A/N

The rumors are untrue. I have not fallen off the face of the earth. But I'm truly sorry it ha taken me so long to update. Promise the next one will be up in a week or so. So for those of you who still care about this story...

Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Cheer Practice and Surprise Visits

Iz and I got on the field for cheer practice just as a few of the other girls, who were on the team from last year, started filing in. I'd change into a yellow fitted pikachu shirt, that Simon got me for my birthday last year and training shorts that went about 4 inches past my butt and my white cheer shoes. Isabelle was dressed similarly but instead of a pikachu shirt she wore a black one with the word fashionista written in hot pink, also a gift from Simon. The girls had the same shorts and shoes on but the shirts we ordered weren't going to come in for another couple of days.

Since it was the first time we practiced in a couple weeks Izzy and I decided to just go over a few basic routines. But of course we couldn't do that without Magus, because he had the play list.

After about 10 minutes of talking and catching up the football team came out on the field, decked out in all of their usual practice attire. I spotted Jace from across the field and I could've sworn he winked at me. I turned my head so no one could see the slight blush on my cheeks. When the color was mostly gone I turned back to the football team and smiled to Jon, Simon and Alec who were walking together, probably talking about sports. Finally Magnus came running out on the field with his blue Beats Pill XL in hand and his laptop bag on his shoulder. When he finally reached us I noticed his hair was kind of out of place and his cheeks were flushed. Suddenly curious I looked over at Alec to see the sunlight catch the sparkles that adorned his cheeks and hair. I snickered to myself and nudged Isabelle who was talking to Lisa — a flyer with pixie cut blonde hair — when she turned to me I tilted my chin towards Magus —who had just gotten to us— and then to Alec. She got the gist quick enough and snickered along with me.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, I had to call my mom about my car, because it's still in the shop and th— oh screw it. I was making out with my boyfriend," Magus said, starting out in a rush and then giving up all together.

I patted him on the shoulder, "it's okay Mags, we get it, don't we ladies?" I ask loudly so the girls could hear me.

Yeah's and We sure do's came in reply. I looked back to Magnus and noticed that this was one of the rare times that he was embarrassed and blushing brighter than my hair.

After that we got into the swing of one of our regular routines and then tried out a new one with a remix Magus made to Heroes by Alesso. It turned out pretty good but not perfect since we were short a few girls. It wasn't until after practice that I learned that the regular group and some guys from the football team were all coming to my house I shrugged since it wasn't such an abnormal thing. Izzy road home with me and Jon decided to go with Alec and Magnus. Maia rode with Jordan, because he brought her to school that morning and Simon took his own car. As for the other guys, I had no idea how they would get there but I guess they'd manage it somehow.

Since Izzy and I decided to stop at Starbucks, me for an iced coffee and her for a green tea, we were the last ones to get there. My spot in the driveway was open and I was grateful for that. On the other hand I saw something I couldn't believe I was seeing again, a matte black Harley Davidson. Izzy saw it too and grabbed my arm just as I took the key out of the ignition. She looked at me with just as much excitement as I felt.

Bat was back.

I grabbed my bags and practically sprinted into the house, Izzy following closely behind of course. Bat was a year older than us but he was one of our best friends. We'd known his since we were little because he lived right down the street and his dad worked with mine at the law firm. Bat was also insanely smart and had graduated March of last year. A month later he was parked up and off to MIT. We kept in touch, of course, but has the year went on we all started to talk less and less. So I was more than happy to see him again. As I burst through the door I was vaguely aware of all of the other people on my house as I ran straight to Bat.

Mostly everyone was in the kitchen and after putting my stuff down —Starbucks included— I saw him and he saw me. I had this dopey grin on my face as I pushed through everyone and literally jumped on him, my legs around his waist as he squeezed me tight and I replied with just as much force.

"Clare-Bear I missed you!" He said in my ear.

"I missed you too."

Someone cleared their throat and I decided it was time to let him go. Not two seconds later Izzy hugged him too. But unlike me she kept her feet on the ground.

"How've you been?" I asked as most people started to clear out of the kitchen until it was me, Izzy, Bat, Simon, and Maia left.

"Good actually MIT is amazing, but I have another week before classes start so I figured I should surprise you all." He smiled, the scar on his right cheek interrupting his handsome features. We talk to him for about 15 minutes before Maia asked what we were all thinking.

"So have you met anyone?" Maia asked wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

He blushed.

"OH MY ANGEL," I shrieked loudly, "HE BLUSHED, BAT BLUSHED!"

Izzy, Simon and Maia also had eyes as wide as mine. Simon was the first to speak up.

"I've known you for more than half my life and this is the first time I've ever seen you blush, especially over a girl."

"Soooo"Isabelle pressed, "what's her name? When do we get to meet her? How old is she? Is she —

"Iz!" Bat cut her off loudly "not so much at once." He took a deep breath, a slight smile on his face, " He name is Leila, she's a couple months older than me. And yes if all goes well I may just bring her over for Christmas break," his smile grew wider at the thought of the girl and I couldn't be happier for him.

"Can we see her?" Simon asked. Bat nodded and took out his phone. She was truly very pretty, slender, yet with the right amount of curve to her, with dark brown hair that fell in loose curls to middle of her back and hazel eyes.

"Woah," said Simon and we all nodded in agreement. Though I could have swore Isabelle winced a little at the though of Simon finding someone 'woah'. I smirked to myself.

Bat smiled and we continued for the next 2 hours talking about life and school with light banter here and there. But soon Bat said he should leave to go see his parents since they were still at work when he went to pick up his motorcycle. But he promised to come back tomorrow. We smiled and said our goodbyes.