Buffy the Vampire Slayer Preferences + imagines/one shots

Spike - Acting pt3

It's been a few weeks since Spike and I properly got together. I'd be lying if I said it hasn't been awesome, except for the fact it's still a secret from my friends. I want to tell them but I don't want the fallout of that to mess with my head this close to such a great opportunity...

"It would be my first, proper acting job. With money." I tell Spike in the training room behind The Magic Box. But we're not sparring, just hanging out, away from all the customers. We sit perched on the pommel horse, sharing a bag of sweets.

"Money's always good." Spike agrees, chewing on a Twizzler.

"But I haven't mentioned it to the others in case I don't get it. There are so many amazing people going for it and I pale in comparison." he looks offended as he takes the sweet out of his mouth, ready to defend me, but I keep talking, "I know what you're gonna say. I'm just being honest."

"Come here," he reaches out and I let him envelope me in a hug. "Stop this worryin'. You're bloody brilliant at what you do."

I sigh. I want to believe him.

"I can't stop worrying about it." I admit in a mumble, while he squeezes me tighter.

"I know, love. What can I do to take your mind off it?"

The flirtation in his voice makes me blush. "Not here !"

"Why not?" he pouts and looks around, "We're alone." he says simply.

"No, we're not. It's the busiest time of the day." I get up and ignore the sad look in his eyes. "But I'm all for distractions. Maybe we could..."

I was going to suggest getting some food but then catch myself - it's still daytime. There isn't much to do other than stay inside. Inside this room, more like, because I don't fancy going out to the shop and getting roped into some task or other by Anya.

"We've got music." I state, hopping over to the CD player that Buffy uses to get pumped up when training, "We can dance."

"Dance?" Spike repeats, as if there's nothing more unappealing, "I liked my idea."

I turn on the radio and it makes an awful static sound until it settles and starts to play Britney Spears.

Spike has seemingly relented as he browses the collection of CDs that live next to the player. "No. Nope. Bloody hell, who brought this?" he puts them all back down. "If we're doing this, I get to choose."

I smile, "Fine by me."

I expect him to find a rock station, perhaps something by The Ramones or The Sex Pistols, but what he settles on is the classical radio station.

It's something you'd ballroom dance to.

"Really?"

He grins, grabbing my hands and twirling me around.

"I'll lead."

"Yeah, you will! I don't know what I'm doing."

He smiles when I put my hands around his neck and let him guide me in time with the music. I step on his feet about twenty-seven times.

It's a perfect distraction.

Xander walks in, confusion written on his face. I guess Spike and I didn't jump apart as quickly as we thought.

"What're you guys doing?" he asks slowly, beady eyes darting from me to Spike.

With a lump in my throat, I manage to blurt out, "Practising lines for a play!"

I feel a pang of guilt for lying to Xander - and another for slighting Spike - but the vampire goes along with it.

"Yeah," he confirms but adds as he rubs the back of his neck, "She forced me."

Thankfully, Xander's face lights up, the tension gone. Eager to ignore what he saw with his own two eyes, he smirks at me before turning to Spike.

"You? William the Bloody? Rehearsing for a play?" he teases and I sense him stiffen beside me. His desperate need to remain the Big Bad in spite of everything we've been through never seems to go away. "Please tell me it's something girly like Romeo and Juliet. Or, or-"

Spike cuts him off. "Sod off, Harris."

Xander bursts out laughing and if his glance at me is any indication, he expects me to join in. "Remember when you used to be scary? Now you're all community theatre and under the thumb of a girl half your size. Well - Drusilla did have you whipped."

"Hey!" Spike and I protest at the same time.

"Oh," Xander looks to me apologetically, "Not to imply you'd ever want him following you around like a lost dog. Only a complete loser would ever hook up with you, Bleach Boy."

"Are you done?" I ask, angrily, then remember that I'm not supposed to defend Spike. I cross my arms and bite my tongue.

Xander falters. His eyebrows knit a little then they smooth out. "What?"

I shake my head, unsure of what to say. "You don't have to be mean about it. He's helping me out."

Xander's expression turns suspicious. "Yeah... I'd watch out if I were you."

Then he leaves. Whatever he came in here for is obviously not worth enduring the awkwardness in the room.

"Wanker," Spike mutters, nostrils flaring, but I can tell he's trying to keep his cool. "Who does he think he is?"

I pick up his hand to hold it in mine.

"This is gonna be hard, isn't it?" I mutter, suddenly overcome by a crushing wave of sadness. For the first time in my life, I've found someone who I like - and who likes me - but my friends would never approve. It's so stupid and unfair.

"Hey," he says quietly, his demeanour flipped in a second into something so much softer, "Don't sound so depressed! We'll be fine!"

"Easy for you to say." I pout, sitting down, "You-"

Then my phone rings. I pick it up with a sigh although Spike gives me a look which says this conversation isn't over.

"Hello?"

I notice Spike trying not to invade my privacy by turning away from me and avoiding eye-contact, although he must be able to hear every word.

"Hi there, I'm Joanna calling from-"

"Oh! Joanna! Hi! How are you?"

"Oh, I'm doing well, sweetie. I'm calling with good news. You got the part!"

Spike turns to me, face gleeful and I resist the urge to squeal.

"That's great! Really, really great!"

"I've emailed over details about your first rehearsal. Don't hesitate to message me if you have any queries."

"Thank you so much!" I beam, not having anything else to say.

"Talk soon, honey."

"Yes! Talk soon!"

I hang up the phone and Spike picks me up, twirling me around while I laugh and smile and kiss his stupid face until I lose my breath.