Principal Burns
I hear a knock on the window outside my office; when I look up I see Massie grinning. She taps her watch. Tick tock tick, she mouths. She laughs, then click clacks away.
I wince. How can a girl that young be that damned evil?
It's already Thursday, and none of my interviews have panned out like I'd have hoped. Most of the candidates are young girls, fresh out of college, too easy for Massie and her crew to break. Or older women who can't be bothered with The Fearsome Five's antics.
I lean back in my office chair, and stare at the clock above the door. Fifteen minutes. My only chance of hope is fifteen minutes late.
Knock knock knock.
Oh please god don't let it be Massie.
"Hello?" A slightly twangy voice calls out as the door inches open.
My gaze lands on an attractive, young blonde woman. She looks frazzled, and a bit embarrassed.
"Principal Burns, I am so sorry," she states, looking embarrassed. "I know there is no excuse to be late, but I'm new to New York, and I've never had to deal with this kind of hustle and bustle-"
"You must be Mrs. May." I cut her off.
"Yes ma'am." She extends her hand. "But I'm a Ms."
"Really?" I say, surprised. "A lovely young woman like you?"
She shrugs and smiles.
I beam back at her, little does she know she had this job from the moment I looked over her craigslist ad.
"Have a seat Ms. Daisy May. So I understand you're from South Carolina?"
"Yes ma'am, born and raised!" She quips back proudly.
"Ever worked as a cheerleader in New York or the surrounding area?"
"Oh no ma'am, I just moved here in the Spring, but I do have a great record. I've been coaching for seven years now."
I touch a hand to my chest. "Oh, but you look so young," I say, playing up to the southern debutante air that she's giving off. "Er, how old are you exactly?"
"I'm thirty two, ma'am."
Oh hosanna thank you! She's not one of these young, flighty things with no experience nor is she one of these grand mother types too weary to deal. She's not from here, nor has she had any teaching experience in the tri-state area, which means The Fearsome Five's reputation has yet to reach her! I glance down at the short resume I printed out on her, and everything checks out great.
"But ma'am there-"
"Please just call me Principal Burns, and while you're at it you can call me boss."
Her pretty, light brown eyes light up excitedly at the revelation, and a smile spreads across her lips.
"You mean I've got the job?!"
I grin back at her. "You've got the job!"
She shoots to her feet. "Oh Principal Burns, thank you! You're a life saver. You won't regret this I promise!"
We shake hands. I try not to let my own excitement show, but I'm sure I'm just as enthusiastic as she is, if not more so.
"May I meet the girls? Please." she begs. My smile wavers a bit. I wasn't expecting that, but I quickly put my happy face back together, and reply, "Sure."
"Oh, I can hardly wait!"
Oh yes you can.
Coach Daisy
I'm so excited I can barely be still. I feel like a giddy little girl, as my new boss, Principal Burns, stands in front of the expectant crowd of girls. I glance around the gym admiring the blue, burgundy, and gold color scheme.
Principal Burns clears her throat before addressing the girls. "Ladies, this is your new cheer coach, Ms. Daisy, Ms. Daisy these are the girls. I'll leave you all to get acquainted." she says before turning to exit the gym.
"Good job Burns!" One of the girls calls out. Principal Burns gives a nervous nod before hurrying out of the gym, leaving me faced with my new squad.
I flash them all a bright smile. "Well it's nice to meet you all. I'm Ms. Daisy. May I ask who the captains are?"
Two pretty brunettes step forward.
"I'm the captain, Massie Block." Says the amber eyed girl. She sticks out her hand.
The Hispanic girl introduces herself next. "I'm Alicia, the co-captain." She then introduces me to everyone else. It's not a large group, but I'm sure what they lack in numbers they make up for in talent and experience-as they look like an older bunch of girls.
"Well nice to meet you Alicia, and Massie. Now I know this isn't a normal practice day so I'm not going to keep you all long, I'd like to jump right into business, and propose that we have try outs-"
"Try outs?" Kristen interrupts. "We have all the talent we need right here, why do we need to have try-outs?" she asks.
"Yeah," the other girls agree.
"Well I don't doubt that," I agree, "but we don't have a large enough group here for me to do what I have planned for us. Sure you girls probably have the talent and experience, but we need more numbers for bigger stunts."
"She has a point." Alicia nods.
"Yeah," Massie adds. "Our numbers have dropped since the last wave of seniors graduated, and we could use the new talent."
"Ugh!" Groans the pretty red head, Dylan. "I've been itching to get my hands on some pom poms and this is only going to delay the process even more!"
Everyone laughs.
I smile. "So you all agree?"
"Sure," Massie smiles back, "sounds like a good plan."
I clap excitedly. "Wonderful! This will be our first team activity, we'll make posters and spread the news about the try-outs. I can hardly wait."
Massie
"She's a bit too perky don't you think?" I ask my girls as we lounge out on the lawn soaking up the last remnants of warmth. I called a squad meeting during lunch to discuss the new cheer leading coach.
Dylan feigns a twangy southern accent, widens her green eyes, and says, "I can hardly wait to work with you gworls!"
We burst out laughing.
"She's adorable!" Allie Rose declares.
"But she is a bit too much." Strawberry adds. We hum our agreement.
"I think she's sweet." Olivia pipes up chirpily, successfully irritating the shit out of me. I reply with,
"I think nobody cares what you think." I snap back.
"Or feel."
"Or do."
"Or say." Each one of my girls adds nastily.
I cut my eyes at Duh-livia who looks close to tears. "Get it?"
She says nothing.
"I have to say though, I am impressed with Burns," Alicia remarks.
"Yeah, looks like we can look forward to another season." Layne adds, and we all high five.
"I'm not looking forward to a bunch of little underclassmen on our squad though." Kristen sighs, rolling her blue green eyes.
"I think try-outs are a good idea!" Olivia speaks up again in another pathetic attempt to grab my attention. We know it's a good idea, stupid ass, that's why Alicia and I approved it.
Alicia opens her mouth, no doubt for a nasty response, but I grab her arm, and shake my head. As much as I wanna punch Olivia right now, I know a better way to get her, and it's not by a good old verbal slap, or even a punch in the face.
Just then, Derek, our school's star soccer player, approaches. His arms are spread like he's looking for a hug.
"Hi ladies."
"Hi, Derek." Everyone replies.
Olivia stands up and spreads her arms as Derek approaches, but he pushes right past her.
"Hey, baby." He murmurs, giving me a peck on the cheek.
"Hi yourself." I say, reaching up to plant one on his lips.
"Get a room you guys."
"Ew, come on!" My team groans playfully.
We laugh.
"I'll see you after school, babe." he says, planting one last kiss on my head before jogging away.
"You guys are so cute together." Alicia says shaking her head.
"I know." I smirk at a frowning Olivia. Her expression is even more blank than usual, and her lower lip is trembling.
"B-but-"
"Aww," I coo, cutting her off. "You thought he cared about you?" My fake sympathetic face falls into a grimace. "Bitch please, you were just a drunk booty call. Derek doesn't really want you. Over me? Come on baby girl. I'm the blue print and you're just a wannabe, cheap ass imitation of something you'll never be. Me. Quit trying to jock my men, quit trying to clone my style, do me a favor and develop your own personality 'cause this obsessive shit you got going on is creepy."
Silence. Then, everybody's snickers turn to full blown laughter
"Daaaamn!"
Olivia whimpers pitifully, unable to do much else.
"Hey, Olivia," Dylan pipes up, "are you sure you don't swing the other way? 'Cause your obsession with Massie is a bit questionable."
We're rolling.
This time Olivia can't stop the tears she bursts out crying, and makes a run for it.
"Yeah, get it all out of your system now," I warn her, "but I better see your ass at our first rehearsal, don't think you can quit bitch!" Then turning back to my team I state, "Meeting adjourned."
Olivia
I hate Massie! I hate her! But I love her. I wanna be her. I've always wanted to be her. She's always had everything I didn't; confidence, popularity, social acceptance, social grace. I try so hard, I still do, but I can never edge my way into her monarchy. Then that bitch Claire came along and stole my spot! I was supposed to be that fifth member not her! I was here first. I run all the way to the side of the building, and smack in to Ms. Daisy.
"Olivia, is that you?" She asks, looking concerned.
I look away and quickly wipe my nose. "Yes Ms. Daisy." I mumble, looking down. Anything to avoid looking at her.
"Well if you're on the teachers side to pull some kind of prank this sure is the loneliest prank I've ever seen." She jokes.
"I'll leave-"
"Not with that sad look on your face you won't." She slumps down on to the grass, and pats the spot next to her. "Let's talk. You look like you could use a friend," she pulls out a wrinkled bag of Famous Amos's, "and some chocolate."
I give her a weak smile, and slump down next to her.
"You know, Olivia, life doesn't begin and end with high school." She says. I nod.
We eat, and chat for the rest of lunch.
So pretty long chapter. I hope to do some more characterizing later. Thanks for reading guys!