Disclaimer: All those involved with the story that I didn't create myself out of thin air belong to Joss Whedon and anyone associated with him who is lucky enough to be a part of writing, producing, funding, or drawing the characters that he created from that insane mind of his that we all love so much.

Rating: Mostly PG-13 but I'm not opposed to the idea that it'll get closer to R or NC-17 in the near future.

Feedback: Anything you're willing to give me is fine in whatever way you'd like to give it to me. :)

Distribution: Anywhere other than where I put it, lemme know and I'm sure it'll be fine.

Author Notes: Sorry about the long delay, I've been a bit busy with that life thing. I'll work on making better updates.

Just a College Girl Chapter 21

That Key Thing

Pushing the door open, I walk into the cafeteria for what feels like the first time in a long time.

It feels like I haven't been here in a couple months, not a couple weeks. I stopped in from time to time to pick up homework and stuff, but otherwise I spent most of the last eight weeks at Faith's side. The place where I should be right now. There's no need for me to be here. No reason for me to sit around and learn things I don't really care about. What does matter is over at my sister's dojo right now, flipping through useless books.

I make my way over to a table and just sit down, no lunch to speak of.

They aren't going to find anything, because there's nothing to find. That demon was looking for something that doesn't exist. The Key is gone, it died with Glory. And it's not coming back. Not ever. I know that. So there's nothing left to research. Except Buffy still insists that it's important, no matter how stupid an idea I think it is. She's always doing that... assuming the worst, even when there's nothing worth assuming.

Not that Faith actually knows why Buffy is so focused on finding this demon's master or whatever. At least, I'm pretty sure she doesn't know. Because... I know that I haven't told her about it, and I'm pretty sure Buffy hasn't told Faith about it. And even though I'm sure Willow could tell Faith about it, I don't think she will. If she were, she probably would've done it by now, and I would've heard from Faith. She'd probably want to yell at me for not telling her... I think.

I'm not really sure how Faith would react to finding out I didn't tell her about the demon wanting to find The Key. Maybe she might be okay with it. But I've been wrong before about my assumptions. All those times I was worried that she might have a problem with something I said or did, she was okay with them. She brushed them off like they were nothing. What if this time is different though? What if it's different because this time Buffy thinks that my life is in danger that Faith will want to yell at me for not telling her? It's... it's probably better that Faith doesn't know.

There are a lot of things I think Faith would be better off not knowing about what happened while she was in a coma. Like the spell, for one. I did the right thing by casting it when I did. I know I did. She doesn't need to know about the good things that happened while she was unconscious. They don't matter anymore. The only thing that matters is what's happening now. We're together, and we're happy that way. Or at least, as soon as Buffy gives up this crazy wild goose chase that won't find anything we will be.

When I hear the nearby door open, I look up, almost as if fate wanted me to, I see Candy and Tess walking through, into the cafeteria.

Of course, there's still a chance that everything could come crashing down around me I guess. If Candy ever decided to tell Faith, or my sister, about the spell I did, I don't think things would go so well for me. My sister would definitely go nuts. She'd probably rant and rave about how terrible a thing I did and try to ground me or something. Not that she can ground me, I'm 19 years old, but she'd try. And if she did, I'd just go stay with Faith for a while until she calmed down. Assuming that Faith didn't hate me too for what I did.

She'd at least give me a chance to explain before doing anything about it... I think. Faith knows we missed our anniversary, and she knows that it was kind've a hard time for me. So it's possible that she'd just let it go and move on. But... I don't really know for sure so I'd rather not take the chance. And as long as Candy doesn't say anything, being the only person other than me who knows what I did then I won't ever have to find out, which is probably for the best.

I did the right thing, casting that spell. It made everything work out for the best and now everything's fine. Anyone who doesn't understand that, isn't really my friend. They couldn't be. I just wish I knew for sure where Candy falls in. She hasn't said anything about the spell to anyone, as far as I know. Except that she wasn't exactly understanding about what I did after she found out. She might not have yelled like Buffy would, but she was definitely on my case.

My best friends finally notice me and start heading this way.

So why hasn't she ratted me out yet? There've been plenty of moments where she could've done it no problem. But she hasn't. It doesn't make any sense. What does she get out of keeping my secret? Candy may not have always been the greatest of people towards me, but I can't see her wanting to use it for blackmail or something like that. Especially since there really isn't anything about me worth blackmailing. I don't have any powers, or special skills or anything like that. I can't do anything for her. Unless it's not blackmail she's after. But what else could she want?

"Hey Dawn..."

I do my best to smile at them when Candy speaks.

"Hey guys..."

They both sit down like they're entitled to or something. Tess finally speaks up.

"How's it going?"

All I do is shrug.

"All right I guess."

Candy asks the question I know is laced with more than just concern.

"How's Faith?"

"She's fine. She went back to work today. So I guess she's pretty much recovered from what happened."

There's a silent moment where Candy and I just stare at each other, her real feelings about me saying that coming in loud and clear.

"I'm so glad to hear that. I was kinda worried about her for a while there. But I'm sure you had enough of that while she was out."

Looking away from Candy finally, I smile at Tess.

"Yeah, more than enough to last a lifetime, I'd be really happy if I didn't have to worry about anything for a long time."

Tess and Candy both kind of look at each other for a second.

"Well, I don't know if you're gonna get your wish. The way Buffy talks, we've got something worse coming our way soon."

"Yeah well, Buffy can be an idiot sometimes."

Again my two best friends look at each other strangely.

"You're not worried? She said that there could be something else looking for this Key thing that it wanted."

I shrug.

"My sister can assume the worst about things. I guess it's because we lived on a hellmouth for so long where bad things usually led to more bad things, but we don't live on a hellmouth anymore. And even if we did, whatever it is isn't going to find what it's looking for."

Both my friends look at me like I'm crazy.

I'm not crazy, I know it's true.

"Why?"

Of course they were going to ask me that question. I never did tell them the truth about me, where I came from, what I used to be.

"Because, The Key is gone... it doesn't exist anymore."

Candy and Tess get a confused look on their faces.

"There was this thing back in Sunnydale. A demon came after The Key. It was looking for it and tried to end the world with it."

They get even more confused.

"So I guess the demon never found it then? Since we're all still here and the world is too."

"Not exactly... the demon, her name was Glory... she found The Key and used it. But Buffy stopped the world from ending by sacrificing herself for it."

My best friends seem to understand a little more.

"That's why she died and went to heaven before. She never did go into details about it when I asked."

"Yeah, it's not something she likes to talk about unless she has to."

Both of them stay silent for a second, looking like they're expecting more, before Tess confirms their curiosity.

"So... then what happened to it?"

"The demon? Glory's dead. She bled to death from the beating Buffy gave her with this huge hammer of a troll god thing."

Tess looks at me like I grew a second head.

"No, I meant, The Key. What happened to it?"

"It's gone."

"Gone?"

"Yeah, it's gone. Which is why the demon wasn't going to find anything, and neither is whatever it was working for, if there even is something out there."

The two of them look at me puzzled for a second.

"What do you mean, gone?"

What do they think I mean?

"It's gone. It doesn't exist anymore. There isn't anything left for anyone to find."

Their confused expressions don't exactly go away.

"How do you know?"

I take a deep breath.

"Trust me, I know."

Tess keeps pushing the issue.

"Okay but, how?"

They just aren't gonna let this go.

"It doesn't matter. The point is, The Key is gone, and it's not coming back, just leave it alone would you?"

The way they're looking at me tells me that they don't really want to.

"Okay..."

"Sure, whatever."

That isn't gonna last long. I need to get out of here.

"Look, I'm not all that hungry. I don't even know why I came in here since I don't have a lunch. I'm gonna go."

"Or you could stay. I mean, we haven't seen a lot of you in the past little while."

I'm about to respond when I find out I don't have to, thanks to Candy.

"Hey if she wants to go, let her go."

Well that works out better.

Getting up quickly, I start walking away.

"I'll see you guys later."

We don't say anything else to each other before I reach the door and leave.

They don't know what they're talking about. They didn't live through what I lived through when Glory came after me. The Key is gone. There's nothing left to find and everyone should stop trying.

End of Chapter 21