Chapter three

January 22, 1996

Late Afternoon to Early Evening

"Mom! No! I will NOT baby-sit Dawn tonight! I don't care if you give me $200! I have a date with the man of my dreams tonight. I can't just be like 'oh sorry, Riley, but I can't go out with you tonight. I have to baby-sit my lame 9 year old sister.' I'm 15, and I need some space. You can't pin the brat on me. For all I care, drag her along with you. She will not ruin my date with Riley. End of conversation, end of story." Buffy yelled.

"Buffy, she can't come with me and if you want some space, I need to trust you. You will not leave this house, and if you do, Dawn will be with you, or else. Do I make myself clear?" Joyce said firmly, shaking her head. Dawn, having been in a corner listening to her mom and sister talk, ran up the stairs and into her room. Her cool sister thought she was lame. It just wasn't fair. She sat down on her bed and brought her knees to her chest and curled up into a ball.

"Big girls don't cry, big girls don't cry, big girls don't cry, big girls don't...cry..." She said over and over, trying to remind herself, but she burst out crying anyway. Finally, she calmed herself down. The next thing she knew, Buffy burst into her room. Knowing almost exactly what Buffy was going to say, Dawn decided that she would pretend that she hadn't listened in on the conversation. Instead she calmly said, "Learn to knock, please."

"Ok, listen up, Dawn, I'm babysitting you, even though I have a date with Riley. So here's how it's gonna go. You are to stay in your room. Amuse yourself, I don't care how, and if you even dare to come into my room..."

"What if I get hungry?" Dawn protested.

"I don't know. And personally, I don't really care."

"Well, gee, I don't think mom would like that attitude of yours. Maybe I should call her..."

"Ugh, fine, you can come into my room once. You hear me? ONCE." Buffy yelled. "and don't make too much noise or I WILL kill you!"

"Fine." Dawn spat. Buffy stormed out of the room. Dawn leaned back against her pillows, glad that that was over. Moments later, she heard the doorbell ring, and then heard footsteps. Sighing, she slid down to the floor before rethinking and deciding not to go into the kitchen as of yet.

88888888888

"Sorry that we have to stay here instead of go out to dinner," Buffy said to Riley, "but I'm really glad we're together." She and Riley were sitting on her bed. Buffy crawled towards Riley, ready to take the next step in their relationship. He leaned forward to meet her...

88888888888

Her stomach rumbled for the billionth time. "Ugh, I can't wait much longer to eat, not with my stomach being this active..." Dawn placed a hand over her stomach and stood up from the floor, where she had been sitting since Buffy had left. Opening her door quietly, she tip-toed to Buffy's room slowly. The door was open just a crack. Pushing the door open slightly, she felt the blood rush to her head. Dawn was shocked, angered, and confused all at the same time. Buffy and that good-for-nothing jerk Riley were kissing. Dawn turned sharply on her heel and ran down the stairs. She opened the door and ran off.