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( occurs during 1x15 - the power of madonna )
January 2000, Akron, Ohio
THE FIRST TIME Jesse invited her to his beginning-of-the-year talent showcase, Cienna felt like she was floating. Sure, maybe she was overreacting because she had only missed one showcase since she met Jesse, and it wasn't because she was not invited.
Jesse's uncles had been in town for last year's showcase which meant that, of course, they were the ones to accompany Sandra to watch her son. Cienna didn't ask with James, Jesse's father, wasn't the one to go with the sweet older women, since she knew how complicated and messy that could be.
She hated when her kindgergarden classmates asked her why her family portrait only had her and her mom. She hated how she had to explain that she didn't have a dad, or at least not one that she knew. And she hated the awkward silence that came after she said that. That was the part she hated the most.
That's why she didn't question Jesse's clearly strained relationship with his father. She didn't ask him about the annoyed faces he would give his son when his spoke of his singing or dancing lessons, or why he was never home. Even if she wanted nothing more than to ask him, she would be patient and let him talk about it first.
Cienna pushed those thoughts aside as soon as she walked inside the Akron Auditorium while she held onto her mom's hand. Happily for her, her mom had managed to leave early from the hospital, which meant she had been able to accompany Sandra and Cienna to see Jesse, scrubs off.
The Auditorium wasn't that big, since Akron was just a small town, but it was still nice to look at. The lobby was filled with the families that came to support their loved ones in the stage, and Cienna smiled softly and waved when she recognized one of the kids from her kindergarten class standing next to his parents.
They didn't have to wait long to hear a voice coming out of the speaker that invited everyone in the lobby to take their place in the stage room. Her mom held onto her hand tighter as Marissa and Sandra guided her towards the crowd towards their seats, that were a few rows before the front one.
Cienna was jumping in excitement. She had heard Jesse sing before, absentmindedly, while they both did their school homework, so Cienna knew that he had a really nice voice. But hearing him sing in the familiar environment of her room or his room, wasn't the same as watching him perform in that stage.
The lights in the stage flickered, signalizing the beginning of the show, and Cienna turned towards the two moms, who were looking at her with smiles in their faces. The little girl had to watch five other groups, that weren't from Jesse's school, perform on the stage and, honestly, she was starting to get slightly bored. Cienna sighed softly, resting her cheek against her fist as she waited patiently for the familiar face to show up on the stage.
