Disclaimer: I own nothing involved with Sky High, except for Jamie and her attitude.
Authors's note – Sorry that this was such a long time coming, but sometimes you hate for things to end. There will be an epilogue later…a short one.
Please review and let me know what you think about this final chapter and the story as a whole. I've really enjoyed all of your comments and will miss writing for you. It's so hard to say goodbye to a story…
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Chapter 22 – Freshman Year -
Fall starts earlier in the mountains, Jamie decided. The air was already cool and crisp. Leaves were preparing for what was guaranteed to be a wonderful show. The colors promised to be gorgeous.
Jamie sat underneath one of the hundred year old Aspen trees in the center of the quad. She was receiving excellent Wi-Fi reception from her seat on the cement bench. That wasn't the only reason that she had picked this bench, though. The view of the landscape was exceptional here. Warren had pointed that out to her the previous spring when they had visited the campus. That was the real reason that she was there. Warren had picked the spot.
A breeze ruffled her hair as she glanced down at the e-mail that she was working on. Wonder if I will hear from him this time, she thought.
To: HotHead Hero. net
September
Hi There,
I hope I've got this e-mail address right. Since I never heard back from you, I wondered if Layla had written it down correctly.
It's okay, though.
Just wanted to let you know how everything was going. I've moved into my dorm, and training has started. I'm running everyday.
The air is already so crisp here. The leaves are beautiful. Wish you could see them. I sat on the bench near the commissary. The one we found last spring. Watched the leaves fall for a while.
Don't worry.
Everything's good.
Jamie
Warren had read the e-mail so many times that he had lost count. He had finally decided to print it out. It was nice to have something of Jamie's to hold in his hand.
She had taken the Scholarship at Mountain State University. Three hours north east of Maxville. He knew that the curriculum there was great, and so was the track program. Jamie should have a great chance to have her natural abilities recognized.
Warren knew that Will, Layla, and the rest of the gang were disappointed when he had left at the beginning of the summer. But he had to get out of there. Everywhere he looked, he was reminded of Jamie.
His friends still had two more years of school left, but Warren had decided that there was nothing left for him in Maxville. His mom was hardly ever at home. She had opened a home base in Asia so, it would be just as easy for her to visit him at college as it was for her to visit him in Maxville.
So, he had decided to accept the offer to attend South Western. It was three hours from Maxville, in the opposite direction from where Jamie was at MSU. Now, they were officially as far apart as they could get and still be in the same state.
There was a hero near the college that could mentor him. Jamie had pointed that out to Warren the previous fall when she had been looking for suitable Universities for him to attend.
Rush, his mentor, had even found him a small apartment and a part time job. Waiting tables again, but it would do for now.
Warren read the e-mail again. Jamie always had loved the fall.
Still September…
Jamie sat watching the students near the bell tower, and reread what she had just written to Warren.
To:Hothead Hero . net
Hi,
You would love this campus. The other students here are great. So welcoming. A totally different world than what I expected. I could just sit for hours in the quad and watch them milling around me. Wish you were here to meet some of them. I think you'd really like them.
It's a great place for running, too. More hills, though. That makes it harder. And the altitude is taking a little getting used to.
My coach wants me to branch out. Practice my sprinting. Says it doubles the potential of the team. So I'm working on fast bursts, instead of just pacing myself.
I'm really enjoying the classes, too. I know that most of them are just basic freshman requirements, but there's more of a challenge in most of them than I've had before. I love the lit. class and the European history class.
I have to read A Separate Peace for the lit. class. It's been really interesting so far. Maybe you should pick up a copy. I think you'd enjoy it.
Of course, I know you're busy with your own classes.
I hope things are going well with you.
Jamie
She hesitated for a moment before pressing send. He hadn't responded the last time she had e-mailed him. He probably wouldn't this time either. She knew she was being silly. She shouldn't expect to hear from him. I mean, that was the whole point in him leaving in the first place. They needed to stay away from each other. Jamie smiled. But she just couldn't go cold-turkey. Maybe Warren wasn't reading these emails. Maybe, this wasn't even the right address. But, she still needed to talk to him, even if it was a one-sided conversation.
Jamie glanced up to watch the two girls trying to recruit pledges for their sorority. She could just imagine Warren's reaction to their pink and purple hair. Maybe she'd include a few more lines before sending the message on. Warren would probably understand the dry humor in Jamie's description of the two girls, might even appreciate the irony of finding people with a more outrageous sense of style in college then Jamie and Warren had displayed in high school.
Warren's Journal - October
She writes every week. I don't know why, since I never answer.
But, still, I hope she doesn't stop. I look forward to coming back to my room and finding a new letter.
Sometimes, I can almost forget. It's like we're just on vacation and I could almost pick up the phone and call her. But then, I remember ….
And I know I can't.
Maybe it would be better if she did stop.
Warren laid his pen down and thought about the week ahead. Classes, a paper due in his journalism class, two tests, one in Calculus, and one in American History, work at the restaurant, and he also had to meet with his mentor twice. It was going to be a busy week.
It wouldn't be enough to keep Jamie off of his mind though. He felt foolish. He should just e-mail her and tell her to stop writing. But, then, what if she took his advice and did stop writing to him? What would he do then?
Warren read Jamie's last e-mail again.
To: Hothead Hero. net
October
The season's going well. Track season, I mean. The coach is really pushing us. Everyone is very competitive. But you know what, it really keeps me busy. Between running and classes, I don't have much free time for anything else.
Oh, guess what, I was able to sign up for an art class. Only Beginners 101, but it's fun anyway.
How are things with you? I hope you're keeping up with your journal. I always loved listening to your ideas. Actually, sometimes, I just loved listening to your voice. Keep writing, Warren. You're more than just one thing, you know. Even if it's not writing, you need to find out what the other side of you is all about.
Keep safe.
Yours,
Jamie
Warren had taken Jamie's advice. He had started writing in his journal again. A lot of good it was going to do if all it contained was his meandering thoughts about Jamie and how much he missed her. Surely there were other aspects of his life that he could write about. He thought back to his days at Sky High. No one would believe some of the things that had gone on there. It would be considered more of a work of fiction than a memoir. Might be good practice for his journalism classes though.
He picked up his pen, and thought back to his sophomore year…
To: Hot Head Hero. net
November
OH MY GOD! It is cold here! It snows constantly!! We didn't think to visit here in the winter, did we? The snow's up to my knees and we're still expected to attend classes. These people are insane!! Now would be a good time to have a friend who also doubles as a heater. The paths to class are almost impossible to navigate. Sure would be nice if someone could melt the snow as we're walking.
Jamie stood beside of the duck pond and surveyed the scenery. She walked past it every day on the way to class. She had never really taken the time to appreciate the beauty of this particular spot before. Despite the fact that she had to walk past it a least twice a day, Monday – Friday, she usually only noted the fact that this particular landmark signaled the fact that she was almost back to her dorm.
Freshmen were assigned the least desirable dorms it seemed. Jamie's dorm was at the edge of campus. Of course, even saying that it was on the edge of campus was stretching the definition a bit. You had to leave the main campus, walk through a tunnel that ran under a six lane road, walk up the hill, past the music building, and the auditorium, around the duck pond, through the football stadium parking lot, around the edge of the stadium, and then you would reach the stairs leading up the hill to her dorm…the eighty-nine steps leading up to her dorm.
So, she really didn't consider going to class to be a leisurely stroll during which she should take time to admire the scenery. Today, however, she did stop. Snow had started falling again the evening before. It had fallen heavily and steadily all night. Add that to what had fallen the previous week and there was a good eighteen inches on the ground. The branches of the fir trees drooped with the weight of the snow that was clumped on their branches. The pond had been frozen for weeks and now shimmered with the new layer of snow. Everything looked fresh and pristine.
Jamie thought back to the road trip that she and Warren had taken to the Institute of Fire at the beginning of the year. The snow fall that weekend had been memorable in more ways than one. Her thoughts quickly turned somber as she thought of how the evening had ended. Would that be one of her last memories of him?
Jamie had a sudden longing to see Warren once more in a snow storm. The flakes floating down around him, melting and evaporating before they had a chance to touch his skin, a steamy mist enveloping him. Would a snowball reach him before melting? Jamie really wished she had the opportunity to find out. She wondered what he was doing for winter break.
Warren's Journal - December
Jamie's going home for Winter Break. I thought about going, too. I'd like to see Layla, and Will. Wouldn't even mind seeing Zach, Magenta, and Ethan. But, you know, something's just aren't a good idea.
Guess I'll stay here for the holidays.
Who'll notice anyway?
To: HotHeadHero . net
Missed seeing you at Christmas. Thought you might swing back into town for a few days over the holidays.
Layla and Will said that they went up to see you on break. Said you looked good and were doing well. I'm glad to hear it.
I can understand, though. I wouldn't have gone back if it hadn't been for my brother.
I'm truly glad to be back on campus again. My new classes will be starting soon. I've signed up for another Lit. class. Different professor. We're supposed to read Dante's Inferno. Have you read it? It really sounds challenging.
How are the journalism classes coming along?
Anything pique your interest?
As Always,
Yours,
Jamie
Jamie lay on the bed watching the news, hoping as always that there would be a mention of a familiar hero, or a strange occurrence involving a gangly, glowing teenager, or plants growing uncontrollably, snaring some evil-doers in their tendrils. Anything to make her a little less homesick. She was surprised that she hadn't heard anything about a new rising hero, perhaps PHOENIX, or SUNBURST or anything other than the coach's nickname for Warren. Funny that he had chosen Hothead as part of his email address. Jamie remembered their conversation about ancient Greek and roman gods. Why hadn't she heard anything about him, yet? Even if she didn't know what name he had finally chosen, it wouldn't be hard to identify him once he made an appearance. She sighed. Time to go run.
To : HotHeadHero. Net
April
We're going to the National Finals. The meet is on the fifteenth.
Did you get a chance to read Dante's Inferno? We finished discussing it in class. But I don't really agree with some of the arguments that the Professor presented. I wanted to get your point of view on a few things. He says that Dante emphasizes the power of his narrative to give both its subjects and the author immortality. Being practically immortal yourself, do you agree that immortality in paper is essentially the same as the immortality of a god? Is the remembrance of others sufficient to qualify as immortality?
Hope things are well with you.
Everything's good here.
As Always,
Yours,
Jamie
Warren's Journal - April
It's official. Jamie's now the fastest woman in the state. At least in the 55 meter and 60 meter dash. Until the next meet, anyway.
Of course, I always knew that. No one can outrun her. No one can catch her either. But that's no surprise.
She asked me to read Dante's Inferno. Immortality…What good is it when you have no one to share it with…And no one to sacrifice yourself for…There's really no point is there. Who wants to be remembered by strangers?
I miss not being able to talk to her. Hear her voice. Tell her what I'm thinking.
But, it's good to know she's doing so well.
Jamie read the letter from her mentor again. A chance to speak before a group of students at a neighboring college. Sounded terrifying to her. Some people would say it was a great opportunity. She wished one of those people was here now. She opened her laptop.
To: HotHeadHero. Net
April
I received a letter today….
Warren's Journal - May
My mentor, Jake, otherwise known as RUSH to the rest of the civilian population, thinks that this might be a good time for me to start helping him with his patrols. It's about time. I've been in town for almost a year, and he's been making me keep my head down. I have been about to go stir crazy, keeping a low profile.
He's so conservative. I don't know how we ever got matched up.
Of course, maybe that was the point. Trying to seek some kind of balance. He says I need to go slow. Ease myself into the public eye. Don't want to incite the public with the knowledge that there's another rising fire elemental. Especially after my dad managed to alienate most of the free world with his actions.
So I'll start patrolling with him, but stay in the background. Let him handle all of the high profile rescues. I'll just be along as "support".
Kind of funny when you think about it. Me, hero support. Jamie would get a kick out of that. Say that it was a good lesson in humility, turn about is fair play or some kind of crap like that.
Fine, I can wait my turn. Be restrained. The casual observer.
Jamie grinned and picked up her laptop. Exams were over. All of her belongings were packed. Time for one last e-mail before she headed home for the summer.
To: HotHeadHero. Net
May
Saw your name in the papers today.
"Prometheus Brings Light to the World"
Good job.
See you soon.
Jamie
Warren's Journal - May
Okay, maybe I didn't do such a good job of keeping a low profile.