*Defiance is not common because to rebel is to become friendless*

(Yes, this tale is supposed to be somewhat humorous and outrageous too. While not always comedic I'd like to think it is mostly a good-natured romp.)

*

I shared my 'solo' shower time with nine girls, with the good fortune that most of them only expected peripheral moments with me, not real sexual attention. Opal and Brigit, my original shower buddies, were joined by a few others plus my compadres, Iona and Rio. This morning, Brigit got a full-body scrubbing but I spared a few moments for my two closest friends.

"I'm surprised to see you here, Iona," I confessed to her as I ran my hands over her slender shoulders.

"I came here for an education," she smiled up at me. I arched an eyebrow and she flushed in embarrassment. "I mean, I came to school for an education -- honest, that's what I meant."

"I know," I calmed her. "I knew what you meant."

I'd have been happier with the way things were going if I hadn't caught Rio and Opal huddled together giving me conspiratorial looks. Catching my suspicious glare, Rio sauntered over to Iona and me.

"So, Teacher, are you going to give me any education time?" she teased Iona and me both.

"I think you and I are on the other end of the Teacher-Student curve, Rio. Unfortunately, your lessons always involve some sort of pain and/or humiliation on my part," I pointed out.

"Don't be such a baby, Zane. I do what I do out of love...okay, out of the love of watching you squirm, but that's love too, right?" Rio smiled sweetly.

"Stop being so mean to him." Iona became upset and clutched me tightly.

"Maybe if he took me out on a date, like he did Heaven, or spent more quality time with me like he does with Barbie Lynn," Rio snickered, "I'd be too tired to pick on him."

"We went out on a date," I countered.

"When?" Rio questioned.

"Last Wednesday; we went out for ice cream," I reminded her.

"Sorry. If this vagina doesn't get penetrated, it isn't a date," Rio scoffed and Iona blushed. "Rio, I thought our friendship could withstand Saturday night but I'm not going to be someone you pass the empty hours with. I'm your friend and if you think you and Iona are no different than anyone else I know here, you are sorely mistaken," I declared before Iona could have an outburst of her own.

"I don't need you, Zane," Rio shot back after a moment.

"I never said you did. In fact, I need you more than you might need me," I related to her. Rio fidgeted for another instant, then turned and left. Seeing that Rio had left her shower kit behind, Iona gathered their things up and followed her.

I made my way to exit from this embarrassing episode when Opal grabbed my arm.

"If we aren't friends, what are we?" she inquired.

"Infinitely memorable," I answered with a sly grin. That earned me an appreciative look.

"I'll take that," she smiled and let me go on my way.

The Sparks of Rebellion

Considering what our previous few mornings at school had been like, this morning was downright sedate. Rio joined Iona and I as we made our way to breakfast, where we were even permitted to sit together, and Assembly, where we did the same. Had it not been for the final announcement by the Chancellor Melrose Bass...

"Christina Buchanan has stepped down as Senior Class Body President. She has been replaced by Rhaine Ritchie," she announced. There was some stirring; for me, the look I had received from Christina the night before now made sense. They'd stripped her of her position because she's decided to not persecute me, becoming my friend instead. Well, to hell with that. I totally missed Iona's furious activities, though I would value them later.

Rio and I made it easy for them, though we wished Iona hadn't tagged along. I had no real plan until she stepped up to confront me and then the first step of the operation fell into place.

"Zane Braxton, I require your services," the girl with shoulder-length reddish-brown hair smirked at me. She'd brought along three playmates -- how interesting.

"Who is this?" I asked Iona calmly.

"Rhaine Ritchie," Iona informed me, at which point I shouldered past Rhaine, a move Rio instantly followed.

"Wait...what..." Rhaine squawked. "You can't do this," she emphasized by grabbing my shoulder. "If you don't do as I tell you, you will be expelled," she threatened.

Power comes from the belief in authority's ability to influence you. If I did what they wanted, I'd be expelled eventually. If I fought back, I'd still go down, but what the hell, everything ends. In my case, I no longer cared what the Administration had planned for me, I'd fight them standing up on my own terms.

"Lady, I don't know who you are," I lied, "but if you don't step off I'm going to put you over my knee and spank you in front of God and all these students." Our eyes locked and she saw that I was ready, willing, and eager to follow through on my threat. Rhaine let go and took a step back. I turned and left without further comment; that would ruin the whole 'ignore her' effect.

Rio caught up and nudged me.

"What's the plan, Kemosabe?" she inquired.

"I'm making this up as I go along," I confessed. Rio laughed loudly while Iona gulped.

"Don't worry, I'll think of something; I always do," which caused Rio to laugh louder.

English came and went but ended with Ms. Goodswell calling me aside.

"You will be meeting with Ms. Lane at one," she informed me. I nodded before she continued. "Zane, is it impossible for you to do the right thing or are you making my life special on purpose?"

"Virginia," I replied, "if my only concern was to make you happy, I would do it. Unfortunately, I have to live with myself too and I can't stomach what's being done to my friends here. You must know that if I'd been left alone, I'd have done my time here and earned an education," I tried to get her to understand. Virginia reached out and placed one of her hands on mine.

"I know, Zane, and I am doing what I can for you," she sighed.

"Can you do something for Rio too?" I asked.

"Zane," she chuckled bitterly, "I'm bailing out the Titanic with a thimble. I'm not sure what I can do for her. Mrs. Short wants her gone as much as the Chancellor does," Virginia answered. Mrs. Short was Rio's spiritual advisor.

Our spiritual advisors were supposed to help us out at school, both academically and psychologically. I didn't doubt that Virginia had been doing her best to see that I wasn't booted out during my first week at FFU. Rio didn't have that backstop; all she had was Iona and me.

I barely caught Virginia's gaze wander toward the door where a Rhaine-clone was standing.

I hoisted my backpack and made for the girl at the door. It turned out we were far from alone, my confrontation with Rhaine having already made the news.

"Listen, Zane, I'm not intim-..." she got out before I slipped past her extended arm (palm outward), slipped into contact with her, and twirled us around.

She had barely enough time to gasp before I spun free and made my way down the hall.

"Zane!" she called out in frustration behind me. I heard the giggles from the other girls as she took up the pursuit. I found Rio waiting inside the door while Rhaine and a clone waited for her to emerge.

"Sorry, bitches," Rio gloated, "but my ride's here." Before they could react, I knelt and yanked down their skirts, one in each hand. The seniors squealed in surprise and tried to cover up as Rio shoved past them and joined me. She caught sight of my personal tormentor coming so she pulled me down the hall as we made our getaway.

They waited for us coming out of Biblical Archeology with the added bonus of Ms. Gorman, Dean of Athletics, Head of Security, and Coach to several sports including Karate. They smiled, we smiled, and then we slammed the door and locked it. Rio looked at me with a piratical gleam in her eyes as we simultaneously made for the windows and flung ourselves outside.

We took the fall from the second floor and bolted like mad for our next classes. Had I heard (I claimed to be lost in thought) Ms. Gorman calling my name, I would have been forced to stop and face some sort of pointless and painful task, but I made it to Biology safely. A text from Rio told me she'd made it to her class too.

Of course, they could still keep coming, and getting to lunch proved impossible without confronting the new regime. Rhaine waited outside my door with a half dozen other ladies plus Ms. Gorman, who looked absolutely furious.

"I believe you are familiar with traveling on your knees, Mr. Braxton. This time you get to do so with me on your back, my own personal beast of burden," she gloated.

I looked through her, took in the other girls, then made my way to shoulder past them.

"If you ignore this command," Gorman warned me, "that is grounds for dismissal."

"Did someone give me an order?" I asked innocently.

"Rhaine did," Gorman pointed out.

"Who?" I inquired.

"Rhaine...Ms. Ritchie," Gorman growled.

"I don't know who that is," I pointed out blithely.

"I'm...Grrr," Rhaine snarled.

"Fine," a different girl spoke up, "I want you to be my mount on my way to lunch." I did nothing.

"Well?" Ms. Gorman questioned me.

"Well, what?" I responded.

"Are you going to do what Vera has instructed?" Ms. Gorman demanded.

"Who?" I grinned proudly.

"You can't pretend you can't hear students just because you want to, Mr. Braxton," Ms. Gorman snapped.

"I'm required to obey any lawful command of a recognized advanced student," I paraphrased my Handbook. "Any student doing an illegal or immoral action does not qualify."

"These two students have done no such thing," Ms. Gorman pointed out.

"Ms. Ritchie has accepted appointment as Senior Class President, which is illegal. Any student who supports her position is committing an immoral act," I countered.

"Dr. Bass put me in charge of the Senior class," Rhaine stated proudly, "after Christina screwed up and didn't put you in your place." I didn't take my eyes off of Ms. Gorman but I did reply.

"She can remove Christina, I have no argument with that, but she can't appoint a replacement, a fact you would know if you bothered to read the book," I reminded them. Thank God for Iona and her eyes for minutia. This left them momentarily speechless.

"Zane, you will carry my books to the Dining Hall," Brandi interrupted the group of us.

"As you command," I leapt at the chance to escape. Brandi haughtily ignored the baneful looks shot her way as she stepped up and tossed her book bag to me before strutting off with me quickly following along behind her.

"Thanks Brandi," I whispered to her.

"What for?" she grinned back at me with a little extra shimmy in her stride. "Iona promised me some quality time with you tonight but that won't be worth a damn if I let them break you down." Ah, the wonders of enlightened self-interest and the female libido.

When we walked together into the Dining Hall I noticed that Rio hadn't made it yet, which didn't bode well for her. Iona was sitting down and waved to me as I headed into the food line. As I continued to look around I also couldn't find Christina and company, which was odd and spoke of some unforeseen trouble. It also gave me an idea.

When I received my food I maneuvered over to Iona but I didn't sit down, instead holding my tray and waiting.

"Zane, what are you doing?" whispered Iona.

"I think I know how to make our anemic resistance into a full-blown rebellion," I whispered back.

It didn't take long before a few familiar faces began standing up as well in some bizarre show of solidarity for me and the cause they didn't understand yet. More and more students began joining my little protest; most I'd barely seen before. By the time Christina came in, we numbered about a hundred.

Christina and her crew recognized the anomaly of our actions but had no clue what we were up to until they moved to take their new station farther down the Senior Table than before, depicting their diminished status. When Christina sat down, I sat down too, slamming my tray for extra effect. Within thirty seconds a hundred trays came slamming down in sympathy. That was round one.

I wolfed down my food in preparation for round two. Rio arrived battered and bruised with bloody knees and palms. I gave her my water to pour on her knees and hands.

"I have a plan, ladies," I softly told Iona and Rio. "Follow my lead unless I get decapitated, in which case you are on your own."

Taking the steps toward the Senior Table was pretty frightening because my ability to remain in the school and stay in the fight depended on the beneficence and bravery of another. I walked up to Christina as she sat eating and went down on one knee with my head lowered in supplication. I caught sight of Christina twisting and observing me and my stance.

A minute elapsed before Christina finally spoke to me. She knew what she was getting into; there was no tricking her into this role in events. For her, the battle was for pride, while mine was for survival. She had more to lose since the past three years of her life were wrapped up in this place.

"Zane," Christina said in a passionate, caring tone, laying a hand on my shoulder, "Thank you. You may go now."

I rose once more, bowed before turning away, and resumed my seat.

"I think I'm in love," Chastity sighed.

"I'm with you," Hope added, "You don't see many Knights of Christ anymore."

"I'm not sure he qualifies as a Knight of Christ," Heaven stated, "but I like the way he's fighting."

"We are in a fight alright," Christina smiled, "and Zane has put us in the middle of it." Even as she spoke those words, Barbie Lynn, Opal, and Cappadocia all came up and bowed before Christina as well, receiving her blessing and moving on. Iona joined, while Rio kept her seat but shot me a snide smile.

"What's next Boss?" she said between bites of food.

"A rebellion so large they just can't expel all of us; a rebellion with Queen Christina Buchanan at the head," I explained. Iona came up and getting the purpose of our rebellion expressed to the masses began. Our campus was dividing between the Pro-Christina vs. the Pro-Rhaine camps and in thirty minutes it was past the ability for the teachers to stamp out immediately.

A Passionate Legal Issue

My ability to bask in, and suffer through, the effects of our insurgency was diminished by my summons to see Ms. Lane but I had to admit I was feeling full of myself when I walked into her office.

"It is good to see you again, Mr. Braxton. We have a good deal to talk over, so let us begin," she started, her light brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, her business jacket and skirt being a tasteful medium gray and her make-up done just right.

She began going over the particulars of my legal predicament brought about by my situation here at FFU but my mind rapidly devolved in a different direction. I dropped my bag and began taking off my shirt while Ms. Lane kept droning on. She didn't miss my display but while there was a slight curl to her lips she kept doing her job as she saw it.

Lane's smile grew as I finished stripping nude, came around the desk and then turned her chair to face me. I pushed her legs slightly apart before kneeling between them and taking her shoes off one at a time. I definitely had Ms. Lane's attention as I started kissing the tip of her big toe then drawing out further kisses along the top of her foot. Throughout it all, she never let up with her legal-ease talk; I had to admire her concentration.

As my hands caressed one calf, knee, and thigh, then another as I worked kisses along her feet, I noticed two things; she was getting excited and she was wearing stockings fixed with a garter belt, both in darker beige. When I hiked up her right leg so I could plant kisses on the back of her knee along the back line of her hose she finally skipped a beat in her speech.

"Aaahhh," she moaned sensually as I kept planting those kisses and ran my fingers up beyond her stocking line to the edge of her panties. I was vaguely aware of her picking up her phone and having a brief conversation but I was a bit too preoccupied to catch much of it.

"I've informed your two o'clock class that you won't be making it today," she sighed happily.

That gave us an extra hour of legal 'consultations'; in Vegas I understand this kind of legal advice can cost me over a $1000 dollars an hour but I was blessed for getting it for free. Ms. Lane put her phone down, stood, and unzipped her skirt.

"My name is Hudson," she smiled at me as she let the skirt slip down her well-toned legs to the ground.

As she stepped out of the skirt I pulled it aside and tossed it away. When she sat down I cupped her ass cheeks and pulled her to the very tip of the chair before I renewed my attention with my lips and tongue on her thighs. Hudson went back to her legal-speak with increasingly bated breath.

By the time I teased off her panties with my teeth she had almost given up the pretense of a real meeting and was moaning and groaning from the progress I'd made. When I blew on her freshly exposed bald pussy she lost it, bucking up against my lips. I didn't disappoint her, diving straight in with my tongue flicking her clit before pushing in deeper with a tongue-twister.

"Oh, God!" she exclaimed as she thrust up once more. "Tell me you aren't doing this to the girls here." I replied by flicking my tongue faster over her lips and clit until she vibrated into an orgasm and a few recitations of, "Oh, Sweet God!"

I drank deeply from her pussy, relishing in her tangy flavor for more than a minute. We both knew this was far from over. She spread her legs wider and I started teasing her slit from the bottom with a deep lick inside. She rewarded me with one of the best things a girl can say to a guy.

"You are even better than my girlfriend," she sighed deliciously. I switched to using my fingers so that I could speak.

"I'd be happy to share notes about you with her," I offered.

"She's a ... aaahhh, yes ... a dedicated lesbian," Hudson moaned, "but I think I could say something to her about you."

"Mmmm," was the sound of my slurping her up. "I look forward to the both of you."

"You would want both of us at the same time?" she panted, tantalized by the prospect.

"One at a time; both; if she is half as tasty as you, I'll take what I can get," I mumbled between flicks of my tongue.

Our conversation died as I used my fingers to peel her blossom open and made deep, penetrating explorations of her sex. Slowly, gingerly, Hudson encased my shoulders and neck with her stocking-clad legs. She didn't force, so much as snuggle me into an embrace. There was really no reason to enhance my eagerness for her succulent cunt.

"Ooohhh ... you are very good ... Zane," she purred, "aaahhh ...aaahhh ... aaahhh ... right there ... aaahhh ...Aaiii!!!!" With that last outburst she rose hard against my face, burying my nose into her baby smooth folds while my lips kept up a mighty suckling effort on her clit, a bit of nibbling included.

She didn't say much as she was still getting her breathing under control, but I would have bet money she was a long distance runner, so short was her recovery time. Hudson let her legs fall to my sides as she leaned forward and drew me into her arms in an encompassing hold. We tasted each other for some time in a delicate ballet of discovering our need for one another.

I pressed against her, then broke our kiss while drilling her in place with my eyes. I didn't feel the need to tell her I wanted her; she could undoubtedly read my mind and she gave me a light kiss and a nod giving her permission. As I ran my hands under her thighs she rose up, freeing me to grab each ass cheek and start to lift her up as I stood.

Before I could even set her on the desk Hudson was unbuttoning her shirt and peeling it off. I rested her carefully on the desk's edge but before I could make my next move she kissed me and wrapped her legs around my waist. She used her legs to balance while she worked off her bra and exposing her shapely breasts to my eyes.

I took that as an invitation to press Ms. Lane down and start ravishing her pale areolas and short, stubby, light pink nipples that hardened at my touch.

"Zane," she sighed through a wave of pleasure, "why do I get the impression this isn't your first time with a woman?"

"Mmmm," I expressed over my currently favorite nipple, "I feel that all that matters is that this is my first time with you. I've never been with anyone like you before."

"Ah," she gasped playfully, "I take that to mean 'over a dozen'," sigh, "you bad, bad boy." I stopped what I was doing and looked up at her, my face moist with her fluids and my saliva from engaging her breasts.

"This is a strange time to ask me to embrace a Purity Pledge," I teased her.

"It would be unethical for me to suborn perjury," she teased back as she stroked my hair. Hudson mirrored the real affection I sent her way.

"I admire honesty of character over social acceptance, Hudson. I'll lie to make someone happy but I won't lie to myself," I related and she nodded her understanding if not her agreement.

"So if I'm no good in the sack you'll tell me?" she bantered playfully.

"Sex is a partnership, Hudson. If it doesn't work, it is as much my fault as yours," I responded eagerly. Her eyes sparkled and the smile on her face took on a decidedly scholarly cast as if she'd judged me and not been disappointed.

I returned to her chest while Hudson drew back her legs until she set her hands to the back of her knees while sweeping her papers aside. I didn't ask for permission to enter her; I did what felt natural and in sequence with the pace our bodies were setting. Only as I slid in did she let out a nasal moan of pleasure.

Hudson's vagina was by no means tight, more like snug and comforting; it was a happy medium that my girth more than compensated for. She could definitely feel me rubbing against her vaginal walls and clitoris as I stroked in and out. She began to rub my hair with one hand and engaged her left nipple with the other.

I was busy thrusting into her with deeper and stronger penetrating drives, one hand on her pussy and the other one holding me upright leaving my lips to entertain the right breast with all kinds of nips, bites, teases and suction. Our division of responsibilities, never spoken out loud, was working out well for us and our desire to build to our next climax.

Hudson and I coasted along the edge of orgasm for twenty breathtaking minutes until she finally drew me into a kiss followed by a knowing smile and a nod. I picked up my tempo and angled her hips for maximum penetration as I took her up to what one of my early lovers had called the Mountain of Tears and Joy. In the end she clutched me tight and buried her head into my shoulder as she hissed out her maximum pleasure.

Ms. Lane barely missed a breath, pulling me into a string of kisses over my eyes, cheeks, lips, and nose.

"I know it is the wrong thing," she sighed finally, "to leave you alone with all these women. What chance do any of these poor girls have against candy as sweet as you?"

"I'd like to think I'm as much a victim here as any of them," I panted in reply, still slowly slipping in and out of her.

"Really? How often are you compelled to have sex, Mr. Braxton?" she interrogated me seductively.

"Once or twice," I offered up the truth.

"Once or twice a week?" she asked skeptically.

"No; once or twice a day," I confessed.

"How do you manage to sex twice a day on this campus?" she sounded incredulous.

"Well, there is the shower in the morning, then there is almost always an opportunity during club time, maybe sometime after dinner but before curfew, and lastly after curfew," I explained while Hudson look both aroused and surprised at the revelation.

"Don't you ... aaahhh ... ever get tired, bored, or sore?" she gasped.

"Meh," I shrugged, "I get tired sometimes, and sore on occasion, but I've never been bored with a partner yet."

"I noticed you didn't flinch when I told you my partner was a lesbian; homosexuality doesn't bother you, does it?" she inquired.

"Nope; I've been with a few men in the past," I answered. "Does that bother you, being a FFU alum and all?"

"It would have," she giggled in an almost mature way, "but I did a few things my first year in law school that curled my toes ... and opened my mind."

"I owe those people a big Thank You card," I teased her.

"Don't ... mmm ... be too hasty," she murmured, "More than one was of the 'nail the Christian bitch' breed. Those were some emotionally ... aaahhh ... tough times."

"I never see the women here that way," I promised Hudson.

"I didn't think you were that kind from the first time we met, but I checked with Virginia Goodswell to be sure," she told me. "Even ... aaahhh ... wow, you really know how to make a girl feel good ... Dana Gorman doesn't think you are a total waste of effort either." That was somewhat stunning since Dana never stopped giving me grief, right up to the effort to have me expelled.

"What ... mmm," I asked as my own seed began to rise, "would you have done if I hadn't come on to you?"

"Zane," she laughed, "I figured that you staying on your side of the desk was as likely as having a Texan walk away from free BBQ. The way your eyes undressed me at our first get-together convinced me that if we had a private meeting this would happen, though your direct assault was unexpected. Was my perfume too much?"

"Hudson ... Aaahh ... you would be irresistible in a green garbage bag and Old Spice men's cologne," I panted, followed by, "I'm going to come."

"Roll over," she commanded. As I did, she untangled herself from me and slid down my body until she engulfed my cock with her mouth.

She was perpendicular to me, on all fours, knees barely on the desk with my legs extending out to rest on the back of the chair. Her tongue swirled around my shaft in some erotic serpentine fashion I'd never experienced before. She must have sensed my fascination with her technique because she slurped up over my head and smiled in my direction.

"Being with a lesbian gives me a great deal of expertise with my tongue," she tantalized me before going back about her sensual torture. It didn't take too much time at all before I put a hand on her cheek. Hudson went a little deeper, sucked in with her cheeks and set me off. I pumped load after load of semen into her mouth but there was no swallowing and that left me a tad curious.

When I was finished she climbed panther-like over my body until we were nose to nose. She slowly opened her lips and a strand of semen began winding down toward me. I then knew what she wanted and opened my mouth as she dripped my own semen into it. A few strands into the process she lowered her lips down and kissed me.

We swapped my cum for some time before I could feel her tongue and mouth suck it back up. She leaned up, rolled back her head, and made an erotic display of swallowing my entire load.

"You are really fun," Hudson told me as she licked her lips. "Most guys are totally weirded out by that and won't do what you just did."

"I try not to be that kind of guy," I answered.

"You've done something special for me; what special thing can I do for you?" she purred. I felt a warm sense of anticipation consume me as I dialed up some of my deepest fantasies. The one thing I was absolutely sure about was that I was going to need more than one legal session.

Running at the Abyss

When I finally exited the school's legal offices, I figured I had a few options. Most appealingly, I could hide out for an hour and avoid Rhaine and company, but that would leave Rio out there in the cold. I was feeling stupid -- I went looking for my friend. A quick call to Iona gave me a tidbit of information that had come up in my absence.

More and more freshmen were identifying pro-Rhaine proponents and blowing them off like I was. There had been some severe friction but no casualties yet. I asked about Rio but Iona hadn't seen her; at the moment Iona was with Opal who was undoubtedly defending her from the pro-Rhaine forces.

I went racing off to the most likely location to find Rio. My first shot was a bust but on the way to my second choice, I caught sight of her with some companions. She had four girls with her plus a teacher, black hair up in a bun, while Rio carried her book bag and large pails of water held out at chest level. As I came running up, I could see the lines her tears had made down her cheeks as well as the welts running down her calves where they had been using switches on her.

"Arms up," demanded her chief tormentor. I was unlucky enough to be spotted on my approach and one of the girls pointed me out to the others and the instructor. One girl managed to insert herself between me and the group; she was someone I knew. I attempted to shift past her but she caught my elbow and turned my momentum against me, slamming me into the ground -- first team Karate club members can do that.

She had only enough time to smirk down at me once when I lashed out with my leg, clipped her ankle and sent her sprawling. We both rolled up into a kneeling stance but I was a bit quicker. I lashed out, grabbed her by the throat and slammed her head back to the ground. She gasped, tried to lash out, but I blocked it. I brought my knee down on her gut, knocking the wind out of her, then lashed out with my fist in her face.

I let my fist hover there for a moment.

"Bitch, get up and I'll re-arrange your face," I threatened her with dangerous intent. The girl's technique was really good but this was a real fight, not a tournament. The girl had a real look of fear written on her face.

"Mr. Braxton!" shouted the instructor at me; I ignored her and went to Rio.

"Let me take those," I softly asked Rio. She shook her head in the negative but didn't stop me when I took them.

"Mr. Braxton, that's it. We are going to see the Chancellor right now!" the teacher demanded angrily.

"Lady," I snapped back, "either I can take this burden to Rio's next safe haven and then go to the Chancellor's office, or I can go right now and you can wear what I'm holding."

Threatening a teacher was really a bone-headed play, but then so was thrashing a fellow student, throwing her to the ground, followed by a threat of further violence, and added to that interfering in someone else's Handmaiden's Duty.

"The bitch's name is Ms. Marlowe," Rio told me as she tried to massage the pain in her arms.

"Ms. Talon, that is enough from you; Mr. Braxton, give Ms. Talon the pails back and come with me," Ms. Marlowe commanded. Ignoring her again I turned to Rio.

"Where are we going?"

"We are heading to the Library," Rio grinned; like me, she wasn't waiting for them to bury us, we were running straight at the abyss. As we took off, Ms. Marlowe moved in front of us and the first girl began to get up.

"Sit your ass down!" I shouted at her, and she fell back on her ass. As for Ms. Marlowe, I grinned to Rio and handed back her one pail.

"On three," I smiled. Together we hoisted our pails and directed them in a swaying motion toward Ms. Marlowe. "One, two ...." I put my hand out and stopped Rio. Ms. Marlowe sneered at us.

"Why did we stop?" Rio questioned me.

"If we do it, you are gone," I informed her.

"What about you?" Rio wondered.

"I just beat a girl into the ground; I'm probably done for anyway ... which reminds me," I sighed, put down the pail and walked over to the girl, offering her my hand. She looked at it suspiciously before taking it and letting me pull her up.

"You caught me off-guard," she murmured softly.

"Don't fool yourself," I responded. "You wanted to stop me; I wanted to break you ... to save my friend." The deadly determination in my voice made her gulp. I walked to Rio's side and picked up the pail.

"Mr. Braxton, give Ms. Talon the pail and come with me," Ms. Marlowe stated.

"When I get Rio to safety I'll come with you," I replied which didn't please her one bit. She was about to comment when I interrupted.

"Seriously, what are you going to do, toss me out twice? I've been kicked, punched, beaten, and been bled raw; I'm not sure how the rest of the girls take it," I fought back.

"It is something called faith and devotion, Mr. Braxton," she tried to explain.

"You spout a big game," Rio spat, "but Zane knows more about faith, compassion, and devotion than your twisted heart will ever understand." And here I thought Rio would keep it simple like calling her a 'stupid bitch'

"Philosophy aside, we seem to be at an impasse, Ms. Marlowe. I'm not going with you until Rio is safe and that means we take the water to where she's going," I outlined the problem. "You can stop me from moving, but you can't make me move -- your call." That was the gist of our situation and we all knew it.

"It will be my pleasure to see you thrown out of this school," Ms. Marlowe ground out, which indicated that Rio and I had our tiny, temporary victory. I got us to the library where we were dutifully ordered to water some late summer flowers.

When we finished, Rio turned to follow me so I had to physically restrain her.

"No," Rio insisted as she tried to push past me and return to the outdoors.

"Stay here, Rio. Barbie Lynn should be out of Soccer practice soon; call her and she'll look after you," I all but begged her.

"I'm a fucking adult, Zane," Rio insisted.

"I know, but you getting nailed right beside me doesn't do either of us any good," I pointed out.

"I'm not afraid of these over-fucked cunts," she hissed.

"You should be," I whispered to her as I pressed my forehead onto hers. "They scare the hell out of me."

"I can do this," Rio now pleaded.

"Rio, if I go down, I take a vacation for three months; they bust you, and you're in prison for three years, and I can't live with that," I confessed.

"What are you going to do, come bust me out?" she joked through the bitter bile.

"Yes," I replied without pause. "I'd figure out a way." Rio stared at me for a long, long time looking for the lie but found only the truth.

"Fine, Asshole," she finally responded, "I'll play it safe for now, but if you are not back by dinner, I'm re-instituting witch-burning."

"I love you too," I replied softly as I stroked her cheek. She gave me a desperately fierce look, to which I had no answer. I turned and rejoined Ms. Marlowe.

"You made me wait, Mr. Braxton," she told me angrily.

"Happy Hanukah to you too," I retorted weakly, which did nothing for her disposition.

By the time I walked into the Chancellor's office, the particulars of my latest episode were all over campus. More than one girl lifted up a Bible as I passed and mouthed that they were praying for me. Right now, having God on my side wouldn't suck -- my bench was pretty empty. I followed Ms. Marlowe into Chancellor Bass's office, shutting the door behind me.

This time it was only Dr. Bass, Ms. Marlowe and me. Ms. Marlowe looked pissed, Dr. Bass was unreadable (not a good sign), and I was struggling to keep my courage.

"How has he added to his list of sins?" Dr. Bass asked Ms. Marlowe.

"He threw a sophomore, Mercy Chaplain, to the ground and threatened her with further physical violence. He has avoided and interfered with Handmaiden's Duties on multiple occasions as well as inspiring other freshmen to do the same," Ms. Marlowe listed off my dark deeds.

"You were predictably stupid, Mr. Braxton, though you lasted longer than I initially believed you would and got into far greater trouble," Dr. Bass stated. "We no longer have any papers you need to sign. We will pack your things and send them to your house. Please leave campus before sunset."

There was a brisk knock at the door and Ms. Goodswell sashayed into the room.

"Sorry I'm late but somehow my invitation to the meeting was misplaced," she addressed the room. "I imagine that we all are now aware of Mr. Braxton's faults but since we need a fair hearing to accomplish this correctly, Zane is allowed to consult with his Spiritual Advisor."

"There is nothing to be said here, Ms. Goodswell," Ms. Marlowe replied.

"Zane, explain yourself," Ms. Goodswell persisted.

"By our Code of Conduct, we cannot follow an illegal or immoral order. The Chancellor can remove a student officer of any position in the school hierarchy; she does not have the authority to make their replacements."

"Any supporter of Rhaine is following an illegal order, thus committing an immortal act. It follows that any support of Rhaine should be shunned. As for the girl I knocked down, she threw me to the ground first and had the misfortune to not be as good a fighter as I am."

"The fact is, you are a disruptive influence within the student body. I have already lined up five freshmen for expulsion on this matter. This intransigence will be crushed tomorrow," the Chancellor declared.

"I'll make sure their parents and lawyers get pictures of my, Rio's, and Iona's knees bleeding and the whip marks on Rio's legs," I threatened.

"I think I need to impress upon Zane the hopelessness of his cause. Ladies, give myself and Mr. Braxton the room," Dr. Bass ordered.

The others filed back out, confused and worried because, while Bass had one last trump to play, she wasn't going to share. When the room was cleared she assessed me in a way I imagine a hunter with a club looks upon a baby seal that made a valiant but futile effort to make it to the air hole.

"I know Heaven's little secret," she informed me, allowing a miniscule hint of triumph to enter her voice. I was floored; how in the hell was I supposed to respond? How long had she known, waiting to spring this on me when I proved too difficult for normal measures? Had she waited for us to form a relationship, knowing I'd play the White Knight like the idiot I was?

"I know about her, her troubles at home, and your relationship with her. I'm sure your Aunt Jill and the rest of your congregation will be interested in your homosexual relationship with a transvestite. Both of you will be extremely humiliated," the Chancellor laid out her sinister plan.

"Your time on the stage is done, Mr. Braxton; time for you to skulk off quietly. I'm sure all your devoted followers will be suitably heartbroken," she gloated slightly. The last bit was a bit too much and became my burning inspiration.

"Go for it," I shrugged. "Give it your best shot."

"I'm not you, Mr. Braxton; I'm not bluffing, the way you attempted to confound Ms. Marlowe and failed. I will do this, believe me," she snorted.

"There is no bluff here," I responded evenly. "I believe you will do it. All I want to know is whether you are incompetent or corrupt."

"Neither," Professor Bass said with narrowed eyes.

"Well, you were either incompetent enough to allow a girl with a dick to live here on campus for the past three years, or you knew and allowed all those girls to be put at risk on your own judgment, most likely influenced by Christina Buchanan's grandfather," I elaborated.

Professor Bass's jaw clenched and flexed.

"A Buddhist monk once told me that hypocrisy robs you of your foundation. You see, Christianity is inherently the religion of rebellion because it demands that you respect everyone regardless of wealth, status, birth, or sex," I outlined.

"This stands in opposition to authority, especially petty little tyrants like you," I finished and stood to go.

"You don't talk to me like that, you little bastard," Bass growled as she shot up from her chair.

"In the words of the immortal American Action Hero, 'Come get some'," I taunted her.

The Chancellor came around her massive desk, stormed up, and attempted to slap the Jesus right out of me. Man that hurt; what was with this place and girls pummeling me?

"Melrose -- do you mind if I call you Mel? -- I ..." and then a certain smell registered in my brain.

"Call me Professor Bass, and I am going to take intense pleasure in breaking you," she seethed. I rubbed my cheek were she'd slapped me and brought those fingers to my nose.

"Mel, why, have you been masturbating? Does the thought of 'breaking' us students get you off?" I mused out loud. This time I dodged the slap.

"You don't get to talk to me like that," she sputtered with rage. A smarter man would see this as the time to make a speedy exit but I can be a real idiot at times. In my defense, they were sitting there screaming for attention/ I reached out, pinched and twisted both of her nipples, which were so hard they were pushing through her bra and white blouse.

Professor/Doctor/Chancellor Bass's mouth fell open and she stared at me in stark disbelief. In past lives I must have been the first guy up the ladder storming the city walls, the first one into the castle breech, and that trooper charging the machine gun nest, because the only thing I could think to do when my hands were on my nemesis's breasts was to pinch those nipples harder and pull them toward me and up.

Mel gasped and fell forward, pressing her chest into mine. I kept twisting and pulling her nipples for thirty seconds while she made these little choking noises, ending in one loud gasp when I let them go. She kept her hands resting on my hips while she brought her breathing under control.

"You ... bastard ..." she wheezed. "I am ... going to ... make you pay."

"You sound so angry, Professor Bass, but I notice you still have your body pressed tightly against mine," I pointed out in a deep seductive voice. I could feel her willing her body away but the flesh refused to obey.

I dragged a hand from her shoulder, up her neck to her jawline, then back to her neck.

"Your pulse is throbbing like a race horse, Professor," I whispered. "If I stay, I'm going kiss you, and if I kiss you, we are going to end up on the floor ... so I had better go." Maybe it was the whole city wall/breech/machine gun thing that made me dip down into her.

Bass moved her face away but that only opened up my real target area more. I bit into her neck, eliciting an absolutely slutty yelp, then followed up with a few seconds of tight suction. It ended with one last jab of the tongue before I pulled away. Bass regarded me, angry but also anxiously anticipating my next move.

"I need to go now or I'll be late for Karate Club," I informed her as I backed for the door. The Chancellor answered that with another slap, which stung, and a stomp on my foot, which I avoided.

"Was that for the bite, or for leaving you wanting more?" I inquired, "You really do look sizzling hot right now so I'm kind of wondering."

"Get ... out," she growled. With that she strutted back to her desk but before she could round the corner, I let out a low wolf whistle that brought her up cold. She looked over her shoulder with a furious glare.

"Whoops, sorry," I shrugged. "You have a great ... well, I was going to say ass, but really your waist, hips, ass, thighs and calves are all pretty damn fine. You can't blame me for enjoying the view."

Randy picked up a glass and gold statue from her desk and hefted it, clearly calculating her desire to hit me with it against the value of the item.

"I'll make you grovel at me feet," she said with relish, putting the statue back down.

"I'm going to fuck you like I own you," I rebounded. Our eyes clashed, then she pointed to the door.

This time I wised up enough to make a gracious exit, breezing past Ms. Marlow and Ms. Goodswell as I left. The women went in opposite directions, Ms. Marlowe going into Dr. Bass's office and shutting the door with Ms. Goodswell running me down and grabbing my arm.

"Zane, what ... did she slap you?" she blurted out as she looked at my face.

"I've had worse," I replied.

"What did you do?" she worried.

"I'd tell you but you would most likely be ashamed of me. Suffice it to say we didn't part on friendly terms but I'm not expelled yet either," I informed her.

"Zane, you don't know who you are truly dealing with," she pleaded, suddenly vulnerable.

"She got to you, didn't she?" I asked with new insight.

"I'm not going to turn on you, if that's what you are asking/" Virginia assured me.

"No. She got to you when you were here as a student," I clarified the question for her.

Her lack of response was its own answer.

"Are you using me to strike back at her?" I wondered.

"No ... no. Zane, I want you to win on your own merits and not for something I did years ago," she answered fitfully. We silently stared at one another for a few seconds.

"How bad is it going to be now?" she questioned me. "How personal has this become?"

"Well," I mumbled, "I caught her masturbating, pinched and twisted her nipples, then bit her on the neck ... oh, and I told her she had a nice body."

"You are an idiot," was her assessment. "She is going to make it her personal mission to cause you as much pain as possible." I gave a timid smile. "Damn it, Zane, she will still come after the people around you."

"Virginia, she is going to come after us no matter what I do or don't do as long as I stay. The difference is that now I have her out in the open. Now I no longer have to guess what she might be like or what's going around in her head. Making it personal makes it easier on me because I don't doubt that I belong here anymore," I explained. "Now it is me versus an evil bitch."

"She's not been beaten in ten years," she warned me.

"That's because you hit like girls," I joked.

"I thought by now you would have learned how hard girls can hit," Virginia sighed.

"It isn't that girls can't hit hard, it is the boobs that get in the way," I quipped. Virginia gave me a glare that was more amused than angry. "I have to get to Karate Club now."

"Go," she dismissed me, and off I went.

First Victory at the Gym

This round of Karate Club started much better than Wednesday's, seeing how I could stand without pain again. I spent the first half of the hour sparring with my second tier teammates and doing exceptionally well. When we were called together for a joint session with the first team, most were elated; me, I was suspicious.

Coach Dana Gorman brought out Team Captain Wilhelmina Spellman and pretty much broke her down in front of us. Cappadocia came and went down next.

"This has been very unsatisfying. It is clear that our leadership has been lax in developing our skills. Is there anyone willing to defend this team's progress?"

It didn't take a rocket scientist to understand there was more to come of the beatings Willy and Cappy had gone through.

"What about you, Mr. Braxton?" Dana came to the point of this whole exercise. Willy and Cappy, like me, were Christina supporters, and this was clearly an effort to nip the rebellion in the bud.

"Thanks but no thanks; I think I've learned enough from you today. Maybe I'll feel ready for a fascist beat-down on Friday," I laughed.

"Fine, Mr. Braxton ..." she continued.

"Please Dana, call me Zane, since you are clearly trying to figure a way to get my blood on your fists," I interrupted.

"Zane, if you show a little backbone and join me in a friendly practice session, I'll make you exempt from Handmaiden's Duty tomorrow," Dana offered.

"Make it any person of my choice and we have a deal," I answered.

"Very well," Dana agreed.

"I choose Rio Talon," I jumped at the opportunity.

"Done. Now get up here," Dana motioned.

"Who will referee us?" I inquired; Dana smiled and pointed to the first team member whose ass I'd kicked an hour earlier, Mercy Chaplain. That seemed fair ...

We went to our sparring positions. It should be pointed out that I had two years of informal training in kickboxing; Dana had over fifteen years of competitive experience in Karate. I had height, weight, and reach on her, but since this was a Karate match I couldn't use all my moves. In essence, I should have been running instead of fighting.

"Ready ... Go," Mercy shouted. My first thought was 'Damn, that's fast,' as I blundered my way through my initial block. I didn't have a second to marvel at my good fortune before another quick flow of kicks and punches came my way. I ran out of room, luck, and fighting space, taking a blow to the cheek.

"Point!" Mercy called out. We fell back to our initial positions and we started again. This time I ended flat on my back and her 'touch' to my chest that was supposed to finish me really hurt. "Point."

"Is this the best you've got, Zane? Do you want to give up now?" Dana asked evenly. I spun up, resumed my starting position but remained silent. Dana lined up and came at me again.

This time I did the wrong thing; I gave up my reach advantage, catching her off-guard for the split second it took me to drive my knee into her diaphragm. I rode the blow into Dana, driving her into the ground and finishing her with a blow to the chest. "Point." I rolled off the coach before she could react and reverse our positions.

Dana sprung up and took a fighting stance.

"That wasn't a Karate move," she pointed out angrily.

"This isn't a training session so I guess that makes us even," I grinned. "Do you want to give up now?" I retook my start position but adopted the more fluid kick-boxing style.

"I see you've stopped pretending to know Karate," she snorted.

"At least one of us has stopped pretending," I shot back. "When you actually start caring for this club again, let me know."

The strike was so fast I didn't really see it.

I'm so damn good my arm actually tried to block before the thought registered in my head; I was just too slow and she snaked past my guard to slam her fist into my stomach. Another blow came, followed by a leg-sweep. I plummeted to the ground and Dana was on me like a leopard closing for the kill.

Dana's only problem was that this had ceased being tournament combat and become a street fight. I brought a knee up between us, deflected her fist with my elbow, and pile-drove my skull into her forehead. This let me leverage her off me and break back to my feet. Just my luck; Dana was right on me, barely letting me get my hands up for protection.

The Coach was still coming on, rapid-fire with kicks and punches; I could not find an opening to attack back. Something had changed, though; Dana was showing me much more respect. Twice more I fended her off from the ground but the third time she was simply too much, connecting her fist to my cheek so hard she drew blood. I half-expected a second punch but it never came.

"Point?" Mercy called out in confusion. Dana stood up quickly and looked at me. I jumped to a standing position in one fluid move. I rubbed the back of my hand against my cheek. The sweat stung the wound and I left a smear of blood, which I licked off. I defiantly walked back to my starting position.

She came at me like a desert storm, fierce and burning. The outcome was pretty much the same except I took the finishing blow like a jackhammer to my jaw. "Point." I saw stars and was still wobbling when I returned to my starting position. Not being at 100%, the results were predictable -- I was back on the mat in five seconds. "Point."

"Stay down," she ordered me quietly. I pushed myself up and worked my way back for some more punishment. Dana took her position and ... I kicked her so hard upside her head I was momentarily afraid I'd broken her neck. She landed face first; I flipped her over and punched her hard in the sternum. "Point."

"I can keep this up all day long," I promised Dana as I took my turn staring down at the Defeated. Thirty seconds later I was staring up the ceiling of the gym with several girls, Dana and Cappy among them, looking down at me.

"What happened to the other guy?" I moaned.

"What other guy?" Cappadocia said, "It was ..." She was clearly worried I had a concussion.

"The truck that hit me," I joked weakly. "Please tell me that hitting my face ruined their whole day."

"It seems you weren't able to keep this up all day after all," Coach Dana told me as she stood to leave.

I was on Martian time," I coughed. "They have much shorter days." I had no idea if that was true or not; I should ask Iona.

"I think our lessons are finished for today," Dana announced.

"Right when I was starting to wear you down," I teased her. Dana stopped walking away and studied me with annoyance.

I tried to stand, with half the girls trying to help me up while the others tried to hold me down for my own survival's sake.

"Assume the start position," Dana ordered me sternly. I finally managed to force my way to my feet but by the time I had, Wilhelmina had taken my place.

"Wilhelmina?" Coach Dana questioned.

"I apologize," Willy stated. "I've learned my mistake. I should have never given up on your lessons so easily the first time. I clearly haven't learned enough but I'm willing to keep at it as long as you are."

"Me too," Cappadocia chimed in defiantly.

Dana Gorman wasn't an easy woman to push around. Willy, Cappy, and two other girls kept going at her until we had to break for dinner. Before the five of us left the gym I tapped Gorman on her shoulder.

"Rio has tomorrow free and clear, remember?" I asked. Dana nodded reluctantly.

"What about Ms. Becket?" she questioned.

"You keep the fight fair and I'm not worried about it. You keep making this crap up as you go along and we will have a serious Come to Jesus meeting. Please pass the word on because I'd hate for some girl to walk into this thinking you can protect them," I cautioned her.

"Mr. Braxton, I can protect them," Dana stated confidently.

"I sincerely doubt that since you have no idea how I'd get my revenge," I grinned, before spinning away and starting to join my fellow students.

"All I have to do is stop you, Zane," she pointed out.

"That's your mistake, Dana; I'm no longer alone. We are willing to play as rough as you are now. If you keep this an educational experience nothing will happen," I warned her.

"Do you really think you have that much power here?" Dana scoffed.

"Nope. But then, I'm not the idiot who punished Christina Buchanan for showing a bit of mercy toward Rio and I. Without her, we were doomed, so thank the Chancellor for giving us all common cause," I explained before leaving with the ladies.

By the time I made it to the Dining Hall things were looking bitter and depressing but events quickly proved my boast to Dana to be correct. The pro-Rhaine forces had been pretty harsh to the freshmen supporting Christina and morale was low. Christina had, upon arrival, started rallying her supporters with a few kind words and a gentle touch.

When Mrs. Carradine went to stop her and make her resume her seat, Rio 'accidently' coated the teacher in spaghetti, broccoli and a double helping of jello. She didn't get to enjoy her success for long; four girls planted their trays on Rio's head right after that. But they clearly didn't know who they were dealing with. Rio calmly picked up a meatball from the ground, popped it in her mouth and told them,

"Yo, bitch, tell the cook it needs more salt," then made her way back to her seat and acted like nothing had happened. Iona grinned wearily and brushed some broccoli out of Rio's hair. The train wreck that followed was predictable. The teachers tried to enforce a ban to stop the food fighting but clearly were far more concerned with suppressing Christina's side.

Five unresolved food attacks later, Christina secretly sent out the word and her followers attacked en mass, selecting known Rhaine supporters and burying them in one rush that no authority on the floor could stop. Before the teachers could bring order out of the chaos, Christina directed her people to escape.

I joined the exodus and soon found myself in a group of ten seniors, Christina and company included. I stood next to Barbie Lynn as the others hashed out what was going on and slowly, the reason for me being there was revealed. Seniors and juniors were in this little movement because they knew, liked, and respected Christina.

Freshmen and sophomores were more in this because of me, mainly based on the novelty of my existence. I was an administrative screw-up, but I was THEIR administrative screw-up. I also made the Handmaiden's Duty a fun thing whenever I could and not an onerous chore. Apparently, a few of them even described me to the seniors as 'charming'.

Our problem was, how did we make our rebellion grow? The fact was that most of the incentives were doled out by the faculty.

"We target sympathetic teachers, then," Christina directed.

"That food fight had to make us look good too," Chastity said. "Nothing is as effective as a failed suppression attempt."

"I'm fixing up the Solarium tomorrow," I informed the group.

"So?" one of the unnamed seniors stated in a condescending matter. "You need a broom?"

"Actually, I've recruited ninety freshmen and we are going to prep the entire roof for occupation," I responded. The senior looked to Christina who gave her a clever lopsided grin.

"Temperance, I told you he wasn't a lost cause," Christina reminded her.

"Occupation for what?" Faith inquired. I looked nervously about because that part of the plan was so easy to bust apart. I decided to give a partial lie.

"On Sunday afternoon I'm having furniture delivered from a rental service," I told them.

"What's a sofa or two going to accomplish?" Temperance questioned.

"How about three flat screens, two pool tables, a hot tub, two refrigerators, a coffee bar, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and eight rooms full of furniture?" I related to the small group.

"You are bringing in all of that?" Temperance gasped.

"You got us a hot tub?" Barbie Lynn exulted.

"Zane inherited a small fortune," Christina pointed out.

"That's small by Christina's standards," Chastity teased her friends.

"Yes, Barbie Lynn, our dorm will have a hot tub," I tried to keep the lusty images of Barbie in a bikini out of my mind. By the look in her eyes she was having even less success than I was, though; I doubted I looked as good in a bikini.

"How are you getting the water up there?" Hope seemed intrigued.

"The roof's gardens were rigged for irrigation so we have the water. I am adding a few hot water heaters for any other needs, including the dish washer, washer/dryer, sauna, and showers and Jacuzzi tubs. Believe me, I had some friends look this over," I promised.

"I think we can trust Iona to have done a thorough job," Christina glanced my way knowingly.

"Iona?" a different senior asked.

"Iona Becket," Heaven answered with a smirk. "That's his witty little sidekick who invented Zane's Handmaiden's Duty schedule. She's tons smarter than he is."

"Heaven, anytime you want to stop talking about me as if I'm not in the room, feel free," I jibbed.

"Don't hold your breath, sweet-cheeks," Heaven snapped right back. That little exchange seemed to have eased the tension in the group.

"Let's split and keep up the recruiting drive. Stick to groups when we can and try to help any freshmen we know to be on our side," Christina directed. The group split up but instead of heading into my dorm I headed toward the parking lot.

"Zane, where are you going?" Christina inquired.

"I promised my aunt we'd spend a few more dinners together and I'm late as it is, but can I have a moment of your time when I get back?" I responded. Christina gave me a curious look then nodded and led her posse in the other direction. Each girl waved me good-bye in their own way. After the dining hall melee, eating with my aunt was purely mundane and relaxing, for which I was very thankful.