Chapter 6-Pep Rally.
Today is the big day. The day where I might do amazing or puke. Either way I am nervous because I will have to be in front of a stand of people for the whole entire game. I'm not worried about cheering the football team on from the sidelines but I actually have to do an entire performance during half time. Well at least I won't be by myself until I have to do my tumbling solo. Hopefully all goes well and the team does outstanding. I just wish I didn't feel so much pressure.
Throughout the morning everyone in school was excited for the game. Wearing school colors blue and gold, it's been a school tradition for years it's supposed to get us in spirit for the game. I always found it dumb but now that I am a cheerleader I have to participate. We have to wear our cheer uniforms the whole day. I find it uncomfortable, having guys stare at my legs and girls give stank looks from afar. But the other girls on the team didn't mind, in fact they love the attention. Yeah this is going to take some getting used to.
After a few periods the team goes into the hallway there to get in some last minute practice before tonight for the actual game. We go over routines and cheers a few times. Then we go inside for a break and to talk, just mess around for a few before it is time for the pep rally. The whole team gathers by the doors that will release us to the gym. I brace myself as I step into the gym. My fellow cheerleaders get into a formation so that all the football players can run down the line between us while we cheer them on. I glance up at the bleachers, Goodness Gracious! They are full with students from all grades. I pray to god I don't mess up.
"It's Time for our lovely cheerleaders and everyone else to welcome Woodcrest High Football Teammmm!" The commenter announces and everyone in the crowd claps. The gym door bursts open, first is the football captain followed by the rest of the team. The girls and I shake our poms poms as they run in between us. When the last player comes out we all join them in the middle of the gym floor.
"Thank you everyone for the love! Ready for tonight's game?" The coach says into the mic.
"Yes!" The crowd yells.
"I can't hear you! Are you ready?!."
"YESSS!" The crowd of students roar.
"That's what I like to hear! Now I hope all of will be there to cheer the Woodcrest eagles onto winning. Now I'm going to pass the mic over to the captain of the football team." The coach hands the microphone to the team's captain, James.
"Great to see everyone in good spirits. I speak for everyone on the team when I say we really appreciate all of it. I have some thank you's in order. First I want to of course thank coach for believing in all of us and helping us be prepared for playing in today's game. Next I want to thank the sports director for all the funding he puts into our team. Lastly, I want to thank my teammates for always working hard on and off the field. Let's dominate this season boys! So we can get that trophy!" All the football boys gather around the captain chanting and pick him up. Then place him down after a few.
"Alright now that that is out the way. Let me introduce y'all to a few players that will be leading us to victory ," The cheerleaders and football players split in half. So there's a football player next to each cheerleader. The player James announces will come down the line with a cheerleader.
"Introducing the backbone of the team, Hiro! The powerhouse QB!" Nicole escorts Hiro as he high fives his teammates while coming down the line. Doing a stupid pose and making people in the corwd crack up.
James continues naming a few players on the team before it's Ming and Huey's turn. I press my lips together to contain whatever this feeling in the pit of my stomach is.
"Last but certainly least, You may know him you may not… Huey "Quiet Storm" Freeman. Our new wide receiver, just wait till you see him in action this season." Ming escorts Huey down the line as the cheer and football team clap for him. When he gets to the end of the line, Ming turns around and rubs down his torso as she drops into a split, looking up at him. He smirks down at her and I roll my eyes. Since when did those two get so comfy.
"Woah! I did not expect that. Looks like not only is he good at catching footballs but also having girls on the floor for him!" James says making the crows whoop and holler. I don't think any of us expected that. Huey shakes his head before he helps Ming up and she winks at me as she passes by.
Well that was quite the performance. I put on a fake smile as the pep rally went on cheering until it was over. I couldn't shake this slight bitter feeling. I mean who was I kidding to ever think Huey would ever be interested in me. Girls like Ming are his type, gorgeous, popular, and confident. The opposite of me. This was a silly crush, it would go away. I try to brush this feeling away.
The pep rally ends and everyone goes home. At my house I practice my cheers until it's time for me to head to the football game. I ride with Cindy, Taylor, and Asia in Cindy's car to the school. They were coming to watch me cheer. They announce they're going to stay in the car for a little while because according to them only weirdos go to the game early.
"Good luck!"
"See you in there girl!"
"Thanks!" I yell back to my friends, "Don't come too late or it will be hard to find a seat."
I walk into the football field and over to the cheer team. We warm up as people fill the bleachers. Good turn out for the first game. When the whistle blows we start cheering. Our football team got off to a rough start but by the time we get to half time they are in the lead. As the football players leave the field to go to the locker room. The cheerleading team makes their way to the middle of the field for our performance.
It goes silent, nervousness radiates off me then the beat drops for the music. Somehow I let go of the fears and get into the rhythm with everyone else on the team. Trying to be as in sync as possible, see I am a good dancer but I never danced with other people. So being in sync was important for me. I certainly did not want to be the one standing out either.
Oh boy, here comes that part. My solo. I take a deep breath. I start off by running a round off into a black flip, then a front flip, two more back flips, an Aerial into a front handspring landing in a split. My chest heaves up and down as the crowd applauds for me. Earning some woos here and there. I smile widely as I get back into line to finish the routine. I didn't think I would but I nailed that.
When we finish the number we end it with a pyramid. Of course Ming is at the top, there's no competition for that spot. Even if someone wanted to challenge her, I wouldn't recommend it. She prides herself at being on the top.
Nicole, Jessica and I are the base of the pyramid we have to hold her up. We keep her for a few seconds and then open our arms so she can come down correctly. All of the cheerleaders clap and a few do air splits as we exit off the field. We all did an amazing job. I'm proud of us. Very soon the football team comes back onto the field. Second quarter starts. The outcome… We won the game! Woah I do not recall ever being happy about football. I kind of like this for me.
The game is over and everyone's leaving. The athletes and cheer team have to wait a little bit before they can exit as well.
Nicole and I are laughing about our last year English teacher's new wig. When I'm suddenly cut off by Huey stopping in front of us.
"Those were nice cheers Dubois." He's wearing that cocky smirk.
I roll my eyes at him, "Thanks."
"Hey Huey, congrats on the win." Nicole nudges me. Um? I look at her crazy. Huey nods at her in acknowledgement, "Well why thank you Nicole. Jazmine, you need to learn to be more polite from her." He speaks in a teasing tone.
"Maybe I'm just not polite to jerks like you." I retort back with a smile on my face.
"Um my ride is waiting on me, see you guys at school on Monday." Nicole waves as she walks to the parking lot. Why'd she leave me alone with this boy?
"Uh, congrats on your first win. You did good." I say honestly. Because it was the truth Huey scored most of the touchdowns today.
"I Appreciate it. Now was that so hard?" He mocks.
"Don't push it."
"All right." He puts his hands up in sort of a surrendering way.
"You sure know how to put on a show and I'm not just talking about football." I say referring to earlier at school. He arches a brow in confusion.
"At the pep rally. You and Ming."
"Oh that. I just went along with it because it would be awkward if I didn't." Huey shrugs.
"Mmhm."
"What?"
"Nothing… I got to go. My friends are waiting on me."
"Yeah me too. Later." Huey catches up with some of his wandering teammates.
I sigh, watching him before I catch up to my group of friends.
Monday.
It is just another normal day at practice or so I think.
"Jazmine! Can I speak to you really quickly?" Ming waves me over with a conniving smile.
I look over at Nicole, having the same puzzled look on our face but make my way over to her.
"Yes?"
"So rumor has it Freeman is hanging with Tatiana after school." She tells me. That's a relief, everyone knows Tatiana is the dullest girl in school. Guess no one told Huey. Ha, well now he'd have to find out for himself.
"Um ok?" I arch an eyebrow.
"That was supposed to be me. What happened? I told you to hook me up." Ming folds her arms.
"I got him to escort you at the pep rally but he was being difficult about the dating part." I say honestly.
"Hmm, I don't know if I believe that. What I think is that you want him all to yourself. And that's not how we roll on the cheer team. I called dibs first so he's mine." She accuses me. Hers? This girl…
My eyes widen, "To myself? I already told you I don't think of Huey like that." Lie, I totally do.
"I'm not buying your little act Dubois. See everyone thinks you're this innocent shy person but not me. You're really a sneaky person that stabs people in the back." I'm one of the most loyal people. She is projecting herself on to me. Is this girl forreal?
"What?!" I exclaim.
"Everything okay over here girls?" Nicole is standing by my side.
"Ming thinks I had something to do with Huey not wanting to date her and that I'm being disloyal to the team." Which is bullshit.
"I'm just saying her story sounds funny. I mean who would refuse to go out with muah, I'm the most popular girl in school." And bitchiest. "It just doesn't make sense to me. And I can't have someone on the team that I don't trust so maybe there needs to be some changes." Wrong, What she really means is she can't have someone on the team she can't control. I can't believe I'm really going to be kicked off the team, it hasn't even been two months yet.
Nicole scoffs, "Oh c'mon Ming you can't kick her off the team only because Huey won't go on a date with you. It's not her fault and you have no proof that it is." She says not backing down. Ming and Nicole have a stare off before Ming rolls her eyes.
"Well I suppose you're right but I'm watching you Dubois." Ming saunters away.
"Whew" I release a breath of relief, "Thank you Nicole for sticking up for me. That was really brave." I give her a hug.
"No problem, I'm not scared of Ming. She's aware that I have something on her that she doesn't want anyone to know." Nicole shrugs.
A look of approval appears on my face, "Blackmail. Cool."
"Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get by, my friend." The both of us laugh and get back to practicing cheers.
