Chapter 2: Welcome Home
Cecilia POV
I awoke in a small bedroom that looked like it belonged to a boy. I sat up and looked around, no one in the room. I looked down at myself and I was covered in dirt, like I have been for the past 8 years. I sighed. I heard Seth yell, "She's up, guys!" and suddenly, thumping noises could be heard coming from the stairs. 8 boys, 3 I recognized as Seth, Sam and Jake came into the room. Seth walked up to the bed. "Hey, Cecilia." he said softly and kindly. "You can call me Ceci. Everyone used to. You used to." I said to him in a whisper.
He blushed and nodded. "Ceci, these are my friends, Quil, Embry, Paul, Jared and you know Jake, Sam and Leah." The second I heard Leah's name I turned my head quickly and saw a tall, beautiful girl, smiling. "Ceci!" she yelled and ran over to my. "Lee-Lee! I haven't seen you in 8 years!" I smiled, but my mind kept going to Seth. I glanced over at him and he was staring at me lovingly, which made me happy and a little worried. It was like he was looking at the sun for the first time after being blind. I shook my head.
A woman in her mid forties walked in the room. "Everyone, go downstairs. I think Ceci might need a shower. She hasn't had one in years." I smiled at that. Seth pouted but listened to his mother. Sue walked over to me. "Hey, Ceci. Nice to have you back. See, assuming you have no clothes, I brought a closer family friend. When you're done with your shower, she's going to take you shopping." I started to protest but she cut me off. "Don't worry about the money. They're rich." Sue smiled at me and then grabbed my hand. "I'll show you the shower." she said.
She led me down the hall and into a large bathroom with a tub and a shower. She pointed out the little bottles. "Here's the conditioner and the shampoo." She then pointed to a hair brush and dryer. "Here are the brushes and dryer." She handed me a little kit. "Here are soaps and extras to use. See ya in an hour." She left the room and I smiled. I stripped out of the dirty clothing and I saw a clean yellow t-shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes on the towel bar in my size. I smiled and got in the shower. I completely drenched my hair and body and then squeezed out a lot of shampoo into my hand.
I scrubbed from my roots to the tips of my hair, which went down past my waist. I rinsed it all out and the shower and my hair smelt like coconut crème. I used the same scented conditioner. I let it stay in my hair. I took out a small sponge and put the soap on it. I scrubbed head-to-toe and rinsed. I had to shave under my arms and my legs, because I've never done it before and I saw girls with shaved legs. I managed not to cut myself. I rinsed out my hair and my waves were very soft. I turned off the water and dried myself.
I got out of the shower and wrapped the towel around me. I grabbed the hairbrush and ran it through my dark brown waves. I smiled when I finished brushing the almost 4 feet of my hair. I grabbed a ponytail holder and put my hair up in a tight bun. I needed a haircut. I threw on the yellow shirt, jeans and shoes and left the bathroom. I threw my old, ripped clothing in the garbage.
I walked down the stairwell and blushed when I saw everyone staring at me with smiled on their faces. My light skin showed which it couldn't while it was covered in dirt and my hair now revealed its color. Seth got up and walked over to me, grabbing one of my hands. "Come on! You've go to meet Alice." I smiled as we walked outside.