Carrying my shopping bag, I went down the hallway to my room where I could shower again and clean the last of the prison stink off me. Once I was done, I called Dante.
He answered with, “Yeah?”
“It’s Caleb, this is my temporary cell number. It’s prepay.”
“What’re you doing with a cell phone in juvie? Someone sneak it in to you?”
“No sneaking required. I’m out!” The shouting on the other end of the phone was so loud I held the phone away from my ear for long a moment.
“Man, I know you’re not smart enough to break out. What happened?”
“Early release because I’m reformed.”
“Reformed, my ass. Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t Cece tell me? Doesn’t Gianna know?”
“It’s a surprise. But hey, the reason I called was because I know tonight is the last night of Gianna and Cece’s ballet thing. I need to know what time.”
“Dude, just pick me up at my house in an hour, we’ll go together.”
Even better. “Alright, but you gotta get a ride home from Cece, ‘cause Gianna is probably going to want alone time with me.”
He scoffed at that. “Whatever you say, man.”
Forty-five minutes later, after eating my mom’s horrible cooking, I climbed behind the wheel of my baby. My dad had done the upkeep on it for me, oil changes and car washes, but mostly the poor girl had been sitting here neglected. I could practically hear my car purr Welcome back, old friend as I started her up.
Seeing Dante’s clothes when he ambled out to my car made me glad I wore something nice. Although, he looked like he’d bought one of the old man shirts from Gap. On the way there, Dante complained about having to suffer through the last two nights’ performances. I told him he took for granted the access he’d had to his girlfriend for the past eight months. That shut him up.
I was strangely looking forward to watching ballet.
Walking into the auditorium was a weird experience. The closest I’d been to something like this was a concert or seeing a comedian on tour. Before it even started, people were talking quietly in hushed tones and the atmosphere was subdued. I carefully placed the bouquet of roses I’d chosen for Gianna on the seat next to me.
When Dante shouted, “Hey man, over here!” everyone in our vicinity turned to stare at him. Jeez, way to keep a low profile. Turning to look in the direction he was hollering in, I saw Gage winding his way down the aisle to us.
I’d forgotten he might be here. When he took a seat next to Dante, his eyes widened comically at seeing me. He nodded in acknowledgment and reclined back into his seat. As Dante and Gage chatted, I realized they’d become good friends. It was bound to happen since Gianna and Cece were together every weekend.
When I saw Gage pull out his phone and start tapping on it, I reached over Dante and put my hand out to stop him. “Don’t text Gianna, it’s a surprise.”
He put it away with a blank look on his face. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“I think I know my girlfriend a little better than you,” I growled in annoyance.
In a disbelieving tone, he slowly said, “Okay.”
I leaned forward to look directly into his face. “Hey, I got this now. You’re not getting paid anymore.”
Dante chuckled between us. I decided to ignore Gage’s presence because I didn’t want to get pissed off right before I saw my girl. When the lights shut off and the curtain spread open, I looked toward the stage for my first glimpse of Gianna as a free man.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“The truth may hurt for a little while but a lie hurts forever.”
-Anonymous
CALEB
Cece had one of the lead roles in the ballet they were performing, The Firebird, playing the firebird herself. She danced around the stage wearing an elaborate red costume in bursts of energy fitting to her personality. Her curly black hair was up in a sparkling headpiece. I was alternately impressed and amused by the dancing onstage. The opening scene between Cece and the guy playing the prince seemed to go on forever. From the giant grin on Dante’s face during her performance, it was obvious he was proud of his girlfriend.
Gianna had played down her role in the ballet. According to the program, her role was one of thirteen princesses, but not the main princess the prince fell in love with. It still seemed an important part and she’d dyed her hair back to her natural blond color before the first night’s performance.
The princesses dancing with the prince were slightly more interesting because my girl was up there looking beautiful. To me, she was the best ballerina onstage. If she hadn’t missed so much class over the winter months I was sure she’d have been cast as the main princess.