Dawn raised her eyebrows. "I guess it's hard to imagine people living in certain places. Like LA, 'cause it's so big, but also some really tiny towns, like they're not really real."
Of course, it was hard to imagine people really living in Sunnydale, too, despite everything, and yet.
"Um, not that I'm saying York's boring," she added quickly, not wanting to insult his hometown so soon into the conversation. "It's just-" a Hellmouth "-surreal."
"Like pretty girls doing research in the bullshit bookstore you stop into on the way home from work."
Wow. Yeah. Talk about surreal. Dawn could feel her cheeks burning, and was sure she resembled nothing more than a ripe tomato. She ducked her head down, half-hiding behind her hair and her coffee, and tried frantically to think of what to say. Nothing was coming.
"Um. Thanks," she finally said lamely, raising her eyes to meet his. She wondered what his agenda was, but at the same time, couldn't help but be flattered.