Chapter 5- Crushed.
Two weeks went by in a flash and surprisingly I fit right in with the cheer team. I'm doing well, I have all my cheers down. I get along with everyone pretty good well except for Ming. Something is just off about that girl. She isn't outright mean to her cheermates but there is definitely shade and subliminals flying around every practice. The only ones she is "nice" to is her close friends Alex and Kayla. Even then she still bosses them around like she owns them.
I have just arrived at cheer practice, oddly it's being held outside left of the football field.
"Hey Nicole, why are we out here today?" I greet Nicole as she stretches.
"No idea Ming just said to be here." She shrugs. Coach must be out because she never have us practice out here.
"Well I hope we are finished before the football team gets here." But I speak too soon. Unfortunately for me the football team is coming outside from the locker room. I steal a glance at Huey and he catches it.
He walks over to me, "Came to cheer me on already? I'm touched." Huey remarks, jokingly.
"Don't flatter yourself, we are only out here to practice." I roll my eyes.
"But why here though?" Huey inquires.
I shrug, "No clue. Captain's orders." I wonder too what is the meaning of practicing outside in the field. Probably to prepare us for the games.
Huey nods, "Well I'll see you later." And then he left.
"He's cute." Nicole comments, walking up to my side.
"Really? I haven't noticed." I say completely lying to myself. I honestly think Huey is more than cute, he's fine.
"How could you not? Every girl is basically jumping through hoops to try to get a chance with him."
"Well let them continue to jump, I will not be one." I dismiss the thought and get into position as Ming declares practice is starting. Nicole looks skeptical of my answer but she follows suit.
Numerous formations and pyramids later, it's my time to tumble. That's my main position on the team, get the crowd hype with my flips. I didn't have a problem with that but I'd kind of like to help with choreography of the dances we do. Some of the moves were outdated and corny nonetheless that's what the captain is for, I suppose.
After I am finished it's time for Ming's orders again, "Okay guys I'm going to try out this new dance. Have some water and watch!" Alex turns on the speaker. A Meg Thee Stallion song plays.
The others watch and drink as Ming starts to dance proactively straight off the bat. However, I take this time to talk with Nicole. Until Huey comes over.
I pause our conversation, "You're over here again?" I groan.
"Nice to know my presence bothers you that much,"Huey speaks smugly, "Just came over to compliment you on your flips, not bad."
My heart flutters at the fact that he was watching me but what comes out of my mouth instead is, "Like you can do better?"
Huey shrugs, "Probably can."
"I'd like to see you try."
"Want to bet?" He asks and I nod.
"Okay after school tomorrow? At that hill."
A whistle blows, "Freeman, will ya get back over here!" Huey turns his head to see his coach yelling.
"It's a bet." We agree before he starts to go back to his teammates, "Oh and you better not flake." I call after him.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Huey says back peddling to the football field, with a smirk on his face. Then turning around to run back to practice. Unknowingly I bite my lip at this. I guess Nicole watched the small interaction go down because she sits there with a knowing grin on her face. But first she starts telling me that Ming did that whole number just to impress Huey and the whole time he wasn't paying attention to her but to me. And she got very upset because he was talking to me instead.
"You should've seen her face." Nicole chuckles.
I join in, "I mean I probably saved her from embarrassment. I doubt he's into all that extra stuff anyway."
Nicole looks at me weirdly like she just came to a realization, "What's with the face?" I question.
"You're crushing on him! Aren't you?" I stare at her in shock, 'how does she know?'
"N-no I'm not." I blush slightly.
Nicole crosses her arms, "Oh really? Then why are you blushing?"
"I'm worn out." I lie and she looks at me incredibly.
"Just admit it."
"I am not crushing, okay. Huey drives me crazy like literally insane. He thinks he's so good at everything and he may be cute but ruins it being all arrogant. Then he's all mysterious sometimes, like what is that even about?" I finish and after my outburst I believe I just dug myself into a more deep hole.
"Okay I got it all wrong… You really really like him." Nicole teases, "Let me give you some advice about Huey-" She's interrupted by Ming.
"What's this I hear about Huey, Woodcrest's newest attention grabber?" Ming nosily buts in.
"Oh I was just saying that Jazmine thinks Huey-" I cut Nicole off by nudging her with my elbow.
"Thinks of Huey as an annoying older brother." Nicole comes up with something quick.
"Yeah I just can't stand him." I say through a nervous smile, eyeying Nicole who looks confused.
"Well I'm glad to hear that, actually Jazmine I came over to ask you a favor."
"I'm listening."
"Think you could put in a word for me with Huey, you know hook us up? Ask him to pair up with me for the pep rally this Friday." I frown but quickly recover. I feel indifferent about this for a few reasons. One being personal.
"Um I don't know. I don't really want to get involved."
Ming steps aside and here comes one of her minions, Kayla, "Jazmine we are a family so help your sister get a date with your brother." I try not to laugh. That didn't make much sense at all, she's clearly not that brightest.
Ming glares at her, "What she meant was I'm the captain and I'm not asking." So she's threatening me, cool.
"I already said I'll try." I say not letting her intimidate me.
"Look, think of it as a cheer duty to your captain. You wouldn't want to disappoint or fail me already." This has nothing to do with the team Ming and I both knew that. But I don't have much power here. I just got on the team and I really enjoy it. I don't have a specific duty to Ming but to this team. I am basically the only tumbler. They need me and I need them. Tumbling again made me somewhat happy and I can't get kicked off the team already. So I'll suck it up… for now.
I swallow my pride, "No I wouldn't want to disappoint."
"So you will talk to Huey for me?" Ming smiles.
"Yes, I will."
"Yes Who?"
"Yes, Captain." It takes everything in me not to roll my eyes.
"Lovely practice is over. Go home everyone." She declares while sashaying away.
Gosh I wish there was some way to wipe that smug look off her face.
I turn to Nicole, "Even if I did like Huey… tha is why it would never work out." I look down in sadness.
"Aw I'm sorry Jazmine, I feel like I caused that. Ming is awful."
"Yeah she is and I don't blame you. He might have won back there but it won't be the last. I refuse to let her walk all over me."
"Yesss mami." Nicole snaps her fingers with an attitude on it. Oh yeah I forgot to mention Nicole is half puerto-rican.
"While we are on the topic of love lives… who do you like?"
Nicole starts to blush, "Um he's on the football team, asian, funny and cute."
"Oh my gosh! Hiro!" I say excitedly.
"Yeah he's soo sexy." She gushes.
"So have you made a move?"
"Don't worry about me, I'm not shy when it comes to the men I want." Nicole winks. In return I give her a 'go ahead girl!' facial expression. The two of us hug and leave due to it becoming late.
The Next Day.
"So you came?" I say as Huey arrives at the hill.
"Of course. I always keep my word."
"Whatever, show me what you can do."
"Straight to the point are we? Alright." Huey steps back then runs into about 6 backflips and ends with a full twist. My eyes widened in shock, I am at a loss for words… that was amazing. I was forsure he was bluffing.
"Wow!" I manage to get out.
"Could've done more but I didn't stretch, didn't want to pull anything." Huey walks back to lean on the tree.
"But… how?"
"Martial arts." Is all he says. 'Why did he have to be so damn good at everything but so mysterious at the same time?' I didn't think this stupid crush could get any worse. Ugh that's why this next thing was going to be painful to ask.
"As cool as that was… I have something to ask you." Huey arches an eyebrow in response, as to say he's listening.
"Sooo you know Ming from the cheer team. Right, well she wanted-"
"No." He scowls.
I frown, "You don't even know what I was going to say."
"Hmm, let me guess she wants you to ask me to date her and the answer is no." Huey voices firmly.
"But Huey whyyy?" I whine.
"How old are you again?" I scowl back at him. I act my age, he's just being unreasonable.
"If you don't do it I'll be kicked off the team."
"Not my problem, even more reason why I won't. What do you have to do with this?" Huey has a point there, Ming is not making herself look good.
"Come on, at least compromise with me and let her escort you at the pep rally." I beg once again.
"Jazmine, what did I just say?"
"Don't forget I'm on the team because of you." I point at him, angrily.
Huey rolls his eyes, "I didn't drag you there and force you to try out."
"Well technically you didn't but pleaseee I don't want to get kicked off already." I pout and use puppy eyes.
He scoffs, "God, your annoying… Fine I'll do it."
"Oooh thank you, thank you!" I hug Huey and he doesn't hug back. I breathe in his aroma 'He smells so good.' Then I realize I'm being weird so I let go. He stands there with an uncomfortable look.
"Um I'll see you tomorrow, bye." I practically dash away from the hill. Hopefully this will satisfy Ming, I didn't want to do it. But the team is more important than the romance in my life, well non-existent romance.
