by Mikki Sadil
I looked at Jaime and Julie. Jaime had the same look on her face that Celine had, and Julie stood silent, looking down at the floor. She was playing with her mask, and I hoped she wasn’t going to shred it right there. That told me something, though. She was nervous about what Jaime and Celine were saying to me. Maybe she was sorry about this whole thing, after all.
Still, I hadn’t thought they could hurt me more than they already had, but I was wrong.
Just then, Heather came up. She was dressed in a musketeer costume almost exactly like mine. She looked at me and frowned. “AJ, how come you’re dressed like me? Celine said no one else would come in a musketeer costume, and here you are. What’s going on, anyway?”
It was Heather’s party, of course she wanted to be in a costume no one else had on. And, of course, Celine had done her dirty work again. She smirked, and her dark blue eyes had that malicious look she was always throwing at me.
It was too much. I didn’t want to be here at this stupid party, I didn’t want to be around Heather and her friends, and I sure didn’t want to be around the J’s and Celine. I turned without answering her and ran out of the house.
It was a long walk home, but I had forgotten to ask Mom for her cell phone, so I didn’t have any way to call her. Besides, right then, I didn’t want to have to make any explanations.
* * * *
Saturday started out as a clear, cold, but sunny day. The promised first snow had not happened yet. Mom had actually pressed my new uniform for me, and while I was getting dressed, she came in to my room. “Oh, by the way, Andrew and the twins and I are coming to the competition. I hope that’s all right with you?”
I was shocked. She had said very little to me so far about the cheerleading, and Andrew never said anything. The twins were interested this year, but I was sure it was only because they had started in gymnastics. But now they were coming to watch me—and my team, of course—perform. I was so happy I had a big, sloppy grin on my face.
“Mind? Mom, that’s great! I’m glad you’re all going to be there. I didn’t ask if you were coming because…um, well, I didn’t think anybody was interested.”
Mom looked at me without smiling. “I’m sorry you thought that, honey. It’s my fault because I’ve been so preoccupied with…um, other things. But we are interested, and even your dad asked about the competition when he called last night.”
“Dad called? Why didn’t I get to talk to him?”
Mom shrugged and looked away. “We had personal matters to discuss, AJ. Your dad was upset about some things, and he didn’t want to talk to anyone.”
Well, that was great. Dad not only wouldn’t come to my very first school competition, but he didn’t even want to tell me ‘good luck’ or ‘I know you’ll do fine’ or anything. Huh. Mom looked sad, so I didn’t say any more. I gave her a quick hug. “I’d better be going. The bus will be at school soon to take the squad and the band over to Wilson Middle School. I’ll look for you after the competition.”
It didn’t take long to get to Wilson, and once we got on the field, I took a deep breath. The clean, fresh air was filled with the scent of newly mowed grass, and the aromas of buttered popcorn and grilled hot dogs. Wow, Wilson was going all out for this competition. I looked at all the flags of the different middle schools in our region waving in the breeze, creating a rainbow of blue, green, purple, red, yellow, and gold. I was getting more excited by the minute. I just knew we were going to be the best cheerleading squad on the field.
The rest of the squad went into the locker room as soon as they got off the bus. All of us were in uniform so no one needed to change clothes. We looked at each other, and Lisa shrugged.
“They probably have to check their makeup and make sure it is loud enough to be seen by the boys.” Amberley and I giggled, because none of us wore any kind of makeup. It was a warning bell that we missed.
A few minutes later, Coach Williams came up. “Where is the rest of the squad?” As usual, he was frowning.
Amberley looked a little nervous. “Um, Coach, the rest of the girls are in the locker room.”
Without a word, Coach strode off to the locker room. A moment later, we could hear his booming voice berating Celine. “Miss Carroll! Why is the squad in here and not out on the field? Get everyone out and in position immediately!”
Everyone came running out, except for Celine and the J’s who strolled out as though Coach had not just been in there yelling at them. Jaime and Celine looked over at us and smiled smugly, but Julie kept her eyes on the ground. For a moment I wondered what was going on, but then I dismissed it. I shouldn’t have.
After the squads were sent to their assigned bleachers, the spectators came in to fill up the bleachers on the opposite side of the field. The principal of Wilson Middle school gave a welcoming talk, and the competition began.
Celine walked over and squeezed in next to me, crowding Molly Martin, the Junior Squad Captain, almost off the bench. “How is Sunni, AJ? You’ve been at practice the last couple of days, so I guess she is better. Is she okay, now?” Her voice was low and as sticky sweet as honey.
“Sunni is fine, Celine.” We were almost whispering, but I made my voice as cold as I could.
“Well, I’m glad, especially after you gave up so much cheerleading time to take care of her. But I’m sure you and Lisa and Amberley will do just fine today. I hope you’re not worrying about it.”
What kind of crap was this? A few days ago she had practically tried to kill me, and now she was being sweet as pie? She was as phony as the Roadrunner cartoons on TV. The ones where the bird gets drummed into the earth and pops back up like nothing happened. Well, that was Celine.
Thankfully, before I could say something I would regret, Coach yelled at Celine to get the squad ready.
We began our cheer and started the stunts. Lisa and Amberley were awesome. I was so proud of them, and we were right in tune with the whole squad. Just as we finished what should have been our last routine, Celine gave the signal for a Pike jump. I couldn’t believe it. We had only practiced this jump once, and it wasn’t on the schedule. I didn’t have time to think about why we were doing it, I just had to concentrate and pray that Lisa and Amberley would come through.
We tumbled first and landed in two lines with feet shoulder-width apart and arms straight up. We all had to jump into the air at exactly the same time, with our legs straight out in front.
While in the air, we touch our toes with our hands, at the same time keeping our heads bent down to our knees. Then we land upright. When everyone is in sync and doing it correctly, the jump is awesome from the crowd’s perspective, but it’s one that usually only high schools are allowed to do.
We all landed it perfectly and the crowd really roared. After that stunt, we should have been leaving the field, but no one moved. Thoughts flew through my mind like arrows headed for their target. I should have known when the rest of the squad hung together talking in low voices. I should have wondered why Julie wouldn’t look at me when we were on the field. Warning bells, all of them, and I didn’t catch them. Well, it was too late now. This was where it all started coming apart.
Celine gave another signal for a stunt I knew we shouldn’t be doing. It was called the Bow and Arrow and it was far too complicated for a middle grade squad to do. The squad is divided into groups of five girls, with each group performing the same maneuvers at the same time. Four of the girls form a semicircle which will lift the flyer into the air. Two girls hold the flyer’s foot on their palms, while the other two hold her ankle for stability. The flyer is lifted high into the air, brings one leg up to the side of her head and grabs her ankle with the opposite hand. She holds her opposite arm straight out to form the arrow. She then falls into the arms of the base girls, who lower her safely to the ground. At least, that is what is supposed to happen.
There was no time to ask Celine what was going on. I looked at Lisa and Amberley and felt totally helpless. I knew we couldn’t do this.
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Celine divided the squad into groups, and sent two other girls named Brianna and Taylor to work with us. I was the flyer. Brianna and Taylor seemed to know exactly what to do, which seemed strange. We had all seen video clips of this stunt but we had never performed it. It was not allowed for middle schools, and I couldn’t believe Coach would allow Celine to use it in the routine.
Celine gave the signal, and Brianna, Taylor, Lisa, and Amberley formed the semicircle. I realized that Brianna and Taylor had positioned themselves to hold my ankle, with Lisa and Amberley basically holding my full weight on the palms of their hands. Right then I knew we were in big trouble. I had seen the stress on Amberley’s face after the pike, and I knew she couldn’t hold me, and Lisa certainly couldn’t hold me by herself. There wasn’t time to do anything but try.
They lifted me into the air and I felt Brianna and Taylor grab my ankle. My foot was resting on Lisa’s and Amberley’s palms. I brought my right leg up to the side of my head and grabbed it with my left hand. At that moment, I felt Brianna and Taylor step away and I knew that only Lisa and Amberley were holding me. I saw panic on Amberley’s face.
I didn’t need to think about it. I jumped off, off, knocking Amberley and Lisa down and twisting my ankle. Brianna and Taylor were looking down at me with nasty little half-smiles. I knew in that instant that Celine had deliberately not told us about this move. Did she hate me so much that she was willing to throw the competition just to get me out? Or even get me hurt? The crowd was roaring again, as the rest of the squad completed the difficult stunt. Maybe the audience hadn’t seen our fiasco, but I was sure the judges had.
I picked myself up off the ground and limped into the locker room alone. My ankle was hurting, but before I could look at it, Celine, Jaime, Brianna, and Taylor came storming in. Julie wasn’t with them.
“What is wrong with you?” screamed Celine. “See, I was right all along. I knew you and those two klutzes would ruin our chances at winning this competition. It’s all your fault, AJ, because you couldn’t be bothered to practice with us. Well, you can just forget about cheerleading from now on, because your so-called team is off the squad. Period.”
I looked at her. “Celine, what did you do? Those last two routines were advanced ones that we didn’t practice. We shouldn’t even be doing them. Why…”
Celine interrupted with a look of contempt. “I can’t help it if you are unable to do an advanced routine, AJ. You’re supposed to be this hotshot gymnast, and the truth is, you can’t keep up with us. We just proved that none of you belongs on our squad. We’re elite, and you three are nothing but klutzes.”
“We’re klutzes? I know Coach didn’t even know you were going to do that routine, Celine. I wonder what he’s going to say to you about it.”
Before she could answer, one of the other girls came running in. “Come on, Celine, they’re ready to announce the placings.”
They all went running out and left me sitting on the bench. I felt totally abandoned. I had no idea where Lisa and Amberley were, so I guessed that meant our friendship really was over. I drew my knees up to my chest and huddled on the bench. The metal was cold and hard but it couldn’t compare to the cold hard knot in my chest.
My left ankle ached badly and felt tight, so I knew it was starting to swell. I got up and started hopping on one foot out the door and heard the announcer calling off the placements of the squads. Arlington Middle School was first, and West Haven was last. That should go over well with the whole school. I was sure that Celine would see to it that I was to blame.
Andrew came from out of the crowd and slipped an arm around me. “Come on, AJ, lean on me. We knew you were hurt when we saw you fall. Let’s get home and take a look at your ankle.” I leaned against him and started crying. Andrew picked me up and carried me out to the car where Mom and the twins waited. He put me in the front seat, got into the back with the twins, and we drove off. No one said a word all the way home. Great, even my family was mad at me.
As soon as we got home, Mom called Dr. Riley. He’s probably the only family doctor left in the whole United States who makes house calls. He told Mom to put ice on my ankle and he’d be there in a few minutes. While Mom was getting an ice pack out of the freezer, the twins and Andrew were sitting in the family room, looking at me and not saying a word. Finally, I yelled at them.
“Okay, say something. I know you think I blew the competition and it’s my fault we came in last, so why don’t you just say it?”
Mom knelt down to put the ice on my ankle. “AJ, the only question we have is, why in the world were you girls doing those last two routines? Even I know that they are very advanced. I’m surprised that Coach Williams would allow it.”
Before I could answer her, Sarah said, “AJ, we don’t…”
“…blame you for anything,” Suzanne said.
“ I bet it’s all…”
“…Celine’s fault. She’s a…”
“…witch!” ended Sarah.
“Girls, that’s enough. Let AJ talk,” my mother admonished..
“Mom, I don’t know why we were doing those routines. Celine didn’t say one word to us about them. We didn’t practice them at all, but…”
“The rest of the squad seemed to know how to do them pretty well.” Mom kept rearranging the ice pack until I took it away from her and put it where my ankle hurt the most.
“I know. That means they must have practiced them at her house.”
Andrew looked up. “But if Celine only practiced them at her house, then Coach Williams didn’t know about them either. And you guys got marked down because your team couldn’t do it and you fell.”
“I didn’t fall. Brianna and Taylor stepped away deliberately, so all my weight was on Amberley’s and Lisa’s hands. Amberley couldn’t hold me and I knew it, so I just jumped down. I didn’t want Amberley to get hurt.”
Andrew looked out the front window. “Doc’s here. Well, I can tell you that Coach is going to explode all over the field on Monday. I’ve seen him in a rage when some of the guys pulled stunts like that. I’d feel sorry for Celine if she weren’t such a b…er, witch.”
Dr. Riley came in and examined my ankle. “Well, AJ, the good news is the ankle is only sprained, not broken. The bad news is that you won’t be doing any cheerleading stunts for a few days.”
As if that mattered anymore. I probably didn’t have a team anymore, and who knows what was going to happen with Celine. I knew Coach hadn’t approved those stunts, but it didn’t make any difference. Celine had the whole weekend to broadcast to the entire student body that losing the competition was my fault. By Monday, everyone would believe it. My so-called life was over.
Chapter Thirteen
The Note
I spent all of Sunday on the couch with my ankle elevated, watching stupid movies. Andrew and the twins did my chores and took care of Sunni. I wondered what Lisa and Amberley were thinking and hoped one of them would call. The phone didn’t ring all day. I finally called them, but no one answered at either house.
Monday morning I hobbled down the stairs and Mom said, “Come on, honey, I’ll drive you to school. I already called work and told them I’d be a little late.”
“Thanks, Mom, but I can walk. I’d rather go by myself.”
“No, I don’t think so. You refused the crutches Dr. Riley wanted to leave, and I don’t think walking on that ankle is going to help much.”
“Mom, please! I want to go by myself. I don’t want you driving me like I’m some baby or something.”
She frowned at me and gave a big sigh. “Okay, if it’s that important to you. You’re probably going to re-injure your ankle, but if that’s what you want to do, fine.”
I knew she was upset with me, but I just wanted to be by myself and try to think things through. I gave her a quick hug and limped out the door. It was still early to be leaving, but that way I could take my time.
Even so, some of the kids caught up with me.
One of t
he girls said, “AJ, I was at the competition Saturday. I saw what a mess your team made of that last routine. You deliberately threw the competition. I guess you won’t be on the cheerleading squad anymore, will you?” She smiled one of those phony smiles that’s just stretching the lips and sauntered away.
Just then, a voice said, “Don’t let them get you down, AJ. My sister’s in high school, and she said you girls shouldn’t have been doing that routine to begin with.”
I turned around and there stood that boy from my math class! My heart started to beat faster, and I knew I was blushing.
Cooper grinned at me. “Hey, want me to carry your backpack for you? It looks pretty heavy.”
“Hey, Cooper. Thanks, that would be cool. I, uh, I guess you were at the competition, huh?” Why was he was talking to me when no one else seemed to be?
“Yeah, my sister wanted to go and watch, so she offered to drive me and some of my friends. Your squad was doing really good until those last two routines. How come you were doing advanced moves, anyway?”
“I don’t know. We didn’t practice at Celine’s house, so the rest of the squad must have learned them there, instead of at school. I’m sure the coach didn’t know about them.”
Cooper shook his head. “Man, if Coach didn’t know about it, you girls are in big trouble. You know how he is about everybody following his rules.”
We had reached the rotunda, and I had to go one way and Cooper the other. He put my backpack gently over my shoulder. “Um, look, AJ, uh, I’d be glad to walk home with you today and carry your backpack. It must be hard for you to walk with your ankle taped up.”
