tylenol. She got the glass of water and smiled at Spike thankfully when he handed her the Tylenol.

"I don't want to go to bed yet. Will you stay up and talk with me for a bit?" She asked him.

"Sure thing, kitten. I'll stay with you until you fall asleep. How's that sound?"

She nodded, eyes glazing over. "Sure." Then her face brightened. "I know what I want to listen to!" She raced to her bedroom.

Angel looked at Spike and shook his head. "How much did she have?"

"Five shots. Not including the bourbon and whiskey."

"So, I take it you guys made up?"

"Yep, all made up...oh bloody hell, what the hell is she listening to?"

Angel had to laugh as 'Shake Ya Tail Feather' blared from her room. Her musical tastes varied and often did not match those of the vampires she lived with. Spike set on his way to stop the horrible music and perhaps coerce her into playing something closer to his tastes. Maybe even in this state he could get her to listen to some of his music.

This was going to be a long night.

TBC.....