Shallow Crevices

By L. K. Sapher

Cecilia Christopher is poised to conquer the world.

Fresh out of Malibu High School and blessed with a supportive show business family, she moves directly into the film industry to stake out her own place in Hollywood. With her lifelong best friend at her side, it isnt long before the rising star hooks up with the seemingly perfect man that is Adrian Montgomery. But things arent exactly as perfect as they seem, and Cecilia is soon perched at the top of a roller-coaster ride she never saw coming!

Is love a game, a battlefield, or a shifting puzzle filled with jagged little pieces? Our heroine is about to find out, and shes going to need all her wits about her as she makes her way to a breathless finish!

Shallow Crevices is Ms. Saphers debut novel, filled with a dangerous sense of romance thats mined straight from her own thoughts of darkness and light.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514460177

L. K. Sapher

Ms. Sapher graduated with a BA in Behavioral Science. As a keen observer of the human condition and a fervent journaler, her devotion to writing slowly but steadily framed the solid foundation of what would become her first novel. Shallow Crevices, takes the readers on an emotional ride filled with inner complexity, outer turmoil and continually tumultuous twists that drill into thoughts of darkness and light.

Book preview

Chapter 1

My name is Cecilia J. Christopher, a senior at Malibu High.

I have two brothers: Jonah, seventeen, and Isaac, fifteen. My father’s name is Seth, and my mother’s name is Eleanor.

Today, the weather channel promised temperatures in the eighties making my decision to choose a wardrobe easier. I decided to wear jean shorts to school. I grabbed my bag and made my way downstairs to head to school but noticed everyone was gone. My father has been tied up filming and sometimes left as early as 3:00 AM to be on set. I generally ensure the alarm was set before I left so that my father didn’t go into panic in case I forgot.

I got into my car and listened to the music from my iTunes playlist, choosing my favorite song, Dreamers by Savoir Adore. This song lifted my mood, putting me a state of bliss. I instantly scouted the area for police cars and saw none in sight, which made my quick makeup session a bit more convenient. I was fully aware I was violating any number of traffic laws, but I’d stopped littering, hoping they canceled each other out. That’s what I thought as I steadily applied my mascara while waiting for the light to change and hoping nobody rear-ends my car.

Good morning.

I waved to the neighbors as my best friend Star (her real name), dressed in a yellow-and-pink floral summer dress, frolicked towards my car. It was a peaceful morning, with the sound of birds chirping in the blue skies and the sight of parents walking their kids to school. Malibu’s twenty-seven miles of scenic beauty and sandy beaches, and I’d always loved it. It wasn’t rare to see new neighbors that recently moved into this part of town.

Get in. We’re going to be late.

I am tired. I didn’t get any sleep last night.

Stop staying up late, I advised her concerning her nocturnal tendencies. A night owl that saves all her energy in the evening.

Did you see him yesterday at school? she asked, getting to her point.

Referring to Alex, the transplant who recently relocated in our neighborhood. New kids were rare in school especially this time of the year so when Alex moved here, everyone noticed. He was about five feet ten inches, with dark-brown hair and round blue eyes. The girls at school had been asking about him, but that was a given. I myself hadn’t inquired where he was from because we never had an official conversation, apart from when he was mentioned in passing by the girls in conversation.

Yes, his name is Alex McFarland.

Total babe, isn’t he?

"Then ask him out."

50773.png

We parked and headed inside our school building that reminded me more of the sauna room at my gym than a collection of classrooms that day. I wondered how we were going to endure the school day without air conditioning. I walked to my locker anyway, grabbed my books, and headed to class feeling a rush of enthusiasm high school was coming to an end. The past four years had been delightful; no doubt I’ll miss at least some of it, but I was more excited about the next phase of my life.

50775.png

First class was Psych.

Class, please settle down.

It was Mr. White, not-so-eagerly awaiting the students but eagerly waiting for them to take their seats. Now how many read the chapter?

A handful raised their hands.

Fair enough. He looked at the students, studying us closely. Why does he do that? You have been given enough time to have read through the chapters. There should be no excuses as to why you can’t participate in today’s lecture.

This was the last week the class had to endure the lecturing on Freud’s defense mechanism theories. The class had completed the first two mechanisms, regression and denial, which took us to the third one, projection, which theoretically described how individuals projected their own negative thoughts onto another person. Freud’s theories, which are precisely calculated and on point with my beliefs, always held my interest. Projection can also be related to blame shifting. For example, a partner committing adultery may accuse their own partner of cheating. Psychology is a subject that individuals experience every day, and to me, there was nothing more fascinating than understanding the human mind.

Yet I drifted away into my own daze, still listening in on Mr. White speak about his favorite subject, love. He spoke eloquently about the greatest high someone feels when in love. Mr. White happened to be convinced that love is the only feeling proven to make the world a better place. To me, most people seemed to be at their most vulnerable when they’re in a state of love, like strolling through the park hand in hand while counting the stars at night.

Cecilia, wake up. I felt a light tap on my right shoulder. I must have been falling asleep again.

Ms. Christopher, Mr. White called my name in front of the class. Loudly and clearly.

I touched my cheek nervously and felt the heat emanating from my face.

Typically, I was confident when speaking publicly. However, not when caught in the midst of a reverie.

Can you explain this passage? Freud was trying to convey with ‘How bold we are when we are loved’?

Convey? That man was a mass of contradictions.

He meant individuals feel confident in doing and saying what they want when they’re in a healthy relationship. Love lifts our spirits, bringing a greater sense of self-worth.

Thank you, Ms. Christopher. Anyone else?

Despite it being one of my preferred courses of study, psychology had its moments of utter inconsistency.

For example, reverse psychology ultimately created greater misperception than clarity.

Yes means no, but no means yes… Who needs it?

There was an incident I witnessed growing up but never understood it until now. A mother was watching her son play soccer in the neighborhood. She observed him closely and yelled at him for running after a ball while cars were driving by. After several failed attempts at yelling, she had no choice but to manipulate him using reverse psychology as an alternate approach.

Run in the street, and you’ll probably get hit by a car, was her final threat.

The fearful look on her son’s face ensured he wouldn’t repeat this stunt. He was afraid, yet he knew she might be right.

Now it was obvious her approach worked, but in a deceptive manner. She could’ve simply used honesty to explain the dangers instead. Like ‘son, don’t run after the ball in the street when cars are crossing. It can be dangerous and you can get hurt if a car hits you.’

Of course, most of us rely solely on what we think, believe, or, better yet, feel. We rely on that sixth sense, or gut feeling. But the sixth sense is a curse engendering illusions. And so we see people committing outrageous acts, then blaming their actions on their gut instinct. In general, I found logic to be the answer, and I believed the mind could triumph over anything. Maybe it was mind over matter, after all. I recall an incident in Ethics class. The very first day our professor asked us if we were feelers or thinkers. How can anyone answer such a question? In order to be a living human with a pulse we are essentially feelers and thinkers. I thought hard as I stared into the eyes of the man of the hour. Although, it was simple question, it must have been the hardest question anyone asked me. Perhaps, it was his method to test the pushovers vs. dominants and whose buttons were easily pushed.

The clock told me there were two minutes remaining until my next class. When I heard the bell ring, I ran to my locker to switch books. As I was closing my locker, Walker came up behind me, startling me in that way that was unique to him.

So how about some love with me and you later?

I blew past him because signaling any interest would only get him talking, and I didn’t have time for it. I felt tired and knew it was because I skipped breakfast this morning. For the past two weeks, I’d been anxious about graduation and the next chapter of my life.

I opened my backpack and delightfully found an energy bar in the front pocket. Chocolate was the best remedy for an empty stomach. I chewed slowly, trying to avoid the gaze of Mr. Ronson as much as possible. To my rescue, my Algebra classmate Sarah was blocking my view of him standing in front of the class, ready to begin.

This man was rigid to the point of breaking, and he meant business. Even the way he spoke was a calculation. I constantly dared anyone to interrupt him in class, and almost no one ever took me up on it. Algebra was the opposite of Psychology class. If we were caught chewing gum while asking a question, we would be kicked us out for the remainder of the class. Mr. Ronson ran everybody hard, and he knew how to do it. But the great thing about him class was his refusal to give up on students. Every student in class was currently receiving an A because Mr. Ronson didn’t believe in B’s, and available in tutoring after class, free of charge, for the students lagging behind. Although, he had the reputation of a dictator, his relentless efforts proved otherwise.

Algebra happened to be my second favorite subject. An entire formula solved by a single digit. There are no ifs in math. I studied Mr. R. and learned his technique. Before he solved the problem on the board, he was solving the problem in his head.

"The ratio of x is not simplified by the Y axis. It’s simplified by the U ratio."

50771.png

After class, the girls and I met in the cafeteria. They were discussing their wardrobe choices for Walker’s graduation party on Friday.

I bought this pink corset to wear with black pants and my white cowboy hat, Cathleen chimed in. Cecile, are you going?

I don’t think so.

Why not? Jenna jumped in.

Umm, because Cecilia and Walker dated, and if he finds out she’s coming, who knows what will happen, Star continued.

Walker and I had dated freshman year of high school. He was my neighbor and would often come over after school. We grew up together and since our families were bonded by nature we went out on a few dates but nothing substantial. No harm no foul.

We finished our lunch and then I prepared for gym.

Thankfully, I didn’t indulge in a mass array of the cafeteria selection, making the latter result feeling lethargic. I ate in small portions. Being athletic was a top priority for me. I loved playing sports as a child with my brothers and my friends. Baseball was my favorite. Even as a child, I recall swinging the bat hard enough to knock ball out of the center field and scoring a homerun. I was a skinny little girl with my hair twisted in a bun running on the field and bypassing the bases all the way to the home plate. I played sports throughout my childhood so gym class was never a trial for me.

50777.png

Back at home, my dad was the first person I saw.

How was school? He asked. If I could only count the number of times parents ask their kids ‘how was school’ it likely take me a year to record. If he wanted to know the truth; school was boring, a requirement and a waste of time.

It was fine. Looking forward to graduating. How about you?

Booking tickets to Boston.

You and Mom? And where is she?

She’s out running errands with Delilah.

He had takeout ready on the table from Four Oceans. It was obvious my mother must not have been in the cooking mood. Four Oceans was acquired by my uncle Stan upon his arrival to Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters.

The restaurant had risen to the top for the finest seafood. I had coincidentally developed a no-meat diet. I gave up eating meat when I turned fourteen due to a gruesome video I watched very much by mistake. It was a two-minute video that changed my theories about food. The images of the video lingered in the back of my mind making it difficult to forget the gruesome acts. Since then, I’d completely given up consumption of meat. The drastic change in my diet elevated my energy levels and improved my memory.

OK, guys, come sit."

My father rested his hand on the kitchen table, ready to make his usual announcement.

Jonah came tumbling down the stairs when he heard my father prepping his speech. My brothers were quite disciplined. Well-behaved in appropriate settings like family functions but equally rebellious. My father proceeded to grill Isaac about his grades and then Jonah for his standard midnight rendezvous calls.

But let’s eat first, and then we can talk.

My father was somewhat peculiar at dinnertime.

His pet peeve was talking while chewing, so we were only allowed to speak if it was absolutely necessary. Consequently, at the dinner table we’d generally stare at each other. While it made for a somewhat boring meal, this was the only quiet time in the house. Whether Isaac was playing video games or Jonah and his friends were wrestling in the living room, there was continuous ruckus going on in our home.

I have purchased tickets to visit your mother’s family, and I wanted to surprise her. I expect good behavior while we’re gone, and I hope nobody ends up on the news while we’re there. I trust you enough to keep the house in one piece. Regurgitating the standard speech when he traveled.

What about the film? I asked him.

He established a motion picture company with his best friends Yuri and Thomas in the nineties called CeneasteRoue Productions, as a memorial for Yuri’s wife, who passed away in the late eighties. He was busy working on his latest crime film for the past three months, and this trip could very well derail the entire process. I felt disconcerted fully aware he was attempting to draft one of us to be in charge while was gone. I could feel it. For the past two years, I spent my summer vacation as a PA in the studio. I further felt it was going to be me!

"At the end of your school year,