Chapter 14: Date Rape

Meanwhile...

Xander approached the school office practically running. He burst through the doors, startling the receptionist.

"Where is she?"

Xander turned as a door marked 'Principal Howard' opened and a woman in a casual suit entered the reception area. Xander immediately decided that she would know what was going on. "Where's Dawn? Is she okay?"

"She's fine for the moment. Would you care to join me in my office?"

"For the moment? What's wrong?"

"Sir, if you will just join me in my office, I think we can get to the bottom of this. Please, sir," she said, as he hesitated.

"Dawn's okay?"

"She's fine."

Xander entered the office and was surprised to see a man sitting in one of the two chairs in front of the desk. The woman stopped in front of the desk and held out her hand to Xander. "I apologize for not introducing myself first, but reassurances seemed to be the first priority. It was not our intention to scare you. We just thought perhaps Dawn might need someone that she knew with her. My name is Melinda Howard. I'm principal here at Hemery High. This..." the man stood as she gestured, "...is Detective Phillips of the Los Angeles Police Department."

Xander cringed at the last introduction. "Dawn hasn't been shoplifting again, has she?"

Detective Phillips raised an eyebrow. "Not that we know of."

"Did I say shoplifting...I meant shopgifting, you know, like gift shopping, you know?"

Principal Howard and Detective Phillips were both just looking at him.

"I was never very good at back-pedaling." Xander said with a shrug.

"Perhaps we can get to the matter at hand," suggested Principal Howard.

"That would be great," said Xander. "By the way, I'm Alexander Harris. Xander. What seems to be the problem?"

"You may know that we have educational lectures in addition to the regular curriculum."

"Oh, yeah. The 'Danger' lectures." Xander nodded until he noticed the look on the principal's face. Not happy.

"Yes, I believe that is the name being used among many of the students now." The principal's tone was reproving as she spoke.

"I'm sorry, Principal, but to be quite honest they start educating kids in grade school now about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, smoking, what to do if they are being abused, and who to call if they have a problem with anything. By the time they're in high school, they've heard it so many times, they just think you're treating them like little kids."

"We don't think it hurts to remind them. Plus, we've implemented a new element to the lectures here. We have a licensed clinical therapist on staff here, one with a specialty in dealing with things of this nature in the adolescent population. While the lectures are given, she scans the audience looking for reactions from the students. Are they bored, receptive, defensive? Do they seem to be upset or cocky? She has been quite successful in helping the students she has spotted in this manner."

"And what does this have to do with Dawn?"

"During today's lecture, Dawn's reaction was enough for both Ms. White, our counselor, and Detective Phillips, to notice. She also got up and left rather abruptly at the end of the lecture, ignoring a friend who was calling her name, and then she missed her next class."

"What was today's lecture about?" inquired Xander.

"Date rape."

"Date rape?" *Oh, no.*

"Yes," Detective Phillips picked up where Principal Howard left off, "Dawn was exhibiting the usual, 'I'm so bored, why do I have to be here' behavior. Mid-way through she sat up, started paying attention, close attention, and she looked devastated."

Xander was afraid to ask but... "At what point did she start reacting?"

"When I started telling how someone might spike a drink with alcohol or drugs, in order to gain involuntary consent. How that was just as much rape as when someone used force."

Xander stood and offered his hand to Detective Phillips. "I'm so sorry. There must have been some misunderstanding. Dawn must have been thinking about something else during your talk and you just misread her reaction. I'm sure Dawn hasn't been a victim of date rape for the simple fact that she doesn't date." He then turned and offered his hand to Principal Howard. "I'll take her home and give her a stern lecture about skipping class. I'm sure everything will be right as rain tomorrow."

Principal Howard, instead of releasing Xander's hand, tightened her hold as her eyes narrowed. "How exactly are you related to Dawn?"

Xander tugged on his hand as he answered, "Friend of the family, practically family."

Principal Howard released his hand and folded her arms across her chest. Xander's eye followed Detective Phillips as he moved toward the door. The detective wasn't leaving though. He had just moved to block the exit. Xander's eye moved back to the principal.

"Why are you down as Dawn's emergency contact?"

"Because we live together."

The principal's eyebrows were climbing up her forehead.

"In a friendly way, but not too friendly, while her family is away."

"Perhaps you can tell me where her real family are?"

"Well, her mom died about two and a half years ago, her Dad is on a business trip to Europe and her sister went to Ohio to...on business."

"Why was Dawn left with you?"

"She had already started summer school when Buffy, her sister, was called away. I was just who was left."

"No other family?"

"I think an aunt and maybe some cousins in Chicago. No one that Dawn really knows."

"And they felt you were the best person to care for a teenage girl."

"The only other person Dawn knows in this town is an ex-boyfriend of her sister's, who she's not really fond of. I really was the only person available."

"Exactly how long have you been alone with Dawn?"

"Eight weeks."

"You've been living alone with a teenage girl for two months?"

"Eight weeks."

A knock sounded at the door.

"So you come to Los Angeles, you're trying to make new friends and you go out with a guy who seems really nice. Maybe he tells you you're pretty, shows you around town, invites you to a party to meet his friends. And when you wake up the next morning you realize that nice guy isn't so nice. He's taken advantage of you. Maybe he gave you more alcohol than you usually drink or maybe even drugged your drink."

Dawn's hands tightened on the arms of the chair. *Crap. She was talking about the date rape thing. She thinks I was raped. If she only knew.*

"Dawn, you have nothing to feel ashamed about. It's not your fault. I know it's hard, but you really need to consider going to the police about this. If you don't, he will just continue."

"Ms. White, I was not raped."

"Dawn, I know..."

"You don't know anything!" Dawn's grip on the chair helped propel her forward as she protested.

Dawn immediately lowered her voice. "I'm sorry, Ms. White. I realize it's your job to ask about all this stuff, but I am not and never have been a victim of date rape, or any other kind for that matter. I am fine and I would like to leave now. It's almost time for school to be out and I'm supposed to meet someone."

"Dawn, I can help..."

Dawn held up her hand. "Please stop! I realize now I wasn't slapped into detention for skipping because you think I'm some kind of victim. If you'll just find out how much detention I have so I can leave, I'd appreciate it."

"Ok, Dawn. I'll go visit with the principal. You'll wait here?"

"Sure, whatever." Dawn slumped down in the seat with her legs extended in front of her. She was radiating attitude.

"I'll be back in a moment."

Dawn shrugged.