Chapter Two: One of Those Days

Sigh. I was now practicing the routine for the fourth time, and honestly, my muscles hurt from all the smiling and me being thrown like a ragged doll thing; it sucks being short. I watched Zoe teach some of the slow pokes the routine, and it made me smile a little. You can really see how much she enjoys her sport and I'm happy for her. I guess it was nice of Zoe to make me join. She knew I needed an outlet, I needed to dance. And though this was different from what I was used to, I appreciated her trying to cheer me up.

But after repeating the same routine for the fifth time, my ragged doll body had enough. I needed to get out of here!

I marched towards Zoe, ready to scream my head off at the blonde, but she saw me coming. She smirked, "Don't start with me Cleo, you know we have to practice. We need to be ready before the game next week"

"Oh, come on! I've memorized the timing, the ques already. I'd recite 'Let's Go Kent High' to you 8 times if you'd like" I begged, desperation leaking off me. The thought of hitting that play button and the smell of popcorn made my aura of desperation, at least I thought it would, more agreeable.

"You would rather stay in your stinky bedroom alone with your series than spend your whole day here? With me, your favorite babe in the world?" she smiled at my desperation. She wasn't buying it. I needed to br-

"Wait. You think my bedroom's stinky?" I asked, all traces of desperation was gone. I showed my hurt puppy look; I take pride in my collection of blueberry scented candles.

"Well, maybe not you. But you reeeally have to set a rule for Noodle not to come in without taking a shower after practice."

We giggled at the memory of him and LeShaen stinking up the house last they came to visit after their practice. No amount of scented candles could cover up that stench.

"Excuse me ladies, but that is what we call the stench of REAL men"

We turned around to the voice behind us. There in front of us was LeShaen and Noodle doing the 'Mr. Clean' pose as if to show how much of a real man they were. We laughed at the sight of the two guys puffing their chest out as much.

Zoe walked over to LeShaen, hugging his frame as much as she can, "Yeah, well, if you smell like a 'real man' every time you're with me, that's gonna be a huge problem for us"

"What happened to love, baby? I thought it was real between us?" said LeShaen, over dramatizing his hurt for us, the audience in this play apparently.

I smiled at their silly antics, rolling my eyes at the show, "You know what else is real? Soap. I hear TRUE men use that too. Just saying."

Just when it left my mouth, I saw Noodle stalk towards me with his arms wide open, ready to wrap me around his 'stench', "Oh, come on Cleo. A little dirt and stink never hurt anyone," he said with a smirk.

I felt my eyes widen. Damnit! That damn bastard's gonna tickle me, I just know it! Yup, that scared me more than the 'stench' really. With that, I ran from the monkey, out through the opening from the cheerleaders and in to the courts. Just when I thought I neared the exit, safe from the monster himself, I got tackled.

I laughed so hard I can feel myself tearing up; he knew my tickle spots from the skin near my ribs to my knees. I tried to do this fish-out-of-water thing. Yeah, doesn't work when you got a guy pinning you down with his body. The guys around weren't even helping! Why did I go to the basketball court again? If it were the tennis court, the guys there would've hit Noodle with their racquets. This should be considered abuse, like one-week detention worth. Hearing no whistle, coach wasn't with the team; probably taking over detention. I had to retaliate, I will not lose in what I consider a champion of. I take pride in my wrestling skills; I consider my small frame as an advantage. With a little tumble and twist, I switched our position with me riding on his back, twisting his arm, while he laid down on the ground. I love the smell of victory and, surprisingly, a pleasant smell from the man below. He showered!

I giggled while he squirmed; I knew he was uncomfortable, but I'd like to feel the winning glory from the guys clapping around us, "You win this round Cleo, but don't forgot, we still got movie night later," he said, his tone threatening. I forgot it's his turn to choose the movie. He knows I don't like horror films!

I quickly got off, sheepishly grinning at him, "How 'bout we call it a tie after I buy the pizza tonight?"

He stood up slowly, brought his hand to his chin as if to think it over real hard, "Okay." he said, dusting off the invisible dirt from his jacket, clearly happy from the thought of his small victory.

I stared at the young man, amazed at how easy it was to change his mind. If I were him, I would've made him watch a documentary about watch making just to make him suffer. What were we doing again? Oh, right. "Where's Zoe? I had this whole speech about practicing and me going home early." I looked towards our practice area for the blonde, but instead got my head slowly turned by large hands on each cheek to the area behind the bleachers.

"Were they actually trying to hide? I mean, come on." I snickered at the couple sucking each other's face off.

He smirked, walking with me towards the two. "It's kind of beautiful in a way. Like watching two slugs trying to tear themselves off each other's slimy face"

I stopped half way from them and stared at the couple. Yup. I can see the two slugs right now. There's an image that'll be stuck in my head for some time. "Well, thanks for ruining kissing for me"

Noodle laughed at me, he knew how imaginative my weirdo of a brain is. He walked back to me, draped his arms around me while tugging me to a walk to the love birds. "I'm not saying it's all bad. I mean, It was definitely fun when we did it" he stared at me with a smirk. Oh, those fun times where we tried to kiss each other awkwardly, saliva spilling at first. We both laughed, pretty sure he was thinking the same thing as I was. "Shut up, monkey! I'd rather keep my shirt dry from all your saliva today, thanks."

"Dude, I'm pretty sure we're pros now." He raised an eyebrow as if to suggest. I blushed at the thought, at least I would've if I was as pale as him. Thank God for my Puerto Rican blood. "Maybe later, monkey." I ran from his arms missing his surprised face from my sudden getaway, then jumped on the railing. "Am I interrupting anything, ladies?"

Clearly, the couple was irritated but I wanted to go home, and them making out won't stop me from my much deserved break from practice. "Don't you got some place to be Cleo?" LeShaen said, "Any place else to be?" Zoe added staring me down as if to take a hint. However, I loved seeing their faces right now with their annoyance and impatience. Yup, small victory for the annoying friend. If only I brought my phone with me. I smiled a sweet smile at the two as I dropped myself on the floor. "Were you guys doing something? See, we didn't really notice all the way across the court," said Noodle as he caught up behind me, staring at the two with devious glint in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around me, his head on top of mine trying to use me as a shield of some sort. Or I was just that short, and his neck got tired from carrying his big head around. Either explanation's okay, I liked it.

"Shouldn't you guys be out there practicing?"

Noodle and I stared at each other as if to think of better things to do than be with our darling friends. "Nope, not really." We said simultaneously, grinning like idiots at the two.

LeShaen sighed, by now I'd think he already got used to our antics. "Fine, I'll be out in a minute. Do us a favor and practice some free throws" he stared at Noodle with a smirk, clearly trying to hit a spot at his ego. I tried to hold back a giggle at that, and clearly Zoe found Noodle's appalled face just as funny.

Noodle chuckled, "That's low, man" he said as he clutched his 'aching heart', a smile on his face as he lets go of me. He jumped on the railing just like how I did, staring at the two below him. "Really", then jumped down, "Low." I laughed at his silliness as he walked backwards with a wave goodbye at me, and I waved back.

"I see you're still here" said Zoe, smirking at me and Noodle's little exchange. "I can't really go 'till I get the captain's dismissal sooo can I go oh wise and pretty one?" I gave her the best puppy dog eyes I have in my arsenal, but for some reason, my adorability was not working on the babe today. "Nice try Cleo. You still need to work on cleaning up your basket toss."

"But, mom-"

"No buts! Like you said, I'm the captain. And I'm not dismissing you until the routine's perfect." She crossed her arms over her chest as she stood in front of me like how a mom would. LeShaen clearly impressed with her girlfriend as he laughed at my kicked-down puppy face.

I hanged my head down, walking back to the practice area, but not before shouting "I voted for Lizzie!" I ran after that, laughing my ass off, never wanting to experience the wrath of Zoe Parker. I heard LeShaen laugh out loud to that. Zoe even added a "Yeah, you better run!", but she knew I love her. Nobody was stupid enough to vote for Lizzie as the cheer captain; all ass and boobs, no talent. I slowed down to a walk back to the practice area. I'm pretty sure Zoe knew I was kidding anyway. After our private back stabbing session of the "All-out Tits and Ass" cheerleader in the middle of the night filled with booze and junk food, there definitely was no way I was voting for Lizzie.

We practiced for another hour, an occasional visit or an 'accidental' ball on the head from the monkey here and there, when I noticed the coach come through the gate with the detentionees. I was confused when I saw Grover as one of them, more confused when I saw him smiling like he's actually having fun being punished on a weekend. I know him from Biology, he was my partner a few times. He was funny, kind, sweet, none of which gave me the vibes of a trouble maker. Huh. Who would've thought?

"We need all three flyers in position! Simple basket toss guys, let's get it right!"

Damn my small height. I did not enjoy being a flyer. I got bruised from the countless number of throws today, plus I reeeally don't like being thrown. But Zoe knew exactly how to bribe me. Aside from the fact that she knew I was light since my partners back in the good old days can lift me up with just one hand, she knew my cravings at different times, and that's one of the reasons why I love her. I was one of the smallest in our group so who better to take the fall (pun intended).

We arranged ourselves in a line, me at the last to execute the highest toss of the three. Just as they threw me in the air, the fucking alarm went off.