"No!"

"Come on Ryan be reasonable! We need a mascot for tomorrow's game and you're the only one we can think of who can pull it off." Chad pleaded as he, Ryan, Troy and Zeke waited in line to get their lunch.

"No! I won't do it. What happened to Gordon anyway?" Ryan was intrigued by why the basketball team needed him to sit in for the original Wildcat mascot.

"He got his ankle sprained during our last game." Zeke answered. "So you'll do it?"

"No..." Ryan repeated.

"Ryan, I can't believe you! Tomorrow is the most important game for us and you wouldn't even do us this small favor. Where's your school pride man!" Troy tried his luck.

"I have school pride, Troy! My own pride just overpowers it. I'll be there cheering for you guys, just not in a costume. See you guys later." Ryan responded while grabbing his lunch and heading towards the table he and his sister shares.

"What now?" Zeke asked grabbing his own lunch and heading to the basketball team's table.

"I don't know. We should probably start looking for someone else to do it." Chad replied, sitting between Zeke and Troy.

"There must be something we can do to convince Ryan to do it." Troy said determinedly.

"Hey guys! What's up?" greeted Gabriella before sitting beside Troy. She was quickly followed by Taylor.

"You girls know that this is the basketball team's table right?" Chad addressed the two girls.

"Yes, we do Chad! But who said we can't sit here?" Taylor giving her almost boyfriend the eye. "The Status Quo has been broken. Remember?"

"Actually, it's still here. We're the only ones in this school who is actually breaking it." Zeke joined the conversation.

"Whatever." Gabriella responded. "What were you talking about before we got here?"

"You guys know that Gordon injured himself while doing a flip during our last game, right?" Troy asked. The two girls nodded so he continued. "So he can't be the mascot for our championship game tomorrow and we can't find a replacement for him."

"Did you ask Ryan if he could do it?" Taylor asked remembering that Ryan was the only person in East High who could match Gordon's hair-raiser flips.

"Yeah... But he said no." Chad answered this time.

"Did you try the 'Where's your school spirit' line?" Gabriella inquired.

"I did but it didn't work." Troy sighed." If we can only find out Ryan's weakness. Something that would make him say yes to anything."

As Troy was saying this, as if on cue, Kelsi arrived at the table and sat on the empty seat between Zeke and Taylor.

"Wow! You didn't tell me we are sitting here now. This is so cool!" Kelsi said amazed that she was sitting at basketball team's table.

Troy, Gabriella, Chad, Taylor and Zeke looked back and forth with each other then looked at Kelsi, who was writing something on her music sheet(again!). The five teens smiled. Troy stood up and approached Kelsi.

"Kelsi, can you do us a favor?" Troy asked pretending to shy about it.

"Sure! What is it?" Kelsi said curious.

Troy's smile even got bigger. "Well, you know Gordon..."

Ryan sighed as he open his locker. The day was finally over and he was glad that he can go home now and rest. He was actually surprised that the basketball team didn't bother him the rest of the day. He knows that those boys were determined and would stop at nothing to get what they wanted, but he was happy that they didn't push the mascot issue after he said no to them during lunch.

"Hi!" a sweet chirpy voice from beside him interrupted his train of thoughts.

"Hey Kelsi!" he greeted back, his smile getting bigger.

"So, uhm, you're going to the game tomorrow right?"

"Yes. You?"

"Yeah... But I don't think I going to myself to much there."

"Why?"

"Well, I talked to Troy during lunch and he told me that Gordon wouldn't be able to make tomorrow's game. I mean, it just not complete without the Wildcat mascot there."

"I know. But I think the team can manage without a mascot even for just one game."

"But this is their biggest game of the year. They need someone who could make the audience cheer and boost the team's morale. A guy that's really energetic and could do flips without breaking a sweat. Someone like... YOU!"

"What?!"

"Actually, Troy and the guys asked me to ask you if you'll be willing to be the mascot for tomorrow's game. They were going to ask you personally but they don't know how to. Besides, they're really busy getting ready for the game. So, Ryan, would you do it?"

'Dammit' Ryan cursed inside. Too much for thinking that the basketball team will actually give up on something. And the worst part is they used Kelsi. He can't say no to Kelsi. He didn't know why but he didn't seem to have the heart to say no to her.

"Sure! School pride right?" Ryan responded with a slight smile. ' There goes my pride! I hope it's worth it.'

"Really? That awesome, Ryan! Thank you some much." Kelsi clapped happily and captured Ryan into a hug.

"No problem." Ryan answered hugging Kelsi back.

"Chad said that the costume is in the gym. You can pick it up there." Kelsi informed him "Oh, I'm so happy your doing this."

Both teens were caught surprised when Kelsi suddenly leaned up and gave Ryan a light peck on the lips. They both quickly jumped apart trying to hide their extremely red faces. Kelsi grabbed her bag for her locker and shut it closed. She turned to face Ryan.

"Well...I... I'll see you tomorrow. Go Wildcats!" Kelsi said nervously and left East High in a flash.

Ryan turned around and smiled bigger than he ever did.

"Totally worth it!"