Chapter Four
Her New Home, Her Sister's Secret
"Clack, clack, clack, clack." The sound of Buffy's heeled boots echoed against the dust-covered hardwood flooring. Everything was strange here, decrepit looking almost. Cobwebs hung in every corner, every surface had a thick layer of dust to cover it.
"Buffy, are you inside already?" Dawn called before she entered. Buffy heard the thud of Dawn's backpack hitting the floor.
"Woah, look at this place, can you say dirty?" Dawn let out without thinking.
"Dawn." Buffy warned.
"Look at all these spider webs, grosssss." Dawn went on.
"Dawn!" Buffy bit out and the younger girl turned to gaze at her sister.
"It's beautiful, don't insult this place, sure it's dirty, but that just means we gotta clean it up a bit." Buffy stated before she began down the hallway with slow steps.
"Buffy, I'm sorry, I know you miss him. I miss him too." Dawn said as she got closer to Buffy and put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's... I... I think maybe you should stay with Willow and Kennedy and I'll get this place cleaned up." Buffy said and Dawn frowned.
"No, I don't want to!" Dawn started to argue and Buffy held back a sigh.
"Dawn, please-." Buffy began to say, but Dawn interrupted her.
"I mean, I just don't want to stay with Willow, Kennedy is kind of a... Total B, ya know?" Dawn admitted and Buffy wanted to put her hands to her forehead and maybe break down, but she held strong.
"I mean, can't I stay with Xander, please Buffy?" Dawn asked and with that, Buffy gave a small nod.
"Yes, you can stay with Xander." Buffy gave in. Dawn smiled and hugged her sister.
"Thank you, Buffy, I just, I really don't like Kennedy." Dawn stated as she turned around and grabbed her bag.
"Do you want me to call and see if he'll pick me up?" Dawn asked and Buffy nodded. Dawn watched Buffy go down the hall more and turn into a room. With a small smile, Dawn jumped a little with a fist pump and ran outside. She took out her new cell phone and went through her contacts until she found who she was looking for. It rang for a few minutes before someone answered.
"Hello?" Xander's voice questioned.
"Hey, we're on for the night." Dawn stated.
"Did you tell Buffy?" He asked. Dawn frowned at that.
"No, um, she just wanted me to stay with Willow while she gets the place cleaned up and I said I wanted to stay with you." Dawn replied. She heard Xander let out a sigh.
"Dawn, you know I don't feel comfortable going behind Buffy's back." He replied.
"I know, but she's been upset lately, I don't think we should tell her just yet. Plus, we should do it together." Dawn said.
"I mean–." Xander began.
"But we can talk about that later, please? She doesn't need to know yet and I just need you to pick me up." Dawn explained.
"Alright Dawn, but if Buffy finds out and we don't tell her she'll be a lot angrier." Xander said and now Dawn sighed.
"I know, but... I just can't right now Xander. She's so upset, about everything." Dawn answered.
"I know, I know." Xander's voice dropped in tone.
"Well, I'm on my way then, since she doesn't know, I think we should eat in." Xander said, but Dawn disagreed.
"Oh come on Xander, who does she know that would tell?" Dawn questioned.
"We can go out of town, stay at a hotel, maybe go dancing." Dawn suggested.
"I mean–." Xander tried to disagree.
"Please Xander, we've been through enough, we've hidden long enough, it's our time now." Dawn said and Xander gave in.
"Alright, well, let me get off the phone, I don't think I should be driving and talking at the same time." He explained.
"Alright, I'll see you soon." Dawn replied.
"Love you." Xander said. Dawn held a giant smile on her face at that.
"I love you too." She said before hanging up.