Gaby & Maddy & Sam - What is Maddy playing at, and what will she tell Gaby?

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Viewing Note: This story should be viewed with the Edwardian Script ITC font installed on your Windows platform in the c:/Windows/Fonts directory. Microsoft Word installs this font automatically.

Photo Credit: Used with her permission....“Let Me In”  © by simpledrama .
 
Chapter 8
 

It was still dark when Gaby awoke to the unfamiliar sounds of rural Virginia. A tractor rumbled noisily past, setting off a panic within the local bird population. She rolled onto her side and checked Maddy's alarm and saw it was only six thirty! Deciding to get up, Gaby found herself wondering how Maddy was doing at the Walters. After showering and throwing on a pair of Maddy’s jeans and a scoop-necked sweater, Gaby decided to venture down to the kitchen.

“I was just gonna come wake you,” Jessica quietly mentioned when she saw Gaby poke her head into the kitchen.

Jessica was seated at a large pine kitchen table with her breakfast and a pile of what Gaby instantly identified as schoolwork. It reminded her of last year, before her mum stopped teaching. There were always stacks of stuff to be marked around the house. It's a funny thing to miss but Gaby felt that not having that clutter around when her mum went to Germany made the house feel even emptier.

“Just catching up on some marking while it was quiet,” Jessica explained. Noting Gaby’s far-away expression, she asked, “You okay, Gaby?”

“Yeah … just seeing you marking those papers brought back some memories … before Mum stopped teaching an’ turned pro,” Gaby softly replied.

“I didn’t know she taught,” Jessica softly replied. “What’d she teach?”

“Same as you ... geography to the ‘third levels’ … ummm … grade nine’s,” replied Gaby as she stood beside the table. “She was always marking papers or something. Jules an’ I always thought it was a pain ... but looking back … at least she was home.”

“You miss her … don’t you?” Jessica whispered as she opened her arms to offer a hug.

“Yeah (sniff),” Gaby replied. Miss Bell saw Gaby’s eyes were beginning to glaze over as she obviously thought of her mum.

“Everything’ll be okay ... you’ll see. I’m positive she’ll be waiting for you when you get back,” Jessica quietly assured Gaby as the two held each other.

When she saw surprise on Gaby’s face after hearing that she knew of Jenny’s cancer, Jessica quickly added, “I thought that Miss Cowlishaw told you she’d let me know about your mother?”

“She did. I guess I forgot. I’m not used to people outside of the family knowing, Gaby softly replied.

Releasing Gaby from the hug, Jessica remarked in a more normal voice, “I’m sorry, honey … would you like anything to drink before I get you some breakfast?”

“Is there any tea?” Gaby asked.

“I just put the kettle on. I really don't know how you and Maddy can drink it this time of day … I need my caffeine fix!” Jessica jokingly answered.

“Can’t stand coffee...”

“How about eggs on toast?” Jessica asked as she started to clean up the scattered papers.

“I'll do it … do you want some?” Gaby responded.

“None for me … thanks,” Jessica replied pointing to her empty dishes. “Did Maddy also tell you where things were in the kitchen?”

“No … seems she forgot that along with a few small details … like not telling me about Sam,” Gaby sarcastically replied, then quickly added in a more normal tone, “Sorry … I think I can find everything and if I have problems … I’ll ask!”

It was a quarter to eight when Jessica dropped Maddy off in front of the Walters’ house. Gaby was sitting on the porch swing waiting.

“You made it!” she cheerfully stated.

“Yeah! … So ... you got everything ready?” Maddy dryly replied.

“Of course … I'll just grab it … be right back!” Gaby enthused as she ran back into the house. If she detected her girlfriend’s tone of voice, she never let on.

“I'm off! … See you guys later!” Gaby called out as she pulled the door closed after grabbing the rucksack.

“Later Gabs!” Britney's voice replied from somewhere inside.

A couple of minutes later Gaby was holding her rucksack and Maddy had the GT, slowly walking towards Erin’s Cyclery and talking as they went. If any of the Walters watched the two go down the street, they could’ve sworn it was Gaby that was walking the bike while Maddy walked beside her, carrying Gaby’s backpack. As they began to slowly walk to the corner, Maddy told Gaby of her mum’s call.

“Auntie Jen called last night...” Maddy nervously mentioned.

“Mum? You talked to her?...” Gaby stopped in her tracks. “...I shoulda been there, Mad … not you!”

“I’m sorry, darling. If it means anything … I didn’t talk much. She knew it was me as soon as I said ‘hi, Mum’ … and after tellin’ me exactly how she felt about our switching ... she talked to Jules.”

It was the first time Jenny had been on the phone since the kids left Warsop and she felt bad she took this away from Gaby.

You called her ‘Mum’?” Gaby whined.

“I had to! Debbie gave me the phone and stood there when I took it. I’m sorry … I know you shoulda been there instead of me … but …” Maddy quietly replied as she hugged Gaby. “I did tell her you were at Jessica’s … did she phone?

“No. If she did … I missed it because I was with your Samuel!” Gaby spat.

“I said I was sorry for not telling you,” Maddy quickly apologized.

“Yeah, you did … now what’s really going on between you two?” Gaby challenged.

“I told you ... nothing!” Maddy's reply seemed a bit too quick and too sharp for Gaby’s comfort.

“That’s not the impression I got from him. He was trying his best to get up close and personal! Miss B also said something that tells me the two of you did more than just homeroom last week!” Gaby angrily shot back.

“So? What's it to you, anyway?” Maddy indignantly countered. Any thoughts of confessing all to Gaby were now forgotten with the unexpected ferocity of her verbal attack.

“Well, in case you forgot … you’re supposed to be my girlfriend!” Gaby sharply replied.

“I might be Drew's girlfriend … but … but I'm … not … your girlfriend!” Maddy hesitatingly admitted as she avoided eye contact with Gaby at the same time resuming her walking the bike down the alley towards Erin’s.

“Maddy! Come back here! What do you mean by that?” Gaby angrily called after her as she kept walking away.

Turning around, she replied, “You’re just jealous that I’ve got a boyfriend!” Maddy then continued to head towards Erin’s.

“Fine! I’ll just go back and see what Jules knows about it!” Gaby turned and started walking at a fast pace, back down the alley that led to the Walters’ house.

Maddy stubbornly kept walking but when she realized Gaby wasn’t following her, she turned around in panic.

“Gaby! …. No! … Don’t! … Please? Jules knows nothing … I swear!” Maddy called out, pleading with Gaby as she took the bike and ran after her.

(puff) “If you … (puff) go back … (puff) they’ll know you’re not me! We’ll both get into trouble,” Maddy managed to get out after catching up to Gaby.

“I don’t give a sod … (sniff). It’ll be worth it to get a straight answer out of someone!” Gabs shot back, a few stray tears rolling down her cheeks. Maddy now saw just how angry and hurt Gaby was by her earlier remark.

“You’re serious … aren’t you?” Maddy softly replied.

“Whaddyuh think? One moment (sob) you tell me you love me no matter if I was … (sniff) Drew or Gaby … an’ … now you tell me … (sniff) … you don’t. If I’m not your girlfriend … why do you want Gaby around …s (sniff) … so (hic) ... so much? Tell me that, huh?” Gaby tearfully reasoned. Maddy broke eye contact, suddenly finding the melting snow on the sidewalk of interest.

“I … I’m really sorry,” Maddy quietly offered.

“About what?” Gaby spouted. “About dropping me in it or the fact I found out about Samuel?” Maddy started to say something in her defence and then went silent.

“That’s what I thought!” (sniff) The anger once again erupted in Gaby’s voice as she yanked the bike out of Maddy’s hands.

“I’m going for my ride! You can bugger off and do whatever you want … I don’t care!”

“Drewww!” Maddy whined. “Miss Bell told us to act like girl friends for … for your ... safety!” she tearfully argued.

“That doesn’t mean you have to flirt with other boys behind my back … then deny it after I find out ... an’ just because I’m a blonde … expect me to be dumb enough to believe it never ‘appened!” Gaby shot back.

“I’m a girl! That’s what girls my age do!” Maddy replied defensively. “We flirt with boys...”

“Not if they’re already in a relationship … one you’ve admitted to, by-the-way! I don’t see Ally falling over other boys an’ last I knew … she’s a girl about our age … an’ in a relationship! I thought you and I were in a relationship … no matter if I was Drew … or Gaby … but … I guess not … not unless it’s convenient for you, anyway!” Gaby’s anger was rising with each comment.

As she started to walk off, she left a stunned Maddy tearfully standing several paces behind her. Gaby turned after walking a few steps and with all the venom left in her, she glared at Maddy.

“As Brit would say … Stee-rike … One!”

“Gaby? … (sniff) Let me come with you? … (sniff) I’ve got nowhere to go … (sniff) Please?” Maddy quietly pleaded as she walked up to Gaby.

Without a word, Gaby again started walking while Maddy had to initially run the few steps to keep up. The rest of the walk to the Cyclery was done in a cold silence. Maddy quickly decided to stay back a pace or two behind Gaby to avoid feeling her wrath any more than she had to. Their arrival at Erin's store prevented any further discussion and both girls were glad to see that no one else was outside the shop waiting. At least they wouldn’t have to pretend to be civil to each other just yet. Upon entering the shop with the bike, Gaby could hear Erin was already tinkering in the back workshop.

As they started walking down a wide aisle, Maddy unexpectantly took hold of Gaby’s arm causing her to swing around to face her and then quickly embraced her in a one-sided emotional hug.

“Please, Gabs … I don’t want to fight with you … you mean far too much to me.” Maddy softly pleaded. Hoping to make her girlfriend understand how she felt about her, she gave Gaby a quick, gentle kiss on her lips.

As Gaby slowly embraced her, Maddy whispered, “I’ll wait for you here … like we planned … an’ then we can go out to this Diane’s, together … okay, darling?”

Gaby gave Mad a quick peck on the cheek and then reluctantly whispered in her ear, “Okay … a truce … but I still want to know about Sam and what you meant back there.” They broke the hug upon hearing some activity at the back of the store.

“Hiya … Gaby?” Erin greeted us as she walked up the aisle, a look of confusion etched on her face.

“Morning Erin,” Gaby replied.

A confused Erin did a cartoon-like double take.

“Now tell me I'm not seeing double!” a bemused Erin exclaimed.

“Nope … the ugly one is my cousin … Maddy Peters.” Gaby introduced her ‘double’. In turn, Maddy feigned a swipe to Gaby’s ear.

“Geez, you look like twins! Very nice to meet you, Maddy,” Erin offered as she held out her hand.

“Nice to finally meet you, Erin. Gaby’s mentioned you several times,” Maddy replied as she shook Erin’s hand.

The two of them stood, briefly sizing each other up before Erin spoke, “So … Maddy … what brings you here so early?”

“That's my fault,” Gaby admitted. “We kinda made a stupid bet and swapped places for the weekend. Mad’s pretending to be me at the Walters but since they were expecting Gaby to leave for her ride ... we sorta needed to swap back for the day. As far as the Walters know … Maddy … me (pointing to herself) ... had agreed to spend the day with Gaby … her! (pointing to Maddy)”

“If it’s alright Erin … I'll just hang round here until you get back,” Maddy added.

Erin shook her head. “Kids! Sure … you’re welcome to stay here. I know Don won't mind the company. He usually holds the fort on his own when we go out riding on Saturdays.”

Gaby left Maddy and Erin alone in the shop and took the rucksack with her borrowed bike kit, into the washroom to get changed. When she returned, she found the two of them talking to a lad of about seventeen.

“There you are” Maddy mentioned. Gaby noticed an element of sweetness had returned to her voice. Question was, was this genuine or an act?

“Here she comes, Don,” Erin added.

Maddy giggled. Gaby thought she saw the girl she loved back in Warsop, but memories of the morning’s argument soon brought that image of her into question.

“Gaby … this is my Saturday help … Don Tanner … Don … this here’s Gaby Bond.” After Erin performed the introductions, she mentioned that the others were already waiting outside.

“I’m sure we’ll talk later, Don … gotta go … nice meeting you. See you later Mad!” Gaby allowed as she hugged Maddy then left the two to follow Erin out to the other waiting cyclists.

Gaby was really looking forward to the day’s ride and despite their argument on the way over, she happily returned Maddy's wave as the group departed. Once the group of riders left the Cyclery and exited Grottoes, they turned onto Weyer’s Cave Road and were riding out past the airfield towards I-81. She soon noticed they were heading towards what Diane identified as the Shenandoah Mountains, the highest peak being Shenandoah Mountain itself. Keeping up a steady pace as they crossed the wide valley and with just over twenty miles under their wheels, they went under the Interstate and turned onto Route 11, promptly passing a sign that read ‘Churchville 15 miles’.

The ride reminded her a bit of the roads back home as it undulated up and down and twisted about the quiet Virginia countryside. They had been riding for about ninety minutes when the word went out that it was only two miles to Churchville. Gaby knew from the chatter and the posturing that there was something, possibly a sprint, coming up. However, unlike last week’s ride, everyone remained pretty much together and the gentle undulations of the road made any thought of escaping the group that much more difficult for her.

After the last ride when she beat Erin, Gaby knew how everyone rode, particularly Diane, Erin and Aidan. On that ride, she watched their every move and it was no different on this occasion. As the group neared Churchville, Gaby found the temptation to make a move almost too much to bear, but she restrained herself until she saw Diane make a run for the ‘line’. Waiting for oncoming traffic to clear, Gaby found it had the added benefit of distracting Erin’s attention from her. That’s when she chose to make her move.

Despite Diane’s twenty-metre lead, Gaby saw the ‘line’ was about a hundred meters away. She clicked up a gear just as she noticed a wheel come up alongside her bike. Still, the gap to Diane shrank quickly. Gaby picked her line and just as she was closing in on Diane, she made her big push. She upped the gears again and got out of the saddle to get that extra leverage when she came down hard on the pedals. By then the wunderkind was committed to a plan of action, so when Erin pulled alongside her, there was nothing Gaby could do. They sprinted virtually wheel to wheel, until with one final effort, Gaby pushed half a wheel in front just as they sped pass the Churchville limits sign. When she finally sat back into the saddle and coasted for a while, Erin and the others matched her speed as they rode up to her. As each one pedalled up along side of her, they congratulated her and were eager to know her secret.

“Simple! When you went … I knew it couldn't be too far and the way a few others reacted … confirmed it!” Gaby explained to Diane and the others.

They looped through the town and reversed direction on Churchville Avenue back towards the city of Staunton. Diane informed Gaby they’d be stopping on the other side of Fishersville, about five miles away at a nursery that also had a small tea room.

“Another sprint?” Gaby asked hopefully.

“Might be…” Diane mysteriously replied.

Exiting Staunton, they turned off the more travelled Jefferson Highway onto a secondary road that ran parallel right into Fishersville. As they passed through the small town, Gaby detected a certain nervousness around her, telling her the café sprint must be coming up.

Diane was the first one to break from the group, with Derek giving chase. Gaby decided to stay where she was and Erin continued to scrutinize her every move. Finally thinking Gaby was sitting this sprint out, Erin and a few others decided to join Diane. As soon as Erin got a few bike lengths out in front, Gaby decided on a course of action.
Still playing the relaxed rider, she struck up a conversation with a couple of the other riders in the front of the second bunch in an attempt to find our where the sprint would take place.

“About a half mile … they always sprint for the tea room sign just up by that tree at the top of the next rise,” he pointed out.

Gaby stayed back, watching the breakaway bunch for signs of a sprint. She didn’t have to wait long as they turned a corner and she spotted both the tree and sign. After that she saw there was a double rise with a dip in the middle, just to make it difficult. Erin glanced back at Gaby and saw she was staying behind her. It was then she chose to make her move.

In a blink of an eye, Gaby dropped a couple of gears and crossed the gap to Diane and Erin. After successfully holding them off through the first rise, Gaby noticed it was actually three hills - not two! She had just caught her breath when Derek challenged her for the second crest, but at a price. Even though he took the second summit, he was spent when he hit the top. Gaby let up and just managed to stay on the backend of the lead group as they made the second summit. Now that they knew she was there, Gaby quickly decided to power through the descent between the second and third climbs.

Erin's big mistake was to wait for Diane to go. Gaby dropped the gears into fifteen and was already moving when they hit the start of the last climb with the result that her momentum easily carried her past the others. A quick downshift kept the momentum and she sped over the summit heading for the café. Erin was the first to notice Gaby’s bike shudder just before she appeared to slump over and veer off the road into a ditch.

“Gaby! … Gaby! … Come on girl! … Wake up!” Erin shouted.

“Where’s your cell?” Diane asked anxiously.

“Home ... I forgot to charge it last night!” Erin frantically admitted.

“Okay ... I'll dial 9-1-1 from the tea room!” Diane called out as she re-mounted her bike.

“And let Jessica know!” Erin shouted back.

“Is she okay?” asked an unidentified voice.

“We saw her pass you guys like a bullet … then poof … she just seemed to lose it!” another offered.

“Well … I don't think anything is broken … but I’m no doctor,” Erin calmly mentioned.

“She hit her head?” asked yet another.

“Dunno … maybe. Her helmet’s too dirty to see any impact point,” Erin replied as she knelt beside the limp girl.

Gaby had yet to move, she was in that grey area between being conscious and unconscious, yet was vaguely aware of voices around her and her own thoughts. “I've done this before haven't I?”

She soon heard a commotion of footsteps and a woman’s voice calling out, “I'm a doctor … let’s have a look!”

Gaby felt someone touching her, but it was the light in her eye that caused her to jerk and brought her back to full consciousness.

“Not so fast, young lady … stay still!” The doctor physically prevented Gaby from jerking upright.

“Thank God!” a relieved Erin cried out. After concluding there appeared to be no broken bones, Derek was asked to carry Gaby inside the tea room and to lay her on one of the benches.

As they entered the café, a man in his sixties asked, “She okay Maggie?”

“Looks like she blacked out. Have you got anything like Gatorade or fresh orange juice?” the doctor asked. “If you only have the juice … make it a big glass … with a straw!”

“Coming right up, Doc!”

Seeing Gaby come around, the doctor turned her attention to the patient. “What’s your name, honey?”

“Uh … Gaby,” she weakly replied.

As the proprietor handed the sport drink to the doctor, she urged Gaby to drink it all.

“You done this before … felt faint or even fallen off your bike?” The doctor asked in a quiet voice.

“A couple of times … but ... it’s only happened when I’d gotten off my bike after a hard race ... never while riding,” Gaby admitted. “I guess I have to pay more attention to my intake of energy bars, eh?”

“Looks like you nailed it on the head!” Dr. Maggie joked.

“We still need EMS … or should I call them off?” Diane asked.

“Call ‘em off!” Maggie instructed. As she turned back to Gaby, she ordered, “I don't think she should ride anymore today … where're you guys headed?”

Told that their final destination was Grottoes and there was no one available to pick her up, Maggie offered to drive her back to town. After Gaby hurriedly told Maggie the Walters were out, Erin suggested she be dropped off at her shop.

“So Gaby, you do a lot of cycling in England?” Maggie asked as they drove through Waynesboro on the way to Grottoes.

“A fair bit,” Gaby replied.

“As a girl or a boy?” Maggie asked.

“...’Ow’d you know?” a shocked Gaby asked.

“Not hard ... I have two boys and a girl of my own ... plus I am a doctor and someone had to check you over for any broken bones before we moved you from the ditch,” Maggie softly explained.

“Oh...”

“Want to tell me about it?” After a very brief silence, she added, “If you don’t want to … that’s alright.”

“It goes no further right?” Gaby pressed.

“Whatever you say, stays with me. You’re still my patient and there’s such a thing as doctor-patient confidentiality,” Maggie stated.

“I warn you, it's a long story,” Gaby cautioned.

“We’ve got time. I don’t think your friends will get back to Grottoes for about another hour,” Maggie suggested.

Maggie pulled over off the road while Gaby related her story and how she came to learn she was intersexed as well as being androgen insensitive.

“Dr. Sanwari has me taking oestrogen every day while I’m here, but I forgot to take ‘em this morning. Think that had anything to do with me blacking out?” Gaby wondered.

“I doubt that had anything to do with what happened … but I’m only a simple country GP and not an expert in that field by any means,” Maggie lightheartedly confided. “Still … no more missing your medication … okay?”

“Okay,” Gaby agreed.

As they continued onto Grottoes and Erin’s shop, Gaby asked Maggie to do her a favour.

“When we get to Erin’s bike shop, don’t say anything about me being intersexed or anything. Maddy hasn’t been told ... yet.”

“I promise,” Maggie cheerfully agreed as they pulled up to Erin’s Cyclery.

“…‘bout time Dru ... Gabs!” Maddy impatiently greeted her girlfriend as Gaby got out of the car.

“Wotcha, Mad…” Gaby softly replied.

“How come you’re in a car? Where's Erin and the others? For that matter ... why are you all muddy an' who...?” Maddy’s questions seemed endless.

“Maggie, this is my cousin … Maddy Peters. Mad … meet Dr. Maggie Wilson.”

“Doctor? OhmyGod Gaby! You crashed … didn’t you? Are you hurt?” Remembering what they were told by Jessica, it took all her willpower to keep from showing her affection and concern in public.

“Relax, Maddy. Drew's fine now… no broken bones … and from what I saw … he had a soft landing,” Maggie assured Maddy. “He did have everyone very concerned for a short time … until he regained consciousness.”

“You were unconscious, dar …you know?” Maddy stammered. Her gaze shot back and forth between the two as she realized Maggie was referring to Gaby as Drew.

“She examined me, Mad ... an’ she was curious ... so I told her the whole story while we drove back here. I think you’d better call me Gaby now, Maggie … just in case,” Gaby interjected.

At that moment, Erin and a few of the others rode into the parking lot and up to the front of the Cyclery where the other three were in conversation.

“Gaby! You gave us such a heart stoppin’ moment! Any idea what caused it Maggie?” Erin gushed.

“Nothing to be worried about. I figure she didn’t keep herself hydrated … did you?” Maggie offered with a smile.

“Uh uh,” Gaby sheepishly replied. “Thanks for being there, Maggie.”

“No problem … look … I really must go, now. I just went to the nursery looking for some indoor plants and I told my husband I wouldn’t be too long,” Maggie explained.

Turning to Gaby, she added with a wink, “And Gaby … remember to eat those energy bars in future, huh?”

“I will … sorry to be a problem,” Gaby replied.

“It was a delight to meet you … in a way, I’m glad it happened … take care dear.” Maggie departed leaving the cyclists standing outside the shop.

“Sorry about the bike Erin,” Gaby quietly apologized.

“Don’t worry about it, hun … besides there’s no damage … just a lot of mud. Don will clean it up while we’re gone.” She explained to Maddy that Gaby went off the road into a ditch full of melting snow and mud.

After speaking with Don, Erin ran the girls out to her place where Gaby showered and changed before the three went out to Biggs Fabrications for their tour.

The drive out to Diane’s place didn't take long in Erin's pickup and they soon pulled into the yard of a very busy metal working company. Off to one side of a large covered area with racks of sheet metal and metal tubes of all descriptions, was a slightly run down house out side of which Erin stopped the truck.

“Hey guys … you made it!” Diane greeted them as she ran out of the house. Turning her attention to Gaby, Diane stated in mock anger, “Gaby Bond! If you ever…”

It was all Diane could do to stifle the smile that threatened to appear. She immediately ran over and gave Gaby a huge hug that allayed any fears she had that Diane was really mad at her.

“Hi Diane … woulda been here sooner, but I had to drag young Gaby out of my shower. Oh, yeah … I don't think you know Maddy here … Gaby's cousin,” Erin mentioned.

“Hi Maddy … you sure you two aren't twins?” Diane greeted.

“Not unless someone dumped one of us at birth,” Maddy grinned.

“Well … let's go find Derek. He's just itching to give you the full tour!” Diane enthused.

Diane led the way across the yard to the main building, where they found Derek waiting in Diane’s office and after she introduced Maddy, he began his tour.

“I think this will interest you guys!” Diane enthusiastically suggested.

“We'll take this order, here … it's for one of our bike frames.”

Derek sat down at a computer monitor and started to demonstrate the entire process, from order to the manufacturing of a bike. He explained the process of changing the set of measurements on the order form into a drawing on the screen of a bike frame using a CAD program. Even Maddy was captivated when the special printer produced a detailed drawing of the frame complete with a materials list.

“Now we take the drawing to our cutting shop where the tube is selected and prepared,” Derek explained. They followed him into a garage sized space with a large steel topped table that took up most of the available floor space. Racks with all sorts of tubing lined one complete wall. Derek proudly announced that all of the higher-grade aluminum and the expensive materials were kept inside.

Diane took some of the metal tubing and let the girls handle it and feel the weight, explaining how it would be used on a bike frame.

“Crikey! I wish my bike was built of this. This stuff is really light!” Gaby gushed as she handed it to Maddy.

“You and me both, Gabs!” Erin grinned.

Derek started to explain the next step and he let Diane take over as the guide for this part. She showed them the jig where the loose tubing was fitted for final frame assembly. Diane finished up by handing Gaby a full frame ready for finishing.

“Cor! I thought my frame was light … this must be half the weight!” Gaby exclaimed.

“And strong, Gab. This stuff is stronger than steel or aluminium … doesn't corrode and is more comfortable to ride than carbon,” Diane proudly explained.

“I'll hafta take your word on that,” Gaby sighed. “Maybe I'll get one someday. I don’t think even the Apollinaris bikes are this light!”

Diane's eyes flashed a knowing look at Derek.

“Well maybe you can test ride one while you’re over here … you too Maddy … if you’d like,” she added.

“Kewel!” both girls chorused.

The grand tour now evolved into a free-for-all discussion about bikes and kit. Diane was a Shimano freak and Gaby was a staunch Campag enthusiast, which resulted in a very lively debate on their various merits. Finally someone had to haul out a calculator and the catalogues to put together the ultimate super light road bike. Gaby’s ten-speed Campag Record equipped Biggs was nearly fifty grams lighter than the nine-speed Dura Ace set up that Diane worked up!

It was dark outside when they finally left the ‘factory' to walk over to the Biggs' house where they planned to send out for pizza. While they were waiting for the pizza and debating bikes, a worried Jessica called and inquired about Gaby’s condition. After she was assured Gaby was alright, she asked if the girls could stay a bit longer saying the Walters and her were just sitting down to dinner at the Jones’.

After an hour and an invitation to join Diane on her usual Wednesday ride, Diane’s visitors piled back into Erin’s truck and headed over to the Jones’ place. As Erin told the girls, it was a bit of a drive from Diane’s. She later pulled onto the Jones’ property, bringing the pickup to a stop behind Mrs. Walter's Forester and Jessica’s Jetta.
Mrs. Jones opened the door before Erin and the girls got there.

“I thought I heard a car … c’mon in Erin … girls,” Mary greeted her visitors.

“Two English flowers … as ordered!” Erin replied.

“I've got a couple more here, somewhere … you want some coffee Erin?

Mrs. Jones led them inside to where the Walters, Jessica, Jules, Em and the rest of the Jones family were socializing. Em and Sandy decided to give Em’s friends the full tour of Sandy’s apartment.

During the tour, Em was increasingly miffed by Gaby’s snide comments towards her and she wondered why her friend would even say things like that. To Em, they seemed ‘girly’ and totally out of character for Drew and more like Maddy’s biting sarcasm. In any case, Em’s buttons were being pushed and she started concocting plans to get back at her friend.

“Madeline … time to go, hun!” Jessica called from the bottom of the staircase that led to Sandy’s apartment. Maddy retrieved her coat and came down the stairs to join Jessica. As Jules appeared at the top of the stairs, Jessica got her attention.

“I’ll wait outside, Jessica,” Gabrielle quietly mentioned as she walked past Miss Bell.

“I won’t be too long, dear … I just want to talk to Gaby for a sec.”

“Jules? Please tell your sister I’d like a word with her?” Miss Bell asked. Before Jules turned away, Jessica mouthed the word ‘Maddy’, letting her know that she knew of the switch. Soon both Gaby and Jules were standing at the top of the stairs.

“You wanted to see me Miss?” Gaby asked as she came down the stairs. Jules followed and stopped a few steps behind her.

“And just when do you plan to switch back ... Maddy?” Jessica quietly asked, placing a definite emphasis on the name.

“What do you mean?” asked a surprised Gaby.

“Don’t play dumb with me … Madeline. Gaby and I had a long and very enjoyable chat last night about the three of you ... Drew, Gaby and … Maddy! What’s more … I have a nagging feeling you deliberately set her up with Sam Roberts and if I’m correct … you put Gaby in very real danger of being discovered! She knew it ... and I saw it!”

“I’ve already discussed this with your Miss Cowlishaw this morning and we’ve decided that if you don’t stop this behaviour, you’re facing the very distinct possibility of being sent home...”

Miss Bell let Maddy digest that revelation, before continuing with her ‘talk’.

“For your information … what you did is called ‘endangerment’! We won’t take any action ... for now ... but that’s only because we don’t have any direct proof of your intentions. However … Miss Cowlishaw has to keep records on each one of you … and at the very least … this ‘weekend’ will be permanently entered on your record. For now, consider yourself on a kind of probation … and … that you have been warned!”

Miss Bell quietly, but sternly kept lecturing Madeline while Jules looked on, silently recalling her warning to Maddy.

“Except for the dinner with Sam … Gaby and I have had a very enjoyable time together ... but now it’s time to end it,” Jessica added, in a more normal tone of voice. She paused as she heard a commotion at the top of the stairs.

“Excuse me, Miss Bell. C’mon Gabs ... Mom’s just called to say she’ll be waiting in the car. I’ve got your stuff up here,” Britney called down the stairs.

“In a few!” Madeline shot back and then in a much quieter and more conciliatory tone, added, “Please ... I ... I have to go, Jessica. I’m ... really very sorry. We’ll swap back before homeroom ... I promise.”

As she started to follow Jules back up the stairs, Gaby turned back to face Jessica & quietly asked, “How long have you known?”

Jessica walked up to her and whispered, “Just after we got to the Roberts.”

“Oh,” a dejected Maddy voiced. “Why didn’t you sort us out last night, then?”

“I figured Gaby could use a break and I quite enjoyed her company. I know that she also enjoyed, as much as needed … having someone to talk to … and having that same someone … really listen to her,” Jessica allowed.

Maddy looked as if she was going to cry as she cast her eyes down to the steps. She knew what Jessica had said was true, but that didn’t make it any easier to hear.

“She can talk to me,” Maddy whispered in a whiny voice.

"Can she, really?” Jessica softly challenged, thinking about what she believed Maddy had just put Gaby through.

"I dunno,” Madeline whispered as she shrugged her shoulders. With moist eyes, she continued to gaze at the steps as Jessica's words cut deep.

“One last thing ... Gaby. I’ll let the real Gaby have her Sunday … BUT … I’ll be checking when you come for homeroom on Monday and it had better be the right Maddy that sits in her assigned seat! Are we clear on that?” Jessica quietly affirmed.

“Yes Miss,” replied a shaken Madeline and as she started to turn, Jessica again stopped her. “Oh! You may need this,” Jessica softly offered as she handed a tissue to her charge.

Just as she started to go back up the steps, Jessica lovingly whispered to her, “Maddy … I’m not angry that the two of you switched … just terribly hurt that you’ve caused so much pain to someone you’ve told me, means so much to you.”

“I’m sorry, Jessica. She ... she does mean everything to me … an’ that’s the God’s truth … but …” Madeline replied in a quiet voice. She tearfully accepted the tissue and dabbed her moist eyes then slowly turned and went up to retrieve Gaby’s coat.

As Maddy retreated back up the stairs, Jules hurried back down to see Jessica.

“Miss? Here … Gabs will know what to do with these,” Jules stated as she turned to head back up the stairs to re-join the two Walters sisters and Gaby.

 
 
Comments are gratefully appreciated

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To Be Continued...