Chapter 13

"Okay, what's wrong?" Dawn asked Alyssa the next day when they were in their room.

"What do you mean?" Alyssa wondered and Dawn rolled her eyes.

"You have been really quiet today. I wanna know what's up?" Alyssa shrugged and looked away from her.

"It's nothing." Dawn wasn't buying it.

"Does it have anything to do with Spike? You seemed weird after you guys had your talk last night. I also watched you pretty close when you were dancing with him. You have the hots for him, don't you?" Alyssa looked back at her a little surprised at her suggestion.

"What? I don't have the hots for Spike. I'm...I'm interested in someone else." She said finally admitting it. She didn't want Dawn to think that she was into Spike. Dawn raised her eyebrows at that.

"That's cool, how come you didn't tell me?" Alyssa shrugged.

"It was complicated." She explained.

"What's so complicated? Do I know him?" Alyssa shook her head and figured it was about time she told the truth.

"It's not a him." She said and Dawn had a confused expression on her face.

"I don't get...oh." She said finally realizing it. "Oh, well that's also cool. You know Willow's a lesbian, right?" Alyssa nodded. "Right, so it's not a big deal. It's not Karen, is it?" Alyssa was disgusted at that suggestion.

"Gross, like I could ever be interested in Karen. She's always made my life a living hell." Dawn sighed in relief.

"Good, well not the living hell part. The part where you're not interested in Karen. I was a bit worried for a second there. I just haven't seen you around any one else lately that wasn't in this house." Dawn thought about it. "Is it someone in this house?" Alyssa blushed a little and Dawn caught it. "Oh my god, it is? I so knew it. Wait, that doesn't leave a lot of choices." Alyssa kept quiet while she watched Dawn. A thought seemed to form in Dawn's head as her eyes grew big again and Alyssa wondered if she finally figured it out. "It's Buffy, isn't it? Everyone seems to be interested in Buffy." Alyssa let the breath out that she was holding and shook her head.

"I'll admit that Buffy is very attractive, but she's a little too old. Not that she's old or anything, just that she's a little too old for me. Let's not forget that she's having a baby with Spike. I'm not a home wrecker or anything." She stopped when she saw the look on Dawn's face. "I'll just be shutting up now." Dawn smiled at her.

"You're weird, you know that? You remind me so much of myself sometimes. I always make a habit of saying the wrong things. Well, not as much as Anya." Alyssa smiled also and decided to take a risk. Dawn was still talking when Alyssa moved closer to her and without even thinking about it, she kissed Dawn on the lips. Dawn was taken by surprise until Alyssa pulled away feeling nervous again. Dawn was just staring at her for a few seconds before she finally spoke. "Okay, I think that narrows it down." She said and Alyssa looked away from her.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." She said as she stood up and stepped away from Dawn. "I wasn't thinking and the last thing I want is to freak you out. You're the first real friend I've ever had and I don't want to do anything to ruin that." Dawn stood up also and walked closer to her.

"Hey, it's fine. Things happen, I'm not gonna stop being your friend because of it. I'm not freaked, just a little surprised I guess. I didn't really know you were talking about me. I'm glad you finally told me though. I mean if I went that way I would totally be into you. I just don't though, I'm sorry. I hope you won't start to hate me." Alyssa shook her head and was just grateful that she wanted to still be friends with her.

"I don't hate you. That's pretty much what I thought would happen anyway. I'm okay with it. We're still friends?" Dawn smiled and hugged her.

"You better believe it." Alyssa smiled also as she hugged her back. Buffy and Spike were standing by the door which was open a crack as they watched the two girls.

"Wow, I didn't see this coming." Buffy said and Spike smiled at her.

"You were never that bright, pet." Buffy slapped him playfully on the arm as they both moved away from the door and headed to their room.