Great Call of China (S.A.S.S.) (24 page)

“Uh-huh.” Will pulled her toward him.

And they kissed like it was a kiss they had waited for all summer long.

The next couple of days were busier than ever before. No classes were held on Monday or Tuesday, allowing students to prepare for finals on Wednesday. Cece spent her time studying for her exams, meeting with her project team to finish their documentary, and finishing Peter’s film-school essays. But she worked hardest of all on her culture paper—a paper she could now tackle with renewed inspiration.

By Thursday, Cece had put her exams and paper behind her; all that was left to do was the team project presentation and one more proofread of Peter’s essays. The last day’s schedule would begin with the presentations and finish with an awards ceremony. The students gathered in the lecture hall, and everyone critiqued each team’s project. She was pretty impressed with the documentaries, but personally, she thought her team’s was the best. Not only were their costumes one of a kind—thanks to Jessica—but their script was accurate
and
humorous. Cece did a decent job playing Qin Shi Huang’s male adviser, and at the end of the film, her untimely death as a concubine was a big hit.

After the critiques came in and the scores were tabulated, Mark and Jenny went up to the podium to award final points. Cece’s team received full marks. “And,” Mark said, “we’re going to play
Qin Shi Huang: One Man, One Country
next year as the leading example. Team Three, please stand.”

Cece’s team got to their feet, and the audience cheered. It was nice to get credit for their hard work.

After the clapping subsided, the professors presented awards, citing who would receive college recommendations. As each professor took his turn, Alex’s name kept coming up. Cece was psyched when she and Kallyn both received recs for archaeology and evolution. Finally, it was Professor Hu’s turn to announce her list. Cece held her breath. She knew she’d taken a risk with her paper, but at the same time, she thought she turned in something great. Her nervousness got worse when Professor Hu slowly and methodically named her top students. Instead of just saying the names, she expanded upon them, citing the rea sons why she had selected each one.

“And . . . Jeremiah, he also do very well,” she said. “I very much enjoy his paper on feng shui and Chinese architecture. I think his analysis of home design was very interesting—earth, water, wind, fire. ...”

Cece’s knee began to bounce. A couple of people coughed.

“However, the student whose essay I appreciate most, putting her at top of class”—she peered down at the paper she was holding—“is...Cece Charles for ‘Government Policy and Family Ideals: How the One-Child Policy Affects China’s Orphans.’”

Cece grinned.

“In this essay, Cece separates fact from fiction. Truth from assumption. Objectivity from bias.” Professor Hu pointed at the paper. “And this is my favorite line: ‘One must not look for answers that fit the observation, but ask the questions that arise from the observation. Only then will the truth reveal itself.’ And then she also say... ‘Because abandonment is illegal, there is little data to measure, ’ therefore... conclusions must draw from anecdotal evidence, and
that
”—she took in a huge breath—“is the truth. I think she say this like real anthropologist. It is very, very good, yes?”

At first no one clapped, but soon the auditorium filled with applause.

Cece listened to the praise and swallowed. Will gave her a smile.

Maybe the truth didn’t always have to hurt.

 

The next day, students started leaving for their flights. Because everyone was departing at different times, most of the students arranged for their own transportation. Cece, Will, Peter, and Kallyn headed to the airport together. Peter saw them off outside the terminal, and after saying good-bye to Will and Kallyn, he gave Cece a hug.

“I will miss you, Xiao Mei.”

“Thank you so much, Peter,” Cece said. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

He let her go. “Anytime you need to find a missing relative, you talk to Da Ge, okay?”

Cece laughed, then reached into her bag. She handed him a manila envelope.

“What is this?” Peter studied the package.

“Open it, but be careful.”

Peter pulled out his finished film-school application. “I thought you forgot this a long time ago.”

“I guess I had
not
forgotten.” Cece smiled.

He smiled back, and they hugged one more time. “Write me, okay?”

Cece nodded.

Then Peter walked back to the cab, turned, and pointed at Cece. “I’ll see you in L.A., baby.”

After he left, Will put an arm around her. “Hard to see him go, huh?”

“Yeah,” Cece said as she watched the taxi pull away.

They all went inside, then scanned the departure boards. Cece’s flight was departing on time. She had hoped her plane would be delayed so she wouldn’t be the first to leave. She just wanted a little more time with her friends.

Will helped her check in, and she had to say good-bye.

Cece gave Kallyn a hug. “Thanks for everything.”

“You’re welcome,” Kallyn said. “Maybe I’ll see you at Christmas? My grandma lives in Fort Worth. I think it’s her turn to host the Sullivans this year.”

“That would be great.”

“So this isn’t a good-bye, it’s a ‘see you later,’ okay?”

Cece grinned. “Right. Until Christmas, then.”

Will and Cece looked at each other, and Kallyn, ever the sensitive friend, started walking toward a gift shop.

Now it was just the two of them.

“This is it, I guess,” Will said.

“Yeah ...” There were so many things Cece knew she should say to him about where they stood and what would happen from here, but the last few days all she had done was avoid the subject. She only wanted to enjoy every second she had with him. But now, they would have to get things clear. Cece opened her mouth, uncertain how to begin. “Will, I... well... I... ” She had no idea how to start.

Will laughed. “Cece, you don’t have to say anything.”

“I don’t?”

“No, we should do what we want, right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if you want to call me, then call me. Let’s do whatever comes naturally, okay? We shouldn’t force anything.”

Cece let out a breath. It was like Will was saying exactly what she was thinking. “That sounds perfect.”

“So we better get started. ”

“Doing what?”

Will lifted her chin. “Whatever comes naturally.” He leaned in for a kiss.

Cece melted into his arms, determined to remember the moment forever.

After they said their good-byes, Cece walked to her gate. All around her people bustled by, headed for their flights. As Cece passed the restaurants and the shops, she remembered how she had felt when she first arrived in China. Nervous. Intrigued. Eager to know more. She had been a girl looking for answers to her past. But now, as she began her journey home, she was a girl who couldn’t wait to discover her future.