"So who did you vote for?" asked Amber

"I'm not going to tell you" replied Rita.

After the news of the vote that would take place before the end of school, they had all felt the anxiety. Beryl may have been gone from the school but the fear of her return was very evident and a few didn't want to step in the position. However it seemed like the captaincy would either go to Raye or Mina. The Mariano sisters had left the voting area to wait for Serena and Andrew to join them.

"Fine than, guess who I voted for?"

"You shouldn't tell me either" replied Rita.

"Well I actually voted for Serena" said Amber with excitement.

"Am, you shouldn't have. It's hard enough for Serena already without her being voted as East Jubann cheer captain plus she would already be on edge with her friends as it is". Rita was very concerned on what would happen if Serena did make captain. Sure, logically it would be great for the team, especially since after the deal with Raye. Serena would be making the routine. So really she would be the best person to lead them. However Serena was only willingly on the squad till be competition season started. Rita very much doubted she would hang around much longer after that and to top that, her friends at West high weren't happy with the fact that Serena was on the team let alone the fact that she would be the fucking captain of it." How do you know?" asked Amber naively. "Come on Amber. It's easy to know that Rochelle and Molly wouldn't be happy. They are both on the West Jubann squad. The squad that Serena was the captain of.

"Oh, well now I feel like a bitch. I didn't know"

"Well let's hope that everyone votes for Raye" replied Rita.

"Did you know her full name is Raven Anastasia Shields? How weird is that?" said Amber and she proceeded to look up at the ceiling in amazement. Almost like she couldn't believe it was there above her" Sometimes you are so clueless Amber "Rita shot at her sister. Amber had never been the sharpest tool in the toolbox but now she was just acting stupid and Rita was curious to find out why the sudden change of intelligences and she questioned Amber why. "Okay will there's this guy that I like and I hear he doesn't like smart girls so I'm trying to not be smart, is it working?"

"Amber you should never dumb yourself down just so a guy will like you and tell me what moron this is that like's uneducated stupid woman?" glared Rita.

"Well it's actually Greg. Bevin Disick told me that he was into flirty girls that don't talk about smart stuff all the time" said Amber very shyly. Amber hated that she was admitting that she had a crush on one of her sister's friends. "Amber, don't hold your breath on that. I know Greg's type is definitely not honour student but he isn't into girls who don't know left from right so chill with the 'I'm stupid' routine." demanded Rita. She didn't know nor could she understand the attraction that her own sister had for Greg. True, he wasn't an ugly guy but he wasn't at all what she considered boyfriend material "Well I guess Bevin wasn't completely wrong" replied Amber simply.

Rita rolled her eyes. Bevin Disick was a part of Beryl's clique before she had slept with Darien Shields. It was approximately six months ago on the ' Darien Shields' time line. It was before he had hooked up with Emerald Ander. Beryl had found out a week after it had happened. Rita had heard that it had been nothing but sex and Bevin had actually felt mutual about it, reasoning that because Beryl wanted Darien, there would be no way for her to even attempt having a relationship with Darien. That was without adding the fact that Darien hated relationships in any equation. Either way Beryl had been threaten by it so Bevin had been dropped from Beryl's friend list. Disick was notably shaken by the sudden rejection from the social scene but Rita figured that it was probably the best thing to happen to her. She had since joined the artsy people in clothing design however she every once in a while stepped back into the bitch she had once been.

"Since when do you listening to Bevin?" Asked Rita.

"I'm not"

"Sure you're not. Look if you want to get Greg's attention, try actually talking to him". Rita was surprised that Amber liked Greg but to each their own she figured. After all there was a time when she had been a hopeless romantic. Something that had allowed her to deny the reality of a situation, like sleeping with Darien. He had apologized for it but he did it long after it all happened it took Rita back but it was nice to know he was sorry about it. Rita didn't feel the same attraction she did for him anymore. When she had first agreed to go out with him, it had been that romantic side of her that couldn't resist. He was the most popular guy and he was the best looking guy she had ever seen in her life. But now the attraction was just something based more on appearances. He was hot but that was it. Luckily Greg was not like Darien or Rita would have been worried.

"What if I say something stupid?" asked Amber nervously at all the things that could go wrong if they had an actually proper conversation. "Well you never know if you don't try and anyway you could always just be friends" commented Rita. She would prefer for her sister just to have a friendship with one of her friends but she trusted Amber to make the right choice, unlike she had when she had first started high school. "Don't antagonize me with that 'Just be friends' speech. I want to hang out with him and see if its real or just a crush" replied Amber.

"As long as it's not about being in love with the idea of being in love. You know where that will get you"

"Dropped from the social scene?"

"Hey, that was not what I was talking about. Anyway let's talk more about this later okay" said Rita.

"Sure" replied Amber as they both saw Andrew and Serena heading toward them. Andrew looked content in every way a person could but Serena looked a little restless. When the whole Raye routine thing had happened she had been so calm but Rita could see the chips falling away to reveal Serena's true emotions. It was confusion and fear but Rita wasn't about to call her out on it. It would do Serena no good for her to know how obvious it was to see how she was feeling. Rita herself felt like she should have stepped in more to warn Serena not to do it when it all happened. She should have warned Serena that by giving Raye a reason for hope to believe in a possibility to win, it empowered her. Rita had no doubts that Raye probably set Beryl up to be caught.

"Hey guys, you both took your time" said Amber in greeting them as both Andrew and Serena joined them.

"Well it was a big choice Amber. Whoever gets voted in has a lot of work to do. Miss Haruna told Raye that classes for everyone on the squad would be cancelled to make room for practice. You know, for the new routine for the Friday night game. "Andrew had said it all in barely a whisper. Serena had known that Andrew was trying to avoid the conversation about her making a routine for them. It was kind as Andrew always was but she found it all very daunting to say the least. She had to make a routine by tomorrow so that they could spend the whole school day perfecting and practicing it for the game's half-time. Plus she had to make it so it was something that could actually be learnt in that time period. It was going to be a long day and night. That was before they even started tomorrows training before the game that very night. That was the part Serena dreaded the most, the game against West Jubann High.

"Serena, when do we get to see the routine?" Asked Amber.

Rita and Andrew glared heavily at Amber but it was Rita who spoke up first. "Amber now is not the time". Amber was taken back immediately and realized that situation.

"Sorry Serena" Amber replied quietly

"It's okay. I'm actually not sure; really it will depend on the strengths of the team. I haven't really been able to see it yet" Serena said quickly.

"Oh well everyone is actually good, you just could never tell from Beryl's routines." Serena nodded and Rita and Andrew remand quiet, not really knowing what to say. "Good to know" Serena smiled at Amber warmly. "Well I better go find Birdie, she is probably wondering why I didn't show up for lunch" added Serena, trying to change the subject.

In the time she had been waiting to vote, she had seen Raye with Miss Haruna. She had almost walked straight over to Raye to tell her to make her own routine because she was not going to do it. Soon after that had crossed her mind, she would come to her senses and realize there was no way she could back out of it. Raye had announced to everyone that she was doing it. The whole squad and school were now expecting it and if she didn't do she would come off as a liar. Considering Serena's reputation was already being questioned completely, she didn't need to give anyone another reason to think she was not good on her promises. With that Serena left it all go for a moment and said a goodbye to all three of them and when off to search for birdie, who was probably being escorted by Greg with Melvin tagging along.

...

"So how did the team take all of it?"

"Not so good but they understand, well most of them. Don't get me wrong, they think that the best thing that could have happened was for Beryl to get burned badly like this but now it just complicates everything" replied Molly.

"It's going to be interesting to find out where this goes" added Diana, as if she was reading a novel and waiting for the next book.

As soon as Serena had got home she had called Diana and Molly to tell them about everything that had happened. At first she did feel like she was the spy she feared she would be but figured that the news was global now thanks to facebook and twitter and it was being spread from person to person very fast. So it was just recycled information and true to what she had thought, Molly and Diana knew about Beryl's sudden retirement from the squad and that she was leaving the country. "Look I've got to tell you both something" said Serena

"Okay, moving to our rival school, Helping someone get on the rival squad, than being on our rival squad and being reported as dating totally fine but should be off limits, Darien Shields. What more could there be?" questioned Molly

"I have to make them a routine." said Serena

"When did this happen?" asked Rochelle. Serena already knew that out of her two friends, Diana would be the most affected by it. After all she was now the West Jubann High squad captain. "Before Beryl got expelled from the school during practice in first period" replied Serena. She was avoiding telling her friends about how it had actually happened, with the deal. They would think she was insane and crazy, as Rita and Andrew had felt when she had made it. "A month, you have been there for a month almost and look what they have done to you" yelled Diana.

"Done what, what are you talking about?" Asked Serena, who was confused. They had been talking about the routine problem and then they jumped to something different all together.

"I just feel like you're slipping away Serena, every time we all talk. I feel like Raven Shields and all the rest of them are pulling you further in there little web of games. Their playing you for a fool. I just don't like it." replied Diana.

"I hate to admit it Sere, but I think the same way. I mean it's obvious that East high was always going to change you a little but it's like I don't know you anymore" added Molly.

"You're kidding right, your both my best friends and I'm not slipping away from anything or anyone" replied Serena. She was frightened by this kind of talk. She had always hated the idea of not being with her friends but now everything was worse than it had ever been. A month, that's all it took to change their friendship. "You are Serena, you just can't see it like we do" said Rochelle.

"Why? Why would you think that, this. All of it?" Serena wanted to know what had led them both to believe this, had they seen a sign she hadn't.

"If you can't see it, you never will. Sere, maybe it's best if we just aren't friends for a while, so we can all figure it out by ourselves" replied Rochelle.

"What? Why are you both doing this to me? You guys mean everything to me." Serena felt the tears slide down her face, but she hid it by not chocking up at all. All of it was like losing someone again.

"You're just not the person we became best friends with Sere and by the way you only call now to tell us that you're involved with the East Jubann squad. First helping Amber audition than being on that squad and now you completely turn your back on us at West Jubann to make a routine for them." Diana said it all calmly but it hurt Serena even more.

"Fine than, I'm sorry you both feel that way." answered Serena plainly but it was hurting her. She couldn't talk to them anymore so she hung up with out saying goodbye. She had lost out again, first her parents and now her friends.

"When is the world going to give me a break" groaned Serena. It took her a while to move from her place, when she finally did it didn't come easy. Getting up she headed down stairs after hearing Lily's voice, informing her it was time for dinner, than she would have to start the routine for tomorrow.

...

"I'm so glad you're coming to the game tomorrow"

"What and miss my favourite granddaughter cheer and grandson player, I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Thanks grandpa but I'm your only granddaughter and Darien is your only grandson as well" replied Raye with a smile. She was happy to know that her grandfather was going to go to the game tomorrow to watch Darien play basketball and more importantly see the squad perform. Raye had always been closer to her grandfather over her own father and he in away had always stepped in to be a dad to her when she needed one.

"Well all the same I'm happy your here. You know when you where born we had just assumed you would be a boy but I'm glad you weren't. Have I ever told you that you were the first Shields-born woman in over two hundred years?"

"I think you may have mentioned it once or twice before". He had mentioned it more like fifty or sixty times but whenever he said it she felt happy to have that title however her father had never been as positive at news that instead of having a second son he was getting a daughter. Raye's mind drifted back to the situation with the squad and Serena. It was strange how much Serena's presences had changed things, but it was in a good way. Well it was for her anyway, Lita and Mina still had issue with her that weren't really based on anything she had done but what had happened before with the Shallows family and Serena's parents.

"I feel like something is troubling you, what is it?"

Raye looked up at her grandfather. They had not spoken much in the last month because Raye had been busy with the squad. Raye guessed he probably knew about both Serena's parents dying but not all the details that had happened since than. However what was really troubling Raye was how things had gotten the way they where between Serena and her own two friends, Mina and Lita. She knew some of the brief family history that had taken place but she didn't know everything. "Well I guess you know what happened to Tyson and Jenna Morasca" said Raye, she was almost worried to look up but she did and her grandfather still showed signs of being calm so she continued. "Well their daughter, Serena ended up coming to East Jubann High. Well it got Mina and Lita very nervous and they refuse to even talk to her unless it's about staying out of there way. I just wanna know what happened. What happened between Serena's mother and Mina and Lita's family for it to be like this?" Asked Raye. She hoped her grandfather would answer her.

"That was all a very long time ago, over twenty years ago." he replied.

"I know it's just that, Serena is so talented. She used to make the routines for West Jubann High and before she left to come here and she had just made captain. I just think that if Mina and Lita would let all that went on go, there would be less of a problem. I just want to know in more detail why the Shallows hate Serena so much "added Raye.

"Well Jarred was always my best friend. You know that? Raye nodded her head. Her grandfather had never denied it in anyway and there had always been many dinners and parties between the Shields and Shallows. "Well when Joel and Jefferson were born, I had never seen him happier. By this time your Grandmother Anastasia had already had your father. But for Jarred, when Jenna was born it was like another day"

"So it's like how my dad felt when I was born" said Raye.

"You could say that." Raye knew that her grandfather never liked the fact that Raye had always been looked down as second best in Endymion's eyes but he couldn't say much on the subject." Your father had liked Jenna, for the longest time. So much that they began seeing each other when she was barely fifthteen and your father had been friends with both Joel and Jefferson, so you can see the surprise that they all had when Jenna decided to end courtship between them. For the next couple of years he tried to court Jenna again but she just refused. It wasn't till two year after Jenna had end it that your father found out what had been going on."

Raye already knew that Serena's mother had been an ex-flame of her father but for him to pursue her for as long as he did, Raye figured he must have really liked her, maybe even loved her if that was even possible for him. "He walked in on Jenna whilst she was in..." Raye understood what her grandfather was saying. Her own father had walked in on Jenna whilst she had been having sex with someone. Raye could almost imagine the surprise that her father must have had and it bought a small smirk to her face at her the discomfort that her father had experienced but it slide off quickly whilst she waited to hear the rest.

"Tyson Morasca was a foster child that had just gotten out of the system. I don't know much about him before he became one of the yard boys that maintained the outside gardens of the Shallows Estate. The boy always did his job right so I could see why no one would suspect him of the affair that he was having with Jenna. When Jarred found out, he didn't waste time in asking my son to marry his daughter. I didn't know about the affair till after but Jenna refused over and over. Her father and her brothers pressured her to marry your father, something I'm not proud of. Jarred announced that they where engaged. It didn't sit well with Jenna apparently. The night after her eighteenth birthday, she told her father she was leaving to be with Tyson and nothing he said could change it. Jarred threatened she would be completely cut off from the family if she did but in the end she left with Tyson to West Jubann, that we found out later." Raye couldn't believe what had happened to Jenna Morasca. Raye guess she must have really loved Serena's father to leave the rich life behind and start from scratch but considering they had ended up with there own company, they had done well for themselves.

"The aftermath was the hardest to deal with. He announced that Jenna had left and would not be returning, I found out about the true details behind the engagement than. Your father was still angry about it. I knew he only ever pictured marrying Jenna. In the end we all expected that she would come back, begging for forgiveness and she would annul her marriage to Tyson but she never did. She never came back. It was about six years after that we all found out that Jenna and Tyson had remained married and had a daughter that was about three year old. By than your father had married your mother and had you and your brother and they had divorced." Raye was very aware of her parent's incredibly short marriage but it had never been a big deal to her because it had happened with in the year that she had been born so she didn't remember any of it.

"Jarred refused to acknowledge Jenna after all of it had happened."

"Didn't he ever want to find Jenna or at least know his granddaughter?" Asked Raye, as she thought about Serena.

"No, by than he already had Mina and Lita and Jarred Junior was born about seven years after Mina was born."

"Did it change anything?" asked Raye harmlessly. Her grandfather really had her intrigued about what had happened. "I won't pretend that this didn't affect my friendship with Jarred because it did and I saw a side of him I had never seen before but I forgave him and we never spoke of Jenna again."

"Did you ever think to do something about it, like talk to him and try get him to forgive Jenna?"

"I did, many times but it wasn't my place. Jarred was best forgetting he had a daughter and Jenna seemed to have adjusted well to her new life. I didn't want to ruin the new balance" he replied

"So that's the story" said Raye

"Yes it is, now tell me about Serena Morasca?"

"Why do you want to know about Serena?" asked Raye curiously.

"Well I have been able to tell you what happened before and I would like to know what kind of person Jenna's daughter ended up being."

"Serena is unlike anyone I have met before. I mean I haven't spent a lot of time with her because of Mina and Lita but I know she is strong; well she would have to be to deal with what happened. She couldn't even get out of her car without being followed by the paparazzi when she first came to East Jubann. Than Beryl was threaten by her. Lita and Mina didn't want anything to do with her. Then she got detention for dancing in the hall. She had to join our squad and there is actually a rivalry between the West and the East, It hasn't been easy" said Raye.

"Well Jenna I remember was a Cheerleader so I guess she inherited it from her and she must have gotten a lot of her strength from her parents. Her mother stood up to her father"

"Yeah, I would think so. At first Serena didn't want to be involved with the squad because of her own friends at West Jubann, I think she didn't want to betray them and Beryl still didn't like her. I ended up being able to get Serena to choreograph a routine and Beryl got expelled. There was a vote this afternoon for a new captain and Vice-captain but Serena only has to be on the squad till the competition season starts. I think she will probably leave as soon as she can" said Raye.

"Really and what actually happened between Serena and my grandson, I saw the article?" He asked. Endymion had never liked his grandson's tasted in women, all of them where incredible attractive but didn't have much pride or dignity. When he had seen the paper he had been surprised, because if Serena had known about what had happened all those years ago, she wouldn't have gone near his grandson.

"They were just playing basketball. I don't think that Serena likes Darien like that. From what I know she only wants to be a friend much to Darien's dismay. If you ask him about it, he would deny it" said Raye. She by-pasted the part about Serena ending up staying a night and sleeping in Darien's bedroom. Nothing had happened from what Serena had said and Raye was sure that it was true, that nothing had happened.

"Will anyone vote her for captain?"

"Maybe Amber, Rita and Andrew but I'm not sure about anyone else, we haven't really been a team in a while. Ami says it was Beryl and I'm agreeing with her on that. Ami is usually right."

"Well you'll just have to wait and see

...

"If Mina ends up being captain I'm going to throw myself off a building, the highest one in the country" said Amber.

Rita and Amber sat in Lily's car with Andrew driving and Serena looking aimlessly out the front window from her passenger's seat. It was another day of trust as Lily once again let Andrew drive to school but first they made the detour to B's to give her a ride. But before they could get there Amber was already discussing the chance of Mina being captain. "Relax Amber, I think Raye has this all in the bag, hands down so I wouldn't worry" declared Rita.

"Yeah probably" said Amber and she bit her bottom lip lightly whilst in the middle of thought. "Why don't we just look on the bright side that at the very least, Beryl is gone" suggested Andrew as he pulled up. "Why not, it's still early" replied Amber as she opened the door for B to get in the car.

"Thanks guys, it has been one crazy morning, I think Sam almost got fired, it was crazy." said B with her usual bubbly tone of voice that had everyone in the car smiling. "But done worry, it all got figured out, now let's go." There was a pause but B again ended it." So what did I miss?" she asked, trying to get filled in on the conversation they were having before she got into the car.

"We were just talking about Amber's supposed suicide attempt if Mina becomes captain?" said Rita, light-heartedly and B was quick to respond. "Really, well Greg was telling me yesterday that Raven Shields was going to get that was he wrong?" Amber tensed a little in dismay, B didn't know about the attraction that Amber had for Greg.

"No he wasn't, it will probably be Raye" confirmed Rita. Andrew parked the car in the student parking lot and got out with Amber, B, Rita and Serena following. Melvin and Greg both stood waiting for all five of them.

"You're late" said Greg, smirking as they walked up to join both of them.

"What are you talking about, first period hasn't even started" glared Rita, reaching into her bag to locate her phone and see what the time was. "I know I just always wanted to say that" said Greg whilst he was laughing. Melvin however remained trained to his book that he was reading, exhausting his usual shyness and ignoring the commotion around him.

"You're such a moron Greg" said Andrew rolling his eyes.

"Says the guy who is a cheerleader" he fired back at him and Andrew just glared as Rita had moments before.

"Greg you are the funniest guy I have ever meet, well after Sam of course" joked B and she giggled lightly. Greg just beamed "Oh I forgot to tell you I made the..."

But he was interrupted when they saw Raye and Ami clearly heading toward them. When they joined the circle Raye said "Amber, Rita, Andrew, Serena. The vote is in we need you all in the gym now". It was obvious that Raye was on edge but it was understandable. There was a game in less than twelve hours and there was so much to do, without having to deal with that fact of who would be captain.

"Well we better go" said Rita and they left Greg and B to head to their first class of the day.

By the time they got to the gym, all the cheerleaders already where in the process of changing. They walk toward their lockers; Andrew had left to the guys changing rooms. They all clearly heard the gossip on who would get the captain spot, Raye, Mina and Lita's name all came up at times. "I just want this day to be over and soon" said Amber as she finished tying her hair up. "I'll meet you guys out there" said Amber. Rita nodded and Amber soon left to join everyone that had finished changing. As soon as she left Rita turned to Serena and asked, "Serena are you alright? You have been quiet all morning." It was true; Serena had not said a word to anyone.

"I'm fine" She wasn't. After the sudden friendship-ending between herself, Molly and Diana, it seemed like nothing would be the same again. Her life at West Jubann was slipping away, she had said it before but it was like the final straw that would remind her that she would never be just Serena Morasca. She hadn't told anyone what had happened but she expected she would have to explain. Not necessary in great detail but she needed to give Rita some closure. Than everyone would leave it alone in future and she would never have to speak about it again. "Serena, come on. I know I haven't known you a long time but I still know something's about you, like knowing when you lying. Like right now" said Rita, pushing for a better answer that didn't involve the word 'fine' in anyway.

"I didn't know I was that transparent. My friends or rather former-friends know about what's been happening over here. They think it's in everyone's best interest if we stop being friends." said Serena, keeping it short.

"What? I can't believe this. I'm sorry Serena" it was all Rita could think to say at that moment. She had known that Diana and Molly had meant a lot to Serena. "It's okay, it was bound to happen at some point" replied Serena, that was lie as well. She had never expected it to happen but she couldn't think about it now. Her only distraction from it all was getting a routine together in time. Hopefully it would be enough to pre-occupy her to not leave any time to think about them.

"It probably is for the best right now" added Serena. Rita knew she was hurting badly but she was too strong to admit it. She couldn't say anything else because it was time to start the long day of practice, plus finding out who was the captain. She knew there was a chance it could be Serena. Amber had voted for her but Rita didn't know who else would have.

They were the last ones out and by than Miss Haruna was already standing there, waiting to call out the new Captain and Vice-Captain. It was another example of the differences between East High and West High. When Serena had been voted in as captain at West Jubann, Avery Bundy, Birdie's sister had finished as the West high captain she had just told Serena that she was the new captain. Obviously Beryl couldn't do it because she was probably half away to England. However Raye probably could have done it because she had been Vice-Captain when Beryl had been Captain. "Raven Anastasia Shields will be the new captain" she said quickly in annoyances.

"No surprise there" Serena heard a few people whispering to each other but they applauded Raye's appointment as captain. Both Lita and Mina hugged her, quickly followed by Ami repeating the action "Your new Vice-captain will be (she paused and looked in shock at Serena briefly), Serena Morasca". There wasn't a complete look of surprise but a few shocked faces which included Mina and Lita. Miss Haruna for the first time that Serena had met her didn't know what to say. Pausing she continued. "You have all been excluded from classes in order to make the preparations for tonight's game and I expect you all to do so with Miss Shields leading you" she said no more and left. There was nothing Miss Haruna could do to change the situation, Serena had been voted in fairly. As soon as she left Raye spoke up." Well I think we should start with a warm up run before we get into anything else." Raye mapped out a path around the school that would not interfere with the schools usual activates. They all listened obediently, whilst Serena was just waiting to find out what Raye would make of the situation and if she would demand that Mina be put in as the vice-captain immediately. As the team took off Raye called Serena over.

"Good luck" whispered Rita. She and Amber and Andrew hadn't had the time to see if Serena was really okay so Rita had been left to say the most encouraging thing she could think of at the point. It wasn't very inspiring but Rita hoped that Serena wouldn't die of shock at her appointment and Rita now felt the definite urge to strangle her sister for voting Serena as Vice-captain because it has obviously had totalled up at one point.

When Serena finally got there, Raye had already forced Lita and Mina to join the rest of the team whilst they said their first words together as captain and vice-captain. "Hi" said Serena quickly. Again reasoning with herself that Raye would probably be the one to do all the talking. "You didn't expect that?" asked Raye calmingly.

"Would you be shocked if I said no" Serena replied.

"Well I'm not as surprised by this, now that Beryl is gone they don't fear what would have happened to them if they vote in a way she didn't like. Mina is disappointed but she will get over it" said Raye.

"She won't have to, I'm not going to be on the team for the rest of the year, and I'll just give the spot to her at the end of the game. If I'm giving the routine it's probably better if I'm in some position so everyone can learn it." said Serena. Raye nodded in agreement at Serena's solution. It made perfect sense and Mina would be happy to know she would end up being Vice-Captain. "Mina will be thrilled to hear that but you could always stay on the team for the rest of the year, I'm not going to ask you to leave" assured Raye.

"Trust me when I say it's best I leave when the time comes but thanks" replied Serena.

"Okay well come on we got a game to prepare for" said Raye. It was confirmed that they would do the half time show and perform. Than who ever won would close the game. So Serena had to come up with two routines just in case East Jubann won which was very likely, considering that Darien would be playing in the game.

….

"Why is she Vice-captain? I should be Vice-Captain. It should be me" said Mina for the twenty-thousandth time since they had stopped for a break.

Watch it Mina, your starting to sound like Beryl" warned Raye, as she unscrewed the cap from her diet coke "I actually spoke to Serena as soon as you all went for the first warm up. She is more than willing to hand it over to you after the game. I think she probably would have given it to you right away but with her making the routines, it made more sense for her to be vice-captain until then." Raye added, hoping that Mina was ease up on the issue.

"Okay fine, at least she knows her place." Raye just rolled her eyes at the whole drama that Mina involved herself in. "And what's that supposed to mean?" asked Raye, raising her eyebrows at Mina, waiting for an answer from her. "All I'm saying is that nothing good can come of her being around, that's all" Mina answered.

Ami immediately felt the need to remind Mina about all the good changes that had taken place so she cut in to their conversation" Nothing good, come one Mina. Beryl is gone, we are going to be performing the best we have ever been and we are going to actually have a better chance at taking on West Jubann. You can call all that nothing good. Seriously Mina, wake up."

"Ami makes a great point and anyway the only reason you don't like Serena is because of that brainwashing that goes on in your household" added Raye. She knew she had probably hit a chord she wasn't meant to but it was time to get the job done (That was being the best cheerleading squad in the country) and put aside things that had absolutely nothing to do with the squad. "That was low Raye" said Lita.

"Maybe so but someone has to say it, I'm so sick of this rivalry you have with her." replied Raye.

"It's not a rivalry" fired back Mina.

"Than what is it than, face it Mina the only reason you hate Serena is because of something that went on like twenty years ago with your parents and hers. That and you didn't get vice-captain on your own. Think to yourself, real good, is this really a good enough reason to hate someone?" asked Raye. Mina didn't say anything nor did Lita; Raye instantly knew it was becoming worse for them. "Is it getting that bad?" asked Raye, softly. Her tone indicated that she was feeling apologetic for what she had said.

Lita answered for them, "He's dying Raye, truly and with all this stuff with Serena. It's got my dad and Uncle Joel worried". Mina had her face in her hands than she looked up and pushed her hair out of her face it was all a sign of her frustration her frustration. "Wait why would they be worried?" asked Ami. She was very surprised considering that she knew that Mina and Lita's family were all well off in the money department." They're concerned you could say that he is going to give it all to Serena" said Lita. Ami and Raye both where taken back by this. "No offence Lita but isn't that delusional in some way. Didn't he say he didn't want anything to do with them?" asked Raye, referring to Serena's mother and father as well as herself.

"Yeah, I don't know why they're so worried" replied Lita. Mina had yet to look up. "Well maybe cheering can take your mind off this, you as well Mina" said Raye, and Ami nodded in agreement. "Or I could take your mind off everything" said Michael Logan as he walked up behind Mina without her realizing. "Hey" said Mina and she smiled instantly and kissed her boyfriend as he joined the table. "So, what are we all talking about?" asked Michael.

"Nothing much, you know the normal boring stuff" replied Mina simply.

"Nate over here" shouted Lita suddenly as she saw Nathan and Jacob. Nathan saw Lita immediately and joined them with Jacob close behind. Jacob kissed Raye as Nathan sat down next to Lita. Lita smiled was evident as Nathan moved in to kiss her longer than the quick greeting of everyone else.

"Seriously you two, get a room" said Raye. Lita blushed and everyone bursted out laughing. "So where is that idiotic brother of mine?" asked Raye, changing the subject whilst Lita pulled her blushing self together. "He and Zack should be here soon, extra practice" Jacob confirmed quickly.

"Really, why?" asked Ami, who was anxious to see Zack.

"They had to help train a reserve just in case something happened at the game. It's that 'Worth's' guy, than they had to finish their own training after the guy left" answered Jacob. He was solid in his answer as was his friendship with Darien. They were friends again after Jacob believed that he had left Serena alone at Raye's ordered.

"Oh look here comes the dynamic duo" joked Raye as Zack and Darien finally heading toward them, it was very clear that they had just showered as their hair was still obviously wet. Ami was excited to see Zack and he showed the same reaction as he joined her in a usual round of intelligences. Talking about everything that everyone else had no interest in at all. Darien casually stood standing looking around, he didn't make it obvious but he was searching for Serena. When he found her, he saw that she was listening to something that Rita's sister Amber was saying and he watched her laugh at what she had said.

"Moron are you going to sit down or what?" asked Raye, teasing him as any sister would. "No I have more important things to do and he left the table and headed to the gym again, going to practice.

"What's up with him?" asked Lita, as usually Raye's brother would have harsher things to say.

"I think it's the game tonight" said Jacob and every agreed that it was probably the reason behind his strange behaviour however only Raye knew about Serena's night in Darien's room. She hadn't even told Ami or Jacob.

...

Ï swear if I have to be thrown in the air one more time I'm going to be sick" said Amber.

Amber, Rita, Greg, Andrew, Melvin and Serena sat at their usual table, with Birdie joining them. "Come on it wasn't that bad, it's all in the nature of the sport and anyway, weren't you going to throw yourself off a building at one point" reasoned Rita. She was happy, they were doing fantastic cheerleading. Which was something she had missed whilst Beryl had been in the mist of her reign.

"Very funny Rita. I guess I'm not used to the challenge" replied Amber. Beryl had barely asked her to do anything but perform her ground C-level dance routines.

"So you're all actually doing genuine cheerleading"? Asked Greg, without insult for the first time.

"Yes, what's it to you?" asked Andrew sharply. Greg has always made fun of the fact that Andrew was on the cheerleading team and it didn't help when Beryl took over and made it a total side-show about her.

"Well I'm a reserve on the basketball team" said Greg.

"Since when?" asked Andrew. Rita looked surprised, as did Serena. Melvin just continued reading, obviously he knew about this piece of information. However Amber was beaming at Greg. Birdie was just smiling in content.

"Since this morning, I was going to tell you but you all had to rush off to cheerleading and B had to get to class. So it was only Mev and I celebrating this glorious news." he commended. Melvin barely looked up, indicating that he probably just gave Greg an encouraging smile and left it at that.

"So how did you reach that milestone? Asked Rita, who was curious to know how Greg got picked to be a reserve out of all the guys in the school. Sure it was the high-ins to be in the main team that played in the games like Darien, Jacob and the rest of them but being on the reserve was still an accomplishment.

"Coach saw me in P.E and he asked me if l wanted to be a part of the team." he replied. Amber was still beaming; Serena and Rita just smiled in encouragement. Andrew listened attentively as any friend would "Are you going to be playing tonight?" he asked.

"Unless someone mysteriously falls to their death or ends up with mad cow disease, probably not but I got to train with Zack Tyler and Darien Shields and they are really good" Greg answered, whoever it didn't stop him from being proud of his knew statue and the fact that he had trained with Darien and Zack. Rita honestly hoped that it wouldn't course Greg's head to blow up too much that he wouldn't be able to fit through the door but regardless she was happy for Greg, so much that she would overlook the fact that one of her friends were spending time with Darien Shields.

Serena surprisingly enough felt simpler. It was Greg's moment of shine, so she put Darien in the back of her mind." Still well done Greg, I'm very excited for you" said Serena positively. She had no idea that Greg had even been interested in being on the basketball team. He always seemed like the 'Too Cool for School' kind of guy either that or he was constantly making fun at the rich and popular students of East Jubann high that either where on the basketball team or the squad.

"Thanks Sere-, hey you'll be V.C that's awesome" replied Greg but he was quickly hushed. It wasn't exactly public news yet. Everyone knew about Raye's sudden move up in the 'Cheerleader Chain' but everything else was to be left unsaid.

"Greg it's all on the D.L right now" said Rita after she and Andrew had hushed him.

"I think it's awesome" said B, getting into the conversation. "I heard that everything has been crazy with the squad, so Serena will be able to help straighten it out." Birdie was not known to be logical in any situation but she had moments of superiority. "

Yeah, totally" added a very nervous Amber.

"Well thanks guys but it's going to take a lot more. I don't even know if we are going to be ready in time for the game tonight". Serena knew it was such short notice that she didn't think they would be able to pull anything spectacular and they hadn't been performing great routines lately so their skills were not as high as they could be. It was a lot to take care of it. Even Raye was stressed; she had seen the evidences of it several times during practice when something didn't go right.

"We will be" said Rita supportively. However she wasn't sure herself. Whereas Andrew had borderline feelings toward it. He wasn't sure that it would happen but he didn't think it couldn't happen. "Yeah but if we are going to do this we really have to go" warned Andrew. The usual timed break had been cut in half for all cheerleaders and the basketball player where having final practice periods as well so Greg would be involved with that.

"B, you gonna be all right?" asked Serena.

"Yeah, I'm sure Melvin and I can think of something to do. You know the one thing this school is missing is a girls basketball team." said Birdie. Serena smiled; Birdie was fine however she suspected that Melvin was not completely comfortable being around B because she gave him a lot of attention. Which was something he wasn't used to?

"Well it might happen" said Serena.

"Yeah should I talk to the student-council president about it?" asked B.

Rita who was about to leave quickly answered for Serena, "Probably not, the council president is Darien Shields and the Vice-president is Emerald Ander and she just runs after him so she wouldn't be much help either." said Rita. Birdie's happiness didn't fault when she said "Oh well, maybe next year" and she continued to talk to Melvin.

Greg had left to get to basketball practice, Andrew and Amber had already left the table. "I didn't know Darien was the student-council president" said Serena. She was taken back that he had never mentioned it. She would have thought that when he was being his usual arrogant self he would have said something about it. "Don't worry about it, the only reason he even went for the election is to sleep with all the female council members and the only reason why everyone voted for him was to avoid social suicide. Everyone actually believed that he knew who voted for who. Anyway he was successfully in sleeping with all the really attractive women on the council like a month ago when he nailed Emerald, she was the last one."

"Seems like something he would do" said Serena hollowly. Everything had been left unresolved between herself and Darien. In honest truth she didn't actually know what she would say when they would finally confront each other, if they ever did but she could never tell with him. There had been a few moments before when she didn't think they would speech again however in the end they had a pleasant conversation than all the drama would start again and the cycle would continue. It seemed to be a never ending story with Darien Shields. Somehow Serena figured that being the guy's friend was perhaps more work than it was worth in the end because he wasn't going to change any time soon.

...

"Okay I want to see it all one more time" said Raye and she got in the line-up and they did the routine one more time. Raye would turn around a couple of times to check to see that everything was right as would Serena when it was necessary.

When they finished Raye asked "Is it what you imagined?" to Serena. She took a moment to look at the final form and said "Everything and more" she replied. Raye smiled with happiness that they had finally finished. "Well that's it, remember to get here early for the game so we can do touch ups" said Raye, dismissing everyone.

"Do you think it will be enough?" asked Serena. It had been a month since she had done serious cheerleading so she wasn't as sure of her skills as she had been before. "Yeah, I think so. The routine is amazing Serena. I knew it would be" replied Raye. They both stood there officially content with what they had achieved in such a short amount of time. "I guess I'll see you tonight" said Serena as she went to leave but Raye grabbed her wrist quickly for her to stop and pulled away immediately. "What's up?" asked Serena figuring that there was more to be said.

"Look I probably shouldn't say anything but I think I should warn you especially after what you did for the squad and for actually going through with the deal. Mina and Lita's parents are coming tonight as well as their grandfather and Mina's brother Jayjay. Be careful okay, there is tension with them all right now" said Raye. Serena looked for a sign that she was lying but she knew Raye wasn't. Serena took a quick breath and nodded her head. "It won't make a difference. I'm not a Shallows and they all know it. I'm sure they all will ignore me, Mina and Lita usually do but thanks for letting me know Raye" said Serena sincerely and she left to join Amber and Rita who were changing.

"See Amber, nothing to worry about its going to be fine"

"Yeah, yeah but you can see why I was worried? Anything could have happened" said Amber as Serena walked toward them. Rita was the first to speak, "Sere, Ami gave me this to give to you" and she handed her a clipped up East Jubann cheerleading uniform. Serena took it from Rita and looked at it briefly before saying "I never thought I would see the day when I would actually wear East Jubann colours" said Serena. Amber looked at Rita to say something but Rita knew it wasn't something to be talked about openly yet. After everything that had happened with Molly and Diana and the game was against West Jubann so the West high squad would be there, that including them. Rita had never actually met them but she hoped that none of it would affect Serena when it came time to perform.

"Well sometimes a change is good" said Amber after Rita refused to say anything.

"Sometimes, well I'll see you tonight" said Serena.