Chapter 19: IX. The Deep End-1

Chapter IX – The Deep End Considering that I was part house cat, I really didn't know that much about football. Mom and I watched trashy reality shows on Monday nights instead of the games. And I never attended the games of my high school in New York. I wasn't a player or a cheerleader, and I really had no idea what I was watching, so I saw no sense in going. Football, it seemed, was a religion in Providence. All businesses closed early. Even the police station was shut down for a few hours which I wasn't even sure was legal. Every man and his dog were flocking to the stadium at Providence High School to see our team take on Newtown. By the time Shea and I got there, all the student spots were full, taken by parents and town members. We were just lucky that Shea had his senior spot reserved. People were parking nearly a half mile away. I was initially shocked by the sheer size of the crowd that was gathering in the stands. The massive stadium lights were on, and the perfectly kept ground was on show. Students, parents, and all other adults were wearing school colours of some description. I could already spy Cece and the squad down on the field, doing an incredibly choreographed routine to a song I had just heard playing on the radio. The cheerleaders were kicking and flipping and doing all sorts of contortion that I found thoroughly impressive. Cece stood out, of course. Her smile was the biggest and brightest, and she was also the most powerful tumbler. She flipped at lightning speed, causing the crowd to erupt in cheers. "Cece is so good at that," I said to Shea as we climbed the bleachers to take a spare seat. "She's a bit of a show off," murmured Shea in reply, rolling his eyes. "I keep telling her to calm down her stunts … you know, so she won't hurt herself, but she doesn't listen to me." "Ha!" I cried. "The first person not to." I grinned at him. "But she is seriously so talented. She could probably get a cheer scholarship to college if she wanted to." Shea nodded. "That's the plan," he confirmed. "Oh, yeah!" Shea cried, suddenly standing up and clapping as the football team ran out onto the field. The entire crowd followed suit, and I got up to cheer on my school, too. *** I mean, I didn't really pick up the rules, but I cheered when Shea cheered and cried out in annoyance when Shea did. Shea found it really amusing. Our school ended up winning by a field goal, as Shea called it, which meant that the party at Zoey's house was going to be even bigger than we thought. By the buzz of the people in our class, it seemed as though every junior and senior student was going, and if you were dating anyone younger than that, they were going, too. Cece claimed me after the game with a huge grin on her face. "Hey, you two!" she cried. "Don't you look good together?" Cece winked at me and I blushed. "Cece," Shea said in a scolding tone. Cece shrugged her shoulders. "Cece, I can't believe how talented you are," I remarked, changing the subject. "I wish I could dance like that." "You probably could. Never know, could be in your blood," Cece encouraged. "Natural athleticism and flexibility." "Of which I have neither," I retorted jokingly. "Keys," Cece demanded, holding out her hand. Cece had come to the game with Jamie. Shea would go to the party with Jamie and we would take Shea's truck. Shea sucked in a breath. "Now, she's a stick," he said delicately. "I swear to God, if I hear you grinding the crap out of my baby, you will be sleeping outside." Cece laughed as she snatched the keys. The plan was for Cece to come back to my house to get ready for the party. Mom might be a little more comfortable and accommodating if she saw me leaving with a girl and not Shea. Shea would meet us there. Cece grabbed my hand. "Okay, let's go back to yours and get beautiful. See you later, Shea." I only had time to wave at Shea before we disappeared into the crowd. Cece unlocked Shea's truck and opened her door. As I opened mine, she said, "So I put a bunch of dresses in the back of Shea's truck this morning. I wasn't sure what you had. Do you have a bathing suit?" Cece started the truck and it roared to life. She didn't have much trouble putting it in gear. I wondered if she grinded the gears just the annoy Shea when he was around. "A bathing suit?" We would be swimming? "Zoey has an amazing pool. We always end up swimming. Fair warning though, if you're going to puke, do it before you get in the pool. You don't want to spend your Saturday morning fishing your own vomit out of the filter. Trust me." Cece shuddered, obviously speaking from experience. Gross. I would be editing that little detail out of what would be said to my mom. I had never touched alcohol before, and I could guarantee that my mother would sniff it on me like a bloodhound if I did. "Things seem to be going pretty well between you and Shea, though, huh?" she mentioned as she drove. "I mean, he's been sleeping out the last few nights …" I looked out the window. "Things aren't like that. My mom would freak. We're taking things slow." He hadn't even asked me to be his girlfriend yet. I wondered if I'd read too many romance novels. Did guys even do that? "You are so cute, Sara," Cece murmured. "You're just right for him. He hasn't been this happy in a long time." I smiled. It was nice to have Cece's seal of approval. A short drive later, Cece pulled into my driveway, parking behind my Jeep. Cece jumped down from the driver's seat and collected her bag of things from the back seat. We walked together to my front door and I opened it with my key. Mom was sitting in the living room, a cup of coffee in hand, and a magazine on her lap, though I could tell she wasn't focussed on it. She was still upset from the day before. We had hugged it out last night, but the wounds were still raw. It was a good idea that Cece was here and not Shea. Though she was crazy beautiful, Cece looked like a normal teenager in her cheer uniform. "Hi, Mom," I said delicately. Mom looked up from her magazine. She smiled at me tentatively and her eyes flicked to Cece. "Hi, hon. Who is your friend?" "It's nice to meet you, Dr Bryant," Cece said warmly. She was such a confident person. She marched right into our living room and shook my surprised mother's hand. "I'm Cece Braverman. Sara and I have Spanish and English together." "Braverman?" Mom shook Cece's hand and recognition filled her face. "Cecelia? My, last time I saw you, you were about this big." Mom held her hands out to the size of a loaf of bread. Cece's smile disappeared from her face, and for the first time I saw sadness in her usually sunny face. "My dad was the only one who called me Cecelia," she replied quietly. "I heard about your father. I'm sorry," Mom said sincerely. "Thanks, Dr Bryant." Cece adjusted her bag. "The bathroom is at the top of the stairs if that's where you girls are going to get ready." She pointed to the stairs. Cece and I went to leave, but Mom caught me. "Just a minute, Sara," said Mom. Cece looked at me, before I nodded for her to keep going up. Mom furrowed her eyebrows. "She is Shea's younger sister," she stated. "I know," I replied. "She's my friend. She's the one I told you about on my first day of school. Cece is really nice, I promise." "Sara, that family …" she trailed off. I was taken aback. I could understand her apprehension towards Shea. But Cece? She was a girl, she was my age, and she was so sweet! What could be the issue? "What about their family?" I demanded to know.