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“Everyone, check out Rascal the Bandit,” Savannah announced in an absurdly loud voice.
This was bad. Really bad. Apparently, I’d underestimated my cousin once again. Why did she hav
e to be such a horrible human being?
I ripped off the mascot head to the sound of laughter filling the gym. It seemed the football team had caught onto the joke and were enjoying it at my expense. My horrified gaze scanned over the gym, landing on Collin standing in the back. He was watching me with a barely concealed grin on his lips. The moment we locked eyes, my embarrassment punched me in the gut, making it hard to breathe.
“I’m not wearing this,” I hissed, glancing over at Savannah. She had a delighted expression on her face, as if she’d just been invited to model at Calvin Klein. “You can’t make me.”
She took a step closer, her voice lowering so that only I could hear. “You can and you will. It’s either that, or quit. You decide, cousin.”
I wished in that moment that I could’ve drop-kicked that creepy mascot head, declared my resignation, and marched out of the gym. But I’d joined the squad for a reason. And if I wanted my Mom to see me as a Bandit cheerleader — even as the ridiculous mascot — I was going to have to suck it up and roll with the punches. So I wouldn’t be wearing the cute pleated skirt or waving around pom poms. I’d made the team. That’s what my mom cared about. And there were worse things than wearing a rotting mascot costume.
The least I could do was own it.
So with as much conviction as I could muster, I stared down the football players who were still laughing and pointing in my direction. My gaze zeroed in on Collin’s and his eyes shone with barely concealed amusement as he raked a hand through his hair. If he wanted a show, he’d get a show. I smirked at him, before turning back to Savannah.
“I’m not quitting. So I guess that means that I’m just going to have to be the very best mascot this school has ever seen,” I said, lifting up the raccoon head as high as I could before lowering it into my head like a crown and marching away.
They could all eat my raccoon dust.
Chapter Five
When I’d begrudgingly embraced my role as the official Rock Valley mascot, I’d never considered the fact that I might be signing my death certificate. With the nasty sensation of sweat dripping down my back, I kicked and waved my way off the field with the rest of the cheerleading team after our pregame warm-up of the crowd. Apparently, raccoon head + full body suit of matted fur = death by heat stroke. At least, that was the way it felt at the first home football game of the season.
The new Rock Valley football field was a recent addition, thanks to a generous donation from descendants of the town founders who still owned much of the buildings and land around the area. Shiny steel stands had been set in stadium formation to look down upon a bright grassy turf. The new electronic scoreboard stood just behind the yellow goal posts, flashing the starting time.
Just ten minutes until game time.
“I can’t believe you’re putting up with this,” Mandy said as I joined her and Trina behind the bleachers for a quick break. Ripping my raccoon head off, I poured half a bottle of ice cold water over my hair and then guzzled the rest. “Why don’t you quit?” she asked.
“You know why.” I coughed and sputtered up the last gulp, feeling it trickle down the wrong pipe. “My mom wants me to follow in her footsteps. This will give her something to be happy about.”
“Audrey, you can’t be responsible for your mother’s happiness.” Trina, always maddeningly calm, placed the palms of her hands together and fixed me with a sorrowful expression. “She wouldn’t want you to torture yourself for her. If this isn’t what you want, don’t do it.”
They didn’t understand. Both of their parents were still together. Their families whole. They didn’t know what it was like to have your family torn apart, little by little. My mom was barely holding it together. Lexi wasn’t making it any easier. I had to do my part, before the little I had left fell apart, too.
I pushed my wet bangs out of my face. “Guys, I made a commitment and I’m going to do this, even if it kills me. I’d appreciate a little support here. Isn’t that part of the best friend rule book or something?”
They exchanged glances, looking unsure, but then both nodded solemnly. My heart lifted just the tiniest bit. Those were the besties I knew and loved. I threw my arms around their necks and squeezed, thankful that in all of this mess, I could still count on them.
“Ew, you smell like wet dog,” Mandy cried, plugging her nose as Trina squealed. “Don’t rub off your scent on us.”
Yep, those were my best friends.
Suddenly, I felt the heavy sensation of someone staring at me. Looking over my friends’ shoulders, my gaze fell on the crowd slowly filing in through the stadium gate. Sure enough, a man stood watching me. He was of average height, with short and brown curly hair, a square jaw, and a pair of brown eyes that matched my own. Standing beside him was a blonde and curvy woman sporting a navy Rock Valley High t-shirt. Instantly, a sour taste filled my mouth.
“Did you know your dad was gonna be here?” Trina asked beside me, looking in the same direction.
I shook my head. Dad was the last person I’d expected to show up tonight. I hadn’t seen him in weeks. Refused to attend his joke of a wedding. Had even blocked him on my phone. He shouldn’t have been here. The moment Mom saw him, all of my hard work would be undone.
“Guys, give me a second,” I said, as he left his new wife by the concession stand and walked toward me.
“Sure,” they echoed, making a quick exit in the direction of the student section.
My stomach turned as Dad neared. I could feel his gaze taking in the mascot costume and my sweaty, red-faced state. He didn’t say a thing about them. Instead, he paused about five feet away and cleared his throat quietly.
“You haven’t returned any of my calls, mija.”
