AN: Thank you for the reviews! I hope you all continue to enjoy the story!

Jim was pacing in the hallway between his and Honey's rooms. Something about tonight's party had him feeling nervous. Though he was comfortable when it came to being the leader, he never really liked being the center of attention otherwise. And he would much rather be in riding clothes than in a suit and tie.

"Thank goodness the party is for Brian too," he thought. "He is the valedictorian, after all!"

Jim had an intensely competitive nature and had privately experienced a few twinges of jealousy that the older boy had come out on top. But, then again, Brian was his best friend, and he needed top grades to get into the highly-ranked pre-med program at Hudson College. Only a few freshmen each year were selected for the accelerated program, which would allow him to get his undergraduate and M.D. in just six years instead of the usual eight. So Jim was happy to settle for salutatorian.

"That's what you get for skipping a grade," he chided himself. Jim was still a few weeks shy of seventeen. He'd be sharing an apartment with eighteen-year-old Brian when they both started at Hudson in the fall. He'd always been in a hurry to get through high school and get out on his own – that is, until he came to Sleepyside two years ago.

He checked his watch again. 6:52. The party, held in the Manor House's grand dining room, was supposed to start promptly at 7:00, but Honey had asked him to walk her and Trixie down instead of just meeting there.

"What's keeping the girls?" he wondered. He hated to be late. He ventured a little closer to Honey's room, resisting the urge to listen at her door. Despite his best efforts not to eavesdrop, he could still hear girlish giggles. The sound made him grin and piqued his curiosity.

Just as Jim leaned slightly more toward the door, Trixie burst through it, still laughing, and nearly collided with him.

"Oh! Hi!" Trixie exclaimed. "Sorry, Jim. I didn't expect you to be there."

Jim was staring at Trixie. Her face was flushed with laughter and her pale blue dress, though demure, accentuated every curve.

His sharp eyes caught the flash of silver on her wrist. Suddenly he felt like all the butterflies in his stomach had just taken flight.

"Wow. Um, I mean, hi, Trix," Jim said, taking a step back. "You look great."

Suddenly Honey appeared in the door behind Trixie. She was just in time to catch what he said and noticed the flustered look on her brother's face. Ever tactful, Honey couldn't resist a tiny secret smile.

"You both look great, I mean," Jim recovered. "Ready to head downstairs? I think everyone is arriving."

"Sure, Jim," Honey replied. "Lead the way! I sure hope we get to the appetizers before Mart."

Trixie grinned. "Don't worry, your cook always makes enough even to satisfy his enormous appetite."

Ms. Trask was waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs. Though Trixie had known her for years, she still admired the older woman's classic sense of style and neat appearance every time she saw her, especially since neatness was not always something Trixie achieved. Tonight Ms. Trask wore a dark gray pantsuit, a pale pink blouse, and small pearl earrings. Trixie noticed she was holding the day's mail. Sorting and organizing the many letters and requests the Wheelers received was one of her many important tasks.

"My, don't you all look so grown up," Ms. Trask said, smiling. "Congratulations, Jim. We are celebrating quite an achievement this evening."

"Thank you, Ms. Trask," Jim said humbly. "It's hard to believe I've actually graduated."

"Not only that," Ms. Trask said brightly, "you've finally officially been named a Hudson Scholar. Only five young people are chosen for that honor each year. We are all very proud of you, Jim."

"I know I am," Honey said, beaming at her brother.

"Me too," Trixie added. She gave Jim's arm a friendly squeeze as he flushed from their praise.

"Thanks, gals," he said softly. "Aren't you coming to the party, Ms. Trask?"

"I wouldn't miss it," she replied. "But I will be joining you all later. I still have a few duties to attend to first. You three should go on in, everyone else is here."

"Alright," Jim replied. He offered an arm to each of the girls and led them across the mansion's foyer.

As the trio headed into the dining room to meet the other Bob Whites, something made Trixie turn to look back at Ms. Trask. The older woman was reading one of the letters. Her face, so composed just a moment before, was wrinkled with worry.

Trixie almost stopped, but Honey pulled her along.

"Look, Trixie!" Honey whispered. She tilted her head toward a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair and thick eyeglasses in the back of the room. "That's John Bellerson. He's the dean of Hudson College. Isn't it nice of him to attend Jim and Brian's party?"

"Yeah, that's really swell of him," Trixie whispered back. Trixie privately suspected that Dean Bellerson's real reason for coming had been to get to know Matthew Wheeler, prominent millionaire, a little better. But she knew Honey was excited, so she kept her cynical idea to herself.

"After all, Jim and Brian are awfully good students," she thought. "Any college would be glad to have them both." She craned her head, looking for the other Bob Whites. Suddenly she spotted them over by the crystal punch bowl. At the same time, her brother Mart spotted them too.

"Oho! The other guest of honor has finally arrived!" Mart announced. "Your intellectual achievements may be outstanding but one could consider your punctuality lacking."

Trixie was about to open her mouth for a retort, but Honey smoothly cut in, "Of course Jim would have been on time. He was simply being a gentleman and waiting on us ladies."

"Smart man," Brian said with a wink. He took Honey's hand from Jim's arm and draped it over his own. "Can I get you some punch?"

"I'd love that," Honey replied. The two strolled to the other end of the table to retrieve fresh glasses, leaving a chagrined Mart in their wake.

"Well Mart, at least you didn't get schooled in front of Diana," Dan Mangan said with a playful smirk. "I just saw her come in the side door."

"Gleeps! Thanks for telling me," Mart replied to his friend, forgetting to use any oversized words in his haste to look for the dark-haired girl. "I offered to help her with her application for that summer position at the art museum. I better go talk to her about it. "

"Wow, how generous of you, Mart," Dan said teasingly. Jim and Trixie stifled laughter, but Mart barely noticed. He was making a beeline for Diana, who looked beautiful as usual in her favorite color, lavender.

"So Diana's going for that summer internship, huh?" Jim commented. "Good for her. I hope she's gaining more confidence about pursuing her interest in art."

"Diana really is the most creative person I know," Trixie said admiringly. "Her drawings are simply lovely, she sings like an angel, and of course, she's always getting the best roles in the school plays."

"You should tell her you think so, Trixie," Jim said. "Diana thinks a lot of your opinion. Your confidence in her could be a big encouragement."

"Well, I did tell her so recently, when we were in White Plains shopping a few weeks ago," Trixie replied. "We were talking about it right after she chose this dress for me, actually."

"Maybe you inspired her to apply for that job," Dan said. "And she did pretty great on the dress too."

For the second time that evening, Jim had to keep jealous feelings towards one of his male friends in check as he saw Trixie blush prettily at Dan's compliment.

Dan caught the look in Jim's eyes and decided to beat a hasty retreat. "Well guys, I need to go talk with Uncle Regan about our summer plans. He's going to let me help him get Starlight ready for the fall horse show since Brian won't be here then. I'm planning to be in the stable whenever I'm not helping out at Maypenny's this summer."

"Hey, that's great Dan," Jim said, his momentary jealousy forgotten. "I know you'll be a big help, and it will please Brian to know Starlight's in good hands."

"Unfortunately I can't do the same for Jupe," Dan grinned ruefully. "Only you and Regan seem to know the secret of making that one listen to reason. Anyway, I'll have to catch up with you both after dinner. We're all seated at different tables. Think we could meet down by the lake after the party for a campfire?"

"That sounds wonderful," Trixie said in delight. "As long as I get to change first, that is."

"I'll tell Mart and Diana if you two can tell Brian and Honey." Jim and Trixie nodded and waved as Dan disappeared into the crowd.

"Boy, there sure are a lot of people here tonight," Jim said, looking around the room.

"You and Brian are popular in Sleepyside," Trixie replied. "It's no surprise to me that lots of people would want to come out and wish you well."

"It's funny to think about," Jim said, looking down at her, "that a little more than two years ago I'd never even set foot in Sleepyside. And now, in a couple of months, I'm about to leave it."

"Not for good," Trixie said stubbornly. "It's just college. You'll be back. This is your home now. Right?"

"Just college," Jim agreed. "Funny how, before I came here and was adopted by the Wheelers, I couldn't wait to get to college. Couldn't wait to just get anywhere else." He took Trixie's hand. "And now that it's finally here, I don't want to leave."

Trixie's heart fluttered, but she managed to give his hand an encouraging squeeze. "It's no wonder you felt that way before. And I wish you and Brian didn't have to leave now, or ever for that matter. But Hudson College is only a couple of hours away. Surely you'll be back sometimes?"

Jim squeezed her hand back. "I hope so." He smiled at her.

Trixie swallowed hard. "You have to," she replied tartly. "Dan's right. Jupiter doesn't like him. He'd get thrown faster than I did if he ever tried to ride him. And he doesn't like Mart either. So you have to come back and ride Jupe."

Jim gave Trixie her favorite lopsided grin then. "Okay, I promise to come back sometimes. To ride Jupe."

"Good."

The two were silent for a moment. The crowd mingled around them. The sounds of laughing voices and clinking glasses filled the air.

Then Jim gathered all his courage and said, "You're wearing your bracelet tonight."

Trixie flushed scarlet to the roots of her sandy curls but kept her voice steady. "It's a special occasion."

"I'm glad you did."

Trixie wasn't sure what to say. Jim gently turned her hand over and traced across the inside of her wrist, running his finger over the engraved letters of his own name, just as Trixie had done earlier. It made Trixie feel shivery, but in a good way.

"You know, I never told you, but this little thing got me in a lot of trouble," Jim said quietly.

Trixie looked up at him, shocked. "My bracelet?"

Jim nodded ruefully. "Yep. Right after we got back from Iowa, I was having breakfast one morning when…"

Suddenly, just as Trixie was leaning in to hear Jim's story better, Ms. Trask interrupted them. She placed her hand on Jim's shoulder. "Please excuse me, you two, but I've got to steal Jim away for a minute. Mr. Wheeler wanted to see him right away, and dinner is going to start in just a few minutes." She started to steer Jim toward the door, calling over her shoulder, "Trixie, you're seated over at table seven with Mrs. Vanderpoel and the Websters. Perhaps you could show them where to sit?"

Trixie looked up to see the kind older woman waving at her from across the room. She then shot an incredulous look back at Jim, who was grimacing at her apologetically over his shoulder as he followed Ms. Trask out of the room.

"Later," he mouthed to her.

Trixie took a deep breath in and exhaled it quickly. She thought she might absolutely die of curiosity. What was Jim trying to tell her? Why would Mr. Wheeler need to talk to Jim so urgently before his own party? And why did Ms. Trask look so worried about that letter?