Disclaimer: I don't want to say it over and over again so I'm going to develop a hobby of putting up the disclaimer only at the first chapters of my stories. Twilight ain't mine, sadly not the hot guys in it too. I just borrowed the characters and put them in that little world in my head with original characters.
A/N: Okay guys, this is the prologue of this new story. As explained in my last author's note in Being an..., I'm writing this one first because it's light-hearted. Unlike how Embry's story would be or Jake's and Nessie's. Plus, by writing this one, I don't think I'm revealing anything for the future stories.
Also, thank you for those who liked and commented on Being an Imprint 101. I actually thought no one's going to read it but you guys popped up and reviewed and listed it as your favorite. Thank you thank you thank you! Also, for people who have liked my one and only one-shot as of now, JakeXNessie Sexy Fluff, and commented on that one too, thank you!
Anyway, read on!
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Ryann's POV
"You're looking problematic, sweetie. You just won. What's up?" Neal asked me as he sat down next to me.
We were in a party thrown by a common friend. Neal and I are friends because our families are friends. Not that I mind that. He's a good friend. Neal is actually one of our former leader's best friend. Said former leader is now in the States, married to someone while still studying.
I looked at him. True enough, I was thinking of something. "I was just thinking, if we're going to the USA, where are we staying?" I thought aloud.
"I thought that that's the school problem?" Neal asked.
"Yeah. But I was also asked to think about it until they picked a place or something. You know, teachers are drafting our exam papers now and they're busy. And we have to finish our school fast for this year." explained.
"Oh." he said and seemed to think.
"Plus, we're going to compete in the USA. Tougher crowd. Tougher judges to please. We need all the help we could find." I informed him.
"You do know that Carrie's going to be happy to help you, right?" he told me with a smile. For some reason, he was a year behind Carrie and when Carrie graduated he was a witness to how the team missed its leader. It was hard on the first competition. The routine was easy to do. Everyone had ideas. But the whole control in the situation was what made it hard. That was when we fully appreciated what Carrie had been doing through the years.
It was like we were a bunch of kids, me being the eldest, who their mother left for the first time at home and didn't know how to balance the fun and work. But for the first few months, Carrie was supportive. Reaching out and giving advices through mails. I think she did it purposely, but the e-mails decreased and decreased as time goes by until only a couple were exchanged in the course of a month.
Nonetheless, we survived. It was a scratchy start but a start anyway. We decided to get better than that and have always been doing better than our last performances. And now, our efforts paid-off and we just won the nationals which would lead us to the semi-finals held in the USA. Hopefully, we would be able to get in the finals.
When he said that, I felt my face brighten. Having our former leader back in the equation would be a big factor in us doing good.
"Where does she live now? Do you have her number?" I asked excitedly. Neal chuckled at my tone.
"Of course I have her number. Here." he took his phone from his pocket and dictated the number. I copied it to my phone.
"Thank you. Anyway, where does she live now? We don't want to be bothering her." I told him. I mean, sure Carrie would still help us but it's gonna be embarrassing to her husband if we take her away even if she doesn't have to have business with us anymore.
"Oh. She lives in La Push. It's a three hour drive from Seattle." he told me as if that three hour drive would not be a problem to us.
"But isn't that far away? What if the school decided to book us in a crappy place in Seattle?" I'm sure that Seattle places are sanitary and stuff, but you couldn't blame me to have doubts. Teachers in our school seemed to have a way in booking us in the crappiest places.
"Who said you're going to wait for the teachers to decide where you're staying? Carrie and Seth owns this place in La Push which could accommodate you guys. It's a five bedroom in. If you hurry up and tell her that you're going to book it throughout the duration of your stay there, I'm sure she's going to say no to reservations by others." he informed me.
"Pinch me." I whispered.
Neal looked at me as if I had grown two heads in the course of our conversation. "Excuse me?" he asked and sipped juice from a plastic cup.
"Pinch me. I must be dreaming. Everything is...too good to be true. Is there a hidden camera here?" I told him. I was surprised how things are getting convenient.
"Well, I'm sorry I don't have time for your kinky games, sweetie." he told me with a smirk which tells he's just joking. "But I assure you that you're awake and believe it or not, you're fortunate to have things go this way."
I shot him a weary smile. I was still waiting for a secret camera to pop out and say "Gotcha!".
"I'm not kidding. Call Carrie later, then." he told me somewhat fiercely.
When I got home, and after cleaning up myself, I picked up our phone.
As I dialed the number, I felt nervous. I don't know why. I'm sure Carrie would still remember me but, I don't know. Maybe I'm excited to talk to her again. Oh please let it be Carrie who answers the phone.
The phone rang five times before somebody picked it up.
"Hello?" The person on the other line said. She sounded sleepy. Please let it be Carrie. It would be embarrassing if it's someone else.
"Hello? I'm sorry to disturb but does a Carina Ramirez live here? Or Carina Clearwater?" I added the last one when I realized that she's using her husband's name now.
"Speaking. Who is this?" I didn't know I was holding in my breath until I exhaled a huge amount of air.
"Carrie! Thank God! It's Ryann." I told her.
"For real! Oh my gosh! I can't believe this!" Carrie said excitedly. "How are you? How's the cheering squad?" Figures she would ask about the squad.
"We're good. Same same. Competitions and stuff." I told her and realized that she must have been thinking how I got her number. "Oh yeah, I got your number from Neal, if you don't mind."
"It's okay. So, I'm sure there's an important thing going on and that's why you called?" she said straight. Her being straightforward when talking to me and the squad could both be good and bad at times. Mostly good and this is one of those times.
"Oh yeah." I have learned how to tell it to people straight over time. She taught me the basics. "Well, heard about the international cheering competition?"
"Yes." she said.
"We're in." I told her. Every time I tell people that, I can't help but smile. It would wear off, the smugness, but not in a couple of weeks.
"What? Seriously? I'm happy for you guys!" If she's here, she would hug us senseless.
"Thank you. And it's going to be held in Seattle."
A couple of seconds of silence passed before she talked again. "Which means what I think it means, right?"
"We need all the help we could get." I told her and added what Neal said about us getting lucky that Carrie lives near Seattle.
"Ry," she started using my nickname. "I'll be more than happy to help if this is going to be held in summer."
I think my smile was covering my whole face. Did I not tell her when it's going to be held? "Exactly."
"Gosh! You guys surprise me in ways that never get old!" she said. "Alright, update me with everything," she is so in cheerleader mode right now. "until the time of your flight. You don't have to call though. E-mail's fine."
"Okay. I'll do just that. Oh, and one more thing."
"Yes?"
"We don't have a place to stay yet. Neal told me—" she cut me off though.
"I know what you're going to say. And yes, we have an inn. You called at just the right time before people make reservations for summer."
"Thank god. But the thing is, I still have to tell the school about it. I'll tell you tomorrow?"
"Sure. No problem with that." she told me. "Oh yeah. One request."
"We're exchanging requests now, huh?"
She chuckled. "Of course."
"So what is it?"
"Can you tell Neal to go to my parents' place and have him tell them that I need my old uniform? At least one set? And then tell him to give it to you so that you could bring it here." she said mischievously.
I wasn't sure what she wanted to do with that. Probably for keepsakes. It wasn't my place to ask so I decided not to.
"Sure." I told her.
After some catching up, I put the phone down and went to sleep. But not before looking at my mom's picture situated on my bedside table and having mists in my eyes.
"Good night Mom. I love you." I said and hugged the frame before I laid down and went to sleep.
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A/N: That was the prologue. I think it's a long prologue. Oh well.
Oh yeah. I don't think I've ever told who this story is going to be about. It's gonna be Brady and Collin. I don't know why but somehow, if someone mentions Brady, I think of Collin and vice-versa.
It's not going to be a love triangle, per se, it's a double story. The other girl you'll know next chapter.
I hoped you enjoyed reading this one! I'm going to mention the wolves mostly so Cullen lovers, sorry if they won't be mentioned at all. Wait for Jacob's and Nessie's story though. They will be there.
OMG!! I've watched New Moon! The La Push pack makes me wanna go to the dark side. I love this line said by Emmett but I'm not going to say it in case you guys haven't watched it yet. I don't want to be murdered.
Up next: Chapter 1 in maybe a week.