Chapter 10

The First full week of school had finally passed. It was Friday and Pidge couldn't have been more happy for the upcoming weekend. She was already exhausted with the school year.

"Coach is going to be so hard on us next week." Keith stated, walking beside her. They were headed down the steps to the bleachers for morning practice.

The asian had just about bullied her out of the bed, wanting her to come.

Something about her needing to be up more early so she could do more in a day. Keith always tried to push his healthier lifestyle down her throat.

And she wanted to tell him he could shove it.

In her opinion, the only reason she sleeps as long as she does,was because of loverboy keeping her up all night.

"Isn't Iverson always hard on the team?"

Keith sighed, "Yeah, but more so when the week ends with Friday night lights."

Ah, yes. Garrison high's first game was next Friday. Which meant the school was going to be in an absolute frenzy starting Monday. Football players practiced to the bone, Decorating committee fretting about banners and signs all over the school, making sure the team colors were being applied everywhere. Not to mention the school's cheer squad being practically perfect in everything they did.

Now that she thought about it, she was pretty sure Lotor mentioned something about Allura holding tryouts that afternoon ….and wanting her to come.

Dammit.

Welp, too bad she was gonna have to say no. She really needs to be at the boys after school practice.

She also really doesn't want to have Allura push her constantly to join in.

"I keep forgetting about that. Lance hasn't really mentioned it," Pidge said, reaching the bottom bleacher and plopping down. Her pony tail whipped behind her as she looked for #25

"Probably because he's been nervous. You know how he gets before every first game."

"Yeah and then it's like he flips a switch once the game starts. All serious and totally ready." Noticing her best friend had yet to arrive, she grabbed her chemistry book out from her bag and started to turn the pages to her latest spot.

"Exactly, which is why we shouldn't worry."

"I'm not worried," the brunette mumbled, focusing on her book.

The asian laughed, "You will be. He will start to totally freak out and you will be right there comforting him. Then I'll have to hear how you don't want him to get hurt during the game because of his nerves," he shook his head. "It's your thing."

"Yeah yeah. Bite me." Pidge grumbled. Giving the boy a side glance. Not a second later, a whistle was blown and players started to run out from the locker room at the other end of the field goal. Keith, who was already dressed from their previous stop at one of the bathrooms, ruffled her ponytail and headed onto the grass.

Lance, in all his football gear glory, waved to the asian once he exited the locker room. That soon lead to Keith pointing towards her and the lanky teen calling her name and waving his arms wildly.

The brunette waved back and buried her blush into her chemistry pages

It wasn't long before a whistle broke her from her distraction though, a break was called for the boys. Twenty minutes had already passed and Pidge smiled, realizing that she would finally get to talk to Lance. Standing from her spot, the brunette was stopped before she took a step.

Her name was called from behind her, making the brunette turn to see, for whatever reason, James Griffin grinning at her and walking her way.

She stayed put out of curiosity.

What would the school's most darling jock, besides Lotor that is, want with her?

He was sweaty with helmet hair as he stood before her from the ground. The bleachers made her a little more taller but not much. He still towered over her. Lance was taller though.

"Hey, pidge." He said cheerfully and a bit breathlessly from the practice.

"Hello, Griffin…" she was hesitant, making her greeting sound like a question.

"I wanted to tell you that I heard you sing for the first time yesterday and I was very shocked."

How did he hear her sing?

"I don't know if I should take that as an Insult or not."

"Oh no," he rushed. "A compliment for sure. Your voice is amazing."

Oh

"Oh, thank you.." She still wasn't quite sure what was happening but politely took the compliment anyways.

"Why are Pidge and Griffin talking?" Hunk asked.

Lance's head snapped up from his water and turned his sights on the two near the bleachers.

He had wondered what was taking her so long to get over to him.

Keith hummed out a noise in thought beside him, "looks like Griffin obviously approached her. Anybody know what he wants?"

Oh, Lance knew exactly what he wanted and he felt himself almost growl as he groaned in frustration. "Fuck." He tossed his water bottle down onto his bag.

Lotor, Rolo, and Hunk looked at him in bewilderment. Keith smirked. "What's wrong, Lance?" Hunk asked, concerned.

"Asswhole Griffin, is probably hitting on her."

Keith raised an eyebrow, "How would you know?"

"Because he watched the video Rolo sent me yesterday by staring over my shoulder.

He then called her cute and said he would love to "Get to know her". The lanky teen made sure to use visible quotation marks with his fingers, so the guys got the idea.

"Not surprised. She is pretty," said Rolo, catching a glare from Lance. "Look, all i'm saying is that the girl is attractive. Everyone can see that."

Lance still glared but eased up as Lotor spoke. "I think what Rolo is trying to say is that Griffin has a type and it happens to be very attractive girls. Pidge may be shorter-"

"And smarter," Keith added, interrupting the captain.

"-But she still falls into his category," Lotor finished.

"I didn't think he knew she existed," commented Keith.

"He didn't. After watching that video, he basically told me he wasn't sure if they sharedsecond period," said Lance as he pointed out towards the football player who was currently chatting up his best friend.

Rolo gulped from his own bottle of water before he placed it by his feet. "But I share that class with the both of them."

"Exactly!" The cuban exclaimed. "And Rolo isn't romantically interested In either of them and he knows they are in the same period."

"But for whatever reason, Griffin looks to be Interested now. Why?" Hunk asked.

"I don't know, but I'm about to find out." Lance zipped up his bag and started to jog over to the opening of the fence. He watched as the brunette smiled politely at the jock but almost awkwardly. She was probably confused by Griffin talking to her as everyone else was.

Hopping up onto the bleachers next to his best friend. The cuban happily interrupted whatever the boy was about to say and pulled Pidge into his side for a hug. "So this was what was keeping you from me."

He felt as her small hand immediately crawled across his back to return his side embrace.

The action made him shiver slightly.

"Sorry Lance, Griffin was just complimenting me. He heard me sing for the first time in music."

Griffin smiled kindly at the brunette as she talked and Lance so badly wanted to wipe the stupid expression off his face. "You mean overheard. Griffin here, snuck a peak over my shoulder while I was watching the video Rolo sent me." The lanky teen pulled Pidge tighter to his side, gaining a confused look from the girl that he could see from the corner of his eye.

The jock smiled at him before placing a charming smile on his lips. "Well how could I not. There's no possible way I could just ignore such a beautiful voice."

Pidge blushed.

She blushed!

Why is Pidge blushing for him?!

The cuban couldn't help it when he moved the arm that was hanging off her shoulder and hooked it around her waist. His hand was placed on her hip and if possible, he pulled her even closer. The brunette turned absolutely red and he had to admit, it pleased him to know he put the blush on her face.

"Yeah, that's our Pidge. Great at everything she does."

Said girl, cleared her throat and bowed her head out of embarrassment. She never did take compliments well.

"I wouldn't say that."

Lance smiled fondly at her shyness.

"So I hear you are coming to my Halloween party." Said Griffin, trying to turn her attention back onto only him.

Lance glowered.

"Lance and I both are. To be honest he's dragging me," She chuckled.

The jock laughed with her, "Well I'm happy you will be there. Maybe we could go-"

Oh hell no, he was not about to ask her out to his own party!

"Pidge and I are doing a duo costume. Already busy planning and all that." Lance quickly interrupted. They actually hadn't talked about dressing up together. Just that she was going with him...but so was everyone else.

Pidge sent a curious eye his way. She knew they hadn't talked about it. Of course she knew. He knew she was going to know he was lying but he really hoped as his best friend she wouldn't call him out.

And she didn't. As a matter of fact, she didn't say anything. Just looked at him.

"Oh, well then I'll be waiting to see what you'll be, Pidge. I'm sure it'll be great," He said, winking at her.

Oh Lance really wanted to punch him. How dare he wink at his girl. Girlfriend or not, she was still his best friend. Not to mention he never said anything about anyone else. Like Lance wasn't standing right there. It was like he was only focused on Pidge.

Which was probably just part of his plan to charm her. Lance flirted a lot too. He knew how it worked. Make the person you are currently attracted to, think they are the only one on your mind.

Slick but not enough that Lance couldn't catch it.

"Thanks, Griffin," she smiled politely once more.

Giving the brunette a mock salute, the jerk, I mean jock, headed back onto the field as Iverson walked towards the center. He had his whistle In hand, which meant the break was about to end. "I'll see you in first, yeah?" Lance asked, looking down to his friend. Pidge gave him a happy smile, a delighted smile. A smile that wasn't just out of politeness. A smile that was meant just for him. Something that Griffin could never take.

"Yeah."

Reluctantly, he removed his hand from her hip and waved goodbye, giving her a smile of his own. One just for her.

Social studies was not her best subject. It was actually her most hated. All because she sucked at remembering dates. She was great with numbers in math. Numbers that didn't have to do with historic events, that is.

"I believe the answer is 1917."

James Griffin stood before her again but now in his regular school clothes. He smiled as she looked at him. "Hi," he waved.

"Hello," Pidge replied, offering a wave and small smile of her own. She really didn't know why the jock suddenly wanted to talk to her. He had already complimented her on the fact that she could sing. What did he want now?

He must have taken her smile as some kind of invitation because he quickly sat down in the chair beside her. "So are you a fan of football?"

Why would he ask that?

"I wouldn't say a fan. I'm well acquainted with the game and how it's played."

She quickly wrote down the answer he had given her.

"Then why are you at almost every practice?"

Didn't everyone know?

"A lot of my friends are on the team," she answered.

"Right, Lance."

Why did he sound so hostile? She noticed the tension between the two players earlier at practice. Especially from the lanky teen. The brunette caught his little lie he told his team mate. How could she not. She was also very surprised he was able to keep eye contact with the fellow jock. "And Keith, Hunk, and Lotor. I go to support them as well."

Mostly Keith and Lance though. She couldn't say she would go if the two of them weren't there.

Sorry Hunk and Lotor.

"So does that mean you will be at the game next friday?"

"Never miss one," she answered, moving down her sheet to the next question.

"That's impressive." A paper slid onto her desk beside her own, already completed.

She looked over to him as he smiled kindly...again.

She didn't think the football player was so nice. Not from how most girls talked about him. All the girls he had dated never really spared a detail on how much a dick he was.

Whether they told the truth or not, she wasn't going to dismiss his offer to help.

Quickly looking over his paper, she began to jot down the answers. "My brother and his boyfriend also played. So it kinda became a habit to go."

"That's cool. Isn't your brother dating Keiths?"

She 'hmmed' a yes in reply, still focusing on her paper.

"So you know Keith well?"

"Since we were little kids."

"Then how come you're best friends with Lance and not Keith? Aren't you closer to Keith?"

Another mention of Lance. Why?

"Keith is more of a brother. Naturally you would think that meant he is closer to me than Lance but actually it just means that Keith is there when I need him and is important to me. Like Matt, my brother." She finally finished, placing her pencil in her bag and waited for the bell.

"So what makes Lance so important?"

Everything

"We became best friends because we have a lot in common. He gets me in ways sometimes a brother can't. He's my person."

"Your person?" Griffin asked with a confused expression.

Pidge crossed her arms and leaned back into her desk with a smirk. "Basically if I ever have to kill someone, he's the one I would call to help hide the body."

Griffin smiled, "Should I be worried?"

"Only if you get on my bad side."

Griffin laughed at her reply and so did she.

Maybe he isn't such a bad guy.

3rd period study hall for Lance was usually spent in the library at the back table surrounded by some of his friends. Occasionally the books they placed on the table were looked at. But mostly they were for display, so the old librarian lady wouldn't get mad.

Again.

Hunk sat to his left, Keith to his right. Lotor and Ryan were both off to the side next to the asian, the football captain the closest.

Nyma, Rolo's girlfriend and cheerleader for the school, was seated next to Hunk and an empty seat for her currently late boyfriend.

"I heard cheer squad tryouts were going to be held on the field sidelines this year?" asked Hunk. "Aren't they usually held in the gym?"

"Allura wants to try something new this year," answered Nyma. she flipped one of the two multi colored pigtails on the back of her head, over her shoulder.

One of the blonde tails was highlighted with blue and green on the tips, while the other was red and yellow. Both were tied up in black scrunchies.

Lance remembered when the whole cheer squad had gushed over her commitment to the school's team colors.

"She wants the experience to feel more real. Something about it inspiring the girl recruits," added Lotor.

"I'm sure the guys at practice will have fun with that," commented Keith as he snickered.

There were definitely going to be drooling boys stumbling over themselves. Especially the freshmen.

Coach was gonna lose it.

"Boy, oh boy, do I have news," said Rolo. He finally showed up and plopped down Into his seat, kissing his girlfriend on the cheek.

"Is it why you are late?" asked Nyma. She scooted her chair closer to him so he could throw his arm around her.

"Actually no, I had to pee but," he stopped to grab his phone out of his backpack. "Remember when we were talking about how Griffin never noticed Pidge in second?"

Everyone but Ryan and Nyma, nodded and Lance sat up straight at the mention of the brunette.

"Well, he knows she's there now."

Rolo pushed his phone across the table towards the cuban. Hunk and Keith leaned in to get a look at the screen.

Pidge and Griffin were sitting side by side in the back of Mr. Regris's classroom. The jock was laughing while the small girl smiled at him. Finding something funny that had been said. Hunk was silent, eyes widening and Keith smirked, plucking the phone from his friend's hand. He simply handed it over to Lotor.

Lance though, was furious. His brows furrowed and a deep frown settled on his lips. His tan knuckles practically white from squeezing the edge of his book so tightly.

"So they have a thing for each other now?" Ryan asked, looking over Lotors shoulder at the phone.

"No," Lance said quickly. "He has a thing for her."

"Well how do you know she doesn't have a thing for him?" Nyma asked next.

"Because she's never talked or mentioned him before."

"Looks like one of those things has changed." Keith shut up with a smirk as a blue eyed glare was sent his way.

Lance sat back angrily. Everyone going silent before Hunk, bless his soul, changed the topic onto next week's pre game events.

The cuban stayed quiet though, brooding over the fact that the picture bothered him so much. He cared for the brunette...a lot. But that didn't mean she couldn't talk to whoever she wanted. It was her choice. She was smart. She would easily see the stupid jocks plan.

His plan to woo her.

She would catch on and then reject him.

Unless she didn't. Unless he was the crush she told him about.

Oh God please don't let it be James Griffin. Anybody but him.

He simply wasn't going to survive if he had to give her up to such an ass. He thought at least it would have been someone worthy of her. If there even was a person that great.

Lance didn't even see himself as worthy enough for her. So Griffin was a definite no.

"You good?" Keith asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Yup, just dying."

Everyone else was conversingwith each other, completely ignoring the two. Thankfully, Keith talked lowley.

"Don't worry about it. It's not him."

Lance raised an eyebrow, "How do you know?"

"Trust me."

"You know who her crush is, don't you?"

Keith smirked, joining back Into the others conversation.

Damn Keith.

"Pidge!" Allura yelled at the brunette from the bottom of the bleachers. She and a bunch of skimpily clothed girls stood on the sidelines of the field.

If you could even call them clothed at all.

"Why is Allura here. Doesn't she have tryouts in the gym?"

Wasn't Pidge supposed to be escaping the cheer captain by going to the boy's afternoon practice?

"Allura wants to try a change of scenery." Said Lance. He and Keith were walking alongside her. The asian had caught the two as they turned down the hall to head down towards the bleachers.

"Pidge! I'm so happy you decided to come." Allura was all smiles as she ran up to the brunette. Her pretty white long hair had been pulled up into a messy but elegant bun. One of her darling school dresses were traded in for a pair of yoga pants and tank top. "I was worried you wouldn't show."

"Why would Pidge come to a tryout?" asked Keith. He and Lance shared confused looks before directing them to the high school princess.

"Because she asked me to," the brunette said quickly. She didn't trust the captain to not say anything about her...unfortunate skill. "Allura wanted me to watch again. Isn't that right?" Pidge glared at her. A silent message to agree.

"Yes, of course."

Lance looked down at his best friend. Still a bit confused. "I thought you came to watch us practice."

"I did. I came to watch you all. I can watch you all," She lied.

"Wait.." Keith started slowly. His eyes were squinted at her and he pointed a finger in her direction. "You didn't even know Allura was having pra-"

"Ok!" The brunette hastily interrupted. "Let us all get things going. Have a good practice!" She quickly grabbed the captains wrist and dragged her over to the other girls, waving behind herself to the boys.

"What was that about?" Allura asked her.

"Nothing," Pidge sighed, sitting down on the bleachers. She was a few feet from where all the other girls sat.

She did not want anyone thinking she was a part of them.

"Alright! Everyone, I am the Voltron cheer squad captain, Allura White." The princess smiled brightly as she introduced herself, practically oozing sincerity. "And this is my co-captain Nyma."

Nyma was nice, Pidge knew. But for everyone else just meeting her, she looked a little bitchy.

Her long multi colored pigtails hung highly from the top of her head. A scowl, almost straight frown, framed her features.

It was an act of course. Allura was the inviting embrace, while Nyma was the enforcer. A sturdy message saying, "You are welcome and loved here but trouble will not be tolerated."

The brunette almost wanted to laugh. To her, the mean expression on the cheer leader's face looked unnatural. Nyma was the passionate girl she grew up with. To all the other girls though, she was a strict disciplinary for cheer squads.

An awful and shrill whistle was blown from the field and Pidge turned her attention onto the football players.

Most of the boys were doing stretches while Iverson had the others running back and forth down the length of the field.

Keith and Lance were easy to spot. The two of them werea part of the running group and they were laughing as they pushed each other on the shoulders. The brunette hoped Iverson didn't make them run laps for horse playing, if caught.

A group of laughter pulled her attention once again but this time it was towards a group of boys. Probably freshmen, if their smaller size was any indication.

It looked like one of them tripped, eyeing the many girls in short shorts.

How did Allura not think of that being a problem?

"Why isn't Kathleen here? She's supposed to be our flyer," said one of the junior cheerleaders.

Allura looked around herself in concern though, at the girl's observation.

"Is she out sick?" asked Nyma.

Another girl answered her with a 'Yes' and that she was out for a while with the flu.

"Oh no, not on the day of tryouts." Allura looked anxious, walking back and forth in worry.

"What's so wrong with her being out?"

All the girls trying out were doing stretches as requested by Allura, off to the side. The actual team was standing around their captain while she fretted in front of Pidge.

"She's the only good flyer we have. She was supposed to be the one to get other girls interested in it," said Nyma.

"Not to mention she's like the perfect body weight and size." A tall girl commented from the side.

"Wait!" Yelled Allura. "Perfect size!" White hair strands that had fallen from it's bun, swiveled around the princesses face as she turned towards Pidge, looking right at her.

Oh no. I know that look.

"Let me stop you right there, princess. I'm not cheering and I'm definitely not flying." The brunette stood from her seat, crossing her arms Into a defensive X in front of her chest.

"Why would Pidge even be an option?" Nyma asked. It wasn't asked rudely, just genuinely curious. Nobody knew she could do anything with cheer.

And as far as the brunette knew. She couldn't fly and she didn't want to find out if she actually could.

"Please, please." The captain begged. "We just need to show the girls that it's not scary. And if someone can do it who has never done it before, they will want to try."

Big, puppy dog, blue eyes, looked right into her brown ones. They weren't the compelling blue she couldn't disagree with that Lance had. They were pitiful blue eyes that made her feel absolutely guilty.

Pidge sighed. She was gonna regret this. She could feel it.

"What do I have to do?" She grumbled. Allura cheered in happiness while Nyma gave her a "seriously?" Look.

"OK, first take off your shoes," the princess told her. Kicking off her converse near the bleachers, she wiggled her toes in her bright green socks on the grass beneath her. "Seeing as you don't have anything to change in, your jeans will have to do."

The captain grabbed her wrist and waved her arm for everyone else to follow.

The recruits were instructed to sit criss cross in front of the bleachers, while she and the squad members stood before them. Many girls were giving her odd looks.

She couldn't blame them.

"It has been brought to my attention that one of my flyers is out sick. So Instead, I have brought in the next best thing."

I wouldn't call myself the next best thing.

Allura placed her arms on the shorter girl's shoulders and brought her forward. "This is my friend, Pidge. She has agreed to fill in for our missing flyer."

More like pressured.

"Just think, if someone who has never flown before can do it, then it's not all that dangerous." A bright smile crossed the captain's face. How was she not worried?! Pidge was!

"Alright. What I want you to do is stand with your back facing towards the lifters," said Allura as she turned to speak only to her. Co-captain Nyma had stepped In to talk once Allura turned to her.

What the hell is a lifter?

"You will be facing everyone because it's in the direction of the field and we want this to be as real as a game, OK?" Pidge nodded, but wasn't sure she heard the captain over the roaring of blood in her ears.

Where were the mats?!

What was she supposed to fall on if they failed to catch her?! Earth?!

"Once they reach for your ankles, you'll lift your feet into their hands one at a time. You can lean on their shoulders for support but don't get used to it because they will lift quickly."

Two girl stood alongside her as Allura pushed her back closer to them, still talking. "Once you are up, I want you to strike a pose. Something with your arms. Something simple. Then we will demonstrate how to easily swing you down."

Is that it?

"After you are back on the ground, you will be hurriedly picked back up, then you will have about 3 seconds before you will be tossed."

What?!

"I'm sorry, tossed?!" She screeched. She didn't like how closely the other girls were getting to her.

Could she be given a moment to process?

"Once you are up, I'm gonna need you to tuck your arms in across your chest and twist."

The hell?!

"Ok!" The princess clapped happily and backed away.

Pidges stomach rolled and she hoped that she wouldn't throw up.

Letting the girls grab her feet and following the captain's every detail, she gulped.

Please don't drop me, please don't drop me.

"What the hell is she doing?!" Rolo laughed loudly, pointing to the Cheer squad. He caught many player's attention and Keith and Lance looked over.

The cuban's flushed tan skin turned white. Keith looked a little shocked.

A certain brunette was lifted high in the air by two cheerleaders. Her brightly colored green socks could be seen as they held her up and her small arms were above her head in a Y position.

Keith and lotor looked over to him with the same question written on their face, that he had rattling around in his brain.

Why was Pidgeon stacking a squad tower?!

As quickly as they lifted her, they brought her down and Lance breathed out a sigh of relief as she touched down safely on the grass. But

It wasn't long though when he choked and Keith let out a weirdly hoarse scream, watching as the two girls practically heaved the small teen back up and then promptly hurled her into the air.

The brunette's pony flailed as her body surprisingly twisted perfectly in the air and she fell back down into the cheerleaders arms, with perfect form.

Football Players and squad members clapped loudly, some even going as far as to whistle.

Lance could see the bright blush and smile on her face as she was stood back up. Most likely relieved she didn't hit the earth and survived.

The cuban laughed at the thought of her freaking about it, but smiled fondly as he watched her shake it off and lean Into a bow for everyone who was watching. It only enticed more hollering. Keith yelled out a "Go Pidge!" From beside him.

Allura was seen running and jumping around the sidelines happily before she plowed into the brunette, dragging her along with her in a hug. Both of them smiled and laughed. Allura a little more than Pidge though.

"Aww, they are so happy!" Hunk cooed from his spot on the grass.

Lotor shook his head fondly, "Allura knows how to scope out talent."

"Ha! Pidge, a talented cheerleader. Never thought I'd see the day," Keith laughed.

"Seems like the girl has a lot of secret talents, huh McClain?"

James Griffin walked past them with a smirk on his face. "Can't wait to get to know more of her," he winked at Lance. Laughing, as he placed on his helmet and headed back to practice.

"OK, yeah. He's a jerk," commented Hunk.

"Don't worry about it, Lance," spoke Lotor as he placed a hand on the cuban's shoulder pads. "Pidge will see right through his fake charm."

Did he really look all that troubled as he felt? Could everyone see how much it bothered him?

"HEY!" an excited voice called to them.

Allura was bouncing happily and waving one arm at them while the other held up the smaller arm of the brunette.

Pidge had a hand held over her face, looking absolutely miserable as her body was jerked around by the happy and enthusiastic captain. "I have a new temporary cheerleader!!"

Keith laughed loudly at his friends predicament and Lance had to keep himself from smiling too much.

Pidge did not look happy.

And as he would find out later when he drove her home, she regretted everything.