Chapter 113: Cheerleaders

Thursday, January 5th, Evening

The gym was unusually quiet as the teams finished practice and were in the locker rooms going over things. The cheerleaders were finishing up with their practice. There were several of the groups working on certain skills.

Sawyer Scott found herself on the bleachers un-taping her ankle. She twisted it in yesterday's practice, and with this practice almost over, she was removing the tape, so she could go home.

Once the tape was off, Sawyer reached down and grabbed a towel. She draped it over her ankle and found an ice pack. Hitting the ice pack, a couple of times, she waited for it to get cold. Once it was cold, she set it on her injured ankle.

"Hey Gimpy, how's the wounded wing?" Kendall "Keni" Stafford asked.

"Funny," Sawyer said, "It's okay, just have to tape it up before practice and games, and ice it after."

"At least you didn't drop Alesha," Keni said.

Sawyer shook her head, "Damn it, she slipped on purpose," she said.

"That's a pretty rough thing to say, Sawyer," Keni said.

Sawyer gave Keni a look, "With all the conspiracy stuff, you're questioning this?" she asked.

Keni bopped the taller Sawyer on the nose, "Questioning is one thing, only being in the position to screw up because of others is another," she said.

Sawyer perked up and looked at Keni, "Fresh gossip?" she asked.

"Nothing big, just that Alesha gets put out front and center, is because of who her dad is," Keni said.

"Her dad?" Sawyer asked.

"Yeah, that's what I hear," Keni said.

"What's that you hear, Keni?" Alexis Mourn asked, coming over and looked at Sawyer, "How's the ankle holding up?"

Sawyer nodded, "Good, sore, but good," she said.

Just then several people came over and looked around the room. They headed over to their coach and after a few breaths the coach blew her whistle and called Alesha over. They talked then Alesha was led outside the gym with the coach and the rest of the people that came into the gym.

Sawyer looked at Alexis and Keni, both just shrugged. Sawyer looked over the gym, which had fallen silent. Shannon Rothenburg and Joce Allen-Travis walked over to the bleachers, they looked over Sawyer, Alexis, and Keni.

"Are you three done slacking off?" Joce asked.

"I'm re-taping my ankle," Sawyer said.

"My group is finished," Keni said.

"So is mine," Alexis said.

"Joce, heel," Shannon said.

"Shannon," Joce said.

"You're not captain, so keep your mouth shut," Shannon said, and looked over the group.

"How's the ankle, Sawyer?" Shannon asked.

"It's holding up, Shan, I'll be good for the games tomorrow," Sawyer said.

"Good, you did well not to drop Alesha, I know she appreciated it," Shannon said.

"Well hopefully my ankle isn't that bad, I'd like to able to walk," Sawyer said.

"Isn't your sister a doctor?" Joce asked.

"Yes, she is, but she's a cardiologist resident in California," Sawyer said.

"Which sister?" Alexis asked, "I thought one is a writer and the other is a professional basketball player."

"My oldest sister is the doctor, you're referring to the twins," Sawyer said.

"They're twins?" Alexis asked.

"Yes, surprisingly," Keni said.

"Would've never known," Alexis said.

"Wait a minute you have three sisters?" Shannon asked.

"Yep, three sisters," Sawyer said.

"She's the baby of the family," Keni said.

The Coach came in and looked them over, "Everybody, take a seat on the bleachers," she said.

All the girls came together and took a seat on the bleachers. The coach made eye contact with each girl.

"Alesha, well she won't be with us the rest of the week," The Coach said.

Shannon looked at the coach, "What's wrong, Coach?" Is everything okay with Alesha?" she asked.

"Yeah," came from the rest of the girls.

"Well, Alesha's dad has passed away," The Coach said.

"What?" Joce asked.

"Seriously?" Keni asked.

"I didn't know he was ill," Shannon said.

"Apparently it was sudden," The Coach said, "I'll let you know the arrangements in case you want to go. But beyond that, we still have a game tomorrow."

The girls nodded. The coach looked down at Keni. "Kendall, you'll be doing Alesha's part tomorrow," The Coach said.

"Me Coach?" Keni asked.

"Yes, you," The Coach said.

"Okay, Coach," Keni said.

The Coach nodded, "Okay, we're done here, today," she said and left.

"Wow! That sucks," Alexis said.

Sawyer nodded and looked to Keni, who nodded back.

"I don't know how to relate," Keni said.

"What should we do?" Joce asked.

"Maybe, we should go as a squad to whatever they do," Shannon said.

Sawyer nodded and removed the ice pack and towel. Reaching over she started to dig through her bag. Finally, she came out with a roll of medical tape. Slowly, she started to wrap up her injured ankle.

Once she was done, she put her sock and shoe back on. Getting off the bleacher, she stood on the gym floor and worked her ankle to make sure it was set.

"What are you doing Sawyer?" Shannon asked.

"We have a new configuration, we have games tomorrow, maybe we should practice some more," Sawyer said.

Keni nodded and stood up, "I'm the one being lifted, so I'm down with this idea," she said.

Alexis nodded, "It's not like there's anything else we could do, for now," Alexis said.

"Do you think we should practice, with what's going on with Alesha?" Joce asked.

Shannon stood up, "Alesha would want us to go on," she said, "If you want, we won't do it, but we should practice."

The girls nodded and stood up. They all walked out to the gym floor to practice some more.