Edit (on 10/26/2011): I finally fixed the mascot name from Bulldogs to Ravens! That seriously took months for me to fix... =/
OK, here's the new chapter.
This is one of the most important chapters in the story.
I love how most of it turned out and I didn't take that long to make it =)
Hope you all like it!
Chapter 5
Today was the day. The rally approached and Star was practically bouncing in her seat.
The world around seemed like it was moving slower and slower as she watched the clock above her teacher. Her math class was completely beyond her attention as she kept thinking over the routine for the rally.
She practically could do it in her sleep but she still thought that something was always forgotten even when she had remembered every single detail.
'A second cannot be that possibly long!' Star thought bitterly.
It seemed like an eternity for the excited girl but when the bell finally rang, Star sprung from her seat and left the room quickly and made her way to the gym.
She manoeuvred through the crowds of students with ease as she went through the halls. She made it into the girl's gym locker room, completely empty as she went into her bag and started to get changed into her cheerleading uniform. Slowly more members of the cheer team joined her in getting ready.
Star was the first to be ready. She sat on the bench bored from the lack of any excitement as she anticipated the spirit and yelling to come.
She looked up and saw Paulina approaching. A smile grew on Star's face as Paulina sat down beside her.
"You excited for the rally?" Star asked.
Paulina smiled. "Yeah, totally! It's going to be great!"
Then out nowhere Paulina wrapped her arms around Star's body in an unexpected hug.
Paulina pulled herself away from Star's body and looked Star in the eye.
"You'll do great." Paulina said with a smile.
But as soon as the smile came, it disappeared in a serious stare.
"But, don't screw up. OK?"
Star felt butterflies start to fly around her stomach as she stared into Paulina's serious glare.
"Yeah I'll try Paulina." Star said softly, looking down to avoid Paulina's stare.
Paulina nodded her head, got up and left Star on the bench to talk to another cheer member.
But Star didn't let that deflate her attitude. She knew the cheer inside and out. She couldn't screw up.
The rally was in full swing now. Star was waving her pom poms in sync with the rest of the squad.
The announcer was introducing the most important players on the team like the quarterback, running back, safety, etc.
The big jocks ran through the gym doorway, going the rest of the team with a bunch of high fives and chest bumps. The crowd cheered with when all of the iconic players came out on the gym floor.
As the list of players was winding down, the long awaited cheerleading routine was approaching.
Star's stomach felt as though it had been twisted into a tight knot as she got nervous, but it was her stage and she wanted to shine as bright as the sun.
Once the last player Dash Baxter came out of the doors, Star and the rest of the cheer squad got into position for the routine.
"And please enjoy a routine created by our own cheer squad!" The announcer exclaimed.
Star waited for the musical cue to begin; once the musical started she sprung into motion.
She moved her arms into the air in motion with the music in the background.
Star remembered all her moves and cues in the routine, it felt effortless for her as she moved in perfect fluid motions. She didn't feel like it was separate motions looking good in a skimpy cheerleading costume. No, it was elaborate beautiful dance like the tribes did for a good farming season. It was like Star was dancing for a good football season.
She was in tune with the music, not just a part of the cheer team, but a part of the music itself.
Star didn't even notice the build up to the finale, the cheerleading pyramid.
As the girls got into position Star got behind the organized pile up of girls and prepared herself for the jump.
Once the bottom and middle layers of the pyramid were formed the girls giving Star the boost nodded to her.
Star took a deep breath and walked up to them. She placed her foot in the boost formation the two other cheerleaders had formed and then lifted herself up into second level of the pyramid.
She placed her one foot on the pyramid formation, got herself balanced and then placed her second foot on the level, placing herself on the top.
The view on the top was surreal. It was like Star was untouchable, like she was like the thing she was named after, a Star.
Star felt like she could stay up there forever, but the show had to go on.
Just when she got prepared to say "Go Ravens Go (1)" something caught her eye in the distant corner of the gym. Something was glowing brightly, flashing at random moments like a strobe light.
When Star focused more on to the corner she saw the white haired boy from a week ago.
He looked the same as ever, he still wore the black and white hazmat suit. His eyes were still glowed green and his hair was still as white as snow.
What amazed Star first was the fact that he was floating high above in the air. It was if it was magic that the boy was able to float in the air.
'He could fly?' Star thought in wonder.
Phasing through the gym wall was the same octopus. It attacked the white haired boy, but he weaved through the large tentacles and hit the octopi straight in the head with a hard punch.
Star couldn't believe that she was the only able to see this.
'There must be other people seeing this!' Star thought frantically
She didn't even consider the craziness of the situation that was unfolding in front of her; instead she put her hand out, pointing at the boy and octopus.
The outstretched arm had compromised her balance on the top of the pyramid and she started to try and get back on balance.
The crowd watched in awe as Star tried to regain her balance with wild flapping of her arms and strange chest movements.
She rocked back and forth trying to find her centre of balance until finally she had moved too far forward to keep her on the top.
She fell feet first toward the hard gym floor, going faster as she fell. Before the impact she looked to where the boy and octopus were, but they were nowhere to be found.
When she impacted on the floor her shin bone completely buckled under the pressure, she heard a snapping noise as she fell forward hitting her knees and chest into the wood. Her chin then hit the floor hard enough cause her ears to pop.
Star heard the people around her gasp and came to her aid. She tried to move her body into a sitting position, but it was useless because of the pain burning from her leg.
She tried to get her ankle into a better position but found that every time she moved her injured leg, jolts of pains would run up her body making her grind her teeth, forcing herself to not make a sound.
Ms. Teslaff was the first by star's side ready to give medical aid to the blonde.
The gym teacher shifted Star's leg causing her to hiss in discomfort as her ankle pulsed in pain.
"It looks as though your shin has been broken." noted.
Star was in shock of what said. 'Broken? My shin's broken.' Star thought sadly.
As got all everything organized for getting Star to the hospital the whole cheer squad surrounded Star giving her their condolences.
"It'll be all right Star. Hopefully its not that serious." One of the cheerleaders said nicely. The others nodded in agreement.
Star nodded, "Thanks guys"
Star leaned her back on the gym floor trying to get her head comfortable on the hard floor.
"Did you guys see them?" Star said weakly.
"See who?" A brown haired girl answered curiously.
"The boy and the octopus, didn't you see them, they were in the corner of the gym" Star said pointing to the place where she'd seen them.
But when she looked over at the corner, nothing was there. Just an ordinary part of the gym, nothing special or abnormal about it.
All cheerleaders looked concerned as they looked over at the ceiling corner of the gym.
"Is that why you fell Star? Because you saw an octopus?" Paulina said surprised.
"What? No! I'm not crazy, know what I saw." Star said angry.
The rest of the squad just looked on sceptically.
"Don't look at me like that guys. I know what I saw" Star tried to explain.
The girls just looked at Star as though she was foreign; they didn't understand and how could they? Floating octopi and white haired glowing boys? It sounded like it came from some messed up cartoon.
Star tried to explain again to the cheer squad when the paramedics had arrived on the scene to take Star off to the hospital. They knelled down to Star and explained that she may feel some pain when they move her.
Star just nodded not even listening as she looked up to the ceiling of the gym where she saw the white haired boy poking his head out of the wall.
Star couldn't believe it.
Before even thinking she pointed her hand to towards the boy. "Look there he is, don't you see him?" she yelled
Everyone around Star looked to where she was pointing but the white haired boy was too fast because he phased through the wall before anyone could see him.
Every looked but saw nothing but an empty ceiling, leaving Star to look like some crazy lunatic.
'This can't be happening!' Star thought frantically.
"Listen, he disappeared before you could see him." Star said while the paramedics quickly put her on the stretcher.
Everyone now looked at her as though she was alien to them even though a few minutes before she was the one of their peers. The looks in their eyes showed that somehow she was now taken out of the inner circle; she was the one looking from the outside for a way in.
Star was wheeled away on the stretcher she gave the cheer squad one last wave. The rest of the girls just nervously waved back and wished her luck, but it seemed like it was forced.
Before Star was wheeled through the gym doors she saw Paulina staring at her with a look of sadness and maybe was it, happiness? This confused her even more as she was brought to ambulance and put into the back.
The paramedics then started to do some work on her leg.
1 (edit): I finally fixed it. Months ago I had it as the bulldogs instead of the canon, which is the Ravens.
Ok, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.
The events of this chapter are the catalyst of the new direction in Star's life. And next chapter you'll see the effects and reaction to that catalyst.
Please review what you think of the story's direction and please feel free to put in your input =)
And if there are any hockey fans out there. Please make a note in your review on who you're cheering for to win Lord Stanley's Cup!
I'm hoping that the Vancouver Canucks can finally bring the home the cup! But that's just me.
Until next time,
Prophet =P