Link approached the intersection speeding through the red light. He had to get to the studio. This mess with Tracy was making him nuts. He couldn't take it for a second longer

Flashing lights lit his rearview mirror. He pulled over to the side of the street, banging his head against the steering wheel in frustration.

"License and registration please?" the officer asked. Link had the documentation in his hand before he finished the question.

"Do you know why I pulled you over?" the officer asked. His speech was agonizingly slow.

"I have no idea," Link said. Figuring the officer wasn't female, and charm was useless, he thought playing dumb might be his next best bet.

"You ran the red light. Care to explain son?"

"I'm sorry. I guess I was in a hurry. I have to get to the studio to film my show."

"Hey, I know you. My daughter is a big fan of yours," the officer drawled. "You and that girl, Tracy. She seems like a nice lil' gal."

"She is, and she's mad at me right now, so I have to get to the studio."

The officer leaned closer into the car. "Roses, that's the key to a womans heart, is roses."

"Thank you for the advice sir."

"Listen, I wasn't born yesterday. I know you know you ran the red light, and that could get you into a lot of hurt young man. Not only you but somebody else," the officer lectured.

"I know sir. I'm sorry," Link apologized.

The officer burst out laughing. "Shoot, I did the same thing when I was your age. How does lettin' you off with a warnin' sound?"

"Thank you sir."

"You just go on to that lil' girl now," the officer directed.

Link was careful to drive the normal speed until the cop car was no longer in sight.

The bus ride to the studio was the longest of Tracy's life. No one said anything to her, but the rumor mill in the row in front of her was loud enough that she gathered she and Link had broken up, Link was now back with Amber, Corny and Velma had a secret affair and Velma caught him with Amber and punched him. Corny had to be taken to the hospital for numerous broken limbs, and a concussion, it was really a miracle he was filming the show today, and there was speculation that Amber had to sell her car becuase she was presently in the front row of the bus.

'Why doesn't she just get off the bus and ride with her boyfriend?' Tracy thought miserably. The bus pulled to a stop. 'I might as well face the music,' she thought, taking a deep breath.

"Tracy, are you okay?" Lil' Inez asked.

"I'm fine," Tracy lied, faking a smile.

"Come on girl, you're better off without him," Inez assured her as she put her arm around Tracy's shoulders, leading her into the studio.

Tracy was composed until she got to her makeup mirror. In the corner was a picture of her and Link. That was enough to set her off. She ran to an empty dressing room, trying to gain composure and failing miserably. She took deep breaths trying to stifle her sobs.There was a knock on the door.

"Go away," Tracy ordered.

"Tracy hon," the door creaked open and Edna peeked in. "Oh hon, there has to be a mistake."

"There's not ma. I was stupid to think I could win his heart with Amber running around."

"There, there," Edna pulled her into a hug. "I just don't belive Link would pull that garbage."

"Ma, I saw Amber hand him a blanket today in school. How do you explain that?"

"If he's a boy worth all this fuss, he's got to have a perfectly reasonable explanation. Have you even talked to him yet?"

"No," Tracy admitted.

"Tracy, what have I always told you about beliving gossip?"

"But ma, Shelly doesn't gossip. She told me what she saw."

"That doesn't always mean it's the truth hon," Edna comforted her.

For once Tracy was glad her mom was acting like a mom.

After Tracy had washed her face, and was walking to her makeup table, she walked past Corny in the hall.

"Tracy, Tracy, Tracy, I'm glad I caught up with you," he told her in his emcee voice. "Let's go into my office for a moment, shall we?" He steered her into his office where Link was sitting, looking as miserable as she felt.

"Sit," Corny ordered.

Tracy sat, looking at the floor.

"Tracy, I'm right here," Corny said, perching on his desk. She looked up.

"You need to know what happened last night," Corny said.

"I don't want to hear it," Tracy said.

"But you're going to," Corny insisted. "Link and I were out, and it was raining. We saw Amber and she was stuck. She had a flat tire, and her spare was no good. So I told her to get in Link's car, and we gave her a ride home. Amber was freezing so Link gave her a blanket to warm her up. I walked her to the door, Velcro..ah I mean Velma.. hit me. Link gave her a hug to calm Amber down becuase she was hysterical over what happened. Link tried to call you from my house all night to explain."

"Your line was busy," Link interjected. "I want to be with you Trace."

"Ah, I'll leave you kids alone for a minute. Just don't make it too long," Corny told them before leaving his office and closing the door behind him.

"I want to be with you too, Link," Tracy said, sitting on his lap. "I'm sorry I got so insecure."

"I promise I will never, ever, ever leave you for Amber. That's what that ring means Tracy," he said caressing her hand that wore it.

"I don't even remember putting that on this morning. It's a part of me, I guess. Like you are," she told Link kissing him tenderly.