PART 2, The Change
FORGETTING EMPTINESS: Chapter 6
DISCLAIMER: Can be found on Chapter 1.
A/N: Sorry about the lateness of this Chapter. Computer Trouble (I needed to get a new keyboard), other disasters.
A/N: One of the reasons I write Fan Fiction is to get responses from people about not only my stories, but also my writing ability. For the past four years I've concentrated on Script Writing and Analysis (I wish my school had a Creative Writing class), so any constructive criticism is appreciated.
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Dawn walked the hallway of the new Sunnydale High School. After the school was burnt down in 1999 after the Mayors Graduation Ascension effort, it took over a year to build a new school. Dawn and her mum had been out of town on request of Buffy and when they returned, the school was a gone, and in its place was just a burnt building.
Everything was different at the new school. The school was painted in industrial Beige, there wasn't a gorgeous courtyard, just basketball courts, football ovals and a couple of trees. There was no real cafeteria, just a canteen that you bought hotdogs and drinks from, and some outside tables. Everything was different, even the Library was depressing. There were no high ceilings, just heaps of metal shelves filled with books. Buffy and Willow once came into school with Dawn and as they passed the new Library, you could see that they weren't impressed in the decor and new Librarian.
All these thoughts about the past filled Dawns mind as she walked to the ladies room to meet with Karly. The High School Junior had a very mature decision to make after she found out the results of the Pregnancy test.
Dawn reached the ladies room and opened the door. Their plans to do the test at Karly's house went under when Karly's mum organised a shopping spree with her daughter. Karly never passed up a shopping spree that was to be sponsored by her mum's credit card. No teenager in her right mind wound pass up any shopping spree. Karly had phoned late the previous night and it was organised that they do the test in their study hall period and Dawn would go shopping with Karly and their mum after school.
The pinnacle moment had come and Dawn was too nervous to even speak.
"Dawn, whatever the result your going to be fine okay. Let's go into the disabled cubicle and I'll show you what to do." Karly led Dawn into the cubicle and opened her backpack, pulling out the pregnancy test.
"Okay, so what do I do?" Dawn managed to get the words out of her mouth as she considered in her mind her options. Looking at the test as Karly explained how to use it, made everything to real to Dawn and even after all the demons (literal demons) Dawn had faced, nothing could prepare her for the Karate Blow she was about to be shoved. Glory couldn't even make Dawn more scared then she was at that very moment. When Glory was going to kill her, Dawn had hope that she'd be saved. Dawn had the hope that Buffy would save her. And Buffy certainly did that!
"Karly, thankyou for doing this. It must have been embarrassing when you asked at the drug store how to use the test!" Dawn was dawdling, and Karly knew it.
"Dawn, I'm gonna step out here and leave you with the test. That way, you can decided alone what you want to do." Karly stepped out and Dawn locked the door behind her.
Dawn sat down on the closed toilet and didn't even bother taking her backpack of her back. The situation facing Dawn was something that Dawn knew no one would expect of her. Everyone treated her like Buffy's little sister and forgot about the fact that Dawn was not a child any more. They tried to keep Dawn young and innocent and in a way, Dawn knew it was the best thing for her. With all of the issues facing Dawn, it was best that personally she stay innocent. Buffy had to mature quickly and the loss of innocence, mixed with the adult issues that cloud her life have drained Buffy of many of the things that make Buffy unique. Gone is the youthful glow, the lightness of her hair, the yearning to live a normal life. Buffy has excepted her doom. The only things Buffy lives for now is for Dawn.
Dawn began crying silently, making sure Karly couldn't hear her. What have I done? What am I going to do? All Dawn wanted to do was be in her room and writing in the diaries that she loved so much when she was younger. She wanted to write silly things, like crushes and teen angst. She definitely didn't want to face the possibility of being a pregnant High School Junior.
"Dawn, are you okay in there?" Karly called from across the ladies room.
"Yeah, I'm just...I think I want to do this at home, not now." Dawn wiped her eyes and put the pregnancy test she was holding in her bag.
Dawn stepped out of the cubicle and went strait over to the washing basins. She splashed water on her face and gaggled water in her mouth. Then Dawn looked in the mirror and glared at herself, disgusted with what she had become.
"Dawn, why don't you go to sick bay and see if you can go home. You'll have your house to yourself and you could do the test. Buffy's at work and isn't her friends at Uni today?" Karly rubbed Dawns shoulders and Dawn turned around.
"Could you take me there?" Dawn and Karly left the toilet, the result still no known.
