NINE:

The next afternoon I sat in the bleachers watching as all around me girls warmed up for the cheerleading tryouts. I had to admit that Mandy had a bit of competition, although I didn't think it would be any problem for her. But then I am pretty biased. The day before, after we'd had our conversation about what had happened to Mandy, had been one of the happiest days in a long time. With all her problems off her chest Mandy was back to the girl I fell in love with.

"Here for a perv too hey buddy?" A guy asked me as he climbed the stairs and came to sit near me.

I laughed. "Actually I'm here to support my girlfriend." I explained.

"Yeah, which one's your girlfriend?" He asked.

I pointed her out where she was stretching a few yards away from the nearest group. "That's her, my Mandy." I said. I cherished saying that; 'my Mandy' now that I knew she hadn't been so much annoyed at me during all our stupid little arguments but more at herself and her past.

The guy looked at me peculiarly. "Right." He said slowly, and then he changed the subject. "Well I don't have a girlfriend and I'm here for the perv solely."

I nodded, not really sure what there was to say to that. 'Good luck' perhaps? But before I could think of something to say Randy waved to me as he bounded up the stairs to where we were sitting. He looked at the guy next to me. "Matthew." He said.

"Randy." The guy replied, his tone cold. "How have you been?"

"Fine. You?" Randy asked, although his tone was just as cold and I had the impression that he didn't really care how Matthew was at all.

"Yeah fine too." Matthew said. "I better get going. I'll see you round."

"Right, bye." Randy said and he watched, his eyes narrowed, as Matthew left the stadium.

"What was going on there?" I asked curious. The air surrounding us had gone as cold as ice.

"Nothing buddy, don't worry." Randy said but I could tell he was lying. "Haven't they started yet?"

I shook my head. "I think they're running a bit late. So why are you here?"

"Oh you know, thought I might give Mandy some more support." Randy replied nonchalantly.

I shook my head. "Sure, and the real reason now Randy?"

He laughed. "I can't fool you can I Pony?" He asked. "See the red head over near the left side? Her name is Candy and she's my 'Law and Society' class and she's a babe."

I nodded. "Yeah, she's not bad." I agreed.

"I'm trying to get up the nerve to ask her out." Randy confessed.

I looked surprised. Normally Randy was pretty confident and wouldn't have had a problem with asking a girl out. So I asked him why he was hesitant this time?

"Her ex. He's on the football team and he's huge. I've heard rumors he still likes her and hasn't gotten over the fact that she dumped him." Randy explained.

"Ah right." I said. "Well if they've broken up she's fair game in my opinion."

"She might not even want to go out with me." Randy said. "That would save a lot of problems."

I rolled my eyes. "Perhaps, but then you wouldn't get to be with her and you like her, so it's not really solving any of your problems is it?"

"No, guess not." Randy replied, however our conversation was cut short as the tryouts began. For the next hour or so they all went through their paces. Without being prejudiced I thought Mandy was one of the best there. Afterwards I made my way down to her.

"Mandy, you were great. A shoo-in." I said giving her a quick hug, despite the fact that she was pretty sweaty.

"I think I stuffed up a bit on my back crunch- I didn't get quite enough height. And my triple herky-" Mandy began, but I interrupted her.

"Mandy from where I was sitting you looked great. Stop worrying." I told her.

She grinned. "Thanks, but you're not exactly an expert on cheerleading are you Pony?" She asked.

"I'm an expert on what looks good though..and let me tell you, you looked good!" I said in a slightly lower voice as Randy made his way over towards us.

"Pony!" She said, but she smiled.

"Good audition Mandy. Excuse me but I've got to see someone." Randy said and he hurried away before Mandy even had the chance to reply.

"What was all that about?" Mandy asked raising her eyebrows.

I told her and she smiled. "I vaguely know Candy and she's nice enough. I hope she says yes. Randy needs someone." She said. "Now, I'm going to have a shower. I must stink to the high heavens."

"Well I wasn't going to be so tactless as to say it.." I said, and she hit me.

"But I sure could do with a nice big drink. Do you want to go to the juice bar afterwards?" She asked, as we began to walk off the field.

"Juice bar?" I asked making a face.

"Okay," Mandy said. "We could go to the café instead. I can get a juice there and you can get your usual coke."

I frowned to myself. Even though I knew now that Mandy hadn't been annoyed at me as much as I'd thought I still had agreed to try new things hadn't I? "Okay," I said with a sigh. "The juice bar it is. I suppose I could get something relatively normal there like an orange juice whilst you try those exotic combinations they advertise on the board.."

Mandy put her arm around me as we walked. "Thanks Pony." She said. "You've been great the last day or so since you found out about what happened to me the other year. If I'd known how good you would be I'd have told you sooner- much sooner."

I didn't point out the fact that she hadn't actually told me, but instead I just smiled too as we walked back towards her dorm.