Ch78: Sweet Sixteen

Cindy started at the beginning. She told Wendy that when she and Steve entered school that day everyone assumed they were now going out, mostly because Steve followed her to her locker, to Spanish class, to Math class and they even had lunch together.

“We’re like…best friends now…kinda,” Cindy said, blushing slightly. “But…I don’t know why everyone thinks we’re like…you know…boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“Well, I’m sure that’s because Stevie doesn’t usually hang out with girls unless he’s romantically interested in them. That’s gotta tell you something,” Wendy replied. 

 “But you don’t like Stevie like that?”

“I…uh…I like him a little,” Cindy said, again trying for casual, but failing miserably.

Wendy hid her smile. “Well, I know he likes you,” she said.

“You really think so?”

“I know so, because I know my son. He wouldn’t have asked you to his game if he didn’t. He’s never asked another girl, if that tells you anything,” Wendy replied. 

“Wow,” Cindy whispered.

“So far you haven’t told me anything that your father shouldn’t hear, though. He’ll be happy to know you and Stevie are…”

Cindy violently shook her head. “Oh, no he won’t! He says I can’t have a boyfriend until I’m sixteen. That’s like…forever!”

Wendy couldn’t help laughing that time. “Ah, yes, it did seem like it to me when I was your age. My father told me and my sister the same thing, no boys until you’re sixteen! But I can tell you from experience, it goes by quickly and after all is said and done, I’m glad I waited. I found my first and only boyfriend shortly before my sixteenth birthday and I eventually married him.” 

She paused for a bit, trying to repress the pang of longing which thinking of Jeffery still did to her.  “Janet didn’t find her beau until now and I think Wes is wonderful for her. She and Jasmine are sixteen, you know. Jasmine was different, though. She had boyfriends starting at age twelve or something, but they never lasted and she was always miserable until she found Troy and she had just turned sixteen then, too. I think that makes sweet sixteen the magic love number.”

“Yeah, but I like Steve now,” Cindy grumbled.

Wendy sighed. “I know how you feel, Honey, really I do. I’ve been where you are. I think maybe we should just see how things go for a while. Okay? Maybe your dad will surprise you and he won’t be upset about it. Just…for now…keep it low-key so your dad doesn’t…”

“Freak?” Cindy said, looking anxious.

Wendy smiled. “We’ll keep him happily ignorant about your ...mutual admiration. For now, you and Steve just concentrate on your friendship. He’ll be okay with that, I’m sure. As a matter of fact, I had already mentioned it to your dad and he seemed okay with you and Stevie being friends and studying together so…no worries, okay?”

“You’re the best, Ms. Meadows,” Cindy gushed.

Wendy smiled and pointed to the right. “Is that the high school?”

“Yeah, but we have to go to the middle school across the street,” Cindy said.

They  got a parking space all the way to the back—nearly the only one left-- and they got out of the car. 

“Well, with any luck we’ll be the first out otherwise we'll be stuck in massive traffic,” Wendy said clicking the locks and walking past the busy concession stand toward the soccer field. 

“There he is!” Cindy shouted excitedly,  pointing to the distant goal where Steve was fancy-footing the ball with his teammates. “He is so good…maybe even better than Wes.”

“Well, Stevie certainly thinks so,” Wendy said, taking a bottle out of her pocketbook. “Why don’t go over and make sure he knows we’re here cheering for him. For some reason it’s very important for him.”

“But the coach will get mad. Wes’ coach is always yelling even when they win,” Cindy said.

“Jimmy’s not at all like that.”

“Who?”

“Stevie’s coach. Jimmy’s an old friend of mine from school. I brought Stevie his favorite sports drink. Go on and give it to him and you can wish him good luck while you’re at it. He’ll like it.” 

“Um…okay,” Cindy said and she slowly walked the length of the field, brightly colored bottle of sugar-water in hand.

“Hot damn! What’s Cindy Sebastian doing here?” Marc asked, looking over Steve’s shoulder and promptly getting clunked on the head with a stray soccer ball.

Steve spun on his heel, saw her, waved and grinned. “I asked her to come,” he said, smugly. “We’re going out.”

“No way!” Billy said. “I’ve asked her out ten times and she always told me no.”

“You ain’t got the touch,” Steve said with a cocky grin on his face.  

“How did you get her to go out with you?” Manny asked, thoroughly disgruntled.

“Charm and wit, my friends,” he said, then he turned and ran toward Cindy.

“Hi Cindy!” he said, grinning from ear to ear.

“Hi…um…your mom didn’t forget me,” she said, suddenly feeling very shy.

“Obviously,” he laughed. “She got my text.”

“Yeah, um...She sent me to give you this.”

“Thanks.” He took the bottle from her and stared.

“Um… and she told me to tell you we’ll be cheering for you,” Cindy said.

“That’s Mom’s job," he said. " Will you?”

“Cheer? Sure, if you want me to.”

He grinned. “Cool.”

“Oh, Mr. Fummel, will you be joining us today? Your fan club will love you more after we win this game, don’t you think?” the Coach  sarcastically shouted to him while his teammates laughed themselves silly.

“Oh, I got you in trouble. I’m sorry, Steve,” Cindy said backing away, but Steve grabbed her hand.

“He’s just kidding around,” Steve said and he swiftly kissed her before she saw  it coming. “For good luck. I may need another one at halftime.”

Cindy blinked stupidly at him for a second or two. “Another drink?” she breathlessly said.

He grinned and shook his head. “Not exactly.” He kissed her again and ran back to his team.

“Wow,” she muttered, her heart beating about a thousand miles an hour. “Daddy’s gonna kill me.”

Wendy, witnessing the entire exchange, giggled and turned to grab a couple of  seats on the bleachers. That’s when she saw Jeffery waving his arms at her. She sighed as she waved back, her own heart going about the same as Cindy’s. She knew there was no use avoiding him, and in truth, it wasn’t like she wanted to...not really. 

“Okay, stand strong, be cool. You can do this…I hope,” she muttered to herself.

“Hey, Wendy,” Jeffery said, taking her hand, moving over and helping her to her seat, all the while staring at her as a thirsty man would at the last bottle of water. 

“Hello, Jeffery,” she said, silently wishing he would stop looking at her like that. It made her pulse go faster than it should. “How are you?”

“Great now that you’re here,” he replied. "You look beautiful, Wendy, as always."

"Thank you," Wendy replied and silence lapsed between them.

“Who’s that girl you brought? Stevie didn’t tell me he had a girlfriend. When did that happen?”

“Apparently two minutes ago,” she retorted. “Well, not really. She’s Janet’s boyfriend’s little sister and they just kinda… you know, clicked in the past few days. Stevie’s helping her with math, is how it started, and he’s pretending not to be doing well in Spanish so she can help him.”

Jeffery laughed. “Wow. Deja vu, huh?”

“Yeah, deja vu indeed,” she said, also wishing her fluttering heart would quit it already. “Good thing we have plenty of room here. Cindy will be sitting with us.”

“Is that her name, Cindy?” he said, suddenly realizing who her father was. “She’s real cute.”

“She is and she’s sweet, too,” Wendy said, jumping up and shouting to her. “Up here, Cindy!”

“So, Janet getting a boyfriend has affected the entire family, huh?” he said in what he hoped was a neutral voice.

“What do you mean?” Wendy asked.

“Oh, you know,” Jeffery said. “Janet’s with…what’s his name…”

“Wes,” Wendy said.

“Yeah, Wes and now Stevie’s going with his little sister and the kids all went out to dinner with Donny, their dad. All in the family, it seems.”

Wendy looked at him and frowned. “Is there a problem with that? The Sebastians are all very nice, Wes especially. He’s the sweetest boy you’ll ever find. You couldn’t wish for a better boyfriend for Janet. You really ought to get to know him. Then you’d see you have nothing to worry about.”

Just then Cindy reached them, flushed and smiling. “Hello,” she said, looking at Jeffery.

“Cindy, this is my…Stevie’s dad, Jeffery. Jeffery, this little cutie is Cindy Sebastian, Wes’ sister and Stevie’s newest friend. Come sit by me, sweetie. We can cheer Stevie together.”

Jeffery watched as Wendy and Cindy chatted almost exactly as she always did with her own daughters.

Somehow, he wasn’t convinced he had nothing to worry about.