THE PHYSICAL:

Hair: Straight. Naturally medium brown, but dyed orange. Medium thickness. Short and cut in a fashionable layered look, shaped vaguely like a bell. Usually just brushes and sometimes feathers her hair, but sometimes decorates with barrettes or clips.

Eyes: Average set. On the small side of average size. Dark brown. Sculptured, dark brown eyebrows.

Nose: Fairly straight and average size.

Mouth: Average lips, almost perfect teeth since she had braces when she was a teen. Likes flamboyant lipstick colors.

Skin: Lightly tanned and usually touched up with makeup.

Face: Sharp chin. Broad face. Pierced ears.

Age: Late twenties.

Height: Average, about 5’6”.

Weight: Just slightly on the thin side of average.

Body: Most of her weight is carried below the belt; has a very slim upper body and thin neck. Good health. Sculptured fingernails, tasteful colors of polish. Right-handed.

Ethnicity: Pretty indeterminate—Caucasian with no specific obvious ethnicity.

Distinguishing features: Tends to touch up her dye job a little too rarely, so she often has brown roots showing. Her smile can be a little unsettling as she looks rather evil when she grins. Looks like she means business. Does not have any special beauty, but tends to look well put-together and attractive since she knows how to accentuate what she’s got. Has two tattoos: A rose on the back of her right shoulder and a Celtic knot design on her lower back.

Voice: Very nondescript regular female voice, middle pitch. Very evil laugh that comes out deeper than her speaking voice.

Gestures: Raises her eyebrows and extends one hand as a substitute for the phrase “what did I tell you?” Sits with good posture. Always looks a bit poised, holds head up high. Smiles easily and rarely blushes. Has an overused smirk.

Clothing and style: Tends to like form-fitting and figure-enhancing clothes. She is the most revealing dresser of the group; sometimes her shirts can be low-cut or expose the midriff, and if she wears shorts they tend to be rather short with sexy little shoes or ankle boots. Jewelry-wise, she goes for sophisticated but hip, and tends toward short-chain necklaces and chokers and a pair of almost ever-present gold hoop earrings. After engagement to Roger, sports a diamond engagement ring on her left hand.

THE PERSONAL:

General mood: Tends toward a bubbly sarcastic demeanor, and is often in the mood to play and trade silly insults. Rarely in a crabby mood—is generally an optimist. Even if someone angers her, she is almost cheerful about telling them off. If someone disgusts her, she’s rather vocal about it.

Talents and abilities: Deviously creative and amazingly adaptable. Has a “yeah, okay” attitude to even the strangest situations. Knows the ins and outs of relationships very well, partly because of personal experiences being in so many. Her lovers say she is talented in the bedroom. Has good organizational skills and typing skills, and does very well with proper application of makeup. And some would not count this as a talent, but she can lie very convincingly.

Weaknesses and shortcomings: In the past, has tended toward dishonesty in relationships. Has kissed and told—and exaggerated in the telling—some of her exploits that would hurt others. Sometimes tends toward laziness and lack of motivation. Easily influenced by charismatic people. Has gone through many promiscuous phases.

Interests: Men, of course, and ferreting out possible developing relationships and encouraging them. Loves to read romance novels, but isn’t actually very romantic herself. Likes shopping and going out to clubs.

Pet peeves: Being called skanky or slutty, since she just has an attitude that nothing is wrong with fun so long as no lying is involved. When she can’t fit in her pants and has to go on a diet. Dealing with other women getting jealous of her. Having to face the prejudices of her fiancé.

Phobias: Fears commitment. Now that she is engaged, is trying to get over that. Also fears being alone, so has decided she has to commit sometime.

Eating habits: Tends to prefer fragrant food, such as dishes made with garlic or onion. Often eats sandwiches with many layers. Also likes barbecued food. When she’s on a diet, she eats a lot of salad with olives.

Education: Got an A.A. at a community college, then went into the work force. Fairly average above-average person.

Language abilities: Speaks English, and has the usual basic mastery of the language. Nothing spectacular.

Political affiliation: Registered Democrat. Only votes in national elections.

Occupation: Secretary in a small office.

Religious beliefs: Comes from a moderate non-denominational Christian background, but does not embrace it. More or less agnostic.

Sexual orientation: Quite heterosexual.

Marital status: By the fifth book, engaged—soon to be married before Book 5 is over.

Family information: Parents are traditional and far away. Cecily does not visit them much; she moved to another state with a high school boyfriend and put down roots in New York, so her parents don’t think it that odd that they never see her.

Friend information: Spends a lot of time with her fiancé. Talks with Adele socially as well as for advice. Feels a little like she has to watch out for Ivy like a big sister, though Ivy doesn’t know it. Has friends from her current job and her previous job with whom she goes out and dances at clubs sometimes.

Other information: For some reason, she can speak candidly around Ivy when she is in a bad mood and manages not to be killed—something about the way she says it. Always had fears of being an old maid, balanced with fears of picking the wrong guy.

THE STORY:

Cecily grew up in a very normal household and there was very little that was remarkable about her life. However, she was always an open-minded, somewhat curious person with an altruistic streak and a tendency to want to try anything once, so when Adele searched for likely candidates for the house’s roommates, she found Cecily. Because she had very little attachment at the time to anyone who would be curious about where she’d moved to and because she had a job that would contribute enough money, Ivy was sent to invite her and the arrangement was settled.

Cecily moved in and claimed a bedroom early on—one of the first members of the house—and got to know everyone quickly and easily. She spent much of her early twenties going out to clubs and drinking a little too much and going home with guys, but she liked to talk about it and exaggerate, enjoying the scandalous reputation until she realized it made her look like a tramp sometimes. She became a bit more conservative, and then at her job her boss started cutting her hours. This was around the same time that she officiated in Ivy and Bailey’s historic prank war, in which she was rooting for Ivy but had to stay impartial. Meanwhile, she asked Adele’s advice about what to do about her job situation.

Adele suggested a lower-paying job she didn’t want at first, but she immediately fell in love with Roger, who worked there, and that revealed why Adele wanted her to take that particular one. Cecily and Roger became monogamous and dated for a while, and their relationship intensified. They had plans to get married eventually, but when Cecily turned out to be pregnant they set a date and started preparing. Now they face the decision of where the baby will be raised.

FAVORITE CECILY QUOTES:

“Hey Zeke, give it up.” . . . “Even Keenan knows you like her and he never comes out of his room.” . . . “See, Ivy thinks you’re a joke.” . . . “What’re you gonna do about it, just sit there and take her shit?” –Book 1, chapter 12

“Jeez, you guys, you could at least close the door.” –Book 1, chapter 12

“ . . . [M]y boss sucks.” . . . “They over-hired on the clerical help and now there aren’t enough hours to go around. So even though I’ve been there the longest, I get the hour cuts.” . . . “I think it’s because she’s jealous that my ass is smaller than hers.” --Book 2, chapter 1

“Jeez, soon as I sit down everybody leaves. I must stink or something, huh?” . . . “Will you smell me, Ivy?” --Book 2, chapter 1

“I don’t want anybody’s freakin’ psychiatric bills on my conscience.” –Book 2, chapter 1

“So, why are you bitching? And why are you wearing that stupid hat?” –Book 2, chapter 3

“If I didn’t know she’d give me hell about it, I’d give that little runt an introduction to my fist.” –Book 2, chapter 7

“Well, it’s only seven. You can make it if you hurry, speed demon.” –Book 2, chapter 9

“To tell you the truth, I think we need to get Weaver neutered.” –Book 2, chapter 9

“Sleep is just one of the two things you got to have.” –Book 2, chapter 10

“He does kinda resemble Zeke, I guess, but he’s different. Roger is like a Latin lover. Zeke is a scruffy nerdling.” –Book 2, chapter 10

“Hey, if I was like you, you can bet I’d go around randomly grabbing asses and totally getting away with it. Why don’t you ever have any fun?” –Book 2, chapter 10

“For a non-sexual person, you sure flirt a lot.” --Book 3, chapter 12