Wicked Ways

Chapter 8


"So what do you want me to do? Stand out on a sodding fire-escape and sing you a bloody serenade?"

"OUT!" Buffy pushed Spike towards the door


"Summers," Spike said in a more soothing tone "I was only joking,"


"I don't care," Buffy pushed him again, until he was outside.


"Pet listen-" Spike took a step forward but the door was slammed to his face.




"Women!" Spike mumbled as he looked down on his drink.


"What about them?" a familiar voice responded


Spike turned his head and saw Xander, sitting next to him at the bar


"What are you doing here Harris?"


"I thought I'd check out the competition," Xander scanned the
area of pub.


"Your pub is at the other side of town, mate,"


"Yeah," Xander glared at the hectic crowd "and now I know where all the action is,"


"How did you find me?"


"Anya told me you hang here…I've got to say I was a little disappointed. You know I make a great Metropolitan,” Xander glared at Spike's drink.


"It's a Manhattan…and I don't think you're here to criticize my drinking,"


"You right, I'm not," Xander took a moment before sending his friend a harsh look.


"Spike… your thing for a lack of a better term…with Buffy, it has to stop you know that, right?" Xander watched his friend closely, as he leaned forward and waited for his reaction.


Spike clenched his teeth and gazed back on his drink


"I know the last few times we talked…things got a little out of control-"



Spike glared at Xander mid-sentence


"I'm sorry about the car scheme and the split lip… it looks much better by the way," Xander smiled awkwardly


Spike finished his drink and murmured, "You’ve got nothing to worry about,"


"What's that?" Xander tried to catch his words


"I said you got nothing to worry about," Spike turned wearily to his best friend. "Your little sis and I are far from having any kind of relationship…unless I'll make a bloody pillock out of myself…and then-" Spike put his hand on Xander's shoulder, sounding more drunk then before. "Even then…be sure she'll take much pleasure in tearing my bleeding heart out,"


"Spike…" Xander raised a brow "what are you talking about?"

---

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Willow took off her apron and sat next to Buffy by the bar.


Buffy glared at her friend for a long moment before speaking quietly



"I think….i think I made a mistake,"



"Is this about Spike?"




Hearing his name almost made Buffy jump off her chair, she clenched her fists and sighed, looking back at her patient friend.


"Spike has power now. He has power over me…it looks like
he knows about my feelings more then I do and….i don't like it," Buffy pouted


"Spike cares about you," Willow simply stated, trying to make her friend feel better.


"No…well maybe…" Buffy shook her head "but that's not the point"


"What is the point?"



"Will…there're a lot of things you don't know about Spike and I, about our history."



"What kinda things?"



4 years earlier…


"Bollocks to the all things! I don't even want to go to that bloody party,"


Buffy was standing near her locker, watching her brother and his best friend walking down the hallway.



"What are two talking about?" she asked as they stood next to her



"None of your business brat," Spike turned to look at her



Buffy bit her lip and looked away. She didn't understand why the young Brit was always so mean to her.



"He's just touchy today because he and Dru break up again," Xander explained



"Drusilla will come around," Spike said and took his things from his locker.


"How many times do have to I tell you?...get rid of that crazy bit-"


"Don't finish that sentence," Spike warned, narrowing his eyes


Buffy watched him as he put his coat on and turned to leave.



'"I-I like your coat," she mumbled


Spike raised a brow and glared at her for a moment, before turning back to his friend.


"I'm not coming,"



"Why the hell not?" Xander snapped



"I want to come," Buffy blurted without thinking


"You're a freshmen Buff…" Xander explained


"So?" Buffy crossed her arms


"Yeah Harris …let the bit live a little," Spike smirked "experience new things, expanding her horizons,"


"No! There's no way i-"


"You know what goldilocks… I'll take ya," Spike turned to the young girl who smiled at him shyly


"Spike!" Xander snapped, but before he could say anything else, his bleached headed friend turned to leave.




"Don't worry whelp…we'll have lots of fun," Spike said while walking away


Buffy turned to her stepbrother with a glint in her eye.



The night of the party arrived and Buffy was pacing in her room, restless.


"Let's go Buff," Xander knocked on the door


Buffy opened it quickly "Is Spike here already?" she asked


"No... Change of plans…we're gonna meet him there,"


"Oh…okay," Buffy tried to hide her disappointment and followed her brother to the car.

When Buffy and Xander arrived, Buffy almost jumped out of the car before it stopped.

She knocked at the front door and smiled brightly when it opened

"Who are you?" a grumpy guy scanned her up and down.


"She's with me,” Xander quickly stood beside his sister. He gave her a scolding gaze before the guy let the two in.


"Where is Spike?" Buffy asked and looked around the room full of people.


"I think I see him," Xander held Buffy by the arm "He's there with Dru," Xander pointed to the corner of the room near the fireplace.


Buffy's face fall as soon as she spotted the two together



"Let’s say hello," Xander pulled her by the arm



Buffy wanted nothing more than ran. However, she knew she had no choice, but follow her brother.


"Well looky here...you brought the bit after all,” Spike grinned when the two approached him.



"Who's that William?" Dru tightened her grip around Spike's waist and glared at Buffy.



"That's Xander's little sis, she goes to our school Dru,"



"What's her name?"


"Her name is Buffy," Buffy snapped and narrowed her eyes at brunette



"Aww feisty," Drusilla turned to Spike grinning



"Sorry I didn't come to pick you up whelp…Dru needed me," Spike explained to Xander.



"That's okay man," Xander looked around and spotted drinks at the bar


"I'm gonna get us drinks Buff,” he glanced at his sister before leaving. Buffy jumped in her place. She wanted to follow him, but staying a few steps from the couple, she desperately tried to avoid.


"Pretty little thing isn't she?”


Buffy overheard Drusilla comment to Spike



"She's a child Dru," Spike replied coldly


"Lovely sundress," Drusilla giggled and Spike laughed along with her.


"I think she has a crush on you, my Spike," she added




"She's just an annoying brat looking for attention. Her mom and dad left the country and now she wandering around. Like a stray dog looking for a home…even her brother is constantly trying to get rid of her. I feel sorry for whatever git she ends up with,"


Not able to hear more, Buffy held back her tears and tried to escape quickly through the crowd of people.



Present day…

Willow glared at her friend for a moment, after she finished her story.


"Well, that explains some things," she finally said, with a tiny smile.

"I guess since then my attitude had changed a little…a lot," Buffy corrected when her friend raised a brow.



"I wanted to put everyone in their place…starting with Spike," Buffy smiled bitterly "I'm not saying he caused me to rebel, and do all those stupid things I've done over the years…but he was a major part of it,"


"I sorry that happened to you sweetie, but that's in the past," Willow paused for a moment "what you gonna do now?...about Spike?"


"He needs to prove himself,"



"Buffy…" Willow said with a smirk


"He ran away," Buffy explained defensively



"And he came back, you know he's sorry,"



"I know…it's not like I'm looking for a declaration of love or anything," Buffy shrugged


"You're not?" Willow asked skeptically


"No…I just want to be sure," Buffy muttered, as she played with her hands.



"Sure of what?"


Buffy gazed up and glared at her friend with a straight face.


"Sure he won't hurt me again,"

---

Cutting the evening short, Spike returned to his apartment. He was actually glad his best friend had showed up when he did. Otherwise, he would have continued drinking the night away. Still talking to Xander was hard these days. They both felt a lot of resentment towards each other, Xander was always very tolerant with Spike, but when it came to his sister all bets were off. Spike knew Xander was very protective of her and with a good reason too.



Spike froze outside his apartment, as he noticed the front door was slightly opened. He opened it slowly, and was relieved as he saw his belongings were in their place.



He sighed in relief. The last thing he needed was to be fired and get robbed at the same week.



Walking wearily to his bedroom Spike's eyes widened when he switched the lights on


"Harmony!"



"Hi Spikey," the ditzy blond leaned at the side of Spike's king size bed and smiled at him.



"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" Spike took a few steps closer.



"Thought I'll surprise you silly…." Harmony was about to get up on her knees, when Spike stopped her by holding out his hand.


"Are you…are you naked under there?" Spike mumbled pointing at the sheet that was wrapped around her.


"Well Duh! Of course I am," Harmony rolled her eyes and leaned back frowning "I was waiting here for hours. Where have you been?"


"Harm…" Spike tried not to lose his temper as he glared at her "we need to talk," Harmony got rid of the sheet quickly and stretched out on the bed, smiling.


"Are you sure about that Blondie bear?"



TBC