"Does a teacher count?" I'm nervous.
The chair pulls back, drawing against the brown vinyl floor as Amber stands up.
"Are you chickening out with such a simple dare, Jaylee?" Amber asks.
"Or are you too much of a virgin to do so?"
Honestly, I am, and I didn't want them to know. A member can never be a virgin in their squad. For them, if you aren't hitting it with anyone, then you're a loser.
"I'm not a virgin," I fib.
They all laugh, not believing.
"Don't worry, you can't get pregnant by kissing a boy." Amber jeer.
I take a deep breath and exhale. "I accept your dare, Amber Frost," I say, attempting to be brave, but my feet shaking exposes me to being afraid.
"Then do my dare now." Amber's arms fold and her face is sober.
I find myself swerving around. What was I doing?
My heart thuds while striding from the gymnasium. Amber and his two team members clack against the floor, trailing behind me to ensure I'd done the dare.
I push the door open and stand in the corridor. It's empty. I didn't know whether I should be relieved about it or not. A part of me wanted to get over the dare right away, so the faster I see a guy, the less I have to deal with it.
Amber, along with the two, stands away from me, waiting.
The corridor is generally vacant on Wednesday at 1 p.m. Students were given time to complete assignments for clubs and classes.
My heart thuds faster at a guy I've never seen at Effney High—a new student, I guess. He exits the male's bathroom. He's tall, around 6 feet 2 inches. He wears a gray hoody that covers his head, a black pant, a shoe, and his backpack hanging from one arm.
"He's a nerd," Amber chuckles, and the two join in at the sight of him in his large geek eyewear.
His raven hair protrudes from his hoody head covering. Jittery, I watch him as he heads to the stairs.
"Go and kiss the nerd before he leaves," Amber shoves at me.
I start to walk to him.
"Faster, we have things to do," Amber hastily tells me.
My pace increases, and as I do, I realize I'm not as nervous as I was to take on the dare. He is a nerd; he isn't popular. What is there to be scared of about him?
"Excuse me," I say, stopping him as he's about to descend the stairs.
He faces me, and gradually the nervousness returns.
His eyes were as dark as his hair. His countenance is attractive to a nerd. Without his humongous class, I'm sure he could have been one of the hot and popular guys at school.
I didn't realize I was staring too much. His curious eyes dart at me, eager to know what I want.
I decide to get right on to it.
"Kiss me, please," I nervily say.
Shock and bemuse combine and seize his face. He's pulling away; I can't afford for him to.
"Please, or I won't be a part of the cheerleading team. I've been longing to be a part of their squad for a long time. Can't you help me out?"
"They are behind us, watching. Don't let them catch you staring at them," I whisper.
Secretly, he looks at them, and his attention returns to me.
"So, will you help me out? I ask.
He draws near to me.
I'm about to receive my first kiss from a stranger. This was not what I expected it to be. A girl's first kiss was to be special with someone she wanted to share a kiss with.
His hand touches the right side of my face, and he leans in. I shut my eyes. As our lips unite, I feel a static of electricity passing through my body.
His hand goes from my face as our lips part, and I couldn't help thinking that for him, it was not his first kiss. It could never be.
His head turns, and he walks away.
Aroused by his kiss I watch him, immobile, as he goes away, not hearing Amber calling.
I regain control of my body by Amber shrugging me. She and two others stand by my side.
"Well done, Jaylee. You've earned your spot on our team," Amber says.
I smile when I'm given my uniform.
"I'll text the training schedule," Amber says.
I nod, and she and the two leave.
When I'm alone, I leap happily in the corridor and sniff my uniform.
I'm officially a member of the Hot Shot cheerleading team.
I'm in the bathroom stall, changing into my cheerleading gear. "Jaylee, you've been in there for more than 5 minutes now. I'm hungry; I need lunch." Samantha hits the stall door. "Give me one more minute. I promise I'll be out very soon," I say, making sure everything is perfect before I leave the bathroom stall. Samantha tuts in annoyance. I came out to see her sitting on the countertop, her back reclined against the wall. Her blase face morphs into astonishment. I'm chuffed by her reaction. Samantha leaps from the countertop and walks over to me. "You look amazing, Jaylee," she compliments. I redden, and both of my hands run down the mini skirt that clings perfectly to my body. My glazed, hair-free, slender leg appears long in my mini skirt. "New sneakers?" Samantha asks. "Yeah." I fixed the tank top. It snaps against my skin, being mostly made of elastic material. My old PE sneaker wasn't white enough to go with my gear. I needed something new. I go to the mirror to tou
In the last class, I hurriedly left and texted Samantha that I had a late practice.I'm afraid to tell her I can't be seen with her. Amber words. She'd ask me to choose between her and being a Hot Shot member. I love Samantha, but I always dreamed of being a part of the team, and now I am. I can't drop it so easily.Amber is a devoted cheerleader and, as a nerd, obsessed with receiving high grades in every subject. Practice goes on for 4 hours. I was breathless on the gymnasium floor when we were finally through."You did great." Amber extended a hand to help me up.I smiled while taking it.We take a quick shower in the girl's locker room and arrange to meet again at the same time tomorrow.The place is almost dark when I go outside.Without asking if I needed a ride, everyone got into a car with their partner and drove off, leaving me alone.I try calling my mom, but it goes straight to voicemail.I guess I'd have to take a taxi. I go from the school compound to the bank of the road
I park the car in the garage and remove my glasses before heading inside.When I entered the house, Mom was in the living room watching television, a favorite drama series of hers."You're late; what happened?" she asked, worried."My car broke down, and I had to repair it two times before coming home," I say.A sad look appears on her face."I'm sorry, I cannot get you a new car like your dad can," she says disappointedly."Mom, it's okay." I go to hug her."Let's not speak about him while you're here. Remember, we came here for a new start, away from him," I tell her.In my arms, her forehead gently hits my chest as she nods."I know you want an ordinary life and to focus on your studies, but I think you should try out for the swimming team at your new school. Right now, it's your only hope to go to college." Her arms leave me."Mom, I can't.""I understand, Nate, that you feel you'll betray your team by competing against them with their opponent. But you have to. No one wants a nur
Dear new cheerleaders out there, when given your first gear, ask for another; one is not enough.I had to wash my cheerleading uniform before going to bed last night."You're finally a Hot Shot cheerleader. I'm happy for you." I meet Mom in the kitchen.I smile.She breathes in relief. "You have no idea how much torture it was to hear you go on and on about wanting to be one. It's such a joy that it's over."My smile disappears, and I roll my eyes.She giggles.I grab a banana. "Can you take me to school, mom?" I ask."I thought you never wanted me to drive to school anymore and wanted Samantha to only," she says."Please, mom," I beg."Okay.""Now," I say."So early?""Yeah, mom, I'm a cheerleader now. I have to be at school early to meet with the other." I fib.I was only eager to leave because I didn't want to ride with Samantha after what Amber said.While I waited for my mom, I texted Samantha.Already at school; see you around.I edited the message before sending GM. I'm already
Amber wants us to meet up at the gym during our free session.I go in to see everyone who is already there.They sat down while Amber stood before them next to a small whiteboard with a red marker in her hand."You're late," Amber says, disappointed."I'm sorry, Ms. Dwinkle wanted to talk before class," I explain."Try to let us know when you're running late again," Amber says.I nod and go to sit at the back.What's written in the marker on the whiteboard intrigues me. Nate Skylar.Amber sees the bemused expression on my face and, therefore, gives me a brief on what I've missed out on so far. I'm startled that at the first session, they managed to find out who Nate is already. Did they even bother to go to class?I'm informed that Nate is from Canada and is an excellent swimmer. He was the captain of his swimming team, and his former school is the one that keeps winning our school in the swimming competition.I wasn't surprised that he's athletic; his sculpted body says so."You were
As I've depicted. It would be a piece of cake to get on the Effney High swim team.The moment I entered Mr. Brimworth's office, the swim team coach. He recognized me, and I was asked to be a part of his team without having to ask.He is on cloud nine to have me; any school would."My sole desire to be a part of your team is to receive a scholarship." Soberly, I say."And you will receive that scholarship in full if you bring me home that trophy this year," Brimworth says wildly, with a pounce behind his desk.It's hard to control his excitement; gaining the one he's confident in will take his team to victory.Brimworth scurries from his desk to stand at my side. One of his hands touched my right shoulder while bursting with joy, telling me how glad he was that I was part of his team.I wasn't.I'm oblivious to whatever else he's saying, lost in my thoughts. I was only there to secure a college scholarship."Your former team is coming in second place this year." No longer absent-minded
"Stop," Amber brought to a halt our practice.Everyone looks around, wondering who ruined the dance routine once more.When my name is called, I'm surprised."Come to me, Jaylee," says Amber curtly.Fidgety, I walk to her.As I stand before her, she gives me an intense stare."I'm sorry-" I'm about to apologize. But Amber raises a hand, halting me."Are you a virgin?" she asks."What!" I'm bemused.I glance back as everyone begins to laugh, and my head lowers, humiliated."Shut up!" Ambers silenced them."Are you?" Amber asks again.My gaze returns to hers. "No," I con."Then why are you moving your hips so stiffly and out of tune as if you are?""Probably she hasn't had some hanky-panky in a while and is a bit rusty," Sookie jokes, followed by everyone laughing.Amber smiles, and I blink excessively to not cry."Pay close attention to my waist," Amber says.I'm extremely focused as she reels her waist as if it had no bone.I smiled and was impressed."Now you try it?" she says.I sta
"The house has been awfully quiet since you've become a cheerleader," says Mom as we're eating supper: mashed potatoes, fried chicken, and buttery garlic green beans. "Are you too popular to talk to me? She bites into the chicken wing. "Yeah," I joke, sipping my grape juice. Mom laughs. Mom and I have been dining alone since the day she found out Dad was having an affair with his secretary. I was thirteen at the time. Dad remarried a day after he and Mom finalized the divorce. I lost all respect for him for cheating on Mom, and I wanted nothing to do with him. But Mom, having a good heart, doesn't want me to resent Dad. So, I'm under pressure every holiday to visit him and his homewrecker wife, Viola. "How are you liking being a cheerleader?" Mom goes on to ask. "Good," I say, and an awful feeling rises inside of me. I loved being a cheerleader, but I hated being told to do things that don't come with being a cheerleader. ***** I video-called Samantha as I was in my room, lyin