Chapter 3

Buffy stood just outside the door and watched as the slayers-in-training worked out in the backyard. She checked her watch then went in the house.

As she poured herself a glass of orange juice, Buffy thought about the recent changes in her life. She was beginning to realize how big of a void there was now that Dawn was gone. Buffy tried to console herself with the fact that she had actually lived most of the first twenty years of her life without a sister, but she honestly couldn't remember it. She was still amazed that all of her early memories of Dawn were false ones created by a spell done by some monks.

"Magic," Buffy muttered as she took her drink to the living room and got settled on the couch. Reaching for the phone, she dialed her sister's number.

"Hi, Buffy," Dawn said after the first ring.

"Hey Dawn," she said smiling. "What's up?"

"Homework. Just translating a paragraph into Latin. You?"

"Just watching the S.I.T.s work out. How are things in Seacouver?"

"Terrific! I got an A on my creative writing assignment!"

"The one about the blues bar?"

"That's the one. I had enough material for fifteen pages, and guess what?"

"What?"

"I got a job!"

"You what?"

"I got a job! You're talking to a Class 13 Server at Joe's."

"You're a what at where?"

"I'm a Class 13 Server at Joe's."

"Translation?"

"I'm a waitress-"

"-in a bar?"

"Technically speaking, Joe's is actually a restaurant because it serves food, pub grub as Duncan puts it, so I'm legally allowed to work there."

"Xander worked in a bar during my freshman year, and look what happened."

"Since Joe doesn't resent his customers, I doubt he'll use magic beer to turn them into cave people. As for me, serving beer is more profitable than consuming it. Maybe I'll teach Joe Anya's money dance," Dawn said thoughtfully.

"What about school?"

"What about it? I'll only be working a couple of hours a week at the most. Even Joe said that school comes first."

"Well, if you're sure."

"I'm sure."

"Anything else going on?"

"Not really."

There was something in her sister's tone that sounded odd. "Dawn, what is it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Something else is on your mind. Now tell me." There was a moment's silence before Dawn started.

"There's this guy -"

Ah, Buffy thought as her sister explained.

"His name is Richie Ryan. He's a friend of Duncan's. Anyway, Jade thinks he likes me."

Buffy could visualize Dawn sitting on her bed, fiddling with Mr. Gordo's ears and blushing. "Do you think he likes you?"

"I don't know."

"Do you like him?"

"Kinda. I mean I haven't known him for very long, and we're just friends right now, but I wouldn't mind if our relationship were to go further."

"Tell me about him."

"Well, he's tall and cute. Likes the blues and racing motorcycles. Basically, he's a nice, normal guy."

Richie convulsed as the last of the Quickening's lightning struck him. The world gradually returned to normal. He winced slightly as the wounds his opponent was lucky enough to inflict slowly began to knit shut.

He was good, Richie thought looking down at the decapitated immortal at his feet, but I'm better.

When he first found out about immortals, Richie often wondered what it would be like to face another person in a fight to the death; wondered what he would be capable of under those circumstances. After seven years as an immortal, he knew exactly what he was capable of. He was at times both proud yet disturbed.

The other immortal followed him while he was going home from the race track at the edge of town. Richie knew the woods nearby pretty well and drove to an isolated clearing. One thing led to another and ...

Richie let out a breath and got to work. Once he got rid of the evidence, he started his bike.

Wonder what kind of story Dawn would be inspired to write if she knew, Richie thought morbidly as he headed home.

The End