The Blossoming Dawn

Dawn sat watching the girls around her dancing, dressed in glittery dresses that sparkled like their smiles, they floated in the arms of the boys that held them like care-free angels sent down to earth—and they were carefree, they had not a worry in the world.

She sighed knowing that the worries they did have were miniscule in comparison to hers.

She idly played with the pink satin bow of her dress that hung around the waist, her eyes down cast. She didn’t care if no boy asked her dance, she didn’t feel like dancing and silently seethed in anger at Buffy making her wear the ridiculously cute pink dress—as if she were some doll that Buffy could control and dress however she chose.

Dawn smiled wistfully brushing a curly string of her blonde hair out of her face, ‘At least Buffy’s paying attention to me’ she thought, if only for a moment.

Dawn shifted uncomfortably the dress tight around her blossoming breasts. She was sixteen and had already gone up two bra sizes, she clenched one ivory hand around the bow, and frowned, but Buffy still considered her a baby and treated her that way.

A boy walked over standing in front of her and she looked up at him standing there awkwardly, staring at her he finally spoke, “Would you like to um—dance with me?” he asked a nervous smile on his face, his hands shaking.

A small smile came to Dawn’s lips, she was surprised at how nervous he was and him standing there, dreading the fear of rejection as he looked at her with wanting eyes swayed her heart.

She decided she would at least try to have fun, pink dress or not. “Um—sure” she said and smiled as he took her hand as she stood up, a slow song played and they slow danced he was a foot shorter then her, so it was sort of awkward, she had to lead and his head was level with her chest, but they danced and Dawn felt a flicker of happiness as they danced, moving awkwardly in circles.

It made her feel normal for a while, after the song stopped he got her a cup of punch and they sat down. He smiled and tried not to look at her breasts, “So—um—I like your dress” he said, trying to make conversation, she nodded and he spoke again, “Your Dawn—right?” he asked and she was little surprised he knew her name, “Yeah. Dawn Summers—the girl known for being absent a lot” she said he laughed at her joke and she found herself chuckling along with him.

“I—I’m Ben um—Ben Saunders. You’re in my biology class—I sit behind you.”

Dawn nodded, again surprised that he knew who she was.

“Oh—right you’re the one who refused to dissect the frog” he chuckled.

“Yeah, I just don’t believe in killing animals or you know—cutting them open” he smiled and for the first time she noticed he was kind of cute. He had a nice smile and dark curly hair and his eyes were rather pretty too, a hazel-green with a slight slant to them.

“I think that was cool. I didn’t want to dissect the frog either. I mean it’d be like killing Kermit” she said an embarrassed look coming to her face in disbelief she had just said something so childish. He didn’t seem to notice and only smiled,

“Yeah—um I wanted to ask you something, Dawn?” he said taking a deep breath and Dawn felt her curiosity peaked.

“I—I wanted to know if you had a boyfriend? I—I’m just curious” he said quickly trying to sound desperate.

“No I don’t have a boyfriend. Why?” she asked.

“Oh—um I just was wondering if maybe some time—I don’t know you might want to—go to a movie with me—or something’ he said looking at her nervously, his hands shaking slightly—fearing the possibility of rejection.

“Ben, I think that would be fun” Dawn said and saw Buffy standing in the doorway of the auditorium motioning to her.

She stood up, “Well I gotta’ go—I’ll see you tomorrow in Biology” she waved goodbye walking towards Buffy as she did and looking over her shoulder. Ben smiled and shouted ‘bye’ as she left. Dawn followed Buffy as they walked down the street-lamp lit sidewalks of Sunnydale.

“So Dawn—was that a boy you were talking to?”

Dawn rolled her eyes, “Yes, he asked me to dance and we did—okay” Dawn said slightly annoyed, she grimaced when Buffy made the face that mothers usually make when their daughter goes on her first date or gets kissed for the first time.

“Would you stop, it’s not cute. I’m not a baby and me dancing or talking to a boy is NOT cute. I’m a young adult.”

Buffy made a mock-expression of guilt and then smiled as they walked along.

Dawn smiled too as she walked behind her.

She was happy that he had asked her to dance and that they were going to go out on an actual date—just like normal teenagers did. She couldn’t wait until tomorrow.

That night as she lay down to sleep, she felt happy for once, hopeful that maybe she would have a shot at a normal teenage life or for that matter a social life of any kind.

Her eyes slowly closed and she dreamt of being crowned homecoming queen and Ben was the prince.

All the students cheered, the guys looked at her longingly and the girls glared in envy as a tiara was placed upon her head. A smile was on her lips as she slept.

She felt a sense of renewed hope that maybe every thing would be fine from then on.