"Riles, come on!" Caprice pulled her through the crowd of students and pushed her up to the podium. "Good luck!"
"Caprice!" Riley squealed as she came up to the mic. "Um, hey guys." Her voice rang back.
"Whoo, way to go, Riles!" The cheerleaders clapped from the back of the crowd, giving her a thumbs-up.
"So," She began again with confidence, "Friendly reminder that this week's homecoming game will be an away game. Our student body is fully encouraged to come by and show their school spirit. There will be a pep rally around fifth period, so right after lunch, head to the gym. Let's go, guys! Whoohoo!"
Caprice and the team bombarded her as soon as she stepped down, laughing and hugging her.
Riley squeezed Caprice and screamed when the football team lifted her onto their shoulders, chanting the school 'fight song' as they led her down the halls.
Maya, Lucas, Farkle, and Zay watched from their spot on the stairs as Riley was so easily welcomed by the jocks, people that Maya never found themselves a part of; they were too different from them. If it weren't for Lucas and Zay, Maya thought Riley would have never been interested in something like Cheerleading.
Lucas watched Riley be bounced on the football team's shoulders, her smile bigger than he'd seen it in months. Charlie of course was the one to start the eruption of school spirit, seeing as he and Riley were now a couple. Something Lucas thought was just a rumor in their eighth grade year until they decided they'd walk down the halls while holding hands. It was weird for him to see, in fact, it was awkward watching them be together. But he had Maya and he was happy, they were both happy, and that's all he needed.
Riley's black hair fell in her face as the team set her down, all except Charlie scattering quickly, leaving her confused. "Ahhh!" She screamed as she was suddenly drenched in water.
"Guys!" Charlie laughed as he too was soaked from head to toe. "What the-?!"
"Oh, come on!" Caprice laughed, tugging on a string by the doorway of the cafeteria. "You guys have been voted Sophomore homecoming King and Queen, this is your 'congratulations!'."
"Awesome." Riley giggled as she wiped water from her eyes, looking up at Charlie as his team congratulated him and handed him a towel, which he draped around her shoulders. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." He pulled her close and rubbed her arms to keep her warm. "You know you guys are out a pyramid member if she gets a cold."
"She won't get a cold." Heather promised, winking at them. "She's got you to keep her warm."
Their classmates 'ooohed' and snickered while Charlie rolled his eyes and led Riley away. "You guys are dorks."
Flashback: First Day of Freshman Year
"Can you believe it?" Riley squealed as she made her way through the doors of her new high school with Farkle and Zay close behind her. "We're in High School now guys, High School!"
"Riley, relax." Zay chuckled and patted her shoulder. He nodded to Maya and Lucas as they reached the group.
Riley looked at her feet and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Shifting from one foot to the other, she tugged her books closer to her chest. "Hey guys. What locker are you at, Maya?"
"Riles." Maya beamed before letting go of Lucas' hand and pulling out a piece of paper from her binder. "I'm at, uh, 5B. You?"
"5C." Riley handed her own paper over to show Maya that their lockers were once again right next to each other.
"Sweet." Maya tugged Lucas and Riley along to her locker, where she dialed her combination and pulled it open. "This is going to be a good year, right Riles?"
Riley nodded with a fake smile as she opened her own locker and shoved her book inside. After getting everything organized, she closed her locker and leaned against it as her friends got lost in conversation.
"Riley Matthews?" A girl with long, blonde hair pulled into a tight pony tail approached them.
The friends stopped talking and simultaneously turned to look at Riley and the upperclassman.
"Yes?" Riley pushed herself off her locker and faced the girl with a sheepish smile.
The girl stuck out her hand and grinned. "Caprice O'Hare. I'm on the cheerleading team here at John Quincy High. Our Captain would like to meet you."
Riley shook the Caprice's hand. "O-Oh, okay, but I haven't even tried out yet."
"Our Captain likes to scout out new talent before the school year begins." Caprice slid up to Riley's side and began to walk her to the gym where the cheerleaders were practicing.
"I'll see you guys at lunch." Riley turned to her friends and waved. "What do you mean 'scout new talent'? I'm not very good."
"You can always learn." Caprice smiled at her. "It's only your Freshman year, Riley, and as long as the team sticks together, you're going to do just fine."
Riley couldn't help the smile on her face as she kept up with Caprice on their way to meet the rest of the cheerleading team.
Present Time: Sophomore Year of High School
"Hey, Riles." Maya greeted as she walked up to Riley and Caprice, Lucas, Farkle, and Zay trailing behind.
"Hi, Maya." Riley beamed at her.
"You um, missed your shift at the diner yesterday." Maya scratched her arm nervously. "Everything okay?"
"Oh, yeah." Riley ran her hair through the towel one more time before shoving it in her locker. "I had a lot of homework to get done."
"I thought we could talk about some stuff." Maya felt Lucas walk up behind her, reassuring her.
"Next time." Riley half-promised, looking away from them and playing with her thumbs.
"You've been saying 'next time' for the past year." Maya grit her teeth, her frustration beginning to boil over. "You're avoiding me, Riles, just say it."
"Things are different now, Maya." Riley bit her lip. "I'm not avoiding you, I've just gotten busier-."
"Too busy for your best friend?" Maya's voice wavered.
"Riley has new friends, Maya." Caprice interjected, stepping in front of Riley. "Get over it. Get over yourself."
"Caprice." Riley warned with a hand on her shoulder.
"Come on, Riley." She scoffed, taking her arm and linking them together. "We're going to be late."
Maya choked back her tears as she watched Riley be hauled off by her new friend, locking eyes with her as she looked back apologetically.
"It was worth a shot." Lucas wrapped his arms around Maya and leaned his head against her shoulder.
"Was it?" She whispered as she caught Riley snapping her head forward.