FicWad

It was just before eight that night. A lot of the kids were already inside of The Bronze. The band was still in the process of setting up all of their equipment. A certain bleached blonde named Spike was standing over by the stage. He was talking to a short red haired guy.
"Red today I see, Oz." Spike looked at the shorter guy. "What will it be tomorrow? Black?"
Oz's expression remained the same. "I was leaning towards blue myself. Kinda like my mood as of late."
"Oh, really?" Spike knew that he was one of the few people that Oz even opened up to a little. Not that he was stuck up. He just was a guy that was private. And he only had a select few people he considered friends. Spike considered himself very lucky that the sophomore let him hang with him.
Oz shrugged. "Not much to tell." His eyes widened a little as a dark haired girl walked past the stage. "Who is that?"
Spike looked to see who he was talking about. "Her?" He pointed to where the dark haired girl was sitting all by herself. "I do believe her name is Faith. She just moved here a few weeks ago. She's in my English class." He turned to look at Oz. The guy was still staring at the dark haired girl. "Careful there. She seemed to be a bit wild. Told Mr. Avery off and everything. Was sent to the principal's office."
Oz finally turned his attention back to Spike. "That's all right. The wild ones don't bother me. Maybe I can tame her."
Spike's eyes widened. Oz never talked like this. Hell, he rarely talked at all. This girl was already doing a number on him. It was something to see indeed. Speaking of girls and doing a number, he watched as a petite blonde walked in. She walked in with the nerd squad as Angel and Cordelia had already labeled the group. The were missing a member. The shy blonde wasn't in the group. He didn't care. His eyes kept gazing at the petite blonde. There was something about the girl.
After watching her handle Angel the way she had, he knew that there was something special about her. Most girls were all over Angel. They would do anything to become the latest in line to get their hearts broken. It was really sad. Especially since the creep was related to him. What an older brother to have.
"Uh, earth to Spike." Oz waved his hand in front of the other guy's eyes. Spike blinked and looked at him. "Looks like someone has caught your attention."
Spike shrugged. "She just put Angel in his place earlier, that's all." He smiled big. "And you know how I love to see big brother get what's coming to him." He turned towards Oz. "Anything else you need a hand with?"
"Nope." Oz's gaze returned back to where Faith was no longer sitting alone. "Looks like your honey has found a new friend."
Spike again tried to find Buffy in the crowd. She was already sitting with Xander, Willow, and the new girl Faith. "Maybe we'll have to go over and introduce ourselves. You can take Faith. I'll take Buffy."
"What about Harris and Rosenberg?" Oz looked at Spike.
"Let them have each other." He turned back to Oz. "Play something slow for me. I'm going to ask her to dance."
"Will do." Oz watched him make his way over to the group of four. "She'll shoot you down, man." He got up on the stage as the rest of his band was finally showing up.
Xander had his arm around Faith. "This here is my spoiled rich cousin. She moved here two weeks ago to escape those wonderful Boston tea parties."
"Hands off, cuz." Faith flashed him a smile. "I just don't want anyone thinking that I'm unavailable. I want to party hearty man. Where are the tunes."
Buffy couldn't help but smile. She had only met Faith two seconds ago and she could already tell that the girl was something else. It was nice to be around somebody so sure of them selves for a change. She wasn't anymore. Not since moving here.
"Tara couldn't come?" Buffy asked Willow.
The red head sadly shook her head. "I think she's got some major parental issues. Not that we all don't have our issues, it's just that I think hers are bigger than the average teens and it was making her uncomfortable and she, I think really did want to come but said she couldn't because of curfew."
Both Faith and Buffy stared at Willow. "You'll get used to the Willow babble." Xander smiled as the red head smacked his arm. "Hey, they'll have to put up with my sense of humor. They'll have to put up with your babbling. It's just best that they are warned ahead of time."
Faith began laughing. "Dude, has it been that long since I visited. I'd forgotten what the two of you were like. Man, and now I'm like stuck with it."
Xander smiled. "Only if you want to, cuz. You can go elsewhere if you so choose to. I mean, look at all the beautiful people here tonight." As he said that, Angel walked in with Cordelia at his side. "And all the stuck up jerks are also here tonight." He shook his head. "Please let him leave me alone for once in my life."
But it was too late. Angel had spotted the losers the minute he walked in. Spike was already on his way as well. Both got there at the same time.
"Look, a tribe of losers." Angel smiled as Cordelia kept pulling on his arm. "Harris, aren't you king of the losers?"
"And you are the king of the cretins, aren't you?" Buffy looked up at the jerk known as Angel. "Haven't you got better things to do. Like maybe dance with your, and I use the word very loosely, sweetie?"
Cordelia stopped pulling on Angel's arm. "And what about you, you loser."
"Oh, such a good comeback." Buffy smiled at Cordelia. "How many days did it take you to think that one up?"
Cordelia started for Buffy. Spike put his arm out. "Now ladies, let's not fight. It's very unladylike."
Cordelia glared at him. "Listen, just 'cause I'm dating your big brother doesn't mean that I won't take you down. Back off."
"Maybe we should just dance." Angel began gently pulling on Cordelia's arm again. "Really. A nice dance. Maybe a soda or two. Later, we can go to my parents house. They're not home."
Cordelia's eyes brightened. She instantly forgot all about Buffy and her nerd herd. "They aren't going to be home tonight? That's so cool." Soft slow music began playing. "Darn! I wish they were playing something with more of a beat to it."
Everyone watched as the pair made their way to the dance floor. "That was just interesting." Spike turned at the sound of Buffy's voice. "You really are his brother?"
"Yeah." Spike smiled. "Please don't hold it against me. I like to imagine that either I was adopted or that the nurse switched me with another baby. That way I don't have to be truly related to him." Buffy laughed a little at this. "Well, now that we've broken the ice, would you care to dance?"
Buffy looked up at him in surprise. "You'd still want to dance with me? Even though I'm this big time loser?"
Spike shook his head. "You are not the loser. My brother and his friends are the big time losers. Listen, the songs almost over. I can have Oz play anything you want to hear."
"Oz?" Buffy looked at the band.
"The one with the red hair." Spike smiled. "At least it's red today. Who knows about tomorrow. He said something about blue, to match his mood."
"He's blue?" Faith looked at the guy for a second. "He looks red hot to me."
Spike tried to hide the smile. This was going to be so easy to get the two of them together. But that could wait. Oz was busy. Now was his time with Buffy. "So, care to dance, mi lady?"
Buffy smiled. "I haven't danced in a long time. I'll probably step on your toes."
"Not to worry." He pointed down to his boots. "Steel toed. Just for such occasions. And I promise not to step on yours."
"Well..." Buffy hesitated. "You guys don't mind if I go and dance with Spike?"
"Go for it." Willow smiled. The only reason she didn't want Buffy to was that they had just become friends that day. She was looking forward to getting to know her new friend better. Willow looked at Xander and Faith. The music had picked up a beat. "You guys care to join me on the dance floor?"
Both Faith and Xander smiled. It wasn't long before the three were dancing funky dances. Spike and Buffy were dancing themselves. And Angel was sending his brother daggers. He didn't realize it, but he was jealous of his little brother.
Oz watched Faith on the dance floor in fascination. It wasn't often that a girl got to him this quickly. Try never, in fact. But the dark haired girl was really something else. And he couldn't wait to meet her face to face. Maybe the two of them had a chance as well.
A sandy blonde walked through the door. She spotted the three dancing a funky dance. Quickly, she made her way over to the three. She waited for the music to end before she approached them. "Hey, Xander."
Xander turned to see Anya, one of the girls that had sorta stood up for him with Angel earlier. "Anya, right?" She nodded. "You come to have some fun?"
She smiled. "I was hoping to find you here."
Xander raised his eyebrows. A girl, seeking him out. There is something wrong with this picture. Something in a very wrong way. "That's cool. Unusual, but cool."
"Unusual?" Anya looked at him.
"Well, usually girls run and flee from me." Xander smiled. "And that sadly wasn't just a joke, either. It were the truth."
"Well, I'm not saying that I want to marry you or anything." Now Anya smiled. "But I thought it would be nice if we could possibly get to know one another. Maybe dance the next dance."
Xander turned towards Willow and Faith. "If you'll excuse me ladies, I seem to have been asked to dance."
The two girls watched Xander walk further on to the dance floor with Anya. "Why do I find that an odd pairing?" Willow asked watching them dancing.
"I'm with you, girl." Faith simply shook her head. "But I think the pairings are kinda weird. Look at Buffy and Spike. Angel and Cordelia seem to be the only pairing that's not weird."
"You talking about the possible pairing of you and Oz?" Willow smiled at her look. "Well, you were the one that basically said he was a hottie and all. Maybe he feels the same way. Only one way to find out."
Faith nodded. "What about you, girl. You'd be the only one without a partner to dance with." Willow smiled shyly. "Damn! You're holding out on me, aren't you?" Willow shrugged. "O.K. I know we're not the best of buds, but you can share with me. Details! I want details."
Willow shook her head. "There are no details. Not yet, anyway. Maybe someday. I really hope that there will be details. Until than, I'm just going to enjoy being friends with them..." She trailed off as she realized she kinda let it slip as to who it might just be.
And Faith caught on. "All right!" She smiled big. "Now I know that it's one of your friends." She stared at the red head for a moment. "But you really, no offense, don't have many friends. There's Buffy, me, Tara, and Xander that seem to be in your world. Definitely not Angel or Cordelia. Spike is questionable. So, is it Xander?"
Willow only smiled. "Not going to tell you. You'll have to figure it out for yourself."
Faith's eyes widened. "You have a jonesing for a girl!" Willow's cheeks reddened a little. "I so knew it." She thought for a moment. "It's not me. No offense, red, but I do like the guys. Although, it would be cool if you did. And I don't really think that Buffy's into the ladies either." She smiled really big. "You've got a thing for the new blonde. Tara."
"Shhh!" Willow looked around. "I'm not ashamed. Yes, I think I realized I am gay. And yes, I do find myself really, really attracted to Tara. And I think maybe she is, you know, gay too. But I don't know. It's just..." She looked down at the floor. "It would be too much to hope for if she felt the same way that I do about her. That's all."
"Damn, girl." Faith shook her head. "We have so got to get the two of you hooked up. I'll work on it for you, if you want."
"NO!" Willow could feel a lot of eyes on her. She moved closer to Faith so that no one could hear. "Listen, if she is interested in me like that, it'll come out. For now, I'm happy with being her friend. And I know she is with me."
"Whatever." Faith shook her head. "I really think you're missing out, girl. But it's your loss."
Tara was lying on her bed. She was simply exhausted. She was so glad that they hadn't given out any real homework the first day of classes. But that would soon change. Instead of coming home and having to cook, clean, do laundry, she'd also have to do her homework as well.
And her mom was so sick. She really should be in a hospital or have a nurse caring for her. Tara was doing the best that she could. It was never good enough for her father or her brother. They always found something lacking about what she did.
She was near tears now. It wasn't the fact that her father had called a no good lazy person either. She was used to that. That was their daily ritual. She had long ago learned to ignore what her father said. At least the mean stuff.
The blonde was crying for an entirely different reason. She was crying because she knew she would never get to hang out with any of her friends outside of school. Especially the thought of not being able to spend time with Willow was making her cry.
The girl was so special. She didn't even know how special she is. It was sad how she seemed to sell herself short. Not that they had known each other for all that long. But the girl had this unique quality about her. She seemed to know what others were feeling and tried to either make them feel better or make them realize it was all right to feel like that.
Life was so unfair. At least for her, it is. She had the chance for happiness. Right at her fingertips. And because of her family, she would probably never have anything more with the red head than friendship. More tears streak down her already wet face. They wouldn't stop coming.