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Dawn parked the car next to several others along the side of the wide driveway; she looked up at what could only be described as a mansion. "Wow!" she exclaimed as she got out, the midwinter sunshine reflecting off the many windows.

Walking up to the door, she rang the bell, looking around nervously. A dark haired woman in her twenties wearing a maid's uniform suddenly opened the door.

"Yes, may I help you?" she asked in what Dawn recognised as a Greek accent.

"Ah yes, I'm a friend of Madeline's, she invited me to go riding with her today," said Dawn.

"Please come in and I will inform Miss Madeline that you have arrived," said the maid.

"Thank you," said Dawn stepping inside the entrance hall that looked about the same size as her entire home back in Stars Hollow.

The maid led Dawn into a large sitting room, she turned to the teenager, smiling a little at her as Dawn looked around, "Please have a seat, while I inform Miss Madeline."

Dawn sat on the edge of what looked like a very expensive chair as she continued looking around.

Dawn jumped up quickly as the maid returned a few minutes later. "Miss Madeline wishes for you to join her in her room. If you will please follow me," she said as she held the door open for Dawn. "This way please," she led her up the wide marble staircase and turning left leading her to the second door down the hallway.  Knocking she opened it when a come in came from inside, she stepped aside, "Please go in," she said.

Dawn stepped into Madeline's bedroom, swallowing, she blushed a little, as she was confronted by her friend, with her back to her, bending over and pulling a pair of thong panties up her well-shaped legs. "Hey Dawn, sorry I'm running a little late this morning."

"That's okay," said Dawn looking around the rather small bedroom, even though it was still larger than her own room, and had a walk-in closet that now had both doors open. "I gotta say your house is big."

Madeline smiled at her friend as she turned to face her as she was adjusting her sports bra. "Yeah it is. I'd prefer something smaller, but daddy was born here and so were my little brother and I, so he refuses to sell it, even though it costs him a fortune each year to maintain." She suddenly frowned as she realised that Dawn was not carrying any riding cloths, "Where's your change of clothes?"

"Oh I figured that I'd just wear some jeans," explained Dawn.

"No you should have the right clothes. You can borrow some of mine," insisted Madeline as she disappeared into her closet for a moment before reappearing with a set of riding clothes. "Here you are," she said handing them to Dawn.

"Are you sure?" asked Dawn.

"Of course. That way if you get them dirty you won't have to drive home in them," pointed out Madeline.

"Okay," said Dawn beginning to strip.

As Madeline pulled her top over her head, she saw the panties Dawn wore. "I think you might want to change those," she said pointing.

"Huh?" frowned Dawn.

"Three words Dawn, visible panty line," said Madeline before giggling. "Besides it drives the stable boys crazy wondering if we are wearing anything underneath our riding gear." Opening a drawer and pulling another pair of thong panties out, handing them to her friend.

Dawn joined her in laughing, "You're evil," she said taking the offered thong, which she noticed had a print of a rose. She raised her eyebrow at her friend, "Is there a hidden meaning here?" she asked holding them up.

Madeline laughed, "Louise bought them as a joke last Christmas, she got herself a pair and said we should wear them when we find the one who we plan on giving our cherry too."

Dawn blushed a little, "So hmm you and Louise are still virgins?"

"Of course we are, we're not sluts," Madeline said a little angrily. "Sorry," she apologised, "I know we both have ah... a colourful reputation at school, but the most we ever let any boy do is cop a feel. Until recently we always made sure the other was nearby just in case one of the boys got out of hand."

"I'm sorry," apologised Dawn. "I shouldn't have assumed that just because you date lots of boys you were ah easy."

"That's okay. Anyway I haven't dated a whole lot lately," said Madeline, 'Or at all.'

"Oh why?" asked Dawn as she changed.

"Ah I just got tired of getting groped by fumbling boys I guess. Part of the reason Louise and I would go through so many boys was because we would dump them when we thought they were getting close to wanting more than we were prepared to give." Madeline handed Dawn a pair of riding boots, "You're a six, right?"

"Yeah," nodded Dawn putting them on. "They're a little tight across my toes but otherwise they feel good," she said standing and testing them by walking back and forth.

"They'll do for today, but if you want to keep riding you should probably get your own, or you could suffer later in life."

"I can sort that out next week," said Dawn. "Okay, shall we go?"

"Of course. We'll go in my car," said Madeline grabbing a set of keys off her computer desk.

"Bye Alexis, see you later," Madeline waved happily to the maid that had answered the door to Dawn as the two teenagers passed her dusting in the entrance hall.

"Bye Miss Madeline, enjoy your ride."

As they exited the house, Madeline depressed a key and Dawn watched the old white model VW Beatle's lights flash. Dawn looked at her friend as they approached the car, "I kind of figured that with the sort of money your family obviously has that you would have something I don't know...? Glamorous or sporty?"

"When I was about four, I had this crazy idea that Herbie was real and whenever I saw a white Beatle I'd run up to it and start talking to it, my dad would tell me that Herbie was somewhere else and would promise me that one day he would buy me him," laughed Madeline.

Dawn also laughed, "That's so cute. So this isn't really Herbie is it," she giggled.

"No, at least I don't think so?" said Madeline joining her friend's giggle. "I forgot all about daddy's promise, he bought it for my sixteenth birthday. He had it customised though," she said getting in the plush driver's seat.

* * * * *

Madeline parked in an empty space outside a single storey structure that announced that they were at the Austrian Riding School of Hartford.

Dawn looked curiously at the sign as she got out, "What's with the name?" she asked.

"Oh, the present owner's father came here from Austria after the second world war, he was one of the instructors at the Spanish Riding School, so he named his stables in honour of it," explained Madeline as she pushed open the door and walked up to the desk. "Hi Jenny, can you have Thunder saddled for me. And have you a horse that would be suitable for my friend Dawn here, she use to ride back in California but not for about five years now," she said to the woman behind the desk.

"Hey Madeline. I think we can arrange that," said Jenny smiling up at them. She opened a drawer and pulled out a form and attaching it to a clipboard handed it to Dawn, "If you would please fill out this form and sign the bottom I'll sort out your mounts."

Meanwhile Madeline had signed the visitors book, "Oh and could you put Dawn's fee under daddy's account?"

"Sure," nodded Jenny as she picked up the phone.

"I can't let you do that," said Dawn looking up from the form.

"Yeah you can, you're my guest, I invited you, so I'm paying... well daddy is anyway."

Dawn smiled, "Okay, but we'll stop somewhere on the way back to your house and I'll buy us both lunch."

"Okay," smiled Madeline.

* * * * *

Madeline led Dawn through the building and out into the courtyard at the rear, it had stalls on two sides and across the other side of the yard was the food store and tack room.

Two boys, maybe a few years older than Dawn, were leading two horses out, one a palomino, the other a chestnut. Dawn judged both at 16 or 17 hands. She unconsciously swallowed at the size; she did not remember the horses she had ridden back in California being so big.

Madeline's face had broken into a huge grin at the sight of her horse. She closed the distance between them, rubbing the palomino's head, "Hi Thunder, you wanna run?" The large horse seemed to nod before knocking his owner in the side of her jacket, "You want what I got in my pocket do you?" she giggled as the horse snorted and again nudged Madeline's side. "Okay here you go baby," she pulled out some sugar lumps and held them out for Thunder to take from her hand.

Dawn swallowed past her apprehension again and walked up to the chestnut as she rubbed his nose she looked at the tall boy holding the horse's bridle, "What's his name?"

The groom ran a hand down the horse's strong neck, "Chocolate, Miss. Miss Jenny said you hadn't ridden recently so he is probably the best mount for you, until you get use to riding again. He is very gentle; we've never found anything that spooks him."

"That's good, 'cause at this moment I'm more than a little nervous," Dawn confided in the boy.

"That's understandable Miss," smiled the boy. "Do you want me to help you up now?"

"Ah yeah, thanks... Well here goes," said Dawn letting out a sigh and placing her booted foot in the stirrup.

The boy held onto Dawn's lower leg and gently lifted her. "There you go Miss, enjoy your ride," he said.

Dawn smiled as she caught him in her peripheral vision, licking his lips as he looked at her tightly clad thighs. "Thanks," she said looking down at him as he tried to pretend he was looking elsewhere.

Dawn watched as the slightly older looking boy helped Madeline, she could not help admiring how her friend's tightly confined thighs and backside looked so inviting, it made her mouth water. 'You're a real perv Summers.' She smiled as Madeline turned Thunder expertly to face her.

"We'll take it slow until you get use to riding again, okay?" said Madeline.

"Alright," agreed Dawn as she guided Chocolate to follow Madeline and Thunder out onto one of the bridle paths. When the path widened she drew Chocolate alongside the other horse. "So did you see the boy that helped me, licking his lips as he looked at my thighs?" she giggled.

Outrage and jealousy both warred across Madeline's face for a moment before she was able to replace them with a smile, "No, but I'm sure he was wondering if you had any panties on," she said before something occurred to her and she giggled. "Dawnie has Chocolate between her legs," she had to hold on tight to her saddle so as not to fall off as the giggle began to take hold.

Dawn smirked at the other girl she regarded as her best friend, 'And maybe one day something more?' "And you have Thunder between yours... does that make you Thunder thighs?"

"Oh god I hope not," said Madeline wiping her eyes.

For a moment, Dawn looked at her friend, a little longing in her eyes, 'I'd love to find that out for myself!' "You called me Dawnie! Until now only my family, and my friends back in Sunnydale, have ever called me that?"

Madeline looked at Dawn who seemed to be telling her something very important. "Sorry, it just came out," she apologised.

"No that's okay; I like the idea of you calling me Dawnie... except maybe at school or in front of our friends," Dawn said somewhat shyly.

"Ah... okay," said Madeline swallowing hard, "And hmm if you want, you can call me Maddie, only daddy and my little brother call me that. I tried getting Louise and Paris to call me it when we were younger, but Paris went into this long winded argument about how shortening names was wrong or something... to tell you the truth I blocked it out after about a minute, so I'm not sure what her point was. So rather than have her ranting on for ever I let it drop."

"I can understand that, when Paris gets going it's time to duck and cover," Dawn laughed. "Okay, you call me Dawnie when the others aren't around and I'll call you Maddie, Maddie. You know with all Paris' faults, and I'm sure you and Louise know them all, if she ever went into politics she'd make Margaret Thatcher look like a cuddly bunny."

Madeline's eyes lit up with mirth again, "Yeah, but what a President," she laughed. She looked at Dawn, assessing her riding competence so far, "You ready to pick up the pace?"

"You bet," said Dawn as she moved Chocolate into a fast trot, when she had gone with her father and Buffy, back in Los Angeles, this was the fastest she had ever allowed to go. But now there was no one to order her to slow down, she slowly increased Chocolate's pace until she felt like she was flying, her hair billowing out behind her, she began to laugh with exhilaration as she saw Madeline and Thunder draw alongside and match her horse stride for stride. After about a mile, they slowed down first to a trot and then to a canter before slowing to a gentle walk. Dawn had a huge smile on her face as she looked at Madeline, "That was awesome," she exclaimed.

"Yeah, there's nothing like it in the world," said Madeline. "Even though Louise likes to ride, and even Paris has indicated she occasionally does as well, you're the only one who feels like me."

"Hey maybe one weekend we could all go riding, maybe drag Rory along as well," Dawn smirked evilly.

"Yeah," agreed Madeline with a twinkle in her own eyes. Suddenly without warning, she kicked Thunder into a run, "Race you to the stream," she shouted.

"Hey, cheater," shouted out Dawn as she spurred Chocolate after her friend.

It was around midday when the two teenagers rode back into the riding stables, the same two boys came out to hold the horses steady while Madeline and Dawn dismounted. "Did you enjoy your ride, Miss?" asked the one helping Dawn.

"Yeah, I forgot how great riding can be, I'll definitely be doing this again," Dawn smiled at the groom. She patted the horse's strong neck, "Thank you Chocolate, I'll be seeing you again soon. And next time I'll bring you some treats," she looked at the groom, "That's okay, to bring him some treats, right?"

"Of course Miss, we expect as much."

"Okay thanks, bye Chocolate, bye Thunder," called out Dawn as the grooms led the two horses away to be rubbed down.

Dawn looked at Madeline and they giggled as they heard one of the grooms sigh as he exclaimed, "Girls!"

* * * * *

They decided to forgo Dawn buying them lunch as they both felt all sticky and in need of a shower, which Madeline offered Dawn at her house.

"But I buy you lunch at school on Monday," insisted Dawn as she climbed in the car beside the brunette.

Parking her car in the driveway, Madeline led Dawn into the house and up to her bedroom; she closed the door and locked it as Dawn looked curiously at her. "My little brother's at the age where he is becoming curious about girls, a couple of weeks ago he walked in on Louise and I trying on some outfits we had bought... I thought Louise was going to kill him. Mum grounded him for a week, but still not taking chances."

"Right," said Dawn taking her top off as Madeline sat on her bed.

"You wanna help me get my boots off, then I'll help you?"

"Sure," nodded Dawn as she grabbed her friend right booted leg and lifted it between her thighs and pulled as Madeline placed her left boot on her backside. With a little effort she pulled it off, taking a staggered step forward with the boot still in her hands, placing it to one side she took hold of Madeline's left boot. She froze as she felt the other girl right foot, press gently into her right cheek; she closed her eyes for a moment allowing the sensation to wash over her, she swallowed, "Right here goes," she said pulling the boot off and putting it down next to the right.

Dawn did not meet Madeline's eyes as they changed places. She allowed Madeline to gently lift her right leg between her thighs; she blushed as the idea of moving her booted leg just a little more upwards and rubbing it against her friend's centre. She frowned, 'That felt like Maddie rubbing her hand along the back of my boot?' Moments later, her boot was on the floor. She swapped legs, unable to resist the chance to spread her toes out on the well- rounded backside in front of her, she crunched up the toes of her left foot to make it harder for Madeline to remove the boot, giving her more time to press, and rub, her right foot over Madeline's cheek.

Eventually she eased up and the boot came loose, "I think you will definitely want to get yourself some boots," said Madeline as she dropped the boot next to the others.

"Yes," agreed Dawn as she stood and pulled her breeches down and sitting back down pulled them off.

After they had removed the rest of their cloths, Madeline put on a robe and tied it around her waist. "You use my shower and I'll use mum and dad's," she said heading for the door. As she unlocked it, she looked back at Dawn, "Ah I'd lock the bathroom door if I were you, just in case!"

"Right, 'cause of pervy brothers," giggled Dawn as she grabbed her clothes and headed for the other door.

Dawn returned some twenty minutes later to the bedroom. Only to find a boy of about eleven quickly sitting down on Madeline's bed, a look of innocence on his face. "Who are you?" he asked.

"I'm Dawn, I'm a friend of Madeline's," said Dawn smiling at him. "And I guess you are her little brother?"

"I'm not little," said the boy. "Dad says I will probably be a tall as him and he's six foot four."

"Oh, okay then," said Dawn sitting at Madeline's computer desk to pull on her socks. "So I told you my name, are you going to tell me yours?"

"Matthew James Lynn the fourth," said Matthew walking over and holding out his hand.

Dawn smiled at him as she shook it lightly, "Dawn Marie Summers the first and only."

"Are you making fun of me?" asked Matthew, "Because if you are I'll tell William our butler to throw you out."

Dawn had a job keeping a straight face, "Why would I do that?"

"Hey what have I told you about coming to my room when I'm not here?" came Madeline's voice from the door. Her eyes made a quick scan of the room; she spied one of her bedside drawer slightly open, hurrying over to the bed she pulled the drawer open, her eyes going wide as she saw her journal had been replaced haphazardly on top of one of her schoolbooks. She turned on her brother, anger in her eyes, "You've been reading my journal? You are going to get it this time you rat."

Matthew's eyes went wide as Madeline reached for the phone on top the bedside cabinet, realising what she was about to do. "Please Maddie don't tell nanny, I promise I only saw part of the first page... I won't do it again, please Maddie don't tell," he was almost in tears by the end.

"Why should I believe you? You keep promising, and every time you break it," said an angry Madeline.

"I don't know...? But please I'll do anything... just don't tell."

"I don't know why I should?" said Madeline hesitating, still holding the receiver.

"Because you'll have something on him," said Dawn, both siblings having forgotten she was there.

Madeline blushed slightly as she thought of how much damage her brother could have caused if he had more time with the journal. "What do you mean?" she asked curiously.

Dawn did not answer her friend but looked at her brother, "So you'll do anything if Madeline doesn't tell on you?"

"Yeah," Matthew said with a little apprehension, all the other times he had been able you talk his sister out of telling, the only time it had not worked had been when her friends Louise or Paris had been around. Now it seemed that her new friend had plans for him.

"What do you have in mind?" asked Madeline with some apprehension herself.

Dawn smiled as she stood up and beckoned her friend to come closer, she then whispered her plan into Madeline's ear, she shivered a little as Dawn's warm breath passed over her ear, smiling back at her brother who began to look worried.

Madeline turned to Matthew, "So you will do anything if I don't tell nanny?"

"Maybe," edged Matthew.

Madeline crossed her arms, "Well either you will or you won't? Which is it?"

"Okay, anything," sighed Matthew.

Madeline and Dawn smiled at him, "Okay take your shoes off and get on the bed, on your side," ordered his sister; they waited for him to comply.

"Now bend your knees, close your eyes and start sucking your thumb," giggled Dawn.

"What?" exclaimed Matthew sitting back up.

"If you don't want your sister to tell your nanny you better do it," said Dawn, doing a pretty good imitation of Buffy when she intimidated someone.

Sighing again, Matthew lay back down and did as they wanted, going a little red as he began sucking his thumb. He could hear both girls moving around the room, a drawer open and close before they came close to the bed.

"When I say now, I want you to open your eyes but don't look at me okay?" said Madeline. Matthew nodded his head slightly, wonder just what they had planned. "Now," said his sister.

As his eyes opened two flashes went off in front of him, Matthew realised just what they had done. He quickly sat up on the bed and looked on in horror as Madeline lowered her digital camera and her friend smiled at him from the side of her phone as she pressed several buttons before closing it. "I just sent the picture of you sucking your thumb to my computer at home, where it will stay unless Madeline tells me you are still annoying her, then it gets sent to the student section of the Chilton website where all your friends can see you."

"And mine will go to every one of our cousins, can you imagine what they will say and do, when they see it?" laughed Madeline as the boy ran from the room in tears.

"I hate you," he shouted as the door slammed shut.

Dawn looked at Madeline, "Do you think we went too far?"

"Oh no," smiled Madeline shaking her head. "He's been a real pain the last couple of years, ever since he became friends with Francis, Francie's step-brother."

"You mean there's another spawn of Satan besides Francie," Dawn giggled.

Madeline joined her friend's laughter, "No not really, the one thing that he has in his favour though is that he hates his step-sister."

Dawn sat back down on Madeline's bed and began pulling on her shoes, "I really enjoyed this morning, can we do it again?" she said glancing up at her friend and catching a flash of thigh as Madeline headed over to her vanity table.

"I'd love that Dawnie. How about the week after next?"

Dawn stood up looking at Madeline, "Why not next week?"

"It's the winter formal silly, aren't you going?"

"Nah," said Dawn shaking her head, "Not really my thing," she replied sadly.

"Oh," said Madeline hiding her disappointment from her friend. "Give me five minutes and I'll see you out. Unless I can get you to stay for lunch, maybe go swimming later?"

"I wish I could," 'Goddess how I wish I could?' sighed Dawn. "But I promised Rory and her mum I'd help them with the wedding reception at the Inn this afternoon... plus I still got homework to finish. Hmm... I was wondering if you would like to have a sleepover sometime... Not just the two of us," said Dawn hastily. "I was thinking of asking Louise, and maybe Paris, if you think they would come, and of course Rory."

"I'd love too," beamed Madeline. "Louise will definitely come, not so sure about Paris! She never came to any of mine or Louise's."

"Okay, I'll let you know when on Monday," said Dawn happily, as she sat quietly watching her friend finish dressing.

As the two girls got to the top of the stairs they spotted Matthew sitting at the bottom, his head in his hands, "Thanks for earlier," whispered Madeline as she nodded to her brother.

"Not a problem, I was never the big sister, but I know how annoying little brothers or sisters can be, I was always irritating Buffy, I hope she realises that I did love her," Dawn said her eyes going glassy.

"I'm sure she does Dawnie," said Madeline taking her friend's hand and squeezing it gently. Before walking hand-in-hand down the stairs.

Dawn smiled at Madeline, "Thanks for a wonderful morning. I'll see you Monday, bye Maddie," she said as Madeline opened the front door and for several moments, they stood looking into each other's eyes, not saying anything. Finally Dawn sighed and realising they still held each other's hand, released it, she turned slowly to walk down the steps, looking back from the bottom. "Thanks again," with that said she hurried to the car and got in, waving to the other girl as she pulled away.

As she closed the door, she saw her brother smirking at her. "What?" sighed Madeline.

Matthew laughed, "Madeline and Dawn kissing in a tree, K-I-S-S..." he stood quickly as he saw his big sister's eyes flash with anger and started up the stairs.

"You little rat, wait until I catch you," Madeline cried as she ran after her brother.

* * * * *

Headmaster Charleston, his deputy Ms Ames, Mr Lease and Ms MacAfee stood with Louise as the bus with the Hillside Wildcats Volleyball team arrived and began to disembark along with their headmistress, their coach Mr Fitzgerald and Assistant coach Ms Alterman.

Charleston extended his hand to the headmistress, "Alisa, a pleasure as always," he smiled.

"Hanlin," said Headmistress Johnson shaking his hand.

Charleston turned to his other colleagues, "Of course you know Stephanie and Fred," he said indicating Ms Ames and Mr Lease, "And this is Christine MacAfee our new Volleyball coach."

"A pleasure Ms MacAfee," said the Headmistress. "I hope Chilton gives a good showing today."

"Oh we will Headmistress," smiled Ms MacAfee. "I think we will surprise you this year. May I introduce you to our team captain Louise Grant?"

Headmistress Johnson shook the blonde's hand, "I am already acquainted with Miss Grant. I was sorry to hear of your illness after being selected to play against New York last year."

"Thank you Headmistress," said Louise shaking the hand before shaking the coaches and then the teams, taking a particular interest in her opposite number who had also replaced her in the all-state game. "Kennedy, welcome to Chilton," she said a little coldness entering her voice as she applied some extra pressure to the handshake.

"Thanks Louise," said Kennedy with equal coldness. "I hope we don't humiliate you too much today."

"Oh no worries about that," said Louise with a false smile in place.

* * * * *

Louise and Ms MacAfee escorted the Hillside team and their coaches to the boys' locker room that always served for the visiting female sports teams before joining the other Mintonettes in the girls' locker room.

"Okay girls," said Ms MacAfee raising her voice slightly over a number of conversations going on. The team quieted down, all looking at their coach, "I know Hillside are state champions but I watched them play a number of games last year and I'm telling you they can be beat if we can keep it close. They are all good players but they tend to make silly mistakes in close games because they lose concentration, just keep your focus and remember the game plan. Now let's get out there and de-claw some cats." She turned and led the players out of the locker room.

The first set went to Chilton 25-18, surprising the visitors, the second and third sets to Hillside, 26-24 and 25-13 as they got into their stride. But in the fourth, Hillside lost one of their key players when she and Dawn both jumped for the ball and the other girl landed awkwardly, twisting her ankle badly enough that she was unable to continue. Chilton won the set 25-20 forcing a fifth set.

The score finally reached 15-14 in favour of Chilton. Dawn was in the front-left position, when Louise served, which Kennedy returned from the back-centre.

Dawn watched as the ball sailed over the net towards Madeline in the Chilton back-centre, she deflected it over to Erica in the back- left, who hit it towards the net just to Dawn's right. Just as it passed her head, she jumped as high as she could hitting it between Hillside's front-centre and front-right, both of whom failed to react in time. Kennedy made a dive in an attempt to save the match but was too far back to hit it properly and the ball hit the net and fell to the floor.

There was a moments silence before the spectators went wild; it had been five years since the Chilton Mintonettes had beaten the Hillside Wildcats. Dawn found herself suddenly swamped by her teammates as they jumped in hugging her as they screamed and jumped around in excitement.

* * * * *

Charleston led everyone into the teachers' lounge where a light tea awaited them. These types of events being the only time any student was permitted beyond the door.

Dawn smiled as she spotted Willow, hurrying over she hugged her guardian, "We won. I can't believe we won!" she smiled.

"Of course we won, it was never in doubt, we had Dawn Summers on our team," said Willow smiling as she pulled away. "Your mum and Buffy would be so proud of you Dawnie," she said her eyes going glassy.

Dawn sniffed a little herself before smiling a little, "Yeah they would wouldn't they?"

"I'm sure they were both cheering when you won the game with that shot."

"Maybe," nodded Dawn. "But I didn't win on my own."

"No but you did score the winning point," said Madeline coming up behind Dawn.

Dawn turned and smiled at her friend, "Well yeah but you weren't a slouch yourself."

"Hey, we were all great," said Louise joining them. She looked at Willow, "So did you like your first volleyball game Ms Rosenberg?"

"What wasn't there to like, we won," Willow laughed.

"Ah there you are Miss Summers," said Charleston walking up to the four.

"Congratulations to you, you are a credit to the school," he smiled and looking around quickly to make sure no one from Hillside could overhear he leaned in closer and whispered, "Congratulations on sticking it to Hillside, always a good thing," he chuckled at the surprised looks on one of his teacher's and the students faces. "Congratulations again Miss Summers," he finished walking away.

Madeline looked at the retreating back of Charleston, "Wow," she said, "That's something I never expected to hear from Charleston... I mean Headmaster Charleston," she finished remembering that one of their teachers could hear.

"That's alright Madeline, I know what you mean. And I have to agree with you, I think there is more to our esteemed headmaster than anyone in the school knows."

To be continued...