Ch. 1 Tequila

So...when will she see? When will she notice? When will they care?

I've gone all my life craving my sister's attention. It wasn't crucial when I was 5 and she left me home alone. It wasn't crucial when I was 12 and she left me home alone again (that time concerning Angel). It wasn't even crucial last year when I found out I was the key. The day it became absolutely needed was the day my mother passed away.

I'm 16 years old and would probably be considered a kleptomaniac. I tend to steal things everytime I go out of the house. Whether I'm in the magic shop or at the mall. I can't help it in all honesty. I'm scared of getting caught but at the same time I just want someone to notice me. I love the rush I get when I slip things in my back pocket. It makes me forget about everything else (for a second, anyways).

I've also been sneaking out lately. It's not like she pays attention to me anyways. How would she know that I'm coming back home at 2.a.m.? I try walking to my bedroom as quietly as possible. I see Buffy's door is wide open. Suprise, suprise. No Buffy. Then I hear the toilet flush. Crap, Willow! Willow stepped out from the bathroom, rubbing her eyes.

"Dawnie? Dawn is that you?"

I try to sound as tired as possible (for someone who just downed five shots of tequila less than half an hour ago), "Yeah," I yawn overdramatically, "Just heading back to bed."

I head towards my door only to be interrupted. "You sleep in those clothes?" Willow was now walking closer towards me. Shit.

"Willow, I can explain."

Her nose wrinkled, "Have you been drinking?"

I hear the front door open only to see Buffy walk in. Shitttt. I notice how Willow deicided to place her hand on my arm (as if I was going run off..).

"Buffy come up here," Willow calls as Buffy sludges up the stairs.

She looks at Willow curiously before giving me the stare down.

Buffy is glaring at me, "Dawn, what the hell is going on?"

I look over to Will who picks now to be silent. Why can't she just rat me out and we get the whole thing over with. I sigh, "Well, I kind of snuck out," I'm only looking at the floor, "and I didn't realize it was this late." I also didn't realize I was this drunk. My voice sounds glazed over and I feel pretty uncoordinated.

"Why don't you tell her what else you did, Dawn." Willow is giving me the same look Buffy is.

I try to look offended, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Dawn," Willow nudges my arm, almost making me fall over, "I know you've been drinking tonight."

Buffy corrects her,"WE know you've been drinking tonight."

How does a drunk Dawn handle this situation? Easy; I remove myself from the situation. I turn around and head towards my door, but not without feeling the strength of Godzilla pulling me back.

"Dawn," Buffy has a damn choke hold on my arm, "You do not walk away when we are talking to you."

I keep focusing on the ground. The more I focus, the more I zone out. The more I stare, the harder it is to keep my eyes open. I'm suddenly snapped back to reality.

"Come 'ere," Buffy takes hold of my chin, "Let me smell your breath."

What. The. Hell. "No!" I keep squirming but like I said, Godzilla. God-freaking-zilla. By the time I utter that word Buffy has already wiffed my breath.

"Damnit Dawn," She lets go of my chin, "your breath smells like nail polish!"

This was probably the moment when those extra five shots of tequila stepped in (I forget to mention the fact that I had previously downed four shots as well), because I really don't remember what happened next. I see toilet. I see me hurling in the toilet. I see a look of true dissapointment from Buffy and Willow. I see bed. I see Buffy attempting to change me out of my vomit-soaked clothing. I see instant regret.