[Reviews - 505]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story | ePub eBook Chapter or Story | Printer Chapter or Story

Has been viewed 4754 times

- Text Size +




Stumbling out of the club a few hours later, Buffy blinked several times,
trying to focus her eyesight as she reached for the brick wall to balance
herself. Faith had taken off with some guy over an hour ago, and now Buffy
was on her own to find her way home.

Taking several deep breaths, she walked slowly through the alley, deciding
that Angelus’ place was closer and she wouldn’t run the risk of getting
yelled at for walking in drunk.

‘I’ll go there,’ Buffy thought, swaying dizzily on her feet before sliding
down to the sidewalk. ‘As soon as I take a little rest…just for a minute.’

“Come on, luv. Up you go.”

Feeling herself hauled to her feet, Buffy spun around, losing her balance in
the process and clutching at the soft leather she came in contact with.
“Spike?” she asked in confusion, holding the lapels of his jacket.

“Yeah, sweetheart…it’s me.”

“I thought you left,” she murmured, leaning against him as he wrapped
an arm around her shoulders and slowly walked toward the parking lot.

“I thought so, too,” he muttered, his hold on her tightening when he felt
her stumble. “I couldn’t leave you alone…not when you’re like this.”

“Not when I’m like what?” Buffy asked, her foggy brain trying to understand
everything he was saying.

“Drunk off your ass.”

“You used to say I had a cute ass,” she giggled, leaning more heavily on
him.

“And my opinion hasn’t changed.”

Spike stopped when Buffy lost her footing. Waiting until she balanced
again, she reached a hand out and grabbed the wall, bracing herself as
another dizzy spell surrounded her.

“Spike?” she whispered, leaning against the bricks and letting her eyes
drift shut. “Who are you?”

“You know who I am, luv. You’ve known me for years,” he murmured, standing
in front of her and holding her upright.

“No,” she replied, shaking her head. “I mean, who is ‘Spike’? I don’t know
him- I know William. Why aren’t you ‘William’ anymore?”

“The same reason you aren’t Buffy anymore.”

Buffy giggled at his reasoning. “Silly boy,” she said, punching him on his
shoulder. “I am Buffy.”

“But you’re not the same…I guess we both grew up.”

“Grew apart,” she corrected with a frown, becoming a little more focused on
the conversation as her good mood seemed to evaporate. ‘Am I dreaming?’ she
wondered as she looked into his concerned eyes

“I guess so,” he whispered, seeing her eyes focus a little more before they
began to tear up.

“I loved you, William,” she said in a choked voice, talking to the man in
front of her as he faded in and out of her eyesight. “I loved you, so
much…why did you hurt me? Why didn’t you stay with me? I would have given
you everything…I would have given you anything you wanted.”

Spike took several deep breaths as his own eyes began to water. “I’m sorry, Buffy,” he said softly, pulling her into his arms when she began to cry. “I never wanted to hurt you…never.”

“I felt like I was dying…I woke up everyday and I couldn’t breathe. I just
missed you so much.”

“Is that why you did this?” he asked, pulling away from her slightly as he
gestured at the leather pants and red halter that she was wearing.

“I don’t know why I did this,” she replied honestly. “Maybe I just wanted
to be the kind of girl that guys would want to be with instead of being the
one that they wanted to get away from.”

“I didn’t want to get away from you,” Spike said, his brow furrowed.

“Yes, you did,” Buffy said miserably as her head began spinning from the
effects of the alcohol. “Everyone always wants to get away from me. My
Dad, you…even my mom doesn’t like me anymore.”

“That’s not true, luv. Your mum loves you.” His eyes widened as an idea
hit him. Seeing an opportunity to get the truth out of her instead of a
sugar-coated lie, Spike pulled back to look in her eyes. “Are you with
Angelus because he wants to be with you?”

“Isn’t that a good enough reason?” she asked as if it was the most natural
response in the world before leaning her head back against the wall.

Narrowing his eyes, Spike studied her for a moment before speaking. “Did he
take advantage of you, Buffy?”

“What? Of course not,” she replied indignantly, her eyes opening a little
wider to focus on him.

“He did, didn’t he?” Spike growled, his eyes flashing with repressed anger.

“No,” Buffy said, shaking her head before letting it fall against Spike’s
chest in exhaustion. “I went back to his place and…”

Spike felt his heart clench and his stomach drop as he wrapped his arms
around her small form. “And what?”

“I don’t remember after that,” she murmured in a tired voice. “I woke up in
his bed. I don’t remember anything.”

“That son of a bitch!” Spike yelled, briefly considering letting go of Buffy
and tracking down the wanker before settling on slamming his fist into the
wall in front of him. He was surprised that he didn’t scare Buffy in the
process, but she stayed where she was.

“Spike,” Buffy whispered, her soft-spoken voice keeping him grounded in
reality. “He’s been a perfect gentleman ever since that night.”

“Ever since he raped you?!”

“He didn’t!” she yelled indignantly, pushing away from him and stumbling
down the sidewalk.

Spike chased after her, grabbing her arm to steady her when she tripped.
“Buffy, he got you drunk and-”

“No!” Buffy cried, turning around and hitting his chest with her small
fists. “He didn’t! It…it wasn’t like that…he…”

“I know you don’t want to hear this.”

“You’re right,” she muttered, her head spinning as she tried to focus on
him. “I don’t. I want to get out of here.”

“I’ll take you home.”

“No, I can’t go home,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m going to Angelus’.”

“The hell you are,” Spike replied, picking her up and walking toward his
car. “You can’t go home and that’s fine, but I’ll be damned if I leave you
with that pillock for him to…”

Buffy didn’t say anything as she let her head fall to his chest, exhaustion
taking precedent over everything. She was asleep before Spike even put her
in the car.





You must login (register) to review.