Dawn choked on the cloud of dust as she moved the large box marked 'Newt Tails'. She waited for the dust to settle before lifting her arm to the high shelf and wiping the dust away. She had been in the basement of the Magic Box since that morning. Anya had been playing 'Chore Nazi', and Dawn was on dust duty.

"The fuhrer needs a Dagger of Hecata."

Dawn turned at the sound of Spike's voice and giggled, "You're working, too now?"

"Yeah. Adolpha up there dragged me into it."

Dawn continued dusting while he searched the inventory shelves. He moved over to shelf next to her, muttering to himself while he looked.

"Is this it?" She asked, holding up a thin-bladed knife encrusted with sapphires and emeralds.

"Yup. Good work, Nibblet." Spike reached out to take the dagger from her, but stopped and grabbed her wrist, moving the sleeve of her shirt up a little, exposing a large bruise, "What's this?"

"Oh, that? I think I just fell or something." Dawn said nervously.

"It looks like handprints, luv, someone bother you?"

"No...You know, it was probably that vamp last week. Remember? He grabbed my arm, you staked him? No need to freak." She smiled at him shakily.

"If you're sure, about that..."

"I am, Spike."

He looked at her for a moment, then took the dagger, turning to go.

"Dawn," Buffy's voice echoed down, "Tyler's here."

Dawn dropped the rag and pulled off the bandana that had been protecting her hair from the dust, "Oh, I forgot. Tyler. See you later, Spike."

~*~

"Hey."

Dawn smiled at him, walking quickly out to the Ferarri parked outside the shop, "Hey, you."

"Need a lift home?"

"Yeah, but I thought we were going out?"

"Oh...about that, I have to do this thing for my dad."

"Oh, well, OK." She said, hiding her dissapointment.

Tyler opened the passenger side door for her and she climbed in. After he had gotten in she looked over at him, "Well, what about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow might be good." He replied vaguely.

"Oh..."

After a few moments of driving in silence he asked, "So, any plans tonight?"

Dawn ignored the strain in his voice and said, "Yeah. I might go to this thing with Janice."

"Thing? What kind of thing?"

"Tyler, relax. It's just a party that Josh is throwing. You know, a back-to-school, only one more year left, let's celebrate? You probbaly had a party at the beginning of your senior year too, right?"

"Yeah, I did...But I don't like you going without me."

"I'm sorry. But like you said, you have to help your father."

"Dawn...I really don't want you to go."

She sighed and looked out the window, "Tyler, this is a big thing for me. It's my senior party. The only one. It's like prom, only with cheaper decorations."

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and was quiet for a few moments, "If you go, then that's it."

Dawn turned to look at him, "Excuse me?"

"It's over if you go, Dawn."

She looked at him in incredulous silence, "Tyler..."

He looked over at her, "Please. Dawn, I love you, but I'm sick of you always leaving me behind all the time."

"Tyler, I don't leave you behind-You're not always around, you know? With college and your dad and-"

"Please don't go to that party, Dawn."

She fell silent and looked down, then said finally, "OK. I won't go if it means so much to you."

"Good."

~*~

"What do you mean he won't let you go?!"

Dawn switched ears, leaning the phone against her shoulder, "He said it's over if I go."

Janice's disgust came through the phone loud and clear, "Dawn, he can't tell you not to go."

"But I love Tyler, Janice. I don't want to lose him. He just gets a little jealous sometimes, is all."

"A little?"

"OK, so a lot jealous."

"Dawn, you have to go."

"He's going to call tonight. If I'm not here..."

"He'll what? Ground you?"

Dawn smiled, "Ha. Ha. Very funny."

"He's a little strong with the possesiveness, don't you think?"

"I know..." Dawn said with a sigh, "He saw me with Spike outside the shop and freaked. I told him that Spike was just my friend. And I called him old."

Janice burst into giggles, "Oh yeah, Dawn. Old in an extremely HOT way."

"Yeah, but Tyler doesn't know I think that."

"Look, just wait till he calls, then call me. I'll come get you, and he'll never know you went."

"I don't know, Janice..."

"Come ON, Dawn. He's in college. He never talks to anyone from Sunnydale High. He won't find out."

Dawn thought for a moment, "OK, fine. I'll call after he calls me."

"Great."