"Saunders!" Kate whipped around to the sound of an unfamiliar voice only to be brought on level with a pair of extremely scornful eyes. " Word in the halls is that you want to try out for cheerleader next semester. I know that you think you're a shoe in because your little friend used to be the captain but guess what? She's gone. I'M the captain now and I don't let freshmen on my squad. That is unless they show utmost loyalty to the squad." An evil glint appeared in her eyes.

"What do you want me to do?" Kate was a bit afraid but she quickly hid it. Three years of being the meanest girl in school DID prepare her to confront the NEW meanest girl in school.

"Did I tell you that you could speak maggot?" Ok. So maybe it didn't. "You will speak only when you are asked to and you will address me only as Big Red." Kate rolled her eyes. So what if this jerk was mean and had red hair. She still wasn't a 'Bring it On' character.

"You know what?" She replied "Suddenly I don't want to join the cheerleading squad anymore. Someone told me that the leadership this year really stinks. In more ways than one." With that she walked off fanning her nose. That girl really did have an odor problem. She should try some of that great perfume that Claire had introduced her to.

"But wait!" The girl exclaimed. "You have to join the squad. Everyone says you're the best cheerleader coming out of Hillridge Junior High!" The girl didn't sound so powerful or cruel anymore. In fact she sounded desperate. Kate turned around. She really wanted to continue cheering. She had filled many lonely hours at home practicing flips, splits and jumps. It was the only thing she was truly great at. It had in fact become her life.

"Ok, fine." She replied.

The girl regained some of her confidence. "All potential cheerleaders do pull a major prank at the Autumn Dance, though." Kate fidgeted but agreed to it. She had heard of the custom before so she knew that it wasn't a trick by the power hungry 'Big Red'.

"What is it this year?" Kate asked.

"Well you all have to throw paint balloons at our surprise performers at the dance." Kate's heart dropped to her toes. How could she throw paint balloons at Lizzie and Miranda? Especially at their first performance. They would be crushed not to mention mortified.

"And if I don't do it?"

"Well then I get the greatest pleasure of not letting you on the squad Miss Attitude!" She said snidely. " Oh and the rest of the girls would back me up on this one. We all had to do pranks that got us weeks of detention so we resent it when people like you feel you can just waltz on the squad, breaking tradition." With this she walked off leaving Kate in deliberation. She then got an idea. If Lizzie and Miranda knew about the prank then they wouldn't perform and she wouldn't have to do it. She was interrupted from her thoughts by the sound of Big Red's voice. "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you Saunders. You're being watched. If my spies report to me that you said anything about this prank. To anyone! EVEN IN YOUR SLEEP! Consider your chances shot." There goes that plan.

At that exact moment the others showed up next to Kate.

"Chances are shot for what Kate?" Lizzie enquired genuinely concerned. Kate groaned inwardly. This would have been so much easier if she was still heartless. Oh well. She just had to convince them not to perform.

"Nothing. Hey guys, I've been thinking. Maybe the dance isn't such a good time to perform for the first time."

"Why not?" This time Miranda spoke. Kate longed to tell them. She looked around the hallway. It seemed as if every person that passed them was one of 'Big Red's' spies. She couldn't give up cheerleading. Not even for Lizzie and Miranda.

"It just isn't ok." They looked at her confused and worried. Her words had come out kinda harsh just now. How could she get them to listen to her? "Think about it. Wouldn't you want to debut somewhere with a whole lot of publicity and stuff? I mean if you two perform at the dance then everyone will swamp you. You won't have any privacy at all. Think of all the girls that would absolutely hate you if their dates were staring at you the whole night instead of them." She hadn't mean to insinuate anything but obviously she did.

"And would you be one of them Kate?" Miranda asked softly. Her voice was undoubtedly tinged however with controlled anger.

"Huh?" Kate was honestly confused.

"Do you have a problem with not being the center of attention Kate? It's a simple question. It seems to me that you don't mind us being a musical group as long as we don't get in the way of your being the object of everyone's affection. Is that it?" Miranda was shuddering with suppressed rage now. Then again so was Kate. Miranda's suspicions had hurt more deeply than she would ever admit. Obviously they didn't trust her OR consider her a true friend or they would never have thought such a thing. Obvious they weren't her true friends either if they thought that of her. That she was jealous of them. Obviously she had no true friends.

"FINE! Perform at the stupid dance! You'll be sorry though." She said narrowing her eyes. She ran off before the could they could see the tears threatening to trickle down her face. "GET OUT OF MY WAY YOU IDIOT!" She yelled to the person she collided with not realizing that it was Ethan. She hated everyone it the stupid school.