A/N: Hey all, sorry it's been so long. Viruses basically severed my internet connection. I was going to put this off for later, but people really want Dawn to hook up with her future undead boyfriend. So, here you go.

Key To My Heart – Chapter Fifteen – Girl Meets Boy

Dawn POV

Me, Janice, Lucy, Claire and Katie were at the bronze. I swear, if one more guy hits on me…"Summers!"

"Yeah Janice?"

"What's up with you? You've just been sitting there for like, ever."

"Sorry. I've got a lot on my mind."

She sat down next to me. "Like what?"

"It's just…I don't know. Do you ever feel disconnected? Like, there's no place in this world for you?"

She shrugged. "Sometimes."

"So what do you do to get over it?"

She just smiled. "Beer helps." We both laughed. "Come on Dawn, let's dance, have a good time." I let her drag me to the dance floor, still giggling.

We danced for a bit, and then went to the bar to get drinks.

We passed a group of people, two guys and two girls. I heard one of the guys, a redhead with hair a little darker than Willow's talking. He was wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt with a skull on it. "…bin passin' for eighteen for ages. Trust me duck, I can get served." I noticed his accent. British. Kinda like Spike's, but a little different. He sounded a bit like Hagrid from Harry Potter, but mostly like Spike though. Kind of cute. One of girls answered him. She was American. "We're in America, remember. The law here says you can't drink until your twenty one. And you might be able to pass for eighteen, but no way will you pass for twenty one."

"Oh for fucks sake. I wanna go back t' England."

"God Raven, shut up. You've done nothing but complain ever since we got here."

"Well no bloody wonder."

'Raven?', I thought. 'No way that's his real name.' Whatever, we got our drinks and sat down. After we finished, the girls went back on the dance floor and I went to get a refill. On my way to the bar I bumped into someone. "Oh, sorry," I said. I looked at him and saw that it was that British guy. He smiled at me. He's got a cute smile. "S' okay love," he said. I blushed and looked down. I mean, I know 'love' doesn't mean anything, it's just what British people say, but it still made me blush. He kind of cocked his head to the side and looked at me.

"What's y' name, if y' don't mind me askin'?"

"Uh, Dawn."

He held out a hand. "Mathew." I shook it, and looked at him curiously.

"I heard you talking earlier. I thought your name was Raven."

He looked a bit uncomfterble. "Uh, well yeah that is me name. Kinda."

"Uh huh. So why'd you say it was Mathew then?"

"Try bein' named after a bird. It's fuckin' miserable."

I laughed, and he grinned. We started talking for a bit. He's just got into town tonight, on this business thing with his family. After a while Janice, Lucy, Claire and Katie came over. "Hey Dawn," Lucy said. She looked Raven up and down. "Who's this?"

"Oh, right. Guy's, this is Raven."

Lucy snorted. "Raven?" she asked, taking in his outfit. "So what, you're some baby Goth trying to be scary? Ooh look at me, I'm Raven, I'm evil." He muttered something under his breath. I'm not sure, but I think it was 'Bloody yanks'.

"See what I mean?" He asked. I nodded, and tried not to grin at the look on his face. He really seemed to want to hurt Lucy. Janice gave me a 'So you've got yourself a guy huh?' look. I blushed and shrugged. She grinned at me.

"So Raven," she asked. "How long are in town for?"

He shrugged. "Dunno. Could be a while."

"Uh huh. So, you got a girlfriend?"

I was silently begging Janice not continue.

"Nope."

Shut up shut up shut up.

"Really? Because Dawn just happens to be single."

She will die. She will die slowly and painfully for this.

Raven looked at me and grinned. "Yeah?"

Kill me. Kill me now.

"So Raven," Claire asked. "What part of England are you from?"

"Nottingham."

"Nottingham? Hey, does Sherwood Forest really exist?"

"Yeah."

"Cool. So, is like, that were Robin Hood really lived?"

"Yeah. Robin 'Ood and th' Merry Men were based at the Major Oak. It's an oak tree with a lot of hollow places t' hide the weapons. Bin around f'r about a thousand years."

"Whoa. Hey, what about Nottingham Castle where Prince John ruled?"

"Yeah, it's real. It's still standing y' know. You're even in Nottingham, y' might wanna go see it."

"Seriously? It's still there?"

"Yeah. Quite a few medieval castles scatted around the country. The house William Shakespeare grew up in as a kid is around as well."

"Huh. That's…weird."

Raven just shrugged. "Not t' me."

And then, uncomftorble silence. I tried to thing of something to say. "So, uh, where're you staying?"

"Crawford Road."

Katie raised her eyebrows. "The place with all the mansions?"

"Yeah."

"So, you must be rich then. How much do your folks earn?"

"Katie!" I hissed at her. Oh my God, I am so embarrassed.

"Me mum an' dad are dead." I stared at him in surprise. He had a look on his face I couldn't read.

"Oh. Uh…sorry," Katie muttered.

Raven just shrugged. "Don't worry about it love."

"So, uh…how did they die?" I asked timidly.

"Car crash."

"I'm sorry." I bit my lip and looked away. "My…my mom died last year."

He gave me a look of pity, which I hated. "I'm sorry t' hear that."

"Well, at least Dawn's mom died knowing her taste in clothes wasn't shit like yours did," Lucy said. She meant it as a joke, but I felt hurt. Raven got a very angry look on his face, and he flexed his fingers like he wanted to wrap them around her throat. I didn't blame him. Lucy saw that she'd said the wrong thing. "Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it."

Raven just turned and marched over to the exit. I glared at Lucy, and ran after him. I don't really know why. I mean, I'd only just met him. I guess I just felt sorry for him. I saw him standing in a dark corner lighting up a cigarette. I walked up to him. He looked up, saw me and nodded. "Hey," I said. I couldn't really think of anything else. He took a drag, put his lighter in his pocket and sat down against the wall. A few seconds went by. "I'm sorry about…uh…you know."

He blew smoke out. "S'okay."

"No, it's not." I debated for a few seconds, and then sat down next to him. He smoked, and I tried to think of something to say. Eventually I just sat next to him and didn't bother trying. Something I've learned is that sometimes quiet is best.

A few minutes later he finished his cigarette. "So, one a the girls in there said your single."

I blushed. "Yes, and she will pay."

He laughed. "Well, it's 'cos you want to be. Pretty girl like you could get any bloke she wanted to."

Again, I blushed. Agh, there should be a limit. "So, uh, you going back in?"

"Nah. Think I'll take a walk."

I felt a rush of panic. Walking on your own in Sunnydale is not of the good. "Hey, I know your new in town, wouldn't you rather get on home? You might get lost."

"I'll be okay. Got a good memory, me. I not get lost. An' even if I do, not stay lost fer long in a place this small."

I gave him a very serious look. "Raven, please don't go out at night on your own. It's not safe."

He raised his eyebrows at me. "Why not?"

"Because…because…" What could I saw? Because you might get killed or eaten or sacrificed? "Because it just isn't," I muttered lamely. He gave me a weird look.

"Okay, fine. 'Ave it your way."

I gave him a weak smile. "Thanks."

He stood up. "Well, I'm off. You goin' back inside?"

"Yeah, I think I'd better."

He stuck his hand out, and I shook it. It felt a little weird. Most teenage boys around here don't shake a girl's hand. Must be an English thing. "Well, it wuz nice meetin' you."

I smiled. "Ditto."

"Bye Dawn."

"Bye Raven."

A/N: Sorry to leave it like that, but it's 04:11a.m. and I'm too tired to think of anything better. Although I don't think it's too bad. I mean,they're not exactly going to declare their undying love for each other right now are they? They've only just met.

About that boring bit about England…I usually get asked those questions a lot. And, you know, I was trying to fill in space.

Ah well, I think overall it wasn't too bad. What do you think?