Caleb

Chapter Ten - Homecoming

CALEB'S POV

     My hands were shaking as I drove to Ciera's house. When I got to the house, I sat in my car for at least three minutes, trying to calm my racing heart. I didn't understand what was so different about tonight. I'd gone to homecoming the year before with Lucile, but I hadn't felt like this. I went to the winter formal with guy friends, danced with a couple different girls. But tonight was different. I was nervous. I was nervous about so many things. What if the guys looked at her weird? What if her friends called me names, or convinced her that this was some 'Carrie' type movie crap? Would she leave the dance? Would she cry? Oh, God, I hope she doesn't cry.

        After I had gone through every possible scenario in my mind, I swallowed my fears and got out of the car, walking to the door. I knocked once, twice, three times.

        "Hey, Ciera, I'm sorry I'm later than I said I would- woah..." I began when she opened the door, but couldn't speak long without stuttering so I just stopped. She was a sight to be seen. Her hair was pencil straight. Yes, she'd tried straightening it before but her curls were too rebellious to be tamed. The top part of her hair was braided back into a clip, the rest of it flowing down. It sparkled under her porch light. There was barely any make-up on her face. Just soft marks of silver around her eyes, making the gold around her iris pop. Her smile was lined in soft pink, shimmering slightly.

        "You look..." I began, but once again I stopped. I couldn't continue.

        "Thank you," she said softly. She seemed so delicate that night.

        "You look... too..." she blushed slightly, though I don't know why. I was only wearing a silver dress shirt to match her dress properly, as my mother made me. Her dress was another subject. The sheer silver fabric was draped artfully over her figure, outlining every minor curve. The back was cut in slits running down her back. Her sleeves were made of light silver lace swirling down to her wrists, wrists that seemed so small I could wrap my fingers completely around them using only my pinky and thumb. But I knew better; Ciera wasn’t like the other high school girls. She actually ate.

        “Caleb… you’re staring at me,” she whispered, giggling quietly afterward. I blushed a little and apologized. She smiled sweetly, the way she always does, and awkwardly shifted from leg to leg.

        “My mother wants pictures,” she said, gently reaching out and wrapping her slender fingers around my wrist, pulling me inside her home.

        Ciera’s home had a much colder feel than I thought it would. Everywhere you looked, there was silver or black. Down the extremely vibrant white-walled hallway, I saw a black coffee table with strange legs that curled up to the top with what looked like picture frames resting on it. It was the only thing I could see in the hallway. To the left, I could see the sliver top of a kitchen counter. Everything was pristine. Ciera dragged me to the right, into the family room. There was pure white carpet with a black couch. Two shelves lined the wall in front of me. On these shelves rested two shining champagne glasses with faux rings on them. I guessed they were from her parents’ wedding. On The adjacent walls I saw two pictures. On the left wall, I saw Ciera’s picture. Most families put up school pictures, but hers was far too elegant to be a school picture. She was wearing a long black dress with fabric from the waist down breaking away from the dress like a cape and billowing behind her, as was her prestigiously curled hair. The other picture was of her younger brother, Darren. His picture was just as pristine, but I kept looking back at Ciera’s. On the wall I have yet to have described, there’s a picture of her parents from their wedding day years ago.

“It’s a bit much, isn’t it?” she asked sheepishly.  I shook my head no, but she chuckled anyway.

“Yeah, we like keeping things clean,” she smiled at me. I smiled back as her mother walked into the room.

“Oh, you are as handsome as my daughter and her friends say!” I heard from my right and I turned toward the voice, seeing and older version of Ciera walking down a staircase in high, high heels. As she clicked her way down them, I walked over to her and smiled sheepishly.

“I guess I am? I’d still like to introduce myself though. I’m Caleb.” I reached out my hand for a handshake, but she didn’t take it. Instead, she clicked over to me and hugged me tightly. I heard Ciera try to stifle a laugh as I hugged her mother back. After I awkwardly let go, her mother apologized; telling me her name was Delanie.

“I’m sorry. We’re a very hugging family.” Ciera said, a smile permanently resting on her lips. I shook my head and her mother clapped her hands together.

“Picture time!” she exclaimed, bouncing off to get the camera. I looked at Ciera with bewilderment in my eyes. She just smiled and took my wrist once again, dragging me into the hallway.

“Let her take at least three or I’ll never hear the end of it. Please,” she asked, using my shoulder to steady herself as she stood on the backs of her heels to whisper in my ear. I chuckled quietly and she continued to pull me down the hallway.

“Okay, just stand against the wall.” Her mother instructed. I stood next to Ciera and wrapped my arms around her shoulders. As I did so, I saw a blush creep its way onto her face. I wanted to let her know there was no way I could hurt her like this, but I didn’t say anything. I just smiled as her mother took the pictures.

“Okay,” she stated. “Now go! Have fun, but be safe! If you touch her the wrong way, Caleb, I’ll hurt you.”

“I believe you, Mrs. Lancaster. I promise, I won’t,” I reassured her with a smile, and took Ciera’s hand. It still fit in mine like it did three years before. I didn’t look back as I walked out, Ciera trailing behind me. I knew that if I turned around, I’d do something I wasn’t sure I was ready to do.