Sam had walked around the school not paying any particular attention to what was going on. She had recently broken up (rather violently might I add) a fight between her best friend Clover and her rival Mandy. Sam had no love for Mandy, far from it she hated her almost as much as Clover, but it had finally gotten on her nerves.
Clover and Mandy were always competing and trying to outdo each other. Sometimes Clover came out on top others Mandy prevailed but by the next week the victory was forgotten and they were right back to square one. Sam had enough of it, she actually felt as though those two DESERVED to get kicked from the cheer squad and to her it was just fine.
Unknown to Sam, Mandy had secretly followed her. Mandy had been insulted before, and she usually responded with anger, but Sam had gone to far. She had treated Mandy like a child and prudently showed no remorse to her. Even the fact that she treated Clover just as harsh hardly staved the fire in her heart. She wanted revenge and would get it. When she saw Sam walking toward the outside gym grounds an idea popped into her evil little head.
Coach Peterson was in the outdoor training area with Arnold at his side. The two of theme were judging the tryouts to become the cheer captain. Since Mandy and Clover were both booted from the try outs the position was open for most of the girls at Bev high. Arnold had been the captain of last year but do to a new regulation (oddly made right after his performance) it was decreed that a person competing in the national cheerleader tryouts had to be of a female gender.
Luckily however Coach Peterson offered Arnold a job as his personal assistant and the two of them had worked together to train most of the sports teams in the school to their best.
"So how was that coach?" Arnold asked, referring to the young brunet named Alisha who had just finished her try out and went to the locker room.
The coach simply shook his head "I'll tell ya" he began "These girls got spunk and some nifty moves but... none of them have that leadership quality. Something that draws attention to THEM the most. None of these girls are captain quality" he explained.
Arnold scratched his head. He didn't know anyone who could meet the coaches requirements. And with Clover and Mandy gone it seemed like the cheer squad might have a bad run this year.
Unknown to Arnold or Coach Peterson. Sam had watched the last few tryouts in the entrance way. Her form leaned against a wall and her face showing no emotion. She needed to get Clover and Mandy off the mind and think about something else. Then it hit her.
A conversation that took place no more then about a day ago between her and the principal.
Sam had walked into the Principals office that morning a bit nervous. She didn't know why she was called down... or why he would want to talk with her. She took her seat and the principal welcomed her warmly.
"Ah Sam good to see you arrived" he stated as he took a sip from his coffee mug.
"Well what is it?" Sam asked trying to get to the point.
The principal took a serious look and pulled out a folder. "Sam the school board has analyzed your collage application and-" he explained but was cut off by Sam.
"OH MY GOD! DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THAT B IN BIOLOGY? I CAN EXPLAIN I-" Sam shouted but was quickly seated by the principal.
"Sam it's okay. They simply have a small problem with your application" The principal explained.
"Oh... what is it?" Sam asked.
"I'm afraid you are lacking in the physical activities column" he explained.
"What?" Sam asked.
"Well Sam you need to take part in more physical activities... sports clubs... gymnastics? Hockey? Even polo?" the principal explained as he went down the list of sports clubs at the school.
"WOAH!" Sam shouted "I'm not good a sports. I can hardly handle ten push ups" Of course Sam under exaggerated quite a bit. Her spy training gave her some skills that no athlete could learn in simple training. Of course her gadgets helped but a good majority that Sam didn't realize was that it was simply her inability to believe she could do something.
"Well I'm sorry Sam but if you want to get into a good college then I suggest you take part in at least ONE activity" the principal told her, and like that she was gone.
Sam tried hard not to think about that... the principals warnings seemed far off to her but she realized that if she put off for two long she may end up in a serious situation.
"Oh Sammy" she heard from behind her in the familiar nasally voice of Mandy.
"What do you want?" Sam asked lazily as she turned around and was shocked to see what was aimed at her. Mandy had taken the tennis ball launcher from the supply closet and was now aiming it at Sam.
"THIS IS FOR HUMILIATEING ME!" Mandy shouted as she began to fire on her.
With adrenalin in her veins Sam found some unusual physical prowess. She launched herself backward and managed to dodge the first two balls that were launched at her. Unknown to Sam was that she launched herself out on to the field and the combination of noise and flying tennis balls caught the attention of Mr. Peterson and Arnold.
"What the-" Mr. Peterson shouted as he saw Sam dodging the tennis balls.
Sam moved in an incredibly graceful manner. She threw herself backwards going into a few back flips then eventually jumping while doing a full front flip in the air and landing perfectly on the ground with her two feet both put together.
Mandy was now furious. She didn't know Sam could do that, as far as she knew Sam didn't have ANY physical training. She began launching more and more tennis balls at her and Sam was skillfully dodging them.
Sam Ducked, threw herself to the left, right and jumped to avoid the tennis balls. Eventually however one of them nearly hit her face causing Sam to slowly start falling backwards. But at the last moment she put her arms underneath her, propped herself up and threw herself in the air. She sailed through the air for a few seconds and gracefully landed on a balance beam a few feet away.
To Sam it wasn't anything short of simple spy training but what she didn't know was that Mr. Peterson was watching her the entire time.
"MISS SIMPSON!" Mr. Peterson yelled which caused Sam to notice him, scream a bit and fall of the beam on her back flat. In no time Mr. Peterson and Arnold were over her.
"Miss Simpson. Let me tell you that-" Mr. Peterson began. Sam braced herself. What if she interrupted the tryouts? She could get in trouble. She could blame Mandy for this. Yes that's what she could do, she would tell him that it was Mandy's doing that she interrupted the tryouts.
"THAT WAS THE BEST SHOW OF SKILL I HAVE SEEN SINCE YOUR FRIEND CLOVER!" He shouted as he picked her up and patted her on the back.
"What?" Sam asked. What was he talking about?
"Sam. You have to take the place of the cheer squads captain" Mr. Peterson offered.
"WHAT?" Sam shouted.
"Mr. Peterson" Arnold began "I should tell you right now that Sam isn't a fan of cheer leading" Arnold explained.
"Why is that?" Mr. Peterson asked.
"Well for one thing" Sam began "I just don't see the sport in waving pom-poms around like an idiot and shouting out catch phrases to a crowd" Sam explained with a stern face. "Not to mention practically all of them are a bunch of girlie girls" Sam huffed under hear breath.
Mr. Peterson scratched his head. "Sam we need to talk" he began as he grabbed Sam's shoulder and began to lead her into the school with Arnold standing there perplexed and Mandy (who overheard everything) banging her head against the wall.
Sam was taken to Mr. Peterson's office where she was seated and Mr. Peterson began rummaging through a few boxes under his desk.
"Now tell me something Sam" Mr. Peterson began "You don't see the sport in cheer leading but why?" he asked.
"Well what's the sport?" Sam asked "It's just jumping around".
"I admit it doesn't seem as tough as say.. basketball or football but cheerleaders do A LOT more then simply stand there and look pretty" Mr. Peterson explained as he was still rummaging through boxes.
"Like what?" Sam asked.
"Cheer leading isn't exactly as physical as other sports but there's an art to it" he explained. "You're showing your physical prowess and teamwork skills, your coordination ability and reflexes. Some of these can be just as trying as competing in a football game"
Mr. Peterson finally pulled himself away from the boxes with a picture frame in his hand. He examined the picture closely. "Tell me Sam where did you learn your moves?" he asked.
Sam stopped for a second. She couldn't tell him about WOOHP or her being a spy... she had to think of a good excuse. "CLOVER!" She explained "Clover taught me some of her moves..." Sam had lied but she felt as though it was good enough to get her out of this.
"I see..." Mr. Peterson sighed "are you sure you don't wanna try? It's in your blood" he explained.
"My blood?" Sam asked a bit confused.
Mr. Peterson handed Sam the picture and Sam began to look it over. It was a picture taken about thirty years ago of the Beverly Hills High Cheer leading squad of that year. Sam's eyes widened as she saw a familiar face in the picture.
Standing at the front of the picture was HER! Or at least someone who looked like her. After analyzing the black and white photo a little bit more she realized who the person was.
"Mom" Sam gasped. It was her mother, her mother was a cheerleader.
"Listen Sam..." Mr. Peterson began. "I'll give you two days to decide. Two days. That's when the tryouts are. In that time I'll give you some time to think it over, when you make your decision call me" and like that Mr. Peterson let Sam keep the picture and dismissed her.
3 hours later school had ended and the three girls had started driving off for home. Alex was at the wheel, Clover was in the front looking at Sam every now and then who kept staring as a picture.
"Sammy is something wrong?" Clover asked in a soft voice. She got Sam pretty angry earlier that day and now she felt as though she owed her an apology.
Sam didn't respond.
"Look Sam I'm-" Clover began but was cut off by Sam.
"It's okay" Sam explained. "I understand... I just need some time to think".
Clover smiled that her friend had forgiven her. But there was much more on Sam's mind then that. Sam still felt a bit biased towards Cheer leading and hardly though it should be worth her time... but her mother had been a cheerleader?
Why hadn't she said anything. She had to ask her why. Her mother had been one of the most important figures in her life, always so smart and strong and a women in charge of her own life. Sam had emulated many things about her mother and her mom had even told her on several occasions that she was a lot like her when she was her age.
And now Sam's mother had done something Sam though to be stupid and only girlie girls enjoyed? She had to find out why...
Later at the house Sam had found her mothers cellphone number in the small notebook their parent's left behind before they went to Europe. The call went through without a hitch and in no time Sam heard her mother on the other side.
"Hello this is Gabby Simpson how may I help you?" She asked.
"Mom it's me" Sam stated.
"Oh hi Sam. What's bugging you?" she asked.
"Mom... why didn't you tell me you were a cheerleader in high school" Sam asked in a somewhat angry tone.
"What do you mean? I thought you knew?" Gabby replied in a even manner "didn't you notice the pictures?" she asked her daughter.
"Pictures?" Sam asked as it suddenly came back to her. She HAD seen pictures of her mother as a cheerleader before. Of course she was too young (only about seven to ten) to truly understand everything and by the time she was old enough most of it was moved into the basement where it was hidden and Sam never paid much attention to it until now.
"Well no" Sam sighed trying to not sound foolish in front of her mother.
"Sammy I don't understand. Why did you call me just to ask about me being a cheerleader in high school? It was almost thirty years ago" Gabby explained.
"I know but..." Sam began as she began to relay the events of that day. How Mandy and Clover had gotten kicked out of the cheer squad. How Sam had broken up another fight between the two and how Mandy had attacked her. She went on about how she managed to dodge the attacks and how Mr. Peterson was impressed with her. She went on and explained how he offered her a position as the cheer captain.
"Well Sam I say it sounds great" Gabby explained cheerfully.
"But mom..." Sam began to try and explain her viewpoint.
"Well Sam I don't see what the big problem is. I loved the time I was a cheerleader in high school. You go to a lot of places, you meet a lot of nice girls and boys. In fact the reason your father asked me out was because I was a cheerleader" she explained.
Sam's face narrowed it didn't help ease her much to know that the only reason she was created was because she was the daughter of a cheerleader.
"Look Sam just try it out. If you don't like it then quit" Gabby put it simply.
"I need to go, there's a street performance in the town's square that I'm gonna check out, bye sweetie love you" Sam's mother put in in a quick burst as she turned off the phone.
Sam gave a sigh and collapsed onto her bed. On one hand her mother had been a cheerleader and LIKED it, and Sam's mother was probably one of the smartest people she knew and it seemed impossible to her that her mom. Even at Sam's own age would be a cheerleader. Not to mention that if she did become one it could help her collage portfolio quite a bit.
But then she reminded herself that a lot of the biased Sam built up toward cheerleaders was correctly placed their as most- if not all cheerleaders Sam had meet had been girlie girls (with the small exception of Mandy who seemed more of an evil witch then a girlie girl and most likely did it to simply become popular) and that was a stereotype about women Sam had been trying to break.
Of course Sam was feminine in some areas but she never degraded herself to becoming particularly boy crazy or shopping crazy like Clover. She had crushes and shopping urges like a lot of girls in the area but Sam had never ONCE tried, nor wanted to be associated in anyway with being a girlie girl.
Of course Sam made that exception with Clover because she was her friend and there wasn't much Sam could do out of that. But this would be a direct link to Sam herself. If Sam was viewed as a cheerleader then it would only be a matter of time before people would start associating her with the typical girlie girl.
On the other hand if Sam could somehow break that stereotype she could improve the position quite a bit and help hundreds of other smart young women like herself fulfill the physical application of a collage exam book. Or maybe there were women out there like her who just simply wanted to become cheerleaders. Sam at first didn't classify herself as this but now she wasn't sure...
She slowly went to sleep on her bed thinking about the whole ordeal over and over again...
Mandy made her way to Sam's locker later that day with an enraged expression on her face. Sam had not only humiliated her but had taken her spot as head cheerleader (or so she thought) and now she was going to attack Sam personally.
She moved in front of Sam's locker and began to try and crack the lock. She was going to attack Sam's social status perfectly and if her plan worked out then Sam wouldn't want to show her face for a few YEARS.
Her plan wasn't put into practice however as she heard a voice from behind her.
"Hello Man-de" the robot like voice stated but Mandy was too distracted to notice that subtle distinction.
"What do you want?" Mandy demanded as she turned around annoyed but then turned to an expression of terror as a blackened form moved toward her. Mandy's scream went unheard.