Getting Rene’s Groove back, oh and her head, too!
By Yvette Pompa

“No Rene you have to tell them from the beginning,” Lauren said as she propped both feet up against the concrete pillar, threw her head back and closed her eyes as the full moon gave light to a rather dim front porch. “Look. We totally sacrificed our night out after winning the game and stuff. What gives?”

“Yeah. I’m not going to sit here, and not not get the scoop,” Rhonda said. “I’m totally committed on this porch, so spit it out!”

It was a typical gathering on the porch; Molly, Rhonda, Lauren and Rene all hanging out on Rene’s front porch where discussions are sacred and feelings always protected. The only difference was that tonight everybody was supposed to meet at the coach’s house for a victory party. Instead, the girls all came back to Rene’s house to comfort her from a major drama set back.

“I suppose, but you guys have to promise me that the word is not going to get out that I totally lost it because of tonight’s drama.”

“But you did lose it,” Lauren said with charm.

“Oh, that is so cold!” Rene said and gave each girl a very serious look and then held up her hand, palm out as if a silent pact was in order.

Two police cars suddenly zoomed by on the nearby busy highway. Following right after were two fire trucks – the beginning of a typical evening on Burwood Avenue. Lauren, Molly, and Rhonda all held out one hand to reassure Rene of their vow of silence.

“Okay, so what happened tonight?” Rhonda asked with curiosity. “One minute we’re all cheering, and then the game is over, Rene’s on her cell phone with her mom in tears and boom! Here we are on the porch instead of hanging out with everybody celebrating our win. Not that I’d rather be out – it’d be cool and stuff, but I’m totally here for you. So will you tell me WHAT IS GOING ON?”

“Rene, Shelby is on the phone,” Rene’s mom shouted from inside. Rene rolled her eyes.

“It’s my cousin. I really have to talk to her…”

“No! You’re not going anywhere until you tell us what happened with you on that bus on the way to the game!” Molly shouted. “Rhonda and I deserve to know! Besides, I am so out of the loop not being there tonight.”

“Oh yeah, and Lynette was totally cool about your aunt’s wedding stuff and all,” Lauren said.

“I so don’t want to do this,” Rene shouted. Rene was not like most girls. She was not a leader, nor a follower. She understood her place as far as the high school social ladder, she just had not yet considered herself qualified in the boy/girl love thing. It was her first true love and it ended so unexpectedly. Tonight’s event demanded guidance from her friends and she knew it. The idea of reliving it again on the same evening was not exactly what she wanted, but it was what she had to do in order to get help from her friends.

“Rene in order for all of us to help we need to hear it from you. We’re here,” Molly said with sincerity.
Rene slipped off her sneakers, pulled in her legs and folded her arms around them. She knew it was safe to discuss it. She was after all on the porch with her three favorite people.

The porch had become sacred ground for the girls. It had become the therapeutic venue for all of their emotional crap that each girl deals with on a daily basis.

“Crap!” Lauren said. “I left my megaphone on the bus.”

“Again?” shouted Rhonda. “What is with you and always forgetting that thing?”

“Hello!” It’s not as if I do it on purpose. Besides, we had an emergency here. Let’s see, A, forget our friend here while she boo-hoo’s her eyes out and more than likely flips out and then becomes a huge mental case, or B, I’ll just take my time, grab my stuff and oops. My friend is freaking out, but I’m too busy getting my megaphone. Hmmm, which one do I…”

“Drama queen. I get it!” Rhonda shouted. “I’m so not in the mood for your mini-series right now. I’ll flip to that station later. NOT!”

Rene, Lauren, and Molly are Varsity cheerleaders. Fortunately for them, they’ve not bought in to the misunderstood rah-rah crap. They are also very active participants in field hockey and track and field. Rhonda, is not a cheerleader. She’s a flag twirler and head of the school paper – the girls are all smart, busy and are very secure in regards to not wanting to be one of the popular people. Each girl moves forward with a positive spin – most of the time that is.

“OK. I hear you. Give me a minute.” Rene took in a deep breath. Her thoughts shifted to her seat on the bus on the way to the stadium.

“I’m waiting!” Rhonda said. “I hope I’m still fifteen by the time this story is finished, Rene.”

Molly turned to Rhonda. “That is so not necessary.”

“Look. Humor is needed in every dramatic moment. It’s storytelling at its finest.”

“What, now you think you’re a writer on Law and Order,” Molly said. “You are so not.”

“OK. Enough of that!” Rene said. “But after this, I want to put it all behind me. It’s totally his loss. I’m done with the boy thing. I’ve got two term papers due in one week and my last English Honors test was only an 96.”

“You go, girl!” Rhonda shouted. “Brains first, then the groove. Wise decision.”

Rene fluffed out the badly torn cushion on her chair and then propped her legs on the small plastic table and exhaled. “We got on the bus like any other time and…”
__________________________________________________________________________________________
The school bus was already crowded as Lauren and Rene walked slowly with their backpacks and megaphones in hand. It took every ounce of energy Rene had just to get to the door never mind the fact that she also had to prepare or fake a mouthful of school spirit in front of the whole school tonight.

“Oh come on, Rene! We need to get to a seat – today! Rhonda and her flag girls are already there,” Lauren said to her dearest friend. “Lots to do, girly girl.”

Rene was not like most girls. She had her own thing going with her three friends in regards to just hanging out and not leaning towards the ups and downs of the heavy emotions in high school. She also did a good job at being a decent person and not falling prey to the crap shoot of drugs and alcohol. Oh, she also happens to be one voracious reader. It was the break up of her first true love that has totally knocked her out of the solar system. Her love planet – was in the process of full-blown annihilation.

“Oh, that’s it. And let’s see, how again, can your rushing me rather rudely continue to make me feel ANY BETTER?” Rene shouted at her friend as she finally found an empty seat. “I so don’t want to be here.”

“Look. I agree. You feel like crap. And you should. The break up was totally out of control and shouldn’t have happened. We need to rethink all of this and get you back in shape,” Lauren said with sincerity.

“The thing is, I have no desire to get out there in front of all those people and cheer at tonight’s game. All I want to do is cry and listened to Joss Stone.”

“Boo hooing your eyes out is not what you need. Maybe tomorrow we’ll rent City of Angeles. That movie totally gets it. I mean, Nick Cage is so in love with Meg Ryan that he’s willing to give up his perfect “angel” life just to be with her -- his true love.”

“Reality! I’m not in the mood to watch some flick,” Rene said.

“Fine, but Joss Stone is not going to fix things either,” Lauren said.

“Yeah, well either is watching Meg Ryan die in front of her soul mate rather tragically, I might add.” Rene knew that Lauren was right, but she was still feeling like crap. She stood up and shaded her eyes from the bright sun. “Fine! I’ll go, but you better be there in the event that I have a nervous breakdown.”

“Knock it off! No boy is worth that! Besides, I was able to get a straight jacket not only in your size, but it’s
such a great blue.”

“Hah hah,” Rene said.

“Besides, how can I look great and cheer great at the same time I’m supposed to keep you from having a breakdown? Not possible even for me.” Lauren said as she picked up her megaphone.
Rene grinned with exhaustion.

The girls headed to the bus out in the school parking lot. Ahead was Lynette, the head cheerleader.

“Oh God. I’m sure she’ll have something to say,” Rene said as they neared the bus.

“Hi guys,” Lynette said. “Rene, he’s so not worth it. It’s his loss.”

Rene turned to Lauren and shrugged. “Thanks, Lynette.”

Lauren nudged Rene and climbed into the bus. The bus was already crowded, so they headed to the back of the bus. The only vacant seat was near the JV cheerleaders. “Here’s one,” Lauren told Rene.
Rene sat next to the window while Lauren sat down.

Karen, one of the JV cheerleaders turned around. “Hi Lauren. Hi Rene.”

Rene barely gave a her grin as the bus started up and left the school parking lot. She pulled her sweater down and felt something poking in her pocket. She dug around and pulled out a piece of paper. Taking a deep breath, she took out what she knew to be John’s last note to her.

Lauren turned and knew something was about to hit. “What’s that?”

Rene exhaled and handed the note to Lauren.

Lauren read, shaking her head. The note read:
Dear Rene, I know our love is real.
You mean the world to me.
You always will. Love, John.

“Can I just rip this up?” Lauren asked.

Rene paused. “No! Give it back. I want to keep it.”

“Fine. But you’re totally not making it any easier on yourself.” Rene rolled her eyes. “May I suggest that you place it somewhere that is out of your reach for a while…like NOT in your sweater pocket?” Lauren said quietly.

“I am so not into this,” Rene said. “What is not clear to you?

“Upset, sad, hurt…” Lauren placed her finger to her head. “Hmm, oh and bitchy! Not part of the deal, my friend.”

“OK, sorry. I don’t mean to be, you know that. Let’s move on. What’s going on with your dress? Did you get shoes to go with it?”

Lauren shook her head. “Do you really want to discuss the dance? I’m not a monster to your feelings, Rene. I know I would not want to chat that topic up.”

Most of the girls started cheering to pep things up as the bus turned up Citrus Avenue towards the foothills and the football stadium.

“I am hurt that I’m not going to the dance, but you are going to look so great in that dress. Really,” Rene said with sincerity.

Karen, a JV cheerleader sitting one seat in front turned around. “Lauren, your dress sounds great”
Rene elbowed Lauren and whispered, “Uh, like big ears.”

Lauren elbowed her back. “My dress is pretty wonderful. Miss Boo-freakn’-hoo here helped me choose it.”

“So Karen, are you going to the dance?” Unfortunately, Lauren had no idea that that particular question, as appropriate as it may be, was about to absorb all of Rene’s groove and set off the drama machine big time.

Karen suddenly shied away.
Rene turned to Lauren. “Uh, now what?”

Lauren leaned forward and tapped Karen on the shoulder. “Karen, I know you heard me.”

Karen turned around with hesitation. “Yes.” A long pause. “I’m am.”

“OK, now that we’ve established that one…” Lauren rolled her eyes to Rene. “Who are you going with?”

Karen took in a deep, deep breath. “With John,.” she whispered.

Rene stayed frozen immediately following those two words, with John.

“Excuse me? Who” Lauren asked with a bit of attitude.

No response from Karen.

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t quite hear you did you say John as in…?” Lauren pointed to Rene.

Karen nodded and then faced the window . “Um, yeah.”

With barely any energy left, Rene had to ask. “John, as in John Wilheight?”

Karen nodded still facing the window. Total silence between the three girls as the bus made a right hand turn into the college stadium parking lot.

“OK, I can do this. I can do this.” All Rene could say in her head. She then grabbed Lauren’s hand for total emotional protection.

“This totally sucks, but it’s going to be OK. I mean, a JV cheerleader? -- please” Lauren said quietly.
Rene sat still. It was her turn to take deep, deep breaths. “I can do this. I can do this, she thought. She then whispered to Lauren. “I can’t do this. I so can’t do this. I’ll just vomit all over the place.”

Lauren whispered back. “Well, if you must vomit, at least have the decency to vomit all over HER.” Lauren motioned with her head towards Karen, then smiled.

Rene actually laughed. If there were anyone who could shake a nightmare moment, it was Lauren.
The bus came to a complete stop as most of the girls were still cheering and chatting. Lynette gave her ‘go get ‘em speech, then they all began to exit the bus.

“Come on. We have to go,” Lauren said quietly.

“I can’t. There is no way I can face all those people. Her and mostly him. There is no way!”
Lauren stood up. “Oh yes you can. While you may not be able to recognize it because of your straight jacket being on way too tight, we’ve had much experience in this crap before in middle school. Well, it didn’t actually happen to us back then. We just lived it vicariously through others. The bottom line is that we have to deal, sister.”

Rene sat shaking her head. Lynette walked back towards them. “I know all of this sucks right now, but we have to get out there. If you totally can’t cheer, Rene, go and sit in the stands. Maybe that’s what you need.”

“Oh yeah, and sit with the dance / boyfriend stealer . No way!” Rene said with little energy left.

“Then get your butt up and let’s go!” Lauren demanded. Lynette walked out as Lauren and Rene followed behind. The stands were full; the school band played the fight song. The game was against a long-term rival, as the game was about to begin.

“This so not good. It’s more of a nightmare,” Rene said as she straightened her sweater.

“Look. You just made honor roll – again! You got the highest paper in English Honors. And you’re probably the best in math of anybody we know. Hello? Can you be any better?”

“Oh good. Let’s see…I’m smart and a girl whose boyfriend just dumped her for some JV cheerleader. Oh, I feel much better.” Rene rolled her eyes.

“Hello, life to the real world! You being that smart makes Harvard seem that much closer!” Lauren shouted.

“Your heart may be shattered for the moment, but not your brain too?”

The crowd screamed as the home team came running out to the field.

“Come on. We have to out there.”

Rene froze.

Lauren grabbed her hand. “Let’s go!” Both girls ran down the field and joined the others who were already cheering for their team.

Rene slowly got her cheer groove back as the energy and enthusiasm from the crowd fed her lifeless body.
During the second quarter, Rene was in full swing. For the moment, her ripped heart was secondary to the excitement of the game.

“Oh my god. Don’t look.” Lauren said.

“What?” Rene shouted. “I can’t hear you.” Lauren gave Rene the look.

Rene turned around and there he was. John stood staring at Rene. With all of the action out on the field, John took a moment to scope out Rene.

She exhaled and then turned around to the sea of bodies in the stadium shouting and cheering. She spotted Karen chatting with one of her JV friends. Rene quickly turned back to John and gave him a cold look. She was angry and wasn’t about to let all of her spirit escape with her broken heart.

The game ended in a victory, and Rene and Lauren headed back to the bus.

“You did a great job, sister. I can’t believe you didn’t totally lose it when you got the stare. He is so missing you. Trust me. He may be going to the dance with Miss JV, but let me tell you, it will be YOU on his mind the whole night.”

Rene exhaled and hugged her megaphone. “If you say so. If you say so.”

“Besides, let’s look at this logically. He’s going to need a lot of time to get over you. It’ll make it easier when we graduate and head east to college.” Lauren smirked.

Back to the front porch---
“No way! I can’t believe you two totally had eye contact in the middle of the game. That is very romantic you know – very dramatic,” Rhonda said as she moved from the porch swing to the steps.

“I have no idea about it being romantic, Rhonda, but it still hurts.” Rene said.

“I’m so bummed that I had to miss the game and I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you,” Molly said, “But my aunt getting married and all, well, you know how my family is. If I wasn’t there this evening for the dress fitting, I’d so be on the family crap list.”

“Oh please, Molly, it’s not that at all and you know it.” Rene said. “I’m glad you got the dress thing out of the way.”

Molly smiled. “John’s going to get back his senses and go back with you. It’s totally inevitable.”

“Wait a minute!” Lauren shouted. “Let’s not forget the asking out the JV and the shock of a life time on the bus. After all of that, why would our friend here want to go back with him? Hasn’t she had enough crap and let’s not forget the fact that she was totally groove less tonight at the game”

Rene turned to Lauren. “I would die without you. You know that.”

“Uh, yeah.” Lauren said.

“Hey, I think it’s time we all head to my house and watch my new DVD of Johnny Depp.” Rhonda suggested.

“That sounds like a good idea! I’d like to relive somebody else’s drama now.” Rene said with a smirk. “Mom, we’re going to Rhonda’s house. Be back by eleven.”

All four girls got up from their comfy seats and walked around the corner to Rhonda’s house where for at least 90 minutes plus a few previews, Rene’s woes will be replaced by a savvy and way cute pirate.

Property of Yvette Pompa