Chapter 8: Unwanted Family Time
The remaining lessons passed by fairly slowly. Buffy was grateful when the last lesson had finally finished. She had arranged to meet up with Willow and Xander later at the Bronze. She was warming up to them slowly. They treated her like she had always been there a part of their small group. It was comforting to some extent; it did make Buffy cautious that they allowed her into their lives so quickly without any questions of her past. That was the reason why she acted so guarded around them as well as others. Everyone had an ulterior motive from personal experience or just didn't care.
However, she regrettably did let something slip to Angel. A slip she wished she could take back. Wasn't a case of case, it was ten case of when he would question her about it. In time he would recall that certain slip and that curiosity would take over, fuelling the questions. It was inevitable, she just had to be prepared for when that day arrived.
Buffy was pleased that Willow and Xander didn't question her cold behaviour. She knew that they wanted to, wanted to form a connection of some sorts. But, they seemed to have understood that Buffy wasn't going to talk about her old life and what it consisted of. For that she was thankful for. Even though she would rather be back home in Boston, bringing up those memories were painful.
Now she was sitting in the dining room having a family meal. An awkward family affair. Everyone was tense. Joyce was still reeling for their confrontation the night before; she kept shooting Buffy the odd glance from the corner of her eye. Hank didn't know how to communicate with his rebellious daughter; he acted like his eldest daughter was not acting like she hated the place and him. Ignorance was bliss as the saying goes. Dawn was too busy playing with her food not knowing what was happening, but she could feel the obvious tension. Meal times were always a happy, fun time for her. Full of life and chatter, but not today and she wanted to know why.
"Don't play with your food sweetie," Joyce scolded Dawn, softly.
Dawn sighed and did as she was told. Buffy rolled her eyes at the edgy atmosphere.
"So, how was your day Hank?" Joyce asked, hoping to relieve the obvious tension from the room.
Hank glanced at Joyce. Joyce gave him a soft smile urging him to play along; hopefully they could teach Buffy the ways of family. It was obvious that Buffy's mother was too focused on getting drunk and satisfying herself to even consider her daughter's needs. Joyce was heart-broken for Buffy. She had no idea how bad things were; from last night she was curious just how bad it truly was back in Boston for the small blonde. The only thing she wanted to do was heal those raw wounds with love, of course the main issue was if Buffy would allow her to. Allow them all to help her heal.
"It was good, yours?"
Buffy snorted at the politeness being shared by the two adults, acting like a happy family. It was disgusting for her to witness. Granted she was thankful for the decent food. Back in Boston, she rarely had a meal this good if ever. Her meals consisted of junk food and school meals. She wondered if they were the cause for her short frame.
"It was good too; the art gallery is finally taking off," Joyce replied.
Buffy chuckled quietly. Her body was shaking as she tried to contain her giggles wanting to erupt. Buffy snorted trying to control herself.
"Have something to say Buffy?" Hank confronted Buffy.
"No," Buffy giggled. "Ok I lied; can this get any more awkward?"
Hank and Joyce shared a look that did not go unnoticed by Dawn and Buffy. Then the attention shifted onto Buffy. Both adults were unsure on how to proceed. Dawn was getting testy; she had always been the centre of attention. Now her parents were focused on her older sister, Dawn scowled.
Dawn stared at the mash potatoes on her plate. An idea played in her mind. Sneakily she scooped up the mash with her spoon and flung it at Buffy, who was sitting opposite her. Dawn beamed when the mash hit Buffy squarely on her chest.
Everyone in the room froze, the atmosphere intensified. No one knew what to say. No one reacted, all caught up in their phases of shock. Slowly, Buffy came around and carefully, with the palm of her hand, scraped the mash off of her shirt. She allowed the food to slowly slide off of her hand and land in a pile on her plate.
Dawn was waiting for her parents to give her something, a look or a telling off. But, she received neither. They were still watching Buffy for her reaction.
Buffy was eerily calm. Joyce and Hank knew that inside she was close to boiling point. Buffy felt the feeling tighten and tighten and like an elastic band snapped.
"You little brat!" Buffy screamed. Oh she was definitely mad.
Buffy stood up; the force knocked her chair to the floor. Dawn shrunk back into her seat, tears threatened to spill. Buffy was about to launch herself at Dawn until Hank slammed his fist onto the table.
"Enough!" Hank ordered.
Buffy took a deep, calming breath although she was still angry. She imagined her herself ringing Dawn's neck.
"Dawn, apologize to your sister," Hank demanded.
"She's not my sister," Buffy grumbled.
Dawn shook her head. Buffy clenched her fists; this was why she enjoyed being an only child. No younger siblings to wind you up.
"Dawn," Hank repeated in a warning tone.
"Sorry," Dawn mumbled, quietly.
Buffy snorted. "So, this is how we deal with problems. Just say sorry then all is forgotten, typical."
"Buffy..." Joyce soothed.
"Shut it!" Buffy exclaimed. "Just shut it! I never wanted to be here! I don't want to be in your family! Daddy dearest already moved on having an ungrateful brat of his own. Why would he want me? Huh Joyce! Do you think if I never burnt down the gym that we would be even in this position? Do you think he would have told you of the skeletons in his closet?"
Joyce didn't answer.
Buffy smirked triumphantly. "That's right, he wouldn't have told you." Buffy turned to see her father stood there pale as a white sheet. "You're a selfish man Hank Summers and you're bringing up your precious daughter the same way. I bet you spoil her with everything she wants."
Dawn sniffled at the mention of her name.
"And you!" Buffy glared at Dawn. "Thinking you are so goddamn important! Grow up sweetie, they world does not revolve around you!"
Dawn jumped off of her seat and ran upstairs. They all heard the noise of a door slamming shut.
"I'll go after her," Joyce said.
Joyce left the room. Now Hank and Buffy stood facing the other off. Both stare defiantly at him, she spun on her.
"Buffy," Hank called out.
Buffy halted in her steps. She glimpsed over her shoulder at him; she raised and eye brow before looking away and walked away. Hank sighed when Buffy left his sight. He didn't know what to do, how could he make things right because everything he was doing up to now was making things worse for them. He wondered what would have happened if he had stayed with Buffy and her mother. Would have they been happy? Hank knew that wouldn't be the case, he would just a cynical as Buffy perhaps more. Hank sank back down into his seat, he needed help desperately.
Buffy strolled past Dawn's room. She stopped her steps; Buffy could hear the soft sobbing of her half-sister. Buffy opened the door slightly wider and peeked inside. She saw Joyce rubbing Dawn's back as she laid her head on her mother's lap. The sight of the two of them was sweet. Joyce was muttering words of love. Buffy was envious of their relationship. Her mother never took care of her or comforted her when she was feeling down, her mother left her to her own devices. Buffy wanted what Dawn had, two loving parents who would do anything for their little girl. Dawn didn't realise how lucky she was.
Buffy closed the door leaving them alone. She entered her bedroom and locked the door. Her head fell into her hands. Buffy lifted her head up and gazed at the ceiling. She had a family now; well sort of it was kind of forced upon her. Buffy was confused as what to do. She never had a family before and now here she was living with three other people, two of them whom she was related to. How was she supposed to act? She was new to this.
Buffy shook her head. Reminded herself if it wasn't for the stunt she wouldn't be here. Why did life have to be so complicated?
