" Miss Summers," her algebra teacher snapped accusingly, "is there something you find offensive about trinomial factoring?" Buffy blinked, realizing she'd been caught.
" No ma'am, I just thought I saw a spider." The teacher shook her head and turned back to the board.
" Spikey, you missed a great hunt last night." Angel chuckled. Dru giggled madly, and stroked Angel's hair with her hands.
" Devastated, I assure you, mate." Spike replied with bitter sarcasm.
" Come now, pet," Drusilla said, "don't be like that." She walked over to him, but her pushed her away and rolled his wheelchair back.
" Not tonight, love." He sighed. Angel grabbed Dru's arm and pulled her back to him again.
" Come on Dru, lets not let him spoil our party. I can still dance." He held her dangerously close, and they danced to the music of the night, as Spike looked on, the anger building on his face.
" Hey Buff, the sad look is out this month."
" Sorry Xander, I think it's reached that time of night where I head on home."
" Buffy," he said, "stay. I could take you up on that rain check for a dance." He did his best Travolta impression.
" I'll pass Xander, sorry."
" Anyone ever tell you this isn't a safe neighborhood?" She didn't even need to turn around to know who was there.
" I've heard once or twice."
" You should listen. I mean you could be beaten, or worse." Buffy could feel him right behind her.
" Gee Angel, I appreciate your concern, but I'm a big girl." As she started to walked away, he grabbed her arm and spun her around.
" No one walks away from me."
" I do!" She struggled to get free, but he had become much stronger then her. As he bent over, his lips brushing the skin of her neck, she shuddered. All hope was lost. Then, just before he bit into her, someone strong yanked him away from her.
" Now mate," Spike said, "you weren't thinking of killing her without me around, were you?" Angel blinked a stood up.
" You can walk?"
Spike glared. " You think?" Buffy was too shocked to even pull a stake on them. " Run along," Spike ordered, "she's mine now." For some reason, Angel did as he was told without question.
" Wha-how-wher-why-wha. . ." Buffy stammered as Angel disappeared into the darkness. " Why?" Spike turned to her, his finely carved features and blonde hair glimmered in the moonlight.
" It seems to me," he said, brushed something off the Slayer's bare shoulder, "that we share a common ground." She stared at him.
" That would be?" Spike leaned in, whispering in her ear.
" Jealousy."
" Jealousy?" She repeated, knowing he was right.
" Yes, and we can do something about it."
" That is?"
" Make them jealous."
" And how to you suggest we do that?" Buffy asked, playing dumb. Spike suddenly grabbed her and pulled her against him, their lips locking in a sudden embrace. Letting it linger for a moment, Buffy finally pushed away. It had been so long since she'd felt someone's lips on hers. But it was Spike. He watched her back away in fear, until finally she turned and ran. Spike wiped his mouth on his jacket sleeve and licked his teeth.
" My, my, Angel, what else didn't you tell me about the Slayer?" He laughed. " At least now I'm on her anti-slay list, and Angel won't be so hard to kill." He grinned and turned toward home.
" Buffy!" Willow shouted. Buffy turned to face her friend, who looked frantic.
" What's up Will?"
" Giles is raving, you missed a warm-up." Shrugging, Buffy just hugged the books more, and smiled. " Buffy, what's brought on this sudden mood of happiness?"
" Willow, something happened last night. On my way home."
" What?" Willow asked eagerly. " A boy something?"
" Yeah."
" Anyone I know?" Buffy froze, and frowned a little.
" Yeah."
" What happened Buff?"
" A kiss." She sighed. " An amazing kiss."
Willow grinned and poked her for more information. " Come on, who was it?"
Looking at Willow's excited face, Buffy couldn't lie to her. " Spike." She whispered, then ran off down the hall.
" How dare you!?" He yelled. Spike rocked on his heels and acted disinterested.
" I've killed two slayers already, I'm going for a record." Angel kicked over a tall candelabra. Dru had pressed herself into a corner and was whimpering.
" I wanted her!" Angel roared, his true face coming through. " I had it all set up perfectly."
" Obviously you didn't plan it too well, she isn't dead yet. You drew it out too long, messed up." Glaring at him, Angel kicked the chair in front of him so hard it shattered. " But you were right about one thing." Angel raised an eyebrow.
" Hmm?"
" Loving her will really get under your skin." Drusilla wailed as he spoke, but Spike ignored and walked out of the room into the dark hall.
" He loved Drusilla!" Buffy snapped back. " Besides, I don't love him, it was a kiss. You've heard about those, haven't you? Where two people-"
" That's quite enough." Buffy crossed his arms.
" I can take care of myself Giles."
" Just stay away from him."
" Spike." She whispered. " What are you doing here?" He spun her around, the looped his arm around her waist so they were right against each other.
" I came to see you." Buffy looked around the dance floor. No one had noticed. Out of semi-habit, she put her arms around his neck. His hand crawled up her back, and began to play with her hair. Without any thought from either of them, he kissed her, and she let him.
" Um, Will." Oz said.
" Yeah?" She muttered, snuggled against him.
" You know that blond vampire that tried to kill Buffy before."
" Mmm-hmm."
" Isn't that him over there? Kissing her."
Willow spun around, then fell back into Oz at what she saw. Xander turned to see what was happening, and his jaw dropped.
" Buffy." They whispered in unison.
" We can't."
" Why?"
" Let's just say I've had some bad experience with vampires. Hell Spike, I've had some bad experience with you!" Her voice was still hushed.
" Buffy," he whispered, touching her cheek, "what happened with Angel won't happen with me."
" No soul."
" No. No curse."
Buffy stalked quietly through a garden. It was night, she carried at stake in hand, and watched everything.
" Buffy," Angel said from behind her, "you found me."
" Wasn't that hard, just followed the smell."
" Ouch." He replied, pretending to be hurt. " But you came, you saw, and now its time you went."
" There's something I need to do first." She smiled, her back still turned, and put the stake in her jacket. Then she walked to him.
" What do you need to do?"
" This." She kissed him once, for the Hell of it, and then jabbed the stake into his heart.
" Buffy-" He whispered, turning to dust before her.
" Good-bye Angel." She said. There was clapping from behind her, a loud, booming sound.
" Nice work pet." She turned and smiled at Spike and threw the stake to the ground.
" Buffy, you found me." It was happening, it was really happening.
" It wasn't that hard, I just followed the smell."
" Ouch." She turned, too soon, and walked over to him. She had to get this over with.
" I'm sorry Angel."
" No Buffy, I'm sorry." She raised an eyebrow but the scene became familiar. This was what happened on the street. He grabbed her, the stake still in her hand. Angel was going to bite her, and she couldn't do a thing.
" I can't do it." She whimpered.
" But I can pet." A familiar English voice said. Spike jabbed a splinter of wood into Angel's back just as he started to drain her. Buffy collapsed on the ground. Bending over, Spike picked her up. She was very dizzy, and extremely weak.
" Good-bye Angel." She muttered, then fell asleep on Spike's shoulder.
" What have you done to her?" Giles asked accusingly.
" She went to kill Angel, but he got to her first, drained her. I killed him, but now you have to help her." He very carefully handed Buffy to Giles.
" Why didn't you finish her off when you had the chance?"
" Well," he said, backing away from the door, "it has a lot to do with a human emotion I was never supposed to feel again."
" Love?"
" Don't question me, help her."
" So," Xander said, "you love a vampire again. Not only that, but it's Spike. You know, tried to killed you, me, your mother, me need I go on?"
" He saved my life twice. He's had so many chances to kill me and hasn't."
" I love a werewolf." Willow offered. " Xander loves a, a, a Cordelia." Buffy laughed.
" I resent that." Xander said. Buffy put her arms around both of them.
" Where would I been without you two?"
" Nowhere fun." Xander said.
