Chapter 3

By the end of the week, Dawn had fed images into the program and studied them closely. Using her knowledge of physics, she'd done her best to apply formulas to the skaters' movements. Even though she'd really worked hard on writing up her project—she'd included graphs, the formulas, and the digital images—she was nervous when she finally gave it to Ann to read.

Buffy and Dawn had Ann over for dinner one evening and while they ate, Ann read. "The conclusion is too simplistic, isn't it?" Dawn asked anxiously. "The kinetic energy in a jump equals half the skater's mass times velocity squared minus–"

Buffy shook her head cutting Dawn off, "If that is simple. Then it's over my head, Dawn."

Ann smiled, "I have to agree with your sister. I don't know if it's simplistic or not. I could barely understand it!"

Dawn looked at Ann, puzzled. Then an uneasy look came into Ann's eyes. Dawn had come to know Ann real well over the months since she and Buffy had moved to Millbrook. She knew before Ann opened her mouth that she was about to say something. "I don't know if they'll care," she began cautiously, "but it's just a little bit… dry."

Ann didn't want to say it and Dawn didn't want to hear it—but she knew Ann was right. "A little dry," Dawn repeated Ann's words. "Mr. Bast said to make it personal. How do I do that?"

Ann shrugged. "I don't know. Put more you in it."

Buffy nodded, "Remember what Willow said. Put yourself in to the experiment."

Dawn nodded and thought about it. She was already on the ice, right there with the skaters. If there was any more her in the project she'd actually have to do the moves herself.

Dawn's eyes suddenly widened as the idea hit her. That was it! She'd do the moves herself! "Buffy how much does a skating lesson cost?"

Buffy sighed, "Several hundred at least, not really sure how much. It's been several years since I skated, remember. And with inflation it will cost more today than it did when I skated. I will drive you by the rink and you can ask Mrs. Harwood. But if you want to take lessons I can only pay a small portion, a hundred maybe two. You're going to have to get a part time job for the rest."

After finishing their dinner and bidding Ann goodbye, Buffy drove her and Dawn to the rink. They caught up with Tina in the rink parking lot. Buffy had just barely parked when Dawn jumped out of the car. "Excuse me, Tina . . ." Dawn said, hurrying up to her.

She turned and looked at Dawn with a questioning expression. "Is there any way I could take a few lessons? I think I might be able to write a little better about some of these principles if I'm the one actually applying them, so if there's any way-"

"Fine," Tina interrupted Dawn. "We're starting a novice-level class for the summer session. That's three afternoons a week, eight hundred dollars."

Dawn looked back at Buffy, who was waiting in the car, "Eight hundred dollars!" Buffy sighed as she heard with her Slayer heard what Dawn had said. Dawn turned back to Tina, "Well, I don't need a whole session. It would be really cool if I could, like, work on my form for a single loop and maybe a lutz."

Tina seemed amused by what Dawn was suggesting. "It doesn't work like that," she said, shaking her head. "You can't just order one from Column A and one from Column B." She continued walking to her car and Dawn followed. "You're not a bad skater. Let me know if you change your mind."

"When does the class start?" Dawn asked, wondering how much time she would have to try and pull that kind of cash together.

"In two weeks. I expect your payment for the class no later than the day before." Tine said.

"Thanks." Dawn turned and walked back to Buffy's car and got in. She turned to look at her sister, "Know anyone who's hiring?"

Buffy smiled and got out of the car, "Mrs. Harwood a moment please?"

Tina turned to Buffy, "Ah, Ms. Summers. How can I help you?"

"To be able to afford your classes, Dawn will have to work a part time job. Do you have an opening, maybe in the concession stand? She works for you; you get to take the cost of the class out of her pay." Buffy said.

Tina thought for a moment, "That might work. And if she doesn't have the full eight hundred by time class starts she keeps working till it is paid off."

Buffy smiled, "Thank you." Buffy turned and got back in her car. "All taken care of, Dawnie. You will work in the concessions stand for Mrs. Harwood. She will take the cost of the class out of your wages. If it's not paid off by the start of class you will continue to work for her till it is paid off."

Dawn smiles and hugs Buffy, "Thanks, Buffy."

The following Saturday was Dawn's first day working behind the counter of the concession stand at the rink as Tina showed Dawn everything, "Now your sister went to lengths to make sure you could take that class. So I expect only the best."

Dawn nodded, "Of course, Mrs. Harwood."

"You can keep your tips if you have any. If you want to use them to pay for the class, that is up to you. But they will be yours to keep." Tina said.

"That's fine." Dawn replied.

Tina turned and left and Dawn opened the windows for the stand.

Gen came up to the stand. "What are you doing here?" she asked as Nikki and Tiffany came up behind her.

"Um… working," Dawn replied, "for my science project."

"Aren't you going a little overboard with this project?" Gen asked.

"Well…" Dawn began. "I'm completely committed to it, just like guys are committed to your skating."

"Whatever," Nikki said, dismissing me with a wave of her hand. "I'm starving. BLT here, hold the B, heavy on the L."

Tiffany gave Dawn her order, speaking so softly that Dawn had to strain to hear her. "Beef patty, no bun," Tiffany requested. "Squish it till it's dry."

"Salad for me," Gen added. "Just put in iceberg lettuce, half a cup of garbanzo beans, and a lemon wedge. Since it's Saturday, I'll splurge and say add a quarter cup of cheese to the salad."

"Ooh cheese," Nikki teased Gen."

"Coming up," Dawn told them.

She put their orders together while they talked at the counter. They acted like Dawn wasn't even there, but she couldn't help overhearing their conversation.

"I don't know what's wrong. I'm popping my lutz," Gen told them, looking worried.

"It's all that cheese you've been eating," Nikki joked.

"My father noticed I gained." Tiffany said sadly no joking one bit.

"He noticed a quarter pound?" Nikki asked in disbelief.

Tiffany nodded, "He says I'm not serious enough. I've got to focus more. I heard Zoey Bloch's been sticking a quad."

"That's a rumor," Gen scoffed, "and she probably started it herself."

"It's kind of early in the season for stupid head games," Nikki complained.

"Not for Zoey," Gen said. "She stole Chantal DeGroat's skates at the regionals."

"Re-ally," Nikki said. "I heard it was her mother who did it."

Dawn delivered their salads and they took them without a word of thanks. The only one who even spoke to her was Gen, who complained that Dawn had given her too much cheese as she picked most of it out of the bowl.