Chapter One
SERENITY CICHELLO
GAME ON
“Let’s go, Stallions!” I cheer, waving my pom-pom in the air, shaking it wildly, grinning from ear to ear. Holding that fantastic plastic smile everyone loves to see during the heat of the game. Especially when we’re winning.
We look amazing in our white cheerleading uniforms trimmed in navy and orange. Our orange and navy pom-poms make the uniform pop as well.
“Is it me, or is Jayden looking this way?” Melissa asks, still looking forward.
“Serenity, Nico has looked at you twice now,” Noré says between our cheers on my left.
Melissa elbows me. “Hey, junior’s checking you out. Nice.”
She fans her pom-poms and yells, “Go team.”
“Go, Jayden,” she whispers under her breath.
He just so happens to look her way. She has a crush on him. But she plays hard to get, so he has no idea.
Nico, number thirty-five, sprints toward the end zone, eyes over his shoulder, gloved hands raised. The quarterback launches the ball—it spirals through the air like magic.
Everyone in the stands shoot to their feet, roaring, “Go, go, go!”
The football smacks into Nico’s palms just as a pack of Panthers closed in. His cleats kiss the goal line the same second a defender dives for his legs. Nico crashes to the turf, arms locked tight around the ball.
“Touchdown!” he shouts.
The field explodes. Total chaos.
We jump, scream, and wave our pom-poms like maniacs. “Way to go, Stallions!”
Then Nico’s eyes meet mine, right there from the end zone. Or at least it feels like it. I’m probably reading way too much into this whole Nico-likes-me thing.
After the game, I laugh and chat with my friends from the cheer team en route to the locker room.
“Serenity, Serenity,” I hear from behind.
I glance over my shoulder and notice Nico jogging toward me. Eyes wide as saucers, I turn my head and focus on the building. My heart races in my chest. What is he doing?
Melissa tugs my arm. “Play it cool, Serenity.”
I wasn’t imagining him staring at me from the field goal line.
“Serenity,” he calls again and gingerly grabs my arm.
I halt and take a deep breath.
“Great game, Nico,” Noré says.
“Thanks.”
“Tell Jayden I have a boyfriend,” Melissa states.
Nico chuckles. “Yeah, let him tell it, he’s your boyfriend.”
Melissa rolls her eyes, then curls an arm around my neck. “Serenity, we’ll see you in the locker room.”
