Breaking me softly.
Cordelia's heart raced as she opened Buffy’s bedroom door and found the bed empty. Her panic set in when she saw that the sheets were still tucked in and folded neatly, the bed hadn't been slept in. “Oh god!” her mind screamed, she hadn’t even thought to check on her when she had arrived home.
It had been late, almost one in the morning by the time they had arrived home. Cordy and Xander, along with Jenny and Giles had shared a meal before coupling off for the evening, giving the young couple some alone time. When the movie had finished they drove home to a silent and dark house.
Both Buffy and William’s doors had been closed and all the lights where off. Cordy had just figured they were both asleep but now she was mentally scolding herself, she knew she should have at least popped her head in to check on Buffy.
What if something had happened? What if Buffy and Will had gotten into a fight? She knew William had been avoiding Buffy since their almost kiss and had hoped some alone time together would be good for them. She now feared that she was wrong, she just hoped Buffy hadn’t run off after William had said something harsh or stupid… again!
Deciding if he had said something stupid she would have some choice words to say to him. She walked straight for his room, not bothering to knock before she swung the door open. The sight she was met with was not the one she was expecting and it made her gasp in shock and stop dead in her tracks.
“OH MY GOD!” She couldn’t help but yell. She'd tried to stop herself but the words had just spilled from her lips, thankfully her parents had gone out to buy everyone some breakfast. Both Spike and Buffy shot up at the intrusion as Xander came running out of his room and across the hall.
“What? What’s wrong?” He panted, looking into the room “Oh,” was all he could muster. Cordy couldn’t help but smiled a little.
“Um… we’ll give you guys some privacy.” She chuckled slightly before closing the bedroom door. She couldn’t the giggle that escaped once she was out of ear-shot, glancing up and meeting a stunned Xander.
“I knew it! I knew I could get them together.” Cordy smiled proudly.
“I’m confused!” Xander sighed before continuing. “I mean, I know Spike is pretty much known for his one night stands ever since Dru’s rampage of his heart but this just isn’t like him.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well his whole age difference rule," he shot her a look. "It goes against everything he goes on about. He knows Buffy is seventeen, it’s just a bit out of character for him is all. I mean he hardly knows her.” Cordy cringed slightly.
“That’s not entirely true.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, confused.
“Do you remember that trip I took to L.A a few months ago to visit you, we meet at the club but had to leave because William was there?”
“Yeah.”
“Did Will happen to mention meeting anyone that night?”
“Yeah, when I got home he was all cut up about some girl he had brought home but when he woke up in the morning she was gone. He really liked her, even went as far as to look for her when he visited you guys on that quick day visit.”
“He did?”
“Yeah, said she was an art major at Sunnydale University but he never found her.”
“That was Buffy.”
“What?!” He all but screamed.
“We were in the club with fake I.D's, she lied to him about where she went to school-”
“Oh man!"
"Yep."
"Wow! He never told me this mystery girl’s name.” Xander gasped, shocked at the turn of events. He sent out a silent prayer, hoping that everything worked out for his best friend, he had been hurt enough.
In Spike’s room, Spike stood quickly and pulled his jeans on as Buffy stood and wrapped the white bed sheet around her small frame.
“Morning,” she smiled.
“Morning,” he mumbled, refusing to make eye contact with her. It was clear then that he regretted what they had done. With a heavy sigh she prepared herself for the blow.
“Is this how it’s going to be?” she asked, clearly annoyed. Spike took a deep breath and turned to face her.
“Look, last night never should have happened and Cordy and Xander walking in on us this morning is going to make things even worse for me," he met her eyes. "So can we just not have this argument right now.” he spat.
Buffy's eyes narrowed, she saw red.
“God, you are such a child!” she hissed at him. “You keep going on about you. You. You. You.… What about me huh? Did you ever consider my feelings in all of this?” she growled angrily at him.
“I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt you but last night… you where upset about your mom and I wanted to comfort you…”
“Oh cut the crap Spike!" She yelled, adjusting the sheet as she took a step backwards. "What happened last night was going to happen long before my mom rang, you had me pinned up against that jetty with one thing in mind.”
He let out a growl and picked up the little red bikini that lay near her feet.
“Can you blame me Buffy? Look at this little thing, it hardly leaves anything to the imagination. What did you think would happen?” He snapped.
Shaking her head at him, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“You can’t blame your actions on a piece of clothing. What about the night at the club? Or the day at the look out when you almost kissed me? Huh?" She took a step forward making him take one back. "I wasn’t wearing a little bikini then was I? Maybe it wasn’t fair walking out wearing that or even tempting you but taking my bikini top off but you had a choice, you could have walked away… Take some responsibilities for your actions William!” She growled, her eyes throwing daggers his way.
A part of him knew she was right but it didn’t change anything. He let out a sigh.
“You're only seventeen years old, Buffy…” he whispered.
“I didn’t trick you last night, you knew who I was!" She couldn't believe the way he was acting. "You know how old I am and still you slept with me. I didn’t force you or fool you in any way.” She took a few deep calming breaths.
“I know but that doesn’t change the fact that we can’t be together.” He whispered, looking down, ashamed.
“To young to date but not to fuck, right?” She yelled, willing herself not to cry as she pushed past him and walked towards the door. He grabbed her arm in an attempt to stop her.
“Buffy, please…”
"No!" Pulling her arm from his grasp forcefully, she looked at him with a mixture of hurt and hate in her eyes. "Just don't."
The look she was giving him made him want to look away, disgusted and ashamed of himself that he could hurt her like this.
“You go on and on about me being too young, only seventeen, that you’re too old for me and yet you’re the one standing here acting like an infant.” He stepped back, surprised at the harshness in her tone.
“Buffy, I’m just trying to be honest. I’m sorry but last night was a mistake.”
She pushed the pain she felt at his words to the side as she let anger compel her but she couldn't hide the tears forming in her eyes.
“Well this is one mistake that will happily stay out of your way.” She ground out, opening the door and pushing past Cordy and Xander as she ran into her room, slamming the door behind her.
Cordy jumped at the sound of the door slamming and turned to face her brother. Her eyes narrowed as rage boiled inside her as she stormed into his room, only stopping once she was face to face with him.
“What the hell did you do?” she yelled.
Back
Next