1. Harmony by Girlytek - Likes: 22 Comments: 21 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 166 Published: 03/01/25

Harmony Kendall was exactly William’s type: blonde, buxom, with the bubbly personality and butt to match. She swiveled on her bar stool, eyeing him over the fruity garnish of whatever concoction she was sucking with exquisite efficiency through a straw. It glowed neon in the club’s black light, several shades greener than the white of her teeth when she smiled up at him. “Well hello, William,” she said. “At last we meet.”

William smirked and leaned against the bar next to her. “The pleasure’s mine,” he agreed, running a casual fingertip up her arm. She giggled and batted her eyes.

2. Surprise Phone Call by Girlytek - Likes: 16 Comments: 13 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 96 Published: 03/03/25

“Oh,” Harmony said, “you’re in character already. That’s so cool!” Before William could take a sip of his drink, she plucked the glass from his hand and dumped it over his head. “There,” she clapped excitedly, “now I am too! Oh my god, our show is gonna be so killer!” She looked over both of her shoulders, not at all surreptitiously. “Do you think any paparazzi saw that, or should we do another take? Hey you,” she snapped her fingers at the bartender, “Can I get another drink for my co-star here? I need to work on my outrage face.”

 

3. The Heart Line by Girlytek - Likes: 19 Comments: 12 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 89 Published: 03/04/25

“Oopsie!” Harmony giggled when William blinked wetly at her. “We’re going to be on a show together,” she explained to the woman who was frowning on the seat next to her. “It’s a new medical drama called The Heart Line. Cordelia Chase plays the head cardiologist, or as I like to say, cordy-ologist, and I’m her bestie who stops by the hospital all the time so she remembers to have a life, and William here will be the grumpy lab technician. We were just, you know, acting.”

“Excuse me, ladies,” William held up his phone, “I need to take this.”

4. Lies and Lullabies by Girlytek - Likes: 16 Comments: 10 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 80 Published: 03/06/25

“Angel.” William hated that it came out as a sigh. “What do you want? You know I’ve…you know we’re done. I’m blocking this number.” He heard the familiar dark chuckle, felt the familiar thrum of anticipation at what came next, and so he didn’t hang up fast enough.

“We miss you, boyo. Thought we’d take a trip down the coast and catch up.” He could hear Drusilla crooning in the background and imagined her running her fingers through his hair again, scratching her nails down his back.

“You’re not invited,” he managed.

Angel laughed. “Now when has that ever mattered?”

 

5. Butterflies by Girlytek - Likes: 17 Comments: 11 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 78 Published: 03/06/25

“You’re William Pratt, aren’t you?” He held up his hands. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be that guy, but I’m a huge fan and it looks like you’re having a bad night. I’m Clem.” He gave a little wave.

William thought about brushing him off but then… “Mind if I borrow your phone to get an Uber, Clem? You’re not wrong and I need to get out of here.”

“Oh, sure! Hey do you need a spare shirt? I’ve got one in my car. And a ballcap, if you want.”

“Is this gonna end up with me in your trunk?”

 

6. Something You Forgot by Girlytek - Likes: 13 Comments: 7 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 48 Published: 03/20/25

“Do you want to talk about it?” Clem asked. “I’m usually pretty good with these things.”

“What things?” Spike asked suspiciously. “No offense, but we just met.”

“Oh, well…” Clem smiled and finished his pint. “I’m a psychologist.”

“Sports psychologist,” Spike read the business card Clem slid across the table. “’M not having performance issues. Of any sort.”

“I didn’t say you were. But it sounded like you’ve got some baggage you’d like to be done with. Hey, if you don’t want to talk, no worries! But if you do, well…”

“I’d rather just forget all about them,” Spike sighed.

 

7. Drunk Confession by Girlytek - Likes: 13 Comments: 9 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 50 Published: 03/20/25

“This is gonna sound crazy, but…” Spike leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I’m a character in a romance novel.”

Clem shook his head. “First of all, we don’t like to use the word ‘crazy’. Main Character Syndrome is a real thing, especially when you reach the levels of success you have. And it’s especially common for people in the spotlight. I’ve got a shortstop and three starting pitchers who sound just like you.”

“It’s not that! Hand to god, I’m bloody well trying not to be the main character here.”

“You sure about that? Because from where I’m sitting…”

8. Frogs by Girlytek - Likes: 13 Comments: 6 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 50 Published: 03/20/25

Clem coughed and cleared his throat. “Wow man, that does sound terrible.”

Spike sighed. “I know it sounds ridiculous. I sound ridiculous. But all of this…dunno, success, the quirky backstory…it’s a little too convenient. I feel like I’m being herded into something, and I want no part of it.”

“Success is very often being at the right place at the right time; Imposter Syndrome can go hand in hand with that,” Clem pointed out.

“That’s not it though. I’m good at the acting thing. But I don’t want to be a character at all. I want this to be real.”

9. Wildflowers by Girlytek - Likes: 12 Comments: 9 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 60 Published: 03/20/25

“I’m being led down the primrose path, Clem, and I hate it. I hate her.”

“Who, Harmony?”

“No, she’s just annoying as fuck-all. The author.”

“How do you know your author’s a she?”

Spike gave him a look. “Hello, I’m in a romance?”

“Hookay, there’s a lot to unpack here.”

Spike scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I have nothing against the genre. But I don’t want to fall in love at someone else’s whim, and I don’t particularly fancy people watching me fuck in meticulous detail.”

Clem snorted. “That was literally your last movie role.”

Spike shrugged. “Money job.”

10. "You've done it now!" by Girlytek - Likes: 12 Comments: 8 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 61 Published: 03/20/25

“You’ve don’t it now,” Clem said, shoving his phone in Spike’s face. “TMZ’s posted a video of you sloppy drunk and freaking out. Guess the ballcap wasn’t much of a disguise.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be,” Spike grumbled from the depths of Clem’s couch. “I go there a lot. An’ I’ve never seen that waitress before…bugger. I’m gonna have to find a new hole-in-the-wall to frequent.”

“Or…you could apologize?”

“Not bloody likely,” Spike huffed, trying to get comfortable. “I should probably stay out of the Valley entirely just to be on the safe side. Thanks for letting me crash here, though.”

11. Confusing Tears by Girlytek - Likes: 12 Comments: 9 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 57 Published: 03/20/25

“You’re supposed to be crying here, Harmony,” Willow said. She glanced at Spike. “Do I need to remind you about the terms of your contract? No scandals, William. Stay off the gossip pages.”

“But what’s my motivation?” Harmony asked.

Spike hung his head. “Yeah, got the memo.”

“You just watched someone die,” Willow told her. She turned to glare at Spike. “Fuck up again and Harmony will be watching you die, mister. Capiche?”

“But…it wasn’t anyone I know?” Harmony stomped her foot. “These tears are confusing!”

Spike winced. Harmony wasn’t helping his hangover. “I’ll be a good boy,” he promised.

12. Not My Fault! by Girlytek - Likes: 13 Comments: 8 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 51 Published: 03/20/25

“And it’s Buffy,” she added, “not Anne.”

“But your name tag…” he started.

She threw up her hands. “Do you know how many Annes there are in Hollywood? SAG’s got rules, you know. Ever hear of a stage name?”

He snorted. “And that’s what you came up with? Buffy? And I still don’t know that I believe you.”

“Patient Number Two,” Willow called, “you’re up! Well, down actually…”

She gave him another evil smirk, then hurried over and took her mark. Spike didn’t miss her flipping him off behind her back. Because he was definitely not looking at her backside.

13. “You need a spanking!” by Girlytek - Likes: 12 Comments: 7 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 63 Published: 03/20/25

“Hey!” Spike pounded on the door. “I’m trying to apologize here.” He waited. Nothing. “I realize I may have overreacted this morning…”

The door swung open. “And last night,” Buffy pointed out.

He huffed out a breath. “Right. Sorry. Anyway…”

“That’s your apology?” The door slammed in his face again.

“There’s no need to be a brat about it,” he yelled over the banging around he heard on the other side. Was she hanging drywall in there? “I didn’t know you were an actress, which, who would with your stupid hair, and you know what? Maybe you need a spanking!”

14. “She’s a hero, you see.” by Girlytek - Likes: 13 Comments: 12 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 70 Published: 03/20/25

15. The Stars Rearrange by Girlytek - Likes: 11 Comments: 7 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 52 Published: 03/23/25

“Oh my god did you hear, Blondie Bear? Cordelia lost her arm in a freak surfing accident!”

Spike frowned at Harmony. “Was it a shark?”

“No, dummy, it was her arm. I just said that. Anyway, Willow’s considering replacing her with Angel, can you believe it?”

“Why in the hell would she do that?”

“Hello, because Cordy can’t perform open heart surgery with one arm? Wow, you’re really slow today, are you feeling okay?”

“No, I mean…” He wasn’t okay, and Harm was making his head hurt. Fucking author. “The git can’t act his way out of a paper bag.”

16. Resistance by Girlytek - Likes: 11 Comments: 10 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 49 Published: 03/23/25

Spike glared at the ceiling. “Fuck’s sake,” he said through gritted teeth, “Give a fellow a chance, yeah?”

Angel slung an arm over his shoulder. “Looks like we’re getting the band back together. So to speak.”

“Sod off,” Spike said. “Where’s Dru?” He looked around suspiciously.

“She’s waiting for us in your pool house.”

“You broke into my pool house?!”

Angel shrugged. “Didn’t take much. Maybe you need better security. I always told him he needed to watch his perimeter,” he winked at Buffy.

“You leave her out of this,” Spike said, stepping in front of her.

Angel smiled wider.

17. Scavenger Hunt by Girlytek - Likes: 11 Comments: 7 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 51 Published: 03/23/25

“There you are, Angel,” Cordelia said, “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“Just thought I’d catch up with my old…bandmate,” Angel smirked. “He’s notoriously hard to pin down. Part of his appeal, really…”

“Wow, it’s like we’re tripping over innuendos here,” Buffy said.

“Almost like they’re falling from the sky,” Spike glared at the ceiling. Did his author really need to be so sodding obvious? “Hang on, I thought you lost an arm, Chase.”

Cordelia slid her gaze to Harmony. “No, I said I lost my Armani,” she enunciated. “Some asshole swiped it while I was in the water.”

18. Pillow Talk by Girlytek - Likes: 11 Comments: 9 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 47 Published: 03/23/25

Spike pulled a bag of Doritos from underneath the small of his back and tossed it onto Clem’s coffee table. “Thanks again for letting me stay here.”

“Mi sofa es su sofa,” Clem said. “Are we going to talk about why you’re hiding out instead of dealing with your past like an adult?”

“Can we talk about the fact that I’m being railroaded by a second-rate hack instead?”

Clem opened the bag of chips. “So it would be better if your author won the Pulitzer?”

“At least the Man Booker,” Spike grumbled.

“You’re looking at this all wrong,” Clem said.

19. Easy-peasy by Girlytek - Likes: 10 Comments: 9 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 57 Published: 03/23/25

“It’s just so cliché,” Spike said.

Clem shrugged. “If there are only seven basic plots, I think it’s unavoidable. Look, you’re already halfway there: Buffy’s agreed to fake date you, all you have to do is seal the deal.”

“What, you mean shag her?”

“No,” Clem rolled his eyes, “Show her you’re leading man material. I’ve been doing some research. You’ll need some grey sweatpants, a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a ballcap. It’s too bad you’re not in a historical romance, I bet you’d look great in thigh-hugging breeches and riding boots.”

“Oh for fuck’s sake!”

20. Playing Hard to Get by Girlytek - Likes: 10 Comments: 6 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 39 Published: 03/29/25

Buffy eyed him skeptically. “What do you want now?”

Spike flipped his ballcap around backwards and smiled so his dimple showed, per Clem’s instructions. She continued to glare at him. Maybe it took a few seconds? Spike looked closer, but her pupils weren’t dilating and her pulse didn’t appear to have sped up. Oh, right…He rolled up the cuffs of his shirt…slowly, so she wouldn’t miss the way his forearms flexed when he laced his hands behind his head.

“Laundry day?” she asked.

Spike frowned down at his ensemble. “I’m supposed to dress up for a dive bar in Reseda?”

21. Not Afraid by Girlytek - Likes: 10 Comments: 5 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 37 Published: 03/29/25

“Why are you so afraid of Angel?” she asked, setting his onion blossoms down. “Does he have naked pictures of you or something?”

“Sex tape,” Spike said, as if that covered the half of it.

“I honestly don’t think that would hurt your career any.” She snuck a quick glance at his sweatpants. Spike smirked and spread his legs a little wider. Buffy rolled her eyes. “Fine, if you don’t want to tell me.”

“Wait,” he said, before he could think better of it, “It’s complicated.”

“I’m on break in fifteen minutes. You can buy me some spicy buffalo wings.”

22. Don't Move by Girlytek - Likes: 10 Comments: 5 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 39 Published: 03/29/25

She looked at him suspiciously. “Are you okay?”

“Uh. Yeah?” Spike shifted around in his chair, but it was just making the situation in his sweatpants harder. More difficult. Fuck. Wait, no fucking…Balls. Also not helping. He pulled the ballcap off his head and placed it over his lap. “Just some residual…trauma,” he managed.

“Uh-huh.” She gave him another look.

“I find you attractive, all right? Which shouldn’t be surprising with those pouty lips and that shampoo commercial hair, and have you ever given any thought to why your hair always looks perfect? It’s not bloody natural!”

Buffy’s eyes narrowed.

23. Stay With Me by Girlytek - Likes: 11 Comments: 4 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 36 Published: 03/29/25

“So that went well,” Clem said, hosing Spike off in the driveway. “Maybe you should just rip the band-aid off and go set some boundaries with Angel. Now that you’ve seen how it’s done,” he added, not bothering to hide his smirk.

“You laugh,” Spike said, doing his best wet dog shake, “but I promise you, nothing good would come of it.” He added some puppy-dog eyes. “Please let me stay another night?”

“Fine, but you’re on the sofa,” Clem paused. “There’s still only one bed.”

“Glad to hear you think I’m a joke, too,” Spike grumbled, following him inside.

24. Hole in my Soul by Girlytek - Likes: 10 Comments: 6 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 35 Published: 03/29/25

“I was a giant dork in high school. Glasses, tweed jacket…it was grim. Plunked down in an American school where I already knew the lessons but nought about fitting in. Hid out in the music room during lunch most days, which was where Darla found me.”

“She saw your potential.”

“She saw an opportunity to pad her application to Princeton.” Spike glanced over at Clem. “Not mad about that, not really. Dedication to a goal’s admirable, and she worked hard. You know she’s a senior partner in a law firm now?”

“Whereas you’re just a Hollywood star. Basically a nobody.”

25. Don't Say It by Girlytek - Likes: 11 Comments: 4 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 40 Published: 03/29/25

“How should I know?” Spike groused. “My part’s apparently limited to getting beer poured over my head with alarming frequency.”

“Don’t kink-shame,” Clem said. “Plenty of people are into golden showers.”

“That’s not what it…” Spike scrubbed a hand down his face. “Walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

Clem grinned. “That’s what she said.”

“Actually, I’m pretty sure she said, ‘I think I’ll make bushels of cash off poncy William and his unicorn dick.’”

“Not to be that guy, but your dick isn’t that unusual.”

“Keep singing your own praises and see where it gets you,” Spike warned him.

26. Metamorphosis by Girlytek - Likes: 6 Comments: 4 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 31 Published: 03/30/25

“’Cause I was being a prick…”

“A kewpie doll to the aptly named Mr. Pratt.”

Spike groaned. “Think we’ve already established I’m being punished for bad behavior.”

“Yes. And?”

“And?”

Clem threw up his hands, apparently reaching the limit of his patience. “Does the male lead’s bad behavior matter in a mystery? Or a spy novel? No, Mr. Bond, it sure doesn’t, does it? So why is your author writing a romance?”

“Because…” Spike said slowly, realization dawning, “the author’s tired of men being pricks.”

Clem gave him a slow golf clap. “And, interestingly enough, you’re tired of it, too.”

 

27. Spike Gets a Love Bite by Girlytek - Likes: 6 Comments: 4 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 31 Published: 03/30/25

Spike lay awake, planning. He doubted any amount of apologizing would help him at this point, not with the way he kept stepping in it. Better jump straight to the grand gesture, then…What did Buffy want, though? He didn’t know her backstory other than she was from small-town Sunnydale, so no help there. What he wanted was for Angel to bugger off and quit trying to exert control over his life. Destroying the sex tape would do it, not that Angel would ever give up his leverage…

Spike woke up early and started making phone calls. Time to do better.

 

28. Someone's Jealous by Girlytek - Likes: 6 Comments: 4 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 33 Published: 03/30/25

“Trying to make me jealous, William?” Angel tsked. “You should know better than that.” He ran a finger down Spike’s cheek before hooking it in the collar of his shirt to inspect the hickey. “Looks like your new girlfriend likes to play rough. I don’t think Dru’ll mind sharing.”

Spike pushed him away. “Sod off! I told you, I’m done. And clear out of my pool house or I’m calling the cops.”

“You’re done when I say you’re done, boyo. Or do I need to remind you of a certain recording…”

Spike stared him down. “I called Darla this morning.”

 

29. A Turn for the Worse by Girlytek - Likes: 7 Comments: 6 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 35 Published: 03/30/25

“Don’t say you don’t remember giving it to me last night,” he pressed his lips to her temple. “Play along. Please,” he murmured.

She didn’t miss a beat. “Silly me, I thought I only left that one on your butt.” She slid her hand in his back pocket and gave it a squeeze. “William’s got a totally biteable butt. You should see him naked!”

“Been there, done that,” Angel smirked. “I could give you some pointers. Or if you’re looking to trade up…”

“No, I’m good,” Buffy said, still smiling. “What was your name again?”

“Just Leaving,” said Spike. “Permanently.”

 

30. I Like You by Girlytek - Likes: 6 Comments: 6 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 42 Published: 03/30/25

“Bloody hell, ow!” Spike held his hand over his nose. “You couldn’t yell ‘cut’?”

Tara stepped out from the shadows. “Aw, poor Spikey. You know I like to let a scene play out.”

“Think you’ve been taking lessons from Angel,” Spike grumbled.

Tara arched an eyebrow. “Hardly.” She turned to Buffy. “Hi. I’m Tara Maclay. Spike told me he had someone I needed to see. He was right, you’ve got range.”

“And a mean right hook,” Spike groused.

“Go put some ice on it,” Tara told him. She handed her card to Buffy. “Come by my office when you’re done.”

 

31. The Last Word by Girlytek - Likes: 8 Comments: 10 Word Count: 100 Hit Count: 40 Published: 03/31/25

I like you? I like you? What kind of half-assed, milquetoast, bloody stupid sentiment is that? I’m sure Buffy’s thinking, ‘Yeah, that William fellow, he’d make a perfectly serviceable boyfriend’…You know what your problem is, Author? To take a page from Clem, who you wrote by the way, you’re afraid to swing for the fences. Buffy’s not gonna fall for the guy that makes the sacrifice bunt. That's friend zone material, the guy who never gets his own book in the series, and you know what? Never mind. You want something done right, you bloody well do it yourself…