Title: Substitute life
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters. Just Mrs. Smith and the story line. After I posted the story I decided I liked the idea too much to let it go. So if you weren't a fan of it before maybe now you will. I do have an idea of the pairings and the one I put with Dawn will surprise you. Although I will not reveal until much later you may get an idea when they meet. Enjoy.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews.
Chapter Two
Tree Hill
The sign to buckle your seatbelt came on. Dawn knew that very soon they where going to land in an airport in a town next to Tree Hill. So Dawn buckled her seat belt. Dawn snuggled deeper into her sister's favorite gray sweatshirt. She clung to Mr. Gordo like her life depended on it. (A/N: For all of you who don't watch Buffy the vampire slayer. Mr. Gordo is a stuffed pig that belongs to Buffy, Dawn's sister.) Dawn knew she should have taken a nap. She was never going to see these people again. So screaming Buffy's name after she woke up from the same night terror that she got every time she closed her eyes was fine. They wouldn't see her again and she would never hear them whisper mean things under their breath about how many problems she had. And they where right. If watching your sister jump off a tower made by crazy people in order to save the world and it didn't cause mental issues than she didn't know what did.
"Are you ok?"
Dawn looked to her right. She found the person who was talking to her was Mrs. Smith her social worker. Mrs. Smith had told her she wanted her to call her Sam. But Dawn found it easier to hate her more by sticking to calling her Mrs. Smith After all she had taken her away from her home to go live with complete strangers. The only nice thing she did was to let her stay with them until her flight to North Carolina.
"5 by 5."
Dawn used how Faith used to answer to the question because people would forget what their original question was trying to figure out what five by five meant but even Dawn didn't know what that mean. It was just another Faith saying.
"We're landing now," Mrs. Smith pointed out.
"I see."
Sarcasm dripped from Dawns voice. And by the lack of response Dawn guessed Mrs. Smith finally took the hint that she didn't want to be friends with her. When the plane landed she exited with everyone else. Coming into the airport she saw three people. Two women and a man. The man was holding a sign that said Dawn Summers. Mrs. Smith led her over to them.
"Mr. Davis. Mrs. Davis," Mrs. Smith smiled.
"Mrs. Smith." George greeted.
"Dawn this is your Aunt Amanda, Uncle George, and cousin Brooke," Mrs. Smith pointed to them each in turn.
Dawn gave them a forced smile. But it only came half way out.
"Well I have a plane to catch," Mrs. Smith handed Dawn her card, "Call me if you need anything."
Then she disappeared into the crowd. Dawn turned to look at the others.
"Here's a debut and a visa. Use it as much as you like. I'll pay the bill," George handed Dawn the cards, "Brooke will take you back to the house. Your Aunt and I have a plane to catch."
With that George and Amanda also disappeared into the crowd. Dawn glanced over at Brooke and than at the floor.
"Why don't we go get your luggage," Brooke suggested.
Dawn nodded and followed Brooke to the baggage claim.
"I hope you remember what they look like."
"Who?" Dawn asked confused.
"Your Aunt and Uncle."
"Why?"
"That's probably the first and last time you will see them."
By the time they got to Brooke's house it was nighttime. So they decided to call it a night. Brooke showed her where her room was and then went into her own. Dawn put away her clothes just so she didn't have to go to bed. She didn't make noise. She was used to having to sneak in and be very quiet since her sister was the slayer. She put a picture of her mom and her sister next to her bed and it made her want to cry. And with a week of non-emotions Dawn couldn't hold it in any longer. She curled up in a fetal position on her bed as sobs rocked her body. Emotions just had a way of pushing you when you were already down. It wasn't fair that every one she knew had to die. She heard her cell phone ring. It was heavy metal. Which meant it was Spike on the phone. But she just didn't have it in her to pick up the phone. But then the familiar arms pulled her into a hug.
"Spike," Dawn sobbed.
"I'm right here niblit," Spike replied.
Dawn buried her head in his chest. That's were she fell asleep.
Youth is the season of hope, enterprise, and energy-to a nation, as well as to an individual. --- W.R. Williams
Dawn woke up when the sun shone across her face. Colors danced on the wall all around her. Dawn looked around the room, but didn't find Spike anywhere. Maybe it was just a dream. But something told her it wasn't. Dawn slowly got dressed. She put on some jeans and red shirt. She pulled Buffy's favorite gray sweatshirt over her head. Dawn heard her stomach grumble. She hadn't eaten anything since that plane ride and on the plane she only had a bag of peanuts. So she took her pen and wrote a note. It said:
Dear Brooke,
I have gone to find a restaurant to get something to eat at. Be back soon. You know my cell phone number if you need me. I promise to call if I get lost.
Dawn Summers
Dawn put the note on Brookes door so that when she woke up she would see the note. Dawn went back to her room and did her make up. Then she grabbed her purse and left the house. The streets weren't very busy for it was only eight on a Sunday morning. The only people that where awake were people who had to work or people who went to church. Dawn didn't do either of those. She was just a hungry teen. Dawn had no idea where she was going. So when she saw a boy about her age or older playing basketball in his front yard she was happy. She first noted what he looked like. He was tall with short blonde hair. He had on loose fitting jeans and a gray sweatshirt. Dawn decided that he was approachable. It was something she did when seeing every guy. Her friend Janice had started the game. Dawn didn't know what to say though when she walked up to him. They had never really done that part of the game. But luckily she didn't have to wait because the basketball hit the hoop and bounced over to her. Being half slayer as she was Dawn was able to catch the ball before it hit her in the face.
"Sorry."
Dawn walked over to him and handed the ball back.
"It's alright," Dawn accepted his apology.
"I've never seen you around here before," Lucas said out of nowhere.
"Well I don't think you would have. I just moved here," Dawn joked.
"I'm Lucas," Lucas introduced himself, "or you could call me Luke."
"I'm Dawn."
"It's nice to meet you."
"You too," Dawn looked down at her feet, "Do you know where I could go to get something to eat?"
"Yeah. My mom owns a café. I'll show you. I just need to get changed."
Dawn nodded and followed him up to his house.
"You can come in," Lucas said.
Dawn nodded and followed him. She took a seat at the kitchen table. Lucas disappeared into a room and closed the door.
"I'll be out in a minute," Lucas called out.
"Okay."
Dawn looked around the room. It looked comfortable. Just like her old house was. It didn't shout I'm rich or I'm poor just I'm comfortable. And Dawn liked that. The front door opened and a woman with dark brown hair came in. She wore jeans and shirt that looked like it was from Italy.
"Oh, hello," the woman said.
"Hi," Dawn said shyly.
"Are you a friend of Lucas's?" the woman asked.
"I just met him. I moved here yesterday and don't know where anything is. He offered to show me where there's a diner," Dawn explained.
"I'm Lucas's mom. You can call me Karen."
"I'm Dawn."
Lucas came out of his room. Now he wore a pair of jeans and a blue sweatshirt. After all it was a little cool outside. But the cold never bothered Dawn before.
"Hey mom. I'm just going to show Dawn the café."
Karen nodded.
"Anything you want is on the house," Karen told her.
Dawn smiled and thanked her before following Lucas outside to his truck. They sat in silence as they drove to the café. When they got there it was closed.
"You realize it's closed."
"My mom owns it. I have the key."
Dawn nodded and waited patiently as Lucas unlocked the door. When he did he went in a turned the lights on. Dawn sat at the counter while Lucas went behind the counter.
"Well now I'm hungry. I'm going to make eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee. Is that ok?" Lucas asked.
"Sure. I like the part about the coffee the best."
Lucas disappeared into the café's kitchen. She heard him humming back there. It was funny. Dawn was glad she was able to make friends in this new town. And for once her mind wasn't on Buffy and the last moment of her life. It was lit with happiness. In the corner of her mind she felt really guilty that she was living life while Buffy could never do that again. She wanted so much to be able to be in her arms once more. To tell her how much she loved her. She didn't even realize that she had started to cry until Lucas came out and brought her into a hug. Which made her feel a little better. When the tears subsided she looked gratefully at Lucas.
"Are you alright?" Lucas asked, concern shone in his eyes and she had only known him for an hour.
Dawn shook her head.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"I just miss my sister."
"What happened?"
"She died."
"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said that," Lucas apologized.
"You didn't know. Can we do something else?"
Lucas nodded.
"I was coming out to tell you breakfast was ready."
He moved away to reveal a plate with scrambled eggs, a piece of toast, two strips of bacon, and a mug of coffee. Next to her plate was one that was identical. Except he had two pieces of toast.
"I didn't know how many pieces of toast you wanted."
"It's fine."
They sat and eat in silence. When they finished Lucas looked at his watch.
"I got to go meet Nate now. Do you wanna come?"
Before Dawn could answer her cell phone rang. Since it was a normal ring Dawn knew it was Brooke. She had put a ring tone for everyone she knew and they were all different. She picked them based on personality and she hadn't known Brooke that long to decide. Dawn flipped the phone open on the second ring and placed it to her ear.
"Hello."
"Dawn Summers where the hell are you?" yelled Brooke.
"I'm at a café eating."
"Why didn't you leave a note?" Brooked demanded.
"I did. I left it taped to your door."
"Oh. I'll meet you in front of Karen's café in ten minutes. You know where that is right?"
"Yup. I found it."
"See you in a few."
Before Dawn could respond Brooke broke the connection. Dawn put away her phone thinking she had the craziest cousin.
"I wish I could come but my cousin told me to meet her out front in a couple minutes," Dawn gave Lucas his answer.
"Sure. Maybe I'll see you in school tomorrow. You are going to go to Tree Hill High? Right?"
Dawn nodded her head. Dawn followed him out of the café. She hadn't realized that as she talked he had cleaned up the café.
"So I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yep," replied Dawn, "Tomorrow in school."
Dawn watched Lucas get into his truck and drive off. She sat down on the bench and once again became consumed in her thoughts about Buffy. But this time she didn't cry because before she could get that far Brooke pulled up in her car.
"Hey newly found cousin," Brooke called out.
Dawn walked over to the car.
"Hey."
"Are you up for a day of shopping?" Brooke asked grinning.
"Always."
