Dare to Be Different

by Nicole O'Dell

  Chapter 5

  IS IT A DATE?

  The bleachers were full, and the crowd roared. It was the first home game of the season. Students, family members, and locals had all turned out wearing their Panthers shirts and hats, and waved their flags in support of the football team. The vendors made their way through the throng of people selling their hot dogs and popcorn. Young kids played under and behind the bleachers. Dani and her parents got there early enough to find seats in the fourth row and were all eager to support Drew at her first game.

  Dani couldn’t help herself; she got into the excitement of the event and the energy that the crowd was creating. She sat forward in her seat and tried to find Drew among the cheerleaders on the sidelines. They huddled in a circle, getting a pep talk from the captain … oh, wait. It was Drew giving the pep talk; she was the captain. All of a sudden, feelings of jealousy and resentment started to fade away as Dani became proud of her sister. She watched her sister lead the squad; Drew was right where she was supposed to be. Dani vowed to herself that, from then on, she would support Drew and encourage her.

  The cheerleaders all let out a little yell for team spirit and then broke to begin their opening cheer. The junior varsity squad customarily opened with a cheer-and-dance routine to set the tone for the game. Then they spent their time during the game on the sidelines cheering for their team and leading the crowd. So, at five minutes before kick-off, they took off their sweatshirts and bounded out onto the field into their formation.

  “Ready! Begin!” Drew shouted off the cue to start the routine. Music started and the girls began their dance. They were perfectly in sync and looked fantastic on the field in their red and gold skirts that floated around their thighs, and their sleeveless white shirts with the yellow and black chevron that said Panthers in the middle. Even Dani had to admit that they really looked cool. In the middle of the routine, there was a pause in the music and the girls began a cheer for their team. It was exciting and stirred up the crowd’s energy even more. The music began just as the cheer ended, and they finished up their dance routine with a pyramid. In front of the pyramid, Drew ran and did a round-off and two back flips to finish up the routine with a flourish.

  The crowd was worked into a frenzy. The JV cheerleaders had been exciting to watch, a more talented group than any JV team before them. It set the tone for the whole event. “I can’t believe how great those girls were,” Mom leaned over and said to her husband and Dani.

  “I know, Mom. Drew really looks like she was meant to be doing that, doesn’t she?”

  “I’ve never been so proud of her,” Dad said. “Looks like all of those years of dance and gymnastics have paid off. And it’s not just that, she’s a real leader. Those girls look up to her.”

  “I’m really happy for Drew, and I feel bad for being so upset about it all. But I do hope that I can find my niche somehow,” Dani admitted.

  “You will, sweetie,” Mom promised. “You’ll figure out what excites you and gives you the same joy that Drew has found. It might be a sport, a club, or maybe something academic like debate team or the class play.”

  “Oh, I like the sound of debate team, Mom. I might have to look into that.”

  “Dani, that’s a great idea,” Dad encouraged. “If you’re serious about becoming a lawyer one day, debate team would be a great experience for you.”

  Dani sat back, deep in thought as she contemplated the possibilities and recognized that being different from her sister might not be as horrible as she had once thought.

  While they were on the bleachers, waiting for the cheerleaders to come out at halftime, Drew was on the sidelines cheering for the team. Every once in a while, she took a break to get a drink of water from the team cooler. Whenever she went for a drink, her family couldn’t see her inside the team shelter. So they also couldn’t see the boy she was talking to every chance she got.

  Whenever she saw that he wasn’t playing on the field, she went to get a drink of water; and each time, he was standing right there by the cooler—Trevor Jaymes. The sight of him made Drew get a little jittery, but she knew she had to play it cool. She confidently walked right up to the cooler and drew some water out into a cup that was provided.

  “Hi, boys.” Without looking directly at Trevor, she tossed her hair over her shoulders and left the shelter to join her team. Out of the corner of her eye, she could tell that they were watching her; and it seemed that they were talking about her, too. She was very careful not to let them know that she was paying attention to them.

  A little while later, before the halftime show, Drew went back for another drink of water. She timed it perfectly so that she would already be there when Trevor got pulled from the game for a rest. He’d had a perfect game so far; but he would wear out if he didn’t get a break, and the team needed him fresh to finish up the game later. He came into the team shelter to get a drink of water just as Drew finished filling up her cup.

  “Well, hello again, Drew.”

  “Hi, Trevor. Great game,” Drew said enthusiastically. It was time to let her guard down a little so that, if he were interested in her, he would know there was a chance at gaining her attention.

  “Thanks a lot,” he replied with surprise. “I didn’t think you cheerleaders even watched the game.”

  “Ha, funny. Of course we do. How else would we know when to cheer?”

  “Well, you might, but I guarantee you that half of your team just waits for your cue and follows suit. But at least you’re watching me … er … I mean us.”

  “Oh, I’m watching, all right,” Drew replied flirtatiously as she walked back to her squad.

  “Hey, Steph, what’s the score?” she asked her teammate as a test to see if she was watching.

  “Um, well, a minute ago it was, um … I’m not sure.”

  Hmm, Drew thought, surprised that Stephanie hadn’t been paying attention, since the coach had just stressed the importance of that at their last practice. I’m going to have to keep an eye on that and maybe even bring it up again in practice. They were there to support the team, and it was much more credible if they actually knew why they were cheering.

  The game continued on, and Drew had a blast. Her family did, too, and they watched her throughout the entire game. She was definitely in her element. The halftime show was perfect. It was mainly the varsity cheerleaders, but the JV squad also had several parts in the routine which turned it into a great big field show.

  Drew was exhausted when the game was over and was about ready to head to the car to meet her family after she had packed up her things. She suddenly felt a presence behind her and turned to see Trevor watching her, waiting to be noticed.

  “Hey. What’s up?” Drew asked casually.

  “Well, Miss Daniels, I was wondering if you’d like to grab a bite to eat. A bunch of us are going to The Grill. I can have you home in about an hour, give or take a few considering the crowds.”

  “I’d love to. Let me go tell my parents and sister that I’ll be home soon.” Drew didn’t tell him that she would have to beg and perhaps even tell a little white lie to get permission. But there was no way she wasn’t going to go. She ran quickly over to her family who were waiting for her at the car.

  “Sweetie, you were awesome.” Mom pulled her into a tight hug.

  “I agree, Drew,” Dad chimed in. “You were definitely in your element. I’ve never been more proud of you.”

  “Me, too, sis. I’m sorry I’ve given you a hard time about it all. You’re clearly doing what you are supposed to be doing,” Dani admitted.

  Drew was thrilled to hear their comments but didn’t want to keep Trevor waiting. She hated that she’d have to lie … but it wasn’t really a total lie … she hoped.

  “Thanks, everyone. Mom, Dad, I’d like to go with the team and get a bite to eat. It’s kind of customary, and being the captain, I should probably be there. We’re going to The Grill, and I’d be home in about an hour depending on how busy it is. Is that oka
y?”

  “Sure, sweetie. An adult will give you a ride home? If not, be sure to call for a ride. Okay?” When Drew promised that she would, her mom asked, “Hey, can Dani go?”

  “No way, Mom,” Dani jumped in, much to Drew’s relief. “This isn’t my thing. I’m not tagging along. I don’t even want to go anyway. I’m too tired.”

  Drew hugged everyone and then went back to find the group. To her surprise, everyone was gone except for Trevor. “You ready? They’re saving seats for us.”

  “Yep, all set. Let me grab my bags, and we can go.”

  The Grill was bustling with excitement as the football team and cheerleaders filled the rich mahogany booths. They were all starving after the big game and were excited over their win. Spirits were high, and the noise level was deafening. Drew and Trevor navigated through the high fives and congratulatory claps on the back as Trevor’s teammates congratulated him on the win. His big, toothy grin revealed just how much he reveled in the recognition.

  The crowd pressed in so tightly that it was difficult for the two to squeeze through, and Trevor kept losing Drew as people swarmed around him. Finally, he just grabbed her hand and held on until they finally made their way to their seats. “Phew,” Trevor said as they slid into the booth. “We made it.”

  “Yep, it was looking kind of iffy there for a minute.” Drew laughed.

  “Hey, Drew, I haven’t had a chance to tell you this yet.” Trevor leaned over the table and said privately, “You did a really great job tonight.”

  “Oh yeah,” Buck said, overhearing Trevor’s words.

  “You really did do a great job. I’ve never seen the JV squad look so awesome,” Buck’s girlfriend, Sam, added.

  “Trevor said you were cute the day he bumped into you accidentally, wink, wink, but I had no idea that he was talking about the captain of the cheerleaders.” Buck revealed a little more about Trevor’s little accident than Trevor would have liked, judging by his reddened face.

  “I didn’t know she was even going out for cheerleading that day. I thought she was just a cute freshman.”

  “That’s enough about me.” Drew laughed, her face reddening. “This is getting awkward. I’m right here.”

  “Okay, fair enough. We’ll talk about you later then,” Buck teased.

  “Don’t let him get to you. He only picks on people he likes,” Sam informed Drew.

  “Oh, I think I can hold my own.” Drew laughed again. “But I’m starving. I wonder if we even have time to order, though. I have to be home in about an hour.”

  “Food’s on its way. We already ordered.” Buck was proud to surprise them.

  “Good move, dude. This crowd is crazy.”

  At that moment, the waitress appeared at their table and set down Cokes for Trevor and Drew and cheeseburgers and fries all around. They dug in with a vengeance, and all conversation stopped. A cheeseburger had never tasted so good.

  After they had eaten, it was time for Trevor to get Drew home. On the way to the car he said, “We’d better get you home so that your parents trust me for the next time we go out.”

  “Oh?” Drew coyly asked. “What makes you so sure there’s going to be a next time?”

  “Well, I mean, only if you want to …” Trevor stammered.

  “Oh, well, in that case,” Drew teased, “I’m sure there will be many next times.”

  Trevor visibly relaxed when he heard that and, without thinking, reached over and took her hand. Drew had never had her hand held by a boy she liked—and she enjoyed the little tingle of excitement it gave her. She giggled just as they reached the car. Trevor tucked her into her seat and shut her door, then went around to the other side. Before he got in, Drew wiped the dampness off her hand and placed it on the console between the two seats—just in case he’d like to hold it again.

  He held her hand in silence—they were both taking in the moment and were lost in thought, so they forgot to speak out loud—the whole way to her house. As they pulled into her driveway, Drew turned to Trevor and thanked him for a great time. He promised to call her but would also see her in school Monday.

  Drew hurriedly got out of the car so that her parents wouldn’t come to the door and see that she was alone in the car with a boy. She ran into the house excitedly and started talking the moment she got into the living room where her parents were. She began filling them in with all sorts of needless details about who was there, what they ate, how busy it was, how fun it was to be a part of the team … so they wouldn’t think to question her about who drove her home. They were tired, so it worked. Drew excused herself to head upstairs to bed, and Dani, who had been sitting on the couch, followed her up.

  “I saw you pull in the driveway. You’re going to need to be more careful, sis,” Dani warned. “You’re making some important choices, and you’ve never been one to lie to Mom and Dad or disobey so blatantly.”

  “I didn’t lie … they didn’t even ask how I got home.”

  “Not telling the truth is the same as lying. And you did break one of their rules—several, actually. You led them to believe that you could be trusted. Just think hard next time about whether or not it’s really worth it to lose that trust or even damage it a little. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  Dani heard her softly snoring. “Drew … Drew … you there?”

  But Drew had fallen asleep already. Chuckling to herself, Dani rolled over and said a little prayer for her sister before nodding off herself.

  Chapter 6

  GOD’S WAY

  The girls awoke to the smell of bacon, as they normally did every Sunday morning before church. Drew and Dani were both very tired after a long weekend that started with game night on Friday and continued with family activities on Saturday. They pulled their matching comforters up over their heads and attempted to bury themselves under the covers to get a few more minutes of sleep. Their mom knocked softly on the door before she opened it. Coming into the room, she opened the window shades to let in some light, and the girls groaned when the brightness hit their eyes.

  “Mom, we need just a few more minutes, ple–e–e–ease?” Drew begged.

  “Now girls, it’s time to get ready for church. Don’t make me lower your curfew—I’ll do that if church becomes affected by your staying up too late on the weekends.”

  “All right, all right, I’m getting up.” Drew put forth an effort by sitting up in her bed. Dani already had her feet on the floor and was sitting on the side of her bed. “We’ll be down in a few minutes, Mom.”

  “Now girls, don’t lie back down,” Mom warned them as she left the room. It took all of Drew’s effort, amid a lot of sleepy moaning and eye rubbing, to continue getting up when all she wanted to do was to crawl back under the covers.

  Slowly, both girls got out of their beds and headed for the bathroom they shared. Silently, Dani brushed her teeth and washed her face while Drew got her things together for a shower.

  “We really need to wake up,” Drew said.

  “Yeah, we sure do. I can’t believe how tired I am,” Dani admitted.

  “Yesterday was a big day. But we better get it together, or Mom and Dad aren’t going to be happy. We have to show them that we can handle being up late and not struggle in the morning. It will help our cause for staying out later and going on dates.”

  “Um, our cause?” Dani laughed. “That’s your cause right now, sis. Not me. I have nothing to do with it.”

  “Oh, believe me, your day will come … and you’ll be so glad that I paved the way by getting them on our side now.”

  “Whatever you say.” Dani laughed again, shaking her head. “Mom and Dad aren’t going to just let you start dating and staying out late, you know. When are you going to tell them about Trevor, anyway?”

  “When there’s something to tell, I guess.” Drew looked annoyed.

  “Oh, I’m pretty sure Mom and Dad would feel that line had been crossed already.” She put up her hand to keep Drew from defending herse
lf any further. “I just hope you know what you’re doing. I care about what happens to you, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  Drew looked at the reflection staring back at her from the mirror—sometimes she forgot whether she was looking at herself or her sister. To whichever one it was, or maybe to both of them, she confidently said, “I have everything under control.” Drew jumped in to take a quick shower to help wake her up. Dani continued getting ready in silence. The silence started to get to Drew, so she decided that it was up to her to break the ice and get her sister cheered up. She unhooked the shower massage head and turned the water from hot to very cold. She quietly reached forward and pulled back the curtain.

  Being careful not to get Dani’s hair wet, because that would just be cruel, she aimed the wet, pulsating stream at Dani’s body, soaking her pajamas with icy cold water. Dani shrieked in surprise when the water hit her skin. At first she looked angry, but when she saw Drew’s face all aglow with mischief, she dissolved into laughter. It was a tension breaker they both needed.

  “You just wait! I’ll get you back when you least expect it,” Dani warned.

  “I look forward to it, sis.” Drew’s eyes twinkled as she returned to her shower, and Dani had a big smile on her face as she toweled off before leaving the bathroom to get dressed.

  “ ‘I have everything under control,’ “ the preacher began his sermon. “Do we say that to God? If we don’t come right out and say it, don’t we act

  like it sometimes? You know, we have access to God’s plan all laid out for us. We have His perfect guidelines, and we know His will. We know which actions grieve Him, and there is seldom a question about what is right in His eyes. We get all of that information, that insight into who He is and what He wants for us and from us, right from His Word, the Bible. Yet, we often walk through life acting as though we have no clue about what to do. We say with our words and our actions that we have everything under control—basically, that we are going to ignore God’s desires and plans for us because we know better. What drives that mindset? I’ll tell you what it is—it’s pure selfishness. It’s a heart that is closed off to the will of God and is selfishly pursuing personal plans and desires while forsaking God in the process.