Bulky, gray storm clouds rolled in on Boston, creating an eerie darkness
over the city. I scrambled down the busy city streets, looking for shelter
from the oncoming storm. The house was much too far away, and the sky was
nearly consumed by black. The store came into view, so I stepped up my
pace, hoping to god that it was still open. Luckily, the open sign was
fully lit, and the door was unlocked.
"Hello?" I yelled, entering the shop. After about 3 weeks in Boston, hanging around the house had gotten dull, and for some reason, everyone thought it'd be fun to buy this old bookshop. My guess is they wanted to construct something reminiscent of the magick box. In my eyes, it was a good attempt, but the new store was nothing like the magick box. Not because it was a different kind of store, in a different kind of town, but because it was missing a few of the things that made it unique. Mainly, Anya and Spike. Like everyone else, I never expected to miss Anya's speeches on the importance of money, or hearing Spike yell "bloody hell". But the store was still really nice, and provided the safe, homey feeling we all needed. It was an old store originally built in the late 1800's, and had been restored in the mid 1970's. Xander and Faith had painted the walls inside a rich navy blue color, with silver trim. The best part of the store was the smells. The smell of century old leather and the Irish crème Buffy always added generously to her coffee smothered you upon entry, but it was warming, and comforting. I loved browsing the bookshelves, the selection was impeccable. You could find a book on the demons of ancient Greece and a copy of an Agatha Christie best seller all in one aisle.
I plopped my stuff down on the counter, next to the old fashioned cash register. I figured we wouldn't get any customers, since a storm was rapidly approaching, so I turned the open sign off, and headed into the back room. Sure enough Buffy and Xander were sitting back there doing who knows what. Buffy and Xander's friendship had grown undeniably stronger since our move to Boston, which among all the new development was my favorite. I'm just wondering when, finally, their friendship will turn into something more. It'd be good for the both of them, what with the passing of Anya and Spike.
"Hey guys," I greeted in my usual peppy way. Grabbing my designated coffee mug, I filled it to the brim with the hot cocoa kept next to the coffee machine.
"Hey Dawnie, how was class?" Xander asked. On to my least favorite development, SAT prep classes. Buffy had insisted I take them. She wants me to go to some Ivy League school, like Harvard or Princeton. I guess so she can live through me vicariously. I still haven't had the heart to tell her I want to maybe take a couple years off to "find myself". I'm not sure what that means exactly, but it's better than going to some old stuffy college.
"Dull," I replied honestly, "What have you guys been up to?"
"We just finished preparing the house about an hour ago," Buffy responded, smiling.
"Preparing for what?" I asked, confused.
"Willow's getting back today," Xander explained, "With the slayer she tracked down. Her names Daphne or Darcy or something."
"What kind of preparing?" How come I hadn't been clued in about this? Since when did we keep SITs with us anymore?"
"Cooking, cleaning, that kind of stuff," Buffy answered, "I was Domestic Buffy today. I'm even making dinner later."
"You? Domestic?" I couldn't help but laugh. Buffy couldn't even get the microwave to work half the time, so I was perplexed by the thought of her even cooking.
"Hey! Now that I don't have to do the slayer thing as much, I'm realizing how much the human side of me is good at," Buffy explained.
"But you don't even have the slightest idea how to cook," I said cocking an eyebrow. Buffy gave me a stern look, and turned to Xander for support.
"She kind of has a point there Buff," Xander admitted nervously, "The last time you actually cooked was Thanksgiving...four years ago."
"Yeah...so..." Buffy pouted, "I can still cook, you'll see." Xander and I glanced at each other, trying to suppress the oncoming laughter.
***
"Hey Dawn can you take this upstairs for me?" Buffy asked, handing me her crossbow, "I forgot to put it away after patrolling last night." I nodded, and took it upstairs with me. I dropped it off in the weapon closet, disguised as a linen closet. The door to my room was slightly open, so I carefully pushed it open all the way before entering. I glanced around to make sure there were no demons or vampires hiding away anywhere, habits are hard to break I guess. To my surprise I noticed the guest bed in my room, which Rona used to sleep in before she moved back home, was re-made with brand new lilac sheets, and a white quilt. It was one thing that now there was going to be another hormonal teenage girl in the house, but in my room? Jeez, little Dawnie is really getting the shaft in this situation! I was about to go complain when Andrew popped his head in.
"Have you seen my spock action figure?" He asked me. Normally, I would have told him that Faith got tired of it and threw it up on the roof, but I was in a bad mood by now.
"No, go ask Faith," I sighed, plopping down on my bed.
"What's wrong?" He asked, leaning against the doorframe.
"Nothing," I lied, "I'm just tired." Andrew looked at me quizzically, and then raised an eyebrow at me. After the staring started to get really annoying I broke.
"Okay, okay, I'm just kind of miffed that no one told me this girl was going to live with us, and share my room and everything," I spilled.
"See, Jedi mind tricks never fail," Andrew smiled, "Don't worry, she won't replace you. Your like a big, irreplaceable...thing."
"First of all, you need to get out more," I laughed, "Second, thanks, now I'm thinking she's going to replace me."
"Again, you can't be replaced. I'll always like you better if that's any constellation," He replied, with puppy dog eyes. I couldn't help it. I guess it was his "Jedi mind tricks" but I did feel a little bit better. Suddenly, Faith walked by the room, and Andrew rushed to follow her. I laughed and decided to head downstairs. I glanced in the kitchen to find Buffy and Xander each covered in flour. Pfft, kids. My ears perked up as I heard the sound of car doors slam outside. For some reason I felt myself get excited, I just couldn't help it.
"I'll get it!" I yelled, running to the door, with Buffy and Xander close behind. Faith had appeared at the foot of the stairs, warning Andrew that if he didn't stop asking her about his spock action figure, she'd rip the heads off all the rest. I hastily opened the door, and sure enough there was Willow, along with little Miss Slayer.
"Hey Dawnie!" Willow said, as I threw my arms around her. Even though she had only been gone a couple weeks, it felt like forever. As we parted, and Buffy took her turn, I glanced at the girl. She looked around timidly, fiddling with the charm bracelet she had on. Her dark brown hair was pulled up in a ponytail, and she was probably about 5'5 or so. Her blue/green eyes matched the plain v-neck top she was wearing, and her long legs where covered in a pair of black jeans.
"Oh, guys, this is Dolce, Dolce, this is Buffy, Xander, Faith, Andrew, and Dawn," Willow introduced us. Dolce gave a shy smile, and waved slightly. I couldn't imagine her fighting vampires...but then again I hadn't been able to imagine Amanda fighting vamps either. And she died doing just that. Something about this new girl was intriguing. The feeling of intimidation just washed away, as I looked at the soft eyes of a scared girl.
"Hello?" I yelled, entering the shop. After about 3 weeks in Boston, hanging around the house had gotten dull, and for some reason, everyone thought it'd be fun to buy this old bookshop. My guess is they wanted to construct something reminiscent of the magick box. In my eyes, it was a good attempt, but the new store was nothing like the magick box. Not because it was a different kind of store, in a different kind of town, but because it was missing a few of the things that made it unique. Mainly, Anya and Spike. Like everyone else, I never expected to miss Anya's speeches on the importance of money, or hearing Spike yell "bloody hell". But the store was still really nice, and provided the safe, homey feeling we all needed. It was an old store originally built in the late 1800's, and had been restored in the mid 1970's. Xander and Faith had painted the walls inside a rich navy blue color, with silver trim. The best part of the store was the smells. The smell of century old leather and the Irish crème Buffy always added generously to her coffee smothered you upon entry, but it was warming, and comforting. I loved browsing the bookshelves, the selection was impeccable. You could find a book on the demons of ancient Greece and a copy of an Agatha Christie best seller all in one aisle.
I plopped my stuff down on the counter, next to the old fashioned cash register. I figured we wouldn't get any customers, since a storm was rapidly approaching, so I turned the open sign off, and headed into the back room. Sure enough Buffy and Xander were sitting back there doing who knows what. Buffy and Xander's friendship had grown undeniably stronger since our move to Boston, which among all the new development was my favorite. I'm just wondering when, finally, their friendship will turn into something more. It'd be good for the both of them, what with the passing of Anya and Spike.
"Hey guys," I greeted in my usual peppy way. Grabbing my designated coffee mug, I filled it to the brim with the hot cocoa kept next to the coffee machine.
"Hey Dawnie, how was class?" Xander asked. On to my least favorite development, SAT prep classes. Buffy had insisted I take them. She wants me to go to some Ivy League school, like Harvard or Princeton. I guess so she can live through me vicariously. I still haven't had the heart to tell her I want to maybe take a couple years off to "find myself". I'm not sure what that means exactly, but it's better than going to some old stuffy college.
"Dull," I replied honestly, "What have you guys been up to?"
"We just finished preparing the house about an hour ago," Buffy responded, smiling.
"Preparing for what?" I asked, confused.
"Willow's getting back today," Xander explained, "With the slayer she tracked down. Her names Daphne or Darcy or something."
"What kind of preparing?" How come I hadn't been clued in about this? Since when did we keep SITs with us anymore?"
"Cooking, cleaning, that kind of stuff," Buffy answered, "I was Domestic Buffy today. I'm even making dinner later."
"You? Domestic?" I couldn't help but laugh. Buffy couldn't even get the microwave to work half the time, so I was perplexed by the thought of her even cooking.
"Hey! Now that I don't have to do the slayer thing as much, I'm realizing how much the human side of me is good at," Buffy explained.
"But you don't even have the slightest idea how to cook," I said cocking an eyebrow. Buffy gave me a stern look, and turned to Xander for support.
"She kind of has a point there Buff," Xander admitted nervously, "The last time you actually cooked was Thanksgiving...four years ago."
"Yeah...so..." Buffy pouted, "I can still cook, you'll see." Xander and I glanced at each other, trying to suppress the oncoming laughter.
***
"Hey Dawn can you take this upstairs for me?" Buffy asked, handing me her crossbow, "I forgot to put it away after patrolling last night." I nodded, and took it upstairs with me. I dropped it off in the weapon closet, disguised as a linen closet. The door to my room was slightly open, so I carefully pushed it open all the way before entering. I glanced around to make sure there were no demons or vampires hiding away anywhere, habits are hard to break I guess. To my surprise I noticed the guest bed in my room, which Rona used to sleep in before she moved back home, was re-made with brand new lilac sheets, and a white quilt. It was one thing that now there was going to be another hormonal teenage girl in the house, but in my room? Jeez, little Dawnie is really getting the shaft in this situation! I was about to go complain when Andrew popped his head in.
"Have you seen my spock action figure?" He asked me. Normally, I would have told him that Faith got tired of it and threw it up on the roof, but I was in a bad mood by now.
"No, go ask Faith," I sighed, plopping down on my bed.
"What's wrong?" He asked, leaning against the doorframe.
"Nothing," I lied, "I'm just tired." Andrew looked at me quizzically, and then raised an eyebrow at me. After the staring started to get really annoying I broke.
"Okay, okay, I'm just kind of miffed that no one told me this girl was going to live with us, and share my room and everything," I spilled.
"See, Jedi mind tricks never fail," Andrew smiled, "Don't worry, she won't replace you. Your like a big, irreplaceable...thing."
"First of all, you need to get out more," I laughed, "Second, thanks, now I'm thinking she's going to replace me."
"Again, you can't be replaced. I'll always like you better if that's any constellation," He replied, with puppy dog eyes. I couldn't help it. I guess it was his "Jedi mind tricks" but I did feel a little bit better. Suddenly, Faith walked by the room, and Andrew rushed to follow her. I laughed and decided to head downstairs. I glanced in the kitchen to find Buffy and Xander each covered in flour. Pfft, kids. My ears perked up as I heard the sound of car doors slam outside. For some reason I felt myself get excited, I just couldn't help it.
"I'll get it!" I yelled, running to the door, with Buffy and Xander close behind. Faith had appeared at the foot of the stairs, warning Andrew that if he didn't stop asking her about his spock action figure, she'd rip the heads off all the rest. I hastily opened the door, and sure enough there was Willow, along with little Miss Slayer.
"Hey Dawnie!" Willow said, as I threw my arms around her. Even though she had only been gone a couple weeks, it felt like forever. As we parted, and Buffy took her turn, I glanced at the girl. She looked around timidly, fiddling with the charm bracelet she had on. Her dark brown hair was pulled up in a ponytail, and she was probably about 5'5 or so. Her blue/green eyes matched the plain v-neck top she was wearing, and her long legs where covered in a pair of black jeans.
"Oh, guys, this is Dolce, Dolce, this is Buffy, Xander, Faith, Andrew, and Dawn," Willow introduced us. Dolce gave a shy smile, and waved slightly. I couldn't imagine her fighting vampires...but then again I hadn't been able to imagine Amanda fighting vamps either. And she died doing just that. Something about this new girl was intriguing. The feeling of intimidation just washed away, as I looked at the soft eyes of a scared girl.