Hey hey, people! I hope you enjoy my latest chapter for Because You Live! :)

FF Tuesday afternoon

(Miranda's POV): "Alright. Well, have a nice rest of your day," Ms. Shiue said after the final bell of the school day rang.

I quickly gathered my things and headed for the door. As I walked out of the room, I felt someone's hand graze my ass. In surprise, I quickly turned around, only to find the biggest asshole in school with the biggest creepy smirk crossing his mouth.

"Ha ha. Oops. Sorry, babe," he sad in false apology. I gave him a disgusted look.

Why does he have to be such a pig? What kind of person goes around school touching girls' asses?

Michael was an ass, and I absolutely hated the guy, but he was really starting to creep me out. I mean, first, the guy takes me to his house while I'm drunk and tries to force himself on me, and then again at the homecoming dance. It's like the guy refused to give up.

I noticed that he turned and started walking the other way down the hall, so I decided not to worry about him for now and just kept walking. Not long after, though, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped and quickly turned around, only to find Vicky stopped behind me.

"Woah!" she exclaimed, "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."

"Oh, no, no, it's okay," I told her, "So where are you off to?"

"Cheerleading tryouts are today, remember?"

"Oh yeah! Right, right, right. How are you feelin' about that?"

"Alright. Just some nerves, but it's nothing."

"That's good. Mind if I come watch?"

"Would you, Miranda? I would love to have someone there with me!"

"Ha ha. Okay, okay."

The two of us stopped at our lockers before finally making our way to the gym. When we entered, we were met by the sight of about nine girls in a line, signing in for the tryout.

In front of them was the injured captain herself, Mandi Shaw. She seemed completely annoyed with the whole situation, mostly because the point of the tryout was to replace her for the rest of the year.

"Ladies, final call. I am NOT going to say this again. If you don't sign-in, you do NOT tryout. Do I make myself clear?" she shouted over the group of girls.

"Well, I guess I better go sign in," Vicky told me as she hustled over to the line.

About two minutes later, she returned to me. We then found a spot on the mats where Vicky could stretch and warm up. As she held a quad stretch, Vicky chatted with me.

"So, who was that hottie who was checkin' you out earlier?" she asked me.

I stared at her wide-eyed. "Just my asshole of an ex-boyfriend," I told her, "He 'accidentally' touched my ass as we were walking out of history."

"Ha ha. Don't you just hate when guys don't know when to give it a rest?" she asked.

"Hmph," I grunted, "Don't I know it."

(Valorie's POV): "Hey Mandi!" I said as I walked into the gym Tuesday afternoon. Poor thing, having to replace herself on her own team. It's almost cruel!

"Oh. H-hey, Valorie. I didn't know you were coming."

"Well, I thought I'd come to support you in your time of need."

"Aw, you're so sweet."

"Aw, I know."

I giggled. Mandi followed in suit by also laughing, except with a more forced enthusiasm.

"So, who do you have trying out today?"

"Oh! Well there's…"

I didn't wait for her to finish before picking up the sign-in sheet. I read down the names. Eww. Too ugly. Too weird. Waaay too ugly…Who's this?

"Vicky Kumori? Who's that?"

"New girl. Really pretty. Blond hair. Huge rack."

I examined the group of girls stretching on the mats and found the girl in question. I then realized that Miranda was talking to her. That's when it occurred to me that I did know who Vicky was. She was one of them. She was part of the "geek squad", to quote Seto. I had seen her with Miranda, sashaying around like she owns the place. It was like having two Mirandas.

Yeah, that's exactly what we need around here. Two bitches who think they're so hot and perfect.

(Vicky's POV): I had finished stretching and was now warming up my tumbling. Everything seemed to be working perfectly fine. That is, until I tried doing my full twist. The round off and back handspring before it were fine, but something I did messed me up and I got off-balance and ended up falling on my ass.

"God! What am I doing wrong?" I shouted in frustration.

"You're over-rotating on the full," I heard from behind me. I turned around and found that it was Miranda that had said something.

"Huh?" I said in surprise.

What does Miranda know about tumbling?

"You're pushing it way too much," she told me. I remained still, just staring at her in confusion.

"Here," she said as she started toward the end of the mats. She took off her school blazer and black Jimmy Choos.

What she did next, however, completely shocked me. She did a perfect round off into a back handspring and full twist. After she stuck the landing, she looked back at me.

"Still got it," she said, pretending to brush off her shoulder with a big smile on her face. I stood there dumbfounded.

What just happened?

"Hellooo? Vicky?" Miranda said as she waved her hand in front of my face.

"That…was…AWESOME!" was all I could think to say, "Where the hell did that come from?"

"I used to do gymnastics."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but I stopped when I started high school."

"Why?"

"Well, my high school was a boarding school in L.A., and my gym was back in Napa, so…"

"I didn't know you went to boarding school in Los Angeles. Cool! So..."

(Valorie's POV): "Miranda isn't trying out, is she?" I asked Mandi.

"Why don't you check the sign-in sheet?" she said sarcastically as she used her one good leg to rock herself back in her chair.

Um…EXCUSE ME?

"What was that?" I asked in an obviously irritated tone.

As soon as she heard my tone, Mandi's chair legs came crashing back down to the ground and she quickly snatched up the sign-in list.

"I mean, uh…no. Her name isn't on the list," she said nervously.

Well, I guess since she's…What the hell?

As soon as I looked back over to the girls on the mat, the first thing I saw was Miranda doing flips like it was her job. I looked back over to Mandi, who had the same look I did. "She's not trying out, huh?"

"But, but, but her names' not on the list."

"Well, then I guess she just won't make the team. You know, because her name isn't on the list," I said, getting gradually more and more stern with my words.

"Uh, right. Right. Of course not," she said as she scribbled on her clipboard.

Oh, dear sweet, Mandi. Is there nothing you won't do to make sure I stay in a good mood?

Not two minutes later, Miranda walked away from her friend and took a seat on the bleachers. I looked back over to Mandi. We shrugged to each other.

I guess we won't have to worry about that one, will we?

I had about an hour before my hair appointment, so I stayed and watched the tryouts. I'd watched every overly-peppy pony tailed hopeful that came in front of Mandi and myself. As each girl went, I gave Mandi my opinion as they did their routine.

Then Vicky's turn came. I hated to admit it, but she was actually pretty good; great even; a lot better than this team had seen in a long time. She was even better than…Mandi…

I leaned in closer to Mandi. "She's pretty good," I told her.

"She'll do," she told me.

"Well, then I guess you don't want to come back next year," I stated. She looked over at me in surprise, but then back to Vicky.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, think about it. This whole thing is just to replace you for the year, and then you'd come back next year, right?"

"Right. Injured doesn't mean I'm done forever. Once I'm healed, I'm back and they're gone."

"Honey, I'm sorry, but face the facts. You're good, but Vicky's really good. Why would the squad get rid of really good to get back just good?"

"You think she's better than me?"

"She's new. She's a fresher face. She's more experienced. Better? Maybe a bit. You'd have to do a little fighting to get that spot back if you put her on the squad. If I were you, I'd pick…Oh! How about Hannah? You'd have some fun with your friend on the team, and she's not that bad, but they'd take you back in a heartbeat next year."

Mandi said nothing, but smiled to herself as Vicky finished her tryout. I, too, smiled.

(Miranda's POV): After the tryouts, the girls were all seated on the mats and Mandi deliberated over who she would pick to fill her spot. After her decision was made, she stood before the girls.

"Alright, ladies. I have made my decision. Now, this was a tough decision for me to make because you were all great, but unfortunately, only one of you can be my replacement," she said to the group.

It has to be Vicky. It has to be. She was great.

"So the girl who will be joining the 2010-2011 Lady Jaguars cheer squad is…"

Vicky! Come on! Say it!

"…Hannah Butler!"

…WHAT?

There was an excited squeal from Hannah as she ran up to Mandi and hugged her.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" someone suddenly shouted at Mandi and Hannah. I looked around and found that it was Jessica Smith, a girl in my English class. She looked furious.

"Excuse me?" Mandi shouted back at her in shock.

"Really? You're picking your friend over any of us? I mean, at least don't make it that obvious!"

"I picked Hannah because I believe she is what's best for the team."

"Oh, please! You two have been friends since fourth grade. If you really wanted the best, you should've picked Vicky! I think we all can agree on that."

Wow!

I looked over at Vicky. She was just as shocked as I was. Not only was this girl standing up to Mandi for her, she had all the others who had tried out on her side, too. They agreed that if none of them were going to get picked, they should lose that spot to someone who really deserved it.

"Look! I have made my decision! Hannah is on the team! We're done here!"

And with that, Mandi grabbed her crutches and she and Hannah hobbled away together. The rest of the girls began to stand and quickly began to converse.

"This is bullshit!"

"Where does she get the nerve?"

"My father will hear about this!"

I walked over to Vicky. I could tell she was down on herself.

"I can't believe this! They're right. You were awesome!" I told her.

"Yeah, well, better luck next time, I guess," she said as she began to walk away. I grabbed her arm to stop her.

"No! There's not going to be a next time! First, the dance team tryouts, and now cheerleading? This bullshit needs to end…and I have an idea of how to do just that…"

Uh oh! What do you think Miranda's got going on in that brain of hers? Hmm, I guess you'll just have to wait until next chapter to see ;) Until next chapter, take care, guys :)