TITLE: Afterthoughts - Real Me
AUTHOR: Goddess Isa
EMAIL: goddessisa@aol.com
SUMMARY: Dawn finds someone she really does relate to. Sort of.
SPOILER: Real Me
DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just email me & lmk where it's going - I like seeing my name in print =) My site, http://planetslaythis.homestead.com
FEEDBACK: Please, I'd hate to have to Slay for it. =P
RATING: TV-PG
DISCLAIMER: Joss the moron owns all within. So there.



Dear Angel,

And I thought *last* week was bad. I've just had the worst couple of days. Your letter made me smile though. And it was nice to read something that wasn't assigned by one of my moron teachers, or Mr. Giles. Can you *believe* Buffy makes me call him that? NO ONE calls him that except my mother. Everyone treats me like a baby. Honestly.

Where was I? Oh, my bad week. *First* of all, I cannot get rid of Riley. I don't like him, and I know most of Buffy's friends don't like him, either. Even Mr. Giles groans when he comes into a room or calls. And he actually calls our mother "ma'am." How old does he think she is? Forty?

I know Xander doesn't like him, 'cause he has a nickname for him that Buffy doesn't know about. Tara was gonna tell me what it is, but we got interrupted. Do you know what it is, 'cause I'd love to hear it. And I promise not to use it to his face. Except maybe once.

Tonight, Harmony had her thugs kidnap me, then Buffy saved me. She also lied about it all to Mom. Told her we were watching TV when in actuality, she was saving my butt. I thought her covering for me was pretty cool, although, honestly, Buffy would've been in a TON of trouble with Mom if she knew I was out Slaying, and I wouldn't even have gotten yelled at. 'Cause, honestly, it wasn't my fault. I didn't mean to invite Harmony inside.

And speaking of my mom, I'm not supposed to tell you this, but she hates Riley, too. Mom never talks about you though, and neither does Buffy. I know she still loves you though. I saw your picture in her bedroom. It's in a swivel frame so whenever she knows Riley's coming over, she turns it around so that it's a picture of the two of them kissing. That's all they ever do. It's barfworthy.

Can I ask you something seriously now? Do you think I could ever be allowed to Slay? 'Cause I have the ability, of course, I just need the training, and sometimes, a lot of the time, I wanna join in and help. I wanna be part of the Scooby Gang.

I wanna belong. I want people to include me because they *want* to and not because they *have* to. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, don't you?

Okay, so I did lie before. There was one other good thing this week besides your letter. Xander sort of babysat me. It was going really, really well until his stupid girlfriend showed up. What's with her anyway? She doesn't appreciate him, I can tell. She never stares into his eyes, or ruffles his pretty dark hair, or laughs when he tells a stupid joke. She just gropes his ass and smiles at him when she thinks no one's looking. She bugs me.

Thank Cordelia for the lip gloss advice, okay? I've gotta go shopping for school clothes now, with Buffy. Not fun. She'll probably try to make me buy turtleneck sweaters with plaid skirts. Yuck.

Love and kisses,

Dawn


PS - Who's Spike??