Chapter 14

Dawn raced down the humble school hallway. The architecture was nothing like the house where they lived. The walls were bare, just enough to get the job done. This school didn't have to worry about appealing to the masses and their whining parents. It had one purpose and that is all that was worried about it.

Dawn looked down at her printed out schedule. It was very official looking. It looked like one she would get at her old public school, contradicting the rest of the school itself. All the classes she was taking with Prof. Wilson were still there. Added to her schedule was "The Seven: A History (Part I)," "Beginner's Ceremonial Magick," "Customs of the Seven."

Everyone else was already in their classes. She was trying her best to not make a bad impression on her first day. She finally found her first class room. 2B. Beginner's Ceremonial Magick. She flung the door open and it slammed behind her.

The entire class turned and looked at the new arrival. Dawn surveyed the room. The room had about ten students. Every child (and assumingly the demons) sitting in the classroom was no older than twelve. They looked on with curiosity.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I must be in the wrong class." Dawn turned to leave.

"No my lady, you are correct. We have been expecting you." The plump teacher with loud eye makeup squealed. "Class, I present to you the Guardian; Lady Dawn." the teacher fell, as gracefully as possible, to her knee. The class followed. "I am Professor Huckell." She struggled to her feet and walked over and whispered in Dawns ear. "I'm sorry about the age difference, my lady, but this is when the class is offered."

Oh, great, I'm in a kiddie class. This is worse than the special class, she thought. "No, that's okay." She found the first available seat. It was in front of a short stocky kid with horns growing out the side of his head. She clearly blocked his view but he bit his tongue.

Dawn's second class wasn't much better. She was late for that too. For such a small school, it was oddly hard to maneuver.

Comprehensive Poetry. Causing a similar scene as before, Dawn entered with curious looks. This time however, the students were about her age, some older.

"Ah, Gaurdian," The tall skinny professor with long black hair pulled back into a ponytail bowed, but didn't kneel. "you're late." Dawn was taken back slightly at his straight forwardness. Seeing her shocked look, he continued; "Yes, I realize your position on the grounds is very important, but in my classroom everyone was must follow the same rules. Is that clear?" Dawn nodded and the professor pointed to an empty seat.

She sat at a table next to a girl about her age. She had light red hair that grazed her shoulders. It was held back with a head band. When Dawn sat she nodded a bow in respect before flashing a quick smile and wave. Dawn smiled back.

"Now all of you turn to the beginning of Chapter Six. Tone." He turned to Dawn. "It won't be too hard for you to catch up. Stay back a minute after class and I'll give you your assignments." Then the scary looking professor started his lecture.

After the professor had loaded her arms up with a stack of papers, Dawn headed to her third class. It was right before lunch.

Lunch was served in a small cafeteria in the center of the school. Dawn could tell everyone pretty much sat with their peer group. It was a small school, and there weren't a whole lot of options.

The food was like no other Dawn had encountered in her other schools. It looked and smelled delicious for one. Dawn picked up her tray and scanned the room for somewhere to sit. She found an empty table in the corner. The other students ignored her. Most were to scared to dare to ask the Guardian to sit at their lunch table.

"Ahem, do you mind if I sit with you?" Dawn looked up. It was the girl that she sat with in her poetry class.

"Hi, yes, please." Dawn let the seat out for her.

She bowed and sat down. "Jessie Hanson at your service, my lady."

"Please, call me Dawn."

"Whatever you wish, m--Dawn... So, what do you think so far? Sorry about Prof. Joiner. I know he can be a real pain sometimes."

"No, it was ok. I'm glad someone finally treated me like a human."

She opened her mouth to speak again but was interrupted by a young man bouncing into the seat next to her.

"Jess! Guess what." The young man didn't see Dawn.

Jessie let out a muted cough and nodded towards Dawn. The young man turned and met eyes with Dawn. It was the cadet from the football game. As soon as he realized who she was, he dropped to his knees. "My lady, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

Dawn rolled her eyes.

"Please excuse my cousin. He's a chump sometimes." Robbie sat back in the chair and looked down at his hands. "Dawn this is Robert. Although, since playing football that afternoon, he has insisted we call him Robbie." Robbie let out a sheepish smile. He was tall and slender with wide shoulders and a short curly haircut. "Robbie, this is my new friend Dawn."

Dawn smiled and stuck out her hand. Robbie took it firmly. "The pleasures all mine." He smiled.

"So what's this big news that you came and interrupted my lunch for?"

"Well I was going to wait until you got out of classes but I was about to burst."

"OK, no one is stopping you."

"After graduation I'm going to be going straight to team captain! I got perfect marks on all my exams!" He was thoroughly happy.

His cousin was happy for him too. She took him into a big embrace. "Robbie, that's great!"

"Yeah, congrats," Dawn interjected.

They chatted and celebrated for the rest of lunch. The two cousins were quickly at ease with the guardian. Then one of the professors rang a bell signifying the end of lunch. All the students stood up to get back to classes.

Dawn stood up just in time for someone to run by and bump her, knocking all the books out of her hand. The girl, wearing thick rimmed glasses and a plain dress, looked back but didn't go back to help her. She just sneered and continued on. Dawn reached down and started picking up her books. Robbie reached down to help.

"That was rude." Dawn said.

"That's just Cathleen. Don't mind her. It's a proven fact she has something large and pointy lodged in her ass." Robbie smiled. His smile was perfect. Dawn couldn't move for a moment. Her tattoo began to twitch.

They stood back up. Robbie headed in one direction. Jessie in the other.

"Hey guys!" Dawn called. The others turned around, being the last ones left. "After school, would you like to come back up to my place and hang out? I have lots of DVDs and stuff. Also, there's a pool."

"Yeah sure!" Robbie jumped a little to excitedly.

"That sounds fun," Jessie concurred.

"OK, meet you there." The others waved and headed out the door.

After class Dawn raced back to the manor. She wanted to get there in plenty time to freshen up. She flew through the back door, throwing her books down at the first available surface.

Running through the hall, she almost pummeled Donald, who had heard her come in. "Afternoon, my Lady."

"Not now, Donald." She galloped up the stairs. She was still panting hard when she got inside the East wing.

Dawn was putting the last few touches on her hair when she heard the back buzzer. She ran out the door and flew downstairs. Donald was just opening the door for Robbie and Jessie. Dawn pushed him out of the way.

"Hi." She panted.

"Hey," Robbie smiled. Yummy. Jessie stepped from behind her cousin waving enthusiastically.

"So, what do you guys want to do?" Dawn asked, attempting to play it cool.

The other too paused a moment, not really sure. Finally, Jessie piped up. "Did you say something about a pool?"

"As a matter of fact, I did." Dawn beamed. "Just let me run up stairs and get my bathing suit.

This became the routine of events for the next few weeks. Jessie and Dawn hung out at school, during poetry and lunch. They took turns doing homework assignments for each other, while taking the casual break to make fun of the increasingly cold Cathleen. Then everyday after school, the two would meet up with Robbie and would walk together back to the manor. They spent until dinner watching DVDs or playing pool. Sometimes, if they got bored of movies, they would go on mini tours of the grounds. There was still so much that Dawn didn't know about, that Robbie and Jessie were more than eager to show off their knowledge.

Very rarely, Robbie and Jessie would stay for dinner. Even more rarely, one would go home and the other would stay. The large group of masters tended to intimidate, especially if it was only the one of them. The scoobies were excited to see that Dawn was making friends that weren't scared to treat her like a human. However, the Hansons, especially Robbie, were still a bit nervous when it was more than one on one.

More importantly, Buffy seemed to approve. Like the others, she was happy that Dawn had some friends and her head had shrunk a bit with peer contact. But, as every good mother would be, she was skeptical of the boy. He was older, and terribly handsome. He seemed nice enough, but that never seems to matter when there's a potential of romance. Buffy saw the starry-eyed Dawn lusting over the cadet. Who wouldn't? High school Buffy would have without doubt. In fact, he sort of reminded her of Riley; good natured, hardworking and gentle. And it was obvious that Dawn's affection was mutual. Buffy seemed to be counting on the fact that he was scared shitless of the scoobies and hopefully wouldn't be able to make a move on her baby sister.

Of course, she knew deep down that she was fooling herself.

One weekend, Robbie showed up for one of their play dates alone. In fact, it was the first time that Dawn had seen Robbie without Jessie at his side.

"Where's Jessie?"

"Oh, she, uh, got tied up back home. She said she's really sorry. Next time."

"Oh that's okay. We'll have a good time." Dawn led him up to the East wing.

"Home you said?" Dawn asked curiously, opening her door for him. Dawn had been curious about home. Neither one of them seemed to ever talk about their living situation, much less invite her back there.

"Yeah. We live together. With her parents. My mom died when I was little."

They were now in the living room. Music was playing lightly in the background. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"Oh, no that's okay. She died serving the Seven."

"Pardon?"

"Well, she moved here when she was a young woman. She was part of the security team. When I was nine there was an attack. The first ever. No one was prepared. People died. Too many. Like my mom. But she died serving what she believed in. Protecting me. And all of this...She was so young."

Dawn felt a little sting of guilt. "I know what that's like though. I lost my mother a few years ago. Then, within months, my big sister died. In the line of duty. Protecting me."

There was an awkward silence for a moment. Dawn interrupted it, turning up the music. "Oh! I love this song." She hopped up. "Wanna dance?"

"Yeah, sure, I mean, I'm not very good. No dance training for the cadets."

"I'm not either, except this one time, with a band of evil puppets..." She caught his confused look. "Never mind. I promise I won't bite."

Robbie stood up and followed Dawn to the middle of the room. It was a slow song and he pulled her in close. Too close. But she didn't complain. Dawn couldn't stop looking into the young cadet's eyes. It felt weird. But also right.

They danced for a good hour, saying very little. Neither really knew what to say, or how to make the next move. Dancing was the safe choice. The song had long ended and the CD was now repeating.

"My lady?" Robbie asked, gulping.

"Yeah?" Dawn tucked herself a little closer into Robbie's chest.

"Do you mind if.." His voice was low.

"If what?" Dawn was hoping what she wanted to happen was about to.

"If I?" Without thinking anymore, Robbie felt something pull him to her lips. He kissed her softly.

They pulled away. But something pulled them back together. Now instead of dancing, they stood in the middle of the room, kissing.

"Interesting, very interesting." The whole thing was being monitored. A dark figure watched through a security camera. Although, they weren't in the security tower. The setup was in a cave, presumably underground. He stood by the screen, arms crossed watching the spectacle. "This wasn't something I was expecting." He reached down, pushing a button and the image blinked to black.