A/N: I feel like I've been paying attention to my other fanfic story. So I'll be submitting another chapter in a few days.

Anyway enjoy...

Through The Years

Sophomore Year

Chapter 10: The Tryouts

Summer didn't expect the first week of school to pass through easily. It was an improvement from last year. No doubt about that but, still she had Brittany and her posse to deal with and a certain brown haired guy who makes her brain stop working whenever he is around.

Brittany had recognized Dylan from the ball and would not stop being around him. She wore around that superior smirk whenever Summer was around. Summer tried to hold in her temper and ignore Brittany, and was quite pleased that the only classes she had with Brittany was science, maths and gym. She had all her friends in maths while she was by herself in science. Summer also noticed that she had two classes with Dylan; science and gym.

Gym was an okay period for Summer. She was not born athletic but she may as well. With the amount of things her mom made her do; dance and gymnastic (although that ended with two classes since her mom decided to pull her out and enrol her in dance). But what bugged her was that Brittany was so calm and collected around Dylan while she turned into a ranting, blushing idiot.

Brittany was in fact more ruthless this year. There were some changes in her that Summer noticed. Brittany's hair which had always been blonde now hand highlights and she was taller and slimmer. The list goes on and on. Summer felt as if Brittany wanted to be a modern Barbie doll but without the pink obsession. Designer obsession maybe.

School had started on a Wednesday. It was now Friday. They were in their homerooms.

"Okay class settle down," Mr Andrew said as he walked in. There were sounds of footsteps and scrapping chairs before total silence. Mr Andrew did the roll call before he gave out the announcements.

"Right, every year, the sophomore batch of students have the privilege of entering the month at sea contest," Mr Andrew said. There was some general murmuring before he continued, "As the name states two lucky students would be able to not only study in the sea but bring one of their friends each."

There was excited cheers before Mr Andrew cleared his throat and warned, "Now be warned, the students chosen must maintain good grades. The cruise would be around February just after the winter break. More details would be revealed in time."

With that he ended. Summer turned to Michelle, "A month at sea? That sounds amazing."

"No it doesn't," Katie said practically turning green at the thought of the sea. She had always been sea sick.

"You signing up?" Michelle asked all of them. Summer nodded. Katie shook her head furiously while Freddie and Zac shrugged.

"What does this mean," Summer said and she continued to do a shrug for them.

"It means wait and see," Freddie replied.

...

School passed by quickly and soon, Summer found herself in shorts and a tee shirt under the roof of the gym. Cheer leading tryouts were not the only tryouts that day. It seemed the tryouts for the boys basketball team was on that day.

Summer thought that it was stupid to put both tryouts on the same day. She knew there would be a lot of ogling, staring and giggling from both the boys and girls even before the tryouts started.

"I don't want this," Summer muttered to Michelle. They were both stretching on the mats watching several girls and boys flirt. Then there were some boys nudging one another about some girl's figure.

"Yes you do," Michelle said she stretched her hands to her shoes.

"No I really don't," Summer said.

Michelle stopped stretching long enough to give Summer a look, "Yes you do. I know you try to downplay it but you really want to be on the squad. Because you know that it will make a difference to the school to have someone in cheer leading that is approachable."

Summer kept quiet. She never told Michelle that that was partly the reason she wanted to try out. Summer was surprised that Michelle seemed to know her that well.

"Yeah I do," Summer finally responded.

"Good, because that's what I want to," Michelle smiled at her.

Summer wanted to reply when she felt someone bump into her.

"I'm sorry-" Summer began but abruptly stopped.

"Watch it," Brittany hissed before purposely stepping on Summer's toes and moving on to her friends.

"I didn't know Brittany was trying out," Michelle said as she stood up and watched as Brittany flipped her hand and flirt with one of the boys who was trying out for basketball.

"Seriously," Summer eyebrows rose, "That was all she talked about this week."

"Well I tend to shut down when she's going on about herself," Michelle said.

"All the time?" Summer grinned as Michelle shrugged.

The coaches of the basketball team and cheerleading entered. They were both having what seemed to be a heated debate about the tryouts location. Summer watched as they both finally came to an agreement.

"Those trying for basketball, left side of gym, those trying for cheerleading right side. By the count of three," one of the coaches bellowed.

There was a scatter before the coach reached three. Summer and Michelle were huddled with the other girls who were trying out. A coach approached them. She was not the kind of coach Summer had expected. Her hair was short and dyed red. She wore a fitting tracksuit.

"Hello, I am Coach Janet," she said once she approached the people who wanted to try out. They were all listening to every word she said, "Today is cheerleading tryouts. Some of you will make it and some of you won't. I want you all to give me your best. So are you ready to try out?"

There was a murmur of yes and nods.

"This is cheer leading tryouts. That was pathetic," Coach Janet said before yelling, "Are you ready to try out?"

"Yes!" They yelled.

"Good," coach Janet smiled.

She then motioned for the current cheerleader to come forward. Coach Janet then proceeded to divide them into teams. Try outs was quite simple, to Summer at least. She was made to do moves and perform tricks like somersaults, tumbles and flips. Coach Janet had observed all of them as the cheer leading co captains taught them several moves.

Summer was able to do that easily but Michelle seemed to be able to them flawlessly. It was no surprise Michelle had been more athletic in middle school while Summer was more brainy.

"You were great," Michelle whispered as Summer walked back to the group. Summer had just did her routine.

"I was a quarter of a beat off," Summer shrugged

"Nonsense, you are one of the better ones," Michelle said before the coach called Michelle's name up.

"Good luck," Summer whispered as she squeezed Michelle's hand. Michelle walked up to the floor and started her routine. She was flawless. By the end of it even some of the cheerleaders clapped.

"Brittany," coach Janet called out.

Summer watched as Brittany made her way confidently to the floor before starting her routine. Summer had to admit, Brittany was good. She had great reflexes. Summer watched as each person did their routine. Some were good, others were just plain horrible. Soon the try out came to a close.

"Okay give us a few moments before we announce the results," coach Janet said. The co captains of the cheerleading squad followed the coach to discuss about who was going in. Michelle, who was sitting in the bleachers with everyone, turned to Summer who was drinking from her water bottle.

"That was good tryout," Michelle said.

"Who do you think would become part of the cheer leaders?" Summer asked.

"Not sure. Abigail's good. Then there's Holly, she not that bad. Brittany as much as I hate to admit it might even get in," Michelle replied.

Michelle and Summer were now looking at the boys basketball tryouts. The coach had already called out who made into the team. Summer notice Michelle smile when one of the boy's name was called out.

"Who's Jake Stevens?" Summer asked.

Instantly Michelle's face turn red and she looked away from the guy in question.

"He's a friend you know," Michelle said in a voice that was way to off hand.

"That you like," Summer teased.

"Shush," Michelle whispered before looking around to see if anyone heard that, "I don't. I just.."

"Uh huh," Summer cut in. She was smiling. Jake didn't look too bad, he seemed like a nice guy. He and Michelle would look like a cute couple and Summer wanted to tell Michelle that but coach Janet came back.

"We are only taking five students this year. For the five who are chosen congratulations and welcome to the squad. To the others I'm sorry. All of you did excellent today," coach Janet said.

Butterflies seemed to be fluttering in Summer's stomach. She felt like she wanted to throw up.

"The five are Michelle Carter,..."

There was a round of claps, Summer smiled as Michelle moved up to the front. Michelle mouth out the words 'you'll be next'

"...Holly Daniels, Janice Baker..."

Both said girls squealed and moved up to where Michelle was. The three were congratulating one another. Summer felt her hear shrank maybe she won't get in. It was alright. She was okay with it. She could use the time to manage the band, study or whatever.

"...Summer Hathaway and last but not least..."

Summer felt herself get excited and giddy. She moved up to where Michelle was. Michelle was practically bouncing up and down for her.

"Congratulations," Michelle whispered as she hugged Summer, "See I knew you could do it."

Summer laughed. There were four now. Michelle, Holly, Janice and herself. She was now waiting for the fifth.

"Brittany Lanscott," Coach Janet finished.

There was another round of general clapping once the coach finished once more. Summer who was also clapping was wondering how she should feel having someone who had been her pain in the neck on the same squad as her. Brittany and her...working on the same team. It was...beyond words and Summer meant that in a bad way. Summer watched Brittany walk up with that superior smile and smirking at her.

"Here I thought the only times I have to see her would be during lunch, science, maths and gym, it's kind of depressing," Summer said dramatically.

"Cheer up at least we are on the squad," Michelle said.

Coach Janet when up to them and told them about practice and when to submit their sizes for their uniforms and whatever it was related to the squad. She smiled at all of them before leaving.

Summer and Michelle were walking to the indoors girls locker room when a boy intervened. He had brunette hair, brown eyes and was extremely tanned.

"Hey congrats on making the team," Jake said warmly.

"Thanks Jake you too," Michelle said brightly before she turned to Summer, "Summer this is Jake Stevens. Jake, this is my best friend Summer."

"It's nice to meet you," Summer smiled warmly.

"You too," Jake replied. There was something about that Summer could not help liking. He was easy going , nice and friendly. He was perfect for Michelle. Plus he looked way better up close.

"So you're a Junior?" Summer asked starting up a conversation.

"Sophomore," Jake answered.

"Really? I've never seen you around before," Summer said.

"It's probably because we are not in the same circle, besides I don't really get around much," Jake said.

In that moment one of the boys from the corner of the gym yelled out, "Hey Stevens! Get your bloody butt here."

"Well those are my friends. Wonderful bunch right?" Jake said as he shook his head.

"Stop flirting! We got to go!" the former boy said.

"Amazing," Summer couldn't help but say.

"Spectacular," Michelle said in a mock serious voice trying to hold in her amusement.

"Yeah I guess I have to go. I'll see you girls later. Summer. Michelle," Jake smiled before walking away.

Summer watched as he walked away before turning to Michelle.

"He was cute," Summer squealed once Jake was out of ear shot.

"Shut up," Michelle said ducking, trying to hide a small blush forming in her cheeks.

"I can picture it. Jake and Michelle Stevens," Summer sang as they walked to the girl's locker room.

Michelle blushed harder.

Chapter done. Till the next one :)