Life of Experience

Part Six

Weeks later, Xander noticed the changes in Spike. He wasn't complaining about being grounded like he did the last time. He was actually spending most of his time in his room. He didn't even come down for Xander's party last week. And when Xander glanced through the door lock, he saw the blond at his desk studying. Whenever Xander glanced inside Spike's room before, he would find him listening to his headphones or on the net, watching porn pictures obviously. Well, the final exams were approaching anyway and Spike had to work hard if he wanted to be accepted into a good college.

Spike's chance of getting into East Anglia University was very good according to Edward Giles, Rupert Giles' cousin. That phone call that Xander answered in the doomed day was Edward's reassurance to his older brother that his nephew was going to be accepted in East Anglia University.

Spike would go for literature because he liked poetry, ~ what a shock! ~ Actually punk boy had written a lot of lyrics for his band, before it fell apart.

Xander also noticed some changes in Giles as well. His guardian was very broody lately, probably thinking that what happened to Spike was his fault. Giles would go into Spike's room every few hours with food or snacks, so he could concentrate more on his studying. It appeared that Giles was trying all he could to let Spike know that he cared for him.

Xander didn't ask about what happened that night when Spike and Giles had that fight about Spike using drugs. He also didn't ask when Giles got a consular for Spike. He knew what that consular was here for. He once heard him say to Giles that one of the reasons his son went to drugs was the lack of adult support or supervision, but Xander didn't stick around too long to hear the rest. It wasn't his business anyway.

Right now, Xander was standing in front of Spike's room. For the last two weeks, Xander could not help but think about what Spike said. The bit about him being a mistake. The brunet boy guessed that Spike knew more about his parents than he did. He waited enough for Spike to pull himself together after the drugs incident, now it was time for answers.

The boy knocked on the door. He heard Spike's irritated voice answer. "Stop it with the chow, Pops. I'm entirely full."

"It's Xander."

There was a pause.

"C'mon in," came Spike's voice.

Xander opened the door a little and peered inside. Spike, looking all punk like usual, was settling in front of his desk reading a text book. Xander pushed the door open and let himself inside. He closed the door behind him and walked towards older boy. He stood next to Spike, who didn't seem to acknowledge him. It annoyed the younger boy a bit, but he pushed the feeling a side.

"Spike? Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot," the bleached boy simply answered. His eyes still on the text book.

Xander shifted from foot to foot. "Uh … that time when um … uh."

What was wrong with him? He was all forward before! Why nervousness now? ~ It's just I don't know where to start? I can't go all like 'remember the day you smacked me with the big spoon?' or 'remember the day you had a huge fight with Giles?' or 'remember the day you got stoned?' Hell can't! ~

"Stop with stuttering and get on with it," Spike said rudely.

Xander glared. Enough with Mr. Nice Guy! Spike didn't deserve it anyway! "Listen, pal, you know something I don't know about my parents so speak up right now!"

Spike couldn't help but chuckle. He turned towards the boy. The sulking look on the brat's face was very cute. ~ He was actually 13?! ~

"Yeah, well, I know some stuff," he said with a teasing smirk.

"Enlighten me."

Spike shrugged. "K, I asked Pops right after yours died about your family, but he was in too terrible of shape to answer. I was angry coz I wanted to know about this brat who was coming to ruin my way of living …"

"Spike," Xander interrupted. He wanted straight answers and was not in the mood for Spike's rambling.

Spike stared at the boy for a minute. At first he was all for hurting the boy with rude comments about his folks. But now looking into those huge brown eyes that had all the 'hurt me now with a single word' sign written all over them, Spike figured he should just get it over with and tell the kid the whole truth.

"Well, your father had a very strong relationship with a British bird. After seven years, the woman broke up with your Pops. It was very hard on him that he listened to one of his chums and went to a Stripper club to perk up. After getting drunk and playing some, he woke up in the morning with a whore." Spike stopped talking and looked at Xander. The boy's arms were warped around his body tightly and his face was expressionless.

"Her name was Jessica Parker?" Spike asked, even though it was stupid, both of them knew that was Xander's mother's name.

Xander nodded silently. He ran a shaking hand through his hair. "So … they just slept together? No protection. I mean Dad could be very drunk but that was just plain stupid …"

"He was hurting," Spike cut him off gently. "He didn't think. As for her I … " He didn't know what were the whore's intentions.

"She was just a slut," Xander spoke with an edge. His face had a hard grimace, as he looked down at his feet.

Spike could see the humiliation all over the boy. Why wouldn't he? He just learned that he was a mistake. That his father wasn't intending to have kids, that his mother was a whore who couldn't care less about him. This wasn't the first time this woman's name was mentioned to Spike. Mr. Abrams, Parker's father, did sleep with her once. Parker was actually named after her family. According to Mr. Abrams, she had sexual talents that he never dreamed of so he promised to name his kid, if he ever had one, after her. And he did. Parker didn't seem broken hearted by it anyway.

The thought about Parker made his heart hurt a bit. It was really hard to think about his mate for five years being thrown in jail for whatever time. Spike knew that he lost his friend for good now.

"So what happened then?"

Xander's question woke Spike from his musing. He looked bewildered. "Wot?"

"What happened after they …? Did they freak out? Did they hate …?" Xander trailed off looking down like a puppy waiting to be kicked.

In this moment, Spike knew that it was up to him to either break the boy or make him feel better. Spike didn't know exactly why he disliked the kid in the first place. The first thought that came into Spike's head the moment he heard his father was adopting a kid was how his life would be disturbed. Kids were annoying, screaming, running around, breaking stuff … actually if you look at it, Spike was the one who gave Xander a hard time since he came here. He always mocked him, broke his project, locked him in the basement and hit him with a big spoon. Maybe it was Spike who was the little monster.

"Spike?"

Spike jumped out of his thoughts. "Wot?"

"Answer me!" Xander whined annoyed. "What happened next?"

"If you keep whining like this, I won't tell!" Spike warned. "Ask nicely."

Xander rolled his eyes. "Would you please continue oh kind sir?"

Spike couldn't help but chuckle. He took a deep breath. "Well, to be honest. Your mum didn't want anything to do with you but your father was willing to take care of you." He looked at Xander seriously. "I really don't know if he thought that you're a burden or not. I didn't know your Pops. But since he didn't drop you at a foster home I'm sure he cared about you."

"Way to cheer me up," Xander said sarcastically.

Spike grimaced. "Now, I told you what you want, get out and close the door behind you."

Xander sighed. "Alright, alright." He walked towards the door, paused, "Thanks," he whispered.

"You're still here? Get out!"

Xander turned to stare at Spike with skepticism. Spike gestured with his hand at Xander as if he was ordering a dog. "Go."

"Unbelievable," Xander said with disgust.

He got out and closed the door behind him. Turning to his text book, Spike just smiled.

*****

Spike inhaled as he stood in the airport, backpack on his shoulder, and was looking at the people going here and there. There was a new excitement that went through his body and made him shudder. He was going to Britain. To college. New thing. A stupid grin filled his face.

He was leaving. At last! He was getting out of Sunnydale's poisoning atmosphere. Everything went wrong in the last month. Spike's smile faded as he remembered, drugs, Parker in jail, their band shattered. He and Oz weren't that close anymore and he didn't know anything about Devon. It was so good to get out of all of this mess. College would be different. Spike was sure.

He spotted his father coming towards him after he took care of his luggage. Rupert gave him back his pass port. "Alright, think you're settled now," he said softly.

Spike nodded. "Thank you." He looked at his watch. There are only a few minutes until they call the passengers for the flight.

"So this is it," Rupert said smiling.

Spike looked up and smiled back. "Yeah." He noticed the sad look in his father's eyes. His relationship with his Pops just began to improve and Spike was glad. He actually started to enjoy spending time with the old man. His father knew how to play the guitar and they sang together on so many occasions. Spike even started to have grown ups talks with him.

~ I guess I'm beginning to mature. ~

Although he and his father started to come to good terms, he and Xander didn't come near any progress. They still fight and annoy his Pops like shit. Xander even said that he would kill himself rather than come to the airport and say good bye to Spike.

"So will I be missed? Or is it good riddance?" Spike joked to lighten the mood.

His father looked disapproved. "You know I'll miss you, boy."

"I know, Pops. Just teasing." Spike kept grinning. "Besides, I'll visit or you can visit. You and the brat … if he wanted to anyway," he finished shrugging carelessly.

"I'm sure he would." Rupert's eyes turned very serious. "If you needed anything, Edward will be there, or you can call home, I'll be there."

Spike was touched. He smiled again. "Of course."

A woman's voice rose announcing that the plane to London was about to leave, Spike sighed. "So that's my plane." He looked up at Rupert. "Now lets begin the college years."

Rupert placed a hand on Spike's shoulder. "I … I'm very proud of you," his voice wavered saying that, and then he pulled Spike into a very tight hug.

Spike hugged his father back as tight, burying his face in the older man's shoulder. They hugged for a while until they heard a call telling the passengers to get on the plane. They parted and looked at each other for a bit then Spike walked towards the entrance.

End Stage One.

*******