by Nicole Marsh
“Hey girl,” Katie says as I walk past her. She offers a wave of her left hand while she stretches her right arm across her body, warming up to join the practice routines.
I smile and wave back, promptly joining the other potentials on the mats along the far wall. Mimicking their motions, I begin stretching my arms and legs, limbering up for the jumps and cheers I know we’ll be performing.
I’m a little rusty. It’s been years since I’ve been on a team, but I will admit to practicing my tumbling in the dry grass and packed dirt behind my trailer, on occasion. Hopefully it’s been enough to help me stay in beat with the routines and make the team. Or at the very least, keep me from embarrassing myself.
I finish up my arm stretches and plop onto the mat for legs. Eyeing the other candidates as I move, I wonder if I’m even close to being on par with their skills. Watching someone stretch isn’t an indication of someone’s ability to cheer though, so my intel gathering mission is a bust.
Guess I’ll find out soon.
Summer and Isabelle stroll to the front of the room and clap their hands together once, in sync.
Isabelle eyes the group speculatively and addresses us first, “We are the captains of this squad and will be teaching the basic routines for tryouts. We will also be part of the group that scores you to determine whether or not you make the squad on Friday. Consider this practice an audition because first impressions matter.”
She looks at me pointedly during the last part of her statement and I stifle my scoff. I don’t know what her deal is or how I made a bad first impression, but I’m determined not to allow her rude attitude to bother me. My talent, if I still have any, can speak for itself.
Summer chimes in from her side, “But most importantly, let’s have fun!”
Isabelle rolls her eyes and continues, “Alright, first we’re going to line up into three rows and learn two, short basic cheers. Words and moves.” She walks into the cluster at the back and points to different spots on the mat, directing girls where she wants them.
I end up in the first of the offset rows, front and center. I try not to let nerves take over, knowing that literally every person in the room can see me if I mess up. Gathering all my confidence to the front of my mind, I block out everyone else and focus on memorizing Summer’s movements as she slowly steps through the first cheer. Then the second.
We repeat the moves ten times before she claps her hands excitedly. “That was fantastic! Great job everyone. Now, we’re going to separate into stunt groups. We won’t actually be doing stunts, just a mockup, and then we’ll transition into a little light tumbling.”
If Isabelle is bitchy and sarcastic, Summer is pure sunshine and happiness. It makes me wonder about the dynamics between the two as co-captains. Are they able to get along or do they butt heads over everything? Isabelle doesn’t strike me as a generally agreeable person.
I don’t have much time to continue pondering the thought before Isabelle takes the reigns again. She shouts out names to form six groups with four girls in each. I end up with two well-muscled girls that look like freshman, and one tiny, skinny girl. It’s clear from our builds I would be expected to spot due to my height, which is fine with me.
We run through several mock stunts in our groups. Once the captains determine we are competent in faux stunting, they call out group numbers and have us practice tumbling across the mats in a diagonal, one at a time. Most of the moves they have us do are pretty basic: cartwheels, round offs, and back tucks.
Isabelle and Summer remove the girls unable to do the basic moves, asking them to sit off to the side. The group is thinned by about half. Next, they have us work through more advanced tumbling moves: aerials, standing tucks, and back handsprings.
By the time we get through the last trick, it’s only myself and four other girls on the mat, including two from my stunt group. I receive a glare from Isabelle as I giddily return high-fives from the girls still with me. We’re each other’s competition, most likely, since we could complete the advanced tumbling, but until Friday, we’re all on the outskirts of the team, and therefore allies.
“All right, that’s it for today,” Isabelle says before stalking out the exit.
“Everyone did awesome!” Summer screams excitedly. “Official tryouts will be held in three days. Practice the routines we gave you and run through your part in the stunts. We are so excited to see all of you then.” She claps her hands together once to punctuate her statement and all the girls begin to gather their things, preparing to disperse.
I stride off to the corner, collecting my things and sliding on my backpack, then I face the locker room, intending to take a quick shower. Katie intercepts me when I’m halfway across the room, practically to freedom.
“Hey girl, you looked so good out there. I could barely even tell you took any time off from cheerleading, you’re a total natural. I think you’ll fit in so well with the rest of us, I mean you already do, but I mean like on the squad--”
I half-listen to her words, preoccupied by the memory of the conversation with Collin, now that I don’t have practice to distract me. Katie’s words trail off and I realize she’s frowning at me. “Is everything okay?” I ask, worried she realized I stopped paying attention part way through her stream of chatter. I thought I was doing a good job of keeping up with my non-verbal encouragement, but maybe not.
“Is everything okay with you?” She counters, “You seem a little out of it.”
“Yeah,” I answer, initially planning to leave it at that or maybe blame it on post-cheer exhaustion. Then I sigh and decide to spill it all, “Collin invited me over for dinner with his parents and I’m just super nervous. I don’t have anything to wear and I lack the funds to buy something new. I’ve never done this whole meet the parent’s thing either.”
Katie squeals, jumping up and down, clapping her hands. Her red hair, tied in a sleek ponytail, flounces with each movement, mimicking her excitement. “Oh. Em. Gee,” she finally gasps out. “A meet the parents at the Franzens? Collin doesn’t date, like not really. I don’t think he’s ever brought someone over to meet his parents. This is so exciting. He must really like you.” She links her arm through mine and drags me towards the door. “Honestly, I have like THE perfect outfit, we can go to my house and you can try it on. I have a few things you can try on actually. Oh my gosh, I am so excited your body is like perfect for fashion. The only thing that probably won’t fit you are my jeans. You’re like so tall...”
She keeps up a steady stream of words as she drags me along with her, out of the gym and towards the exit door down the hall. It suddenly registers that she intends to bring me to her house right now, like instead of going to class. I stop in my tracks at the realization. As much as I’m stressed about what to wear, I can’t skip class. I don’t want the school attempting to call my mom and realize she’s gone. Like out of this town and my life for good, gone. Or even worse, allow missing a class to impact my graduation.
“Hey,” I say softly, trying not to offend her when she’s being so sweet. “I appreciate your offer to help, but I can’t miss class.”
Katie halts and drops my arm. She appears to instantly deflate. “Oh, yeah I guess it is the second day and we need the rest of our syllabi.” Her tone is disappointed and dejected.
“I know,” I tack on, channeling my inner-Summer to sound enthusiastic and upbeat. “Why don’t we go after school…? Maybe we can stop and grab coffee first, like make a whole afternoon out of it,” I suggest.
Katie turns to face me with a serious expression that seems out of character for her. I steel myself to be shut down, but I’m surprised by the words she utters next, “I think we are going to be great friends Kenzie Carslyle.” She eyes me for a second before allowing a beaming smile to bloom across her face, then she flounces away. “Meet me by the pink bug in the parking lot after school,” she shouts over her shoulder.
Mystified by all that is Katie, I twirl around and head in the direction of t
he locker rooms attached to the gym. They’re almost empty by the time I arrive and I hustle into one of the showers, not wanting to be late to the second day of classes.
I quickly rinse off, slicking the sweat from my skin but leaving my hair in its ponytail. I don’t want to walk around with wet hair all day and the mass of thick strands takes forever to dry. Dressing in the extra outfit from my bag, I even swipe on a few coats of mascara to complete my look.
By the time I leave the bathroom I’m feeling refreshed and confident.
I have a friend, one who's going to help me prepare for dinner with the Franzens, I’m going to try out for the cheerleading squad, and… Collin Franzen is crushing on me, as much as I’m crushing on him.
Life is good. Surprisingly so.
Chapter 15
I swoop by my locker before chemistry, the first class on my schedule today for B-block. Golden Oaks High students have six classes, but they’re split into two days: A-block and B-block. Yesterday, we started on A-block, meeting half of our teachers and receiving our first batch of homework. Today, we repeat the process for B-block.
I’m a little disappointed I don’t run into Collin on my walk from the gym. Brushing the feeling aside, I chastise myself for being pathetic. It’s been less than two hours since I saw him last, so the reaction is a little dramatic.
I make quick work of swapping out my textbook and shove my dirty gym clothes in my locker so I don’t have to carry them with me all day. If I make the team, it might be worth it to invest in a duffle bag for the cheer stuff I’ll need to carry daily.
Lingering for a few minutes longer, I move a couple notebooks from the bottom shelf to the top, dallying inside my locker even though I’ve accomplished everything I needed to. I stay, thinking Collin might meet me, so he can accompany me to class like he did yesterday. The first bell rings and I finally admit to myself that I’m not going to see him until lunch.
Sighing, I set off in the direction of my first class, not wanting to be late. When I reach the hallway hosting the room for my chemistry class, I see a cluster of students waiting outside a door. My curiosity piques as I join the back of the group, realizing the queue is in front of my first class.
“What’s going on?” I ask the dark-haired girl next to me, also waiting to go inside.
“Ms. Rigs is assigning seats alphabetically by last name. We have to wait out here until she calls us in to show us our seat,” she replies with a roll of her eyes.
As soon as the words leave her lips, I hear a friendly, feminine voice call, “McKenzie Carslyle.”
Well, perfect timing, I guess.
I stride inside the room. A pleasant, maternal-looking woman with chocolate colored hair, intercepts me just inside the doorway. Her navy dress sways around her as her movement stops and she consults a clipboard, then glances back at me, kind eyes connecting with mine. “McKenzie?” she asks.
“Yes, Ma’am,” I reply politely.
“Third desk on the left dear,” she says with a smile, pointing to an empty table at a row near the windows, behind two others that are already filled.
I amble to the small table with two stools placed behind it. I eye both before choosing the one closest to the window. I briefly watch the door, wondering who will be assigned to sit in the empty stool, innocently waiting next to mine underneath the desk.
I hope it’s not a slacker.
Shrugging lightly, I busy myself with my backpack. Sliding it from my back and onto the table, to hunt for my blank notebook and the chemistry book I picked up with my class schedule a couple weeks ago. I’m making a bit of a ruckus, loud enough that I don’t notice when the seat next to me fills.
At least not until a smooth, warm voice drawls out, “McKenzie.”
The words startle me, causing me to bang a hip against the table, and my pen clatters to the ground. My head pops up from digging in my bag and my eyes immediately connect with a set of vibrant green orbs. The heat in Collin’s eyes causes my skin to prickle and my heart begins to pound against my chest in an erratic staccato.
This time I think my eyes aren’t the only ones saying, “Kiss me” as we stare at each other a mere twenty inches apart. My feet carry me a couple steps closer to him, of their own volition. My body instinctively knows being near Collin is what I crave, what I need.
Ms. Rigs’ voice breaks the trance. “Collin. McKenzie. Is my class interrupting your staring contest?”
A round of laughter punctuates her words and I drag my eyes away from Collin to survey the room. All the desks are now occupied by students. Everyone is seated with their notebooks and books out, facing the front. I realize the bell must have already rung, at some point between unpacking my bag and locking gazes with Collin.
“I’m sorry. I, uh… got distracted,” I mutter lamely, apologizing to Ms. Rigs then plopping into my seat.
Way to make a great first impression, Kenzie.
I shoot a semi-serious glower at Collin and he smirks in return. He coughs into his hand, but I can see his shoulders shaking, indicating he’s actually covering a laugh. I whack him against his muscular thigh underneath the table. He doesn’t outwardly react besides the growing smirk on his face.
Before my hand makes a full retreat, Collin catches my fingers with his and gives them a light squeeze. I anticipate longer contact, but he quickly releases me, his attention focused on our teacher. I shoot him one more glare, trying to maintain my anger, but failing. After finishing my last, lust-filled glare, I shift my attention to the front.
Ms. Rigs is scanning the rest of the class, her eyes stopping on every face as if she’s memorizing each of us. She paces across the front of the room while her gaze moves. After looking at each student, she starts speaking, “Welcome to Chemistry. I know most of you in this class are seniors and this is a momentous point in your life. You’ll finish your preparations for college, make decisions that will impact your future career, partake in all of the events that come with being in your last year of high school—including prom--and most importantly graduation. I understand this year is quite the undertaking, but I also want you to know I expect you to work hard in order to succeed in this class. We will have labs one day a week, with our first lab two weeks from now. In the time between now and then, I will introduce you to the many elements that chemistry is comprised of.” She pauses, as if a bunch of high schoolers are going to laugh at her pun. Maybe they did in her other classes, but they definitely don’t in mine. When no one bursts into spontaneous laughter, she continues, “Alright, let’s see what you already know. Show of hands, who has heard of the periodic table?”
I tune out Ms. Rigs, distracted by Collin’s hand brushing against the side of my right thigh. He keeps up the movement and my eyes flash to his face. His profile shows he’s smirking, but he’s focusing straight ahead with his free hand raised to answer whatever question our teacher asked.
Ms. Rigs calls out, “Collin.”
He lowers his hand and his warm voice responds with, “One-hundred and eighteen.”
My eyes fly to the front of the room, to catch Ms. Rigs’ nod. “Very good. Who can name at least five of these elements?”
I listen as another student lists their response and Ms. Rigs continues to quiz us on our knowledge. The noises of the class once again fade as Collin’s hand drifts upwards, rounding the side of my thigh to rest across the top. I startle slightly, but stifle the urge to shift. He spreads his fingers, gently gripping my upper leg, giving a firm squeeze before stilling his hand to leave it resting there.
Under my lashes, I observe Collin, as he transitions his focus from Ms. Rigs to jot down a few notes. The warmth of his palm seeps through my jeans as I try to scan his notes, more interested in Collin than Chemistry at the present moment. I tilt a little closer, stifling a laugh when bold letters taking up two rows of the notebook catch my attention. “Stop being a creep and pay attention, McKenzie Carslyle.”
Collin squeezes my thigh, punctuating the statement. I scr
ape my nails lightly against the back of his palm in response, catching his gulp from the corner of my eye. I can’t find it in me to care about class right this second, completely captivated by all things Collin Franzen. While I watch him, I find myself wondering about the fairness of life. How is it that Collin is handsome, athletic, intelligent, wealthy, and blessed with loving parents?
He really has everything and I wonder what it is he sees in me.
Chapter 16
After the last bell of the day finally trills across campus, I meet Katie in the parking lot, next to a hot pink Volkswagen Beetle. She’s leaning against the side, pouting her lips and holding her phone up for a selfie. Giggling, I jog the last couple feet and photo bomb her, making the same expression with my cheek pressed against hers.
“Eeek,” she squeals. “That actually came out so cute! Let’s do another one.”
Together we pose against the car, pouting and flipping our hair until a warm voice calls out, “Work it girls.”
I pause, with my tongue still sticking out of my mouth, aimed at the camera. My eyes search for the owner of the voice and I find Collin standing off to the side with Jeremy and another guy with blonde hair and green eyes. The third guy looks familiar, almost like Collin’s mini-me. He’s younger with less defined features and slightly darker blonde hair, but he has the same confident air and the same vibrant green eyes.
“Hey you,” I respond, finally sliding my tongue back into my mouth, but staying leaned against the bug with Katie.
“You two have been quite entertaining,” Jeremy teases us. His words causing my cheeks to flush and I wonder how long they stood there creeping before making us aware of their presence.
Collin saves us from further mocking with a change of topic. He interjects, “This is my brother, Luke.”
The name triggers my memory. I knew Collin wasn’t an only child, I just kind of forgot the details about his sibling. Luke is just young enough that we haven’t gone to the same school since Elementary, so he must be a freshman this year. I’ve met him but haven’t seen or thought about him in recent years, or even since I’ve been spending time with Collin over the past couple weeks. The Franzen Brothers and I didn’t exactly run in the same circles until recently, so there’s no reason for me to really remember his brother.
