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Learning How To Deal – The Date Author's Note: Chapter Eleven of , the second book of The Sweetest Thing. Dawn gets asked out on a date. Yeah, it goes real well. Spike doesn’t freak out at all. Rating: PG-13. Sorry guys. This is going somewhere. ~~~~~ “Spike, I have to ask you something.” Dawn slid into the car beside him and smiled winningly. “Go on with it then, and stop trying to soften me up,” he growled as he shifted the car into gear. “Now why would you think I’m trying to soften you up?” she said, winning smile still in place. “Don’t you think I know better yet?” Spike looked at her and smirked. “You hop in, all smiling and shiny and friendly. Course you’re trying to soften me up. Now have out with it, and still no car, pet.” Dawn rolled her yes. “Fine. No more sucking up.” Spike’s eyes got slightly shaded at her words, but she didn’t notice. “Listen, this boy Kevin asked me to go to the movies with him this weekend. I want to. And I’m going to, and he’s going to come pick me up. Okay?” “Absolutely not,” Spike said as calmly as he could. “You are far to young to date.” “Argh!” Dawn yelled, flopping against the seat, crossing her arms and glaring out the window. “You are such a jerk. And for the very. last. time, I’m eighteen. I don’t even have to ask you if I can go out with someone. It’s just respect.” “So you’re going then? Spike asked testily. “Of course not,” Dawn snapped. “You said I couldn’t. And you’d know if I really went over to Tiffany’s or not, so why bother?” Spike looked at her. He’d expected something… more? A tantrum or something. Dawn kicking and screaming. Not this sullen acceptance. “Is that it?” he asked. Dawn glared at him. “Well, what am I supposed to do? Scream at you? You said I couldn’t go, and I’m not going to waste the energy. I’ll just shrivel up and die all alone in my room, because that’ll probably make you happy.” “Right,” Spike said uncertainly. “Up for a visit to work? Maybe see your cat?” “Whatever,” Dawn said as she slumped down in the passenger seat. “As long as it doesn’t interfere with your ‘Dawn-shrivels-up-and-dies-alone’ plan. I don’t care.” ~~~~~~ “Hey Angel,” Cordelia strolled into Angel’s office and offered a brilliant smile. “What’s up?” “Not much,” Angel replied, lifting his head and offering a tired smile. “You know. Demons. Witches. The usual. It’s nice to see you here, Cordy. But why are you here?” Cordelia shrugged. “I don’t know. Nothing vision-y or anything. Just got sick of hanging out with Wes and Fred and watching him make mooneyes at her while she chatters about that science lab guy. Thought I’d come by and see if you want some company.” She settled on the corner of his desk and smiled, that brilliant old smile that used to make force Angel to smile in return even before he fell in love with her. “Do you - ” he cut himself off before anything got out of hand. He couldn’t ask her if she loved him. Shouldn’t he say it first? “Do you ever miss the old days?” “What, the brain-bleeding headaches and mindless cleaning while I tried not to think about how much pain I was in? Not so much.” She smiled again. “But I do miss some stuff. Like us all bunked out in the lobby and joking around. Now we all have offices and we hardly ever see each other. So that’s not so cool.” “Yeah,” Angel replied. “Sometimes I wish… well, whatever. Maybe we should all get together and have dinner.” He cleared his throat. “Or, you know, you could just have - ” “She wants to go out on a date!” Spike exclaimed, storming into Angel’s office and grabbing Cordelia’s arm. “I need your help!” “What?” Cordelia asked as Angel growled, “Dammit, Spike, learn to knock.” “Come with me now!” Spike insisted, tugging at Cordelia’s hand. Angel, mad as he was, had to smile a little at the panic in Spike’s voice. “It’s a date, Spike. It’s not the end of the world,” Cordelia argued as Spike hustled her out of the office. “She’s eighteen now, isn’t she?” “Dammit, woman,” Spike growled. “Men are all useless bastards who only want one thing! Specially boys in high school. You need to talk to her. Explain to her that she can’t date anyone for years yet.” “As if,” Cordelia said with a chuckle. “I started dating when I was fourteen and Dawn knows that. I so don’t have the moral high ground here.” She patted his arm gently. “Really, Spike. It’s just a date. She’ll be fine, and I’m sure she can take care of herself.” Spike ran a hand through his hair and bit back a sharp retort. “You’re supposed to be helping me. This is not helping me. This is making my job more difficult.” Cordelia laughed. “Look. Make sure he comes upstairs to pick her up, and look forbidding. That’ll put the fear of God in him. It always worked with my boyfriends. My dad made everyone come to the door, and he’d frown at them while peering over his glasses and say nothing. It was terrifying, or so I was told.” “So scare the little knickers-removing bastard? Yeah?” Spike said. “That’ll work, and he’ll never come back?” “No Spike,” Cordelia said with a sigh. “You scare him so he’ll be respectful and not pressure Dawn about sex in the back seat of his car.” “Sex in the back seat of his! - that’s it. No date for Dawn. I’ll look into a convent now.” Spike began walking purposefully towards the elevator. Cordelia grabbed his arm. “No!” she yelled. “No scaring him away! And no fangs! Just – you know what? What day is he supposed to pick her up? Friday? I’ll come by and we’ll both put the fear of God into him, okay?” She spun Spike to look at her. “Okay?” Spike sighed heavily. “Fine. But if he so much as breathes on her - ” “No!” Cordelia yelled again, drawing funny looks from the rest of the office staff. “Spike,” she continued, lowering her voice so no one could hear her, and playing a really unfair card, “do you really want Dawn to hate you forever until she just runs off or something?” “No…” Spike said uncertainly. “Then we do it my way.” Cordelia instantly got more assertive. “Ask Dawn when he’s supposed to pick her up and we’ll do this together. I’ll clear my totally empty social schedule. All right?” “Fine,” Spike said, forcing calm into his voice. “But if she ends up with squalling little babies, it’s your fault. Clear?” ~~~~~~ “Hey Dawn!” Kevin smiled down at her and she got this trembly feeling in her knees. Oh God, here he is talking to me again ohGodohGodohGod… “We still on for this weekend?” “Yeah!” She said too brightly. “Of course!” Dammit. Too needy! “I mean, I’m not busy or anything.” “Cool,” he said easily. “See you at seven on Friday, right?” “Seven on Friday! Totally!” Dawn gushed. “Um,” she ripped a sheet of paper out of her notebook and scribbled down her address quickly. “It’s apartment fourteen. Just ring the buzzer and I’ll let you up. My guardian wants to meet you, okay?” “Sure,” Kevin said with a shrug. “Hey, Tiffany,” he added as Tiffany joined them in the hallway. “See you guys at lunch?” “Okay!” Dawn said, her smile widening so much it almost hurt. Kevin grinned and turned to head for class. “Oh. My. God,” Dawn said as Kevin walked away. She turned to Tiffany and covered her cheeks with her hands. “I’m completely red, aren’t I? I’m like, lobster red.” “You look fine,” Tiffany said soothingly. She linked her arm through Dawn’s. “So, you guys are on for the weekend?” “Yeah, Spike said yes,” Dawn said as they walked to class. “Kevin has to meet him and Cordelia first, but that’ll be fine. Cordy’ll keep Spike in line.” “Cordelia?” Tiffany asked. “Is that Spike’s girlfriend?” “No just… just another old friend of my sister's,” Dawn replied. “She kind of watches out for me, and tries to step up when Spike gets all confused about the care of a teenaged girl. She’s awesome.” “Cool.” Tiffany was silent for a moment. Then she cautiously said, “Dawn? I don’t want to trample on your happy time or anything but… be careful. Kevin’s kind of… Well, he’s got a reputation.” “Are you saying I shouldn’t date him?” Dawn demanded. “Because you were all gung ho like, two weeks ago when I met him.” “No, not at all,” Tiffany assured her. “He’s fun to hang out with. Just – Kevin dates a lot of girls, and he doesn’t really settle down. So don’t invest your heart or whatever. Okay?” “Got it,” Dawn said firmly. “Now, you’re coming over on Thursday to help me pick out something to wear and possibly go on a shopping spree because I totally already know I have nothing to wear, right?” “Duh!” Tiffany replied. “What are friends for, if not insane shopping sprees?” ~~~~~~ “Hey, Cordy,” Angel stopped her as she hurried across the lobby. “Listen, remember how we were going to have dinner some night? How’s tonight” “Oh, not good,” Cordelia said quickly. “Dawn’s going on a date. I promised Spike I’d menace the guy with him. Monday?” “But - it’s just a date, isn’t it?” Angel said with a frown. “Can you come by later?” “I promised Spike I’d stay there and hold his hand,” Cordelia replied. “Hold his - Cordy, come on. Spike’s a grown up and he can handle this himself,” Angel argued. “Look.” Cordelia placed her books on the floor and held Angel’s face in her hands. “This is my mission right now, okay? I have to follow through. But on Monday, I absolutely swear we’ll have dinner, just the two of us. Okay?” Angel’s eyes softened. “Fine. But no backing out.” “I swear,” Cordelia said solemnly. She bent down and picked up her books again. “We need to talk any way.” ~~~~~~ “Don’t even think about it,” Spike said flatly as soon as Dawn stepped out of her room. “Go back inside, take off half the eye makeup, put on a shirt that covers more than just your ribcage, and a skirt that comes past your bottom, and try again.” Dawn rolled her eyes. “Cordelia!” She yelled. “Spike’s being annoying and over protective!” Cordelia came up the stairs and eyed Dawn critically. “Tell him I can wear this!” “I agree, hon. You should put on something a little less… inviting.” Cordelia sighed. “You’re such a beautiful girl. You don’t need to parade it around like that.” “Argh!” Dawn yelled. “You’re supposed to be helping me!” She spun back around and slammed her bedroom door. Spike raised his eyes to the ceiling and began muttering something that sounded like “syphilitic little squalling brats.” Cordelia smiled gently and patted his arm. “I’ll go in and help her pick out something nice. But you have to trust my judgment, okay?” “Fine,” Spike ground out. “But as I said previously. Squalling babies are your fault.” He turned away and continued muttering as he stomped down the stairs. Cordelia opened Dawn’s door and closed it behind her. “He’s only trying to keep you safe, you know,” she said softly and she settled beside Dawn on the bed. “Now, we’ll pick out something nice, and Spike promised he wouldn’t say anything about whatever I helped you pick.” “Whatever,” Dawn said huffily, but there was a smile playing around her mouth. She waited until she knew Spike was in the living room. “Now, want to see what I really picked out to wear?” She hopped off the bed and raced to the bathroom. Just let me wash my face and all that, okay?” Cordelia stared at her openmouthed, then chuckled. “Schemer!” she called after Dawn. “Hey, you do what you gotta do when you live with Spike,” Dawn said easily as she smile through the bathroom door. “This is how you get Spike to let you wear what you want. It works like a charm!” She scrubbed her face clean and presented Cordelia with the leather pants and loose-knit black sweater she and Tiffany had picked out the day before. “So, conservative but sexy?” she asked. “Nice choice,” Cordelia said approvingly. “He’ll be stunned and amazed.” ~~~~~~ Kevin stepped up to Dawn’s apartment block and looked around. Nice place. Clearly Dawn’s guardian was some rich old uncle or something, because places in this block weren’t cheap. He smiled. He could handle rich old uncles. He’d talk about Harvard or politics or something. He pressed the buzzer. “Yeah?” said the rich old uncle, who wasn’t sounding so old after all. “Hi, I’m Kevin Lawson. I’m here to pick Dawn up?” he asked cautiously. “Is this the right apartment?” “Yeah, tosser. Come on up.” The buzzer sounded and Kevin stepped through the door. What the hell is a tosser? ~~~~~~ Kevin knocked on the door and patiently waited for it to open. So what if the guy sounded younger than expected? He was probably some throwback to the seventies, all strung out and wishing he could relive his glory days. So he wasn’t eighty. He’d find some way to charm the guy. The door opened to… a bleached blonde guy who looked like he was… 30? Maybe? And also looked like he was itching to tear Kevin’s head off. He swallowed nervously. This was Dawn’s rich old uncle? “Hi… does Dawn live here?” he croaked. “Number fourteen, innit?” the guy asked. He stepped away from the door. Kevin stood on the other side and waited to be asked in. “Um, can I come in?” he asked uncertainly as the guy stared at him about ten feet from the doorway. “Now, that’s a question for the ages,” the guy replied calmly. He crossed his arms and leaned against the couch. Kevin shifted back and forth by the door and waited a little longer. When it seemed like he’d never be asked in, he stepped gingerly over the threshold and hoped that the guy wouldn’t kick him out. The guy smiled as he stepped inside, but it wasn’t a very nice smile. “Well, you passed the first test,” he said calmly. “Now, what are your intentions?” Kevin relaxed. The guy might be young, but he asked the standard questions. “We’re going to have dinner, and then I thought we'd see a movie.” “Yeah, and then?” The guy leaned forward and frowned. “What are you doing then?” “Well, um… coming home?” Kevin said carefully. “Right after the movie, you’re going to bring her home?” The guy laughed, a hard little laugh that matched his smile exactly. “You suppose I believe that?” “Um…” Kevin was suddenly rethinking taking Dawn out on a date. Her guardian was one scary guy, and he was weird. He wasn’t acting like normal parents at all. “Hey!” Kevin looked upstairs and saw a pretty woman frowning down at them. “You were supposed to wait until I got here!” She stomped down the stairs and stood beside the scary guy. She directed a friendly smile towards him. “Hi. I’m Cordelia,” she said, holding out her hand so he could shake it. He did so slowly. “And this is Spike. Sorry if he scared you. He’s, um, temperamental.” “It’s okay,” Kevin assured her. “Honestly. I know he’s just watching out for Dawn.” He smiled. “It’s not like this hasn’t happened before.” Her smile disappeared. “Oh, you like to play the field, huh?” she said sharply. “Tell me,” and she crossed her arms and leaned forward as menacingly as – Spike? What kind of name is Spike? – had just moments earlier. “What are your intentions?” Kevin closed his eyes. Please, Dawn. Hurry Up. ~~~~~~ Dawn stepped out of her room carefully and closed the door softly. She could hear Spike and Cordelia snapping questions at Kevin in the living room, and she knew she had to go rescue him. She ran her hands nervously down her thighs, then clenched them in fists to stop herself from running them nervously through her hair. She looked good. Cordelia had told her as much, and so had the mirror. She was at the top of her game. She was hot. She was afraid she was going to fall down the stairs, her legs were so shaky. She’d never been on a date. A real date, where a guy showed up at her house and picked her up, and they went somewhere else. Sure, there’d been Justin-the-vampire-boy, way back when she was fifteen, and all those closet moments back in England with Mark, but this was a date. She’d probably spill her food all over herself, or knock over a drink or something. God, she was so backward about some things. Ask her to translate a Sumerian text or scream loudly because a demon was attacking, and she was totally cool. Ask her to have dinner with a cute boy and she was ready to puke. She squared her shoulders, fixed a smile on her face and headed down the stairs. “Her curfew is ten,” she heard Spike snap, and her face fell. Ten? God, Kevin was never going to ask her out again! Who on earth had to be home by ten on a Friday? “No it isn’t, Spike,” Cordelia said calmly. Then Dawn heard her snap, “It’s two, and we’ll be waiting up, so you better not be late.” “Two?” Spike said incredulously. “What the hell are you thinking? Two?” “Yes, two,” Cordelia said softly. “She’s eighteen, not four. My curfew was two on a Friday when I was eighteen.” “And look where that got you,” Spike said rudely. “Demonized and working with Angel.” Dawn hurried forward before Cordelia and Spike started cussing each other out. “Hey!” She said loudly. She smiled, and nearly blushed when she saw the look in Kevin’s eyes. Oh yeah, she was hot. “Hi, Kevin,” she said quickly. “I hope Spike and Cordelia weren’t being impossible.” She turned her eyes to glare at both of them, but she stopped when she saw the look in Spike’s eyes. He was staring at her like… like he looked at Harmony sometimes, when she looked really good. Like he used to look at Buffy. She inhaled quickly. She got it now – she’d never earned that look from Spike, of course, but she was getting it now – and she so got it. It would have been hard for someone to say no to Spike if he was looking at her like that, and she sort of got the Year of The Sex, and Harmony’s willingness to just be Spike’s once-in-a-while girl. Spike shook his head, and the expression in his eyes changed quickly. She kind of missed it; she’d always wanted Spike to look at her like that, at least once. “You look very nice,” he said hoarsely. “A vast improvement.” “Thanks, she said softly, then turned away from him quickly. “So, um, should we go?” she asked Kevin. “Yeah,” Kevin replied, relief in his voice. “It was, um, nice meeting both of you,” Kevin said quickly, offering his hand to Spike. Spike looked at it for a moment, then shook it quickly. He nodded to Cordelia. “Have her home by – ow! – two!” Spike called, then rubbed his ribs. He glared at Cordelia when the door closed. “I was going to say two,” he grumbled. “No you weren’t,” Cordelia said with a grin. “Besides, you deserved it. So,” she continued. “A drink? Or several? We have, um, six hours, I think, before she’s back.” Spike frowned. “Told you her curfew should be ten.” ~~~~~~ Dawn settled in Kevin’s car, unlocking the door on his side and waiting for him o get in. “So, where are we going?” she said as Kevin buckled his seat belt. “Well, I figured we could just grab something at, like, Denny’s,” he said uncertainly. “Then check out the Cineplex. Or, you know, whatever.” Dawn grinned; he was so nervous! Spike and Cordelia must have done a number on him. “Kevin, relax. Spike and Cordelia don’t actually kill people. They’re just… they’re new to this. So they go over the top.” She stroked the top of his hand lightly. “They’re just… overprotective.” Kevin looked over and the wry smile on his face made her laugh. “Promise? Because seriously, I’ve had finals that didn’t scare me as much as those two tag teaming me in your living room.” “Promise,” Dawn replied. “Now… dinner? I’m worried that if we sit by the curb much longer, Spike’s going to come down with a giant flash light or something.” “Spike, huh?" Kevin said as he pulled away form the curb. “What’s that all about?” “It’s a long story,” Dawn said. “You’ll want to be comfortable before I even start.” Yeah, well that was the original plan. Comfortable, and stuff. But now? Handholding. Handholding is good. ~~~~~~ “Spike, how much have I had to drink?” Cordelia asked, her voice a little slurred. “Lots,” Spike said calmly. “Same as me, which means you’re going to fall over in a second.” “Nope!” Cordelia said brightly. “I’m part demon, ‘member? I got the same tolerance for this stuff as you.” “Not by half, little girl,” Spike growled. He glanced at the clock. 1:30. That bastard better be back soon or Spike would eat him. “Swear I should have stayed with ten,” Spike muttered. Cordelia glanced at the clock, narrowing her eyes a little to focus them. “They have half an hour, Spike. Leave it.” She sat up and looked at his phone. “You think I should call Angel?” she asked. “See if he wants to some by? You know, just in case the little bastard is late.” “No, but I do think you should call him for a ride home, because I’m not leaving until they get back, and you are about to pass out on my couch.” He dialed Angel’s number and handed Cordelia the phone, who gave him a look of contempt. “I can dial a number right now, Spike,” she muttered. Then she perked up. “Hey Angel! Listen. I am so… gone right now, it isn’t even funny. Can you come get me at Spike’s? Please?” She paused for a moment. “No, Angel. Spike did not get me drunk and try to take advantage of me. I swear. We were just waiting for Dawn to get home. Okay. Okay, see you in a bit.” ~~~~~~ Kevin pulled the car up to the curb and unbuckled his seatbelt. He glanced at Dawn and smiled. “Here we are,” he murmured. “Yeah,” she said softly. Now that the horribly awkward dinner and movies were over, Dawn had been thinking about the look Spike had given her before they left. God, what had that been about? Spike never looked at her like that. Spike didn’t think about her like that. Spike… Spike had thought she looked really good, and it reminded her of that old crush, from when she was fourteen, the crush she’d thought had gone away. “I had a lot of fun,” Kevin said. Dawn looked at him and smiled wryly. “Yeah, me too. The movie was great. And so was the second one. It totally didn’t seem like you were avoiding being alone with me at all.” Kevin blushed and looked down. “Your guardian scares me, okay? I didn’t want anything to happen, and besides,” he looked up at her, “you’re not about that. To me, anyway.” Dawn stared at him. “Excuse me?” she asked. “Not about what?” Kevin sighed. “Look, I’m not a total moron. I’m sure Tiffany told you that I date a lot. And I get that. But you’re… you’re really different.” Dawn laughed. “That’s the worst line ever,” she snapped. She unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door. “Gee, I had fun, blah, blah, blah, lose my number, goodbye.” “No, wait!” Kevin jumped out of his door and followed her to her apartment. “I’m not feeding you a line! I mean it, okay?” He grabbed her arm and turned her towards him. “Please, Dawn, You have to listen.” “I really think you should let her go,” A smooth voice said near his shoulder. He spun around and saw… well, at least it wasn’t the guy or the chick Dawn lived with. That was a blessing. “Angel! What are you doing here?” Dawn asked. “Picking up Cordelia,” Angel said with an uncomfortable smile. “She’s um, drunk.” He glared at Kevin. “Probably a good thing I got here, too.” “You have to be kidding me!” Kevin exploded. “Another one? How many guardians do you have, Dawn?” “He’s not my guardian,” she said huffily. “He’s Spike’s boss. Spike’s older, meaner boss. So, you know, be polite.” Kevin rolled his eyes. “Okay, you’re mad, and I get that, but I wasn’t blowing you off, I swear.” He glanced at Angel, who made no move to leave. “Don’t you have to go drag the drunk girl out of the apartment or something?” he snapped. Angel growled at him and Dawn stepped between them. “Go get Cordy,” she said quickly. “And can you tell Spike I’m home so he doesn’t freak out or something?” Angel eyed the boy a little longer before nodding. “Fine. But you better hurry, or Spike’ll just come outside, and your boy will be screwed.” He smiled unpleasantly. “Nice meeting you,” he added softly, then headed for the apartment. Dawn turned to face Kevin. “That was stupid,” she snapped. “Trying to pick a fight with Angel? He’s like, twice your size!” “I just want – okay, here’s how it is. I – I really had a lot of fun, okay? Which is kind of weird for me, because the dinner and movie thing? Sort of just bait. But I want – if you - ” he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “God this is hard. Look, do you want to go out again sometime?” “Don’t offer me a pity date!” Dawn snapped. “It’s cool, or whatever.” She turned towards the apartment, but Kevin got in front of her and forced her to stop. “It’s so not that,” he said. “Honestly. What can I do to convince you?” She looked away. “Uh-uh, look at me, Dawn.” He smiled down at her. “Seriously. Dinner again tomorrow?” “Why? So you can look at your plate and avoid my eyes again?” she snapped. “No, so I can… never mind. I’ll just do it now.” He leaned in and kissed her softly. Her eyes flew open, then fell shut again as he deepened the kiss. “Dinner tomorrow?” he whispered when he moved away. “Um, yeah. Okay,” Dawn said dazedly. “Great. I’ll walk you to the door,” he said, sliding his arm around her shoulders. And she completely forgot the look Spike had given her earlier. Go To Next Chapter - Coming Soon! Go Back To Learning How To Deal – September Table Of Contents Series Home Pick Another Series 17 December 2004