JERRICA

She knew it was possible that she'd made a mistake. As soon as she'd offered her resignation as head of Starlight Music new worries sprung up where the old ones had been. What if Kimber couldn't rise to the occasion? What if everything they had worked so hard for in the past 3 years came crumbling down around them?

But she knew that she had made the right decision. If things continued they way they were going, Starlight Music was headed toward ruin. She felt enough responsibility to the company to recognize that she was in over her head. Stepping down was the best thing she could do, for herself and her record company.

Jerrica felt relief as well. There was one less opportunity for her to make an irreparable mistake. She was moving toward the only conclusion that worked in her head. She needed to remove herself from any position which might lead to ruin around her, which included heading Starlight Music, heading the Holograms and…Rio. Rio.

As she drove slowly down the avenue her thoughts returned to the purpose of her outing. This was it. She was finally going to tell him the truth. Nothing was going to interrupt them this time. He had to know. Then she would finally be free of this terrible lie. But the thought of his reaction was enough to make her slow down, almost turn around. Be strong girl, she thought, this is never to going to end until you put a stop to it. We've come this far together, Jem, but this is where it ends. You and I are parting ways.

She approached the brick house with trepidation. The familiar VW bug was parked in the garage and she found herself reminiscing on how many times she and Rio had ridden together in that old car. They had shared their first kiss in the cab late one night while her father waited inside, worried about where she was. She had to stop herself from further remembrance as the tears began welling up in her eyes. Not now. This is not the time for tears. There will be plenty of time later. With that thought she took a deep breath, parked her car, and headed toward the house.

"Rio? Rio, are you out back" she thought she heard her voice waver. She called louder. "Rio?"

"Hey, stranger. What brings you to these parts?" She saw a head full of purple hair peek around the corner of the garage.

"Oh Rio, I'm so sorry I haven't called. Things have been so crazy lately with the group, Starlight Music, the new album, the girls….I feel like my head is spinning." she said, a little too quickly. Here it goes….

"Well, come in and sit down. Can I get you something to drink? I wonder sometimes if you're working yourself too hard. Maybe it's time for a vacation, Jerrica" The concern in Rio's voice was palpable, which made what Jerrica was about to tell him that much harder.

"Thanks, but I'm not thirsty. Rio, do have a moment? I have to tell you some…things."

"Uh oh, I don't like the sound of that. Are you dumping me?" The smile that had lit up Rio's face moments ago was gone in an instant. It's only going to get worse before it gets better, she thought.

"No! I am definitely not. But please hear me out. I have a lot to tell you, a lot of which you're not going to like, but I have to tell you all of it, just the same."

"I think I'm going to sit down" Rio said with uncertainty. He pulled a kitchen chair to him and plopped down. "Would you like to sit?"

"I am alright for now. Rio, I resigned as head of Starlight Music today."

"You WHAT? Jerrica, I know you have a huge work load, but do you think that was wise? I mean so many people depend on you…what will they do?"

"I know they do Rio. That is why I made what I felt to be the best decision for them. They rely on me to do the right thing, and stepping down was definitely it."

"I'm not following you," Rio was more uncertain than ever.

"You will. Just hear me out. Rio, listen to me. You know that I love you, right? That I would do anything I could for you?"

"Jerrica, you're being ridiculous. Of course I know that. Where are you going with this?"

"Because sometimes I've had to do, or say, things that I wish I could take back. Things I've done to protect others even though it meant hurting you. And what I'm about to tell you could be dangerous if others found out, Rio. Which is why I have to ask you that no matter what happens between us, no matter how you feel about me when this conversation is over, you have to promise me that you will never tell ANYONE what I'm about to tell you. Other people are at stake here, not just you and me. It's very important." The tears were coming back now, and though she tried to hide them, Rio noticed.

"Jerrica, you are making less and less sense. Tell me whatever it is you have to tell me. I give you my word of honor that I will never tell a living soul what you tell me, but for God's sake, TELL ME." His mind was racing with a million different scenarios. What could she have done that was so awful that she stood before him crying? He just couldn't imagine the Jerrica he knew and loved could ever do anything that bad.

She closed her eyes and uttered the phrase she had been dreading for years.
"Rio, I am Jem." Such a simple little sentence.