Disclaimer: see part one

Thanks goes to:

Joy: Oh, there were a lot of emotions bubbling out of you. #snif#. I'm sorry if I made you cry… am I? #sits back to ponder this… I mean, hey, it shows that you did a good job and that you got your readers hooked once more… straightens again and concentrates back on the keyboard# Yes, I am… ah, well. I honestly don't know if I am #grins#. Anyway. Thank you for reviewing and I'm glad that you are enjoying the story that much. Go on reading now.

Leontine: Ok, Leo. I will make this short for I don't want to write an answer to each of your reviews. THANK YOU! Now go one reading and enjoy.

Parker's Pretender: He will tell her but I won't give you her direct response. You will see in the next chapter. Thank you for the review and now have fun with chapter 14.

Marie: A happy ending… maybe, maybe not. Let's see how things develop. Thank you for your review and now enjoy the new chapter.

QueenTrione: You will find out eventually… but just not now. Thanks for the review and now have fun with this chapter.

Leochick: Uh, a very critical voice at last. Hm, I can see where your problem lies… I can see what and why you feel so. The problem is just that the part of the story we are in right now, is not packed with action. I'm kind of trying to work out the feelings, the despair the characters are facing right now. Maybe I'll be able to change that again but I can't promise anything. Thank you for your review nonetheless and hope you stick to the story despite everything.

pretender fan: Some more romantic scenes??? Hey, we are far from anything like that. Jarod just said that he would disappear forever, didn't he? Anyway, thanks for reviewing and now enjoy.

Mfkngst: Glad that you like it that much. Thank you for your review and now go on reading and have fun.

Gemini006007: Thank you for the Congrats as well as for the compliments about the story. Yes, you are right. The last review was going directly against the one you sent before but I don't mind. Everyone is hoping now that I will make it all right between Jarod and Parker. We'll see. Thank you for reviewing and now read on and enjoy.

Grace: It was to be expected that you wouldn't like the way we are headed. Sorry about that but thanks for your review anyway. Now read on and enjoy.

Brandy: One more person nearly begging with me to make it work out between them. Hm, you will have to wait and see where I will point that story to. Anyway, thank you that you took the time to review even after trying to get your computer back to functioning for such a long time. I hope that you will like this new chapter as well. Go on, read and enjoy.

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The Call Part 14

Turning his back to the life he had had before

Jarod snapped the phone shut and leaned his forehead against the device in his hand.

A stray of tears was making its way down his cheek.

This had been the last conversation with Sydney. The last conversation he had held with the man he always looked up to as a father.

But there was something else. Something was bothering Jarod now.

Sydney had wanted to tell him something but he had cruelly interrupted him every time his mentor had tried. Now he regretted his action. Maybe Sydney had wanted to tell him something important.

Jarod sighed.

Well, he wouldn't know now. It had been the last call, the last chance for him to talk to Sydney.

Of course he could just open the phone again and place another call but… no. Somehow he struggled against calling again.

Something kept him from doing so. Maybe he feared that his resolve would lessen if he called Sydney again or that the Centre would think his resolve had lessened.

Jarod shook his head.

What 'they' thought wasn't important anymore.

This was all about him now. What 'he' wanted to do and what 'he' thought about something. Nothing else mattered anymore.

Somehow he still felt as if he was a spoiled brat trying to communicate his anger by just turning away and sulking.

He got up from his sitting position on the water edge.

Maybe he was a spoiled brat because of his actions. He didn't know. He had never been one before.

Jarod shook his head again.

It didn't matter anyway. There was no one judging him anymore; at least not the Centre. Not the cooperation that had destroyed his life.

He scoffed. Maybe he was a spoiled brat and maybe it was in fact time to act like a spoiled brat, to act like a spoiled brat and finally turn his back to the past and the people that had controlled his past.

Perhaps it was time to let it go.

Jarod drew a deep breath.

If it was right, then why did it hurt so much?

'It hurts so much because you don't really want to do it but decided it was the right thing to do', his consciousness whispered.

'No, it hurts so much because by cutting a remaining connections to these persons you are also cutting of the dream that Miss Parker would one day turn back towards you and you could be friends again. You are cutting off all ties to that dream and that's what hurts so much. You are standing on the ground and watching the dream drift away in the breeze of the wind', Sydney's voice murmured in his head.

Jarod nodded and looked up as if he could see the dream somewhere in the air and as if he could reach out to it and hold on to it just by seeing it.

New tears were springing to his eyes when he realized that what the Sydney in his head had said was right.

He had hoped that Parker would stop being his enemy and they could build up a new friendship and secretly he had hoped for more.

But that wouldn't happen now. Parker had made one step too much and effectively communicated her position towards him.

One step had shattered his dream and made him turn away from the pieces that lay in front of him. He didn't have the strength to put them back together.

Not this time; not anymore.

It had been one step too many.

To be continued…

I know it's short, so don't even try to make me feel guilty about that. Apart from that, feedback is always welcome!