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Like the title said, the story is winding down. And this chapter doesn't even have sex!
The weeks slipped by quietly, uneventfully, and soon it was April. The Universities sent out their acceptance letters, and much to Buffy's surprise, she was accepted into both schools she applied for. She was practically walking on air when she waltzed into his office, the acceptance letters in her hand.
"Look at these," she said proudly, shoving them in his face.
He looked up from the text he had been studying and calmly took the letters. He read both of them, a smile spreading across his face. "This is great, Buffy. You already decide where you're going?"
"Of course. UC Sunnydale. No question."
He nodded. "Will you live at home?"
"I hadn't planned on it," she said frowning. "Anyway, I can iron out those details later. I thought we'd celebrate tonight."
"And how would you like to celebrate?"
"With champagne!"
"I don't know. I'm hardly one to contribute to the deliquencey of a minor."
She stuck her tongue out at him, and perched on the corner of the desk, idly flipping through his papers.
"Anyway," she continued, "I haven't decided anything past where I will be going. I don't want to continue living at home." Take the hint!
"It's probably cheaper in the long run than staying at the dorms," he pointed out. "Won't need to buy your own food at least."
"Yeah, but I won't have any real freedom. She'll continue to treat me like a kid. My house my rules," she mimicked.
"It seems that you have plenty of freedom."
"I'm tired of sneaking around like a criminal." Hint! Hint!
"Yes," he agreed. Buffy blinked, waiting for him to continue, but he didn't add anything else.
"Also, I don't know what to major in."
"Don't worry about that, Buffy. You have plenty of time to figure that out."
"Guess so. What are you doing today?"
"Oddly enough, I'm teaching."
She smirked at him. "I meant after school."
"Correcting papers. You?"
"Willow wants me to go dress shopping with her."
"Dress shopping?"
"You know, for the Sr. Prom."
"Are you going?"
She grabbed the apple that was sitting on his desk and took a bite out of it. "Mind if I have this?"
"No."
"I don't think I'm going. I mean, it would be pretty pointless. I don't even have a date...well...someone asked."
"Who?"
She laughed at his tone. He almost sounded jealous. "Just some guy named Scott. He's nice enough, I guess. I told him I'd get back to him."
"You should go."
"I didn't expect you to say that."
"You'll regret it if you don't," he pointed out.
"I won't have any fun."
"Yes you will."
"Will you be chaperoning again?"
He shrugged. "Probably. I always get suckered into those things." He took the apple out of her hand and took a bite. "Not going to dress up though."
"I bet you'd look great in a tux."
He snorted. "No, I don't think so."
"You really think I should go?"
"If you want, Buffy. I don't want you to not go just because of me. You deserve to have fun with your friends."
She frowned. "Maybe I'll go if I find a decent dress." Buffy paused and watched him carefully file papers away. It seemed there wasn't a corner of his life that wasn't stuffed with some paper or another, essays or poems or notes, or just random words that he jotted down when they struck him. "Do you ever think about what will happen after I graduate."
"Didn't we just establish you would go to UC Sunnydale?"
"I mean, with us."
Spike looked up at her, tilting his head, his filing temporarily forgotten. "What do you think will happen?"
"I don't know, that's why I asked you."
"I expect we'll go on like we are now."
"Still a big secret?"
He shut the drawer and gave her his complete attention, a serious look on his face. "Buffy, I don't know if this is the best place to talk about it."
She retreated quickly. She didn't need to talk about it, and he obviously didn't want to. "You're right, I shouldn't have even brought it up."
"No, you're right. We should talk about it, just not here or now. My office isn't the best place to have serious discussions." He tilted his head towards the door. "Anybody could come in."
"You're right, the office is much better for sex."
He frowned, until he realized she was just joking with him. He sighed and pulled her into his lap. She rested her head against his as he gently rubbed her leg. "I want to take you home now."
"Mmmm hmmm. But I have to go now. THe bell is going to ring, and I can't have one more tardy. Guess I'll be shopping this afternoon."
"Drop over afterwards if you can."
"I'll try," she promised. She kissed him on the lips and then was out the door, a swirl of pretty energy. Spike watched her go, a slightly troubled expression on his face.
It didn't take a detective to figure out the clues that she had been dropping. She wanted to move in with him after graduation. Which, he supposed, was fair enough. And it wasn't very surprising either, because he had had the same thoughts himself. He didn't want to tie her down with anything as strong as marriage--she was far too young for that--but living with
him? He had to admit, the prospect was attractive. He couldn't really think of one good reason why she shouldn't move in.
He couldn't believe that the school year was almost over. Just six weeks until she graduated. She would be busy with wrapping up school for the next few weeks, and God knows he would be busy. They probably wouldn't really have time to talk much. But then, maybe that would work in his favor.
Spike began to fomulate a plan. It would be nice to surprise her, give her something totally unexpected. Just the thought of her happy smile was enough to give him a thrill. He was whistling when tthe bell rang as the rudimentary plan grew and evolved into something large and elaborate.
~*~
"He was checking you out," Willow said under her breath as soon as they emerged from the school.
"What? Who?"
"Mr. William."
"Huh?"
"When we walked by him just now. He was checking you out."
"He was not," Buffy scoffed, though her blood had turned to her ice.
"Yes he was. Which, if you ask me, is totally creepy."
Buffy shrugged, and desperately tried to change the subject. "So, what color are you going to look for?"
"I'm thinking an elegant black."
Internally, she sighed with relief when she saw her ploy work. "I think I'll tell Scott I'll go with him."
"Oh! That's great. Scott is such a nice guy. Do you know what you want?"
Yeah, I do. "No. I really don't. But hey, that's why we're going to the mall, right?"
"You shouldn't let him get away with that."
Fuck. "Who away with what?"
"You shouldn't let Mr. William get away with checking you out," Willow elaborated. "He's done it more than once, you know."
"No, I don't know."
"Everytime he sees you, he practically undresses you with his eyes."
Fuckity fuck fuck fuck. "Wills, that's just silly."
Willow looked at her friend strangely. "I thought that's why you transferred out of his class."
"What? No. Not at all. Why?"
She shrugged. "He's been making eyes at you all year. I just figured you got tired of it. I couldn't think of another reason you would want to shift your entire schedule around."
"No, no," she protested, desperately, "it was nothing like that. I haven't even noticed him really. Just, let's drop it."
"Ok, no problem. Consider it dropped."
"Thank you."
Buffy was tense and uncomfortable for the rest of the afternoon. She couldn't help but wonder who else had grown suspicious. On the one hand, Willow was extremely perceptive and bright, but on the other hand, so was a lot of other people. If Willow could sense something was going on--even if she thought it was all one sided--than other people probably could too.
For the first time in her life, she didn't feel like shopping. She always wasn't very excited about the dance, so that did not contribute to her enthusiasm. All the good stores iin the mall had several styles and colors, and most of them were on sale. It was easy to choose something, and she gave Willow all the proper encouragement while she searched for the perfect dress.
Because she didn't think she would have the time or the energy to go dress shopping again, she bought a silk and satin dress, low cut, of a deep royal purple. She liked the color, and at that point, it was her only criteria. Willow gushed over it, and by the time they left the mall for home, it seemed she had completely forgotten the earlier conversation about Mr. William.
Good.
She couldn't stop by Spike's place, because Willow insisted on walking home with her, and then her mother didn't want her to go out again. She thought about calling him on the cell phone, but decided against it. It would just make her miss him more. So instead she called Scott Hope and confirmed that she was going to the Prom with him. He seemed very excited about it. Buffy wished she could share his excitement.
As soon as she got off the phone, her mind turned to Spike. She didn't want to pressure him, but goddamnit, she wanted to know where she stood with him. She felt she deserved that much. And what was up with him telling her to go the Prom with another boy? Did he really think she would have fun without him? She knew that all she would end up doing is watching him all night, and he would just watch her. Yeah, she thought sarcastically, That'll be real productive.
With an impatient sigh she opened her history book and attempted to read it. Stupid school. Stupid Spike. Stupid Willow. Stupid Prom.
The weeks slipped by quietly, uneventfully, and soon it was April. The Universities sent out their acceptance letters, and much to Buffy's surprise, she was accepted into both schools she applied for. She was practically walking on air when she waltzed into his office, the acceptance letters in her hand.
"Look at these," she said proudly, shoving them in his face.
He looked up from the text he had been studying and calmly took the letters. He read both of them, a smile spreading across his face. "This is great, Buffy. You already decide where you're going?"
"Of course. UC Sunnydale. No question."
He nodded. "Will you live at home?"
"I hadn't planned on it," she said frowning. "Anyway, I can iron out those details later. I thought we'd celebrate tonight."
"And how would you like to celebrate?"
"With champagne!"
"I don't know. I'm hardly one to contribute to the deliquencey of a minor."
She stuck her tongue out at him, and perched on the corner of the desk, idly flipping through his papers.
"Anyway," she continued, "I haven't decided anything past where I will be going. I don't want to continue living at home." Take the hint!
"It's probably cheaper in the long run than staying at the dorms," he pointed out. "Won't need to buy your own food at least."
"Yeah, but I won't have any real freedom. She'll continue to treat me like a kid. My house my rules," she mimicked.
"It seems that you have plenty of freedom."
"I'm tired of sneaking around like a criminal." Hint! Hint!
"Yes," he agreed. Buffy blinked, waiting for him to continue, but he didn't add anything else.
"Also, I don't know what to major in."
"Don't worry about that, Buffy. You have plenty of time to figure that out."
"Guess so. What are you doing today?"
"Oddly enough, I'm teaching."
She smirked at him. "I meant after school."
"Correcting papers. You?"
"Willow wants me to go dress shopping with her."
"Dress shopping?"
"You know, for the Sr. Prom."
"Are you going?"
She grabbed the apple that was sitting on his desk and took a bite out of it. "Mind if I have this?"
"No."
"I don't think I'm going. I mean, it would be pretty pointless. I don't even have a date...well...someone asked."
"Who?"
She laughed at his tone. He almost sounded jealous. "Just some guy named Scott. He's nice enough, I guess. I told him I'd get back to him."
"You should go."
"I didn't expect you to say that."
"You'll regret it if you don't," he pointed out.
"I won't have any fun."
"Yes you will."
"Will you be chaperoning again?"
He shrugged. "Probably. I always get suckered into those things." He took the apple out of her hand and took a bite. "Not going to dress up though."
"I bet you'd look great in a tux."
He snorted. "No, I don't think so."
"You really think I should go?"
"If you want, Buffy. I don't want you to not go just because of me. You deserve to have fun with your friends."
She frowned. "Maybe I'll go if I find a decent dress." Buffy paused and watched him carefully file papers away. It seemed there wasn't a corner of his life that wasn't stuffed with some paper or another, essays or poems or notes, or just random words that he jotted down when they struck him. "Do you ever think about what will happen after I graduate."
"Didn't we just establish you would go to UC Sunnydale?"
"I mean, with us."
Spike looked up at her, tilting his head, his filing temporarily forgotten. "What do you think will happen?"
"I don't know, that's why I asked you."
"I expect we'll go on like we are now."
"Still a big secret?"
He shut the drawer and gave her his complete attention, a serious look on his face. "Buffy, I don't know if this is the best place to talk about it."
She retreated quickly. She didn't need to talk about it, and he obviously didn't want to. "You're right, I shouldn't have even brought it up."
"No, you're right. We should talk about it, just not here or now. My office isn't the best place to have serious discussions." He tilted his head towards the door. "Anybody could come in."
"You're right, the office is much better for sex."
He frowned, until he realized she was just joking with him. He sighed and pulled her into his lap. She rested her head against his as he gently rubbed her leg. "I want to take you home now."
"Mmmm hmmm. But I have to go now. THe bell is going to ring, and I can't have one more tardy. Guess I'll be shopping this afternoon."
"Drop over afterwards if you can."
"I'll try," she promised. She kissed him on the lips and then was out the door, a swirl of pretty energy. Spike watched her go, a slightly troubled expression on his face.
It didn't take a detective to figure out the clues that she had been dropping. She wanted to move in with him after graduation. Which, he supposed, was fair enough. And it wasn't very surprising either, because he had had the same thoughts himself. He didn't want to tie her down with anything as strong as marriage--she was far too young for that--but living with
him? He had to admit, the prospect was attractive. He couldn't really think of one good reason why she shouldn't move in.
He couldn't believe that the school year was almost over. Just six weeks until she graduated. She would be busy with wrapping up school for the next few weeks, and God knows he would be busy. They probably wouldn't really have time to talk much. But then, maybe that would work in his favor.
Spike began to fomulate a plan. It would be nice to surprise her, give her something totally unexpected. Just the thought of her happy smile was enough to give him a thrill. He was whistling when tthe bell rang as the rudimentary plan grew and evolved into something large and elaborate.
~*~
"He was checking you out," Willow said under her breath as soon as they emerged from the school.
"What? Who?"
"Mr. William."
"Huh?"
"When we walked by him just now. He was checking you out."
"He was not," Buffy scoffed, though her blood had turned to her ice.
"Yes he was. Which, if you ask me, is totally creepy."
Buffy shrugged, and desperately tried to change the subject. "So, what color are you going to look for?"
"I'm thinking an elegant black."
Internally, she sighed with relief when she saw her ploy work. "I think I'll tell Scott I'll go with him."
"Oh! That's great. Scott is such a nice guy. Do you know what you want?"
Yeah, I do. "No. I really don't. But hey, that's why we're going to the mall, right?"
"You shouldn't let him get away with that."
Fuck. "Who away with what?"
"You shouldn't let Mr. William get away with checking you out," Willow elaborated. "He's done it more than once, you know."
"No, I don't know."
"Everytime he sees you, he practically undresses you with his eyes."
Fuckity fuck fuck fuck. "Wills, that's just silly."
Willow looked at her friend strangely. "I thought that's why you transferred out of his class."
"What? No. Not at all. Why?"
She shrugged. "He's been making eyes at you all year. I just figured you got tired of it. I couldn't think of another reason you would want to shift your entire schedule around."
"No, no," she protested, desperately, "it was nothing like that. I haven't even noticed him really. Just, let's drop it."
"Ok, no problem. Consider it dropped."
"Thank you."
Buffy was tense and uncomfortable for the rest of the afternoon. She couldn't help but wonder who else had grown suspicious. On the one hand, Willow was extremely perceptive and bright, but on the other hand, so was a lot of other people. If Willow could sense something was going on--even if she thought it was all one sided--than other people probably could too.
For the first time in her life, she didn't feel like shopping. She always wasn't very excited about the dance, so that did not contribute to her enthusiasm. All the good stores iin the mall had several styles and colors, and most of them were on sale. It was easy to choose something, and she gave Willow all the proper encouragement while she searched for the perfect dress.
Because she didn't think she would have the time or the energy to go dress shopping again, she bought a silk and satin dress, low cut, of a deep royal purple. She liked the color, and at that point, it was her only criteria. Willow gushed over it, and by the time they left the mall for home, it seemed she had completely forgotten the earlier conversation about Mr. William.
Good.
She couldn't stop by Spike's place, because Willow insisted on walking home with her, and then her mother didn't want her to go out again. She thought about calling him on the cell phone, but decided against it. It would just make her miss him more. So instead she called Scott Hope and confirmed that she was going to the Prom with him. He seemed very excited about it. Buffy wished she could share his excitement.
As soon as she got off the phone, her mind turned to Spike. She didn't want to pressure him, but goddamnit, she wanted to know where she stood with him. She felt she deserved that much. And what was up with him telling her to go the Prom with another boy? Did he really think she would have fun without him? She knew that all she would end up doing is watching him all night, and he would just watch her. Yeah, she thought sarcastically, That'll be real productive.
With an impatient sigh she opened her history book and attempted to read it. Stupid school. Stupid Spike. Stupid Willow. Stupid Prom.
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