“Yes,” I say even though part of me would like to go home and watch TV in comfy sweatpants. “As long as you don’t try to get Austin to kiss me.”
“Deal.”
I turn to the other cheerleaders and wordlessly we move into formation, creating a tunnel in the middle of the field. The football team decided this year that they didn’t want to run through a banner like they have every other year. Instead, I helped them come up with another idea. I figured I owed them for all the extra time I spent on the soccer team earlier this month.
I raise my pom-poms over my head with the rest of the squad, and then the lights go out. There’s a chorus of “ooooh” from the crowd, clearly thinking something has gone wrong, but then the music starts and one by one, we click on the glow sticks that light up our pom-poms in neon blue.
The players’ jerseys light up too. Their jersey numbers were painted with glow-in-the-dark paint I had to test and promise the coach wouldn’t ruin the jerseys. Totally worth the risk because as they run onto the field, the crowd cheers louder than ever.
“It worked!” Andie squeals beside me.
We share a grin and shake our pom-poms as the guys run through. As soon as they’re all through, we fall back into one line and dance to the music.
The pregame festivities have everyone pumped up for kickoff. The marching band and color guard are on the opposite end of the bleachers, and when they play our team fight song, we join in with them.
It’s everything I love and going even better than I imagined, and still when I see Rowan sitting with some ofthe soccer team, I feel a pang of sadness that Vaughn isn’t here.
I wonder how things are going at the showcase. I have no doubt he is playing his heart out and showing everyone exactly how great of a player he is. He feels like he has something to prove after the team lost in the semifinals, and I hope he proves it to them and to himself.
Is he at all sad he’s missing tonight?
If he were here, he’d sit in the bleachers with his friends. He’d wear an expression that looked bored to everyone else, but I’d know different. Rowan would try to pull him into a cheer. He’d flash me an amused smirk while clapping in a way that somehow wouldn’t look like he was excited at all. Other people would assume all these things mean he doesn’t care. I know, because I used to be one of them. But he does care. He just doesn’t show it the same way I do.
He’s the kind of guy who keeps things to himself. Vaughn doesn’t make a big show of his feelings, but when you’re with him, you know his heart. He showed me his in a million different ways. I wish that had been enough.
Once the game starts, I get swept up in it. I lead the squad through our cheers, and before I know it, it’s halftime. The football team heads to the locker room, leading by thirteen points.
The marching band takes the field first. Andie and I sit with the other cheerleaders, watching as they perform. Next up is the principal who welcomes back alumni and acknowledges all the sponsors and groups that support Frost Lake athletics.
Finally, it’s time for us to do our dance routine before the football team returns for the second half.
Adrenaline mixed with nerves bounces around in mystomach as we run out onto the field. I never get nervous cheering on the sidelines, because most people are watching the game, but out here all eyes are on us, and with a big crowd like this it’s intimidating.
I spot Dad as we’re getting into position. He lifts his hands, doing the claw pose from the “Thriller” dance. A smile loosens, and I relax a fraction.
Andie is on my right. She shakes her pom-poms in front of her at her waist. “Ready to do this?”
I nod and move into the starting pose. Once the music starts, the nerves fall away, and I get lost in the familiar dance. My heart races, and the smile on my face is wide with genuine excitement. And the crowd is enjoying it too. They watch from the bleachers and line up around the fence.
During the final movement, I circle around the other cheerleaders to the back where my tumbling pass starts. As I go, something catches my attention along the fence. Or rather, someone.
My heart flutters even before I recognize Vaughn. My steps falter for only a second. I keep going, but when I am facing the front again, I can’t help but be drawn back to him.
It’s really him. Vaughn is here. Dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans. And he’s holding a sign over his head. I can’t focus long enough to read it before it’s time for me to do the tumbling pass.
As soon as I’m upright again, I glance back at him. I’m closer and can tell he’s smiling. I can’t believe he’s here.
We come to the end of our dance and freeze in the final pose. The crowd gets to their feet, clapping and screaming for us.
Andie catches my attention as we start back for the sideline. Her eyes widen and she mouths, “Oh my god!”
I slow to a jog as I approach him. I can finally read the sign:Go, Lacey!
He drops his arms as I stop two feet away.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, a huge smile pulling at the corners of my mouth.
“Isn’t it obvious?” He points with one hand to the front of his T-shirt. In sloppy penmanship he’s written “I heart cheerleading” in black Sharpie.
