Sleepovers and Pretzels Chapter Two: The Dance
Title: Sleepovers and Pretzels
Rating: PG13
Pairings: Spuffy, Willow/Tara, Faith/Oz, Riley/Harmony, Devon/Cordelia, Xander/Anya, Angel/Cordelia
Spoilers: It helps if you've seen up to season 6, but it's AU so not required.
Chapter Two: The Dance
The following week, the dance was getting underway. Spike was a little late picking Buffy up. He had wanted to make himself perfect for her. He knew it wasn't completely possible, but he hoped that she'd like it just the same.
Buffy answered the door, and grinned at him. She was wearing a long, fushia colored dress, it was gorgeous, and resembled a formal ball gown. She said, ''I'm ready to go, Spike.''
Spike led her to his red convertible, and they climbed in. He drove the ten minutes to the school, and they joined his friends once they got there. Spike kept his hand on the small of her back, and took her around the different groups he knew, to introduce her. Then he joined Riley and his date, Amy, Xander and Anya, Angel and Cordy, and Oz and Faith. Willow and Tara were with some other girls that they knew. Buffy gave Faith a hug, and tried to get along with everyone. Not long after Spike and Buffy joined the group, Devon walked up with his date, Harmony. He and Angel had decided to just switch dates after he and Cordelia had broken up.
Riley was watching Spike trying not to be too Spike with Buffy. Spike was truly a nice guy, the popular jock guy wasn't who he really was. Spike was still the eight-year-old boy who had hung out with Buffy and her friends. He was trying to be cool and aloof, but Riley could tell that Spike really liked her. He didn't want to lose his friends because of this, but he wanted to be with her. Riley could tell that his best bud was conflicted. Riley didn't care if Spike wanted to date Buffy, he was a nice guy too, who hung out with the popular crowd. Spike and Riley were best friends for a reason. They were the only two really nice people in their group of friends. Harmony, Cordy, Anya, Xander, Angel, and Devon weren't nice people at all. No one really knew if Oz was or not because no one really knew Oz. He just always there. He was a quiet guy who didn't talk much.
Cordelia was on Angel's arm and pretending that she was listening to him talk about the football team, but she was really watching Spike trying not to flirt with Buffy. Cordelia didn't like Buffy, and she was only pretending to because of the "ask a freak" thing. She didn't like the fact that Spike actually was starting to like Buffy, because she knew that the rest of the group would accept her because Spike would be dating her, but she knew she wouldn't. She really did want to go out with Spike. She didn't love him or anything, she just wanted to date him. Cordelia was not a nice person, she really was the catty, popular, cheerleader girl that she was in public. She glared inwardly at Buffy, and on her face, she wore a smile.
Faith was trying to talk, so people would see how she really was, so she would stop being picked on so much. She was talking to Oz and Harmony, while watching Buffy trying to get Spike to notice her. ''So, Oz, where does your band play, so I can come and see you?'' Faith asked. They looked couply, even though neither one liked each other that way. Oz had his arm draped over Faith's shoulders.
Oz said, ''Mainly the Bronze. Sunnydale's a small place, there's really nowhere else to play. Devon knows some people in LA, though, so we've played some clubs there.'' It was the most he'd ever said when he was with more people than just Devon or Faith.
Harmony said, ''This dance would be so much better if it could have been at the Bronze. I hate our gym, and they never get it decorated right.'' She made a face.
Faith said, ''No, I like it. It's really pretty.'' The gym was decorated kind of cheeply, but it could be considered pretty. It was the Homecoming Dance, and the committee had gone with a romantic thirties movies kind of thing.
Buffy left the group to go get a drink from the punch bowl. Spike had offered to get it for her, but she had told him she would get it herself. Cordy followed her. Buffy tried to smile at her. She and Cordy had been friends in junior high, and then Cordy had turned into cheerleader gal. She said, ''Hey, Cordy.''
Cordelia had her arms crossed, and she did not look happy. ''You had better not go out with Spike again. I want to date him, and I am tired of things being in my way. You will not date Spike again.''
Buffy finished pouring her punch. ''Excuse me? If Spike wants to date me again, it's really none of your business. I'm not saying that he will, but if he does, it has nothing to do with you.'' She itched to dump the cup on Cordelia.
Cordelia said, ''Ha. Spike Giles, wanting to date you? Whatever.'' She added, ''You're a freak now, Buffy. Spike is the all American guy who isn't.''
It happened quickly. Buffy took the cup and dumped the punch over Cordy's head. She then dropped the cup on the floor. She didn't say anything, just glared at her and left. She went back to Spike and said, ''Let's go. I don't care where.'' She didn't want to stay at the dance, and pretend that she and Cordy could be friends after that little scene.
Spike looked at her. ''OK, that's fine.'' He made his excuses and followed her out.
After Buffy and Spike left, Oz and Faith left the group to go hang out alone. Faith was starting to find herself liking Oz. She had liked the way she felt so comfortable with his arm around her, and just being, together. They went outside to the Quad to hang on the benches in the courtyard. Faith took a look at him. He really did look cute. She settled back in his arms, and said, ''I'm glad that you asked me to the dance, Oz. I really have had a good time so far, even with having to talk to my doofy brother.''
Oz smiled at her. ''Angel's not really that bad. He just is saying that stuff because he doesn't want anyone dating you. He wants to protect you.'' Angel had actually told Oz this. He didn't want Faith to get hurt, and he also didn't want her to know, nor anyone else. He had a funny way of showing it, but he did love his sister.
Faith didn't believe this. ''Whatever. Angel's a jerk to me at home. I don't care, though. If he wants to not be friends, then I don't want to be friends with him.'' She changed the subject. ''So, do I get a kiss out of this date?'' She asked, surprising Oz and herself.
Oz looked at her, surveying whether she was serious or not. He thought she was cute, and might want to kiss her. He shrugged. ''I guess so.'' He leaned towards her and placed a kiss on her. They kissed until they had run out of breath, and they were both surprised that they felt the sparkage. Oz said, ''Wow.''
Faith nodded. ''Yeah, wow, Oz.'' She couldn't believe how powerful that kiss had been, and she wanted more. She leaned forward and kissed him again, and they really got down to business.
Meanwhile, Angel and Cordelia were arguing about Spike. ''Cordy, I don't want to hear about Buffy and Spike! If he wants to date her, it's none of my business! Whom I do care about is you, and why you keep talking about it. Spike isn't your boyfriend. I am supposed to be your boyfriend. You're going out with me, remember?'' He spat.
Cordelia folded her arms. ''Angel, yes, you are my boyfriend. However, we've only been dating for a week. I can't be expected to immediately give up my crush on Spike just like that! I am Cordelia Chase, one of the most popular girls in school, and I have to spread myself around. I can't just date one boy at a time, I should be dating several guys at once.''
Angel got angry. ''If that's how you feel, Cordelia, you can date the several guys instead of me. I am not sharing you with anyone, and if that's how you feel, I'm out of here.'' He turned and left the dance, making Cordelia very angry.
Meanwhile, Spike and Buffy were hanging out in the park. They were talking about Buffy's friends. ''Will and Tara are pretty cool. Will hasn't changed much since we were kids, except for the fact that she's dating Tara. And Tara's always gone to school with us, we just never knew it because she's always been so quiet. And Faith is still so awesome. She's my best friend. I don't know where I would be without her. We like hanging with your dad in the library. He's pretty cool, you know.'' Buffy finished, coming up for air.
Spike had his arm around her, and he felt quite relaxed. Riley had given him a smile as they had left, and Spike knew that meant he was OK with Buffy. ''My dad is not cool, Buff. He just isn't. Ever since my mom died, he's been real quiet, and doesn't talk to me about anything. I'd really like to be able to tell him stuff, but he would totally judge me and whatever. He's a complete parp.''
The two were joined by Xander and Anya, who had also left the dance for some fresh air. They were draped all over each other. Xander said, ''Man, you guys missed it. Angel and Cordelia got into this huge arguement about you guys. Cordy's mad because Spike came with you, Buffy, and Angel was yelling at her for it. He said he was tired of hearing about you all, and that he's supposed to be her boyfriend, it was horrible.''
Anya nodded. ''It's all I'm going to hear about at school on Monday. Stupid Cordelia. I so tire of hearing how wonderful you are, as I've already told you, and now it's going to be worse. Everyone can tell you like her, and now Cordelia is going to be campaigning more than ever to get you to like her.''
Buffy turned to Spike. ''You like me?'' She asked incredulously. She hadn't known that he really and truly liked her. She had wondered why he'd asked her to the dance, but she had never thought that it was because he liked her.
Spike looked up. ''I think you guys had better get wherever you're going, because I will kill you if you don't.'' He glared at them until they went back across the street to the school's frontyard. He then turned to Buffy. ''I guess I do like you a bit. But let's take it slow. I don't want to mess anything up.'' He told her, and she beamed.
They spent the rest of the night trying to get to know each other as they were now.
The following Monday, Cordelia met Anya and Harmony at her locker, and she looked livid. She had gotten over the fact that she and Angel weren't dating rather quickly. It was the Spike thing she was still angry about. ''I can't believe he likes that freak instead of me.'' She fumed.
Harmony had actually gotten on quite well with Devon, so she didn't have the paitence for Cordelia's crush on Spike. ''Who cares, Cordy? I know we're not supposed to like her and whatever, but Spike's our friend. If he wants to date a freak, let him. He made it cool to date freaks by hanging out with her the week before the dance. So get over it.'' She turned to leave them, to go find Devon.
Anya quite agreed with Harm. ''I agree with Harm, Cordy. Give it a rest. Go make up with Angel and get over it. Angel's much cuter and buffer than Spike anyway, and you'll be much better off in the long run. I'm going to go and find Oz and Faith. I want to ask them something.'' She turned and left, leaving Cordelia alone.
Oz and Faith were making out by Oz's locker. Once they had started the kissing, they'd barely been able to stop. Faith had forgotten all about Xander, and Oz had forgotten all about Willow. Anya cleared her throat loudly when she had joined them. Oz stopped kissing Faith, and they both breathed deeply. ''Hey, An.'' Oz said.
Anya said, ''I have a question for you two. You both observe things more than I do. Do you think Xander was flirting with anyone last night? Like say, Harmony?'' She had actually worried about this.
Faith pushed back a long lock of dark hair. ''I didn't think he was. He was talking to her and Devon, more than anyone else, but no, I don't think that he was flirting with her.''
Anya said, ''Thank you very much. You may continue what you were doing.'' She turned down the hall and went to find Xander.
Buffy was walking into school with Willow and Tara, and was smiling. She and Spike had spent the last two nights on the phone together, talking about everything. She was very happy about how things were going. He hadn't asked her to go steady yet, but she had a feeling it was going to be happening soon. ''Man, you guys, I am so happy.'' She said out of nowhere; Tara had been talking about Othello.
Willow grinned. ''Were you makin' with the smoochies with Spike yesterday?'' She hadn't seen Buffy since the dance. She and Tara had spent the weekend together, because they had figured that things had gone well with Buffy and Spike, and also with Faith and Oz. They had given their friends some space.
Buffy shook her head. ''We haven't been doing that, but we've been talking on the phone a lot. I think he might really like me!''
Rating: PG13
Pairings: Spuffy, Willow/Tara, Faith/Oz, Riley/Harmony, Devon/Cordelia, Xander/Anya, Angel/Cordelia
Spoilers: It helps if you've seen up to season 6, but it's AU so not required.
Chapter Two: The Dance
The following week, the dance was getting underway. Spike was a little late picking Buffy up. He had wanted to make himself perfect for her. He knew it wasn't completely possible, but he hoped that she'd like it just the same.
Buffy answered the door, and grinned at him. She was wearing a long, fushia colored dress, it was gorgeous, and resembled a formal ball gown. She said, ''I'm ready to go, Spike.''
Spike led her to his red convertible, and they climbed in. He drove the ten minutes to the school, and they joined his friends once they got there. Spike kept his hand on the small of her back, and took her around the different groups he knew, to introduce her. Then he joined Riley and his date, Amy, Xander and Anya, Angel and Cordy, and Oz and Faith. Willow and Tara were with some other girls that they knew. Buffy gave Faith a hug, and tried to get along with everyone. Not long after Spike and Buffy joined the group, Devon walked up with his date, Harmony. He and Angel had decided to just switch dates after he and Cordelia had broken up.
Riley was watching Spike trying not to be too Spike with Buffy. Spike was truly a nice guy, the popular jock guy wasn't who he really was. Spike was still the eight-year-old boy who had hung out with Buffy and her friends. He was trying to be cool and aloof, but Riley could tell that Spike really liked her. He didn't want to lose his friends because of this, but he wanted to be with her. Riley could tell that his best bud was conflicted. Riley didn't care if Spike wanted to date Buffy, he was a nice guy too, who hung out with the popular crowd. Spike and Riley were best friends for a reason. They were the only two really nice people in their group of friends. Harmony, Cordy, Anya, Xander, Angel, and Devon weren't nice people at all. No one really knew if Oz was or not because no one really knew Oz. He just always there. He was a quiet guy who didn't talk much.
Cordelia was on Angel's arm and pretending that she was listening to him talk about the football team, but she was really watching Spike trying not to flirt with Buffy. Cordelia didn't like Buffy, and she was only pretending to because of the "ask a freak" thing. She didn't like the fact that Spike actually was starting to like Buffy, because she knew that the rest of the group would accept her because Spike would be dating her, but she knew she wouldn't. She really did want to go out with Spike. She didn't love him or anything, she just wanted to date him. Cordelia was not a nice person, she really was the catty, popular, cheerleader girl that she was in public. She glared inwardly at Buffy, and on her face, she wore a smile.
Faith was trying to talk, so people would see how she really was, so she would stop being picked on so much. She was talking to Oz and Harmony, while watching Buffy trying to get Spike to notice her. ''So, Oz, where does your band play, so I can come and see you?'' Faith asked. They looked couply, even though neither one liked each other that way. Oz had his arm draped over Faith's shoulders.
Oz said, ''Mainly the Bronze. Sunnydale's a small place, there's really nowhere else to play. Devon knows some people in LA, though, so we've played some clubs there.'' It was the most he'd ever said when he was with more people than just Devon or Faith.
Harmony said, ''This dance would be so much better if it could have been at the Bronze. I hate our gym, and they never get it decorated right.'' She made a face.
Faith said, ''No, I like it. It's really pretty.'' The gym was decorated kind of cheeply, but it could be considered pretty. It was the Homecoming Dance, and the committee had gone with a romantic thirties movies kind of thing.
Buffy left the group to go get a drink from the punch bowl. Spike had offered to get it for her, but she had told him she would get it herself. Cordy followed her. Buffy tried to smile at her. She and Cordy had been friends in junior high, and then Cordy had turned into cheerleader gal. She said, ''Hey, Cordy.''
Cordelia had her arms crossed, and she did not look happy. ''You had better not go out with Spike again. I want to date him, and I am tired of things being in my way. You will not date Spike again.''
Buffy finished pouring her punch. ''Excuse me? If Spike wants to date me again, it's really none of your business. I'm not saying that he will, but if he does, it has nothing to do with you.'' She itched to dump the cup on Cordelia.
Cordelia said, ''Ha. Spike Giles, wanting to date you? Whatever.'' She added, ''You're a freak now, Buffy. Spike is the all American guy who isn't.''
It happened quickly. Buffy took the cup and dumped the punch over Cordy's head. She then dropped the cup on the floor. She didn't say anything, just glared at her and left. She went back to Spike and said, ''Let's go. I don't care where.'' She didn't want to stay at the dance, and pretend that she and Cordy could be friends after that little scene.
Spike looked at her. ''OK, that's fine.'' He made his excuses and followed her out.
After Buffy and Spike left, Oz and Faith left the group to go hang out alone. Faith was starting to find herself liking Oz. She had liked the way she felt so comfortable with his arm around her, and just being, together. They went outside to the Quad to hang on the benches in the courtyard. Faith took a look at him. He really did look cute. She settled back in his arms, and said, ''I'm glad that you asked me to the dance, Oz. I really have had a good time so far, even with having to talk to my doofy brother.''
Oz smiled at her. ''Angel's not really that bad. He just is saying that stuff because he doesn't want anyone dating you. He wants to protect you.'' Angel had actually told Oz this. He didn't want Faith to get hurt, and he also didn't want her to know, nor anyone else. He had a funny way of showing it, but he did love his sister.
Faith didn't believe this. ''Whatever. Angel's a jerk to me at home. I don't care, though. If he wants to not be friends, then I don't want to be friends with him.'' She changed the subject. ''So, do I get a kiss out of this date?'' She asked, surprising Oz and herself.
Oz looked at her, surveying whether she was serious or not. He thought she was cute, and might want to kiss her. He shrugged. ''I guess so.'' He leaned towards her and placed a kiss on her. They kissed until they had run out of breath, and they were both surprised that they felt the sparkage. Oz said, ''Wow.''
Faith nodded. ''Yeah, wow, Oz.'' She couldn't believe how powerful that kiss had been, and she wanted more. She leaned forward and kissed him again, and they really got down to business.
Meanwhile, Angel and Cordelia were arguing about Spike. ''Cordy, I don't want to hear about Buffy and Spike! If he wants to date her, it's none of my business! Whom I do care about is you, and why you keep talking about it. Spike isn't your boyfriend. I am supposed to be your boyfriend. You're going out with me, remember?'' He spat.
Cordelia folded her arms. ''Angel, yes, you are my boyfriend. However, we've only been dating for a week. I can't be expected to immediately give up my crush on Spike just like that! I am Cordelia Chase, one of the most popular girls in school, and I have to spread myself around. I can't just date one boy at a time, I should be dating several guys at once.''
Angel got angry. ''If that's how you feel, Cordelia, you can date the several guys instead of me. I am not sharing you with anyone, and if that's how you feel, I'm out of here.'' He turned and left the dance, making Cordelia very angry.
Meanwhile, Spike and Buffy were hanging out in the park. They were talking about Buffy's friends. ''Will and Tara are pretty cool. Will hasn't changed much since we were kids, except for the fact that she's dating Tara. And Tara's always gone to school with us, we just never knew it because she's always been so quiet. And Faith is still so awesome. She's my best friend. I don't know where I would be without her. We like hanging with your dad in the library. He's pretty cool, you know.'' Buffy finished, coming up for air.
Spike had his arm around her, and he felt quite relaxed. Riley had given him a smile as they had left, and Spike knew that meant he was OK with Buffy. ''My dad is not cool, Buff. He just isn't. Ever since my mom died, he's been real quiet, and doesn't talk to me about anything. I'd really like to be able to tell him stuff, but he would totally judge me and whatever. He's a complete parp.''
The two were joined by Xander and Anya, who had also left the dance for some fresh air. They were draped all over each other. Xander said, ''Man, you guys missed it. Angel and Cordelia got into this huge arguement about you guys. Cordy's mad because Spike came with you, Buffy, and Angel was yelling at her for it. He said he was tired of hearing about you all, and that he's supposed to be her boyfriend, it was horrible.''
Anya nodded. ''It's all I'm going to hear about at school on Monday. Stupid Cordelia. I so tire of hearing how wonderful you are, as I've already told you, and now it's going to be worse. Everyone can tell you like her, and now Cordelia is going to be campaigning more than ever to get you to like her.''
Buffy turned to Spike. ''You like me?'' She asked incredulously. She hadn't known that he really and truly liked her. She had wondered why he'd asked her to the dance, but she had never thought that it was because he liked her.
Spike looked up. ''I think you guys had better get wherever you're going, because I will kill you if you don't.'' He glared at them until they went back across the street to the school's frontyard. He then turned to Buffy. ''I guess I do like you a bit. But let's take it slow. I don't want to mess anything up.'' He told her, and she beamed.
They spent the rest of the night trying to get to know each other as they were now.
The following Monday, Cordelia met Anya and Harmony at her locker, and she looked livid. She had gotten over the fact that she and Angel weren't dating rather quickly. It was the Spike thing she was still angry about. ''I can't believe he likes that freak instead of me.'' She fumed.
Harmony had actually gotten on quite well with Devon, so she didn't have the paitence for Cordelia's crush on Spike. ''Who cares, Cordy? I know we're not supposed to like her and whatever, but Spike's our friend. If he wants to date a freak, let him. He made it cool to date freaks by hanging out with her the week before the dance. So get over it.'' She turned to leave them, to go find Devon.
Anya quite agreed with Harm. ''I agree with Harm, Cordy. Give it a rest. Go make up with Angel and get over it. Angel's much cuter and buffer than Spike anyway, and you'll be much better off in the long run. I'm going to go and find Oz and Faith. I want to ask them something.'' She turned and left, leaving Cordelia alone.
Oz and Faith were making out by Oz's locker. Once they had started the kissing, they'd barely been able to stop. Faith had forgotten all about Xander, and Oz had forgotten all about Willow. Anya cleared her throat loudly when she had joined them. Oz stopped kissing Faith, and they both breathed deeply. ''Hey, An.'' Oz said.
Anya said, ''I have a question for you two. You both observe things more than I do. Do you think Xander was flirting with anyone last night? Like say, Harmony?'' She had actually worried about this.
Faith pushed back a long lock of dark hair. ''I didn't think he was. He was talking to her and Devon, more than anyone else, but no, I don't think that he was flirting with her.''
Anya said, ''Thank you very much. You may continue what you were doing.'' She turned down the hall and went to find Xander.
Buffy was walking into school with Willow and Tara, and was smiling. She and Spike had spent the last two nights on the phone together, talking about everything. She was very happy about how things were going. He hadn't asked her to go steady yet, but she had a feeling it was going to be happening soon. ''Man, you guys, I am so happy.'' She said out of nowhere; Tara had been talking about Othello.
Willow grinned. ''Were you makin' with the smoochies with Spike yesterday?'' She hadn't seen Buffy since the dance. She and Tara had spent the weekend together, because they had figured that things had gone well with Buffy and Spike, and also with Faith and Oz. They had given their friends some space.
Buffy shook her head. ''We haven't been doing that, but we've been talking on the phone a lot. I think he might really like me!''