Cocktail: The Truth Comes Out
by ForeversEnough
A/N: Okay, so I decided that I’m going to do very little justifying, because there is really no excuse for how long it’s been since this story was last updated. My co-author has not been online anytime since this was last updated, and she hasn’t responded to her e-mail. I guess she decided to abandon me with this story, and I don’t think that I really wanted another WIP on my hands. After making an LJ today though, I was going through some of the old reviews I have received, and friending some of those people, and then found that a lot of people enjoyed this story, and that I really should continue it, even if they have decided to not read it anymore. It’s going to be a lot of work to write on my own, because I really loved working with someone else for ideas and such, but I will try it for all of the readers. I hope you stay with me on this, and I hope you forgive me for the long wait! Also, check out my brand new LJ and leave a comment or friend me, because friends are very, very welcome! http://www.livejournal.com/users/foreversenough
Cocktail
Chapter 12
“Spike! Buddy! What are you doing in here?” Gunn asked, nervously glancing around. He ran over to Spike as soon as he saw the platinum blonde enter The Bronze.
“What do you mean ‘what are you doing in here?’ I’m working Charlie Boy. Just like you are tonight,” Spike told him, a confused look on his face.
“Working? Didn’t you get Willy’s message for you on your answering machine?” Gunn asked him.
“No I didn’t. I was dragged all over town by a friend who’s staying with me, before I dropped her off at her parent’s house and then came here. What’s with the questions?” Spike raised an eyebrow skeptically.
“Well, you should’ve got that message man, you’ve been fired,” Gunn told him, ready for the flood of rage that was sure to come pouring out of Spike.
“Fired?!” Spike yelled, confused.
---
2 hours earlier
---
“So you see Willy, it’s for Spike’s own good that you lay him off. He can’t work in this kind of environment anymore, it’s only provoking him,” Angel told Willy, inside of his office through the bar of the club. Willy was a pansy man, but was the owner of the Bronze.
“Let me get this straight. Spike is having health issues from all of his drinking and smoking, and you think that working here is making him worse?” Willy asked, not really buying it.
“Yeah and if something happens to him while he was working here, you wouldn’t want that law suit on your hands, now would you Willy?” Angel made it sound like a question, but it had all the underlying tones of a threat.
“Thank you Angel. I’ll make the call now,” Willy agreed, not wanting to risk business.
Angel gave his most ‘angelic’ smile he could to Willy, before giving him a nod and walking out of his office. Passing the bar he gave a devilish smile to Gunn, and then headed toward the exit to make his way home. ‘Spike took two of my girls. Now he pays the consequences.’ Angel thought to himself. Boy, revenge was sweet.
---
“I’m sorry Spike, really, I am,” Gunn tried to cool down his friend.
“I know you are Charlie Boy. I just want to know what the hell made Willy do this. He knows I’m his best bartender. No offense of course,” Spike pondered.
“Of course,” Gunn agreed, shaking his head. “Oh wait! I did see Angel walk out of his office about 2 hours ago, grinning like he was the devil who just talked Jesus into giving him his soul.
“Angel,” Spike growled out. “It has to be that ponce.” Stepping around Gunn, Spike made his way to Willy’s office. Willy was going to at least give him a reason and Spike in return was going to give him a good talking to about Angel.
---
“GOD DAMNIT!” Buffy cursed, as she walked through the front door of the house. She dropped her shopping bags onto the floor and took off her jacket.
“Buffy, what is it?” Dawn asked, running down the steps fast from her room after hearing her sister’s outburst.
“Oh hey Dawnie. How was school today?” Buffy asked, trying to change subjects, not expecting her sister to be home.
“Hey, the usual, and no, you cannot change subjects on me, spill,” Dawn ordered her sister.
“Want to see what I got you from Victoria’s Secret?” Buffy asked Dawn, picking up the shopping bags and moving to the living room to set them on the couch.
“Nice try, except you told me I’m not allowed to wear that stuff until I’m out of this house, or unless you don’t know about it. Would you just tell me already? I’m not going to give up until you do,” Dawn glared at her sister, before giving her the famous puppy-eyed pout of hers.
Buffy sighed in defeat. “Fine,” She plopped down onto the couch next to her bags, and ran her hands through her hair. “I saw Spike out with Cordelia today.”
“So?” Dawn inquired. “I go out with people all the time.”
“No, but they were shopping and laughing and carrying on like a happy couple,” Buffy whined. “And he was holding the bags for her!”
“Buffy, it’s the guys job to hold the bags for the girl. It’s the polite thing to do. Maybe, they were just carrying on like friends do, you know, having a good time?” Dawn explained to her sister.
“Is that why he kissed her?” Buffy asked.
“He what?!” Dawn shrieked.
“Yeah, he did, and from the looks of it. He liked it,” Buffy said quietly.
“You watched?”
“I couldn’t tear myself away,” Buffy admitted.
“Buffy, Spike loves you, anyone can see it,” Dawn assured her sister, patting her hand.
“Yeah, he made that clear last night when he offered to let her stay at his place, and then today when he kissed her. God knows what they did last night,” Buffy said. “Wait, what if they did stuff last night?” She looked worried at Dawn, as if searching her for all the answers.
“Buffy, I’m sure he didn’t. Maybe you should actually believe the guy when he says he has feelings for you. You made it so clear you didn’t want him and now look at how you’re overreacting,” Dawn tried to advise her sister.
“Dawn, let’s try simple language. Spike, Cordelia, kiss, lips, enjoyed. Need I say more?” Buffy said sarcastically.
“You’re right, I’m going to go talk to him,” Dawn stated, getting up and heading toward the door.
“No, I will. I have to let Cordelia know that before he let her stay with him he liked me,” Buffy said determinedly. “Wait. Dawn, we were wrong all along. He never liked me. Now I just have to let him know what he’s missing out on.”
Before Dawn could respond, Buffy had grabbed her coat, put it on, and was out the door.
“Poor Spike. He doesn’t know what he’s got coming,” Dawn muttered, shaking her head at her sister’s antics.
---
Buffy walked into The Bronze after reapplying her make up into the car to give her a smoky sexy look. She was in tight black jeans and a silver tank top from the mall, but they weren’t bad Bronzing clothes either, she decided.
Not caring about anything else around her, Buffy pushed through the bodies of sweaty and horny teenagers, making her way to the bar.
Getting there and not knowing what seemed to be a new guy at the bar, Buffy ignored him and made her way to Gunn’s side.
“Hey,” Buffy greeted Gunn, when he was done waiting on a customer.
“Hey Buff. What’s up?” Gunn asked her.
“I thought Spike was supposed to be working tonight. Whose the new guy?” Buffy asked, staring at the new guy, and watching as he fumbled with the bottles before he finally got the liquor to pour.
“No, Spike’s not working tonight, and his name is Doyle, he was hired today,” Gunn explained while sliding a beer down to a customer.
“Why isn’t he?” Buffy continued to question.
“I think that’s for him to tell you, not me,” Gunn said. “If you want to hang around for him, he’s in the back office talking to Willy. He should be out soon enough.”
“Yeah, that works for me, thanks,” Buffy told him.
“Can I get you a diet coke?” Gunn asked, assuming she wanted her usual.
“No, a long island iced tea sounds good about now,” Buffy ordered.
Gunn raised an eyebrow at her. “Aren’t alcohol and Buffy not mix-y, as you say?”
“This shouldn’t hurt. Excessive amounts and me aren’t mix-y. Besides, I’m going to need this buzz and confidence for the confrontation I’m about to have.”
---
“Look Spike, I just don’t think you’re cut out for the job anymore. I mean with your condition and all-,” Willy began before Spike cut him off.
“Condition? Why the hell would you believe that git Angel?” Spike asked.
“Look Spike, he said you would do this, and besides, you’re better than here. You’re welcome here anytime to drink or hang out, but you just won’t be working here, unless you’re up there on that stage, got it?” Willy informed him.
“Fuck you Willy,” Spike spat, before walking outside the door, not bothering to close it behind him. He was in a pissed off mood and didn’t want to do anything but go home and drink a beer, alone.
---
Buffy saw the platinum blonde hair out of the corner of her eye, and her body started making its way over there on its own accord, before she even had time to register what was going on. She wanted to talk to Spike, and yell at him, kiss him, question him, all at the same time. Question is, is he in any mood to talk to her?
---
TBC!!!
A/N: Again, so sorry about the long wait. Leave a review, and stop by the livejournal!
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