Katrina’s eyes seemed to narrow on the contact.
With my head held high, I maneuvered down the five steps and made my way onto the field, taking my place in line next to the other four girls trying out for the team.
Fresh-cut grass and sweat mixed together and wafted into my nostrils.
“Seriously, you’vegotto be kidding me,” Katrina sneered as she raised her voice. “Did you get confused, thinking this was the mascot tryout?”
I cocked my head, not quite following her question. “No, I’m trying out for the squad.”
An ugly laugh poured from her mouth, and the other cheerleaders, including Avery, tittered behind their hands, their irises alight with vicious amusement.
“Hannah,” she called, “bring out the suit.”
I eyed the area, wondering what kind of test this would be. Glancing over my shoulder, I caught Paxton’s stare.
His eyebrows were drawn, and he leaned his forearms on his thighs as he pressed forward, as if trying to get a better view of what was happening on the field.
Thump.
The noise pulled my attention back to the girls.
A big, brown pile of…something lay at my feet.
“Put it on.” Katrina paced to me and pointed to the lump of material.
“What?” I toed it, realization beginning to dawn.
“The only way you’re getting on this team is by playing yourself…which happens to be Benny Buffalo.” She pressed the clipboard to her chest and gnawed on her pen, as if pretending to think. “Though I guess we can change his name to Terri.”
Two football players, dressed in full gear, walked up to the cheerleaders, then removed the helmets from their sweat-soaked heads and tucked them under their arms.
“Yeah, come on,” said one beefy guy, his stare hard. “Put it on. It might be an improvement.”
More laughter floated on the wind, not just from the cheerleaders, but from behind, in the stands.
Sweat broke out over my body. I clenched my clammy palms together.
“Aw, it looks like she doesn’t know how,” Katrina said. “Why don’t you guys help her?”
They tossed their helmets to the grass and stalked towards me.
My cheeks flamed. I was sure everyone could see my shame, my embarrassment.What had I been thinking? She hates my guts.
As they approached, I took a step backward, fighting tears of frustration, wishing I was anywhere but here.
“Maybe we can glue a bow on the buffalo’s head,” Avery said, her mouth curled into a sneer.
“Which one? It’s kind of hard to tell them apart.” Football guy two, I think his name was Joe, laughed.
Another step backward and I stumbled, falling to my butt, my hands splayed out at my sides. The first guy held the buffalo head in front of his chest and approached.
All I could focus on was the black opening at the neck. I couldn’t stop picturing him sliding it on my head for everyone to see.
“Wait,” I pleaded. “I’ve changed my mind.”
“What? Did you guys hear something?” Katrina asked.
The head lowered, now only inches from the top of my skull.
