Author's Note: I've been having serious regrets about this series. I can see that it is a classic "Mary Jane"--Caitlin is the way too perfect person who I wish I could be. I thought about simply quiting it, but from my stats I see that a lot of people like it. So instead I've decided to finish and bury this series. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this. Please r/r!

Part 3: Leaving Town

Caitlin lay on Scott Guber's bed, staring up at the ceiling. She could hear him getting ready in his bathroom. The water was running and music--Beethoven's Fifth Symphony--was blasting out of the CD player in the bedroom. Normally she got up quickly, but today she lay quite still on the bed.

Nine months. She couldn't believe that she had been dating him for nine months. It was already June. Commencement was in only two weeks and then...

"Good morning Caitlin," he said, coming into the bedroom as he put on his tie. "Why are you still in bed? You're going to be late." He bent over and kissed her.

"Mmmm." She sat up and watched him wave his fingers at the speakers with a look of concentration on his face. Normally his conducting made her smile, but this morning it just made her feel sad.

Slowly she crawled out of bed and began to get ready for school with a heavy heart.

*****

Lauren Davis walked into the teacher's lounge that morning and noticed Caitlin sitting at one of the tables toying with a letter. Her customary can of Coke sat next to it.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she sat down next to Caitlin. "What's the letter?"

"It's from Julliard." Caitlin paused. "They want to make sure that I'll be there for the coming school year."

"Oh, I almost forgot that you were doing that. Congratulations." Seeing Caitlin's serious expression, she added, "What's wrong? Aren't you excited?"

"Oh sure. It's just...Scott."

"Scott?"

"I...I care a lot about him and I don't know...I'm not sure...this should be so easy! It's Julliard, it's my dream. But I just can't help but feel..." She smiled humorously. "He's my first boyfriend. Whenever I would think about my first boyfriend, I would always figure that it would be just some meaningless fling. But with him..." She groaned. "I don't know what I'm going to do."

"Oh."

"What's going on?" Marilyn walked into the teacher's lounge.

"Caitlin's not sure about leaving to go to Julliard next year?"

"What's to think about? You're so talented, you should go."

"What about Scott?" Caitlin asked.

"Are you guys serious?"

"I don't know, but...I care a lot about him. I just don't know..."

"...if you want to give everything up for him?" Marilyn finished.

"Exactly." She smiled weakily. "It isn't wrong for me to feel this way, is it? I mean, I love him a lot, but I still want to do this."

"Caitlin, do you want to spend the rest of your life here? You are so smart. You could do whatever you want."

"But what about Scott? How can I just leave him?"

"Trust us, Caitlin," Marilyn said, "guys come and go. This is only your first relationship. I know that you care a lot about him, but there will be others after him. An opportunity like this...I just don't think that you can give this up so easily."

"I know. I know I should do this. I just don't know how to tell him."

"We can't help you there," Lauren said.

"Just tell him. He'll understand."

"I hope so," Caitlin sighed.

*****

The day of commencement, Scott Guber left his apartment extra early to meet Steven. The day was unusually hectic. As a result, he didn't wind up seeing Caitlin until coommencement actually started.

She looked beautiful in her black graduation robes, playing her violin on stage in front of everyone. The music floated through the building, and Scott closed his eyes, remembering when he had first heard her play in her classroom. Had it really been almost a year ago? He couldn't believe how long they had been together. She was a dream come true.

Afterwards, he lost her in the crowd. He didn't see her again until he found her in the front hall. She was stood there with the rest of the teachers. Her bags were piled up in one corner, as was her violin case.

"Caitlin! What are you doing?"

She turned towards him slowly. "I'm saying goodbye."

"Goodbye? Where are you going?"

"I'm going to Julliard, Scott. I leave for the airport in a few minutes."

"Julliard?" He realized that he had forgotten that she had told him that she would only be at Winslow for a year. "But...but..."

"Goodbye Scott." She hugged him and kissed him gently. "I love you."

"But Caitlin...no...you can't leave."

"I have to go, Scott. I'll miss you."

A horn sounded. A taxi had pulled up in front of the school. Caitlin said her final goodbyes, picked up her bags, and turned around to leave.

Scott remained frozen in position. He could not believe that she was leaving. He wanted to run to her, to tell her not to go, to say that he loved her. He couldn't. All he could do was stand and watch.

She walked away and pushed the doors open.

"Wait, Caitlin!"

She turned towards him. "Goodbye Scott."

Then she once more turned around and walked away. She walked out of the school, down the steps, and into the waiting cab. Scott watched as the cab drove away. Only once she was out of sight did he at last speak.

"Goodbye, Caitlin."