It's nearly game time and Jessie locked herself in one of the bathroom stalls to change. She is putting a mixture of tanning lotion and plain lotion that matches her skin tone onto her legs, arms, and torso. All she can hope is that she doesn't sweat enough for it to start to drip.
She adjusts her cheer uniform before walking out with a bright smile. All the girls are in front of the mirrors applying last minute makeup, fixing their hair, or doing anything to take up time before the first game.
Jessie goes to her bed and opens a makeup palette to use the mirror befores starting on her basic makeup. She's not going to the extreme like some girls but some contour and eye makeup never hurt anyone. Also, the eyeshadow is yellow and purple to support the Eagles.
"Your makeup is good but your hair looks flat," Sophie tells her matter-of-factly.
"It's in a ponytail."
"I know but try curling the ends or something," Sophie suggests.
Jessie shakes her head. "Can I borrow a curling iron or flat iron then?"
Sophie nods, getting a flat iron from her locker. Jessie goes to a, shockingly, empty mirror and plugs it into the outlet. She slowly curls small sections of hair and Sophie comes up behind her spraying them with hairspray.
"Gah," Jessie yelps shocked, "Warn me next time."
"Okay," Sophie promises and finishes setting her hair.
Jessie stares at herself in the mirror as Sophie holds a bow out for her to clip in the hair. Jessie slowly takes it and puts it in her hair, grimmincing.
"I look like a cheerleader," She grumbles.
"I would hope so, you are," Brooke comes over laughing.
"Okay, I look like a basic Texan girl, big hair and as little fabric as humanly possible on a hot day," Jessie rephrases.
All the girls just shrugs as Jessie stares in regret at the mirror shaking her head. "Should've been a Raven," She grumbles. A couple girls nudged her shoulder chuckling.
It's finally game time for the Eagles. Jessie is not anywhere ready enough to be okay for this. She has makeup on her face, that she only wears like once a year, and her hair in stiff curls in her ponytail, instead of her normal flowing down her back ponytail. It's aggravating.
"Go Eagles!" Jessie yells with a high kick walking in with the rest of the cheerleaders. People whoop and holler when Jessie does a couple forward handsprings. She stops for a second to get her bearings and look up at the audience. Most of the Ravens are there supporting the school. At least with their rivalry they can still support the school.
Leo smiles and waves his hands like Jessie is with her pom poms as Max sits next to him looking slightly uncomfortable. She laughs and joins the rest of the girls in line and start yelling as the basketball team comes in.
"You look just out of sorts as I do," Jessie whispers to Hayley as they execute a dance. Well, more like just shake their butts.
"I am, I never done anything like this," Hayley whispers back, her entire face looking tense.
"Do you think Brooke is okay?" Jessie asks looking at the pretty blonde, "She isn't as perky as usual and she looks sort of pale."
Hayley nods, shrugging. "She's been going through a lot recently. I'm sure she'll bounce back soon, this is the first game we've had without Louis here."
"Okay," Jessie mumbles, "If you insist." Jessie still cast concerned glances at Brooke. Something is off, she doesn't look happy. The beginning of the game is rough with both teams getting points being tied most of the time. The girls don't take any breaks from jumping around and yelling. They won't be talking much tomorrow. Whenever Jessie gets bored she'll do a flip or two getting the crowd riled up and a couple boys on the court's spirits up.
Right before halftime Brooke runs off, shrugging off Dr. Woods. Jessie has half a mind to follow her but decides that Brooke needs her space before anything else. Half time rolls around and all the girls sit down on the bench near the players. Everyone passes water bottles around. The boys try to mess with the girls but no one pays attention.
"Hey, Jessie, where'd Brooke run off too?" Alex asks leaning in.
Jessie shrugs, not willing to tell the poor boy that she's pretty sure that Brooke ran off partly to get away from him. She hasn't been able to help but notice Alex has been unintentionally rubbing her face in the face that his parents are here in her dad's place. "She ran off before half time, I think she just needed some time to think. She'll be back," Jessie supplies in place.
"Guys, we need a miracle. Keep working, we've got this," Coach yells at the players as the cheerleaders just sip their water.
All the boys start hollering and hooting before heading back to the court.
"We have to keep cheering?" Hayley complains.
"I'm with Hayley on this," Jessie agrees.
Sophie gives them the disapproving mom look, yeah that one. "Yes, now get your toned butts up and cheer like you still have all your energy."
"I didn't have all my energy to begin with," Jessie grumbles.
Everyone gets up though and starts side stepping and waving their arms. Jessie does considerably less flips in the second half feeling the toll of doing so many flips. All the girls on the team are able to do flips to an extent but none can do the amount or as precisely as her so a lot of the time the rallying tricks get left to her.
The actual cheerleading isn't that bad but the two new cheerleaders are getting tired of the amount of yelling and the continuous smiling. It's not like they're out on the court running around but it's still not fun.
A penalty is called on Daniel, again. Daniel is forced to go sit on the side lines for a while.
After a couple more minutes more scores happen. Now, the score has the opposing team beating them and there's only a minute left in the game when a penalty is called on the opposing team. All the boys run to the coach and look at him. Their usual shooter isn't allowed to shoot.
"Woods, you're going to shoot. Don't mess up," The coach says.
"Yeah Woods," Jessie yells, "You got this!"
A couple other cheers whoop and holler getting him to smile nervously. Everyone watched him during practices, he doesn't miss his shots. Brooke comes in and walks to a corner and waves Alex over. As the rest of the boys hurry back to the court Alex walks over to the corner.
"What's wrong, where were you?" He whisper yells not wanting the other Eagles to over hear, "This is my first game with my mom as headmaster."
"And it's my first one without my dad, I needed to think," Brooke protested, getting angry.
Alex softens a little but is still visibly annoyed. "Why are you acting like this? Isn't it a good thing my mom took over after Louis, he was the one who messed up. He put Sophie and I in the hospital?"
"He's still my dad, Alex. Why can't you understand?" Brooke begs her voice shaking. She's not happy and keeps thinking about what Jessie said. She's not happy in this relationship, she hasn't been for a while and each second she's in it it's just like this huge weight on her shoulder.
"Get on the court, Woods," The coach yells, waving him on.
"I do, can we talk about this later?" Alex asks about going back on the court but Brooke stops him by grabbing his arm.
"Alex, I love you but I don't think I can do this later. I don't think I can do this at all," Brooke tells him.
"What do you mean?" He sputters.
Brooke looks down and a tear slips down her cheek. "I think we need to break up, I'm not happy. We're just not working out right now."
"Woods, on the court," Coach yells again, getting angry. Alex can't even say anything and just turns and heads back to court. Jessie notices the two split up both of them looking sad and teary eyed. Alex gets to the court and grabs the ball.
There's a pounding on the floor. Alex lifts the ball and shoots. And misses. Everyone sighs but the cheerleaders, minus Brooke who ran out again, cheer trying to get his spirits up but they can see that something is off with Alex. He's not in the right headspace.
"Just one more shot, Alex, come on, you can do it," Hayley murmurs under her breath. Jessie reaches out and takes her hand.
"He can do this," Jessie reassures her.
"I know, all those nights he was up until two p.m. banging the basketball in the goal has to count for something," Hayley grumbles.
Jessie squeezes a little. "See, everything will work out." Alex takes the second shot. Then misses again. "Or not. Don't worry, I'm sure he's just having an off day, every athlete has them."
Hayley doesn't say anything as the boys walk back to the side lines disappointed. First game of the season and they lost. Alex is split up from the rest of the group after Parker clapped him on the back, shaking his head.
The girls try to comfort all the boys from their loss, but even the oblivious boy knew that the girls were disappointed too. All the people there in order to support the Greenhouse slowly trickle out of the gym. A couple of the Ravens go up and show their support to the Eagles. Leo and Max walk down and nod to Jessie as they walk out but don't say anything. They knew that it is not the time to approach an Eagle. They're all too sad.
"I can't believe we lost," Daniel grumbles, "It's all my fault, I shouldn't have gotten all the penalties." Everyone walks up to the clubhouse to wallow in their self pity. Alex and Hayley split up to go for a sibling walk and talk about how Alex did in the game.
All the Eagles sit down on couches and chairs to relax and complain. Now, Jessie splits up to go shower, her bruises are acting up on her and she's sore in the abdomen. They're nearly completely healed, just faint mis coloring now. She grabs a pair of leggings and an Eagles t-shirt she got when she got here. Then she strips down and jumps in the shower. Most of the lotion washes off but some of the coloring is left making her bruises seem like a type of transparent skin growing over her bruises. She takes a makeup wipe and wipes the makeup off in the hot water. Her muscles start to relax and work themselves out.
She lathers her hair in pineapple coconut shampoo and conditioner making sure all that hair spray is out. Once everything is washed off she hopes out and puts on her leggings and t-shirt, reapplies her lotion mix on her arms and places concealer on her fading bruises on her collarbone, neck, and face.
"Time to go face the music," Jessie whispers to herself as she saunters out to the main room. She notices that everyone is still in their uniforms and Hayley is yelling at Brooke from across the room.
Hayley leans forwards snarling at Brooke, "Why don't you ask her why Alex missed that shot."
"Hey, hey, hey," Jessie says stepping in between the two girls, "We're all friends lets have a civil conversation."
"Yeah, so civil like Brooke was at the game," Hayley snaps.
"Hayley calm down, she was right too," Alex says trying to pull his sister back. Alex and Brooke always sit together and cling on each other. But not now, they're sitting on opposite sides like they're trying to avoid each other.
Sophie looks between the three people confused. "What's happening?" She questions.
Brooke stands up shakily. "It was my fault Alex missed the shot. I broke up with him right before he took the shot. I distracted him and it's my fault."
"Brooke, you know how much that distracts an athlete," Daniel yells at her as the rest of the Eagles insult her about her timing and what she did. Well, everyone except for Sophie, Jessie, and Alex you stay silent.
"Yeah Brooke, you knew that was a big game. How could you do that to all of us?" Parker growls.
Brooke whimpers, "I'm sorry guys. I wasn't happy. Please don't get mad at me. Sophie?"
Sophie stands up rubbing her hands together. "Brooke, I want to support you. But your timing was off. That was our first game and an important shot. Could it not have waited a couple minutes."
"No, I was miserable, don't I have a right to be happy?" Brooke growls at the group tearing up.
Jessie steps forward groaning, "Come on guys. Don't blame Brooke, she has a right to be upset. We can all admit that their relationship wasn't exactly working. So what if the timing wasn't ideal. If she wasn't happy she should be. I thought all of you told me the Eagles was a family. Are you putting winning a silly basketball game over family?" Brooke smiles weakly at Jessie.
"Yes, because we could've won if she wasn't so selfish. And who are you to talk, new girl? You barely even belong here, your brother is weird enough as it is," A boy on the team yells at her causing Jessie to get aggressive and close off to them.
Jessie doesn't say a word as she walks to the door even as a couple of the people she's closer to try and stop her. She opens the door and walks out but pauses in order to toss a comment over her shoulder.
"I know I'm new but I thought that the Eagles were better than that. I guess I was wrong right?" With that she walks out without a second glance. Brooke runs out after her and Alex gets up to follow but is pulled down by Hayley. They're all so used to Jessie being happy and carefree, always warm. To see her actually angry was a novelty and not something they enjoyed, she was cold. All of Jessie's and Brooke's friends bury their heads in their hands regretting how they handled both situations.
Outside the clubhouse Brooke catches up to Jessie by grasping her arm. "Thank you, Jessie. You were the only one to really defend me and... I feel like it's my fault. That everything is my fault."
Jessie gives her a tight hug. She pets her hair reassuring her, "Nothing is your fault. You were in a tough space. No one should blame you for this."
"I think you're the only one to see it that way. I love Alex but it just wasn't working out. We didn't click the way we used to," Brooke cries into her shoulder.
Jessie nods against her letting her cry. "It's okay, you don't have to explain yourself to me."
Brooke stands up and wipes her tears away from her eyes looking like she just made a decision. "I need to go talk to Dr. Woods. I need a change, a new beginning," Brooke says.
"Okay," Jessie tells her confused but not asking about it. She doesn't feel Brooke is in the right place to answer questions. "Do you want someone to join you?"
Brooke shakes her head. "No, you should go back in there and talk with them. They seemed ashamed at how they reacted to you."
"It wasn't most of their faults, only one. I guess I was just hurt how they yelled at you after saying this was a family, then didn't mumble a word to defend me. I'm just going to walk around and clear my head," Jessie tells her as they walk in opposite directions.
Jessie walks outside along the beach and runs into Max talking with Emma.
Emma looks up, catching sight of Jessie and waves her over. "Hey, Jessie. How are you? Max told me about the game."
"I'm fine, just thinking things over. How are y'all?" Jessie tells them, shrugging.
Max nods smiling happily. "We're good."
"You really love it here," Jessie states.
Max nods vigorously. "Is something wrong?"
Jessie looks at him shaking her head. "Nope, I was just thinking about this school. I thought it was super different than all the others. Turns out I was sort of wrong but also sort of right."
Both of them look at the girl confused. "What does that mean?" Max asks.
Jessie chuckles, shaking her head again. "Nothing." She places a kiss on top of his head. "I'm just glad you're happy and made friends here. It makes everything worth it. Even though this school has a lot of drama, just do me a favor and don't get killed. I wouldn't be able to help you."
"I promise," Max says offering his pinkie. Jessie hooks hers around his remembering their old traditions. Pinkie promises were golden. Impossible to break. They smile as they walk away.
"Have fun," Jessie calls over her shoulder wandering around again hoping to find clarity.
Her feet end up dragging her to the music room she found a couple weeks ago. She opens up the door to see Leo already sitting in their strumming a guitar in front of the computer.
"Oh sorry," She mumbles about to leave.
Leo gets up and stops the door from closing. "No, it's fine. Stay. What's wrong?"
Jessie shakes her head looking a bit lost in space. "Nothing, I'm just thinking through something. What were you working on?"
"Just this song I sang last year. Before Aspen got here, it was for Hayley. It just doesn't sound right anymore," Leo tells her looking at the computer.
"It needs bass," Jessie comments, not even looking at it.
Leo throws his hands up in the air, giving her an exasperated look. "What's up with you and bass."
"I'm primarily a bass player. My original instrument was a stand up bass and my second was sit a sit down bass."
"You play music?" Leo questions surprised.
Jessie shakes her head and looks down slightly. "Why else would I decide to come to the music room? To see your Debbie downer face?"
"Because we said we were meeting up after the game and look at my music. After what happened I assumed you didn't want to. Especially after you didn't show up for, and out of the two of us, I think you're the one more upset right now. Do you want to talk about it?" Leo offers.
Jessie shakes her head walking over to a double bass sitting dusty in the corner. "Nah, and I'm sorry, there was some drama in the Eagles. Every good sad song needs some jazz. Show me what you got."
Jessie pulls a stool over and sets her and the bass up. She tunes is by ear confusing Leo, no one else here knows about instruments and here she is plucking at an instrument he can't even play.
"I haven't actually been able to do anything. It just doesn't seem right," Leo admits.
"That's why you change it. Or you can just scrap it and start a new song. Still put bass in it though," Jessie tells him. She starts plucking at the strings in a slow steady rhythm.
"I don't recognize that song," Leo comments
"Neither do I. You never just play to see where your fingers take you. I just know it's D major and jazzy. Come on, start singing or playing. Don't think," Jessie insists. Leo closes his eyes and focuses on the tune. The steady quarter notes start to become a swinging beat.
Leo picks up a guitar and begins plucking at some of the strings trying to figure out what goes with what she's playing.
As Leo starts playing he notices what Jessie is playing starts to alter. Turning from the relaxed tune that people can chill to starts to sound a bit sadder to match the guitar strumming.
By the end of thirty minutes of the two kids messing around on instruments, they recorded a few things and Jessie switched to electric bass.
They sit in a couple chairs across from the computer listening to it.
"You know for starting out with a jazzy bass line, this didn't end up jazzy," Leo tells her. The song has a bit of a soft rock feel to it, especially with the electric bass instead of a stand up.
"Half of the fun of just playing music is it never has to end up like it started. Plus, this type of rock and jazz aren't to terribly different. Now all we need is some lyrics and you got yourself a song," Jessie tells Leo. Throughout all of this Leo hasn't been able to get any lyrics and Jessie knew this wasn't her song to sing.
Leo nods listening to it. "I don't know. I might have to come back to that. This was fun though. I've never been able to make music with anyone else. Hayley learned a bit on the guitar but not nearly to the extent to make something up on the fly. I've never met someone with as much skill as just playing without any plan as you."
Jessie shrugs adjusting the bass, pulling it out more of course, in one part of the song. "It calms me down. Empties my head. It lets me forget to think ," She tells him, "I'm best with the bass, stand up but I can play the bass guitar and guitar too. It just doesn't click quiet as fast."
"Well, if you ever want help on music, come get me and we'll come down here. It's a nice place to think," Leo reassures her.
Jessie shakes her head scrunching up her nose. "I don't want to think down here. It's too complicated. The heart and brain rarely agree. I use my brain all the time, usually solely. Sometimes the heart just needs to take over and give you some music. That must be why they call it heart strings."
"That was very insightful," Leo comments before looking at his Louie, "Dr. Woods just called me up to her office. Will you be okay?"
Jessie nods standing up and offering her hand. "I should be getting back to the clubhouse and sort through all the drama. Once you get lyrics for that tell me. I can't wait to listen to it."
"Will do." With that the Eagle and Raven go in opposite directions ready to face whatever music they need to.
Jessie gets up to the clubhouse and opens the door to all the Eagles still pouting. At least it looks like they all showered or at least changed. Jessie notices that Alex has been left all wallowing and sits down next to him.
"How are you doing bud?" She asks him, leaning her head on his shoulder. Alex sighs and places his head on top hers. Jessie adjusts slightly and curls up into him.
"I messed up big time didn't I?" Alex asks her in response.
Jessie nods beneath his head. "Brooke was great but it's not all on you. There were mistakes made on both sides. You guys can work on it but you two just weren't working out, not right now. Give her some space."
"I guess you're right," Alex admits. The two of them sit in silence as Jessie tries to comfort him just by being there. "Where were you?" Alex questions.
"Wandered around then ended up in the music room. Messed around and made some music. Just stuff to clear my head." Jessie explains. Alex nods and they fall back into a comfortable silence.
Jessie has never been able to sit around in silence with most people. With Alex she could, and it was a heavy type of silence. Not the type that held you down like a brick but rather like a weighted blanket. Like everything they wanted to say didn't need to be said, they understood it. It was comfortable.
Jessie starts to get sleepy and begins to doze off, curled up next to Alex, but Sophie comes in slamming the door. Both Jessie and Alex sit up suddenly, banging their heads into each other.
"Guys," Sophie announces coming in, "Brooke transferred to the Eagle house."
"What?" Daniel yells getting up, "We have to get her back."
Alex looks up at Sophie looking sad and Jessie slowly gets up stretching. She turns her head and glares at the boy who made the comment about Max earlier, causing him to shy away.
"We need to all go talk to her. She belongs here," Alex insists but Sophie shakes her head.
"That's what Dr. Woods told me specifically not to let happen" Sophie tells them sadly.
"Well we have to do something," Parker urges.
Jessie looks between everyone. "I actually agree with Dr. Woods. I think Brooke needs some space apart from you guys. At least she still goes to the Greenhouse, we reacted pretty badly to her when she needed help. I say we accept the loss and move on."
"Yeah, and at least now nothing we all get to stay," Hayley says thinking back to the conversation her and her mom had.
Daniel shrugs from behind her lowering down in his chair. He had to admit that Jessie had a point even if he didn't like it.