My name hadn’t been called yet, so Rebecca and I took a seat at the end.
“You sure you wanna do this?” she asked, giving the cheerleaders a dubious glance.
No, not really.But I felt like I had something to prove.
“Yeah, I mean, I may not make the team”—who was I kidding? Katrina would rather die than let me on, but the decision was up to the coach—“but I owe it to myself to try. I’ve always thought cheering looked fun.”
The other cheerleaders began a new chant, and Katrina directed the new girls to jump in, giving their moves a critical eye.
“Yeah, but…ugh. Acheerleader? What’s the point?”
“Teamwork, supporting the players.” I crammed my shaking fingers under my thighs and swallowed burning bile.
“But ultimately, what does cheering accomplish?”
“Look, are you here to preach or support?” Her words got under my skin. I had to admit she made a point. Still. I needed this, needed to prove I could go outside my comfort zone, needed to prove Katrina didn’t scare me, that I was just as good as she was. Sure, I wasn’t a petite size 0 with a blonde bobblehead, but who cared?
Paxton thinks I’m perfect.This thought sent fire through my veins. The memory of his clear, blue eyes and soft lips turned the nervous jitters in my stomach to excitement. Holding him this morning while he let out his pain and sorrow had bonded me to him in some unfathomable way. He was the strongest person I’d met, and knowing he’d let me see that softer, vulnerable side of him bolstered my courage.
If he can survive homelessness, a doped-up dad, and near-starvation, I can step out of my cushy little life and do something that’s scary to me.
Two of the girls trying out tumbled from the human pyramid they’d made.
“Out,” Katrina shouted, barely suppressing her squeal of glee.
With their heads hung low, the contestants left the field.
The coach handed a clipboard to Katrina, said something, then left the field and headed toward the bathrooms.
Katrina looked at the clipboard and pursed her lips. A slow smile spread across her face.
I could feel someone standing beside me, which pulled my attention from her calculating face.
“Pax?” I squealed, resisting the urge to pull him into a hug.
On the other side of me, Rebecca cleared her throat, but I couldn’t stop staring. He wore an old Led Zeppelin T-shirt and ripped black jeans. His dark, wavy hair hung on either side of his sharp face.
“Thought I’d come and lend my support.” He smiled, and my heart jumped. “I’m gonna beyourcheerleader.”
I could barely believe he came here for me. We only had chemistry class together, but assigned seating kept us across the room from one another, so we didn’t get a chance to hang out during the school day. Not that I thought he would want to sit next to me anyhow, not when Jay also had the same class.
From what I saw in the cafeteria and in the halls, it seemed like Paxton Ross was a rising star. Jay, Katrina, and the others clamored for his attention any time I looked their way.
So, for him to deliberately seek me out made my toes curl with pleasure.
“What, nothing to say, Cotton Candy?” He slid onto the bench, using his denim-clad hip to push against mine. Lifting his index finger, he flicked my bow. “At least it’s not pink.”
“You came out here to see me try out?”
He nodded. “Yep.”
“I—”
“Terri Kingston?” Katrina called, her stare scouring the crowd. “Did I read this right?” Her tone, condescending, held an edge of cruelty to it.
I squared my shoulders and stood, edging against Paxton’s knees to reach the clear aisle.
“Don’t put up with her shit, CC,” he whispered as I walked past, then quickly squeezed my hand before letting go.
