Ch79 Something Bittersweet

“Cindy, would you mind taking this to Stevie. He hates plain water and I know he’s dying of thirst,” Jeffery said, holding out a bright blue sports drink bottle.

“Okay,” she eagerly said. She then ran down the bleacher steps and sprinted to the goal post where Stevie and his team were resting and listening to the coach at half time.

“She’s quick to please,” he said handing Wendy a box of Cracker Jacks.

She stared at the box and an unaccountably bittersweet feeling swept over her. “You didn’t have to get this for me, Jeffery.”

“Sure I did. It’s tradition. Since Stevie was this high on the U-6 team, “ he said holding his hand three feet off the floor, “We’ve shared a box while he played.”

“Perhaps it’s time for new traditions,” she replied, giving back the unopened box.

The smile of Jeffery's face collapsed and he nearly crushed the box as he steadied his emotions. “Wendy, please forgive me,” he pleaded. “I miss you so much. I miss the kids. I want things back the way they used to be.”

“Maybe that’s the problem. I don’t think that’s likely to happen,” she said, watching Cindy and Stevie exchanging a few words and smiles.

“Don’t say that. Wendy, I’ll never…”

“Stop it, Jeffery. Just stop,” she interrupted. “I’m only sitting here by you for Stevie, but I can as easily watch the rest of the game sitting elsewhere.”

“Wendy, please…”

She stood, hooked her bag over her shoulder and made ready to leave, but he stepped in her way, hands up in surrender. 

“Okay, okay! I won’t bug you anymore.  I swear. Just stay…please?” he said. “For Stevie.”

She glared at him for a second, then sighed and sat back down. She stared straight ahead and she watched Cindy turn back with a broad grin on her face. Wendy tried in vain to ignore Jeffery. She could see out of the corner of her eye that he was  rubbing his palms on his pants and figetting exactly like he used to do back in the day. It was difficult to keep from smiling, but it quickly turned to the urge to cry. 

She had been Cindy’s age when she met Jeffery, so she knew what it was like. How had it come to this?

As if mirroring her thoughts Jeffery said, “Remember being that age?”

“Vaguely,” she muttered. After a second she corrected that. “Vividly.”

Cindy showed up all rosy cheeked and sat down without saying a word. She was obviously in her own little paradise and Wendy wasn’t about to ruin it for her…not yet. Life would do that soon enough.

As the game started, Wendy’s thoughts were far from this game. They, instead, were many years before at this same field when they used to play football here. She could see it all so clearly, as if it happened only the day before.

Wendy was waving her pom-poms, shouting and jumping along with the other cheerleaders, genuinely thrilled their team had won. Her best friends, Camille and Dawn, started a Rockette’s  kick line and Wendy hurried to join them.

“Oh, give it a rest already! The game’s over. We won. Big whoop,” Karen snapped.

“You know, a grumpy cheerleader just seems wrong somehow, “ Wendy said. Her friends dissolved in giggles.

“What’s with her though? She’s bitchier than usual,” Camille said as she watched the head cheerleader gruffly stuff her pom poms into her bag and head for the football players who were listening to their coach’s end-of-the-game speech.

“She’s upset  cuz Jeff Fummel just broke up with her, but really, they only went out a couple of times. She thinks she owns him,”Dawn said shaking her head in disgust. “She’d be really ticked if she knew why he went out with her in the first place.”

“And you do?” Wendy asked curiously.

Dawn nodded with an evil smirk on her face. “The only reason he went out with her was to make someone jealous,” she said.

“How do you know?” Wendy asked.

“He tells me everything, even things I don’t want to know,” Dawn replied.

“Why?” Camille asked. She then gasped and added, “Was he trying to make you jealous?”

“Are you serious? “ Dawn said, rolling her eyes.

“He seems nice.Why don’t you go out with him?” Wendy asked.

 “He’s cute, too,” Camille added.

“He could look just like everyone of the Back Street Boys and I still would never go out with him.”

“Why not?” Camille persisted.

“He’s practically my brother. Would you go out with your brother?” Dawn said.

“But he’s not really,” Wendy said.

“He is. I’ll show you,” Dawn said and she shouted to Jeff and waved him over. 

They watched him run right past Karen, completely ignoring her.

“What’s up?” he asked just barely glancing at Dawn and Camille and staring at Wendy.

“Jeff, my friends think I should go out with you. How about it?” Dawn said.

He made a face. “Are you insane? That’s like going out with my sister!” he yelled.

Dawn smiled triumphantly. “Told you.”

“Jeff, you and Jimmy should come to my house later. A few of us are getting together, just hanging out. Wendy and Dawn will be there,” Camille eagerly said. 

 “You think Jimmy will come?”

“Uh...I think so,” Jeff said.

“Karen won’t be there in case you were wondering,” Dawn said, giving him a significant look. 

“Okay,” he said, glancing at Wendy before adding, “Maybe I’ll see you later.”

They watched him go back to his team, grabbing his sports bag and helmet and sidestepping Karen again without saying one word to her even though she tried desperately to him talk to her.

“Do you think Jimmy will come?” Camille asked anxiously, as they gathered their own bags and flung them over their shoulders.

“I’m sure they both will,” Dawn said, leading the way to the waiting school buses, but not boarding either one.

“Aren’t we getting on?”Wendy asked.

“Not yet. I’m waiting to see which one Karen goes on and then we can get on the other one. That’s where Jimmy and Jeff will be, too,” Dawn said deviously.

Camille’s eyes lit up. “Oh...good thinking. I wish I knew if he liked me,” she said wistfully.

“I don’t know about that, but Jeff will tell me. I also know who Jeff likes. Would you like to guess, Wendy?” she asked giving her a coy little smile.

“Me? Well, that’s nice and all, but I can’t do anything about it. You know my dad won’t let me date yet,” Wendy grumbled.

“You know, what daddy don’t know won’t hurt him. Just keep quiet about it. I’ll cover for you. Say you’re with me when you go out with him,” Dawn suggested.

“What makes you think he likes me?” she asked .

“Gees,” Dawn replied rolling her eyes. “ Didn’t you see his face?  What else do you want? A signed affidavit? I’ll get him to sign it at Camille’s tonight.” 

They giggled just as Karen stepped into the first bus stomping on each step unnecessarily hard and looking ready to snap someone’s head off. 

“Oh, yeah, getting on the other bus is a real good idea,”  Dawn said. She saw Jeff and Jimmy  going toward the other bus, but she shouted to them. “Jeff,  come on this bus with us. I have to ask you something.”

“Hi, Jimmy. Did Jeff tell you?” Camille said.

“Yeah, but I won’t come unless you promise to make out with me,” he said smirking.

She giggled. “Okay,” she said and she jumped on the bus ahead of him probably  to show off her cute little  butt in her cheerleader skirt.

“That was easy,” he said, but his smile quickly faded. “Do you think she was kidding?”

“No, I think she likes you,” Jeff told him as he glanced at Wendy and caught her eye. She smiled and  his heart skipped a beat. “Wish I knew if Wendy did.”

“You think Wendy likes me?” Jimmy asked in surprise.

“Not you, idiot! Me,” Jeff said gruffly.

“She always smiles at you. I think that means she likes you,” Jimmy said.

“Haven’t I told you not to think too much after so many tackles? You might hurt yourself,” Jeff said. He glanced again and saw Wendy looking too. 

She smiled again and he swiftly looked away. “She smiles at everybody though.” he said anxiously. “What do you think?”

“You just told me I shouldn’t think. Make up your mind,” Jimmy replied irritably. “Go ask if Camille likes me and I’ll go ask if Wendy likes you.”

“What, now?” Jeff asked, panicked.

“Yeah, if she was just kidding then I’m not going to her house tonight,” Jimmy said stubbornly.

“Come on, you have to come with me. I can’t go by myself,” Jeff pleaded. “And I really want to go.”

“Then go ask,” Jimmy said. He looked surreptitiously around to see if Camille was looking at him. When she smiled at him he nodded trying to look cool and casual.

Jeff slid out of his seat and jumped in next to Dawn who had the bench to herself. “Jimmy wants to know if Camille really likes him,” he whispered to her.

“Like yeah. You guys are so clueless. It’s pathetic,” Dawn said shaking her head. She turned to Camille and said. “Camille, Jimmy wants to talk to you. Go sit over there.” 

“Great, where am I supposed to sit?” Jeff said. 

She merely smiled at him and turned to Wendy. “Wendy Meadows, have you met my almost-brother Jeffery Fummel?” she said slyly.

“Not officially. Hello, Jeffery,” Wendy said brightly. He merely stared at her in a shocked silence. 

With an exasperated sigh Dawn pushed him out of her seat. “Go sit with Wendy. I want to take a nap,” she said putting her feet up on the seat and dropping her head back with her eyes closed. 

He just stood staring at Wendy.

“It’s okay. You can sit with me. Dawn gets awfully grumpy if she doesn’t get enough sleep,” Wendy said with a giggle. He sat down looking straight ahead and wiping his sweaty palms on his pant legs. He fidgeted and tugged at his jersey. Somehow it didn’t seem to fit anymore.

“Miss Meadows, did you see? Stevie scored again,” Cindy said.

“What? Oh, yes…” she said, belatedly clapping and cheering.

“You okay?” Jeffery asked.

“Yes, I just…remembered something,” Wendy said sitting back down. “Something bittersweet.”