Swans Crossing: The Return
©1997 by Stephanie Blydenburgh
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Chapter Twenty-Four (co-written by Miss Swan)
"Oh Sydney, I am so excited about the game Friday!" Mila exclaimed, letting herself into Sydney's bedroom. She tossed her pompoms on the bed.
Sydney looked up. She was sitting at her window reading the same paragraph from her chemistry book over and over. "Nice to see you too, Mila."
Mila giggled sheepishly. "Well, this is just all so new to me. But high school is so exciting! Why didn't you tell me it was so great?"
"You sure are in a good mood," Sydney commented, ignoring Mila's question. "And I have something that is going to make you hit the roof."
Mila scurried to Sydney's side. "What is it?"
"Does your mother know you're here?"
"Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?" Mila asked in confusion.
Sydney smiled widely. "Well, in case a certain Grant Booth gives you a call your mother can tell him where to reach you."
A chill rushed through Mila's body. "Oh my gosh! Are you serious?"
"Sure am!" Sydney said happily. "I convinced him to make a decision about going, and both Garrett and Glory confirmed he was eyeing you when he first came to visit. I'm expecting him to call you anytime soon."
Mila hugged Sydney and then began nervously arranging her long blond hair. "Do I look okay?"
"Mila, it's a phone call," Sydney reminded her.
"Oh yeah." Mila flopped down on the bed. She thought momentarily about all of her boyfriends since she had moved to Swans Crossing. She moved into town having never had a boyfriend, and now she had gone out with Garrett, Billy Gunn, Garrett again, and J.T. Possibly Grant, if things went the way she hoped. However, all of her earlier relationships had ended pretty disastrously, so Mila said a silent prayer that this time it would finally work out for her.
As if on cue, the telephone rang. Mila nearly jumped out of her skin, and then looked at Sydney with wide eyes.
"Answer it!" Sydney urged.
With a shaky hand Mila picked up the porcelain telephone. "Hello?"
"Hi!" said an enthusiastic male voice. Mila immediately recognized it as Grant's.
"Oh hi Grant," she replied, giving Sydney a thumbs-up.
"I told you," Sydney mouthed.
"So what's up?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
"Well, not much. I've been thinking though, and I think it would be a lot of fun to go to the homecoming dance," Grant told her.
Mila couldn't believe her luck. "Oh really?"
"Yeah, and I was wondering if maybe you would like to go with me," he concluded, sounding almost as nervous as Mila did.
"I would love to!" she responded quickly, her heart pounding rapidly in her chest.
"Great," he said happily. "Why don't we meet on Friday after the game right in front of the gym?"
"Sounds wonderful. I'll see you then."
"Okay, see you then," Grant agreed.
Mila placed the phone in it's cradle and then started jumping up and down. "He asked me!" she squealed triumphantly. It seemed as if things were finally working out for Mila Rosnovsky.
"W-what are you doing here?" Callie asked, looking up at Jimmy like a deer caught in headlights. She didn't move from her spot in the middle of the water.
"I was just going for a walk," Jimmy answered. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her, standing knee deep in water, or from the moonlight that reflected from the water dancing on her face.
"Me too," she told him.
He started backing away. "Well, I think I'm gonna split."
"Okay," she replied nonchalantly, although she wanted in her heart to beg him to stay.
"See ya around," he said, turning away.
"Bye."
Jimmy suddenly turned back. "Hey Callie?"
Her stomach jumped into her throat. "Yes?"
"Last night Ana asked me if you and Pedro wanted to check out this new nightclub on Friday. What do you say?"
Callie exhaled a long, shaky breath. There was something odd in this question. He was asking her to do something with him, something he had done many times. But there were other people involved, and the way he phrased it made it clear that he was with Ana and she was with Pedro. "Sure," she responded shortly.
Jimmy nodded, and turned away again. This time he kept walking. He too was finding the entire situation strange. Here he was, faced with a girl who at one time he had been so close to, and now they were treating each other like complete strangers.
Callie watched Jimmy walk down the sandy beach, and even though it was hot out, she suddenly felt very cold inside.
The trees whizzed by as Garrett drove his mini bike to Swans. His father's words were ringing in his head. A job. It was a novel idea, but Garrett was suddenly full of worries. If word got out that he was working somewhere his reputation would be ruined. The Booths didn't have to work. They were one of the most affluent families in town. Even Sandy didn't have to get a job. Her parents struggled, but they weren't so poor that Sandy had to support herself. A chill ran down Garrett's spine. He was worse off than Sandy Swan now.
He pulled up to the building and dismounted his bike. He wasn't even paying attention to where he was going and what he was doing. It was as if he was on auto pilot. Sydney was very important to him, and he was willing to do anything for her. Even get a job so he could take her to homecoming, if that's what it took.
With a determined shove, Garrett opened the door to Swans and entered the diner. Before he approached the counter he scanned the room for his friends. Luckily everyone in the soda shop were people he didn't know very well.
Jazz was behind the counter, wiping down some of the soda dispensers. She noticed Garrett and waved hello.
"Hi Jazz. I was wondering if I could get an application," Garrett stated very bluntly.
"For who?" she asked curiously.
He lowered his eyes. "For me."
Immediately, Jazz doubled over in fits of laughter. "That's the best one I've heard all day!" she gasped.
"It's not a joke," he said through clenched teeth.
Jazz stopped laughing and caught her breath. "Are you serious?"
"Yes," Garrett replied.
She shrugged, and decided not to even attempt to question why Garrett Booth wanted to get a job. Jazz bent down and retrieved an application for him. "Here you go."
Garrett took it from her outstretched hand and left the humiliating scene as quickly as he could.
Nancy closed her math book and went over to her telephone. She had been waiting for this moment all night. Her parents had a rule that all homework had to be completed before she could use the phone. Now that she was done she could do something that might change her life forever.
Stop being such a drama queen, she scolded herself. Maybe not forever, but this phone call was going to affect her immediate future. She picked up the phone and dialed Kevin Hall's number. She had looked it up in the phone book. Even though they had gone to get coffee a few times and had spent some time at the stables together, he hadn't given her his number.
"Hello?" a pleasant female voice answered.
"Hi, is Kevin there?" Nancy asked, her voice raising several octaves.
"Sure, just a second," she said.
A few moments later, Kevin came on the line. "Hello?"
"Hey Kevin, it's Nancy. Nancy Robbins," she clarified.
He laughed lightly. "I know," he teased her. "How are you, Nancy?"
"I'm pretty good," she said, not adding that she was a nervous wreck. "What about you?"
"Not bad," he replied, and the conversation lagged.
"Well," she began, jumping into her question immediately. "I am calling because I was wondering if you would like to go to the homecoming dance on Friday night."
Kevin was quiet for a moment. "I think that would be a lot of fun. We're playing your team that night, aren't we?"
"Yeah," Nancy answered. "Is that a problem?"
"No," he assured her. "I just thought that maybe a Newport High kid might not exactly be accepted at SCH."
"Well, I really want you there," Nancy told him flirtatuously.
She could almost hear Kevin smiling on the other line as he replied, "Then the answer is yes. I would be honored to go with you."
Nancy beamed. Life couldn't possibly get any better than this.
The next day Sydney ran into Garrett before school. "Hi!" she said, greeting him in the front entrance to the school.
He smiled upon seeing her. "Hey Sydney." They stood before each other a moment or two, and then Garrett kissed her lightly on the lips. Sydney's heart fluttered. They both basked in the moment of public affection.
"So how have you been?" she asked.
Garrett’s expression clouded. He wanted so badly to tell her that he had applied for a job at Swans, but he just couldn't. The look of love in her green eyes made it impossible for him to break her heart. And he knew it would put a huge strain on their relationship. Sydney was very clear on her thoughts about money. The more, the better. It would seem weird for Sydney Rutledge, the richest girl in town, to be dating someone who didn't have any money, and had to flip burgers to get any at all.
"I'm okay," he answered quietly.
Sydney didn't notice his troubled tone. "Me too. I just can't wait until Friday. And I want you to know I promise I really will walk off the field when you guys win."
"You sound pretty confident," Garrett commented.
She smiled widely. "Well, I have a lot of things to be confident about." She looked up at him. "And you're one of those things." She leaned towards him to kiss him again. He kissed her back, although his mind was in another world.
I wish I had a lot to be confident about too, he thought to himself. Under most circumstances Garrett Booth was the most confident person in town. He had it all- a beautiful girlfriend, good looks, and money. Now that he no longer had money it seemed as if he was going to lose it all. Well, he amended, I'll still have my looks.
"Garrett?" Sydney called, snapping him back to reality.
His head whipped up when he realized she was talking to him. "Were you talking to me?"
She furrowed her eyebrows at him in concern. "Are you okay?" she asked.
No, he thought. I'm not okay! I have no money, and I know I'm not good enough for you! His mind was racing, but he couldn't verbalize those insecure thoughts. Sydney wouldn't understand. She was never insecure, and she thought of him in the same sense she did herself. Garrett Booth could never be anything but "perfect" in her eyes. Even when she hated him, she knew he had it all. Until now, he remind himself. Garrett cleared his throat. "Yeah, I'm fine."
At lunch Sydney was sitting with her friends, trying to get them to decide if they should get a limousine to take them to the homecoming dance. At Swans Crossing High homecoming was almost as formal as the prom.
"This is so cool!" Sydney exclaimed, pointing to a black stretch limo with a high ceiling in the catalog.
"Where do they keep the chandelier?" Sandy joked.
Sydney tapped her fingernails against the formica table. "Let me guess- Saja wants to beam yourselves there or something."
Sandy had to laugh. "Probably."
"So, Syd, Garrett wants to know what color corsage he should get you," Glory told her.
Sydney busily pulled something out of her leather purse. "Here," she said, handing Glory a sheet of colored paper. "I got it at the florist. I circled all the ones that I liked, so Garrett can just pick off of this. But, it has to be a red rose, no matter what."
"You're taking this homecoming thing really seriously, Sydney," Nancy commented, pushing her cafeteria lunch away.
Sydney pursed her trademark red lips. "Homecoming is the biggest night of the year," she explained defensively.
Sandy chuckled. "I thought that title belonged to graduation." The rest of the girls joined in her laughter.
"Laugh all you want guys, but I am going to have the best night money can buy. Now," she said, producing the limo catalogue again, "which limo?"
Jimmy woke up the next day, and went downstairs. Johnny was already dressed, and armed with a suitcase. Jimmy looked at his brother quizzically. "What are you doing?"
"Well, I forgot to tell you that I have to go on a business trip tonight," Johnny explained.
"Oh," he said slowly. "That's okay, I guess. I'll just hang out here tonight then."
Johnny cocked his head and gave Jimmy an apologetic look. "Well, see, there's a slight problem. I forgot when I scheduled this trip that I had also scheduled for the house to be exterminated late this afternoon."
"So what does that mean for me?"
Johnny picked up his suitcase. "Well, I arranged for you to stay with the Walkers tonight. I know you knew them in Swans Crossing, and I met Captain Walker the other day when I was out working on the lawn. He's a really nice guy. It's only for one night. Is that okay?"
Jimmy was so stunned that he couldn't even answer him... he was spending the night at Callie's.
"No way Dad," Callie said pointedly, folding her arms in front of her. "There is no way I'm letting you do this to me."
Captain Walker shrugged. "There's nothing I can do about it. I already told his brother he could stay. Why didn't you tell me your friend from Swans Crossing was visiting, and so close to our house at that?"
Callie turned away from her father, not wanting to meet his eyes. She stared out the window, and looked at the pouring rain. It matched her mood. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Fine, but he's staying the night," Captain Walker told her firmly. "How would you like to be in a strange place and have nowhere to go?"
"That's how I feel anyway," Callie muttered under her breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. I just want you to know I am not happy about this," Callie said with a scowl.
"Oh, I know," he replied.
She began stomping over to her bedroom.
"Callie!" her dad called her back.
"Yes?" she asked warily.
"Well, I almost forgot that I have to go to a company party tonight. You'll be all right here by yourself, won't you?"
Callie's stomach dropped. "You mean I'm going to be here with Jimmy tonight, all alone?"
Mila stood in front of the other cheerleaders, punching her arms in the air with enthusiasm. Ever since Grant had asked her to the dance she had more adrenalin running through her body than ever before. All the girls were commenting on it, and she told them she was just excited about cheering at the game.
Glory tried hard to follow all of Mila's commands, and she was doing a good technical job, but her heart wasn't into it. She was still thinking about J.T.'s apology. Glory wanted to accept it more than anything, but she was still so hurt. The scars that he caused by ditching her for Mila were permanent.
Across the field, the boys were practicing. She watched J.T., transfixed, but yet somewhat angered.
"That's it for today girls!" Mila announced, excusing them from practice. Glory went over to her duffel bag and unzipped it to toss her pompoms inside. Laying inside the bag she discovered a large, white daisy. She picked it up and fingered the petals. It was beautiful, but she knew it was from J.T.
When is he going to learn that it's just too soon? Glory asked herself. She started walking off the field, and noticed J.T. was looking in her direction, wanting to see a reaction from his little gift. She hurried away from J.T.'s waiting stare... but kept the daisy.
Callie peered out of her bedroom window at the evening Brazil sky. The storm outside was raging. Rain was pouring rapidly from the dark, heavy clouds and the thunder was booming wickedly. The wind seemed to take on a life of its own. It was almost as if it were grabbing the trees and shaking them violently with large, invisible hands. The storm was growing worse by the minute. Callie started to become even more tense than she had been previously, especially with the thought of her father being caught in the treacherous rain... and the fact that Jimmy was laying on the family room couch just a few feet away from her bedroom door.
Callie shivered involuntarily and pulled the venetian blinds back down over her window. In a way, the storm was a perfect reflection of how she was feeling inside. From the moment she had seen Jimmy at that store in Brazil, she felt as though her emotions were on a roller coaster. She didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or scream. On one hand, she still remembered the argument that she and Jimmy had the afternoon before she left for Brazil. She remembered it more vividly than she would've liked to. The cruel words that they had thrown back and forth at each other were still very fresh in Callie’s mind. The tension between her and Jimmy upon his unexpected arrival in Brazil was so thick, it was almost tangible. Callie knew that she didn't mean the harsh things she had said during their fight back in Swans Crossing, but she wasn't sure if it was the same way with Jimmy. She felt so flustered and confused every time he was with her that it was hard to keep from screaming. However, she also felt slightly excited, and almost giddy ever since they were reunited in Brazil. As much as she hated to admit it to herself, she had a secret fantasy in the back of her mind that maybe Jimmy had come to Brazil to patch things up with her. Whenever they were around each other, the chemistry that was shared between the two back when they were a couple still seemed to be alive. Maybe Callie was just dreaming it up, but Jimmy appeared to be equally as nervous and eager as she was every time they were within a few feet of one another. The possibility that he might still have feelings for her made her want to burst into delighted laughter. Yet, despite her concealed rapture over being around Jimmy again, seeing him in the flesh also made Callie want to cry. Jimmy was like the ultimate symbol of the life she led back in Swans Crossing. He reminded her of how great it felt to care so deeply for someone, of all the friends she had made in Swans Crossing, how that was the only place she could ever really call home, and how happy she was there. For her entire life, she had never been as happy as she was living in Swans Crossing. All this conflict going through her mind was driving her absolutely insane.
Callie shrieked softly as the storm let loose with another loud howl and the violent rain drops pounded against her bedroom window even harder than they had before. She tried to ignore the storm by closing her eyes and turning on her Walkman to drown out the sounds. She even had every single one of her bedroom lights on because she was afraid of the dark and the storm obviously wasn't doing anything to ease her fear. But despite her best efforts, she still kept visualizing her father. Why on earth did I let him leave for that party this late at night? she wondered apprehensively. He could get pneumonia, or struck by lightning, or worse....
Callie shook her head disapprovingly as she reviewed these ridiculous thoughts. It was strange for her to be so worried about something as trivial as a rainstorm. Normally, she was an extremely levelheaded person and was often the one to calm others down during a crisis. Now she was the one who needed to be comforted. If only a certain person sitting just outside my bedroom door could do it, Callie thought wistfully. She knew that the reason why she was so excitable tonight wasn't just because of the storm or even of the thought of her father being in danger. It was also because of Jimmy. Why can't I just forget about him? Callie asked herself in frustration. It’s over between us. He even said so himself. I even said so. Her covert emotions for Jimmy continued to run rampantly through her mind as she grew more and more frustrated. Why can't I get him out of my mind? Why do we have to be in the same house tonight? Why can't I just tell him how I feel? Why can't I just admit that I still-
Suddenly, her bedroom lights went out.
"Moving to Brazil" storyline & final scene (c) 1997 by Miss Swan Thanks to Phantasy4 for his storyline about Garrett getting a job. Also, thanks to Miss Swan for writing the entire last scene!
Chapter Twenty-Five (Co-writers this chapter: Miss Swan and Maxiom)
Sydney strolled leisurely through the aisles of one of the more expensive boutiques at the Swans Crossing mall.
Nancy followed behind her, struggling with an armload of dresses. "I'm so glad I'm going to homecoming!" she exclaimed happily, placing the rejected dresses back on the rack. Sydney rolled her eyes behind her friends back.
With the enemy, she thought to herself, but resigned to keeping quiet. She had been shopping with Nancy for a full hour and Nancy hadn't made one snobbish remark. It had to be a new record.
"Yes," Sydney said. "I'm glad you get to go, too. It looks like the whole group is going to make it."
Nancy nodded. "And some of the strangest couples have emerged. Like you, for example, Sydney-O. I simply cannot believe you and Garrett are going to make your first public appearance at the dance. How risky," Nancy commented mockingly.
Well there goes the record, Sydney thought.
The dressing room door opened and Mila stepped out into the store, tags dangling from her dress. "What do you think?" she asked, spinning around to show off the dress at every angle.
Both Sydney and Nancy looked on, impressed. The dress Mila had tried on was a shimmery pink color, and the gauzy fabric swished around her thighs. The neckline would be perfect for displaying a delicate necklace, and the sleeves showed off her tan shoulders. It was a beautiful dress.
"Wow Mila," Nancy breathed. "That's perfect!"
Sydney rushed over to Mila's side and examined the dress. "Mila, hold your hair on top of your head."
Mila grabbed her long golden hair and simulated an updo. Sydney nodded in approval. "That dress looks incredible on you. You must get it!"
Mila let out an excited giggle. "Okay! What do you think Grant will think?"
"That you look very mature. At least sixteen," Nancy told her. Mila didn't need another word of encouragement, and she quickly headed to the cash register.
"So now it's just you and me on the quest for the perfect homecoming dress," Sydney said brightly, looking at the other dresses on the rack.
Nancy lifted her hand to her mouth to stifle a yawn. "Actually Sydney, I'm feeling really tired. I think I'm going to abandon you and go get a soda at Swans. Do you want to come?"
Sydney thought for a moment. "No, I think I'll stay here. I have to get a dress soon, time is running out. The game is tomorrow, you know."
"I know. I just need to rest for a little. Why don't I meet you guys back here in thirty minutes?" Nancy suggested.
Sydney nodded. "Sounds great," she agreed, and resumed her search. Within seconds of Nancy's departure, a dress seemed to jump out at her. It was long and had a full, flowing skirt. The bodice was made of black lace, and the skirt was white satin. She could just envision herself in this elegant black and white dress with her dark hair pulled up into a bun, slinky black gloves pulled up to her elbows, an exquisite corsage made of roses placed on her wrist, and a studded Homecoming Queen tiara on her head.... Sydney grabbed the dress and headed into the dressing room. "Mila!" she called. "I found it!"
Callie whipped her Walkman headphones off of her ears and bolted up from her bed. She pulled up the blinds and peered outside the window. The neighboring houses also seemed to be without lights. All she could see was darkness and the gray shadows of a mass of heavy clouds that were lingering in the sky. It was indeed a blackout. Great, Callie thought miserably. My father is stuck in the worst storm I've ever witnessed, my ex-boyfriend is right outside my bedroom door, and now all the lights are out!
Unsure of what to do next, she began pacing across her room. She grabbed her phone in an effort to call the party up and ask about her father, but the line was dead. Now Callie really felt like screaming. She was worried enough about the storm, her father, and Jimmy, and now she had to deal with her fear of the dark. She shut her eyes again, hoping that the moment she opened them, the lights would magically reappear. No such luck. Her room was even darker than it was before she closed her eyes. Callie balled her hands into fists and continued to pace across her bedroom in agitation. I hate this! I can't think with all the lights out! And if there's a blackout, I can just imagine what's happened to Dad! What if he hadn't arrived at the party yet? He could really be in trouble now!
Callie started breathing heavily, and her heart pounded in panic. She hated feeling out of control like this, so she forced herself to calm down. Okay, the phone lines are dead and I have no way of contacting my dad. What I need to do now is get some lights so I can relax and stop worrying so much. I'm sure Dad is fine. I just need to get some lights....
She recalled where her father had stored their flashlights and candles and realized that they were in one of the drawers in the kitchen. And the kitchen was connected to the family room. The family room where Jimmy is probably sleeping on the couch now, Callie thought, wincing. I need to get the flashlights, but I don't want him to see me. I might just end up saying something I shouldn't... Callie shuddered as she imagined herself revealing her true feelings to Jimmy. I'm so frantic right now that I could let anything slip. She no longer trusted herself enough to be alone with Jimmy for a even minute. Not when all she wanted to do was tell him how much she still cared. No, telling him something that he doesn’t need to hear is even worse than sitting here in the dark for a few hours. I’ll just brave this blackout until the morning, or until my dad comes home... if he even does make it home.
The thunder boomed viciously again, and the rain was now beating down like daggers against her window. Callie glanced helplessly around her dark bedroom and then froze, paralyzed in terror. Okay, I take that back. If I don't get any lights in here soon, I'm gonna freak! She knew that if she didn't retrieve the flashlights and candles, she would drive herself crazy. Callie walked over to her door and slowly pulled it open. She reluctantly headed towards the kitchen.
Glory walked around the mall, helping Sandy carry some of her bags. Even though Sandy had already bought her homecoming dress, Glory had agreed to help her find shoes and jewelry to go with it. And of course, as Sandy's luck was going, she had immediately found shoes the exact aquamarine color of her dress, and a beautiful necklace and matching earrings set with blue stones. And all of it was very inexpensive, so Sandy was on cloud nine. Glory, however, had not found the right dress for herself yet. Of course, it wasn't an all important event... she was going with Neil after all, strictly as friends. Still... J.T. will be there, she reminded herself, and immediately scolded herself for even having such a thought.
"Dear, how much longer are we going to be?" Cornelia Booth asked her daughter.
"Not too much longer, Mom. I'm about ready to give up!" Glory admitted.
"Oh no, you don't," Sandy said. She led Glory by the hand to another store window. "That's it! It's perfect for you!"
Glory pressed her fingertips against the window glass, mesmerized by the dress displayed on the mannequin. "You're right," she breathed. She was instantly in love with the short, cream dress with an empire waist and matching silk scarf. "Oh Mom, can I get it?"
Mrs. Booth smiled. "It's a beautiful dress, dear." She didn't want to express her financial woes and worry Glory. She still had money in her credit account, and she pulled the plastic card from her purse. "Let's go buy it!"
Glory squealed with delight, suddenly getting more into the shopping experience. She found a dress in her size and hastily approached the cash register. The woman behind the counter rang up the dress, wrapped it in a box, and took Mrs. Booth's credit card from her. She ran it through the machine, and it made a beeping noise.
Mrs. Booth blushed and lowered her head, hoping none of the Swans Crossing socialites would spot her.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but this card is being rejected. Do you have another?" the woman asked.
Mrs. Booth fumbled through her handbag to look for another card while Glory looked on with concern. "I'm sorry about that. Here, try this one."
The woman ran it through, and once again it made that loud beep, as if to alert everyone in the store the card was being rejected.
"I'm very sorry. I'm sure you just have a problem with the company. Why don't you call the eight hundred number and clear that up, and then I'm sure you will be able to use your cards again." Mrs. Booth could tell that the employee was just being nice. There was nothing she could do. She turned to look into her daughter's worried eyes.
"I'm sorry Glory..."
Jimmy was laying with his back on the Walkers' family room couch, listening to the rainstorm outside. The television was on but he wasn't paying any attention to it. He had been trying to watch for awhile, hoping that the late-night Brazil programs (which he couldn't even understand since most of them were in Portuguese) would put him to sleep. But so far, he hadn't had any luck. All he could think about was Callie, and how she was in her bedroom just a couple of feet away from the couch where he was trying to sleep.
An ironic chuckle escaped from Jimmy's mouth as he realized how crazy his current situation was. The stuff that had been happening to him during the past couple of weeks seemed like events lifted straight out of one of those stupid TV sitcoms. The sitcoms where the characters would try their hardest to avoid getting into any trouble, but would always end up with more problems than they could've imagined. Jimmy had traveled to Brazil in hopes to repair his relationship with Callie. But when he arrived here, he realized that this was a task that would never be accomplished. He found out practically the moment he had set foot in Rio De Janeiro that Callie had already started dating Pedro. She sure didn't waste any time, Jimmy mused bitterly. I guess things between us were worse than I thought. She really must hate me now. And who could blame her? You said the some really awful things to her before she left Swans Crossing, Jimmy scolded himself silently. You didn't even show up at her good-bye party. Now you come to Brazil to try and make things up to her, but you can't even admit to her that you still care. All you can do is come up with some lame excuse about visiting your brother in Rio and then you start dating Pedro's sister. Great job, Clayton. Now you'll never get Callie back.
After recalling the ludicrous events that had occurred upon his arrival in Brazil, Jimmy groaned in despair. He had flown over three thousand miles just to find out that Callie no longer wanted him in her life. The moment he spotted her in that store with Pedro, he contemplated leaving Brazil, but he had already promised his brother he’d stay for awhile. Johnny and Jimmy were pretty close and rarely ever got to see each other. He didn't want to pass up his chance to be around his brother again, even though it killed Jimmy to see Callie with another guy. But he supposed that was his punishment for being so cruel to her before she left Swans Crossing. He constantly searched for someone to blame for all the misery he had been going through, but as usual, Jimmy had no one to blame but himself. He had his chance with Callie and he blew it. Obviously, he wasn't getting a second chance.
Man, if only she still cared about me, even just a little. If only I could have another chance with her. I definitely would not blow it this time. I've already made enough mistakes with Callie since the day we met. For about the thousandth time since he'd been in Brazil, Jimmy sighed ruefully. It seemed that his entire life was made up of lost opportunities and endless regrets. He really was the ultimate sitcom character. The one who's life is the most screwed up and never gets what he wants. Except the one difference we have is that by the end of the episode, his life is back to normal. My problems just keep getting worse by the day, Jimmy thought to himself wistfully.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by a blinding strobe of lightning accompanied immediately by a deafening peal of thunder. The light in the room and television went off simultaneously. Great. The power's out, he thought. Well, maybe I can relax and get some sleep now. Then his thoughts turned to Callie once more. I wonder if she's asleep? If not, she'll be terrified of being in the dark. Maybe I should...no. She's okay. She's in there asleep, probably dreaming of Pedro.
Jimmy closed his eyes and tried to relax. I've got to get some sleep. But how can I? How can I do anything when the girl I'm crazy about is right in the next room, and all I want to do is just go in there and....
Perish the thought, Clayton. Stop tormenting yourself. The sooner you get to sleep, the sooner it will be morning and the sooner you'll be out of here. Nothing's going to come of this situation.
His thoughts were then interrupted again by the sound of Callie's bedroom door creeping open. Then he saw Callie step out of her room. Immediately, their eyes met.
"I was... just going to get a flashlight. There's a blackout. I didn't mean to wake you," Callie said nervously.
Jimmy could see the fear in her face, and hear it in her voice. All he wanted to do was go to her and take her in her arms to try to comfort her. He couldn't stand to see her being frightened, couldn't stand the thought of her being in any kind of pain. "No, I wasn't asleep. Who can sleep through all this?" he remarked, referring to the raging storm outside. He tried to sound cheerful and upbeat.
Hearing Jimmy speak to her with a positive attitude worked wonders in comforting Callie. Not only was she no longer alone in this inescapable darkness, but there was something else as well. It was the first time he'd really spoken to her in such a friendly manner since before they'd broken up so long ago. Besides that, the thoughts of just being alone with him was exciting, although she didn't want to admit it to herself. She cherished being in his presence, even if they were now only "acquaintances".
"Well, anyway, I'm sorry I disturbed you. I'll just get what I was going after," Callie told him, wanting to match his friendly attitude in her voice, but was surprised that it sounded more disinterested and bored than anything else. She made her way into the kitchen and disappeared from his sight.
Nice going. You really screwed that up, Jimmy thought to himself. If only he could have known that those were the exact words Callie was saying to herself at the moment, too.
Callie managed to find the drawer and felt around inside it until she found the flashlight. She clicked it on and immediately felt much more at ease. She could see clearly now, and took one of the candles and some matches. "Well, I found them," she said, smiling slightly as she walked back in the family room. It was easier to speak to Jimmy with a more upbeat tone now, since she had the excuse of having found what she was looking for as a disguise. She opened the door to her room. "Good night."
"Good night," Jimmy replied pleasantly, but felt terrible that she was leaving him. Alone again. I wish I'd been asleep when she opened that door. I can't stand this! he thought miserably.
Before she closed her bedroom door, Callie realized she was being rude. She swung the door back open. "Jimmy, I've got a candle here. Do you want it?" she asked. "I don't really need it since I have a flashlight."
"Yeah, if you wouldn't mind," Jimmy responded, sitting up and managing a smile, his mood lifting.
Callie walked to the couch and set the candle on the table in front of it.
"I can hold the light for you," Jimmy offered. Callie handed him the flashlight and lit a match. He aimed the flashlight's beam on the candle, but was transfixed at seeing her features glow behind the warm match light. She was so gloriously beautiful. He yearned to hold her in his arms, to swallow his crippling pride and tell her just how much she meant to him.
Callie lit the candle and blew out the match. The dark room slowly became illuminated and shadowy in the dim light. Jimmy realized that she would probably start heading back to her room at that moment and leave him alone yet again... unless he did something. It's now or never, Clayton, he coached himself as he mustered all the nerve he could.
"Callie?"
Garrett mopped up another puddle of sticky soda, grumbling under his breath. This was the third time in an hour he had spilled an order. "Since when am I such a klutz?" he wondered aloud. The he looked around to make sure no one had heard him. "Since when do I talk to myself?" He let out a long, exaggerated sigh.
"What's wrong, Garrett?" Jazz asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Nothing," he muttered. It was hard to get used the fact that Jazz was no longer his waitress and acquaintance... she was his boss. He finished cleaning up the mess and grabbed an armload of menus. Someone had just entered the soda shop and she was seated at his table.
As he approached, he realized this was more than just some customer. The curly blond hair with red highlights belonged to none other than Nancy Robbins. Garrett panicked. He still hadn't told Sydney about his job, and wasn't planning to until after homecoming. Having to wait on one of Sydney's closest friends, not to mention the town gossip queen, wasn't going to help his plan.
"Jazz," Garrett hissed. "I can't wait on table five."
Jazz immediately looked annoyed. "Well if you can't cut it Garrett, then maybe this job isn't for you."
He sighed exasperatedly again. He had to have this job, especially if he was going to give Sydney the kind of homecoming she wanted. "No, I'll do it."
Garrett approached Nancy, hanging his head. "What can I get you?"
Nancy looked up from her menu and began her order. "I'd like..." she stopped in mid-sentence when she saw Garrett standing before her, his sandy colored hair hanging limply, his shirt stained with soda syrup, and an apron tied around his waist. She didn't hide her surprise and let her jaw drop wide open. "Garrett?!"
Callie looked at Jimmy directly, and was taken aback by his handsome features. She was both excited and afraid of what he had to say. "Yes?"
"The blackout may be over any minute. Would you like to just wait in here with me until the power's back on?" he asked timidly.
"You're probably right. I guess I can stay in here a few minutes," she agreed.
Jimmy turned the flashlight off and stood it on the table beside the candle. "No sense in wasting these batteries." Unsure of what to do next, Callie stood there, trying not to look nervous. "You can sit down if you want," Jimmy told her. She smiled at him and sat down uneasily. She sensed the warmth of where he'd been laying only seconds before, and felt a clandestine intimacy with him because of it.
"This storm is pretty bad," Jimmy commented, attempting to make conversation with her.
"Yeah, I know. I'm worried about my dad," she admitted truthfully, but at the same time was being careful not to focus any attention on themselves or the situation they were in.
"Don't worry. He's a big boy. He can take care of himself," Jimmy replied, trying to think of something reassuring to say.
"I hope so."
Silence.
They both sat there, watching the graceful dance of the candle's flame, as if it were a miniature television set. The incessant sound of the rain outside was no more exciting, except that it's intensity periodically rose and fell with the gusting winds.
The extremes of the situation, blatant boredom and restrained excitement, was driving both of them crazy. But, both did an expert job at hiding the fact. However, neither was sure how long they could keep it up. Something had to give....
Suddenly, Callie broke the relative silence by inhaling loudly, then saying, "There's a radio with batteries in my room. I'll be right back." She took the flashlight and returned with a portable boom box and sat it in front of them on the table. She extended the antenna and began tapping the digital tuning arrows. She found a station that wasn't playing music and sat back. "Maybe we can catch something about this weather."
"What are they saying?" Jimmy asked, not able to understand the language, although he did understand the name of Chicago being mentioned.
"They're just telling what songs are coming up. They didn't say anything about the weather."
To Jimmy and Callie's chagrin, the next tune that came on the radio was a song that they were both familiar with. It was Chicago's 1980's hit, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry".
As the song began, Jimmy lowered his head in embarrassment. Johnny used to listen to this song all time back when he lived in Swans Crossing with the rest of the Claytons. Jimmy remembered the lyrics all too well. And at this moment, they couldn't have fit more perfectly with his life.
"'Even lovers need a holiday, far away from each other, hold me now, it's hard for me to say I'm sorry, I just want you to stay'," the lead singer's voice belted out.
Callie listened to the familiar lyrics, her face reddening slightly. She remembered when that song used to air on the radio all the time several years ago. She even used to like it. But now, it seemed to hit too close to home. As the ballad continued to lilt over her and Jimmy, all Callie could think about was how much she longed to have him in her life again.
"'Couldn't stand to be kept away, just for a day, from your body, wouldn't want to be swept away, far away from the one that I love'," Chicago sang.
Jimmy started tapping his thumbs together anxiously. It was amazing how well the song's lyrics reflected the way he was feeling. It took all his power to suppress himself from telling Callie how he still felt about her right at that moment. He was even afraid to open his mouth now, for fear that something might slip out.
Callie heaved a quick sigh and tried to fan her flushed cheeks inconspicuously. When is this song going to end? she wondered desperately. I can't stand it anymore! The words are really getting to me.
"'Hold me now, I really want to tell you I'm sorry, I could never let you go'...."
At that moment, Jimmy and Callie both looked up and caught the other's eye. They immediately cast their glances back down again, and Callie cleared her throat in embarrassment. She had to break this uncomfortable silence or she would go crazy. "Um..." she paused. "You know, this song is really getting on my nerves! I think we should turn it off."
"I think you're right," Jimmy replied, his voice a mixture of both relief and disappointment. The love song was driving him up the wall, but he was upset that Callie seemed to hate it so much. Man, she really doesn't want to be in any type of romantic situation with me, he thought despairingly.
They reached for the switch to the small radio simultaneously, and Jimmy's hand accidentally rested upon Callie's. Both shivered involuntarily as they felt an electric charge travel from their fingers throughout the rest of their bodies. The touch may have been unintentional, but it was extremely powerful. There was something about it that was so familiar, so gentle, and so perfect.
Glory went straight to her room as soon as she and Mrs. Booth returned home. She assured her mother that she was okay. "It doesn't mean that much," she had said. "It's just a dress. There will be other dances." But of course, none of that was true. Even though Glory was just going with Neil as friends, in the back of her mind, the evening symbolized one of hope, new experiences... and maybe even another chance at what she was missing more than anything....
No! Glory shouted at herself, throwing her body down onto her bed. The comforter enveloped her and helped her relax, even though it was only momentarily. I cannot go back to J.T., no matter what! she commanded herself. Instinctively, she reached under her pillow. J.T.'s poems were stored there, and they always made her feel better. But, of course, it had been a month or so since she ripped them out of the notebook and threw them out the window. It felt like it had been a year.
Upon noticing that the poems were no longer there, she reached for the telephone instead. She slowly dialed Neil's telephone number. His mother answered.
"Is Neil there?" she asked.
"No, he's over at J.T.'s right now. Can I take a message?" Mrs. Atwater asked politely.
"That's okay. I'll just call over at J.T.'s." Glory set the phone in it's cradle. She didn't want to call J.T.'s house because it would be so awkward. However, another part of her was screaming for her to do it. Even though they weren't together, hearing his voice would be comforting. Without a moment’s hesitation, she called J.T.'s house.
"Hello?" J.T. answered.
Her voice caught in her throat. "Um, J.T. this is Glory."
"Glory!" he said in a happy voice. "I'm glad to hear from you."
She sighed. "Well, actually, I called to talk to Neil," she explained.
Dead silence echoed on his end of the line. "You want to talk to Neil?"
"Yes," she confirmed hesitantly.
Without another word, J.T. put Neil on the phone. "Hello?"
"Neil, this is Glory. I uh, I don't know quite how to say this. Um, I can't go to homecoming anymore," she told him, her voice full of disappointment.
"Really? Why not?"
Glory was slightly irked for a moment, wondering why he didn't share her sadness. "Well, my family can't afford it this year."
Neil laughed. "Nice joke, Glory. Why don't you really want to go? Is it because of J.T.?"
J.T.'s ears perked up on the other side of the room.
Glory sighed. "I mean it. My family isn't doing so well in the money department. It's all because my father invested a lot in the election, and when he lost, we lost a lot of money. I can't afford to go to homecoming."
"Oh," was all Neil could manage to say. "Look, I'm sorry."
"Me too," she replied softly. "I hope you can find another date. I wouldn't want you to miss it."
He didn't answer right away. "I'm sorry," he said again.
"I'll talk to you at school," she told him, and hung up the phone.
Neil looked back at J.T. "So what did she say? Is she skipping out on the dance because of me?" J.T. asked eagerly.
Neil was quiet a moment, feeling truly sorry and compassionate of what Glory was going through. And it didn't help that J.T. was being rather insensitive.
"I knew those notes must have had some effect on her-" he continued on.
"She can't go because her family doesn't have the money," Neil blurted out. "They lost it in the election."
J.T. was dumb-struck. He could literally feel the physical pain Glory must have been feeling just them, having to pass up the chance to go to her first high school homecoming. His mind was already racing way ahead of him, trying to think of a way he could help his ex-girlfriend. "Poor Glory."
Callie wanted to panic at Jimmy's touch, but she couldn't bring herself to take her hand away. It felt so right to have his fingers graze upon hers once again. She could no longer deny that his touch was what she had yearned for ever since she first saw him in Brazil. Part of her understood that Jimmy probably didn't want to touch her like that, but it didn't matter to her anymore. She couldn't let go now, not when this was what she had wanted for so long. Any logical thoughts flew out of her head. All she wanted was for Jimmy's hand to rest on hers forever.
Jimmy knew he should've moved his hand off of Callie's the moment they came in contact, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. It seemed like his hand was glued to hers. It just felt so right, almost as if his hand was meant to hold hers. Even though he realized that Callie probably wanted him to let go, he couldn't. He knew he was being selfish, but he was afraid that if he released his grip on her hand, he would regret it for the rest of his life. This was the encounter he had longed to have with Callie ever since he first spotted her in Brazil, and he couldn't disrupt it.
"'After all that's been said and done, you're just a part of me I can't let go'," Chicago's song floated in the background.
Jimmy and Callie's gazes shifted from their adjoining hands to each other's eyes. Callie knew that she should look away, but she simply could not tear her eyes away from his. There seemed to be some invisible force hanging in the air that kept drawing her to them. It was purely magnetic. She shivered again as she examined the look in Jimmy's eyes. It was so intense. Maybe, probably, she was just dreaming it up in her head, but there was something in his gaze that told her he still cared. There was a certain longing and desperation in them, a look of apology and regret. It was almost as if he was actually telling her he was sorry for all the pain she had gone through since their brutal argument back in Swans Crossing.
Jimmy studied Callie's eyes intently for several moments. He was probably just imagining things, but there seemed to be a touch of wistfulness and yearning in them. He thought he could even spot some warmth and understanding in her gaze, as if she were telling him she forgave him for all the harsh words he had said to her back in Swans Crossing. Whether he was imagining things or not, the look in Callie's eyes gave him an overwhelming urge to do something he knew he shouldn't. But he couldn't help himself. There seemed to be some sort of magnetic force that was causing him to gravitate towards her. It was the probably the same force that made him fall for her in the first place, all those months ago.
Without removing his hand from Callie's, Jimmy shifted his position on the couch and moved closer to her. Now they were sitting just centimeters apart. Callie felt her pulse accelerate rapidly. She had wanted so badly for something like this to happen, and couldn't believe that it was happening now. Her more rational side was screaming for her to stop, but the larger part of Callie wouldn't --couldn't-- listen. She could no longer even hear the radio or the rainstorm in the background. All she could hear was the pounding of her heart.
The soft candlelight gently illuminated Jimmy's face and Callie's breath caught in her throat as she realized how handsome he was. The light also intensified the look in his eyes, making his gaze even more powerful and overwhelming than anything she had ever witnessed before. The only thing she wanted right at this moment was to kiss him. And after all the weeks of pent-up longing and misery she had experienced, it didn't feel right to deny herself that.
A strange sensation enveloped Jimmy as he continued to gaze at Callie. The candlelight played upon her features, making her even more attractive than she had ever been before. He no longer felt that he could pretend she didn't mean anything to him, pretend that he didn't still care about her. Sitting so close to her, their faces just inches apart, made him realize that he couldn't lie to himself anymore. The truth was that Jimmy yearned for his lips to meet hers in a long, tender kiss. Nothing else, not even his own doubts mattered anymore. All he wanted to do was kiss her.
Jimmy and Callie began to lean towards each other, anticipating the moment when their lips would meet for the first time in what had seemed like years.
Suddenly, the front door burst open and a soaked Captain Walker bounded into the room. "I'm home!"
They immediately jumped apart and hopped off of the couch as their romantic moment abruptly ended.
Garrett stormed into his house and angrily threw his things onto the floor in the living room. He wanted more than anything to get out of his dirtied work clothes, to wash the stench of lower class off of himself. Garrett Booth and working did not mix. Besides that, he also had Nancy to worry about. She had sworn to him that she wouldn't spill to Sydney that he was flipping burgers at Swans, but then again, she may have just been reacting to his threat of throwing her greasy french fries on her new blazer. Either way, when Nancy Robbins was involved with a juicy rumor nothing would stand in her way.
Garrett rushed into Glory's bedroom, his mind racing. He had to tell Sydney before Nancy did, even if it would be a shock to her. She would get over it... he hoped.
Glory was sitting on her bed, staring off into space. "I have to pull down the shade," he explained. She shrugged, barely even noticing he was there.
He pulled down the shade and hurried to No Man's Land. His heart was beating, adrenaline rushing through his blood stream. Maybe she'll find this romantic, he thought to himself. Maybe she'll look at me, and all the work I've put into making her happy, and think I am the most caring, considerate boyfriend on the planet. He shook his head. Nah, that's a dumb thought.
He paced the soil around the wall, nearly eroding the dirt underneath his feet. He wasn't sure how long he stood there, but within what felt like several hours later Sydney appeared. She wore a sincere smile on her face.
Good, he thought. At least she hasn't gotten the news from someone else.
"Hey Garrett," she said, smiling shyly at him again. He groaned inwardly. The moonlight danced on her beautiful face, lighting up all her features. Her green eyes danced happily as she told him about her homecoming dress. Garrett was so keyed up that he didn't retain a word she said, but he tried to nod in all the appropriate places. Sydney didn't notice though, and thought he was paying full attention to her story.
Sydney reached through the wall and took his hands in hers. "You're shaking," she commented.
A flush crept across his cheeks. "It's nothing. Just cold here. That's all," he lied.
She leaned in through the hole in the wall, and smiled coyly. "Maybe this will warm you up," she told him flirtatiously. She touched his cheek and gently pressed her lips against his.
Despite his nerves, he responded to her kiss. It was a blissful getaway from his racing thoughts. He stood there several moments, letting the sensations of their kiss rush over him. He slowly parted from her.
"Better?" she asked.
Garrett nodded. "Sydney?" he asked, his voice jumping several octaves.
"Yes?"
It's now or never, he coached himself. "There's something I have to tell you."
"Moving to Brazil" storyline and portions of this chapter ©1997 Miss Swan. Portions of this chapter are also ©1997 Maxiom. If anyone has any questions, comments, ideas, or constructive criticism for this installment of the Swans Crossing novel please e-mail me at SLourdes@aol.com. Thanks! :)[email address no longer exists]. Thanks to Phantasy4 for his storyline about Garrett getting a job. Also, thanks to Miss Swan and Maxiom for writing the entire scenario between Jimmy and Callie.
Chapter Twenty-Six
"What's going on?" Sydney asked slowly. Something in the tone of Garrett's voice told her that something was wrong.
Garrett turned away from her, unable to meet her eyes. He knew Sydney wasn't going to take the news about his family not having any more money well. She was rich and used to being pampered. A job flipping burgers at a soda shop was not going to impress her. In fact, it was probably going to repulse her.
"Garrett, what's wrong?" she questioned him again.
He stared up at her, and opened his mouth to speak. "I, uh..." he began in a strangled voice.
Sydney seemed to be growing impatient. "What? Look, I promise, you can tell me."
Garrett drew in a deep breath. "I got a job."
"A job?" she repeated. A strange feeling washed over her. There was something off about this confession. From the moment he uttered those words, she immediately guessed this wasn't the kind of job her other friends had, such as Jimmy and Callie, and Neil and J.T. They worked for fun. And Sydney knew from the way Garrett was nervously switching the weight of his body from one foot to the other that this wasn't for fun. "Is there any reason for this?"
He turned away from her and started pacing. This was the part of this conversation he had been dreading: the explanation. "I needed money to pay for our homecoming. My family isn't doing very well financially."
"Oh," Sydney said hollowly. "I'm glad you told me."
"But?"
"But this doesn't make it any easier."
"What do you mean?" he asked, becoming defensive. This was certainly not the reaction he had hoped for.
"Well, my mother isn't going to approve of this to begin with, if I walk off the field with you. But if she finds out you're..." she stumbled on her words, "poor..."
Garrett became angry. "I've been working like crazy to pay for this dance and all you're worried about is what your mother will think?"
"Garrett, I-"
He cut her off. "How can you be such a snob, Sydney?"
Now her face flushed red with anger. "Excuse me?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips. "I am not a snob! I just happen to be a very high profile person in this community and for me to date a commoner might cause a stir."
His jaw dropped. "Commoner!" he shouted. "Can you even hear yourself? I can't believe I was wasting my time trying to please you! You know what?" Garrett continued on before she had a chance to respond. "You don't have to worry about ruining your precious reputation anymore. As far as I'm concerned, homecoming is off!"
Callie headed over to the kitchen the next morning after a sleepless night. As soon as her father had come in and interrupted her and Jimmy, she was far too keyed up and confused to sleep. The entire situation had been so strange. There was no denying that if Captain Walker hadn't walked in the house at that moment, they would have kissed. But was it just because the atmosphere was so romantic, or was it because he still cared?
As soon as she entered the kitchen, she stopped dead in her tracks. Jimmy was sitting at the table, drinking orange juice.
"What are you still doing here?" she asked.
He looked up at her. "Sorry, I didn't know I was supposed to leave first thing in the morning," he snapped.
"I just meant that... well, don't you want to get home?"
"I do now," he muttered under his breath.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, raising her voice.
"Never mind." Jimmy finished off his juice and placed his glass in the sink. "I guess I'll go home and breathe in some toxins," he said sarcastically.
"Jimmy..." Callie called after him, her voice softening a little.
"Look, I'm really going to leave," he insisted. "Are you, Pedro, Ana, and me still going to that club tonight?"
Sounds about as fun as having all my teeth pulled! she thought to herself. "I guess so," Callie replied.
"Okay. See ya around," he said and exited her house, stopping only to grab his duffel bag from the couch. He didn't even mutter a good-bye... or a word about the night before.
The day was not going to be a good one for Glory. The first thing she remembered when she woke up was the fact that she couldn't go to homecoming. She was even more depressed than the night before, when she found out she wasn't going to be able to attend. She had to drag herself out of bed, attend classes, and then go cheer at the game when she was feeling anything but cheery.
It's not fair! she thought mournfully to herself. Even Garrett was going to go to the dance. He had asked Jazz for an advance on his paycheck; she was feeling generous and agreed. But since Glory wasn't old enough to hold a job, she was out of luck.
After showering and going through the motions, Glory loaded her things into her back pack, grabbed her cheerleading equipment with reluctance, and left the house. When she stepped out onto the front porch, she noticed an envelope on the welcome mat.
Why won't J.T. get it? she asked herself, rolling her eyes. There isn't anyway we can be together... not after what happened. Still, she felt curious. And, something deep down inside her still cared about J.T. The note and the flower he sent her the other day had touched her, even if she didn't realize it.
She knelt down and picked up the envelope. With one tear, she ripped it open, and instead of a letter like she had been expecting, money fell out. Glory's eyes widened. She retrieved the money, and examined it. There was no note, nothing that would tell her who had left the large sum of cash. She had only told two people about not being able to go because of her financial troubles... so who had left it?
Glory remembered calling up Neil and telling him she couldn't go to the dance. She had to call him at J.T.'s house. Was there any chance that maybe he was the one?
Sydney made her way up the bleachers at Swans Crossing High's football field, frowning. The late fall air was cold, and she didn't really want to be at the game. Football was never her thing. And, after the fight she had had with Garrett, she was in no mood to cheer him on. She couldn't believe he had gotten a job... and then gotten so ticked off because she didn't jump for joy at the news. She found Nancy saving her a seat near the fifty yard line. She was dressed in yellow, black, and white, SCH's school colors.
"Hey Sydney!" she greeted her, handing her a small yellow, black, and white pom pom.
"Hi," Sydney replied monotonously.
The pep band began the school song, and Sydney rolled her eyes. "This is so lame," she mouthed to Nancy. Nancy laughed, and Sandy, who was sitting on the other side of her scowled.
"Welcome to Swans Crossing High's homecoming game. Today the Swans will take on long time rivals Newport High School!" The crowd went wild; cheering, stomping their feet, and waving their pom poms. Once again, Sydney rolled her eyes.
The Swans won the coin toss and Newport punted to them.
The football landed in Garrett's arms, and he started running. At the edge of the field, Glory and Mila, along with the other cheerleaders, jumped to their feet and started cheering. Garrett ran fifteen yards before he was tackled, and the crowd leapt to their feet and clapped for his play.
"What's the big deal?" Sydney asked, refusing to stand up with the rest of her friends. "The game's just started."
Nancy sat back down as the football players went into a huddle. She gave Sydney a concerned look. "Is everything okay?"
Inside the huddle, Garrett had to smile. He had been worried all throughout the school day that his fight with Sydney would effect his performance, but so far, so good. "Okay, Saja, you go deep and I'll hand off the ball to Adams, who'll pass it to you. Got it?" he directed his teammates.
J.T. rolled his eyes. "Yeah Garrett. Since when are you the coach?"
"Since I'm the only one on this team who can play!" he shot back. "Now break!"
The guys left the huddle and marched out onto the field.
Back in the bleachers, Sydney's bad mood was getting worse. "I'm fine, Nancy. I just don't know if I'm going to go to the stupid dance, that's all."
"What? Why not?" Sandy asked, joining in their conversation.
"Because Garrett and I had a fight, that's why," she snapped.
An evil smile spread across Nancy's face. "Oh... does this have anything to do with his new career?"
Sydney whipped her head around to face Nancy. "How did you know about that?" she demanded.
"Career?" Sandy repeated with confusion. The other girls ignored her.
"I saw him there the other day. He wasn't the best waiter I've had at Swans... but since he's your boyfriend, I left him an average tip." Nancy laughed at her own joke.
Sydney blushed, and hoped no one else was listening to their conversation. "I seem to recall Nancy dear, that Mr. Kevin Hall... your date to the homecoming dance, is a working boy," she retorted.
Now it was Nancy's turn to be embarrassed, and Sydney smiled to herself.
It was nearing the end of the second quarter, and the Swans were leading by three points. The cheerleaders began a chant with the audience:
"Yellow, Black, and White
The Swans are ready to fight
We're second to none
The Swans are number one
We'll take it to the top
The Swans just can't be stopped!"
After the chant, the girls sat down and began preparing for the half-time show. Glory rubbed her bare arms. It was cold outside, but the activity and excitement was keeping her warm. She was so happy, mostly due to the fact that she was now able to go to the dance. After school her mother had taken her back to the store to get the beautiful dress, thanks to that generous mystery person... whom she secretly hoped was J.T.
"This is so fun!" Mila exclaimed, bouncing on the heels of her cheerleading tennis shoes. "I can't believe how exciting this is!"
Glory laughed. "I was just thinking the same thing. This is a pretty big rush!"
Mila smiled, and then began timidly, "Well, does this mean that maybe we can be friends again? I know I was stupid to go out with J.T., but we are in this together and..."
"It's okay," Glory assured her quickly. "I forgive you."
"Seriously?" Mila said incredulously.
Glory smiled in reply. The clock buzzer sounded, and Glory and Mila exchanged glances.
"This is it! Are you ready?" Mila asked the rest of the girls on the team.
They all nodded, pulling down on the ends of their black pleated skirts, adjusting their hair, and grabbing their pom poms. The announcer told the crowd it was time for the half-time field show, and everyone applauded. With a spring in her step, Mila led the girls out to the field.
The cheerleaders formed a half circle in the middle of the grass. The flood lights cast a glow on their smiling faces, and they began chanting their cheer in unison:
"Listen to us people,
And listen to us good,
'Cause we want to make sure,
That you have understood,
That we are the Swans,
From mighty SCH,
And we want you to know,
That we rock this place, here we go..."
After they said their cheer, loud dance music came on over the loudspeaker, and the girls went into their routine. They did a series of dance moves, and then stood in a line. Simultaneously, they kicked and then landed in the splits. The audience clapped. We're doing it! Mila thought to herself. Then they all bounced to their feet and prepared for the finale. They each did a flip, and then five of the girls formed a two-tiered pyramid. Mila and Brooke Rocha lifted Glory onto their shoulders, and then she climbed to the top of the pyramid. She proudly formed a "V" with her arms.
Now for the hardest part. You can do it Glory, she coached herself. She jumped up into the air, away from the pyramid. While in flight, she curled her body and touched her toes. Within a second, she straightened up and landed in the waiting arms of her spotters, Mila and Brooke. She stood on the ground, and the rest of the girls started jumping up and waving their pom poms in the air.
The crowd went wild, and even rose up from their seats to give the cheerleaders a standing ovation.
"I was thinking," Nancy announced, returning to her seat on the bleachers. She handed Sandy and Sydney warm cups of hot chocolate.
"Well that must be a first," Sydney deadpanned.
Nancy ignored her sarcastic comment. "I was thinking about how you dumped Garrett for having a job, and maybe you're right. Maybe Kevin isn't good enough for me either. I mean, why should we settle?"
Sydney's eyes drifted away from Nancy. I can't believe what she's saying, she thought to herself. What have I done? I broke up with Garrett because he has a job? I really must be a snob!
She stood up. "I don't think you're settling. Will you excuse me?" She pushed her way through the crowd of spectators. Maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe she could save things between her and Garrett.
"Let's shout, let's cheer
Our victory is near
We're in control
We can't be beat
Victory, how sweet!"
Garrett smiled, enjoying the sounds of the screaming crowd, and the enthusiasm coming from the cheerleaders. The Swans were leading Newport 21-18, and it was the fourth quarter. The game was almost over, but the score was too close for them to tell what was going to happen. Newport had the ball, and secretly, Garrett was worried. They were good, and he didn't want to let his school down.
"Okay, now, Owen, you need to stay out of the way," Garrett commanded. "J.T., I want you to cover number 43. I've got the quarterback. All right?"
The team grumbled a reply. Even though they were winning, they were growing tired of Garrett's bossy attitude.
The play began, and J.T. was hit with an idea. The boys got into their formations, the way Garrett had described to them. But instead of covering number 43, as soon as the ball went into play, he ran over to where Garrett was, and covered the Newport quarterback.
"What are you doing?" Garrett shouted in surprise.
"Just trust me!" he yelled back. Newport's quarterback grew confused, and seeing he had nowhere to run to with J.T. and Garrett in his way, he passed the ball, aiming in the direction of number 43. J.T. jumped into the air, and intercepted the ball.
He stared at the ball in his arms, and laughed with surprise. "I caught it!" he cried.
"Now run, rocket boy!" Garrett told him, and J.T. took off towards the inzone. He ran thirty yards, and made a touch down. He spiked the ball on the ground and started to jump up and down. The buzzer signifying the end of the game sounded.
"Swans win! 27-18!" the announcer shouted over the PA system. The fans and cheerleaders all ran out to the field, and even Garrett high- fived J.T. J.T. smiled to himself, remembering how Garrett had taken all the credit for winning the Newport baseball game the summer before. Now it was his turn to shine.
After the football game, the crowd began to clear quickly. All the students wanted to get home to prepare for the dance.
Sydney walked to the edge of the field. She stood on her toes, trying to see over the mass of teenagers all dressed in Swans’ school colors. "Garrett!" she called. She heard nothing, and continued to wait. A few moments later, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She whipped around, and saw Garrett standing in front of her. He held his helmet at his side, and his dirty blond hair was damp with perspiration.
"What are you doing here?" he said stonily.
"You won," Sydney replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm here to walk off the field with you."
(c) 1997 Stephanie Blydenburgh. All cheers (c) 1997 Nancy Redd cheerleading page & Universal Cheerleading Association "Moving to Brazil" storyline (c) 1997 Miss Swan. All cheers in this chapter were taken from either the Nancy Redd cheerleading page or the Universal Cheerleading Association web page at http://www.uca.com. [ website has moved to https://www.varsity.com/uca/ ] To Amy - number 43... he he!