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On the first day of school Sydney knew that she had the biggest secret at Wayland High. She also knew that her boyfriend would discover her secret before the day was over. This fact woke her out of a nervous sleep at five o'clock that morning and wouldn't let her close her eyes again. Then slowly the reality of her situation began to sink in. This could be disastrous. Why have I been so stupid? Then, as always, she used love as her excuse.

I should tell him as early as I can, she thought. To pass the time until her call she showered and dressed. A skirt and blouse will be all right. The weatherman predicted ninety-five degrees and possibly higher. Everything she did took extra concentration because of her anxiety. It was only 6:15, however, when she finished preparing for school. There was nothing left to do but sit in front of her vanity, starring and wondering what would happen.

She waited nervously till seven. He would be up and ready to leave for school by that time. What do I say, she wondered while dialing the number. Just use your charm. How ironic this is. People always tell her parents. "You have a very pretty girl and so charming to be sixteen." Or she would hear someone say, "Daniel, your Sydney is growing into a fine woman - and so intelligent. You and Kathryn are lucky to have a daughter like her."

Bull, she thought as she dialed the last number. Then she almost hung up when he answered the phone. "Hello."

"Hi, what are you doing?" She knew he would be getting ready for school. What a stupid question. Tell him now and end this.

"I'm thinking about you," he said. 'This has been the best summer I've ever had. I`d like to see you tonight."

The thought of seeing him that night clouded her thoughts. Oh no, I have to tell him. Will he understand? Sure he will. She tried to convince herself that he would see her side of this ordeal. "I`d like to see you too. And I`ve had a wonderful summer too. I'm even getting better at my Spanish." She also adored his family, especially his cousin, Araceli, to whom she had grown close since the party at his uncle`s house.

"Good, let's hear something."

“Tengo mucho cariño para ti." I have much affection for you. She meant it with all her heart.

"Muy bien. Yo también tengo el mismo para ti." Very good; I also have the same for you.

"I have something I need to tell you." This would be the best time, she told herself. Oh please understand.

“First, I want you to know that I love you very much." There was a knock on her bedroom door. "Damn."

It was her father. "Sydney, you'd better get a move on if you want a ride to school this morning."

"OK, Daddy." She had buried the phone in her lap and waited for him to leave. "OK, I'm back."

"Sydney, what do you have to tell me?" There was concern in John's voice. “You sound upset about something.”

Her father spoke again from the hallway. “Sydney, are you dressed?”

"I`ll be right out.” Her dad`s footsteps moved away. “I`ll have to tell you later," she chickened out. "You'll find out." Tell him, she told herself, don't do it this way! "Tell me you love me."

"I love you very much, but Sydney..."

"I'd better go. Talk to you later. Bye" Then she hung up and sat on her bed. Her thoughts went to the week they met in the mountains north of Los Angeles. She was driving with her mother, Kathryn, and a neighbor near Wrightwood, California. The car had a flat tire, and the three women were at the trunk.

“Do you think this is the jack?” Kathryn said. The jacks for new cars were much different from those in the old days.

“I don`t know,” the neighbor replied.

“Maybe there`s a book somewhere. Look around. Sydney, go check in the glove box.”

None of the women heard or saw John approaching on foot, and he startled Sydney as she searched the glove compartment for the catalog. She let out a short scream, which alerted the other two. Before they could make their way to her, she and John were locked together by their eyes as if they`d known one another before but could not remember when. The feeling hit them like a bolt of lightening and immediately drew them together. This cannot be real, she thought, and then gave notice to the others.

“I didn`t mean to scare you. I`m sorry.” His eyes went to the other two women who were older than the vision in front of him. “If you`re having trouble, I`d be glad to help.” He was not dressed the way he did on that first day of school. He wore khaki hiking shorts and boots, a T-shirt, and a backpack loaded for a week in the mountains. He also had a three-day growth on his face.

The two older women smiled gratefully. “We`d really appreciate it.” Kathryn replied.

John smiled at her and then fixed his eyes on Sydney. He figured she was maybe 19 or so. That wouldn`t be too young for me. In an instant his eyes savored her beauty, considering her statuesque, though she was not slight like the popular models. Her auburn hair, which dropped below her shoulders, captivated him. It matched her tanned complexion and tender features. She`s beautiful.

“OK, I`ll get right on it.” He set his bow next to the car and then put his backpack close by. With each movement different muscles bulged through his T-shirt, fascinating Sydney.

To her and the others, he appeared to be 20 or around there. His boyish smile captivated all three women. They were also taken by his rugged countenance. He set his hat on the pack and went to the trunk, followed by one of the other women.

“I`m Kathryn Masterson.” She was an attractive woman who looked like an older version of the young beauty. The only difference was the more experienced appearance and a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. “This is my neighbor, Gladys, and my daughter, Sydney, over there.”

John`s eyes went directly to Sydney, and he smiled. Then he remembered his manners, turning back to Kathryn. “I`m John Garcia.” He shook her hand when she offered it, as he had learned; always wait for a female to offer her hand.

He took the jack out of the trunk and set it by the flat tire.

“We`re just up here for the day,” Kathryn said. She took it upon herself to be friendly since he was helping them. “Do you live around here?”

“I wish.” He lifted a flap in the trunk and reached for the spare tire. “I`m up here to get away from the city for a few days.” The tire was light for him to lift and again his physique was accentuated by the effort. “I`m afraid this is going to take longer than I thought.”

“What`s the matter?” Sydney asked.

“The spare is flat.”

“Now what are we going to do?” Kathryn asked.

“Well, Wrightwood is about eight miles,” John responded. “I`ll take your tire into town and have it fixed.” He didn`t mind putting his hike off for a while, especially if it involved helping Sydney. His eyes met hers, and again they both flinched from the electricity between them.

“Are you sure?” Kathryn quickly asked. “We wouldn`t want to put you out.”

“Kathryn, it`s OK.” He had already started to jack up the car. “If I don`t do it, you`d have to wait for someone else to come along. I`ve been taught better.”

“We really appreciate it. Will you allow me to pay you?”

John smiled again. You can give me your daughter; he wanted to say. “No thanks. I really don`t mind helping you.” He had the tire off in a couple minutes and then took a short rope from his pack. With it he made a handle in order to carry the tire easier. He offered them water from his canteen before he started toward the highway. “I`ll be back as soon as I can.” Then he returned for his hat. The sun was merciless in the mountains.

“You`re going to walk?” the neighbor, Gladys, asked.

“I doubt if I have to. Someone will give me a ride. You wait in the shade. The car is too hot inside.” Then he started walking away.

“Mom, can I go with him?” Sydney couldn`t resist her chance to be alone with the man who affected her like a lightening bolt.

Kathryn knew the question would come up. John seemed like a nice young man, worthy of her trust. “Sure, Sydney. Go ahead.” It was easy to see that the young man enamored her daughter.

“Are you sure that`s a good idea?” Gladys asked when the girl took off running after their benefactor.

“Sydney can handle herself.”

Just as those words came out, a brown pick-up truck stopped for them. They jumped in the back and waved as the truck headed toward town. The ride did not take long. John thanked the driver and started walking with Sydney to the closest gas station.

“People sure are nice up here,” she said.

“Most people are basically nice everywhere. It`s just that the mountains bring it out.”

“I see. Is that why you stopped to help us, or are you this nice all the time?”

They walked from under the shade of the trees and into the hot sun. He took his hat and put it on her. “I`m like this all the time.”

“That`s what I thought.”

They walked into the garage area of the gas station and gave the tire to an attendant who told them it would take ten minutes to fix. He pointed out a couple gift shops and a hamburger stand where they could wait.

John could smell the burgers on the grill. “Are you hungry?” The aroma stirred his appetite.

“Yeah, are you offering?”

“I sure am.” She followed as he had already started for the food stand. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”

John stopped in the middle of the street. There was no traffic. They looked at one another and he figured she was referring to them but wanted to be sure. “What do you mean?”

Sydney boldly grabbed his hand and continued toward the restaurant. They walked onto a wooden sidewalk and stopped near the door. “I mean you looked at me twice and I felt something I never did before. To me, these kinds of emotions were made up in books or in the movies, and I know you probably think I`m an idiot.”

“No, I felt it too.” Her eyes lured him close, and he could not resist the attraction. Their lips touched briefly. “Is this all right with you? It`s kind of sudden.”

“Do it again, and I`ll tell you if it`s all right.”

John leaned down and the kiss lasted longer. He smiled and backed away a little, uncomfortable with his own brash behavior. “Maybe we should go eat.” He held the door for her and they entered the small restaurant.

The burgers were cooked as they waited. The two women waiting at the car were not forgotten. He ordered burgers and fries for them as well. To drink, he asked for bottled water. It was a quick meal since he wanted to get the tire and head back to Sydney`s mother. There was a dearth of conversation, and she wondered if John were put off by her.

“You sure are quiet,” she started. “Is everything all right?”

“I`ve never kissed a girl in less than an hour after meeting her. I`m wondering if, well, I don`t know. Everything happened so fast; I`m kind of confused.” He looked at her and felt like a dumb jerk. I must really sound dorky right now.

Sydney was amazed at his deportment. Most guys would be all over her at this time, though she had never done anything so brazen herself. It was refreshing to hear his doubts. “How about if we slow things down?”

“That would be cool.”

He paid for the tire, and they started back toward the highway. The heat didn`t bother him much. His pace was quick, but she kept up. “Your mom should have her spare fixed as soon as possible. You must be a long way from home.”

“We live in West L.A. My mom drove our neighbor up to visit her mother. So what do you do? Are you in school?”

“I guess you could say that. I graduated from San Jose State last year. Then I played professional football with the Seattle Seahawks. That`s where I`d be right now, but I had a neck injury. I came up here to get away for a few days. In a couple weeks I`ll interview for a teaching job. That`s it in a nutshell.”

“John, how old are you?”

“Twenty-three. How about you?”

“Nineteen.” That was her first lie. “I work, but I`m thinking about going back to school. Not sure where, though.” At this time she figured they`d never see one another again.

A green ranger truck passed them in the opposite direction and then made a quick U-turn. Then the ranger inside, a seasoned mountain man, drove up to them. “Are you Sydney and John?”

“Yes,” she answered.

“I just talked to your mom. Told her I would give you a ride if I saw ya. Climb on in here, and I`ll take y`all back.”

“Thanks.” Sydney opened the door and John put the tire in the back of the truck. Then they both got inside with the ranger.

The ride back to Baden Powell took less than 15 minutes. John and Sydney thanked the ranger who then waited around, chatting with Kathryn and Gladys, until the tire was put on and the car was started.

Both young lovers were glad when the ranger left. John gathered his things, and Sydney waited till he was ready to move on. The idling car drowned out their conversation. Kathryn noticed her daughter`s preoccupation with John but was not concerned. He`s a good boy.

Sydney returned his hat and smiled. “You plan to use this for target practice?” She referred to his bow and arrows.

Initially, she was repulsed by the idea of killing an animal. There was also, however, an attractiveness in a man who could live off the land. She put a small piece of paper in his hand. “I don`t think my mother would understand if we kissed right now, but you`ll call me?”

He looked at the slip of paper and saw the number. “As soon as I get back into town.”

“Good. Then I`ll talk to you later.” She smiled again wanting to kiss him but turned on her heels and got inside the car.

At that time she thought it was probably good-bye forever. Well, it was fun. Then she hoped that he would call.