[ And that, that was what did it. What hurt enough to make her fight back, though it wasn't with her usual energy or spunk. The pain went deep and while that once had led her to want to hurt him in return, now it was purely self-preservation. It felt like losing him all over and she just... couldn't.

Tossing back the rest of her drink, she closed her eyes for a moment, trying and failing to collect herself before setting down the glass and sliding out of her seat. ]

I don't know, Spike. Why do any of us bother falling in love? All it does is hurt in the end.

[ She dug out some money from her pocket, trying to do the mental math of what would be needed to pay for the drinks, and finally just threw it all on the table. ]

Have another beer. I'm leaving.