In the training room at the Magic Box, Buffy stretched languidly on the mats, in no real mood for a workout. She was still slightly sore from last night's furious dancing, but that would go away after a few minutes. What robbed her motivation tonight was the quandary of what to do about Spike.

Once again she had let the wayward vampire into her life, and now she was faced with the usual question.

How do I get rid of him?

"That again?" Spike groaned.

Buffy's eyes shot to the door. "What are you doing here, Spike?"

Spike rolled his shoulders tiredly. He sauntered to the punching bag and launched a punch that impacted with a powerful whump! and nearly made it fold in half. "I knew it," he said, flopping down and crossing his legs. "I could see in your eyes you're wondering, 'How do I get rid of Spike?' You're predictable, and easy to read."
She rolled across the floor and knocked him onto his back with a playful leg scissor.

"I was wondering if Angel and Cordy were back in L.A. yet, Criswell. Shows how much you think you know me."

Spike put his hands behind his head and relaxed. "Good, you're keeping me guessing, Love. And that's not the ell-you-vee love, either."

Buffy straddled his stomach and rolled her eyes, sighing heavily. "How do I get rid of you?"

"Kill me. Using only the weapons you were born with."

She smushed the butt of her palm against Spike's mouth. "Even when I don't understand what you're talking about, you sound dirty."

Anya spoke from the doorway. "Hey Buffy, Angel and Cordelia are here. Do you want to see them?"

They looked up and saw that Angel and Cordelia were standing there with Anya. Spike and Buffy exchanged arch looks and Buffy answered, "No, Anya, tell them we aren't here. Geez. Why do you ask when they're right there with you?"

"What am I, your butler?"

"That's no answer," Spike returned. He tossed Buffy off and hopped up. "Heading back to la-la land, then?"

Angel nodded.

"Just thought we'd say ta-ta," Cordelia affirmed.

"Ta-ta to la-la," Spike mused aloud.

Buffy said, "Ha-ha."

"Gee, don't you make a good team." Angel looked uncomfortable, and Buffy knew he only came by because that's what Cordy wanted. This is something she would like, seeing them say goodbye repeatedly. Reasserting her ownership of Angel. She looked at Spike standing there, then back at Angel. She couldn't shake the mist of the idea she had traded her Corvette for a Ford pickup.

Angel's eyes were on her. Buffy met his gaze, and she knew she was exposed. A guilty side glance in Spike's direction and Spike knew, too. His jaw muscles danced under his pale skin, and he faked a hearty smile.
"Angel old man. Y'ever consider being a Mormon, then?"

Angel winced. "What?"

Cordelia clenched a fist in his direction. "Don't ruin this goodbye, Spike."

"As a Mormon, Angel can return to the good old days and pick himself up a brace of wives. Or not. I don't give a toss, I'm outta here."

Buffy gave him a hopeless look. "Spike."

He waved her off and pushed past Angel.

Music blasted, a fast techno beat. Spike looked heavenward for salvation, helpless in the music's thrall as he backpedaled into the room again.

Buffy didn't want this. Especially not in front of Angel. Not to mention Cordy. She hoped Sweet's impending spell would choose Spike to sing, but from the rhythmic pulse in her temples and the adrenalized jolt to her legs, she knew she was the patsy.

You're too loud

I'm so hyper

On paper we're a disaster

And I'm driving you crazy

It's my little game

Buffy's hips swayed now with more urgency, in perfect time to the beat. To Cordelia's horror, her own body began to move in support to Buffy.

I'm Buffy's background dancer! she screamed inwardly. She whacked the back of Angel's arm and he looked on helplessly and shrugged. She could see he was glad to be just an observer.

I push you

And you push back

Two opposites so alike that

Every day's a rollercoaster

But I'm a bump you'll never get over

Abruptly Angel was impelled forward with Cordelia, and he bounced and gestured with her as she added her voice to the chorus.

It's a love hate relationship

You say you can't handle it

But there's no way to stop this now

So shut up and kiss me

Kick scream and call it quits

But you're just so full of it

Cuz it's too late to close your mouth

So shut up and kiss me

Buffy pirouetted to Spike and ended the verse with her lips a scant inch from his. He was still dealing with the surprise of Sweet's rapid return of the dance spell, as well as resentful of her obvious desire for Angel. He leaned into Buffy's kiss.

The bint spun away!

He leaped after her, snapping his legs expertly. He sashayed and did a snap reverse to deliver the next lines to the song:

I call you and you pick up

I tell you how much I'm in love

I'm laughing and you get mad

It's my little game

Go ahead now admit it

You like your world with me in it

Like a record it's broken

Yeah, I'm a bump you'll never get over

Now Buffy moved in tandem with Spike, and they were a bold and glorious sight for Angel and Cordelia to observe, each miserable but for different reasons. Buffy and Spike sang the chorus in unison.

It's a love hate relationship

You say you can't handle it

But there's no way to stop this now

So shut up and kiss me

Kick scream and call it quits

But you're just so full of it

Cuz it's too late to close your mouth

Just shut up and kiss me

The lovers locked hands on one another's arms, their legs performing a complicated pas de deux across the mats that led them close to the other couple. Cordelia saw sheer joy on Buffy's face, and while her limbs were locked in an idiotic sway her hands were free to dig fingernails into her palms.

You miss my lips my kiss my laugh

The riff's on my guitar

The way we fight we make up fast

Oooooh yeah

The music plunged into a gyrating guitar solo riff, and to his utter misery Angel found himself playing air guitar with such forced dedication, he could almost feel the strings cut into his fingertips. Cordelia had a moment of freedom to gulp air and run her fingers through her hair. She watched with steely gaze as Buffy and Spike stopped to stare into each other's eyes. Their lips came close, came tantalizingly close, yet separated and Cordy was surprised to realize she wanted them to kiss.

Cuz it's a love hate relationship

You say you can't handle it

But there's no way to stop this now

So shut up and kiss me!

Cordelia caught Angel's sleeve and he looked at her. She jerked her head toward the door, and he nodded. As they walked he turned to watch Buffy and Spike. Bloody William was a fop, a trill, a pander; a wonk, an egghead, a geek; a dork, a nerd, a doofus. He could only have learnt to kiss like that by watching Angel with Darla. He smiled and nodded in satisfaction, and Cordelia dug her nails into his arm.

"What are you smiling at? Don't answer. Why don't you sing anything to me?"
"I –"

"Don't answer. We're getting out of Sunnydale mister, and that Sweet guy or whatever can stay here and make them dance till their heads drop off for all I care."

Anya watched them go. Not even a goodbye for good old Anya, she thought without rancor. She smiled coyly and closed the spell book, glad to have proven that Sweet was not the only conjurer in the world who could get the scoobies to get down and boogie.

No customers, she locked the door and put on her headphones. Time to close up. She hummed along with Orianthi as she performed her duties, eventually joining in with the irresistible melody.

"Cuz it's a love-love hate-hate, relationship, you say you-you can't-can't handle it … so shut up and kiss me!"

She turned off the lights.