I’m also a little shocked they’re allowing us to use the players’ spaces, but I’m grateful. This season’s cheer team has only just been chosen, and already I feel as though I’m part of something so much bigger than myself—something significant. Of all my dance achievements, the rush of today’s win far outshines any of them.
“The VCKC is proud of our streamlined onboarding process, which means we should be able to complete all procedures today.” Judith glows, and a few girls hoot.
Good.The sooner we get the boring stuff out of the way, the sooner I can call and gush to my mom. She’s going to die when she hears the news, maybe from shock, maybe from excitement, who’s to say?
Judith continues, “In a few short moments, we’ll be going over the team expectations. Starting today, every single one of you is an ambassador for the Kings.” She presses her lips into a little smile as the girls clap. Gesturing to our choreographer, she adds, “Stacey and I will read off the principles that each of you embodies so well. Integrity, spirit, and your ability to maintain professionalism both on and off the field, among others. All of you are such bright, well-rounded women, and we’reproud to have you as this year’s official Vista City Kings cheerleaders. Please give us a few moments while we wait for HR to join us.”
A happy chitter blossoms through the space as Judith steps aside. I glance around at who I’m hoping will be my new best friends, vowing to myself that this is it. I will be exactly what they see in me, what they see in all these girls. I know the VCKC’s creed well after all these years. If a beautiful, determined, responsible woman is what they want, then that’s me. Because if I’m anything else—whether here or behind closed doors—I’ll lose the only noteworthy thing I’ve ever accomplished.
I’m responsible. I’m stable. I’m put together. Regardless of the fact that I’m wearing yesterday’s socks—don’t judge me—because I forgot to do laundry this week.
I can do this.
Iamdoing this.
But Avery, what about the time you forgot to change the oil in your car for an entire year?The squeak of my younger sister’s condescending voice infiltrates my thoughts.
That was one time, Ellie! One year. We’ve all—I’ve—moved on. I’ve lived. I’ve learned. I’m a new Avery! A reliable one.
Eventually I realized my ADHD was easier to work with if I set phone reminders and left future-Avery sticky notes so as not to forget such things.
If anyone could hear the on-goings of my mind, they’d surely think I was on the brink of insanity. But truthfully, it’s these small exchanges that keep me sane. Ellie’s disembodied voice is just the reminder I need that I couldn’t befarther from that girl who didn’t know her car needed maintenance every few months. It doesn’t matter how much time has passed; people learn. People move on.
Somehow I’ve managed to convince both our director and Stacey that I’m worthy of dancing next to Mallory, who is studying neuroscience, and Ashton, who started her own nonprofit at the age of eighteen. Do I believe I’m on par with them, at least when it comes to our personal accomplishments? No. But, as they say, you have to fake it ‘til you make it.
I smirk to myself as I sip from my nearly empty water bottle and realize I've been ignoring the fact that through all my nerves, I haven’t used the bathroom in hours.
“Larissa, where’s the ladies’ room?” I whisper, trying to strike a balance between discretion and being heard over everyone piling into their seats.
“What?” She sits beside me, settling in.
“Do you know where the bathroom is?”
She pops up, craning her neck like she’s expecting it to be within this room. When she doesn’t spot one, she lifts her hands and shrugs in defeat. “I think we passed one on the way in.”
I glance around, not wanting to bother anyone else with the question. The directors would know, but they stepped out for a moment, and I’d be too intimidated to ask them anyway.
“We passed one? Down the hall?” I ask.
Larissa nods, but it lacks confidence.
I debate staying put but then panic at the thought of having to leave in the middle of Judith’s next speech. A shiver rushes over me as the cold air kicks on in the room.Rubbing my arms, I push to my feet and edge my way down the row to the exit. The corridor outside is broad and concrete, the original 1959 Vista City Kings logo painted on it. Unable to hold back, I trace my numb fingers over the blue paint of the artwork, trailing them down the length of the hallway as I walk.Note to Avery: Don’t forget your sweater in your car next time.
A few yards down, I come to a men’s restroom. I glance around, but no women’s room accompanies it. That’s when I spot it. Not the ladies’ room, but a sign.Wet paint.Slowly, I raise my hand and sure enough, my digits are coated in that beloved baby blue. Kings blue. To my horror, it isn’t only my fingers that have been marred by the wet paint, but the emblem is smudged. I look around with my heart pounding, but the wide corridor is empty. It’s my first day, and I already ruined something.
“Geez Louise, pepper cheese,” I mutter to myself, instantly self-conscious of my word choice. It’s one that my mom always told me made me sound immature, but I’ve been saying it so long, I can’t let it go. It’s ingrained in me as deeply as my smattering of freckles and my shock of dark hair.
Footsteps echo nearby, and I panic, launching across the hall and darting into the men’s room before anyone can appear and connect me to the accidental-vandalism. The last stall on the end is the biggest and has a sink to itself, so I dive inside, awkwardly latching the door with one hand.
CHAPTER TWO
TY
This wasn’thow I’d planned to spend my day. Coach Mack called me bright and early, saying due to “unforeseen circumstances,” they’d shifted around the team’s PR schedule and needed more players to show up for the Catch-A-Dream meet and greet. Since being traded to the Kings at the beginning of the season, I haven’t been invited to do any kind of special events. No charity stuff, no promos or other fan events. Nothing. Most fans prefer meeting players who have actually represented the Kings on the field, and the first game of the season isn’t for another month or so. I get it.
If I’m being honest, I don’t really like going to these types of things anyway. Small talk and smiling for the camera aren’t my first choice of how to spend my time off, but when Coach calls and says there’s a sick kid who wants to spend a day with some players from his favorite team, you don’t say no to that. When his mom reached out and asked to move up his visit due to treatment plan changes,of course we accommodated it. Seeing the way his face lit up with each hug and high five made every hollow “Enjoying the weather?” worth it.
Truth is, I didn’t have plans for my day anyway. Coach Mack pulled me aside and said his only stipulations were that I smile at least a few times and keep the conversation pleasant. I’m proud to say I think I was able to do that. Being new to the team has been rough. We may all get along on the field, but outside of those yard lines, things can be a little shaky.
