Chapter 5: Cheer For Us Or Against Us

Blossom's POV 

After school the next day, it was my first cheerleading practice. Mrs. Tisdale ushered me into the gymnasium where the others were gathered and already doing cartwheels and poses. 

"Brooke! Meet the newest member of the squad," Mrs. Tisdale cut right to the chase then she turned on her heel, leaving me to the pact of wolves. 

"Well.. well.. well, look at what the cat dragged in," Brooke gnarled as she approached me, "You're not going to make this squad because it's only for the best of the best but I'm interested in seeing what you can do. Cartwheel and Toe-Touch!" she finished. 

I immediately did a cartwheel and finished with the perfect toe-touch. 

Brooke smirked and I spent the rest of the practice doing hand springs and cartwheels until I couldn't feel my hands anymore. It was torture. 

"That's it," I spoke when at last, I couldn't bare it anymore. 

"Everyone, what's the motto?" Brooke asked to the others. 

"If you don't cheer for us, you're against us!" everyone recited. 

"You'll be given a uniform tomorrow and there's a game on Friday so you have a lot to catch up on. I don't want anyone making my squad look bad. Clear?" 

"Vivid," I responded and Brooke allowed me to leave practice or my try-outs or whatever you'll call what just happened to me. 

________________

The following morning, I was a bit sore in muscle aches. Nina and Sophia  meet me in the halls. 

"Damn, Brooke let you had it, huh?"

"Those practices are the worst." 

"New girl," we heard Brooke's voice. The other students cleared the path and she walked down the middle like a queen on a high horse indeed. 

"Uniform." She shoved a uniform against my chest before leaving. It held the same colors of our actual school uniform. Baby blue and grey. 

"You'll look so cute," Nina said with a wide smile. 

"And you get to rock that uniform to all your classes," Sophia added. 

"For real?" 

"Yes, so I suggest you change really quickly." We headed for the washrooms I got changed into my uniform. 

-----

At Practice, I picked up the moves quickly. Pyramids and cradles and basket tosses were easy for me to comprehend and execute to perfection. And as the days went by, I felt more and more confident for the game. 

________

At last, It was Friday and the whole school was buzzing about the game. Brooke had us run the routine one last time before our classes started. 

In Mrs. Smith's class, Garry was standing in front of the chalkboard with a worried look on his face. 

"What's going on?" I asked him softly but he ignored me. Then Mrs. Tisdale walked in with Mrs. Smith behind. 

"Garry, come with us please," Mrs. Smith told him and we watched as he followed them out the classroom. 

I tapped Nina on the shoulder to get her attention. "What's going on?" I asked her. 

"Garry is in serious trouble. Something about selling drugs out his locker to freshmen." 

"What!" I was in shock. He was my new partner to this project. Who's going to be my partner now? 

After several minutes, Mrs. Smith walked back into the classroom. 

"I'm very sorry for the delay. Today, I'll just give you the time to catch up with your partners on the baby project. Also, Cindy isn't in the best of health and she wouldn't be with us for a while so... Blossom, I don't have a choice but to ship you back with Jevan. It's too late to give you someone new, unless you wish to do this on your own." 

I looked behind me but Jevan was absent. Being as it was game day, the footballers were meeting with their coach. 

"I'll work with Jevan," I answered. Brooke and I were now on the same team and she was a great captain, I'll give her that. So I don't think she'll hurt me for being partners with her boyfriend. 

The last bell of the day rang and I rushed to meet the squad. Together, we matched onto the school's playing field to perform our opening act.

The music started and everything went smoothly. I landed my tumbles with excellence and I was looking forward to seeing Jevan's at his first game and to tell him that we were partners again. 

We took our seats on the bleachers and I sat down next to Brooke and her other friends. 

"Jevan is going to crush as always," Brooke said and clapped and cheered when our footballers took their places on the field. 

The game, I couldn't understand. There were more slams and body crushes than actually scoring the ball but Brooke seemed into everything and she couldn't stop screaming Jevan's name. 

"He's so going to get this tonight," I heard her telling her friends. 

Get what? 

"Run baby! Run!" she yelled again as I watched a sprinting figure, whom I assumed was Jevan, made it all the way down the field, out running everyone after him. 

"TOUCH DOWN!" the announcers yelled from the microphone and the crowd cheered with energy. 

"That's my baby!" Brooke went on again. 

When it was time out and a followed break, Brooke went down to the field. I watched with her friends as she approached Jevan and hugged him but he shook her off and walked away from her. Although she was far away, I knew she was very upset and when she joined us, she played it off. 

At the end, Jevan and his team won the game. We did our closing act and got off the field. 

The sky was dark. It was nightfall. I looked at my wristwatch. It was 7:01. I followed the others into the ladies washroom where I took a shower and changed into my school uniform. 

"Hey Brooke, can I catch a ride with you?" Amy asked her. 

"Sure," she answered and left the washroom. I was left behind, tying my shoelaces and when I went to the school's packing lot, it was completely empty and dark. 

Everyone was gone. 

"How.. How am I getting home?" I asked myself. I hugged my bag and started on my feet. I walked through the gates and out into the streets, humming to myself but praying that someone doesn't come up from behind me and strangle me. 

I didn't have a cellphone to call my mother but even if I did, she couldn't leave her night job to come pick me up. 

The wind blew colder and the sky looked like it was going to rain any moment. I walked faster. There was a bus stop up ahead. I started running when the light sprinkles of rain started. 

I blew an exhausting breath when I reached the bus stop. Thank goodness there was a bench inside. I sat down and waited for the bus that could be coming at any late time. 

______

A vehicle engine slowed down and I thought was the bus but it wasn't. It was the most sleek car I've ever seen in my whole life. 

The glass window rolled down and my mouth fell open when I saw the person behind the steering wheel. 

"Get in. I'll take you home." 

"You don't have to. The bus is coming." 

"You've already missed the 7:00 bus and the other one doesn't come for a next hour and a half." 

"Really?" 

He shrugged. 

I picked up my school bag and the car door opened automatically for me. I got into the front seat, feeling like the luckiest girl in the world. 

He stepped on the gas and drove onwards. 

"So, Cindy is sick, and Garry, I think got expelled, so Mrs. Smith paired us up again," I started for conversation. 

"Okay," was his only response. 

"Do you want me to have Jason this weekend?" I asked him. 

"If you wish. He's in the back seat." 

I looked behind me and laughed when I saw the doll strapped in, on the seat. 

"Where do you live exactly?" 

I gave him my new address and after half an hour, he pulled up to my house. 

"Thank you for the ride. I really appreciate it," I told him. 

"So you stayed for the game without a form of getting home?"

"I thought the school bus would drop off everyone."

"Didn't Brooke explain it to you and that the bus only picks children up on mornings and after school." 

"Brooke skipped that. I had no idea." 

"Blossom, you can't be walking the streets by yourself at nights. Anything could have happened to you on that bus stop." 

"I know but I didn't have a choice. Everyone was gone." 

"That was cruel but I expected nothing less from Brooke. Look, whenever there's a game, let me take you home. Okay?"

"Okay." 

"Goodnight. And take care of our baby." He flashed me a smile and butterflies flew around in my stomach. Then there was a silence and a force drew us closer to each other with our lips just inches away. 

Closer... And closer. His minty hot breath fanned the tip of my lips, my eyes closing to fulfil it's first kiss. 

"Wwwaaahhhh!" Jason started crying. Jevan and I leaped back into our seats. 

"Good night," I quickly said and got out of his car and ran into my house with a crying doll. 

Sweet Mercy. I almost kissed Jevan Hollen.