Fic: Collide - Chapter 15/?
Alright, so I should really be in bed right now, only I'm having insomnia at the moment. So...you all benefit, haha. Also? I have to help chaperon my twin 6 yr olds' class on a trip to the zoo come morning. I'm going to be half dead for it. *headdesk*
Anyway, here's the next chapter. Hope you all enjoy! And if I don't answer fb right off, it's because the little monsters (I call them that affectionately, really) killed me.
Collide
Pairing: S/A (eventually), S/others and A/others along the way
Rating: NC17 overall
Warning: Teenage high school kids doing things high school kids do.
Disclaimer: Not mine, not for profit...just borrowing them to get the plot bunny that invaded my brain to shut up already.
Beta'd: by thatotherperv and silk_labyrinth
Summary: Human AU. Growing up is difficult enough. Being yourself while doing it is damn near impossible.
Previous chapters in memories and at my site.
Chapter 15
Previously…
Giles nodded. "As you know, the tutoring program was full, which is why I agreed to help you last time, but now Mr. Clemens has hired a new tutor. One I'd personally recommend."
Spike's eyes widened as he caught on to what Giles was about. Turning, his gaze locked with Angel's equally disbelieving one.
Turning back to Giles, Spike said, "No soddin' way, Uncle Rupert."
At the same time, Angel said, "You've got to be kidding."
Giles looked back and forth between the two of them. "It's the perfect solution, actually. Will excels in literary arts and you need help in that very subject. I know the two of you have your issues, but you don't need to be best friends to have a tutor/student relationship that works. At least think about it. Will, this might be the perfect way to repay Angel for that lift he gave you the night your car broke down. And Angel, you need to weigh whether being stubborn is worth your starting position this Friday night. And now I'm off. I won't be too late, Will."
Spike nodded. "Have fun."
Giles stepped past them and out the door, closing it behind him, leaving Spike and Angel to stare at each other. Alone.
~*~
After a moment, Spike said, "This is ridiculous."
Angel nodded. "He doesn't get it."
"Not a clue," Spike agreed. "I mean, really. The thought of you and I… He's barkin'."
"I don’t know what that means, but … yeah," Angel said.
Spike chuckled. "Barkin'. Nutters." At Angel's continued bemusement, Spike sighed. "Mean's he's out of his tree. Insane. Crazy."
Angel rolled his eyes. "Why didn't you just say that?"
"Because there's an art to it. Insults. Take pride in them back in England, we do. Not our problem you Americans can't grasp the concept."
Angel shook his head and started for the door. "Whatever. Forget I came here. I'll figure out something on my own."
Spike walked over, intending to close the door behind Angel, but just as Angel crossed the threshold, he spun around and said, "I'll pay you double."
Spike blinked, unable to believe his ears. "You'll … what?"
"I'll pay you double," Angel repeated, looking like he'd rather eat his shoe than say the words again.
Spike stared at him for a full minute, sure Angel was joking, but Angel just stared right back, waiting for an answer.
"You're serious," Spike finally said, a statement more than a question.
"You're my last resort," Angel answered, "or I wouldn't even consider it."
Blown away at the turn of events, Spike turned and walked away from the door, leaving it open, expecting Angel to come back in and close it, which he did. Eventually Spike pulled his thoughts together and looked over at Angel, who was now standing near the door, looking decidedly uncomfortable.
"This must be killing you," Spike mused.
A tic worked in Angel's jaw. He didn't answer, which was answer enough.
Spike stared at him for another minute, then said, "Alright. With conditions."
"What are they?" Angel asked, voice tight.
"One, you lay off the stalker/insult/threat thing you seem to have going on with me."
Anger flashed through Angel's eyes and he took a step toward Spike. "Listen you little…" Spike arched an eyebrow and Angel trailed off, apparently realizing the misstep. He took a deep breath and started over. "I'm not stalking you. You just seem to pop up everywhere I am. As for the insults, that goes two ways. And the threats, yeah. I … can lay off those."
Spike smirked. "Don't sound too sure of that."
Angel huffed in irritation. "I can't help it if you make me want to strangle you sometimes."
Spike outright chuckled then. "Your negotiating skills are impressive, mate."
Angel glared at him for another couple of seconds before apparently seeing the humor in it too. His lips twitched up at the corners briefly before he sobered and said, "How about this. I'll try not to threaten you, but if I do, it's just words. I wouldn't follow through. I'm not like that."
Spike leveled a gaze at him. "Seems to me the memory of being pinned to a bathroom wall and choked sort of refutes that."
Angel winced. "That had very little to do with you. You just got in my way. That's why I apologized. Not because Buffy wanted me to."
Spike considered that. Angel seemed sincere enough, and obviously Spike believed him on some level otherwise why would he be alone in the flat with him? Also, Spike's uncle seemed to be a good judge of character from what Spike had been able to tell so far, and he believed Angel was basically a good sort, so…
"Right, then," Spike said. "Condition number two." Angel nodded and Spike continued. "You pay me my regular wage and we call it even. No need to pay me double. Did give me that lift, after all."
Angel blinked in apparent surprise, obviously having expected something hard to comply with. "Sure. Thanks."
Spike shook his head. "Don't thank me yet. Still not convinced this is going to work, but 'm willing to give it a shot. Oh, and there is a third thing. You ever call me Will or William, all bets are off, understand?"
Angel looked confused, but nodded. "Whatever."
Spike nodded in return and asked, "Have your books with you?"
Angel jerked his head toward the door. "Out in my car."
"Get them and get back here ASAP. Don't want to be at this all night," Spike said.
~*~
Minutes later, Angel walked back in to Spike and Giles' apartment and looked around, frowning when he didn't see Spike and, more importantly, when he couldn't find a work surface that wasn't covered in books.
"Spike?" he called.
"Back here!" Spike answered. "Down the hall on your left."
Frown deepening, Angel walked back, stopping short in the doorway to what appeared to be Spike's bedroom. Angel's gaze stopped on Spike himself. His blond hair was slicked back, the damp curls he'd answered the door with long gone. He had a shirt on now and he was lying on his stomach on his bed, feet at the head and head at the foot.
"Uh, I think there's been a misunderstanding."
Spike looked over at him from the bed and rolled his eyes. "Not trying to get you in bed, tosser. Brought a chair in so you could face the bed and use the end as a work surface. Supposed to have a desk by now, but it's on backorder. We'll just have to make do for the night."
Angel blinked, deciding this had been a bad idea. It had killed him to ask in the first place, just like Spike had said, but this … was a bad idea. A really bad idea.
Swallowing hard, Angel pointed back down the hall. "Why can't we just move some of those books off the table out there?"
Spike waved toward the front of the apartment and said, "Have at it, mate. Just make sure my uncle knows you were the one that messed with his precious books. The ones he spent all afternoon organizing just so. I had to eat dinner standing in the middle of the kitchen tonight rather than mess with them."
Angel wavered, still not sure about the whole thing.
Finally, Spike said, "Look. You're straight, right?"
"Yeah," Angel said, wondering what Spike was getting at.
"So it shouldn't matter that I'm bi, yeah? Not going to force you, and since you have no interest anyway-not that I do, mind, just saying-nothing's going to happen here except hopefully some studying. Now either get in here or leave. Don't care which. Just choose. Have my own homework to do yet."
"You have homework?" Angel asked, tentatively stepping into the room.
Spike looked at him as if he were stupid, which, really, given the question, maybe he was. "Yeah. Didn't think I got a pass just because I tutor, did you? I worked hard to get in the top one percent, ta ever so."
Angel paused. "You're in the top one percent? Seriously?"
"Was why I was offered the job," Spike boasted, although Angel thought he could see a hint of embarrassment lurking in Spike's eyes. "And now that my credentials are out of the way and we've established I'm not going to take advantage of your virgin arse, can we get to work?"
Angel bit off a chuckle, vaguely disturbed by the fact that he and Spike were having what passed for a civil conversation between them, in Spike's room, where Spike was about to help him with his homework. Suddenly Angel felt like he was in an alternate universe.
~*~
A while later, Angel had finished writing the rough draft of an essay due that Friday. He watched pensively as Spike read through it, circling things as he went.
When it looked like Spike was at the end, Angel asked, "Well?"
Spike held up a finger and Angel sat back in his chair, huffing in frustration.
Finally, Spike looked up. "Looks good. You got the basics down."
Angel frowned. "Then why did you circle all that stuff?"
"Said you got the basics, meaning the structure of it. There's a clear, concise beginning, you explained yourself well in the body, and the summary paragraph wraps it up well. This could easily be an A paper, long as you fix the grammar issues. That's what the circles are for."
Angel took the paper back and glanced through it, forehead furrowing. Pointing out a circled comma, he held it out to Spike. "What's wrong with that?"
Spike sighed. "Doesn't belong there. Should be a semi-colon."
Angel skimmed through more of the paper, then pointed to another circle. "And that?"
"Not supposed to end sentences with prepositions."
Getting frustrated, Angel said, "Christ. You circled half the damn paper. How am I supposed to fix all that?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "I'll help you, alright? Just start working on it." Spike glanced next to him and grabbed something, tossing it to Angel. "Here. Use a green pen so you can see where you made changes when you go to copy it onto your computer."
Angel took the pen and began working on the revisions. When he got to the sentence that ended in the preposition, though, he threw down his paper in frustration.
"What's the problem?" Spike asked, sounding exasperated.
"Nothing," Angel said, feeling like an idiot compared to Spike and not liking it one bit. "Forget it. Forget the whole thing, actually. I never should have asked for your help."
Angel stood up and started to turn away, but Spike's hand on his wrist stopped him. "But you did and I'm here, willing to help, so tell me what's wrong."
Angel studied Spike's upturned face but didn't find any mocking there. Just willingness to help, like he said. Angel's wrist tingled where Spike held it.
"Why?" Angel asked suddenly.
Spike's forehead scrunched up. "Why what?"
"Why are you helping me?" Angel asked, somewhat suspiciously. He'd been a jerk to Spike so far. It didn't make sense that Spike would willingly help him unless there was some sort of ulterior motive.
Spike blinked at him. "The fact that I'm getting paid isn't enough?"
Angel shook his head. "No. It's not."
Spike tensed, letting go of Angel's wrist as he sat up on the bed and asked incredulously, "So you think I've what? Got some ulterior motive? Think I'm going to use this against you somehow?"
Angel shrugged. "It wouldn't surprise me."
Spike's eyes narrowed. "Maybe not, considering it's probably something you'd do, but I'm not like that. Said I'd help and I will. I'm not going to turn around and mock you with it, or blackmail you or anything else. Just want you to follow through with what we agreed on. That's it."
"So you're what? Just a do-gooder? Is that what you expect me to believe?" Angel asked.
Spike snorted. "Not a bloody do-gooder. Just want you to lay off me, and if this is the way to get you to do that, I'm willing."
Angel studied Spike for a long moment, deciding he was telling the truth. Sitting back down, Angel looked at his paper again, then said haltingly, "I don't know how to fix that sentence without messing with the sentences following it, and I really like how those are worded and don't want to change them."
Spike lay back down on his stomach and took the paper from Angel, looking at it for a minute before nodding his head. "Yeah. Can see what you mean, but look." Spike laid the paper flat between them, tilting it sideways so they could both read it. Angel leaned in, bringing his head close to Spike's in the process. Pointing a finger, Spike said, "You can just move this here and that there, and your problem's fixed. No need to mess with the sentences after it."
Angel nodded, his frustration ebbing away a bit. "Okay."
"That work for you?" Spike asked, looking over at him.
Angel glanced up and their eyes met, faces inches apart. For a moment, Angel felt an almost overwhelming urge to lean in and kiss Spike. But then an image of Spike shoved against a wall, Ford's tongue down his throat and hands grabbing Spike's ass flashed through Angel's head and he pulled back, suddenly disgusted with Spike and himself. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He didn't understand why Spike stirred all these feelings up inside him. Why he had these … urges. The whole thing was sick. Twisted.
Suddenly feeling like he was suffocating, Angel hurriedly gathered his things. "Yeah. It works for me. I uh, have to go. Forgot I have this … thing tonight." He'd nearly reached the door when he paused and turned back, asking, "Tomorrow? Same time?"
Spike blinked at him, a bemused look on his face. "Sure. Whatever. Here, or at the school?"
"Here," Angel said quickly. At Spike's look, Angel said the first thing that came to mind. "I, uh, would rather it not get out I need a tutor. So if you could…" He trailed off, feeling vulnerable after having admitted that to Spike. It gave Spike way too much power over him.
Instead of ridiculing him for it, though, Spike simply nodded. "Sure. Won't mention it to anyone."
"Really?" Angel asked, surprised.
Spike arched an eyebrow. "Really."
Angel hesitated, then nodded. "Okay." He turned to go, then turned back again. "Thanks."
Looking uncomfortable, Spike nodded. "No worries."
~*~
The next day at school, Angel walked into the building half expecting to be mocked and ridiculed, sure Spike had gone and told everyone, regardless of the fact that he'd told him he wouldn't. No one said a word, though, so unless it was the best-kept secret in the school, Spike hadn't talked.
Still, it wasn't until after second period that he finally started to relax and let his guard down. He had his head in a notebook, jotting down some last minute notes from class as he walked down the hall when he ran into someone. Literally. He stopped short, looking to see who it was, and nearly groaned. Spike.
Spike, for his part, looked up at him in exasperation. "Seriously. Why is it that if I'm in striking distance, you can't seem to resist plowing into me?"
Angel swallowed. Spike had no idea how accurate that statement was. Shaking his head, he just said, "Sorry. Wasn't looking where I was going."
"Well, that's bloody obvious," Spike said.
"Listen, you little…" Angel started, then trailed off when he saw the grin on Spike's face, instead of the irritation he'd expected. Oh. Spike was joking with him. That was … different. Smiling sheepishly, even as he ignored the weird flutter in his stomach, Angel said, "Bad habit."
Spike arched an eyebrow. "So's running into me. Almost becoming anticlimactic, innit?"
Angel couldn't help himself. He chuckled. "Yeah. A little."
Just as Angel was starting to relax and actually enjoy a conversation with Spike, Ford slid in next to them and draped an arm over Spike's shoulders, leaning into him. "You two aren't about to throw down, are you? Because then I'd have to get involved and I really don't need a fight on my record."
Spike chuckled, glancing over at Ford. "Nah. Just talking." Spike elbowed Ford in the stomach lightly and asked, "Where'd you disappear to last night? I texted you back but you never responded."
Ford rolled his eyes. "I lost reception. The tower near our house got messed up or something and my dad was on some conference call for work, so I couldn't use the land line."
As Angel watched the exchange, a quiet rage built until he was itching to punch Ford in the face and pry him off Spike. Ford was practically wrapped around him. Angel blinked, realizing he needed to get out of there before he did or said something supremely stupid.
"Uh, I need to…" Angel trailed off, pointing down the hall.
Spike looked over at him. "Oh, yeah. Sure."
Angel glanced between the two men, then nodded and took off without another word. He looked back just before turning a corner in the hall and found Spike leaning back against the lockers, Ford facing him and standing way too close. They were talking animatedly about something. Angel clenched his jaw and continued around the corner, determined not to give Spike or his boyfriend another thought.
Continued here.
Anyway, here's the next chapter. Hope you all enjoy! And if I don't answer fb right off, it's because the little monsters (I call them that affectionately, really) killed me.
Collide
Pairing: S/A (eventually), S/others and A/others along the way
Rating: NC17 overall
Warning: Teenage high school kids doing things high school kids do.
Disclaimer: Not mine, not for profit...just borrowing them to get the plot bunny that invaded my brain to shut up already.
Beta'd: by thatotherperv and silk_labyrinth
Summary: Human AU. Growing up is difficult enough. Being yourself while doing it is damn near impossible.
Previous chapters in memories and at my site.
Chapter 15
Previously…
Giles nodded. "As you know, the tutoring program was full, which is why I agreed to help you last time, but now Mr. Clemens has hired a new tutor. One I'd personally recommend."
Spike's eyes widened as he caught on to what Giles was about. Turning, his gaze locked with Angel's equally disbelieving one.
Turning back to Giles, Spike said, "No soddin' way, Uncle Rupert."
At the same time, Angel said, "You've got to be kidding."
Giles looked back and forth between the two of them. "It's the perfect solution, actually. Will excels in literary arts and you need help in that very subject. I know the two of you have your issues, but you don't need to be best friends to have a tutor/student relationship that works. At least think about it. Will, this might be the perfect way to repay Angel for that lift he gave you the night your car broke down. And Angel, you need to weigh whether being stubborn is worth your starting position this Friday night. And now I'm off. I won't be too late, Will."
Spike nodded. "Have fun."
Giles stepped past them and out the door, closing it behind him, leaving Spike and Angel to stare at each other. Alone.
~*~
After a moment, Spike said, "This is ridiculous."
Angel nodded. "He doesn't get it."
"Not a clue," Spike agreed. "I mean, really. The thought of you and I… He's barkin'."
"I don’t know what that means, but … yeah," Angel said.
Spike chuckled. "Barkin'. Nutters." At Angel's continued bemusement, Spike sighed. "Mean's he's out of his tree. Insane. Crazy."
Angel rolled his eyes. "Why didn't you just say that?"
"Because there's an art to it. Insults. Take pride in them back in England, we do. Not our problem you Americans can't grasp the concept."
Angel shook his head and started for the door. "Whatever. Forget I came here. I'll figure out something on my own."
Spike walked over, intending to close the door behind Angel, but just as Angel crossed the threshold, he spun around and said, "I'll pay you double."
Spike blinked, unable to believe his ears. "You'll … what?"
"I'll pay you double," Angel repeated, looking like he'd rather eat his shoe than say the words again.
Spike stared at him for a full minute, sure Angel was joking, but Angel just stared right back, waiting for an answer.
"You're serious," Spike finally said, a statement more than a question.
"You're my last resort," Angel answered, "or I wouldn't even consider it."
Blown away at the turn of events, Spike turned and walked away from the door, leaving it open, expecting Angel to come back in and close it, which he did. Eventually Spike pulled his thoughts together and looked over at Angel, who was now standing near the door, looking decidedly uncomfortable.
"This must be killing you," Spike mused.
A tic worked in Angel's jaw. He didn't answer, which was answer enough.
Spike stared at him for another minute, then said, "Alright. With conditions."
"What are they?" Angel asked, voice tight.
"One, you lay off the stalker/insult/threat thing you seem to have going on with me."
Anger flashed through Angel's eyes and he took a step toward Spike. "Listen you little…" Spike arched an eyebrow and Angel trailed off, apparently realizing the misstep. He took a deep breath and started over. "I'm not stalking you. You just seem to pop up everywhere I am. As for the insults, that goes two ways. And the threats, yeah. I … can lay off those."
Spike smirked. "Don't sound too sure of that."
Angel huffed in irritation. "I can't help it if you make me want to strangle you sometimes."
Spike outright chuckled then. "Your negotiating skills are impressive, mate."
Angel glared at him for another couple of seconds before apparently seeing the humor in it too. His lips twitched up at the corners briefly before he sobered and said, "How about this. I'll try not to threaten you, but if I do, it's just words. I wouldn't follow through. I'm not like that."
Spike leveled a gaze at him. "Seems to me the memory of being pinned to a bathroom wall and choked sort of refutes that."
Angel winced. "That had very little to do with you. You just got in my way. That's why I apologized. Not because Buffy wanted me to."
Spike considered that. Angel seemed sincere enough, and obviously Spike believed him on some level otherwise why would he be alone in the flat with him? Also, Spike's uncle seemed to be a good judge of character from what Spike had been able to tell so far, and he believed Angel was basically a good sort, so…
"Right, then," Spike said. "Condition number two." Angel nodded and Spike continued. "You pay me my regular wage and we call it even. No need to pay me double. Did give me that lift, after all."
Angel blinked in apparent surprise, obviously having expected something hard to comply with. "Sure. Thanks."
Spike shook his head. "Don't thank me yet. Still not convinced this is going to work, but 'm willing to give it a shot. Oh, and there is a third thing. You ever call me Will or William, all bets are off, understand?"
Angel looked confused, but nodded. "Whatever."
Spike nodded in return and asked, "Have your books with you?"
Angel jerked his head toward the door. "Out in my car."
"Get them and get back here ASAP. Don't want to be at this all night," Spike said.
~*~
Minutes later, Angel walked back in to Spike and Giles' apartment and looked around, frowning when he didn't see Spike and, more importantly, when he couldn't find a work surface that wasn't covered in books.
"Spike?" he called.
"Back here!" Spike answered. "Down the hall on your left."
Frown deepening, Angel walked back, stopping short in the doorway to what appeared to be Spike's bedroom. Angel's gaze stopped on Spike himself. His blond hair was slicked back, the damp curls he'd answered the door with long gone. He had a shirt on now and he was lying on his stomach on his bed, feet at the head and head at the foot.
"Uh, I think there's been a misunderstanding."
Spike looked over at him from the bed and rolled his eyes. "Not trying to get you in bed, tosser. Brought a chair in so you could face the bed and use the end as a work surface. Supposed to have a desk by now, but it's on backorder. We'll just have to make do for the night."
Angel blinked, deciding this had been a bad idea. It had killed him to ask in the first place, just like Spike had said, but this … was a bad idea. A really bad idea.
Swallowing hard, Angel pointed back down the hall. "Why can't we just move some of those books off the table out there?"
Spike waved toward the front of the apartment and said, "Have at it, mate. Just make sure my uncle knows you were the one that messed with his precious books. The ones he spent all afternoon organizing just so. I had to eat dinner standing in the middle of the kitchen tonight rather than mess with them."
Angel wavered, still not sure about the whole thing.
Finally, Spike said, "Look. You're straight, right?"
"Yeah," Angel said, wondering what Spike was getting at.
"So it shouldn't matter that I'm bi, yeah? Not going to force you, and since you have no interest anyway-not that I do, mind, just saying-nothing's going to happen here except hopefully some studying. Now either get in here or leave. Don't care which. Just choose. Have my own homework to do yet."
"You have homework?" Angel asked, tentatively stepping into the room.
Spike looked at him as if he were stupid, which, really, given the question, maybe he was. "Yeah. Didn't think I got a pass just because I tutor, did you? I worked hard to get in the top one percent, ta ever so."
Angel paused. "You're in the top one percent? Seriously?"
"Was why I was offered the job," Spike boasted, although Angel thought he could see a hint of embarrassment lurking in Spike's eyes. "And now that my credentials are out of the way and we've established I'm not going to take advantage of your virgin arse, can we get to work?"
Angel bit off a chuckle, vaguely disturbed by the fact that he and Spike were having what passed for a civil conversation between them, in Spike's room, where Spike was about to help him with his homework. Suddenly Angel felt like he was in an alternate universe.
~*~
A while later, Angel had finished writing the rough draft of an essay due that Friday. He watched pensively as Spike read through it, circling things as he went.
When it looked like Spike was at the end, Angel asked, "Well?"
Spike held up a finger and Angel sat back in his chair, huffing in frustration.
Finally, Spike looked up. "Looks good. You got the basics down."
Angel frowned. "Then why did you circle all that stuff?"
"Said you got the basics, meaning the structure of it. There's a clear, concise beginning, you explained yourself well in the body, and the summary paragraph wraps it up well. This could easily be an A paper, long as you fix the grammar issues. That's what the circles are for."
Angel took the paper back and glanced through it, forehead furrowing. Pointing out a circled comma, he held it out to Spike. "What's wrong with that?"
Spike sighed. "Doesn't belong there. Should be a semi-colon."
Angel skimmed through more of the paper, then pointed to another circle. "And that?"
"Not supposed to end sentences with prepositions."
Getting frustrated, Angel said, "Christ. You circled half the damn paper. How am I supposed to fix all that?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "I'll help you, alright? Just start working on it." Spike glanced next to him and grabbed something, tossing it to Angel. "Here. Use a green pen so you can see where you made changes when you go to copy it onto your computer."
Angel took the pen and began working on the revisions. When he got to the sentence that ended in the preposition, though, he threw down his paper in frustration.
"What's the problem?" Spike asked, sounding exasperated.
"Nothing," Angel said, feeling like an idiot compared to Spike and not liking it one bit. "Forget it. Forget the whole thing, actually. I never should have asked for your help."
Angel stood up and started to turn away, but Spike's hand on his wrist stopped him. "But you did and I'm here, willing to help, so tell me what's wrong."
Angel studied Spike's upturned face but didn't find any mocking there. Just willingness to help, like he said. Angel's wrist tingled where Spike held it.
"Why?" Angel asked suddenly.
Spike's forehead scrunched up. "Why what?"
"Why are you helping me?" Angel asked, somewhat suspiciously. He'd been a jerk to Spike so far. It didn't make sense that Spike would willingly help him unless there was some sort of ulterior motive.
Spike blinked at him. "The fact that I'm getting paid isn't enough?"
Angel shook his head. "No. It's not."
Spike tensed, letting go of Angel's wrist as he sat up on the bed and asked incredulously, "So you think I've what? Got some ulterior motive? Think I'm going to use this against you somehow?"
Angel shrugged. "It wouldn't surprise me."
Spike's eyes narrowed. "Maybe not, considering it's probably something you'd do, but I'm not like that. Said I'd help and I will. I'm not going to turn around and mock you with it, or blackmail you or anything else. Just want you to follow through with what we agreed on. That's it."
"So you're what? Just a do-gooder? Is that what you expect me to believe?" Angel asked.
Spike snorted. "Not a bloody do-gooder. Just want you to lay off me, and if this is the way to get you to do that, I'm willing."
Angel studied Spike for a long moment, deciding he was telling the truth. Sitting back down, Angel looked at his paper again, then said haltingly, "I don't know how to fix that sentence without messing with the sentences following it, and I really like how those are worded and don't want to change them."
Spike lay back down on his stomach and took the paper from Angel, looking at it for a minute before nodding his head. "Yeah. Can see what you mean, but look." Spike laid the paper flat between them, tilting it sideways so they could both read it. Angel leaned in, bringing his head close to Spike's in the process. Pointing a finger, Spike said, "You can just move this here and that there, and your problem's fixed. No need to mess with the sentences after it."
Angel nodded, his frustration ebbing away a bit. "Okay."
"That work for you?" Spike asked, looking over at him.
Angel glanced up and their eyes met, faces inches apart. For a moment, Angel felt an almost overwhelming urge to lean in and kiss Spike. But then an image of Spike shoved against a wall, Ford's tongue down his throat and hands grabbing Spike's ass flashed through Angel's head and he pulled back, suddenly disgusted with Spike and himself. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He didn't understand why Spike stirred all these feelings up inside him. Why he had these … urges. The whole thing was sick. Twisted.
Suddenly feeling like he was suffocating, Angel hurriedly gathered his things. "Yeah. It works for me. I uh, have to go. Forgot I have this … thing tonight." He'd nearly reached the door when he paused and turned back, asking, "Tomorrow? Same time?"
Spike blinked at him, a bemused look on his face. "Sure. Whatever. Here, or at the school?"
"Here," Angel said quickly. At Spike's look, Angel said the first thing that came to mind. "I, uh, would rather it not get out I need a tutor. So if you could…" He trailed off, feeling vulnerable after having admitted that to Spike. It gave Spike way too much power over him.
Instead of ridiculing him for it, though, Spike simply nodded. "Sure. Won't mention it to anyone."
"Really?" Angel asked, surprised.
Spike arched an eyebrow. "Really."
Angel hesitated, then nodded. "Okay." He turned to go, then turned back again. "Thanks."
Looking uncomfortable, Spike nodded. "No worries."
~*~
The next day at school, Angel walked into the building half expecting to be mocked and ridiculed, sure Spike had gone and told everyone, regardless of the fact that he'd told him he wouldn't. No one said a word, though, so unless it was the best-kept secret in the school, Spike hadn't talked.
Still, it wasn't until after second period that he finally started to relax and let his guard down. He had his head in a notebook, jotting down some last minute notes from class as he walked down the hall when he ran into someone. Literally. He stopped short, looking to see who it was, and nearly groaned. Spike.
Spike, for his part, looked up at him in exasperation. "Seriously. Why is it that if I'm in striking distance, you can't seem to resist plowing into me?"
Angel swallowed. Spike had no idea how accurate that statement was. Shaking his head, he just said, "Sorry. Wasn't looking where I was going."
"Well, that's bloody obvious," Spike said.
"Listen, you little…" Angel started, then trailed off when he saw the grin on Spike's face, instead of the irritation he'd expected. Oh. Spike was joking with him. That was … different. Smiling sheepishly, even as he ignored the weird flutter in his stomach, Angel said, "Bad habit."
Spike arched an eyebrow. "So's running into me. Almost becoming anticlimactic, innit?"
Angel couldn't help himself. He chuckled. "Yeah. A little."
Just as Angel was starting to relax and actually enjoy a conversation with Spike, Ford slid in next to them and draped an arm over Spike's shoulders, leaning into him. "You two aren't about to throw down, are you? Because then I'd have to get involved and I really don't need a fight on my record."
Spike chuckled, glancing over at Ford. "Nah. Just talking." Spike elbowed Ford in the stomach lightly and asked, "Where'd you disappear to last night? I texted you back but you never responded."
Ford rolled his eyes. "I lost reception. The tower near our house got messed up or something and my dad was on some conference call for work, so I couldn't use the land line."
As Angel watched the exchange, a quiet rage built until he was itching to punch Ford in the face and pry him off Spike. Ford was practically wrapped around him. Angel blinked, realizing he needed to get out of there before he did or said something supremely stupid.
"Uh, I need to…" Angel trailed off, pointing down the hall.
Spike looked over at him. "Oh, yeah. Sure."
Angel glanced between the two men, then nodded and took off without another word. He looked back just before turning a corner in the hall and found Spike leaning back against the lockers, Ford facing him and standing way too close. They were talking animatedly about something. Angel clenched his jaw and continued around the corner, determined not to give Spike or his boyfriend another thought.
Continued here.