The next morning, Farrah hurried into the changing rooms, and found Destiny tying up her shoes.
Destiny ignored her completely.
"Hey Destiny," Farrah began. "Look, I'm sorry about yesterday. I totally overreacted. I shouldn't have pushed you, and I should have asked you first."
Destiny glared at her.
"Mm, maybe you should have." She snapped back.
Farrah winced. She deserved that.
She tried again; "I was wondering if you could tell me your side of the story. Please?"
"What's the point?" Destiny folded her arms, "You already made your decision. Sure, I'm the new girl; make me feel as uncomfortable as possible. I know how it is Farrah."
"It's not like that at all!" Farrah protested, "Erin told me that you had said I was fat. She also told me she was pregnant..."
Destiny shook her head, laughing. "Farrah...You don't now Erin as well as you think you do." She replied, quietly. "You really don't. Pregnant? Yeah right! Erin is a dedicated cheerleader; she would never get herself in a position that would affect her status as a cheerleader!" With that, Destiny walked through to the gym, joining the other new girls in the corner as usual.
Farrah made her way uncomfortably into the gym, shamefaced. That hadn't gone as well as she'd planned.
"You okay?" Courtenay asked.
"Sort of. Let's just say the plan backfired." Farrah replied sadly.
At that moment, Coach Delta swiftly entered the room.
"I have bad news I'm afraid, girls." She announced, "Erin will be leaving us."
Farrah turned to look at Destiny, who was now shaking her head, lips pursed. She looked mad.
"Erin is leaving the cheer squad?" Taylor Crispin questioned.
"No," Coach Delta shook her head, "Erin is leaving the school."
"But she can't!" Olivia exclaimed. "It's so close to the state finals!"
"She and Farrah are our best flyers; none of us can compete with that!" Rachel Woods groaned.
"I'm sorry girls. But Erin is pregnant. She didn't want to risk harming the baby." Delta replied, ruefully.
Farrah turned and saw Destiny muttering under her breath.
The entire room fell silent.
"So what do we do now?" Harmony called out.
"I guess we have to see who the next best choice is." Farrah sighed.
Delta nodded. "Farrah's right. Anyone want to step forward?"
At that moment, something astonishing happened.
"I'll do it." Destiny sighed. She really didn't sound convincing, almost like she was dreading it.
"Are you sure you want to, Destiny?" Coach Delta asked, sensing the girl's tone.
"Sure, why not." She replied, almost sadly.
"Right, well that's settled then. Destiny is our new flyer!" Delta grinned.
The cheerleaders all clapped, making Destiny go bright pink.
"So that means now, Farrah and Destiny have to be working together a lot more." The coach said, and with that, she left the hall.
Farrah and Destiny exchanged unsure glances.
"This is going to be so awkward." Destiny groaned.
"If anything happens, we'll be here to back you up!" Emma answered, cart wheeling past.
"What she said," Summer giggled.
"Thanks." Destiny smiled weakly. Her insides squirmed with nerves.
Farrah took a deep breath and bounded towards Destiny.
"Hey. So...you ready to do these lifts?" She asked, clapping her hands together.
Everybody exchanged worried glances and Farrah shifted uncomfortably.
"Um, yeah. Sure." Destiny replied, finally.
The rest of practise ran smoothly, even the quarrelling girls seemed to be getting along now.
Destiny was a bit late to go home after getting changed, and everybody left the changing rooms without her.
"We'll meet you on the front path." Roseanne had told her, as she, Summer and Emily made their exit.
Destiny slung her gym bag over her shoulder, and was just leaving, when Erin stepped in front of her.
"Hey there!" She sneered.
Destiny felt horrified, but she kept her cool.
"Don't you think you've done enough damage?" She said, shaking her head. She went to walk out the door, but Erin put her arm in the way.
"Oh no, Destiny. I'm not quite done yet." She replied, with a twisted smile. "I'm not stopping until I make sure you're out of the squad for good! Farrah's not going to keep you much longer."
Destiny shook her head in disgust and disbelief. "Why are you doing this? Why have you always had a problem with me? What did I ever do to you?"
"You're too good, that's your problem." Erin explained; "Just too good at everything. Cheerleading is my thing okay! No suck-up like you is going to take that away from me! You've had your limelight, and now it's my turn!"
"You're twisted." Destiny gasped, barging past Erin.
Erin spun around. "Oh come on Destiny, who's going to believe you? I've been here longer; had my chance to shine. Farrah is nothing without me. No cheer squad is anything without me!"
She took a breath.
"And if you're going to steal my limelight here, I'll go elsewhere and tear you down - All of you. Seabreeze High cheer squad will be no more!"
All Destiny could do was stare in horror.