Chapter 11
Alyssa was sitting in the kitchen the next day floating a spoon. She was finally starting to get the hang of it when Willow walked in. "Hey, you're getting pretty good." Alyssa dropped the spoon and blushed a little at the comment.
"I'm trying anyway." Willow nodded and sat down next to her.
"Yeah, I first practiced on floating pencils. They weren't always in my control, but I did manage to stake a vampire with one." Alyssa flinched at the mention of that and again felt bad about the fact that she could have almost staked Spike. She was grateful she had such bad aim. "How did you realize you could do this anyway?" Willow asked and Alyssa shrugged.
"I just got mad a lot and things would happen. I didn't really understand it at first. I think my mother could do it. That's why my dad hated me so much." She said with a sad tone, but continued her story anyway. "I don't remember my mother all that well, but I remember hearing a lot of fighting when they thought I was sleeping. I would listen to them constantly argue. My dad didn't like the fact that she was different. He called her a freak a lot and I don't even know how she put up with it for as long as she did. I remember she got really sick and died when I was about 6. I don't remember much about what happened. My dad would then take out all his anger on me since my mom wasn't around anymore. He said I wouldn't grow up to be a freak like her. Well, he was wrong obviously. When he found out that I could pretty much do the same thing he treated me even worse. He made me feel worthless and wrong. My whole life I've never been able to fit in anywhere, until I came here." Alyssa finally looked at Willow. "You all know what it's like to be different. For once I don't feel so alone, it feels good having others to relate to." Willow smiled at her and really felt for the girl.
"You know we love having you here, Alyssa. I know Dawn does especially. She loves having someone around her age to talk to. You've made quite the impression on her." Alyssa smiled at that.
"Really?" Willow nodded and got up. She gave Alyssa a smile before she headed out of the kitchen. Alyssa wondered about that as she got back to floating the spoon. Alyssa went upstairs a while later and headed into Dawn's room where she found her trying on some new clothes and looking at herself in the mirror. She turned around when she heard Alyssa come in.
"What do you think of this?" She asked her. Dawn was wearing a short red dress and twirling around so Alyssa could see all of it.
"You look beautiful." Alyssa said and Dawn gave her a smile and went to grab a black dress off of her bed and held it up to Alyssa.
"You would look great in this and it's your color." She said and Alyssa shook her head.
"I don't think I could really pull that off." Dawn rolled her eyes.
"You're gorgeous, Alyssa. You're probably the only one that doesn't realize it. We're going to the Bronze later to celebrate Buffy's pregnancy and we have to look amazing. A lot of cute guys hang out at the Bronze." Alyssa wasn't sure about that, but tried on the dress anyway. When she looked at herself in the mirror she actually felt beautiful for the first time in her life. Dawn smiled at her choice. "Yep, you look great. That is definitely the one." Alyssa smiled when there was a knock on the door and Spike walked in being very cautious after what happened last time. He smiled at the two girls. Dawn grabbed Alyssa's hand and pulled her over to Spike. "So, what do you think?" She asked him and he nodded.
"Very stunning, we're ready to go now." Dawn nodded also and grabbed her purse as she headed out of the room with Alyssa right behind her. Alyssa gave Spike a shy smile as she turned her eyes back on Dawn. Spike smiled also when he watched her walk out of the room. He shook his head at the look he saw on the girl's face as he headed downstairs. It looked like Alyssa had a crush.