One Boy's Journey Chapter 15

Written by Brianna Demonet

We walked into school. We grabbed our schedule and homeroom assignments. All three of us had the same homeroom; thank goodness, I thought to myself. I was hoping the teacher wouldn't introduce me to the class, but I wasn't that lucky.

Everyone we have a new student this year. Everyone, please welcome Rianna Stevens.

Rianna, please step forward and tell us a little about yourself.

Oh, gawd, I thought to myself! Well, I better get it over with.

I walked to the front of the class and scanned the room, looking for familiar faces. Lexi and Emma were the only ones I knew.

Hello everyone, I am Rianna Stevens; I recently moved here from Ohio at the beginning of the summer. I love your school and am hoping to have a great year and meet everyone, thank you.

I sat in between Emma and Lexi.

We hope you will enjoy school here too said the teacher. The teacher talked about school rule changes with attendance policy, behavior policy, and uniform policies. I noticed several girls, eyeing me up and down. Many of the boys just gawked at me like a puppy looking for a treat.

My first thought was did I ever behave this way? I don't think I did, but I was so closed off as a wimpy boy I don't remember. I had either Emma or Lexi in most of my classes. Kelly was in my Chemistry class; she and I were the only cheerleaders in the class, so we became lab partners.

Lexi and Emma had a Spanish class with a different teacher. When I walked into Spanish 2 as it was called, I saw Anita. She stood up and waved me over. So we sat together.

How is your Spanish she asked me in Spanish? I replied in Spanish. Nice accent she said in Spanish. Gracias I said smiling. Anita said she took it for an easy A. I said me too. We smiled.

The gym class was my last class of the day. A bunch of cheerleaders were in this class. Cheryl was there too. Our gym teacher was Coach Hill. Four girls didn't make the Cheer squad.

How many of you girls plan on trying out for basketball and hockey cheerleading? All but 3 of us raised our hands. Coach Hill asked each of the three of us why we weren't staying.

One girl had a job working for her parents. Another was taking advanced Chemistry in the next semester. When Coach Hill asked me I was honest. I said I wanted to try out for the swim team and I had dance recitals coming up.

Fair enough ladies! Coach Hill said.

Ladies, we can do the regular class if you wish, or we can work on cheering routines all semester if you wish. All those in favor of cheer raise your hands. It's unanimous. Cheer it is. Keep in mind you will still have to try out like every girl, not on the team. Understand?

Yes Ma'am! Very well let's begin.

Cheryl stood next to me. Number 1 we went through it slowly at first. I saw Cheryl having a bit of trouble. Use the balls of your feet and let your toes help. Don't use your toes primarily. Back straight. Cheryl slowly got in the rhythm of things. We stopped after about 15 minutes.

Rianna,

Yes, Coach? Take these girls, she called their names and asked me to work with them.

I took Cheryl and the two others and we started practicing together. I worked with them. I used my dance fundamentals and taught them the basics of balance and movement.

Cheryl was impressed. You really are a ballerina.

I love ballet, and since Shelly took me under her wing, I have learned a lot more. Shelly is the real dancer, her grace is unmatched.

Okay, girls line up. Let's try it again. When ran through number 1 the rest of class. By the end of class, they had it almost down. Coach Hill walked over to us.

Looking much better ladies. Keep it up. Come on, girls, time to stretch out. One girl said we already stretched. Yes, and if we don't stretch at the end, you'll feel it big time tomorrow. I said.

Let's stretch out girls, said Cheryl. When they saw my stretching routine they were in shock. You really are flexible.

In two weeks you will be too. Trust me. I want to see you all make the next squad. I said.

The girls put serious effort into their stretching.

After I finished my shower, I started dressing. Cheryl came over to me.

Ree?

Yes? I responded.

Thanks.

For what?

Showing me the respect I should have shown you. You could have made me out to be a fool.

According to my friends, you never said a bad word about me or my friends.

Truth be told. I could understand your anger, Cheryl. But it also means you care, I said.

Ohh! I love your belly button piercings.

Thank you.

Who does your hair?

Lexi and her mom. Really Lexi does hair?

Yes, and she's good at it too. Her mom owns a salon.

Which one?

She owns Extreme Salon and Spa.

Really, I have never been there; I heard good things. They do almost everything there. Lexi's mom did our belly button piercings.

Our?

Yes, Lexi, Emma, and I all have the same. Ears, nose, and naval.

That's so cool, said Cheryl. I doubt my parents would let me do mine.

My Aunt signed a permission paper for me to get it.

Where's your mom? In Ohio, for now, she'll be moving out here shortly.

Do you have a father?

Not since he disappeared when I was 3.

Why move out here?

It's not a big town, and my Mom, Aunt Vanessa, and Aunt Cathy wanted me to have more opportunities.

Thinking to myself (all of it is true, leaving out the juiciest details).

See you tomorrow?

Until tomorrow Cheryl, I smiled at her.

I found out later that Emma, Lexi, Kelly, and Anita had a gym in the other gym at the same time. They were doing just regular gym class.

Taylor dropped me off and I changed for Karate class. I didn't see John all day. I wasn't ignoring him we just never ran into each other. Even at lunch I never saw him. Juniors and seniors ate on the other side. I figured it was just as well. I was super busy getting into the rhythm of things.

Martina took me to Karate on her way home. It was good just catching up with Martina. I haven't hardly talked to her at all in the last week. She was happy to catch up. We spoke Spanish the whole time. I told her about Anita in Spanish class and Cheryl's turnaround attitude.

She was happy to hear it. She said just be careful. I told her I would. I told her about John and our date. She thought he sounded like a nice boy. I told her he was the perfect gentleman. Martina dropped me off early, I kissed her cheek and thanked her.

I walked in about 30 minutes early. Mr Park was there with Mrs Park. It was unusual to see Mr. Park in my evening classes. Usually, he's running the restaurant at night. I smiled and waved at them. They waved to me to come into the office. I was hoping I didn't do something wrong. I bowed and addressed them like I was in class.

Ree we would like a word with you. Mr Park said.

How may I help? I asked.

We wanted to know how things went yesterday.

Very well, John is the perfect gentleman.

Really? said Mr. Park.

Yes sir!

He opened the doors for me and paid for our coffees. He took me around the mall showing me different local shops. He offered his arm to me. He never left me alone.

What did you two talk about?

School mostly. He told me he plays tailback and punt returns. I told him about the girls nominating me and my friends as co-captains for the cheerleading.

We talked about our classes and a little about goals after high school.

You know our son has a bright future ahead of him.

Yes, sir, I do. I like to think I do as well.

What are your plans Rianna, asked Mr Park.

It was getting a bit uncomfortable now. I was being interrogated like a father does to the boyfriend of his daughter.

I plan to go to College and Law school. I want to be a lawyer like my Aunt Cathy.

That's a lofty goal. Said Mr. Park.

I'm up for it, I said. I've always had good grades.

I'm sure you understand my concern here. We like you, Rianna, but we don't want any distractions that can derail his future.

I understand sir.

I don't want to derail mine either.

Excellent so we agree!

No offense sir, agreeing to what exactly?

To not do anything to jeopardize his future or yours.

No, sir, never!

Sir, may I say something?

Please, Rianna, speak freely.

Sir, I say this with great respect. My Aunt Cathy is half Italian and half Korean. Her mother is a full-blooded Korean. I love them like crazy.

I am hoping to take Korean next year at UNLV while in high school. I would love to ask if it isn't too much trouble to start practicing Korean with you and your family when the opportunity presents itself.

You are a bit young for him.

Yes, sir, I won't be 14 until November.

How are you a sophomore, then?

I skipped a grade in elementary and junior high school. My grades never dropped.

Sir like your son, I am very busy too. Karate two nights a week cheerleading, and ballet and gymnastics. I have no intention of doing anything that would ruin my or John's chances of going to a top college.

Thank you, Rianna. When you're ready, we will teach you more than our language; we will teach you our culture.

On one condition sir?

Which is?

I have an occasional cup of Korean coffee!

Deal! He said.

When did you have Korean coffee?

Aunt Cathy's Mom, May makes it. Along with a very tasty bulgogi. Her Kimchi is great too.

I see you do know a little already.

Just a little, sir. Cathy and May bought Aunt V and Korean dinner dresses. Everything I have seen so far has been terrific. You have a beautiful culture, sir.

I bowed again in respect.

You better warm up. Rianna's class is starting soon.

Yes sir.

Mrs Park ran the class. I never saw John. I was kinda sad but I figured he was at football practice.

Aunt V and I headed home. I warmed up the chicken fajitas that Martina made for us. I called my mom. We haven't spoken in a week and I wanted to catch up before all the real work kicks in.

Hi honey how was your date? Mom asked

Do you mean day?

No, Ree, how was your date? Was he polite?

Yes, Mom, he was the perfect gentleman.

V tells me he's 16 and has a car.

Yes, Mom, he does.

He is a junior and plays Varsity football.

He's our starting tailback.

Is he cute?

Yes, Mom, he's very handsome.

What did you two do together?

We had coffee and wandered around the mall. He bought me some earrings.

Jewelry already?

It's not like that, Mom!

They were some cheap hoops from a kiosk in the middle of the mall.

What did you talk about?

School, our different activities.

How are things at home? Still busy? I asked to try to change the subject.

We are putting a new roof on the trailer next month before winter. The floor in the salon goes in this weekend.

We?

Yes, we, Dan and I, are getting pretty serious, honey.

Are you happy, Mom? I don't want you to think you need a man to protect me.

No, sweetheart, I don't think that. Dan makes me very happy.

Any word on the lawsuit?

Cathy has been meditating with the school and insurance company for a couple of weeks. Relax, everything in time, sweetheart.

How was your first day of school?

So far so good. I have either my friends or at least one cheerleader like myself in every class. Tomorrow will be the first day we have a game on Friday night this week.

Have Aunt V record it. I want to see my daughter in action.

We will, Mom.

Do you still plan on coming for Christmas?

I already bought us the plane tickets. We'll be there the night before your recital. I bought a new dress just for the occasion.

Mom you rarely wear dresses.

Well, I am wearing one that night. I figured it's only fair. I hear you are wearing lots of different outfits. I can't wait to see some of them.

I miss you, Mommy.

I miss you too sweetheart.

We'll talk soon.

Bye, Mom. I love you.

I love you too Ree Ree.

I got my uniform ready and did my routines. 9:30 pm and I was out. Tuesday was a long day for me classes were fairly easy. Gym or cheer class, as we called it, got bigger. Lexi, Emma, Kelly, and Anita were transferred in, as were two other girls who wanted to join the squad.

When I got to dance class I was a bit drained. Shelly saw it,

I know how you feel. We concentrated on my pirouettes and the combinations. We did them in the order of the routines.

Wednesday and Thursday were pretty much the same. I only saw John twice during the week. It was in the cafeteria and we only smiled at each other.

On Friday, we all wore our cheer uniforms to school. We got a lot of attention from the boys today. I wore my white and light blue running shoes. My squad opened the pep rally. I was nervous with over 2000 students packed in the main gym. We did our dance routine to Rhianna's "Only Girl"!

Once we ran into the gym, hooting and cheering and formed up, I forgot the crowd. When the music started, our training kicked in, and we started dancing. I was smiling the whole time.

When we finished and posed, the gym exploded in cheers and applause. Our routine was flawless! We were jumping up and down cheering into the crowd. It was electric!

The Varsity squad was next and did their routine which was as good or better than ours. They did theirs to Brittany Spears "Hit me one more time".

The football coach came out and talked up the team. They introduced the Team captains and the key starters. John Park was the first to be introduced. A junior this year and our starting tailback and punt returns man! Let's hear it for John Park.

I screamed louder than anyone! John!!!!! He saw me through the crowd. I was smiling with pride. He smiled while looking directly at me. When he looked at me like that I felt very warm inside.

Lexi said Taylor was taking the three of us for a quick coffee and light snack. Emma and I followed Lexi we loaded up and headed to Starbucks. I got a Venti frozen Mocha with an extra shot of espresso. Lexi and Emma saw it and said caffeine much?

I looked at them and said we have a game in less than two hours and the game is almost two hours. I want to be pepped up.

She makes a good point, girls, said Taylor, smiling at me.

Thanks, Taylor, I said.

Lexi ordered a Venti frozen caramel macchiato with extra espresso, Please.

Make that two said, Emma.

We ate biscotti and drank our coffee. We made our way back to school, and the coach gathered us for a meeting and to warm up. We opened up with our dance routine. Aunt V, Linda, and Taylor are sitting halfway up on the 50-yard line.

We ran out in a screaming cheerleading style. We formed up and waited for the music to start. Once the music started we started our routine. We moved as one. The crowd loved it. We ran off the field and the football teams were introduced.

We cheered our hearts out. It was more fun than I ever imagined. We were all glowing. Our team won 31 to 10. The home crowd was so loud the other team couldn't hear their calls on the line.

We went to the locker room to clean up after the game. Lexi slipped into the coach's locker room early and showered quickly. She was changing when we got in the locker room.

Emma and I noticed but we knew why. We changed into skinny jeans and boots with tight-knit sweaters. The days are warm but it was starting to cool off later at night.

We went back out and met our parents in the bleachers. We stayed for the first half of the varsity game. We said we wanted to watch the cheerleaders.

I wanted to watch John play. John made 3 great plays before halftime. He caught a pass on 3rd down and 15 yards. He ran for over thirty yards before being bumped out of bounds.

His next great play was a 55-yard punt return for a Touchdown. His last play was a 40-yard rush that set up our team for a field goal just before halftime.

We were up 17-0 at halftime. It was late and I was exhausted. I saw him and said Hi and asked him to call me tomorrow. He smiled and said he would.

I saw the Park family in stands and waved, they waved back. The three of us were tired, and our parents could see it. It was almost 10 o'clock and we have all been up since 5 am. Cheering in the gym, a pep rally and a game in one day drained us all. We all went our separate ways home.

You girls looked great out there tonight said Aunt V.

Thank you was all I said.

Ree, are you alright?

Just exhausted, Aunt V. Thanks for letting me watch John play.

I thought you wanted to see the varsity squad. Yes, I did. But I wanted to see John play.

I kinda thought so. He's really good. Aunt V said

He sure is, I said smiling.

You like him, don't you, Ree?

Yes, I do; what's not to like? He's cute, polite, smart, and very disciplined. Did you see how he runs through those blockers?

No fear, he jukes side to side so fast they don't have a prayer to stop him.

You know football?

A little I played in junior high school. I wasn't very good but I know the game.

We got home; I ran upstairs, jotted down some notes in my therapy notebook, and got ready for bed. I had therapy in the morning and gymnastics all day.

I had some homework, but it wasn't much as I did most of it this summer, so I just did some reading. It was after 2:30 pm when John called on Saturday.

He asked me to dinner. I asked Aunt V. She said it was fine to be home by 11 pm.