Drawn to the Dark (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fanfiction)

An Honorary Scooby

Lara looked at the crowd in wide-eyed wonder. Who were all these people with Willow? She felt a flush of embarrassment come over her. She knew it was wrong to follow Willow here, but she was so fascinated... Willow had such a strong aura...

"Lara, what - what are you doing here?"

"I, um... I...."

"Willow, you know this stalker?" a tall boy with dark brown hair asked.

"Yeah, Xander... But Lara, why...?"

"This is gonna sound totally crazy "

"Yeah well I'd expect so, seeing how you were trying to break into Giles' house..." Xander said.

"Xander let her explain!" Willow urged.

"I..." Lara put a hand to her forehead. How was she gonna say this? She couldn't just come out and say, "Hey, Willow, I'm sorta psychic and I sensed you were special and..." No, especially not with her girlfriend there. Ugh. Lara ran a hand through her hair, tucked a strand behind her ear, and gave Willow the most helpless look she could.

"Oh - why don't you come inside and tell us there?" Willow offered.

Lara flashed Willow a big smile. "Thanks." As they started towards the front door, Lara tried to think of an explanation for her behavior, but all she could come up with were questions about Willow. Why was she here? Who were the people she was with? And who was that man in the bathroom? Suddenly Lara remembered a detail she'd overlooked when she was afraid of getting caught. That man - the one with the bleached blond hair and the dark clothes - had no reflection when he'd seen her in the bathroom mirror. But if he had no reflection, that meant he was a – a vampire? Maybe the urgency she'd sensed from Willow as she followed her here was even stronger than she thought...

*****

Well, this is just great. I try to do Rupert a favor by catching an intruder, and she gets invited in while I'm left out in the cold, Spike thought as he followed the "gang" to the door. "Well, Stalker, looks like you've got one foot in the door."

The dark-haired girl turned around dazedly. "Excuse me? Were you just - just talking to me?"

"Yes, love, I was. Name's Spike." Spike examined the girl. She had to be about nineteen, the same age as the rest of the Slayer's friends. She looked very familiar; there was something about that dark yet pallid visage and those intense eyes... Spike shook off the de ja vu. Having lived as long as he had, all people seemed to resemble someone else.

"Oh, I - I'm Lara," the girl responded. She stared at Spike as if she were in a trance.

"So what were you doing sneaking about Rupert's yard?"

"I - I was just trying to find Willow."

"In the bathroom? Pretty kinky."

"Oh, that's not - I mean, I'm not - oh, this is so hard to explain." Spike tossed Lara an arch look.

"It won't be any easier when you're caught in a stare-down with the Slayer and her troupe of clowns."

"The Slayer?" Lara asked, puzzled.

*****

Giles re-entered the living room, concerned. Spike was nowhere to be found. Though he couldn't bite now, if he somehow found a way to remove the chip that rendered him impotent he would be a serious danger. Giles, Buffy and Riley were met by the outdoor contingent of the Spike search party.