"Okay, bring up the second spot and…perfect!" Arlen was directing the "tech crew" for his fundraiser and they were catching on much quicker than he anticipated. In order to be able to give as much profit as possible to charity, Sydney had made arrangements with the sponsor of the AV club to get those students to run the lights and sound for Arlen's biggest venture yet. The students were thrilled to get real life experience as well as the extra credit. Arlen was going through a tech rehearsal to work out run time, lighting, and the like. If someone wasn't there to do their number (as there were a lot of acts from around the city), they just ran audio of the performance and guessed as best they could. "David, honey, could you go find Syd? I want to run hers next – oh, and can you fill in on guitar?" David smiled, so very proud of his love. He couldn't believe that he had originally thought Arlen incapable of running an establishment like this one…if he could, he'd go back in time and take it all back. Arlen was proving himself not only a genuine, caring person, but quite the philanthropist. "Of course, baby," he answered sweetly. He kissed Arlen on the cheek and headed into the back. Smiling, Arlen looked down at a chart in front of him. He had a few last minute decisions to make about the food that would be served, but footsteps behind him caused him to turn. His smile widened. "Nathan Gardner, what a nice surprise." "Hi, Arlen," Nathan said, his eyes seeming tired. "Hey…off with the coat for a sec, hm?" "Huh?" "The glasses are improved, the shoes are good, and the coat is delectable, but I want to see if you changed…" Understanding, Nathan removed his coat. "…well, look at that! Someone let himself be made over." He thought for a moment and had to ask. "Anyone special help you? Not that I'm saying you couldn't have done it on your own but…" Nathan chuckled. "My daughter, Susan. She was after me for a while to change things up." "Oh, I need to meet her, Nathan, superb taste!" "Thanks." Nathan found himself blushing. "Hey, you wanna pop up and do a number? I could use as much talent as possible for this and I remember you having quite a bit of your own at Christmastime." Nathan looked thoughtful. "I appreciate the compliment, but I already have plans that night." "Valentine's Day? A date?" Arlen's heart grew heavy. "No, not really. Favor for a friend." He cleared his throat. "Is Syd here?" Arlen liked the way he said her name and hoped that there was still a chance for something to happen between them. "She's getting ready to…ah, there she is." Sydney appeared on stage with David. "Gonna run her number. Everything okay? She didn't forget her phone again, did she?" "No, nothing like that." "You all right? The clothes are fabulous, but you look exhausted." Nathan sighed and couldn't stop the words from coming. "My ex showed up at school today and gave Sydney a bit of a rough time…then ate up the last few hours. I just need to…" The front house lights dimmed and Sydney was doused in a pink spotlight. "Bit too bright, guys," she laughed, unaware of Nathan's presence. The spot dimmed and she nodded at David. "…apologize," Nathan finished. "It can wait a minute or two though." Sydney began to sway to David's slightly imperfect guitar strums. He was only filling in, after all. "It's not so easy loving me. It gets so complicated, all the things you've gotta be. Everything's changin', but you're the truth. I'm amazed by all your patience, everything I put you through. When I'm about to fall, somehow you're always waitin' with your open arms to catch me…You're gonna save me from myself
from myself…yes…You're gonna save me from myself." Nathan stood captivated, something which Arlen noticed right away. It wasn't that she was singing, it was more the lyrics of the song. To Nathan, she wasn't singing about herself, but about him. The words floating along with the gentle chords of the guitar were exactly what Nathan felt about his relationship with the woman on stage…she truly had helped to save him by moving in across the hall.

"My love is tainted by your touch. Well some guys have shown me aces, but you've got that royal flush.
I know it's crazy everyday…well tomorrow may be shaky, but you never turn away." Did she mean to pick this? Was it chosen for her? How the hell does it all fit so… He felt Arlen's hand on his shoulder, could vaguely hear him asking, again, if he was okay. "Uh, yeah, I'm good, I…" He stopped, listening again. Her vocals weren't perfect, which only added to the raw honesty he heard in her words. "Don't ask me why I'm cryin', 'cause when I start to crumble you know how to keep me smilin'. You always save me from myself…from myself, myself…You're gonna save me from myself." "I'm just asking why you're keeping everything such a secret, Jess, I didn't!" A young man was running out of the back, behind Jess, very much shouting over the lyrics Nathan was trying to so hard to hear. "Oh hell," Arlen sighed. "Just keep going! You two, knock it off, hm?" Sydney shook her head at them, not missing a beat. "I know it's hard, it's hard, but you've broken all my walls…You've been my strength, so strong…" The young man didn't listen. "Afraid I'll be that much better than you?" Neither did Jess. "I'm afraid there won't be room for anyone's donations, as your ego's going to take up the whole damned room!" They both plodded off into the lobby. Nathan was straining to hear the last of the song, the words burning hope into his chest that maybe this part reflected her feelings toward him and this just wasn't a random selection. "And don't ask me why I love you, it's obvious your tenderness is what I need to make me a better woman to myself….to myself, myself…You're gonna save me from myself." And like that, it was over. "Hey, thanks you two," Sydney said loudly into the mic. "Remind me to interrupt you too, okay?" She could hear Jess reply from the lobby, "Sorry, Syd!" She smiled and exited the stage, passing Brynn in the process. "Can you control them?" she joked. Brynn giggled as she shuffled her sheet music in her hands. "I thought I was making progress, but…I seem to have failed. I don't think it's a real argument, er, at least not an important one…" "Syd, sweetie," Arlen called from the back of the room "You have a handsome visitor!" Brynn raised an eyebrow and Sydney shrugged. "Beats me, I can't see anything but pink flashing before my eyes." "Guys, I'm purple!" Brynn shouted to the boys in the lighting booth. The spotlight changed. Sydney made her way to the back of the room and turned scarlet when she saw Nathan. "Hi," she said, feeling oddly shy. "Uh…did you see…that?" Nathan nodded. "Is there someplace we can talk?" Arlen spoke up right away. "Go use my office." He tried his best not to seem giddy. The way Nathan had watched Sydney gave him a few butterflies. "Okay," Sydney said unsurely. Arlen could hear her ask Nathan if everything was alright as they headed into the back and he found himself crossing his fingers. They reached Arlen's office and Sydney closed the door over behind them, not completely shutting it. Nathan's words came quickly. "I want you to know how sorry I am about this afternoon. I had no idea Celia was going to barge in like that and…" Sydney smiled. "It's okay…" "It really isn't." "I'm not going to say I enjoyed it by any means, but…" "She tried to go to Joe," Nathan blurted. "She didn't have a case to make of course, but she tried." Sydney's face fell. "You didn't do anything wrong, Joe knows that…he also knows that she hasn't exactly been a stellar parent over the last …" Sydney sat in Arlen's chair. "Am I going to get written up or something?" "No, nothing like that, I promise! Susan was there and…everything Celia tried to say just fell apart, but I had to tell you about it – no secrets, remember?" Sydney shook her head. "Right, no secrets…ugh…if she hates me that much just being Susan's teacher what would happen if she found out…" Nathan knelt down to be at her height and cupped her chin. "It wouldn't matter in the slightest." He stroked her hair. "You look exhausted." "I haven't even been home yet, I was trying to…" He stopped himself. It didn't matter that he'd spent the last two hours trying to get Celia and Susan to stop yelling at one another. "I liked the song," he said softly. Sydney smiled. "I…" "Was it about anyone in particular?" "I like to leave interpretation up to the audience," she said, standing back up. She was wrapped up in Nathan's arms within seconds. "I'm so sorry that I won't be here when it's not rehearsal." "Hey, we've been through this already, Nathan…"

"Doesn't mean I still don't feel…" He gave up on words, kissing her, and she very happily reciprocated. Things began to heat up between them as Nathan backed her against the wall of the office, but they pulled apart knowing this wasn't the time or place. Jess realized this too, as he quickly released the door handle and backed away as quietly as he could, content smile on his face.

***Save Me From Myself – Christina Aguilera***