Disclaimer: I do not own Shake It Up.
A/N: Due to the show ending, this may be my last GeCe-centered story, though I'll still be writing Rogan stories that include GeCe. I'm sorry if this one was really bad or a disappointment, I just wanted to write one last GeCe story before the show ends.
Thinking of You
"Mama, look! It's Gunther!"
From where he stood in front of a banana stand, 15-year-old Gunther Hessenheffer glanced up at the sound of someone shouting his name. His eyes landed on a familiar brown-haired woman and two young girls standing next to mountain of red apples. The smallest girl, appearing no older than nine, tugged on the woman's arm as she pointed at Gunther, grinning widely at him.
Gunther smiled. The woman was his father's childhood friend, and the two girls were her daughters, Clara and Nellie. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Larson," he greeted.
"Hello, Gunther," Mrs. Larson said kindly. "Is your grandmother feeling well today?"
"She is, thank you," he replied. Since his grandmother became ill three months ago, Gunther spent each day looking after her. It mean leaving his life back in Chicago—the city that he'd grown to love so much—and temporarily moving back to his family's native country, but it was worth it to see his grandmother's health improve.
After talking with the Larsons for ten minutes and then paying for his groceries, Gunther left the market and set off down sidewalk, pulling his hood low in order to shield his face from the chilly afternoon wind. It was early December, and the busy village streets were dusted with a thin blanket of snow. Children, all bundled up in jackets, hats, and gloves, laughed as they threw snowballs at each other, oblivious to the two young women that were gossiping nearby. A dog barked and bells jingled each time that a door to a shop was opened. When Gunther spotted steam rising from a cart of roasted chestnuts, he couldn't resist getting some to take home.
"One bag, please," he told the vendor, a friendly-looking man. Gunther handed him the money as he received a generous amount of warm nuts.
"Here you go," the man said, smiling.
Gunther opened his mouth to thank the chestnut vendor, but then something caused his breath to suddenly catch in his throat. Across the street, a girl about his age was exiting the bakery, hands laden with two bags. She wore a scarf around her neck, and a mane of coppery-red curls lay loose over her shoulders, appearing lustrous in the pale sunlight. Gunther watched as the girl marched past a clothing store before disappearing around the corner.
"Is something the matter?" the chestnut vendor asked. He sounded concerned.
Gunther swallowed and shook his head. "No, nothing," he lied. "Have a nice day."
Leaving the chestnut vendor behind, Gunther hurried down the open street, thoughts filled with the girl he'd just saw. He had never seen her previously, yet there was a single moment, a fraction of a second when he believed she was someone he knew…
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, CeCe Jones was sprawled out on the couch in her family's Chicago apartment, staring straight up at the ceiling as she listened to a Katy Perry song on her iPod. Behind the couch, the last rays of evening sunlight made its way in through the snow-frosted windows, casting a sort of orangey glow on the walls and furniture.
When the music ended, a different song began to play.
Oh oh oh oh oh ohh
Bring the fire tonight
Oh oh oh oh oh ohh
CeCe closed her eyes and let her lips curve into a small smile. A memory resurfaced in her mind as it usually did whenever she would hear this song. It was always the same memory of her, a familiar blond-haired boy, the Shake It Up, Chicago stage, and the music flowing in the background. They danced perfectly in sync, sharing smiles with each other every now and then…