I'll Always Remember

Jen Collins pulled up in the high school's parking lot on opening night. She could not fight the smile spreading over her face at the pride she was feeling right now. Her son, the star of the school play. She was very proud.

And it wasn't just the fact that Sky was participating in school events. There had been a real change in her son in the two months he'd become friends with Sydney Drew Grayson. He was friendlier, happier…

Her little boy had fallen in love, and with such a sweet, lovely girl. Jen couldn't not approve more…the only problem was that Sky would not admit it. But she must not lose hope…Sky would come around.

By now Jen had reached the theater where the play would take place. She gave the ticket seller the mandatory two dollars and made her way into the auditorium. She found a seat in the second row, a perfect distance away from the stage. She smiled again, anxious for the curtains to part.

"Mrs. Collins," said a deep voice from beside her. Jen looked up to see the pastor from her church. He too, was smiling.

"Hello, Reverend Grayson," Jen said politely. "Care to join me?"

"I would love to," Carter replied. He sat down in the plush red seat next to hers. "I've noticed a real difference in Sky, Mrs. Collins. He's really a very nice boy, and he's very good to Syd."

"And I'm so grateful she's helped him. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with him, and then your Sydney took him under her wing. Pass my thanks along to her, please."

"I'll be sure to do that, Mrs. Collins," Syd's father answered. He checked his watch. "It should be starting any moment now."

And then Syd came out, dressed in the waitress costume. She read a brief reminder to turn off all electronic devices and disappeared again, flashing a brilliant smile at the crowd.

The curtains parted and Syd walked out onstage once more. She wiped a cloth over the table as Sky pushed open the swinging door. "Table for one, Clare," he grunted at her. Sydney nodded and sat him down and exited the stage. She returned with a coffee pot and a mug.

"Coffee for you, Paul," she murmured, pouring it. "Watcha been up to lately? Nothing too illegal, I hope." She winked, leaning over the table as if she really found nothing more interesting than Paul's business affairs. Sky cleared his throat.

"Can't you just take my order, Clare?" Sky grunted. "I'm not gonna go around confessing in a coffee shop, you got that?"

Syd took a pad of paper and a pencil from the apron pocket. "What are you having today?"

Sky told her Paul's order, butterflies in his stomach. He knew he hadn't messed up yet, but he was certain he would.

Other characters came and went as the script stated, and Sky still hadn't made an error. Sydney caught his eye and smiled slightly. Sky's heart soared. 'Focus,' he reminded himself firmly. Paul and Clare exited the café, Clare to her secret destination and Paul following her. The curtains fell, signaling the end of the first act.

As soon as they were offstage, Sydney threw herself into Sky's arms. "You're doing wonderfully, Sky. You really, really are. I saw your mother in the audience and she looks so proud of you." She squeezed him tighter, her pretty face beaming up at him. Sky returned the smile.

And then she left to change her costume. Sky felt strangely bereft once Syd had gone. He perched himself on one of the chairs, trying and failing to force the feel of being wrapped in Syd's arms from his mind.

Sydney repapered then, now dressed in a shimmering pink gown. She found Sky's hand and squeezed gently. She pulled him up from his seat. The curtains went up and a group of minor characters went out, grouped at the tables that had been set up. Sydney strode out a moment later, walking directly towards the microphone.

Sky crept onstage a moment later, hovering at the back of the stage to remain 'hidden' as Syd sang. Sky watched her in awe, as Paul was supposed to, having never heard Clare sing before, reveling in the sounds of Syd's lovely voice. He gulped. She was very, very pretty…

The cast and the audience burst into applause as Sydney's song ended. "Thank you," Syd said softly. She began to exit again. Sky nearly missed his cue to follow her.

"Clare!" he shouted, running a bit to catch her. Syd spun around, her eyes narrowed.

"You followed me?" she hissed.

"You were amazing," Sky insisted, truly meaning it.

And they slowly reached Act Three in which Paul popped the question and Clare accepted. The lighting dimmed just as the two leaned close to the other. The auditorium's occupants burst into applause.

As the rest of the cast joined Sky and Syd for the company bow, Sky could have sworn he saw an older man dressed in a suit slip out of the crowd. 'Couldn't be,' he thought, 'The old tightwad hates me. He wouldn't show up here unless he had a really good reason…'

Ms. Finnerty came out then, giving Sky and Syd a gentle shove to the front of the stage. "My stars!" she cried proudly. The stars took another bow, this time by themselves, and exited.

Jen hugged her son as soon as Sky stepped offstage. "You were great, honey," she cooed in the most motherly tone she had ever used. Sky, still exhilarated by the roars of applause echoing in his ears, hugged his mother back just as tightly.

"Thanks, Mom." he replied, grinning. Then he remembered the man who had greatly resembled his grandfather. "Did you tell Albert Collins about this?" Sky demanded, releasing his mother.

"Yes, Sky, I did. I was so happy to see you participating and seeing you the nicest you've been since your father died…he's your grandfather, Sky, he should be involved in your life."

Sky's retort died in his throat as Sydney flounced over to them, still in the dazzlingly pink dress. She threw herself into his arms for the second time that night. "You did it, Sky!"

"I had a good teacher," Sky reminded her, causing her already huge smile to grow even wider. "You were great too, Syd."

Sky glanced behind her to where her father stood. "Thanks. I should go; I have to be up early tomorrow for tutoring."

"See you there," Sky replied. He gave her one final squeeze and let her go. Syd planted a swift kiss on his cheek.

"Good night, Sky, Mrs. Collins." Sydney practically skipped off after Carter.

Sky grinned at her retreating figure, completely forgetting that his mother was standing right there with him, not to mention the rest of the drama club and the audience.

--

Sky's tutoring charge, Sam, was waiting for him the next morning. Sam was still struggling with the concepts of geometry, and Sky had finally come up with a plan to help him. "Morning," Sky greeted rather cheerfully, bouncing a basketball. "Let's go."

"Where are we going?" Sam asked suspiciously, having never seen Sky in such a good mood.

"We're going to play basketball," Sky answered, holding out the ball. Sam took it, still eyeing Sky warily. Sky noticed. "It's going to help you learn geometry. I promise. Come on."

The older boy picked up a stack of orange plastic cones and led Sam outside to one of the basketball courts.

"Shoot around for a minute," Sky said as he started arranging the cones. When he'd finished that, he positioned Sam adjacent from the two orange cones. "What kind of triangle are you and these two cones making, Sam?"

The redhead shrugged. "I don't know. I just get this stuff, Sky."

"That's all right," Sky said patiently. "Just take a guess."

Sam examined the two cones and himself. "Wait, isn't this an isosceles triangle?" Sam questioned after a few minutes of thought. Sky nodded, and a small smile broke out on Sam's face.

"Take a shot," Sky said. Sam bent his elbow, looking at the hoop intently. He jumped as he released the ball and made a shot. "That was great. Now, I want you to make a ninety degree angle from these three cones."

Sam trotted over and completed the square. "Like this, right?" Sky nodded once more. Sam made another shot.

Once Sky was satisfied that Sam was starting to understand, he picked up the cones and placed them outside of the court. "Show me what you got," Sky said, rolling up his shirt sleeves. Sam merely grinned.

"Oh, I got some game." The smaller boy dribbled the ball, passed Sky, and made another shot. Sky exchanged a high five with Sam, grinning.

Inside the cafeteria, Syd and Anna, the little girl she was working with, were watching Sky and Sam. "Aw, that's nice of him," Anna commented. Sydney made a noise of agreement, knowing Sky had found a way to help at long last.