"Buffy?"

Sighing Buffy opened her eyes, just looking up at the ceiling for a long moment. She didn't want to get up. Not that her dream had been any good, but it had to be better than what awaited her outside. The first day at a new high school. Fantastic.

Still, before her mom could call for her again, Buffy sat up. "I'm up mom!"

"Don't want to be late for your first day!"

The reply came almost immediately, and Buffy had just enough time to mutter "No, wouldn't want that-" before her mother's voice came again.

"And wake up your sister please, breakfast is almost ready!"

"Great, new school and I get the pleasure of waking up Dawn," Buffy muttered, but pushed herself out of bed. At least she would be able to steal the bathroom before Dawn this morning which would be good. A ten year old really didn't have to "get ready" for school anyway, right? Dawn just needed to get dressed and brush her teeth.

Taking a deep breath Buffy knocked on Dawn's door before pushing it open and leaning in the doorway "Dawn come on, time to get up and actually start our lives in Sunnydale. Wouldn't want to miss out on that."

There was a groan from the bed, but Dawn didn't get up, just turned over in bed. Likely awake but determined to pretend she wasn't.

"Mom said breakfast is almost ready. First day of school usually means pancakes. I guess if you don't want to wake up I'll just have to eat all of them."

"Okay, okay I'm up," Dawn pushed herself up and swung her legs out of bed.

"Good, I'll see you downstairs," Buffy smirked a bit, turning out of the doorway and down the hallway to the bathroom.

A few minutes later she returned to her room, raising an eyebrow when she saw Dawn already there "What are you doing in here?"

Dawn didn't look up from the box she was going through "I think some of my stuff got mixed in with yours. I can't find the sweater I wanted to wear."

"You're in fifth grade, just wear a cheesy t-shirt and everyone will love you," Buffy rolled her eyes and went over to another box "I need to change, you can wear your sweater a different day."

"I just want to look nice for my first day," Dawn replied "It's your fault that we had to move, the least you could do is help me find my sweater."

Buffy bit back a reply. Dawn was right. She was the reason they'd had to move. "Alright, which box do you think it's in?"

"Girls? Hurry up, breakfast is ready and you don't want to be late!"

The car came to a stop in front of Sunnydale High School. Dawn watched as older kids walked past the window, not paying any attention to the car or the people inside. It was only when she heard the car door close that she looked back up at the front seats.

"Have a good time. I know you're going to make friends right away, just think positive," her mother said through the window, giving Buffy an awkward thumbs up, before adding "And honey? Try not to get kicked out?"

"Or blow up any more gyms," Dawn called from the back seat.

Joyce sighed, but Buffy just smiled a bit "I promise."

Then she turned to walk towards the school. It was only once the car was pulling away that Joyce spoke again "I would really appreciate it if you stopped doing that."

"Doing what?" Dawn asked, even though she was pretty sure she did know what the 'that' in question was.

"Making jokes and comment about what happened," suspicions confirmed than "I know you're upset about moving but your sister is having a hard time too, and she was going through a lot of stuff when it happened."

"Stuff that justifies burning down the school gym?"

"That's enough Dawn," Joyce sighed "I don't want you making jokes about it or telling Buffy it's her fault we moved anymore, understand?"

Dawn sighed, but nodded, knowing she wouldn't win. "Alright, no more gym jokes."

"Good," Joyce gave her a quick smile at the stop light "Besides, I think this will be good for us. I'm sure this is a much safer and better town than LA."

"Yeah- I'm sure you're right."