Chapter 16

Buffy was a new woman when she got up the next day. No more tears, no more feeling sorry for herself, she was done with all of it. If Spike didn’t want to be with her anymore, then she would find someone who did. There were plenty of fish in the sea. It was time to see what else was out there. Buffy decided that a change was definitely in order. No more baggy clothes to hide her figure, so she searched through her wardrobe and came across a red halter top and black skirt that left little to the imagination. She got dressed and checked herself out in the mirror, a smile on her face as she applied some make up. Buffy curled her hair, letting the blonde strands fall down her shoulders. When she was pleased with her reflection, she grabbed a long coat from her closet to hide the outfit from Giles and headed out of her room. For the first time ever, she was actually looking forward to school.


* * * * *


As soon as Buffy entered the school, she made her way to the bathroom. She disposed of her jacket, checking herself out one last time before walking back out into the halls. The new look got her the response she was hoping for, girls and guys were staring at her as she headed to her first class, with more confidence than she was used to. It was definitely going to be a good day.


* * * * *


“You’re catching flies, Xander.”

He picked his jaw up from the floor, still shocked by the sight of his best friend. “Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting you to show up looking like that. What brought this on?”

Buffy shrugged. “I’m a senior, figured it was time for a change. I’m sick of being the same boring Buffy. I want to actually get noticed for once, and not just because I’m the girl that started a fire in the gym.”

Willow stared at the blonde in concern. “You’re not boring, Buffy. You don’t have to change who you are to impress anyone.”

“Come on, Will. If Buffy wants to start dressing up more, who are we to stop her?”

The red head rolled her eyes, having a feeling that he wouldn’t agree with her no matter what she said.

Buffy smiled at him. “So, are we going to the Bronze tonight? I’m in the mood for some fun.” She glanced around the cafeteria, a grin forming on her face when she saw Owen Thurman checking her out. He was one of the most popular guys in school. “I’ll catch you guys later,” she commented, then made her way over to the jock.

Willow stared after her in shock; the Buffy that she knew would never have had the guts to do that before. She wondered what could have happened to bring on this sudden change.


* * * * *


Spike waited outside Buffy’s school for what felt like forever. He really needed to talk to her. His eyes widened when he finally saw her walk out, three boys at her side that he didn’t recognize. Spike got a good look at what she was wearing, not believing she was the same girl that left his crypt last night. He headed over to her when she was finally alone, taking in the lack of surprise on her face to seeing him there.

“What’s with the new look?” he wondered.

She gave him a bored expression. “How do you know this is a new look? Maybe I’ve always been like this; I’ve just been hiding who I really am the last few years. What are you even doing here?”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

Buffy shook her head. “You said all you needed to last night; I think we should just part ways. You were right, there’s really no future with us. I’ve gotten a lot of interest from guys today, I should really think about giving one of them a chance. I promised to meet them all at the Bronze tonight. Thank you for making me realize what I’ve been missing out on.”

He grabbed her arm. “What’s gotten into you?”

She ripped her arm out of his grasp, trying not to give in to the tears that wanted to escape. “Where should I start? My mom was murdered in front of me, my dad walked out on us, he got turned into a vampire, tried to rape me, and the one guy I thought I was in love with wants nothing to do with me. Does that about sum it up? I’m sick of everything. I feel like I’m seventeen going on thirty. I’m done with that life, and I’m done with vampires. That includes you.”

Spike let her walk away after that, once again wishing that he would burst into flames.

“Well, we meet again. Do you keep coming here to see me? That’s so sweet.”

Spike groaned when Harmony made her presence known. “I came here to see Buffy,” he explained, wishing the chit would get the hint already.

Harmony didn’t seem to be fazed by that. “She like totally turned into a slut, I think she’s trying to fit in or something. Someone should have told her that it’s not possible for freaks to ever fit in.”

Spike was about to lose what little patience he had left. “Get this through your thick skull, you irritating bint. Buffy is ten times the woman you are. You’re just a spoiled little princess that can’t seem to get a clue when a bloke is not interested in you. I don’t get involved with little girls, do you understand that? Or do I need to use smaller words?”

Harmony crossed her arms over her chest, not used to guys talking to her in such a way. “What do you call Buffy, then?” she asked snottily.

“She’s not a little girl,” he replied and walked away from the school, suddenly needing a drink.


* * * * *


Willow and Xander were sitting at the Bronze later that night, gaping at Buffy in complete shock as she danced with a few different guys, some of them looking like they were already in college.

“I’m really getting worried about Buffy. She’s not acting like herself.”

Xander agreed, but couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of her. “Do you think it has something to do with Spike?”

Willow shrugged. “She didn’t tell me anything, so I couldn’t say. Speaking of Spike, he just walked in.”

Xander noticed the vampire as well, and he did not look happy. “I think we’re about to find out.”