Forced Friendship
From Welcome to Keystone Novel 11: Pressure: Chapter 7, Scene 1
About three hours after he had enjoyed afternoon recess with his school friends, Gerard found himself trapped in the tan leather passenger seat of his mother’s orange Porsche convertible, which was now carrying him up Water Road, the steep mountain road that led into the residential streets of Keystone’s elite Water Brook housing development.
“Now remember what we talked about at breakfast this morning, Gerard,” ordered Sapphire as the lukewarm air of the cloudy mid-winter California day blew through the open top of her car and gently ruffled her loose hair. “Just like your Aunt Cahuenga, you’re getting a chance to spend time in a new place and remake yourself. And I want you to take full advantage of that opportunity.”
As his mother brought the car to a halt at the stop sign at the top of Water Road and then quickly looked both ways to ensure that she was clear to make a left turn, Gerard, who had been miserably staring out at the stone gray mountain peaks that were passing by on his side of the car, finally turned to look at her. “I already told you that I’d give CeeCee a chance, Mom,” he reminded her.
Sapphire curtly nodded. “Good,” she said as she pulled out onto River Avenue and began to drive straight toward Spring Street, which was the cul-de-sac where the Kimball mansion was located. “Because I think that once you do, you’re going to find that she’s much better suited to be your friend than all of the other people who you’ve been associating with this year.”
I really don’t think so, thought Gerard as he turned and went back to staring out at the passing scenery as the car roared down the road. Because to be friends with someone, you have to like them. And so far, CeeCee really doesn’t sound like someone I’m going to like very much.
As Gerard let out a soft sad sigh, Sapphire, who had reached Spring Street by that point, turned her car into the circular driveway of the mansion that lined the right side of the street and then pulled up directly underneath the porte-cochere that extended from the entrance of the enormous house. “All right,” she said as she put the car in park and cut the engine, immediately silencing Wellmess’s “Hurricane”, which had been playing from the radio. “Here we are. So let’s head inside so you can meet CeeCee.”
As his mother pulled her keys from the ignition, unbuckled her seatbelt, and then turned and opened her door, Gerard sighed again. But, knowing that it would do no good to protest or disobey her, he reluctantly slipped off his seatbelt, turned, and opened his own door anyway.
“Hurry up, Gerard,” urged Sapphire, who had by that time finished climbing out of the car, grabbing her brown leather purse, and slamming her door shut, as she rounded the front of the vehicle, came to a stop at the passenger side, and crossed her arms over her blouse. “I told Mrs. Kimball that you’d be here at three-thirty sharp to play with CeeCee, and I don’t want you to make the wrong impression by being late.”
As his mother began to impatiently tap one of her boots against the driveway, Gerard, who had been pulling his backpack onto his shoulders, looked down at the pavement and rolled his eyes. “Like CeeCee really cares if I’m late,” he muttered.
“What was that?” Sapphire sharply asked.
His cheeks flashing bright red as he realized that his mother had somewhat heard his remark, Gerard quickly shook his head. “Um,” he said as he looked up at her. “Nothing. I’m ready to go meet CeeCee now.”
Deciding that it wasn’t worth it to argue any further when they were already under time constraints, Sapphire just nodded. “Good,” she said as Gerard finally hopped out of the car and slammed his door shut. “Let’s go then.”
Turning on her heel, Sapphire hitched her purse higher onto her shoulder and began to march up the stairs that led to the ornate double front doors of the Kimball mansion with Gerard reluctantly following. Upon reaching the top of the staircase, she rang the doorbell, stood back, and reached up to straighten her thick gold choker necklace, which matched her gold hoop earrings.
Just as Gerard finished painfully staggering to the top of the stairs himself, one of the front doors swung open, and a woman with shoulder-length wavy dark blond hair and gray eyes stood there with a small smile on her face.
“Good afternoon, Sapphire,” said the woman.
Sapphire, who was now standing with her arms crossed again, gave her an acknowledging nod. “Hello, Diane,” she said. “I’ve brought Gerard over for that play date with CeeCee.”
“Yes, I see that,” observed Diane as her eyes drifted over to Gerard who was now awkwardly standing beside his mother. “So why don’t the two of you come in and wait in the foyer while I get CeeCee.”
As Diane stepped aside and pulled the door open a little bit more, Sapphire nodded. “All right,” she agreed as she and Gerard stepped up into the house. “That sounds fine.”
“Perfect,” said Diane as she shut the door. “I’ll be right back then.” Turning toward the back of the house, she called, “CeeCee! CeeCee, where are you?”
As CeeCee’s mother began to wander off toward where she thought her daughter might be, Sapphire turned to Gerard who was now shrugging out of his backpack straps. “Now remember,” she said in a low voice, “CeeCee is the type of friend you should have. So whatever she wants to do this afternoon, I want you to go along with it, all right?”
As his mother fixed him with a serious expression, Gerard, who had just finished depositing his bag on the floor beside the mansion entrance, looked up at her with an uncertain expression on his face. “But…” he began to protest.
But before Gerard could get past the first word of his objection, Diane came back out into the foyer with a ten-year-old girl who had gray eyes and long dark blond waves that spilled over the shoulders of the ribbed light pink long-sleeve sweater dress, which had silver sparkles sprinkled across it, that she was wearing with white tights and a pair of light pink Mary Janes.
“Who’s he?” demanded the girl as she stopped a few feet from Gerard, clasped her hands behind her back, and began to disdainfully eye him.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Diane, who had stopped a few feet behind her daughter, patiently replied, “This is Gerard, CeeCee. The new friend who I said was coming over to play with you this afternoon. And, Gerard, this is CeeCee.”
“Say hello,” urged Sapphire as she placed a hand on Gerard’s back and gave him a light shove toward CeeCee.
Gulping, Gerard stumbled forward a couple of steps. “Um, hi,” he nervously said as he came to a stop in front of the girl.
As the two children continued to stand uncomfortably staring at each other, Diane cleared her throat. “Um, CeeCee,” she said. “Don’t you want to take Gerard to your playroom? You know, so that you can practice your ballroom dancing with him like you planned.”
At the mention of dancing, Gerard’s eyes widened in fear. “B-ballroom dancing?” he stammered.
Sapphire nodded. “Yes, Gerard,” she said. “It’s a skill that everyone in our class should know. So have fun. I’ll be back to get you in a few hours.”
As his mother turned and started heading for the front doors, a completely anguished expression washed over Gerard’s face. This is about to be the worst afternoon of my life! he thought as CeeCee grabbed onto his arm and began to drag him off to her playroom. I just know it! But if I want to make Mom happy, then I guess there’s nothing I can do except get through it.
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