Chapter 7
“You have a date already!” Anne exclaimed. She was more excited than I was.
“It’s not a date, it’s more like a group thing,” I explained as I brushed my hair into a pony tail.
Anne was beaming. “When is he picking you up?
“He should be here any minute.”
I caught a glimpse of myself in the hallway mirror. “Do I look alright?” It was chilly so I dressed in jeans, a black turtleneck, and white jacket.
“Lovely,” she answered. Anne reached up and brushed some stray hairs from my face and looked at me with tender approval – something I wasn’t used to. Her maternal ways weren’t uncomfortable for me but they were unfamiliar. I had never known what it was like to have a mother and Anne was the only female influence I had.
Pandora announced Reece’s arrival before he had a chance to knock. I opened the door to see his sociable face already smiling. He was easy to like.
“What, no car?” I teased.
“Don’t need one in this town,” he laughed.
We bantered back and forth as we walked to school. He introduced me to a few of his friends and some of the cheerleaders. While he was helping me choose a good place to sit, he motioned to a fairly attractive but rugged looking man in the bleachers. “My dad,” he pointed out. The man looked down at me and nodded a silent greeting. “He doesn’t talk much but he’s cool,” Reece explained.
“I understand. My dad was like that too.”
Reece looked from his dad to me and motioned for me to sit down, but not before placing a blanket on the bleachers. “My dad was a Marine but he does odd jobs now.”
“Sounds like we have a few things in common,” I said. “My dad was in the Army reserves.”
“We should have a lot to talk about then,” Reece suggested. I nodded but didn’t say anything. I took in the sights around me, the colorful band to my right, the eleven cheerleaders lined up in front wearing leggings under their skirts, and the stands filled to capacity with cheering students and families. A girl to my left was sitting with her boyfriend and they passed a cup of hot cocoa back and forth. I observed them without them noticing. They had a blanket wrapped around them and they were leaned into one another. I could smell the richness of the hot cocoa as it steamed and drifted my way. I felt colder than before so I wrapped my arms around my chest in an effort to hold in the warmth, or keep the loneliness out.
Reece seemed satisfied that I was comfortable so he ran off to join the cheerleaders who were already lined up and stretching. He waved at me throughout the game and I was impressed with his outgoing persona. Why couldn’t I be like that? The way he cheered, the way he smiled, the way he lifted a girl above his head or threw her in a basket toss…And the way they all crowded around him. He was respected and admired.
It was cold by the time the game ended and everyone was in a celebratory mood. Reece jogged over to me and gave me a big hug. It felt good.
“You have a great smile,” Reece observed. “I don’t think I’ve seen you so relaxed.”
He was right. Since my dad died this was perhaps the first time I let my guard down long enough to feel genuinely happy about something. I found that when I smiled at Reece, I meant it.
There were six of us who walked to the Pizzeria and a lot of playful shenanigans took place along the way. Some of the guys were giving the girls piggy back rides but I stood by Reece. At one point he gently guided me to his right so he walked on the side of traffic. A gentleman too, I noted.
Reece tried to make sure I didn’t feel left out. We sat down in groups and I looked past everyone and gazed across the street, not seeing anything because I was thinking. I heard laughter, giggles, flirting. I felt a warm hand on my forearm. “Order what you like. It’s my treat,” Reece offered. I looked up; the waitress was waiting.
“Oh, excuse me…I’ll have the…uh…meatball sub and an iced tea.” The waitress nodded, took our menus and excused herself.
“I like a girl with an appetite!” Reece said approvingly.
I snickered and silently rebuked myself for choosing something so messy.
“You don’t have to pay. I have plenty.”
“But I want to pay,” he insisted.
I blushed. “That’s really nice of you. Thank you. Next time it will be my treat.”
Next time?
How presumptuous of me.
A sudden gust of wind blew my napkin off the table. I turned and caught it and in doing so I saw the familiar black motorcycle and its equally dark rider. His head was turned in our direction but he didn’t slow down or stop. There were two more riders with him, one in front, the other in back – each with motorcycles of their own, each veiled in black.
How could it be that I was in the company of such a nice guy and feel drawn to someone I didn’t even know? I would have to put Haven out of mind. He showed me a bit of kindness, something he probably would have done for anyone, and I was turning it into a fantasy merely because he appeared to be as aloof and distant as I was.
When I turned around to face the table I deliberately engaged Reece in conversation but I asked more questions than I answered.
Reece loved snowmobiling, his father was an avid hunter, his parents--like mine---were happy together but his mother died some time ago and his father had never remarried. I told him I didn’t remember my mother but I could understand his close relationship with his dad.
“A lot of kids are embarrassed by their parents or they pretend they are,” Reece said, his voice dripping with disapproval.
I nodded in agreement. “It’s good you’re not that way. You know just as I do that the family dynamic can change anytime.” I suddenly felt weak since the pain of my dad’s death was still too near.
I changed the subject.
“Why did you get into cheerleading?”
Reece smirked and looked down at the table. “For the girls of course!” He lifted his head to look at me and continued. “I never asked any of them out. I prefer to date outside the squad.”
I looked away and giggled nervously, and knowingly. I wasn’t the cheerleader type and here I was socializing with one.
We left the Pizzeria together and talked all the way to Anne’s house. When we were on the porch he put his hand on my back. “Would you like to go out again…I mean…just the two of us?”
I think I paused a little too long because he started to look nervous. “You did offer to treat me, remember?”
I flashed him a smile. “Of course; why don’t you call me?”
He agreed and we gave each other a friendly hug goodbye. I backed away from him when he stopped me by gently holding my arms. I felt a sudden rush of panic. He looked into my eyes and paused--as if he were considering something. A sly smile began to form and without words he jumped onto the sidewalk. He was really smiling and took a few paces backwards before turning around, skipping forward and doing a round-off back hand-spring.
“Show-off!” I teased.
He winked, waved, and ran off.
Laughing, I turned to go into the house.