Author: ImmatureLittleGirl Email: immaturelittlegirl@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Joss Whedon and maybe other people, I'm not sure, I just know that I don't own them...
Summary: Dawn goes to live with her father in LA and has to learn to live without her sister. Strange coincidences lead her to meet an interesting person. Dawn/Connor
Rating: PG-13 I guess.
AN: I fudged the timelines a little bit to make it work. It's somewhere in Season 6 of Buffy and Season 4 of Angel, I think.
PART 3
Monday morning couldn't have begun any worse. I forgot to set my alarm clock before going to sleep the night before. My father woke me, when he noticed my absence from breakfast, allowing me only five minutes to dress, brush my teeth and hair, and be out the door and in the car. I could only imagine what a wreck I must have looked when I arrived at school. My foul mood and appearance could have been used for human repellant. Nonetheless, Emily skipped merrily down the hall to greet me with a wide smile the moment she noticed me. What was it with morning people?
"Hey Dawn!" Emily beamed. She was so cheery; almost too cheery. Her smile was beginning to frighten me.
"Hey," I echoed, uneasily. She continued to stare at me intently. Immediately, I suspected she might be some sort of human-brain-eating-demon, the way she eyed me like I was her prey. There's a sure sign you've been living on the hell mouth too long, kids.
"How're you?" she asked politely as she bounced on the balls of her feet, excitedly.
"Just peachy keen. You?" I replied sarcastically.
"Great!"
"So I can see." I began to walk down the hall toward my locker as she walked beside me.
"So, Dawn…" she began, nervously playing with the many necklaces tied around her neck. "Are you by any chance seeing anyone?" I quickly swiveled to look at her with surprise. For a moment she waited for my answer, before she quickly rushed on to clarify. "No! I didn't mean I wanted to know for me. I mean I wondered, but not cause I was interested. Cause I'm not! Not that there's anything wrong with… But I didn't…" she stuttered as she tried to explain.
"I'm not 'seeing anyone'. Why did you want to know?" I interrupted her ramblings, giving her a small smile.
"Well, I was just wondering, cause Connor kept askin' all these questions about you last night and I thought, maybe he liked you. So, I was just wondering if you had a boyfriend already, 'cause I realized, I never asked before," Emily finally explained.
"Oh. What kind of questions did he ask?" My interest picked up once she mentioned Connor.
"Well… The questions were a little strange, but he's kind of a strange boy. But strange in a good way! He wanted to know where you were from and he wondered about your family and if I noticed anything 'different' about you," Emily reported.
"Different about me?" What kind of question was that?
"I know. Like I said, he's a little strange. But he doesn't normally show interest in girls. I mean he's not gay or anything. At least, I don't think he is. I've caught him staring at pretty girls before, so I'm fairly certain he's at least attracted to them. But he almost never talks about them, unless he's commenting on their lack of substance or personality. Basically, what I'm trying to say is, he's showing interest toward YOU."
"Me? Why me?" I questioned, unsure how to respond.
"So, you're not interested?" Emily's voice was full of disappointment.
"No, I didn't say that. I'm just not sure why he would show that kind of interest in me. He never says anything to me; he just kind of stares at me. I kinda' get the feelin' he's giving me this whole not-welcome vibe," I explained.
"Why would you think that? I mean sometimes, granted, he's a bit intense. But I don't think he was trying to make you feel unwelcome. Maybe he was staring at you cause he thought you were cute!" Emily offered excitedly. I could see she had her mind set on this matchmaker thing. I was actually a little excited by the thought of being matched up with Connor, too. I mean he was majorly hot, with the whole dark and mysterious look. But the thought of him also set off little warning bells in my head. What were his interests in my origins about? And exactly what about me did he sense was different?
"Maybe," I replied, evasively.
*
For hours, I tried to convince myself that Connor was an average teenage boy who was showing interest in an average teenage girl. However, I knew I wasn't your average teenage girl and I was beginning to wonder if Connor was actually the average teenage boy he appeared to be. He told Emily that he had noticed something 'different' about me. He couldn't be picking up on the fact that I was the key, could he? Or maybe, he knew of the slayer. Or maybe, I am just one really paranoid individual.
I spent the morning drifting in my thoughts and didn't really come back down to earth until lunchtime. The others were already at the table once I entered the cafeteria.
"A fifty-six? Is she insane? Shit! If I don't pass the next test, I'll be off the team," I heard Josh holler, as I approached the table.
"I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so," Emily replied wearing a smug smirk.
"Oh, shut up!"
"I told you both there was a test. I warned you both to make sure you studied. And what do you do? You fail it! It serves you both right!"
"Obviously, I missed something," I interrupted, as I sat down in at the lunch table beside Tim.
"Josh and Tim failed their chemistry tests," Emily filled me in.
"Nuh-uh. I didn't fail, I gotta sixty-nine. My favorite number," Tim corrected, giving a mischievous smirk.
"Uh, congratulations?" was the best response I could come up with.
"Okay, I'll do better on the next test," Tim promised. "It's not like I'd take the chance of dropping off the wrestling team."
"The next test is tomorrow, Tim," Emily reminded him.
"Oh. I guess I'll be at the library tonight cramming. You in Josh?"
"Can't. I have to watch my sister."
"Well, anyone else have any studying they want to get done? I don't really fancy sitting in the library, like a loser, by myself all night."
"I'll go with you, Tim," I offered. "I have to start a research paper for history, anyway."
"Great! You're the best," Tim said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. I smiled and leaned into him slightly, until I looked up to meet Connor's cold glare. Our eyes only connected for a moment before he looked down and away from me. For a moment, I considered the possibility that, just maybe, he was feeling a little jealous. But then again, this was the boy that had trouble speaking more than a sentence to me, at a time. Maybe I just over analyze everything he does too much. But on the other hand, Emily had noticed him 'noticing me' too. Geesh, boys could be so confusing sometimes.
"So, did you guys hear about that winter semi-formal in a couple of weeks?" Emily asked, changing the subject.
"Semi-formal? Damn. You're going to make us go, aren't you?" Josh whined.
"We heard. I've actually already been lining up possible prospects for dates. There was Nikki, the blonde from the mall. But her redheaded friend Sam was cuter," Tim explained.
"Too bad the redhead wants Connor," Josh reminded Tim teasingly.
"What?" Connor asked, looking over to Josh, questioningly.
"She was all over you man, she wants you," Josh answered, matter-of-factly.
"No," Connor denied.
"See, Connor doesn't want her. So I can have her. He can have her back when I'm done, if he wants." Tim seemed pleased with his plan. The absurdity of it was almost humorous.
"I'd rather not," Connor stated, looking at Tim as if he had three heads.
"Come on, Connor. We really need to get you laid. You're too uptight," Josh said with a chuckle. Connor responded by glaring at him angrily. I could only be grateful I was not on the receiving end of the glare. The look was threatening, possibly deadly. The phrase 'if looks could kill', came to mind. "Geez, lighten up Con. It was a joke," Josh defended. Connor squinted his eyes in irritation before giving an indifferent shrug, and gathered his books together.
"I have to go. Bye." Connor stood, and headed for the exit.
"Tim, you really know how to pick'em," Josh mumbled under his breath, once he could see that Connor was out of the cafeteria.
"I know, but what on earth was I thinking when I befriended you?" Tim retorted.
"Uh, hey, I have to go do something. I'll meet you after school, okay?" I asked Tim, as I stood and gathered all my books. I wanted to see if I could catch up with Connor. I didn't know what I would say if I did, I wasn't even sure why I wanted to see him. I just wanted to try and catch him.
I darted out of the cafeteria and caught a quick glimpse of Connor ducking into the library at the other end of the corridor. I followed down the hall and pushed the doors to the library open, hoping to spot him immediately. To my surprise, I discovered the library was much larger than the Sunnydale High library. Scanning the room, I searched for any sign of Connor, but found none. With a sigh, I began wandering up and down the rows of books hoping to find him.
I tried to look as inconspicuous as possible as I searched row after row of books, not even sure why I was looking for him.
"You're following me," I heard a voice from in back of me say. I spun around to see him standing not quite a dozen feet from where I was. He watched me guardedly from behind his tousled brown hair.
"I was just trying to catch up with you," I explained, suddenly growing nervous of his presence.
"Why?" he asked, running a hand through his hair as he took a few steps toward me.
"I j-just wanted to talk to you," I stuttered, involuntarily stepping backward, away from him.
"About what?"
"I… About…" I couldn't process thoughts; words were jumbling and I was desperately grasping to form a sentence. He tilted his head to the side, examining me curiously. The gesture was less threatening, and I forced myself to take a breath and speak to him. "I wanted to know if I did something that offended you. If there was a reason you disliked me so much," I finally managed to answer.
"I didn't say I disliked you."
"But you're always so… cold… towards me."
"Cold?" he echoed, still eyeing me with a curious look in his eye.
"Cold, ya know, withdrawn, uninterested, wary, even occasionally irritated. Why is that?" I asked, gaining courage.
"There are a lot of things in this world that are not what they seem. Life experience has taught me that those characteristics you described, are necessary in order to survive," he responded harshly, the cold, mistrusting look entering his eyes again.
"What do you mean by that?"
The bell sounded after my question, just as I was beginning to get somewhere with Mr. Mysterious.
"I have class," he stated, then turned and was gone seconds later.
*
At the close of school, I found Tim waiting for me at my locker.
"So, did you catch up with him?" Tim asked as I approached him and began fiddling with the combination on my locker.
"What makes you think I was going after him?" Apparently, I am the most transparent person alive. Tim raised his eyebrows at me, as if to imply it was obvious. "I caught up with him, but it didn't do any good."
"You like him don't you?" Tim questioned, staring at me intently.
"I think so," I whispered quietly. I could feel my cheeks reddening, but there was really little point in denying it anymore.
"Damn," Tim murmured, dropping his back against the lockers beside mine. I looked at him questioningly, confused by his behavior.
"Why 'damn'?"
"I think you can guess why," he answered flatly.
"Oh, right. I was going to be next on your list. Look, Emily warned me about your games and stuff. And even if she hadn't, I'd like to think I have enough intelligence not to fall for that. Really Tim, I honestly thought you had more respect for me than that."
"Dawn, you would never have been 'next on my list'. I do have far too much respect for you, for that. I've just grown so tired of these shallow girls that I'm surrounded by. It just figures that when I finally find a girl that I really like, who is beautiful, kind, funny, and cute, she has a thing for my best friend instead," Tim admitted, shocking me completely.
We both stood silently for a moment. I tried to think of how to respond to him, but nothing would come to mind. It wasn't that I didn't find Tim attractive; he was the poster boy for good looks. But I couldn't ignore whatever it was I felt for Connor; the connection was just too strong.
"I'm sorry," I mumbled, hoping that somehow the apology would miraculously take some of the tension out of the air. It didn't, of course.
"Yeah, me too," Tim agreed. "We need to go start studying," Tim reminded me after a moment.
"Right." I grabbed my books and slammed my locker closed, following Tim down the corridor.
*
The library seemed to be even bigger than it had been earlier that afternoon, now that I was hunting for books and materials rather than a person. The librarian, a grouchy, elderly woman, had directed me to a row of books in the corner of the library. There she told me I would be able to find my information. The row of books was enormous and I couldn't help feeling overwhelmed as I searched through the stacks for some resources.
After almost fifteen minutes, I found my way back to Tim's table with a few books on the topic of the Fall of Rome. There had actually been dozens of books on the subject, but only the few I had brought back to the table, appeared to be written in a modern language I actually understood.
I plopped down in the seat across from Tim and began flipping through the texts, jotting down notes on key facts that I wanted to mention in my paper. The minutes flowed by rapidly and soon enough, I had enough information to begin writing.
"Good God, could chemistry possibly be more boring?" Tim interrupted with an irritated sigh.
"I'm sorry. I wouldn't know."
"Well, enjoy your chemistry-free life while it lasts. Yeah, those were the good ol' days," Tim joked, slamming his book closed and pillowing his head on his folded arms. The discomfort between Tim and I over our previous awkward conversation was beginning to fade, which I couldn't have been more thankful about.
"Ya know, this is the second time today I've been in the library. I'm turning into my sister," I commented as the thought occurred to me.
"I see, so she's a book worm?" Tim inferred.
"Not exactly. But she spent a lot of time at the library." Tim gave a short chuckle.
"Not that it's any of my business but, what happened? Why were you taken away from your sister? If you don't mind my asking?" Tim asked after a short pause.
"My mother died last year, so my sister took custody of me. My dad didn't really care. He didn't even come to her funeral. Then things just got complicated. Buffy had too many responsibilities. I just had to be the one she had to give up. So they sent me off to burden my father instead," I answered, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice.
"I'm sorry," Tim replied, sympathetically. "I think I've gotten in enough studying tonight. You almost ready to go?"
"Yeah. I've got enough information now." I gathered all my books and threw them into my bag.
"I don't have my car with me. It's been making this weird noise lately, so I just took the bus this morning, figuring I could take it home, so I have to walk. Do you want me to walk you home? The sun's just set so it's dark, do you know your way around yet? Never mind, I'll just go with you. LA's probably a little rougher than Sunnydale, and I don't want you to get into any trouble," Tim explained as we exited the library, and headed for the front entrance.
"I'm fine. Believe me, I know how to handle myself. I'm sure I can manage to find my way home by myself. You aren't my caretaker," I insisted.
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea."
"Well, too bad. I am. So, you go home, I'll get myself home."
"Fine. Call me if you need anything. And be careful, if anything happens to you, I'll never forgive myself."
"Nothing is going to happen, silly. I'll see you tomorrow," I assured him, leaving his side and taking off in the direction of my house.
*
I only lived about two and a half miles from the school, and was fairly certain I could find my way home. However, my certainty began to waver fifteen minutes later when I was standing in a section of LA, foreign to me, desperately trying to figure out which way was home. Somehow, I had gotten off track and I wasn't sure if I should keep going or turn back. Spotting a pay phone across the street, I prayed that my father would be home and answer the phone. Surely, by now he was sitting next to the phone wondering where on Earth I was and worrying himself to death over my safety.
I rummaged through my bag for some quarters and placed enough into the slot, then dialed the house. The phone rang five times, before the answering machine picked up, asking me to leave a message after the tone.
"Hi, Dad, it's Dawn. I was after school late at the library, and I'm walking home. I'm currently a little, well, lost. I don't know what time I'll be home, if I ever get there. Not that you would notice if I didn't. Well, I'm off now to be raped, mugged, murdered, or any combination of the previously mentioned. Hope you're enjoying your business dinner or whatever the hell it is you are doing," I left as a message on the answering machine. Maybe if something really did happen to me, Ms. Doris Kroger would learn how wrong she really was.
Grabbing the rest of my change, I was about to call Josh to ask for a ride, when I heard a scream in the distance. Instinctively, I reached for the stake I carried with me at all times and started in the direction the scream had come from. As I turned the corner of the building, I saw two, tall, bluish-green, scaly demons assaulting an older woman. I ran as fast as I could to try and help the woman. The demons didn't notice my presence until I stabbed the one holding her up by her hair, in the arm with my stake. The demon let out a roar, and dropped the woman. Both demons now turned to face me, while the woman they had just attacked, ran away as quickly as possible.
"Gee, you're welcome," I mumbled under my breath, as watched her retreating form. The demon I had stabbed with my stake, yanked it out of his arm and now held it poised to drive through my heart. Nope, this wasn't one of my more well thought out ideas.
The realization that Buffy wasn't about to come bounding to my rescue occurred to me in that moment, and so I realized I had to make a decision, and quickly. I could fight, or I could die. The options weren't all that pleasant, but I made the obvious decision…
I froze still in fear and waited for the demon to thrust the stake at me.
With speed I didn't even know I possessed, I stepped to the side just before the stake connected with my flesh, and kicked out my leg with all my strength, sending the demon toppling into his friend. Using a resourcefulness I picked up from Buffy, I found a metal railing post that was practically falling off and ripped it off. Utilizing it as a weapon, I drove the sharp end of the post through the temple of one of the demons lying on the ground, successfully killing the beast.
The other demon was already back on his feet by the time I retrieved my weapon from the demons skull. He charged at me, his fist connecting with the side of my head before I could do anything to stop him. I fell to the ground landing with a splash in a puddle. Not giving me time to recuperate, the demon ripped me back up to my feet by my hair. I forced the pain I was feeling to the back of my mind, and placed my concentration on simply surviving the battle. I brought my knee up between the demon's legs, and kicked him away from me.
Taking a step away from the demon, I was given enough time to pull the post back and holding it like a baseball bat; I swung with all my might. The bat connected with his head with a crack and a thud as his body hit the cement again. Taking advantage of the fact that he was still unconscious, I stabbed him in the chest, with the rod, as hard as I could. When his chest ceased it's rising and falling, the pain in my head overtook me, and I stumbled backward, landing in the puddle again.
Looking around at my surroundings, I didn't know what more I could do, so I began to cry. I had never felt more alone in my life. I didn't have my mom anymore, and I never really had my dad. Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles were too far away to be there for me, even if they could fit it into their busy schedules. And so I sat there, soaked in water and demon guts, crying my eyes out, in the middle of the deserted street.
"Are you alright?" I jumped when I heard him, recognizing his voice right away.
"Connor?" I asked, trying desperately to stifle my sobs. He placed his hand on my aching head and I snapped it away from his touch. Trying to scramble away from him, I pushed my way to my feet. The moment I was standing again, the world began to spin, and I felt my knees buckle. His hands were on my upper arms, holding me up before I hit the ground. I felt him guide me a few feet and a moment later I was seated on a case of stairs outside an abandoned building.
"Are you alright?" Connor repeated, leaving one of his hands on my upper arm, to keep me upright.
"Yes," I answered nodding. I grasped my head as a sharp pain shot through my skull. I wouldn't be nodding again in the near future.
"You're going to have a bruise," Connor informed me as he ran his fingers over the side of my head, gently. I didn't answer, just sat quietly trying to concentrate on something other than the nausea that was sweeping over me. "You should see a doctor."
"I just want to go home," I whispered, feeling tears trickle from my eyes again.
"Can you walk?" Connor asked, helping me to my feet.
"Yes." I stood with determination. Connor grabbed me quickly when my footing faltered, and I lost my balance again.
"Right," he mumbled, putting his arm around my waist and supporting most of my weight.
The next few minutes passed in silence. I followed his lead, not knowing where he was going, and not caring enough to ask.
"Dawn?" Connor asked quietly. I could hear the uncertainty in his voice.
"Yeah?"
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Connor stopped to look at me, as he waited for my answer. The only thing my mind processed for the first few seconds were the words 'uh-oh'. I scrambled for an excuse, wracking my aching brains for some explanation.
"Uh, too many video games." I liked to think I could have come up with a better answer under different circumstances. He looked at me doubtfully for another minute, and then continued walking in the direction we had been before he stopped.
Looking around, I realized we were already in my neighborhood. I sighed in relief, already fantasizing about climbing into my comfortable, warm bed and passing out for days at a time.
"Do you know what those things were?" Connor questioned, this time not stopping to look at me.
"Nope," I answered, honestly. "Did you?"
"No."
Minutes later we were on my doorstep. I fumbled to get my key into the lock, until Connor took it away from me and slid it in, opening the door. He helped me into the house, where I collapsed into the creamy white over stuffed chair in our living room. Connor stood in front of me, watching me for a moment.
"What?" I asked, irritably. I knew I should be grateful he had gotten me home, otherwise I would still be crying in a puddle in the middle of nowhere, but I just couldn't seem to care at that moment.
"I should have taken you to a hospital."
"I'll be fine," I stated firmly. Reaching over to the table I played the messages. I erased the overly dramatic fit I had recorded, as well as my father's lame excuse for not being home. Then fell backwards against the pillows on the chair. I sat with my eyes closed for a minute or two, gathering my thoughts.
"Thank you," I told Connor, realizing how lucky I had been he was there. Even if it was a little sketchy that he just happened to be there. Hmm, now who was following whom?
"You're welcome," he answered, not moving.
"You can go home now, if you want." I hoped that my remark hadn't come across as rude.
"I don't know if you should be left alone."
"That's sweet, but I'm fine. Really." Connor just stood, his face filled with a look of uncertainty. "Fine, if you want to stay, you can take the couch. My father won't be happy, though. I'm going to go to bed now."
"I think I should just stay until he is home."
"You don't have to baby-sit me, Connor. Aren't your parents going to wonder where you are?"
"I don't have parents," Connor admitted after a brief pause.
"Oh." I suddenly wished I hadn't spoken so sharply towards him.
"If you're alright, I suppose I'll leave."
"Ok. Be careful," I said as I slowly followed him to the front door.
"I'll be fine. Take care of yourself."
"Wait, Connor, how did you know where I lived?" I asked suddenly as the thought occurred to me.
"You told me when we were sitting on the stairs," he answered quickly.
"Oh."
"Goodnight, Dawn," he bid farewell, before turning and walking off into the night.
I stood for a moment watching him until he was no longer in sight. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me; I was positive I had not told him where I lived. How could he have known? And how was it that he had just happened to find me? I knew he wasn't being honest with me, but there was something about him I trusted. I knew that fact alone was dangerous.
*
AN: I haven't proof read this very well; I just wanted to put this chapter out. If you see any errors, be sure to let me know. Ooh, and I like feedback. It's proven to be very helpful. J Thank you to all those who have already reviewed, you're great and you're the reason I keep writing. I really appreciate any advice you can offer me.