Swans Crossing: The Return

©1997 by Stephanie Blydenburgh

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Chapter Fourteen

Garrett joined Sydney in the foyer of her mansion. "What's wrong?" he asked, noticing her distraught expression.

Sydney slumped down on the floor against the wall, chewing on her bottom lip. She couldn't look him in the face, for fear that she might burst into tears. "There was a reporter here," she whispered.

Garrett sat down next to her, an uneasy feeling in his stomach. "What did they want?" But he didn't really have to ask. The sullen look on Sydney’s face clued him in on exactly what was wrong.

"They know."

Jimmy drove for a long time, aimlessly. He was lucky he had lived in Swans Crossing for so long and knew the roads so well. His mind was far from paying attention to his surroundings. Why did she have to do this to me? he thought to himself, although he knew in the back of his mind that Callie’s moving away wasn't her fault.

Jimmy took another turn, at a high speed. Finally, he came to a park, where he stopped. He climbed off his bike, and sat down against a tree. All of a sudden, all the time he had spent with Callie went flashing before his eyes. When she had first moved to Swans Crossing there was an instant attraction between them. But Jimmy was sort of seeing Sophia, so that stood in their way. Then, after he and Sophia broke up, he and Callie couldn't stop arguing enough to admit that they liked each other. Finally, they admitted how they felt about each other and started going out, but tracking Barek began to get in the way. It wasn't up until last night that things seemed carefree and normal for the two of them. "And now this happens," he muttered out loud.

Jimmy pounded his fist into the ground in anger, which didn't serve much purpose except to hurt his hand. So, what are you going to do, Clayton? he asked himself. He thought of Callie once more and how great it was to be around her, like at the concert last night. The way they talked and laughed, the way her eyes sparkled while she teased him, and the way things felt between them. Jimmy always felt giddy and excited right before they went out because it was so new to him to care about someone the way he cared about Callie. He raked his fingers through his dark hair and sighed, remembering when he had kissed her for the first time at the Walker estate.

"I can't deal with this right now!" Jimmy exclaimed, grabbing his helmet and hopping on his bike, ready to continue his drive to nowhere.

"So where is she already?" Robert Clark asked Sandy and Owen.

Sandy tugged at her curly hair, still very nervous that she was at the studio with THE Robert Clark.

"She'll be here," Owen answered, twirling his drumsticks between his fingers. "I know she will."

At that moment Mila bounded in, her long blond hair bouncing perkily. "Hey, guys!" Then she noticed they had a visitor. "Uncle Bobby!"

The two embraced briefly. "So, what are you doing here?" she asked him.

"He's here to see us sing," Sandy answered, groaning inwardly. Mila was so forgetful sometimes.

"Oh, that's right! But I thought you saw us at the concert," Mila said, moving behind Owen's equipment to stand next to him as if she owned the place. Owen took no notice, as usual.

"Well, I did. And you guys were great," Mr. Clark told them.

Sandy beamed.

"I have been thinking that I'd like to make a recording of one of your songs, and then see if my friends down at WSCR, Swans Crossing Radio, would like to play it," Mr. Clark continued. Sandy's eyes widened. "Now I know that WSCR is a local market, but you gotta start somewhere. So, what do you say?"

Sandy opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"I think it sounds great, don't you?" Mila asked Owen and Sandy.

"Definitely," Owen replied coolly.

"It's more than great!" Sandy's breath was ragged. "A song of mine on the radio," she mumured dreamily.

"So, what song do you want to use, Uncle Bobby?" Mila asked.

The three teens looked at him, as he twirled his thumbs together. Sandy crossed her fingers in her pocket, hoping he wouldn't favor his niece and use one of her songs.

Meanwhile, Mila was doing the same thing, hoping that her uncle would pick one of her songs.

Mr. Clark tapped his finger against his cheek in thought. "Well...."

"Oh no," Garrett muttered.

Sydney looked up at him, her eyes full of fear and panic. "What are we going to do?" she gasped. Her glance moved towards the clock, which read four thirty. If they didn't hurry, their parents were going to see this on the six o' clock news instead of hearing it first hand from their children.

"Well, the jig is up," Garrett said, standing up. He grabbed his coat off the couch and opened the door. "I guess we have to go tell my dad, right away."

"Why?" Sydney asked in a shaky voice.

"Because we have to find out once and for all if you and I are related," he announced. Sydney nodded silently and the two headed out the door to the Booth house.

Jimmy looked up at the sky. He noticed that there were gray clouds gathering, a sure sign that it would rain soon. Immediately, he felt depressed again. Looking at the clouds reminded him of Callie. One of the first special moments they shared together was when they were staring up at the clouds and just talking one summer day.

Jimmy continued driving along the road, his head spinning. He was worried about what was going to happen between them, and he was upset that she would be leaving so soon. I haven't had any time to think about this, he thought, wishing Captain Walker would delay the move by a few days so it all could sink in. Not that it would do much good. She's still leaving, he realized bitterly. He wished he could go by the Tool n' Die, where he always went when he had a problem. Somehow, when he was fixing engines all of his problems seemed to disappear, at least temporarily. But she's probably still there, he thought, upset that he couldn't go over to the shop just yet, but also a little comforted that Callie was there if he was ready to face this. Which I'm not, he told himself wryly.

Instead of the Tool n' Die, Jimmy found himself on the driveway of the DeCastros’. He dismounted his bike, and walked up to the door and rang the bell. Saja usually has the answers, he mused. The door creaked open and Saja answered.

"Well, hello there," he greeted Jimmy, bowing his head. "And what brings you to my humble abode?" Saja stepped away from the door and let him inside.

They sat down on the sofa. Jimmy wasn't sure where to start. "Well... have you heard about Callie?"

Saja shook his head. "No, what about her?"

For a moment, Jimmy thought that maybe he shouldn't say anything to Saja. After all, he and Callie were good friends, and maybe she wanted to tell Saja herself. But he needed to talk to someone, so that part of his rationale was pushed to the back of his mind. "She's moving, Saja," Jimmy told him softly, his mouth set in a straight line.

"What?" Saja exclaimed incredulously, his brown eyes widening. "Where, why?"

"Brazil," he replied.

Saja gulped. "You have to be kidding. She couldn't... well, I mean, that's so far and... wow," he remarked in a low voice. "I guess I never thought she'd leave."

Jimmy nodded. "I know what you mean. I know that she and Captain Walker have moved around a lot, but I just never imagined the next stop would be so soon." He could feel a lump rising in his throat.

"I wonder why she didn't tell me," Saja said, feeling hurt. Jimmy was able to tell what he was thinking right away.

"Look, I just found out about thirty minutes ago, and you know..." his voice trailed off. He didn't really know what he was talking about. "I'm sure she’ll tell you herself by the end of the day or something," Jimmy assured him.

"Right," Saja responded quietly. "This is really awful. I'm going to miss her."

Jimmy suddenly became defensive. "And I'm not?"

He put his hands up in surrender. "Hey, I never said you weren't."

"I know, I'm sorry," he apologized. His nerves were shot, and he was just so confused and upset by what was going that he was snapping at Saja, who really had nothing to do with it. "I just don't know what to do. I mean, I-" Jimmy wanted to tell Saja that Callie was one of the few people he could talk to; the one girl in Swans Crossing he had really come to know; that he liked her more than he had ever liked anyone before in his life; and that he didn't want to be alone... but those words just wouldn't come out. Jimmy always had a hard time talking about his feelings. But Saja was a perceptive person, and could read into his friend’s expression.

"I know," Saja said. "I know that she means a lot to you. She does to me, too."

"So, what am I going to do?" Jimmy asked, his voice desperate.

"What do you mean what are you going to do? What is there to do?"

He shrugged. "I wish there was some way to keep her in town."

"You know there isn't. Once the Captain's set on something..."

"I know," he admitted. He knew deep down there was nothing he could do, but he didn't know how else to handle the situation.

"You just have to be supportive, and maybe she'll come and visit us on holidays," Saja told him, trying hard to be optimistic.

"A lot of good that does me," Jimmy remarked with a scowl.

"Do you want to stay together?" Saja asked.

Jimmy was silent for a moment. Then he answered resolutely, "Yeah, of course I do."

"Glory, you know Jimmy and I can't stay together," Callie told her. The two of them were spending the afternoon hanging out in Glory's room.

"You can't?" Glory asked, her eyes not moving from the fashion magazine she was leafing through.

"A couple of girls were at the Tool n' Die today, and they were flirting with him," she explained.

Glory looked up. "So?"

Callie knew in her heart why she couldn't tie Jimmy down when she was thousands of miles away, but it would be hard to explain it to Glory. "Never mind," she replied. "Let's just say Jimmy didn't take the news very well."

"Things will work out for the best, I promise," Glory assured her.

She smiled weakly in response. "They always do... right?"

Glory thought of J.T. "Well, not always," she said sadly.

Callie sat down on the bed next to Glory. "What are looking at there?" she asked, wanting anything to take her mind off of moving and Jimmy.

Glory pointed to a photo in the magazine. "What do you think of that haircut?"

Callie shrugged. She studied the picture of a girl with chin- length, layered hair. "It's cute, why?"

"Should I cut my hair like that?" she said slowly.

Callie looked from the magazine to Glory's long, thick, red hair. "Cut your hair? Are you crazy?"

Glory looked away. "I guess I just want J.T. to notice me again." Her voice was sad and distant.

"Oh, Glory," Callie sighed. "You don't need to change the way you look. Didn't we have this conversation this morning?"

Glory nodded. "Yeah." There were now tears in her eyes. "I can't believe you're moving," she paused for a moment. "I've always felt that you and I were sort of like sisters."

Callie quickly looked away, hoping Glory wouldn't notice that she was now busily examining the ends of her hair.

"How am I going to go through all this without you?" Glory wondered miserably.

"What is this all about?" Grant Booth asked in an almost frightened tone of voice as he stepped out on the porch. Sydney and Garrett stood side by side, both wearing serious looks on their faces.

"Dad, remember what we talked about the other night?" Garrett began.

Mr. Booth shook his head. "That is a preposterous accusation, and I will take no part in it," he stated firmly.

"You have no choice Dad. The press knows."

Sydney watched as Mr. Booth’s face grew red with rage. "What?! How could you let this happen?" he bellowed, pounding his fist into the siding on the house. "Do you realize how detrimental this is going to be to the campaign?"

Garrett lowered his eyes. "You've kept us in the dark long enough, and we need to find out the truth."

Mr. Booth was silent in reply.

Sydney cleared her throat. "Mr. Booth? I- I- um, I think we should go to the Planned Parenthood clinic downtown," she said, her voice quiet and unsure.

"Oh, you do?" he challenged.

"They will do a paternity test for a small fee, and then we'll all know. One way or the other," she muttered.

Mr. Booth sighed in defeat. "Well, what choice to I have? I guess I have to."

"Maybe we ought to go down to Mayor Rutledge's office and let her know what's going on, too," Garrett suggested. Mr. Booth opened his mouth to protest, but he knew Garrett was right. The three of them left the porch, and began a silent journey to find Mayor Rutledge.

"I think we need something upbeat, with a good message. Something that we can get the people of this town to sing along with," Mr. Clark explained.

Sandy and Mila leaned forward eagerly. "And?" they asked in unison.

"And I think I would like to get a copy of ‘I'll Hold You Up’ to give the folks over at WSCR," he said.

Sandy felt like jumping up and down. He picked my song! she thought to herself, feeling giddy and happy. However, she knew she needed to appear professional, and besides, she didn't want to gloat and make Mila feel bad. So instead of exclaiming joyfully, she put out her hand to shake Mr. Clark's. "Thank you very much Mr. Clark. We'll get right to that."

"You're welcome," he replied, sitting back down in his chair. Mila, who seemed a tad disappointed, went behind Owen's keyboard, and the three began recording their song. For once, Sandy thought to herself as she crooned out the words to her song, I have something that Mila Rosnovsky does not!

Nancy stood in the tack room, glad that it was getting cooler in Swans Crossing. It was always so hot and uncomfortable at the stables during the summer, but as soon as autumn arrived, it was her favorite place to be. She ran her brush over her chocolate-colored horse, Spice. He looked very content and tranquil as she groomed him.

She suddenly wondered where Sydney was, although it was futile since she never bothered to show up at riding class anymore. Actually, it was good that Sydney didn't come to many classes or meets because it put the spotlight on Nancy, for once. Maybe now she had a chance to win a blue ribbon, the ones that Sydney had all over her room.

Nancy continued to groom her horse, humming softly to herself. Just then, she heard footsteps outside the tack room. She looked up, and saw dusty cowboy boots, and a young man wearing them.

"Hello," he greeted her with a smile.

Nancy smiled suspiciously in return. "Um, hi." She had never seen this person around before, and was wondering why he was wearing Western riding clothes when this was an English riding class. She didn't think it took much to ride Western style because there weren't many equestrian sports that went along with Western riding. And apparently this rider has no clue where he is, she thought haughtily.

"Could you tell me where I can go for a ride?" he asked, still smiling. In the back of her mind Nancy wondered why he was smiling so much. The guys in her crowd never smiled at her.

"Well, do you have a horse?" she questioned him.

"No, I-" he began, but she interrupted him with a cutting laugh.

"Well you can't ride around here without a horse. What do you think this is, a dude ranch?"

He looked down at his shoes sheepishly. "Never mind. Thank you, Miss," the boy said. He sauntered away from the tack room entrance, before Nancy even had a chance to ask his name.

"Mother?" Sydney called in a quiet, almost inaudible voice. Mayor Rutledge was sitting at her desk, chatting on the telephone.

"One moment, Sydney," she said, holding out her hand, signaling for her daughter to wait a minute. She turned back to her phone call. "Well, yes, I know that there are only two more days until the election. The polls are close," she paused, and Sydney studied her feet. "Well, I know that Sydney's little publicity stunt upped the polls a tad... but it most certainly was not intentional," she gave Sydney a cross look. "But, I think that in the end the people will make the right choice." There was another lengthy pause, each second seemed agonizingly long to Sydney.

Get off the phone! she thought to herself anxiously.

"Thanks for the update Jerry, we'll talk tomorrow. Good-bye," Mayor Rutledge set the phone in the cradle. "Now what was it you wanted to talk about?"

Neil marveled at the sights before him as he stepped into the laboratory at Orono University. He had never really been inside a real research lab, or at least anything other than his father's cosmetics lab and the chemistry lab at school. But this was what he had always dreamed of. There were many people in the building, all working hard on something, over colorful test tubes and impressive lab equipment.

A man approached him, wearing a white lab coat that was stained and worn. He had graying hair, and looked like he was in his mid-forties or so.

He stuck out his hand, and shook Neil's heartily. "Well, you must be Neil Atwater."

"Yes, sir," Neil responded.

"I am Jake Simmons and I am in charge of the lab here at the U. I understand you and your friend have hit upon a real discovery in Swans Crossing a week ago."

"Yes, Mr. Simmons."

The man guffawed. "It caused a lot of scandal over there in Swans Crossing. I watched it in the news for awhile. I have a niece who lives there," he cleared his throat. "Anyhow, everything for the further development of UB2B is at the table over there, and you can get right to work. I trust you know about basic lab procedures?"

Neil nodded enthusiastically. "Yup!" he replied in a happy voice. "I'll get right to that."

Mr. Simmons turned to leave, but then looked back at Neil. "Oh, and see that girl over there?"

Neil nodded.

"That's Carolyn Smith. She's your new lab partner."

Sydney took a deep breath and began. "Mother, I- we- Garrett and I..."

"Garrett? Sydney, I thought I told you to stay away from him," Mayor Rutledge said sternly. Sydney interrupted her.

"No, listen. We discovered that there is a possibility that he and I," she couldn't even say the words. "that you and Garrett's father... Mother, I need you to tell me the truth." Sydney was shocked that she wasn't crying. I guess I've cried so much since I discovered this, that there aren't any tears left.

Mayor Rutledge covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh, my," she gasped.

"Please, Mother," Sydney pleaded desperately.

"Fifteen years, and you never knew. How did you find this out?" she asked, her eyes full of tears.

"I found a letter from Mr. Booth. And then I saw an old article in the paper stating that you two were engaged to be married. I put two and two together, and..."

Mr. Booth and Garrett appeared in the doorway. "They deserve to be a part of this, too," Sydney told her mother bravely. Mayor Rutledge didn't object.

"So will you tell us the truth?" Sydney asked. "Both of you?"

The mayor and Mr. Booth exchanged a look. Mayor Rutledge began to speak. "Well, Sydney, it is true that Grant and I were," she paused, "together at one point in our lives. Our parents did not approve of us being together, so we snuck around for a long time."

Sydney's eyes widened. They went through it, too?

"Then we decided to confront our parents, and we got engaged," Mr. Booth supplied.

Mayor Rutledge cleared her throat. "But before that, Grant gave me a crystal swan instead of a wedding ring, so we could keep it a secret for a little while longer."

The keepsake box! Sydney thought to herself.

"We made an announcement in the paper, and our parents became very upset and forbade us to go through with it. So I ended things with Grant, and married John Patterson, a very wealthy lawyer that my parents approved of. I did it so impulsively, and then I found out I was pregnant," a few tears were now streaming down her face. "You later came prematurely..." she looked over at Mr. Booth. "Or not. We never really knew. Grant married Cornelia, and your father died soon after you were born. There was never any reason to tell you."

Sydney became enraged. "What?! Never any reason to say anything to me?" she shouted. "I have a pretty good reason, I dated Garrett, Mother. He and I went behind your backs, just like you and Mr. Booth did."

The mayor's jaw dropped, but words failed her.

Sydney continued. "And all this time, when he and I were... together," her voice broke. "we could have been related."

Garrett cleared his throat. "I think we need to go find out, once and for all."

A few moments later, the four headed over to the Planned Parenthood clinic in a more run-down area of Swans Crossing. None of them spoke on the way. Sydney and Garrett felt better knowing exactly how their parents’ affair had played out, but both were sick with anticipation. The question loomed in the air. Was Sydney Grant Booth’s daughter?

"I know you think it's wrong, but I am going to see what my mom can do with my hair," Glory said as she and Callie walked through the Swans Crossing Mall. "And maybe I need to buy some new clothes or something. Can I borrow your jacket tomorrow?"

Callie nodded absently. "Sure."

"I know this is probably really silly to you, but I just want J.T. to notice me again, but not as the way I was before, you know? I want him to see that I can't be pushed around, and that he can't be with me when he wants to, and then not other times," Glory tried to explain.

Callie smiled half-heartedly. "I understand," she replied quietly. "I guess there's a lot people will do for someone they like."

Glory nodded in agreement. "Yeah," she sighed. "There sure is."

The two stopped to look in the store windows.

"This is the last time I'll go through this mall," Callie suddenly declared. Then she thought about it for a moment. "Actually, this is the only time I've gone through the mall." She managed a small laugh.

"Swans Crossing isn't going to be the same without you, you know," Glory told her, stopping to tie her shoe.

Callie knelt down beside her. "Thanks." She spotted a pay phone, and got an idea. "Glory, hang on a second, I'm going to call Jimmy." She walked over to the phone and inserted a quarter. She dialed his number and let it ring. The answering machine picked up, and she heard Mr. Clayton's voice.

After the beep she started to talk. "Hey, Jimmy, this is Callie. I just wanted to talk to you," she paused, hoping maybe he'd pick up the phone. "I'll be at Glory's in an hour or so. Call me there," she stopped again. "Please," she added before she hung up the phone.

"I wonder if he's avoiding me," she muttered out loud.

I can't believe that Uncle Bobby chose to use one of Sandy's songs! I mean, he knows me better than her! Mila thought mournfully as she walked along the street. It seems like everything I do this week is wrong! She saw that she was approaching Swans Soda Shop, so she decided to go in and get a drink, anything to keep her mind off of singing, her science grade, or Garrett. She pushed open the doors, and wandered over to the counter.

"Hey Mila," Jazz greeted her cheerfully. "What do you need?"

Mila shrugged. "You wouldn't want to know," she replied.

"Yikes," Jazz said. "You look pretty down."

"As far down as you can get."

Jazz looked over to one of the tables in the corner, where J.T. sat, stirring his drink with a straw. "Looks like you're not the only one," she motioned to J.T. "Why don't you go join him? I hear that misery loves company."

Mila gave her a weak smile, and got up to sit next to J.T.

"Hi Mila," he said, not bothering to look up from his drink.

"So, what's got you depressed today?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing, everything, and all that's in between. What about you?"

"About the same. I mean, I just keep thinking about Garrett, and what he did to me, but how after all this, I just, I..." her voice trailed off.

J.T. nodded. "Yes! I mean, I feel the same way... about Glory."

"You'll work things out, I know it," she told him comfortingly.

He shook his head. "I don't know. I mean, I want so badly to just go over there and apologize and make it all better..." he sighed in exasperation. "but I know that it's impossible. She doesn't want to have anything to do with me."

"Well, she'd be crazy to give you up so fast," Mila commented.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're a great guy. A true poetic soul," she said, putting emphasis on the word true. Her mind wandered back to thoughts of Garrett.

"That means a lot, you know. I just feel like things have been going so bad lately."

"You and me both," Mila replied. "I mean, it seems like there’s a black cloud over Swans Crossing."

J.T. laughed. "Yep, and you and me are right under it."

"Well, maybe we can try and get through this together," Mila suggested with a smile.

The small, local airport was pretty crowded for the weekend. A young man of no more than twenty-six shifted his carry-on bag, and surveyed what was going on. He noticed a newspaper stand, and inserted a quarter into the machine. He glanced at the headlines of the "Swans Crossing Gazette". On the front page there was an article about the inaugural concert, and there was a piece about Sydney Rutledge making a speech that was damaging to the Booth campaign. It went on to describe how Garrett Booth had been blackmailing her by making her think that she was switched at birth with Sandy Swan.

The young man raked his fingers through his dirty blond hair and sighed. Things never change.

Sydney, Garrett, Mr. Booth, and Mayor Rutledge all sat in the small, cramped waiting room. The four could see that the press was circling outside, waiting for the two opponents to walk out of the building, but no one wanted to address their presence.

A few moments before, Sydney and Mr. Booth had gone into the office, and a doctor had taken a cell sample from their mouths with an instrument similar to a cotton swab. Then it went to the lab a few doors down to be tested. The doctor had not yet returned.

"I can't stand this," Garrett said, nervously jiggling his legs.

"You?" Sydney asked pointedly. Your whole life comes down to this one moment, Sydney Orion Rutledge, she told herself. Are you a Rutledge... or a Booth?

A woman wearing a crisp, white coat appeared before them. They all stood up simultaneously. "Your test results are back..."

And a special thanks to Jamilla for a wonderful storyline idea in this chapter, which will be explained later on!

Chapter Fifteen

"Your test results are back," the doctor at the Planned Parenthood clinic announced. Sydney, Mayor Rutledge, Mr. Booth, and Garrett all stood up. There was a long pause, one that felt like years to Sydney.

"And?" Sydney prompted.

"The results are negative. Mr. Booth and Sydney's cells were not a match," the doctor explained.

A loud sigh of relief washed over the two families. Sydney flung herself into her mother's arms. "Finally," she whispered through happy tears. "I finally know who I am," she wiped at her cheeks with the back of her hand and smiled. "Sydney Orion Rutledge," she said proudly.

Mayor Rutledge and Mr. Booth went over to the window of the clinic, and saw that the press was circling out on the lawn. "This is just great," Mr. Booth muttered. "I mean, Sydney isn't my daughter, and everyone was overreacting, but now our campaigns are ruined!"

Sydney and Garrett exchanged a guilty look.

"Complaining isn't going to help anything, Grant. Let's just go out there and deal with it now instead of making them think that there really is a newsworthy scandal going on," Mayor Rutledge suggested. The two reluctantly exited the clinic to make a statement.

Sydney sat back down in the uncomfortable chair, and grabbed a fashion magazine. She was trying to avoid the now awaiting stare of Garrett Booth.

"So," Garrett began.

"Yes?" she replied, her heart rate quickening. Now that Sydney finally knew the truth, that she wasn't Garrett's sister, she had to face something else that was looming in the air... the two kisses they had shared the week before.

"I think we need to talk."

"Well, thanks for talking me through all this, Mila," J.T. said thankfully as he and Mila arrived on her door step.

"No problem," she replied with a bright smile. "You helped me a lot, too." She rested her hand on his shoulder for a moment, as a friendly gesture, but was surprised to feel a jolt of electricity. "I, um..." she stuttered, but for some reason she couldn't remove her hand. It was like it was glued to his shoulder.

"I really mean it," he continued, not moving her hand away from his shoulder. "I mean, what Glory and I are going through..." he stopped mid-sentence, and then smiled at Mila. "It's just really nice to be able to talk to someone about all this. I mean, Neil wouldn't even attempt to understand all this, and there's really no one else I can go to."

Mila was still lightly touching his shoulder. Just an innocent, friendly gesture, she told herself. "Well, if you need to talk again, I'm here."

J.T. politely stepped away. "Thanks again, Mila. I'll see you at school tomorrow."

Mila opened the front door, and stepped inside. "Good night," she said quietly.

"Good night."

"What?" Sydney asked, annoyance tracing into her voice.

"Well, it's over now," Garrett said softly.

"Is it ever over, Garrett?" she remarked, turning to look at him this time.

"What do you mean?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.

"You and me," Sydney answered. "This whole summer was a big game for us. We were always one-upping each other, trying to humiliate the other, and for what?" she looked him straight in the eye. "So, is this it? Is the game over?"

Garrett moved a millimeter or so closer to Sydney. She became acutely aware of his nearness, and she could feel his hot breath on the back of her neck. A blush crept across her cheeks when she realized that a familiar song was playing over the radio. It was "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears. She had been listening to it when she was preparing to go to the Newport game, where she was supposed to walk off the field with Garrett and show everyone how she felt about him. She had dozed off while she was getting ready, and had fantasized about how it would play out. In her fantasy, they had danced together, lost in each other's eyes. She hadn't been able to listen to that song ever since.

"It doesn't have to be, Sydney," Garrett whispered.

"What are you saying?" she asked, taking deep breaths to calm herself down.

"What do you want me to say?" Sydney wasn't sure, but she thought Garrett was leaning closer and closer to her.

"Anything you want," she challenged.

"I think that maybe the game should be over... but we can keep playing."

Sydney raised her eyebrows in reply. "Oh, really?" She didn't know what else to say. She desperately wanted to do something. All week she had been a basket case worrying about whether or not she and Garrett were related, and now that they weren't, she had the sudden urge to hug him, hold his hand, kiss him....

"Sydney, things got so messed up between us this whole summer," he said.

She lowered her eyes. "Is this your way of apologizing?" she asked. No matter what she was feeling right now, she was still hurt from the ruthless blackmailing he had put her through.

"You hurt me too, you know," Garrett told her softly.

She thought back to the night of the concert. "Yeah, which brings me back to my original statement. We've always been playing these stupid, childish games with each other. It's just not- not right. Not how I want things to be in my life."

Garrett was silent a moment. "You know, I remember on the night of the nudibranch benefit when I made you stay after, you admitted to me that you still liked me."

Sydney swallowed hard. Why does he always remember these things? she asked herself. "Nerves," she explained with a small laugh.

"I think it was more than that. You didn't protest when I kissed you after your ‘Good-bye to Summer’ party," he recalled. Sydney wasn’t positive, but she thought she detected a little bit of a crack in Garrett's normally self-assured voice.

"Well, you're the one who initiated it in the first place," Sydney pointed out.

"So, where does all this leave us? We no longer have our lineage hanging over our heads."

"Or the birth certificate," she added.

"So, things are working out?" he asked. He ran his fingers nervously through his light-brown hair.

Sydney tilted her head towards him, feeling her heart beating in her throat. "Yes," she answered with a laugh that came out involuntarily. "I guess things are working out." She closed her eyes, anticipating the moment she knew was about to occur, when their lips would meet in a kiss that was something they had never experienced, a kiss that had no ulterior motives behind it.

"I guess someday is here," Garrett murmured, remembering the time they had danced together at Mila's party....

Garrett and Sydney were slow-dancing on the platform at Swans Soda Shop, both lost in each other’s gazes. It seemed as if they were the only two people in the shop, and they were so in love. They moved in to kiss, but realized that they couldn't in public. Sydney looked up at Garrett.

"Someday," she said with a sad smile.

"Yeah," he agreed. "Someday."

Just as Sydney and Garrett were about to kiss, Mayor Rutledge and Mr. Booth came back into the clinic.

"No comment!" the mayor yelled, struggling to pull herself away from the mob.

"Mother!" Sydney exclaimed, opening her eyes and jumping to her feet. She felt her heart rate slowly returning to normal.

Mayor Rutledge grabbed Sydney's arm. "We need to leave before that crowd gets out of hand," she began to pull her daughter through the door. "Don't answer any questions." Sydney looked back at Garrett, trying to read his expression as the door swung shut on their moment.

On Monday morning at school, Sandy was standing at Saja's locker, going over every detail of the meeting she had had the other day with Robert Clark. Saja seemed genuinely interested, but a tad distracted. He was staring down the hallway.

"Saja?" she called, trying to get him to snap back to reality.

"Yeah?" he said, not turning his head.

"What are you looking at?" she asked.

"I guess I'm looking for Callie," he admitted.

Sandy lowered her eyes. "Callie?" she repeated in a small voice.

Saja noticed that she had a slightly jealous look on her face, one that made him feel almost good inside. "It's not what you think, Sandy," he assured her.

She smiled shyly. "What do you need to talk to her about?"

"She's moving."

Sandy's jaw dropped. "You're kidding!"

He shook his head. "No, unfortunately, I'm not. It appears as if the captain is ready to move on, and take a job offer in Brazil."

Sandy's eyes grew wide. "Brazil?"

Saja nodded. "She stopped by my house last night after Jimmy left."

"What was Jimmy doing there?"

"Oh, he was seeking advice on his love life," Saja sighed good-naturedly. "Ah... at times I feel as if I am ‘Bobby DeCastro, Matchmaker Extraordinare’, instead of ‘Saja, Lord of the Warriors’."

Sandy giggled. "Well, it's so awful that Callie has to move."

Saja's smile faded. "Yeah, it is."

Suddenly, Sandy had an idea. "Hey!" she exclaimed. "Why don't we throw a good-bye party for her?"

"A party?"

"Yeah!" she said, slamming her locker shut. "We can book the Swan Club, or Swans Soda Shop," she looked into the distance thoughtfully. "Or maybe we should have it at someone's house... Sydney's maybe," she turned to Saja. "What do you think?"

Saja shrugged. "Whatever."

"Don't you think it's a good idea?" Sandy asked in an unsure voice as the two began walking to Sandy's first period choir class.

He nodded. "I do, I guess I'm just not ready for this.... that's all."

"I understand. So, do you want to meet at lunch time to discuss the party plans?"

Saja smiled sincerely this time. "Sounds great."

Glory strolled down the hall, her head feeling much lighter. She patted her hair, which now rested on her shoulders rather than half-way down her back. Her mother, who worked at a department store cosmetics counter, and often colored people’s hair, helped her achieve the cut like the magazine picture. It was shoulder-length, and softly layered around her face. It looked good, and suited Glory. She was also dressed very differently, wearing the only black dress she owned, and Callie's suede jacket. To top the ensemble off, she had lathered her lips in a new shade she had picked up at the drugstore on the way to school: Crimson. People were staring at Glory’s new look, and she wore a pout as if this really bothered her, but inside she was loving the attention she was getting. The stares felt good; maybe if these people noticed, J.T. would notice, too.

"Glory?" Garrett asked, a surprised expression on his face. He had been so busy lately he hadn't even noticed what Glory had done.

"What?" Glory replied piercingly, turning around to face her brother.

He didn't answer at first because he was too busy staring at her short hair and red lips. "Um..."

"Look, I don't want to talk to you. You're a thief," she declared, her words as sharp as a knife. "And a liar."

"Liar?" he said, confused.

"Yes," she turned away from him. "I guess you didn't think I would find out about Dad and Mayor Rutledge and you and Sydney."

Garrett swallowed. "Oh, that."

"Yeah, that. Don't you think it would have been in my interest to know that there was a possibility that Sydney and I were sisters, too?" the words were hard for her to say. She had found out late at night, while watching the eleven o' clock news. She had cried, and went up to her parents room to yell at them. Her mother had curbed her anger, and the three of them talked everything through. Although it felt better, there was still so much that was hurting Glory.

As if Garrett was reading her thoughts, he responded by saying, "I didn't want to hurt you."

Glory gave him a glare. "It’s too late." She turned on her heels, and flounced down the hall, her short hair bouncing behind her.

"So, you see, I was in the tack room," Nancy told Sydney as they sat down in their chemistry class together. Sydney nodded, but didn't look up from the test tube full of a colorful liquid.

"And then this guy came in, out of nowhere. I had never seen him before. He was young, about our age," she smiled. "And good looking..."

"Uh huh," Sydney muttered, aimlessly dipping litmus paper in and out of the liquid. All she could think of was the night before in the doctor’s office, the music, and the way Garrett had leaned towards her and looked deeply into her eyes.

"I can see you're thrilled," Nancy commented sarcastically.

"Right," Sydney replied vaguely. What did it all mean? she thought to herself. Why did Garrett want to kiss me?

"So, anyhow, I have to go back today. I want to know who he was. Granted, I wasn't very nice to him or anything, but he's all I can think of lately, you know?"

This time Sydney turned to Nancy's conversation. "Yeah," she said, looking into the distance. "I know what you mean."

J.T. was busy working on a difficult calculus problem when Neil came into the classroom and sat in the empty desk next to him.

"What's up, Bucky Ball?" he asked.

J.T. shrugged. "Well, this function for one."

"Ah, forget functions. I have a much more interesting story for you."

"What's that?" he asked, still punching numbers into his calculator.

"Okay, I began working on UB2B at the University last night," Neil began.

"Mm-hmm," J.T. mumbled.

"And you and I are going to have to work on the project with another partner," he concluded, his expression glum.

"Really? Who?"

Neil wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Her name is Carolyn Smith."

J.T. became intrigued. "What is she like?"

Neil rolled his eyes. "Well... she's a girl. What else is there to say?"

J.T. chuckled and punched Neil playfully on the shoulder. "You never change Bucky Ball. Never change."

Callie was going through the lunch line, staring at her plate of rubbery-looking spaghetti. She almost felt like laughing. Even the richest schools in the country have gross cafeteria food, she thought to herself. But her smile quickly faded. I wonder what it's like in other countries. I guess I'll find out soon. She then wondered if she would even go to high school in Brazil. Over there, the seasons were different from those on the northern hemisphere, and she was in for another summer vacation, even though it would take place in December.

I won't get to have Christmas in Swans Crossing, she thought as soon as she visualized herself spending December on a beach in Rio De Janeiro. She had had many fantasies about Christmas time. She imagined attending the winter formal with Jimmy, drinking egg nog at the Booth's house, and maybe she and her father would have even gotten their first Christmas tree.

Tears were now forming in the corners of Callie’s eyes by the time she paid for her food. She pushed all those crazy fantasies out of her head as she made her way across the crowded cafeteria. Then she spotted Jimmy. She felt a combination of happiness and nervousness wash over her.

"Jimmy!" she called to him.

He looked up, and she felt instantly comforted looking into his warm green eyes.

"Hi," she said softly, approaching him. When she got closer she noticed his eyes were guarded.

"I can't talk right now, Callie," he told her abruptly, stepping away from her.

"Why not?" her voice wavered.

"Because, I..." he paused. The look on Jimmy’s face told Callie that he was searching for an excuse. "I told my teacher I would spend lunch in the library researching something. You know how it is."

No, I don't, she thought, but nodded in response. "Okay. See you later then?"

"Later," Jimmy replied. He bounded off, leaving her alone once again.

Garrett sat at a table with Owen, J.T. and Neil in the cafeteria. He wasn't listening to their conversation, though. These guys are such geeks! he thought to himself, wondering where Jimmy had gone off to. He had heard from his family that Callie was going to be moving, and he suspected that Jimmy was off moping about that. Too bad... I could really use some normal conversation, Garrett told himself as the conversation about megabytes and video games or something like that lilted over him.

His eyes scanned the cafeteria, and landed on Sydney's table. She sat with Nancy, Callie, Mila, and his sister who was wearing that ridiculous getup. If only I knew what they were talking about, he mused. I wonder if she's thinking about me... the way I'm thinking about her.

Sydney looked up, and saw that Garrett was staring at her. Their eyes locked for a moment, and then they both looked away... as quickly as possible.

"Okay, now we decided on having the party at Sydney's," Sandy announced, tapping her pencil against the pad of paper in front of her.

"That's if Sydney says it’s okay," Saja reminded her, taking a bite of his sandwich.

Sandy nodded, and turned up her portable radio.

"Can you have those at school?" Saja asked her as the music grew louder.

She laughed. "I don't know. But there's a chance that maybe our song will be on the radio today, and I have to hear it if it comes on."

Saja tapped his fingers on the table in beat with the music. "I'm sure Mr. Douglas will love that," he commented, speaking of their strict math teacher.

She laughed again. She has such a nice laugh, Saja thought to himself, but then tried to push that out of his mind. You don't know if she likes you any more than a friend, he reminded himself. But he had to admit, his chances were increasing.

"So, should it be a surprise party, or should we invite Callie ourselves?" Sandy asked, her pencil poised.

Saja snapped back to the task at hand. "Let's invite her. I think she's had enough surprises for one lifetime," he answered quickly.

"Okay then, now let's go and start inviting people," Sandy said. She made her way over to the girls’ table.

"Guys?" she called, waving over her shoulder to Saja who was heading over to the guys’ table.

"Sandy!" Nancy exclaimed in a sugary tone. "I see you and Saja were getting pretty cozy over there," she smiled, while Sandy gave her a look. She noticed Sandy was carrying a pad of paper. "What were you two working on? The guest list to the wedding?" Nancy laughed at her own joke.

"No," Sandy answered simply. "The guest list to a party."

"Oh, now I have heard everything." Nancy remarked, placing her hand over her heart in mock surprise. "Sandy Swan planning a party with her boyfriend. I must have entered the Twilight Zone."

Sandy scowled, but couldn't think of a comeback.

"So, what's the party for?" Mila asked, and as soon as she did, Sandy noticed that Glory was giving her a look that could kill.

"Well, it's a good-bye party," Sandy looked over at Callie. "For you."

All the heads at the table except for Glory's turned to stare at Callie. "You're moving?" they all chorused.

Callie looked incredibly uncomfortable, and Sandy immediately regretted handling the situation this way. In a quiet voice, Callie filled them in on the details. Then she turned to Sandy.

"How did you hear about this? Did Jimmy tell you?" she asked in a hopeful voice.

"Jimmy? No, Saja told me."

Callie's face fell. "That's what I thought."

Jimmy squinted his eyes at Saja, wondering if the current pounding in his head was what a migraine felt like. "A good-bye party?"

"Yeah, you know, to say farewell and all. Give her some presents, take a few pictures, make some memories," Saja explained sadly. "Look, I know it's going to be hard and everything, but you have to go."

"I have to?" he asked warily.

"You're her boyfriend. It wouldn't be much of a party for her if you're not there," he told him.

Jimmy thought about what Saja was saying. He hadn't been very nice to Callie since she had told him she was moving. He hadn't returned her calls, and when she stopped him in the cafeteria, he had totally blown her off. The fact remained that they had a relationship. Even though they had just started going out, he knew that that didn't mean when things got tough he could simply abandon ship. Still, he wasn't ready to deal with this right now. He didn't want to face the fact that she was going to be leaving him soon. At this moment, he couldn't face it. It hurt too much. But Jimmy hoped by the day of Callie’s party he would be able to talk to her about everything. "Yeah Saja, I'll be there."

Glory walked out of school that day feeling worn out. So much had happened, but the thing that would brighten her day wasn't around: J.T. My first school day without him is over, she thought to herself, figuring it could only get easier from here on.

A poster on the wall by the doors caught her eye. Of course! she realized. The cheerleading results!

Glory crossed her fingers, and glanced at the list. Her name was there! For the first time all day, her red lips curved into a wide smile. I made it! I’m going to be a Swans Crossing High cheerleader! Then her smile faded. She looked at the top of the list, and in bold-type it read, "Captain: Mila Rosnovsky".

"Sydney! Sydney I made it!" Mila called up the hall, in a screeching voice. "I'm the captain of the cheerleading squad, Sydney!" Sydney ran up to her friend.

"That is so great!" she cried, and the girls hugged. As soon as Sydney let go, Mila began jumping up and down.

"I can't believe I'm the captain! They hardly ever give the position of captain to an underclassman!" she shrieked.

Sydney laughed at her friend’s enthusiasm. "Well, congratulations darling," she said, and they hugged again. "But you better stop jumping up and down, or you're going to tire you're self out!" They dissolved into happy laughter.

Suddenly, Sandy came running up the hallway. "Mila!" she screamed. "Mila!"

"What is it, Sandy?" she asked in a calmer voice.

Sandy panted, and held her radio in front of her. "Our song! They're playing our song!" she turned the volume up, and Sandy's voice came through the speaker.

"Oh my god!" Mila exclaimed, nearly knocking Sandy over with a hug. "Our song! They're playing our song!"

Sydney laughed as the two took off running in search of Owen.

"Owen! Owen!" Sandy blared over the loud hall noises. "Our song! Our song is on the radio!"

Owen looked up from his locker. His eyes grew wide, and he joined the girls in jumping up and down enthusiastically.

"’You stood by me when I really needed someone, and now I'm here to stand by you, oh baby, I'll hold you up," Sandy's voice sang through the radio. The song ended, and then the announcer came on.

"That was Swans Crossing’s new group, ‘Inspiration’ there with their debut single "I'll Hold you Up,'" the voice said, and Sandy, Owen, and Mila began screaming again.

Garrett pulled his mini bike onto the porch, sighing with relief that his stressful school day was over. He removed his helmet, and did a double take when he noticed someone was standing on his porch. And this wasn't just anyone, it was someone Garrett had known all his life....

"Grant?"

"Moving to Brazil" storyline (c) 1997 Miss Swan. And a special thanks to Jamilla for her idea, which is developed further in this chapter, and to Aliza for helping with Garrett and Sydney's flashback scene.

Chapter Sixteen

"Grant?" Garrett said, his jaw dropping. "W-what are you doing here?" he asked in a faltering voice.

Grant smiled widely, and tapped his little brother on the shoulder. "Well, I came to help out Dad on the campaign, and just to visit with the family," he explained.

"What about school?" Garrett asked, speaking of the prestigious private college Grant attended in Vermont.

"Well, I am doing great this semester, and I decided to take a week long vacation and see what's up in Swans Crossing," Grant smiled again, and Garrett couldn't help but wonder if his face ever got tired from smiling so much. "So how's life with you?"

Garrett shrugged. What could he say... that he had just lost his girlfriend, but wanted long-time rival Sydney to be his girlfriend instead? That he had destroyed his sister's relationship with her boyfriend? That he had made the family into a circus show for the press? "I'm okay," he answered simply.

"Well, good to hear it. So you decided to go to SCH instead of going off to France?"

Garrett thought of how that decision had come about, which seemed like ages ago. "Something like that." Grant lived a "perfect" life, and he wouldn't understand something as complicated as problems.

Grant appeared to be growing frustrated at the way Garrett was being so quiet, but he kept making attempts at conversation. "So where's Glory at today?"

Garrett remembered arguing with his sister in the hall, and seeing her in the weird outfit and shorter hair. "Who knows... maybe cheerleading?" Garrett responded.

At that moment, Glory and Callie came up to the porch. Glory's glum face suddenly became illuminated. "Grant!" she cried, flinging herself into her brother’s arms. "What are you doing here?"

Garrett rolled his eyes as Grant beamed at Glory. "I'm here to visit, little sis," he said with a smile. "You sure look grown up!" he exclaimed, examining her short black dress, red lipstick, and newly coifed hair.

Glory gave him a small smile.

"So how's high school treating you? Garrett tells me you're a cheerleader?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said flatly. She didn't want to talk about Mila being her captain. "Practice was rained out today, though," she told them, motioning to the heavy clouds and light drizzle.

Grant grinned again. "Well, I'm sure that the boys sure are enjoying having you at SCH," he remarked with a chuckle.

Glory quickly changed the subject. "Grant, this is my friend Callie Walker," she said, introducing Callie to her brother.

Grant and Callie shook hands. "Nice to meet you, Callie," he said politely.

"Nice to meet you, too," she replied.

"Callie's staying with us right now," Glory told him.

Grant nodded. "Looks like the Booth house is pretty full these days," he joked.

"Well, actually, I'm leaving tonight. I'm, uh, moving," Callie explained softly.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," he said. There was a long silence, which Garrett found comforting. At least he's being quiet for one second! he thought exasperatedly.

"Glor, I would love to have some of your ‘Glorious Lemonade,'" Grant told his sister, giving her his trademark grin.

Glory nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I'll go make us some." She and Callie retreated into the house.

"Well, your brother sure seems nice," Callie commented once they were inside.

Glory nodded, and began fishing lemons out of the fridge. "Yeah, Grant and I were pretty close."

"How old is he?" she asked, helping Glory gather up the ingredients.

"Twenty," she replied. "He just started his sophomore year of college in Vermont," she told Callie.

Callie glanced at the clock. It was nearing four in the afternoon. "Why do you suppose Jimmy hasn't called or seen me yet?" she asked, looking pensively into the distance.

Glory, who was squeezing the lemons, looked at Callie compassionately. "I'm sure everything will be okay."

Time is running out, Callie thought to herself. "I guess I'll go call him, then," she said, and trotted upstairs to use the phone in Glory's room for some privacy. She picked up the phone, and dialed the Clayton’s number.

"Hello?" Mr. Clayton answered.

"Hi Mr. Clayton, this is Callie. Is Jimmy there?" she asked, nervously twisting the phone cord around her finger.

"No, he called from school and told me that he was going to be staying after for a few hours," Mr. Clayton told her.

Callie fought back the urge to scream in frustration and thanked him. She hung up the phone and sighed.

"So, we're going to need the basics- cups, plates, chips, soda, pizza," Mila said, jotting things down on her notepad. "and Owen said he can bring CD's and play DJ for the night."

"How juvenile," Sydney muttered, sating out her window, watching the rain.

"You don't want Owen to DJ?" Mila asked.

"Whatever," she responded distantly.

"Okay, now for the guest list. We have to invite all of Callie's close friends... which are basically our close friends," she said, making more notes.

"Can you believe that Callie is moving?" Sydney asked suddenly, still staring out the window.

Mila looked up. "I know, it's so awful. I really like Callie."

"Me too," Sydney replied.

"That's why we have to make this the best party she'll ever have been to," Mila said, trying to sound bright.

"Can you believe that Sandy is the one who planned all this?" Sydney remarked, feeling rather confused. Sandy was not the socialite type.

Mila joined Sydney at the window seat. "Well, it is a little unlike her." Mila noticed that Sydney was staring at the Booth house. "Why are you looking over there?" she asked, wrinkling her nose disdainfully.

Sydney didn't respond. She didn't want to tell Mila that she and Garrett had almost kissed the night before... that he had looked deeply into her eyes like he cared. That maybe, just maybe, they were on the road to reconciliation.

Then a familiar look crossed Mila's face.

"What are you looking at?" Sydney asked with a smirk.

"Who is that?" Mila questioned her, trying to sound casual. She was staring at Grant Booth.

"Well, I guess Grant's in town," she stated.

"Grant?" Mila repeated, still looking at the young man on the porch talking to Garrett.

Sydney nodded. "Grant is Garrett and Glory's older brother," Sydney gave Mila a knowing look. "Much older," she added.

"What are you talking about, Sydney?" she asked with mock innocence, and the two dissolved into fits of laughter.

Sandy tossed her backpack on the floor of Owen's studio. "So, do you want to be the DJ at Callie's party tonight?"

Owen shrugged. "Yeah, it sounds okay. How come you don't want to perform at the party?"

Sandy smiled shyly. "Well, I'm sort of going with Saja."

"Saja?" Owen asked in disbelief.

She nodded. "Yeah."

Sandy suddenly noticed a flicker of something in Owen’s expression. Was it... jealousy? She wasn't able to tell, because he composed himself right away. "Okay, then, I guess I will DJ."

"Great," Sandy replied, flicking on the radio. The last few notes of their song came on the speaker.

"That was ‘I'll Hold you Up’ by Inspiration... we've had a ton of requests for this one!" the announcer said.

Sandy's eyes widened. "Requests? People are requesting our song!"

Owen noticed that the light was blinking on his answering machine, and he hit the button to play the message.

"Hello," a male voice said. "My name is Brian Lopez of The Caboose. I heard your song on WSCR, and I wanted to know if you're interested in playing at the club on Saturday. Let me know, my number is 545-8905. Thanks."

Sandy was speechless. "A gig?" she squeaked.

Owen responded by giving her a high five. "Looks like we're on our way, Swan."

Pulling open the double doors, Callie entered SCH. The building was deserted, and she felt a little creepy because most of the lights were out. She decided to begin her futile search for Jimmy, although in her heart she knew he had been avoiding her.

She went up to the second floor, and found his locker. She began twirling the lock, and for a fleeting moment felt happy that he had entrusted her with his combination. Pulling the locker open, she noticed his jean jacket was not hanging inside. He must have already left, she mused, and began to leave the building. She wondered whether or not he had stayed after like Mr. Clayton had told her, or if that was some way to throw her off track. Now her thoughts were confirmed... Jimmy was definitely avoiding her.

Mila pulled on her jacket as she stepped outside of Sydney’s house. "Wow, it's really pouring," she commented. "Well, I am going to go get the party supplies, and I will be back about an hour before it starts."

"Thanks for the help, Mila!" Sydney called after her. Mila made her way across the Rutledge property, and hurriedly walked past the Booth's.

"Who's that?" Grant whispered to Garrett on the porch.

Garrett shook his head as Grant watched Mila run through the rain. "Oh no, you don't."

"What?"

"She's my ex-girlfriend.... and she's only fifteen," Garrett told him in a scolding tone.

Glory came out on to the porch and set the lemonade and cookies down hard on the table. "And she's a flirt," she snapped, retreating back into the house.

"I can't believe that we have to work with a girl," Neil moaned as he and J.T. walked into the lab at the University.

"Ah, come on Neil, girls aren't that bad," J.T. said teasingly.

"Well, you sure seem to have your hands full with them," Neil shot back. "Oh great, here she comes," he muttered under his breath.

A tall, thin girl with light brown skin and long, swingy black hair waved to J.T. and Neil.

"This is the monster you keep talking about?" J.T. hissed.

"Hi Neil!" she greeted him in a pleasant voice, flashing the boys a bright smile. "Who's your friend?"

Neil rolled his eyes. "This is J.T. Adams."

"Oh, right!" she said with a grin. "I saw you on the news. Well, I'm Carolyn Smith."

J.T. shook her hand. "Pleased to meet you, Carolyn."

"Thanks." The three headed over to the work station, and began to set up the equipment. "I'm gonna go get some snacks. Anybody want anything?" Carolyn asked.

"Food?" Neil said incredulously. "We shouldn't eat in here!"

"Ah, come on, lighten up!" Carolyn told him. "I cannot do any work productively without Ring Dings, soda, and some music."

J.T. smiled. "You don't have to ask me twice! I'll take some Ring Dings, a couple of Twinkies, and some Cheetos..." his voice trailed off in thought. "And a bag of potato chips, too."

Carolyn laughed. "That all?" she teased. "So what about you, Neil?"

"Nothing!" he snapped.

She shrugged and turned to make her way to the snack machine in the commons area. "Hey Neil, you know... there aren't any Russian spies in the research lab."

J.T. laughed, and Neil scowled at him. "How are we going to perfect the heat shield and the fuel working with a girl?"

"It could be worse, buddy. We could have had to surrender all of our discoveries to the court," J.T. rationalized. "Now we have full rights."

"So where does this girl get off? I mean, she had nothing to do with this!"

"I heard she is one of the smartest girls in the state, and she won an internship at the University because of her exceptional science grades," J.T. explained.

"So?" Neil countered.

Carolyn came back into the room, carrying an armful of snacks. "Do you realize what a pig I must look like?" she remarked with a laugh, dumping them onto the table.

"Are we going to work, or what?" Neil asked, annoyed.

She nodded. "Before you guys got here I put in an hour or so. I took a look at some of your formulas, and changed around a few things. I think you might be able to get the heat tolerance to an even higher level with this equation, thus making the rocket fuel last longer," she explained.

"Amazing," J.T. breathed.

"Who said you could do that?" Neil cried.

Carolyn’s hazel eyes sparkled. "I did."

Nancy looked around the stables. She was on a search for the boy she had seen in the tack room the day before. She had no idea where he lived, or what his name was, but the mystery behind him was intriguing. It had been a long time since Nancy had put her efforts towards anyone but Jimmy Clayton, which had gotten her nowhere. She needed a new prospect.

She began walking towards the tack room, when she saw him. His back was turned, but she immediately recognized him. Her heart fluttered upon spotting the back of his head. Then she noticed that he was kneeling down, and was pouring water into the water trough.

That's odd, she thought to herself. Why would he be cleaning out the trough?

The boy looked up, and smiled at her. Nancy’s breath caught in her throat. He was wearing a name tag, cleaning the trough... he worked there!

Sydney stared out of her window, still watching the heavy rain. She knew she should get up and start decorating for the party, but she just didn't have it in her. Her eyes were drawn to the Booth house like magnets. Garrett was sitting on the porch with his sister and brother, looking a tad dispatched from the conversation. Could he be thinking about me? Sydney allowed herself to wonder. She kept seeing him... his blue eyes, the way that he looked at her in the clinic. She wanted more than anything in the world to go back there and finish what they were starting, but she knew it was impossible. Her mother's words during the drive home from the clinic echoed in her ears: Now there's no reason for you to associate with the Booths, she had said. It's finally all over now.

Sydney sighed. She didn't want it to be over. Not when she felt so strongly about Garrett.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the phone, and when Ralph didn't pick it up right away, she decided she should answer it.

"Hello?" she said.

"'Ello Love... it's Billy."

Sydney sighed. "Billy?"

"Yes, as in Billy Gunn," he explained.

"I know that," she replied testily.

"Well, Love, I'm still in town for the day, and I was wondering if you could show me Swans Crossing's night life?" he asked.

Sydney rubbed her temples. She suddenly had a pounding headache. "Well, Billy, that's a lovely offer, but I'm throwing a party for my friend tonight and I-"

"Great!" he cut her off. "I'll see you at seven, Love."

"But Billy!" Sydney yelled at the dial tone, and placed the phone in it's cradle. She made her way back to the window to continue her moping.

Callie opened the door to the Tool n' Die, and saw Jimmy busily working on a motorcycle on the ground.

"Here you are. How long have you been here? I've been looking all over for you," she told him cautiously.

"I had to run some errands. I just got here a few minutes ago," he replied. His voice sounded muffled from under the bike.

"Why didn't you tell me? I've been trying to get in touch with you all day."

"You know I run this place now. Where else would I be?" he said testily.

"Jimmy, call me crazy, but I have the feeling you're trying to avoid me. Is it because you're upset that I'm moving away tonight?" she asked in a compassionate voice.

"No. I told you, I've been busy here. Look, can you help me with this bike? I think there's something wrong with the engine. It's-"

Callie knelt down next to him, and placed her hand on top of his. "Jimmy, talk to me. What's wrong?" she pried gently.

"I told you, the bike-" he repeated, rolling his eyes.

Callie sighed impatiently. "Not with the bike, with you."

Jimmy finally looked up at her. "I told you, nothing's wrong with me," he pushed her hand away from his. "Didn't you hear me?" he shook his head. "Look, if you don't wanna help me with the engine, then why don't you head over to your dad's and do your moving away thing. I'm sure he could use your help," Jimmy told her, his voice sounding cold.

"My moving away is what's bothering you, isn't it?" Callie asked him, ignoring the way that he was talking to her.

"Hey, can we talk about this later? I'm busy," he growled between clenched teeth. Deep inside, Jimmy felt terrible that he was being so cold to Callie, but acting as if he didn’t care was the only way he knew to deal with this awful situation.

"Well, when do you want to talk about it? At my good-bye party tonight? An hour before I leave?" she said in an exasperated tone, folding her arms in front of her.

"Look, Walker Woman, I'm sorry. I just have a lot of things on my mind that are bothering me right now, okay?" he explained, his voice softening a bit.

"And I'm one of those things, right?" Callie asked quietly.

Jimmy tossed his wrench on the ground and jumped to his feet. "Well, what did you expect?" he replied angrily. "I mean, three days ago our lives were perfect. Then, your dad drops a bomb on us and the next thing I know, we're throwing a good-bye party for you and you're taking off tonight." He sighed and looked off into the distance, trying to hide the hurt in his eyes. "And not just over to the next state, you're leaving the country. You're leaving me. All in the course of four days. Yeah, I'm bothered by this!"

Callie stood up beside him. "Jimmy, I know all of this happened really fast, but what do you want me to do? Throw a fit and tell my dad if he doesn't let us stay here, I'll drown myself in Swan Lake?"

"Look, just forget it, okay? Just move away to Brazil and start your new life without me." He walked away from her and leaned against the table, trying to hide the fact that he was still desperately attempting to avoid her eyes.

Callie followed him to the table, and forced him to look at her. "You think I'm happy about moving thousands of miles away from the only place I've ever really called home?" she asked, angry that he was being so selfish, and not even thinking of how she felt about moving. "Leaving all the good friends I've made behind?" she continued heedlessly. "Having to break off the most meaningful relationship I've ever had?"

Jimmy looked at her, his eyes wide with confusion. "Wait- are you saying that you're going to break up with me?"

"Moving to Brazil" storyline and ending dialogue (c) 1997 Miss Swan Thanks to Jamilla whose Grant Booth storyline is further developed in this chapter. And a VERY special thanks to Miss Swan, who wrote the entire dialogue for the last scene in this chapter between Jimmy and Callie. I cannot thank her enough for the invaluable help she has given me!

Chapter Seventeen

"Are you saying you're going to break up with me?" Jimmy asked Callie in disbelief. They stared at each other for a moment, completely silent. "When did you decide this?"

"Jimmy, I'm sorry. It slipped out. I didn't mean to tell you this way," she said, avoiding his eyes.

"Well, when were you gonna tell me?" he asked in an irritated voice. "At your goodbye party tonight? An hour before you leave?" Jimmy added sarcastically.

"I was going to tell you when you let me talk to you, which obviously was not happening when I got here," Callie replied defensively.

Jimmy shook his head, his eyes downcast. "Why do you want to break up?"

"It's not going to work, Jimmy. I'm going to be in another country. We'll be miles apart. How would we keep in touch, write letters?"

"I could visit you," he said hopefully. "My brother lives-"

"Jimmy, it takes more than a little visit and a couple of letters to keep a relationship going. Pretty soon, we'd start drifting apart," Callie explained, cutting him off.

"How do you know that?" he asked, raising his voice.

"Because we're already starting to drift apart! Ever since you found out that I'm moving away, you've been shutting me out," she told him, tugging at her wavy hair in frustration.

"I only did that because I didn't know how to deal with the fact that you're leaving me. That doesn't mean we're drifting apart!" he insisted.

Callie sighed. How could she make him see that it would be easy for him to lose interest in her once she was gone? "I know that we will drift apart eventually, and I couldn't deal with that. We'll be living so far away from each other. We won't be seeing each other everyday anymore. We might start meeting new people..." Callie paused, and then added softly, "You might meet someone new."

Anger flashed in his eyes. "Are you saying that I would cheat on you?!"

"No! I just-"

"Maybe you want to meet someone new! Is that what you're trying to tell me? That's why we should break up, because you know you'll find someone better than me in Brazil?!" Jimmy shouted.

"Jimmy, I didn't mean that!" Callie told him quickly.

"Oh, yeah? What did you mean?" he challenged.

Callie started becoming angry herself. She didn't understand why he was acting like this, especially when she had caught those girls flirting with him at the Tool and Die the other day. "I mean that you seem to like spending time with other girls! Don't think I don't notice them coming here in the shop all the time, asking you to fix them up. And you seem more than happy to do it for them!"

Jimmy stared at her in disbelief. Why is she saying these things? "I can't believe this! Now you're accusing me of scoping out other girls behind your back! What do you think? You think I don't take our relationship seriously? You think I'm cheating on you or something? You're the one who wants to break up, remember?" he shook his head and sighed. "Maybe you're just turning the story around so that you can have a good reason to dump me!"

"And maybe you never did take our relationship seriously or you'd know me well enough to know that I would never do anything like that to you!" Callie shot back. "I'd never dump you."

"What do you call what you're doing to me right now? You accuse me of avoiding you, you accuse me of not taking our relationship seriously, you accuse me of cheating on you, and now you're trying to dump me because of things that aren't even true!" He looked at her, his expression a combination of anger and hurt. "You should know me well enough to know that I'd never do any of those things to you."

Callie chewed on her bottom lip. "So, you're saying that we don't trust each other?"

"No, I'm saying that I trusted you, but you don't trust me. I believed that our relationship was the real thing and that you cared about me," he told her, his voice growing cold. "Maybe you never did."

"I did- I still do!" she cried.

"Then why are we breaking up? You're just moving away. Haven't you ever heard of long distance relationships?" he asked desperately, trying to get her to see his side of things.

"Jimmy, you know it won't work."

He grew upset again. "No, we could make it work, but you don't want to. You don't even want to try! What else am I supposed to think? You probably wanted to break up with me a long time ago. For all I know, you're the one who got the job in Brazil for your dad so that you could have an excuse to get away from me!" he shouted accusingly. He immediately felt guilty when he saw the look on her face.

"I can't believe you would even think that."

Jimmy wanted to stop being so accusatory, but at least this way he was getting through to her. Ever since Callie had told him she was moving away, it seemed as if there was some sort of power taking over him, compelling him to say things that would hurt her the same way she was hurting him by leaving Swans Crossing. "Believe it," he said icily. "Now's your big chance. You can finally get away from me."

Hurt was gleaming in her eyes. "You know what? After seeing the type of person you are now- after hearing what you've said to me, maybe leaving you isn't such a bad idea after all! I never knew you could still be a complete jerk who only thinks of himself!" Callie snapped. She couldn't even believe this was the same person she had cared so much about last week.

"Oh, I'm the complete jerk?!" Jimmy scoffed. "Look who's talking! You can never be the one who started the problem- it's never your fault! It always has to be someone else's fault! I'm so tired of you blaming me for everything!" He slammed his fist into the table in anger.

"Blaming you is the only way I can get through to you! You always try to ignore what's happening around you. If there's a problem, you won't even deal with it- you just turn your back on it and shut people out! It's like you expect things to go away overnight!" Callie hollered.

"You're going away overnight! I mean, aren't you leaving for Brazil tonight? And you expect me to deal with that right now. You haven't even given me at least a week for your moving away to sink in! How can I deal with it when you don't even give me any time?" he asked.

Callie's jaw dropped. "Do you expect me to feel sorry for you? Am I supposed to break down and apologize for not giving you enough time to deal with something that's mostly hurting me? You haven't even supported me with the move! You haven't even been thinking about how I feel about leaving Swans Crossing!" How could he be so selfish? she thought to herself.

Jimmy rolled his eyes. "Oh, now you want me to comfort you and consider your feelings? Well, your moving away is your problem, not mine."

Callie through her arms up in the air in frustration. "There you go again, shutting me out and only thinking about yourself! You are so self-centered!"

"Well, there you go, blaming me again for all your problems!" he yelled back.

"My problems?" she asked. "You're the one with the problem!"

"Oh, yeah? Is that why you wanna dump me, because I have a problem? That's why you wanna leave me?" he said confrontationally.

"You never think about how things will affect anyone else! All you think about is how things will affect you! All you've thought about is how my moving away will affect you! That's all you care about!"

"No, because you know what? Your moving away doesn't affect me. I don't care anymore," he said unemotionally.

Tears sprung to Callie's eyes. "And you really mean that?" she whispered.

Jimmy looked away from her, and kept his eyes lowered, so he didn't have to meet her eyes. "You can get out of this place and never look back for all I care."

"So, we never really did know each other? So, what we had meant nothing to you? We just throw each other out of our lives and that's it?" she questioned him in a wavery voice.

He was still avoiding her eyes. "You heard me. Anyway, it was your call not mine. You made the decision to dump me before you move away. Aren't you happy that you finally got what you wanted?"

"You know this isn't what I wanted," she told him softly, but firmly.

He turned to look at her. "Hey, I'm out of the picture and now you're finally free. This is exactly what you want, right?" Jimmy asked, his words sharp and painful.

"I can't believe that I never saw you for the self-centered jerk you really are," Callie growled between clenched teeth.

"Then go! Why don't you just leave?" he walked over to the door and threw it open violently. "The door's wide open. Walk out and start your new life without me. We're through!" he yelled louder than Callie had ever heard him yell before.

The two stared at each other intensely for what seemed like an eternity. Both were out of breath from all the yelling, and completely stunned by what had just happened between them. Callie gave him one last glare, and then she stormed out of the Tool n' Die as fast as she could. Jimmy followed her and slammed the door behind her. As soon as she had left, he felt a searing pain envelop him. He recklessly began picking up motor pieces and crumpled newspaper from the table and throwing them around in anger... only this time, his anger was directed at himself. She's gone, he thought, slamming his fists down on the table in remorse. How could I have done this?

Outside, it was pouring rain. Callie took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. You're moving... it had to be this way, she told herself. But it wasn't reassuring. All she could think of was that she had just lost the one person she had ever truly cared about. She sunk down on the ground next to her bike, and sobbed regretfully, the rain mixing with her tears.

Garrett clutched his mother's grocery list in hand, grumbling to himself. When his parents had arrived home they had paid full attention to Grant, and banished him to the grocery store to buy things for Grant's "special dinner". Not that he was unhappy about leaving the house, quite the contrary. His father was a nervous wreck about the election fast approaching, and how he had a mere two days to repair the damage done to his campaign, Glory was moping around the house about J.T., and Grant was smiling, being perfect throughout it all.

Garrett angrily grabbed the shopping cart, and began speeding through the aisles, throwing things into the basket. He went down the beverage aisle, and while he was shoving bottled water into the cart, he knocked into someone.

"Watch it!" he said, irritated. He turned around, and saw who he had hit. "Sydney?"

Sydney looked speechless. "I... um," she mumbled. "I had to go to the store. Ralph is off getting party decorations, so I'm stuck buying the food."

"What?" Garrett asked, not understanding her explanation.

"The party tonight. For Callie," she stated, holding up a two liter bottle of soda to prove it.

"Oh, right," he answered lamely. "Will your mother be there?"

She swallowed. "Why do you want to know that?"

Garrett gave her a half smile. "I thought maybe we could, you know, hang out?" he offered.

Sydney lowered her eyes, and raked back her brown hair in thought. "Oh, Garrett," she murmured. "I already told Billy we'd, you know, hang out."

Garrett's jaw dropped. "Billy Gunn?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes."

"I can't believe you'd go out with that greasy, leather clad, rock star," he snapped.

Sydney became defensive. "Look, you're the one who made me invite the guy to come to the concert. He's still in town," she explained. "For some reason or another," she added.

"Oh, please! You always had a thing for Billy and you know it," Garrett began to push the cart away.

"Do I detect a bit of jealously?" Sydney asked, laughing to herself.

"Yeah right!" he scoffed. "I'll see you at the party." Garrett pushed the cart until he was out of sight, and Sydney smiled to herself, secretly pleased.

Sandy tapped her foot, waiting for Sydney. Where is she? Sandy thought. Sydney had told her to come by her house so they could decorate for the party. When she arrived, Ralph let her in and told her Sydney was out.

Just then the door opened. "Sydney!" Sandy exclaimed. "Where were you?"

Sydney raised an eyebrow. "I was at the grocery store," she replied, setting her paper bags on the table. "Somewhere I really didn't want to be," she added.

Sandy sighed. "Well, let's get started."

Sydney once again raised her eyebrow. Sandy was being rather pushy. "Okay," she said slowly. "I guess we should decorate then..."

Sandy nodded, and held up a bag. "Ralph gave me these when I came." She pulled out a roll of crepe paper. "Do you have a ladder?"

Sydney thought for a moment. "You know, I have no idea."

Sandy laughed. "I'll be right back." She flounced out of the room confidently, while Sydney watched her.

What has happened to Sandy Swan?

Nancy watched the stable hand, and then turned on her heels. It wasn't that she didn't like him because he was a working class guy, but she was a little put off by that. Also, if he saw her.... what would she say?

"Hello again!" he called.

Nancy winced. Too late! She turned around. "Hi there," she smiled, and he smiled back.

"You know, I never got to ask you your name the other day," the boy said, flashing her another grin.

"Nancy," she answered. "Nancy Robbins."

He put out his hand. "I'm Kevin Hall."

Nancy carefully shook Kevin's hand. Then something hit her. "Hey, why were you asking me about the horses if you work here?"

He laughed. "It was my first day on the job. My family and I just moved here," he told her.

She nodded. "Oh, that explains why I haven't seen you at school. Will you be going to Swans Crossing High?"

Kevin shook his head. "No, I actually don't live in Swans Crossing."

"Where do you live?" Nancy asked.

"Newport."

Glory stood in front of her mirror, brushing her hair. "Do I look okay?" she asked Callie, who was standing behind her.

Callie nodded. "Of course. You look great. But a little dressed up for a goodbye party..." her voice trailed off.

Glory puckered her lips, and put on her red lipstick. "Well, J.T. will be there," she paused, lost in thought for a moment. "Callie, is it possible to love someone and hate them at the same time?"

Callie thought back to her awful fight with Jimmy. "Oh, yes," she replied.

Glory grabbed her purse. "I guess we have to go now."

Neither of them made a move towards the door. "Yeah, I know," Callie said.

"I can't believe you're leaving tonight!" Glory cried, her voice becoming tearful. "I am really going to miss you." The two girls hugged. "I mean, I know I must have said it a million times, but I really feel like I'm losing a sister or something."

Callie closed her eyes and chewed on her bottom lip. "Well, we should get going." She hurried out the door, wanting to get this whole ordeal over with.

"The place looks great, Love," a voice in the doorway said.

Sydney looked up, annoyed. "You know Billy, the party doesn't start for another ten minutes. I thought you rock stars like to make an entrance."

Billy smiled flirtatiously at her. "Well, you thought wrong, Lady Rutledge."

Sydney scowled. If he calls me that one more time... Just then, there was another knock at the door. A moment later, Callie and Glory came into the room.

"Callie! Glory!" Sydney greeted them, rushing to her friends to get away from Billy. "I am so glad you're here."

Glory smiled. "Well, we have to send Callie out with a bang, just the way she came into Swans Crossing."

"You know, this is really nice of you guys and all..." Callie said, sounding uncomfortable.

"But," Sydney prompted.

"But I don't think I'm going to be very good company right now. I mean, I have to leave tonight, basically right after the party," Callie explained.

"I'm sorry," Sydney told her softly. "You know, you helped me a lot with everything that happened with Garrett."

Callie smiled. "Well, I was glad to help you out."

"I mean it. You've been a good friend," Sydney said, and she hugged her. Callie sighed. It was going to be a long, emotional night.

"Sandy dear, I must say that this is a very successful party. I never would have guessed it was thrown by you!" Nancy exclaimed. Sandy looked up, and saw that Saja was coming through the door.

"Excuse me, Nancy," she said, pushing away from her. "Saja, hi!"

Saja grinned. "Looks like the party is going well. We pulled it off." Sandy smiled when he said "we". It was definitely a success. Everyone had arrived, and they were all dancing to Owen's music, eating the food, and socializing.

Saja noticed that Callie was standing in the corner near the door by herself. "I'll be right back, Sandy," he told her, and made his way over to Callie. "Hi," he greeted her.

"Hey Saja," she answered glumly.

"Not enjoying the party?" he asked.

Callie shrugged. "No, it's a great party and all, but I just can't believe that this is the last time I am going to see you guys."

Saja swallowed. "I never really thought you'd leave so quickly," he said quietly.

"You read my mind," she replied with a sarcastic laugh. "I'm going to miss you Saja. You're one of the best friends I have ever had." Tears were welling in the corners of her eyes, and she wiped at them with the back of her hand. "Look at me, I can't believe I am getting so emotional!" she laughed, trying to cover up the fact she was crying.

Saja lowered his eyes. "There's nothing wrong with being emotional, Callie. It's what I always liked about you. You, you.. feel so much. You have a real sense of people, and you're the only one who accepts me for who I am, and you're one of the best friends I've ever had, too." Saja gave her a hug.

"Saja?" she started, still trying to wipe away her tears. "Is Jimmy coming to the party?"

He shrugged. "Well, why wouldn't he?"

Callie looked down at her feet. "We had a huge fight. In fact, it was so bad that I'm not sure he ever wants to see me again."

Saja shook his head. "Callie, he could never not want to see you again. But he is a stubborn guy sometimes. Would you like me to call him? See if I can get him to the party?"

She turned away. "I don't want him here if he doesn't care anymore."

"I'm sure he does," Saja insisted. "You mean a lot to him, I could always see it in his eyes. He cares about you a lot, and I know he still does." Saja told her.

Callie sighed. "Well, if you want to..."

Glory leaned against the refreshment table, playing with the ends of her hair. She just wanted J.T. to walk by, and see her standing there. A romantic song began, and Glory scanned the room for him. If only he would come over, and take her into his arms as he had so many times in the past, and dance with her.

Suddenly, J.T. caught her eye as he spun around Sydney's living room... with Mila. Glory kept trying to watch him, but her vision was blurred by tears.

Garrett was standing at the refreshment table, sipping a paper cup of soda, which seemed to have no taste to him at all.

"Enjoying the party, Garrett?" Grant asked, joining him at the table.

"Well, I'm sure I'm enjoying it more than you," he commented. "Why did you want to come to a party where everyone is so much younger than you?"

Grant laughed. "Oh, come on Garrett. I'm not an old man. I'm only twenty years old."

Garrett found his brother's festive mood irritating. "Who invited you?"

Grant laughed again. "Actually, I got a call from Sydney Rutledge this afternoon."

Garrett choked on his drink. "Sydney?"

"Yep," he nodded, and then motioned to Sydney, who was standing in a group with Sandy, Saja, Callie, Glory... and Billy. "She sure has matured since last I saw her. I mean, she's with Billy Gunn."

Garret raked his hands through his dark blond hair. "Oh please," he muttered. But he knew his brother was right. Sydney had matured... and she was with Billy Gunn.

Saja put his finger in his ear to try and drown out the deafening sound of music. "Hello?!" he shouted into the mouth piece of the telephone.

"Hello?" Jimmy said on the other line.

"Jimmy, it's Saja," he told him.

"Where are you?" he asked.

"I'm at Callie's party... where you should be," he said in a scolding tone.

Jimmy was silent for a moment. "I know," he replied quietly.

"So why don't you get over here already?" Saja asked.

"Because she probably hates me now. We had a huge fight this afternoon. I'm sure I'm the last person she wants to see," Jimmy remarked glumly.

Saja laughed. "Trust me my friend, she wants you here."

"She does?" Jimmy asked, his voice filling with hope.

"Yeah, so hurry up and get here before she leaves!"

"All right!" Jimmy replied, and quickly hung up on Saja.

Saja laughed, and put the phone back on the hook.

The party was nearing an end when the doorbell rang. Saja jumped from his spot on the couch, and went to answer it, thinking it was Jimmy. But instead of seeing Jimmy in the doorway, he saw Captain Walker, carrying a large suitcase. A taxi was waiting for him in Sydney's driveway. "I'm here to pick up Callie," he said.

Saja stepped away from the door to let the captain in. "Sure, just a second." He went back to the party.

Callie looked up, and saw her father waiting for her in the entrance way. "Dad!" she said in surprise, jumping up.

"My dear, it is time to leave," he told her.

Callie's eyes widened, and she looked around at all the other party guests. "Now?" she asked.

"Yes. I'm sorry, but we have to get to the airport on time, and we're running a little late as it is," Captain Walker explained.

Callie looked over at Saja. "Where's Jimmy?" she mouthed.

He shrugged in reply.

"Okay, Dad," she said slowly. All eyes were on her now, and soon, all her friends had surrounded her.

"I'm going to miss you!" they all chorused. She went around the room, and said her goodbyes to everyone, met with dozens of hugs.

"Thanks for everything Callie," Sydney whispered to her when she gave her a goodbye hug. "You were there for me at a time when no one else even cared, and I will never forget that. And I never understood why you were angry at me when I told the town about Garrett until now."

Callie nodded, and Sydney continued. "See, you wanted me to tell everyone when it was about finding the truth. But I already knew the truth, and did it for revenge." Sydney smiled, tears in her eyes. "It's going to be hard to stay in line without you around." They hugged again, and then it was Saja's turn to say goodbye.

"Callie, I will never forget you," Saja told her in an emotional voice.

"Me neither, Saja," she replied between tears.

"You have been the only one who really understands me, and you've been a great friend. Thanks."

"No problem," she sniffed.

Glory was the worst. At this point, both she and Callie were crying hard, and they couldn't find the words, so they just embraced. "Bye Glory," Callie whispered.

"Goodbye!"

Callie joined her father on the front steps. "Well, I just wanted to say that I never knew what it was like to have a home until I lived in Swans Crossing," she told the crowd tearfully. "Thank you," she whispered, and then she and her father walked out of the door before it could become any more painful.

Jimmy showed up at the party only five minutes after Callie and her father had left.

"Where's Callie?" he asked, walking into Sydney's living room.

"You're too late," Saja told him with a frown.

Jimmy immediately felt his heart sink. "Too late?"

"Well, she and the captain left for the airport a few minutes ago," Saja explained.

"Then I can still make it!" he said hopefully, running out of the living room. He turned back for a second, and grabbed a bouquet of flowers that was sitting on one of the Rutledge's coffee tables. "Wish me luck!" he exclaimed, and with that, he was out the door.

"Good luck," Saja said encouragingly to his retreating figure.

"Dad, come on. Why don't I go get you a cup of coffee, and we can sit for a minute. I mean, I hear planes are crowded, and you can never get a decent cup of coffee on airplanes," Callie babbled, trying anything to stall her father. They still had a little time left. Maybe Jimmy would show up at the airport last minute to see her off.

Captain Walker shook his head. "Callie, what's wrong?"

"Um, I just... Well, we've never flown before, so how about that cup of coffee? It will calm your nerves," she said quickly.

He laughed. "I don't even drink coffee! Besides, you're the one who seems nervous. Are you sure everything's okay?"

She nodded. "Fine, great. I just hate to have to go. I mean, it's a nice night, and we haven't seen each other in a long time. Couldn't we fly out tomorrow instead?"

Captain Walker stroked his daughter's hair. "Now Callie, you know that these tickets were hard enough to get. We have to fly to Miami, and then take the international flight to Brazil. It would take weeks to change them."

"I guess you're right," she admitted glumly.

"Now boarding flight 107. Flight 107 now boarding," the woman on the P.A. system announced.

"Come on, that's us," Captain Walker told her, getting up from the uncomfortable waiting area chair.

"But Dad-" Callie protested.

He gave her a cross look. "Callie," he said warningly. She reluctantly complied, and the two made their way on to the plane.

"Callie!" Jimmy called, running into the gate a few minutes later. "Callie!" He looked around at the waiting area of the gate. Callie and her father were no where to be found. He went up to the ticket counter. "Excuse me, I have to go on that plane. I never got to say goodbye to my girlfriend."

The woman behind the counter did not look sympathetic. "I'm sorry, but that flight is ready for take off. You can't go in there now unless you have a ticket, and even then you'd have to hurry."

Jimmy thanked her sullenly, and walked over to the window. Through the pouring rain, he watched Callie's plane circle the runway, and take off. It wasn't until she was out of sight that he left the window, threw the flowers in a garbage can, and headed home.

Brazil storyline and opening dialogue ©1997 Miss Swan. 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 no longer exists]. And a VERY special thanks to Miss Swan, who wrote the entire dialogue for the first scene in this chapter between Jimmy and Callie. I cannot thank her enough for the invaluable help she has given me!

Chapter Eighteen

Glory wiped her face with a Kleenex. She had been crying ever since Callie left. And it didn't help that J.T. had seen her crying and walked right past her, as if they had never talked before.

"Sydney, I have to get going," Glory told her, although the party was still going strong.

"Sure Glory, see you at school tomorrow," Sydney said, pecking Glory's cheek.

Glory exited the Rutledge mansion, and started walking next door to her house. She stopped, and checked her wristwatch. It was nine o' clock. She still had an hour before she had to be home, so she turned around and started walking towards the park.

Tears still trickled down her cheeks as she recalled the emotional scene she had just been involved in. She and Callie had been good friends, and she was always there to listen, especially when it concerned J.T.

I can't believe J.T. ignored me at the party! Who does he think he is? she asked herself, stomping her foot into the ground. After all we shared...

Glory’s mind wandered back to the summer, when she and J.T. were still a couple. She remembered him sitting on her front porch, reading her the poem he had written for her, holding her tight after she had been kidnapped, and holding her hand at Swans. What had happened to that sensitive, gentle guy?

"Did you have fun?" a voice asked. Glory's thoughts were interrupted and her head shot up.

J.T.? she thought, immediately recognizing the voice.

"I had a great time. It's too bad that Callie had to move though. I'll really miss her," Mila answered.

Glory crouched down in the bushes so she could make out their forms in the moonlight, but they couldn't see her.

"Right," J.T. said.

"J.T.?" Mila began.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering... have you written any more poems?"

Glory's breath caught in her throat.

J.T. was silent for a moment. "Well, no, actually. Not since..." His voice trailed off, but Glory knew exactly what he was trying to say: Not since Glory and I broke up. "I just haven't been inspired lately," he concluded.

"Oh," Mila said. "Not at all?"

Glory watched in horror as J.T. looked up at Mila, her face glowing in the soft light of the moon, smiled, and started leaning towards her.

"Well, maybe a little," he replied huskily, and Glory took off running before she could see what came next.

Jimmy arrived at his house, glad that no one was at home. He needed to be alone, after everything that had happened. How did I mess things up so much? he asked himself, slamming his motorcycle helmet on the kitchen table. Already he missed Callie, and she had only been gone for about half an hour.

He trudged up the stairs to his room. He figured the only way he was going to deal with this tonight was to mope, and then try to drift off to sleep. Although he knew in the back of his mind that things didn't get fixed by ignoring them, he didn't care. There was nothing he could do tonight.

Sydney watched in annoyance as Sandy chatted with Billy. She rolled her eyes, and picked up an empty bag of chips. "You could help me Sandy!" she exclaimed in an irritated tone, but Sandy wasn't paying attention. How did Sandy start being so confident around rock stars? she asked herself in disbelief. Gosh, these people are pigs! she silently complained as she picked up more garbage from her party guests.

She dumped the garbage in a large trash bag, and marched over to Sandy. "Sandy, this was your party! Will you please clean this mess up?" she snapped.

"Okay, it was nice to talk to you Billy," Sandy said with a grin, and then rushed over to Sydney's side. "Is something wrong Sydney?"

Sydney groaned. "Well, I'm here cleaning up this mess, and you're chatting with Billy Gunn! I'm not happy!"

Sandy started to pick up the trash. "Don't worry about Billy, I'm not interested in him," Sandy assured her.

"Sandy," Sydney began slowly. "I'm not either." She thought of Garrett, and wondered where he had gone off to. "And if I was, I still wouldn't consider you a threat!"

Sandy gave Sydney a cross look, and Sydney walked over to Billy. "Don't you have to be going soon, Billy?" she asked warily.

Billy shrugged. "My plane leaves in an hour. Why don't you give me a tour of the Rutledge Manor?"

"You absolutely have to go after this?"

He nodded. "So how about it?"

Sydney rolled her eyes, and didn't bother to disguise her displeasure. "Fine, fine." She led Billy out the front door. "Sandy, Billy and I are going to go for a walk!" She slammed the door shut before she could hear Sandy protest.

Garrett sat on his porch, moping. The party had been a bust. Billy had been glued to Sydney's side all night, and he had never gotten a chance to talk to her. And she looked like she was having a great time too, he thought to himself glumly.

Suddenly, he heard voices on the other side of the wall.

"So, what do you think?" Sydney's voice asked.

"The landscape is beautiful, Love," he heard Billy reply in his British accent. "But not as lovely as the person standing in it," he drawled.

Garrett rolled his eyes. Oh please! Is she actually going to fall for that corn-ball line?

"Well, since you've seen it now Billy, maybe it's time for you to get going," Sydney said in a rushed voice.

Billy grabbed her arm. "Come on Love, just a few more minutes. Remember when I showed you the stars when I attempted to drive you home the last time I was in town?"

Sydney groaned. "Yes, I remember." She turned back to him, and suddenly he was hovering over her. He leaned towards her, and Sydney realized that he was going to kiss her.

"Billy, don't," she snapped, trying to wrestle out of his grip. He pulled her closer, and attempted to kiss her again. "Billy!"

"Come on," he repeated. "I came out all this way to see your little concert. The least you can do..." his voice trailed off as he planted a kiss on her cheek.

"Stop it!" she cried, becoming frightened as he turned to kiss her lips. She yanked away from him, and he accidentally ripped her sleeve. But that didn't stop him. He somehow managed to pull her back into his arms, and kissed her again. "Help!" Sydney yelled, but realized that it was hopeless. No one would hear her.

Mila and J.T. parted. Mila looked up at him, and saw that he was smiling. "What- what was that?" she whispered, her knees feeling weak.

"Is that okay? I mean, I don't have to do that if you don't want me to..." he said.

"Shh," she replied. "It's okay. I just wanted to know what's happening between us."

J.T. grinned. "What do you want to happen?"

Mila smiled back, and savored the feeling of his arms around her waist. "I'm open to new experiences," she murmured, as they leaned towards each other for another kiss.

Garrett jumped up from the porch swing. He heard Sydney and Billy arguing, and then he heard desperate cries for help. Impulsively, he ran around to the other side of the wall, where he found Billy pawing at Sydney.

"What are you doing?" he yelled.

Billy stopped, and smiled. "This is a private party," he commented. Garrett rushed to Sydney's side, and pulled her away from Billy. "Hey!" he exclaimed, becoming angered. He leapt to his feet, and approached Garrett.

"You stay away from her!" Garrett bellowed.

"Oh, and who's going to make me?" Billy shot back.

Garrett shoved him. "Who do you think, Mr. Rock and Roll?"

Billy scowled, and after he regained his balance, he swung at Garrett and punched him in the eye.

"Garrett!" Sydney screamed.

Garrett stumbled to the ground, and Billy brushed himself off. He looked at Sydney with disgust. "This is the last time I ever come to this little hick town." He stomped away from them angrily.

"Garrett!" Sydney exclaimed, kneeling down beside him. "Are you okay?"

He sat up, and touched his eyebrow. A little blood appeared on his hand. He smiled meekly at Sydney. "It was that bracelet with the spikes he always wears," Garrett joked. "Are you okay?"

Sydney was busily rummaging through her purse. She pulled out a Kleenex, and reached up. She gently dabbed his forehead. "I'm fine. You really saved me Garrett. I- I don't know what he would have done if you hadn't shown up," she told him, her voice breaking.

They looked into each other’s eyes, and Sydney kept her hand on his forehead. They leaned closer to each other. "Thank you, Garrett," she whispered.

"No problem," he whispered back. They leaned closer, until their lips met in a long, lingering kiss. Sydney had never experienced anything like it in her life. For once, she and Garrett were able to sit somewhere in public and share a kiss... completely carefree.

Glory plodded through the halls at school the next day, replaying the scene she had witnessed in the park over and over. She couldn't believe that J.T. had kissed Mila. It was just another sign that everything was over between the two of them, and there was no turning back.

She reached into her locker and pulled out a handkerchief. She wiped off the red lipstick she had on. This stupid new look didn't even help! she thought to herself. Then she looked at the handkerchief she was holding in her palms. She had given one just like it to J.T. over the summer. I wonder if he still has it, she mused.

An equally glum looking Jimmy came trudging up the hallway. "Hi Glory," he greeted her.

"Hi Jimmy. Where were you last night?" she asked, referring to Callie's goodbye party.

Jimmy raked back his dark hair and sighed. "I messed up big time," he answered. "I don't know if I'll ever even see her again!"

Glory nodded sympathetically. She pulled her books out of her locker in thought. "You know what you should do?"

His face lit up. "What?"

"Your brother Johnny lives in Brazil, right? You ought to go and visit him, try and track down Callie and make things right with her," Glory told him, feeling proud of her suggestion.

A smile spread across Jimmy’s face. "That's not a bad idea. But how could I just leave school?"

Glory shrugged. "Just go for a few days. Leave on Saturday, and come back the next week or something. It would be worth it, right?"

Jimmy thought back to his awful fight with Callie the day before, all the cruel things he had said to her, and the way he had just cast aside her goodbye party. "It would definitely be worth it. Thanks Glory," he replied, wandering away, and contemplating the idea.

"Homecoming is going to be so great!" Nancy announced at the lunch table.

Mila gave her a confused look. "Homecoming?" she asked.

"Oh, that's right. You never went to a real school. Homecoming is the last home game of the football season, and Swans’ is next week!" Nancy explained to Mila, who still stared at her blankly.

"You're looking forward to a football game?" she asked.

Sydney laughed. "No, we also get to have a big formal dance, and the school chooses Homecoming Kings and Queens."

Nancy nodded and turned to Mila. "I would have thought you and Garrett were a shoo-in, considering you were the super couple of Swans Crossing High, but now I'm not so sure."

Mila shrugged. "I don't think I will be going with Garrett," she said with a sarcastic laugh.

"So, who will you be going with?" Nancy asked.

"I don't know. What about you?"

Nancy smiled shyly. "Well, I think that I might have an idea."

"Ah, the mystery man from the stables?" Sydney teased.

Mila grinned. "What mystery man?"

Nancy beamed, enjoying the attention she was getting. "Actually, he's not so much of a mystery anymore. I know his name now."

"Well, spill it!" Sydney urged.

"His name is Kevin Hall, and his family just moved here from Arizona," she stated.

"Does he go to SCH?" Mila asked casually.

"No," Nancy replied slowly.

"Where, then?" Sydney inquired. "Don't keep anything from us, Nancy dear."

"He, uh, goes to Newport," Nancy told them in a small voice.

Mila and Sydney looked at each other and started laughing. "Nancy! You can't be serious," Sydney remarked.

"Oh, and why not?" she asked testily.

"Because!" Sydney exclaimed between gasps. "Newport? We're playing Newport during Homecoming! Even you aren't that low!"

Nancy lowered her eyes in defeat. "You're right, it was stupid of me to even think of it." She picked up her lunch tray. "I have to get to class," she said, and disappeared into the crowd.

Mila stood up as well. "I have to meet Sandy and Owen in the library. I'll see you in class, Sydney." She also merged into the crowd.

Sydney smiled to herself. "Perfect," she said out loud. She rose up from the table, pushed in her chair, and pushed open the door that led from the cafeteria to the patio. She stepped behind a tree, and saw Garrett standing there, a single red rose in his hand.

"Glad you could make it," he greeted her, handing her the rose.

She brought it to her nose and laughed. "This reminds me of old times," she joked.

"Exactly," Garrett replied seriously. "A second chance."

Sydney smiled up at him as he took her hand in his.

"But we can't meet in secret forever again," Garrett stated.

"No?"

"Why don't we give this a chance again? You and I walk off the field together at Homecoming. Just like we should have at the baseball game."

Sydney grinned. It was a very romantic offer. "Okay," she said slowly.

"Do you promise you'll come with me this time?" he asked, giving her a pointed look.

"Of course!" she answered. "But under one condition."

Garrett sighed. "There's always a catch with you, Sydney." Why doesn't she ever seem to take our relationship seriously? he asked himself in frustration. "What is it?"

"I'll come with you... if you win the game," she told him with a teasing grin.

Garrett smiled broadly in return. "You can count on it," he replied confidently, and pulled her into his arms for a continuation of the previous night.

Sandy stood at the copy machine, running off tons of colored fliers. "I'm so excited!" she exclaimed to Mila, Owen, and Saja, who were helping her stack up the papers. "I mean, our first real gig. At a club! We're really making it."

Mila and Owen gave Sandy high fives. Saja smiled meekly. "Maybe I should go. I mean, this is your gig," he said slowly.

"No, Saja, stay. We could use your help," Sandy told him. She touched him on the shoulder, and could feel the sparks between them. She wasn't sure what was happening, but they had been spending a lot of their time together lately. Suddenly, out of the clear blue, an idea struck her. "Oh my gosh! I just thought of the greatest idea!" she squealed, nearly dropping her stack of papers.

"What is it, Sandy?" Mila asked.

Sandy turned to Saja. "Why don't you be our manager?" she suggested.

Saja cocked his head. "Manager? I never thought of being a manager of a rock band before. Hmm..." his voice trailed off in thought.

"Would you want to?" Sandy asked shyly.

Saja smiled. "Well, why not? I think it might be kind of fun. That is, if it's okay with you guys," he said to Owen and Mila.

"Sure, that sounds like a great idea! All big acts have managers," Mila agreed.

A hint of jealousy flashed in Owen's eyes, but he quickly blinked it away. "Okay Saja, that sounds fine," he said in a strange voice, one he didn't quite understand himself.

After school, Jimmy rode his mini-bike to his father's restaurant. The waiters and waitresses greeted him as he made his way to his father's office near the kitchen. Mr. Clayton looked up from his paper work, and smiled at his son.

"Hey Jimmy. What brings you here?" he asked.

Jimmy sat down in a chair. "Uh, Dad, can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

Jimmy took at deep breath. Here goes, he thought to himself. "I was wondering... it's been a long time since I've seen Johnny."

Mr. Clayton nodded. "Well, he might come up here for Thanksgiving."

"Yes, but I was wondering if this Saturday I could go down and visit him," Jimmy blurted out.

His father looked at him with wide eyes. "You want to go to Brazil?"

Glory showed up for cheerleading practice after school feeling a little apprehensive. She didn't want to have to cheer with Mila leading them all, especially not after what she had seen the night before.

"Hi Glory!" Mila exclaimed, her blond ponytail bouncing. Glory couldn't believe she was acting as if nothing had happened! However, she swallowed her thoughts and put on a phony smile.

"Hi Mila," she replied.

Mila turned on a portable stereo, and instructed the girls on some simple warm up cheers. Glory let the music take her over, and soon she was hopping, jumping, and cheering to the music with a genuine smile.

Mila gave her a thumbs-up as Glory turned and did the herky jump they were practicing. All of Glory's worries melted away because she knew she was doing such a wonderful job. She shook her yellow, black, and white pom poms in sync with the others. Things were going great... until J.T. walked onto the field.

He stood several yards away, but even Glory could tell he was watching Mila.

"Okay, now we should work on the three-tiered pyramid which we'll be doing at the field show during Homecoming," Mila instructed. "Glory, you're the smallest, so you should be on top."

Glory and the rest of the cheerleaders began to form the pyramid, but Glory couldn't take her eyes off J.T.

A junior named Brooke Rocha lifted Glory up onto her shoulders. Glory stood up, and continued to stare at J.T. She put her arms in the air in the "V" position, and tried to straighten her body out. She stood at the top of the pyramid for a minute or two, her eyes still on J.T. He was talking to Mila, and Glory felt her stomach turn. They're standing so close, she thought in disgust. Suddnely, the ground seemed to be moving, and her knees buckled.

"Glory?" Brooke said from below her. "What's going on?"

Glory swayed from side to side, and then felt herself tip forward. She tumbled off Brooke's shoulders, and went hurtling towards the ground.

NEXT CHAPTER

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