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“I’m just glad not to be cooped up at a desk.” I downplay my speed.
“And here I thought you were running from all your new friends.” She gives my arm a little nudge as she says it.
“Ugh, not you, too.” I groan.
“I couldn’t help it. I saw you surrounded by a horde of excited girls at lunch, and you looked about ten seconds from making a break for it. You don’t like your new groupies?”
“Let’s just say if anyone else asks me what Wes looks like naked, which I can’t answer by the way, my brain will explode.”
“That’s what they want to know?” Her jaw drops.
“Among other things.”
“That wouldn’t be my first question.” A tiny crease appears between her brows.
“What would yours be?”
“Who did you piss off to end up off-limits to the hottest guy in school?”
At first, I don’t think I hear her right, but after replaying the words in my head I have to stop to catch my breath since I’m laughing so hard. She has no idea how right she is. The whole thing is so messed up I have to laugh about it, so I don’t cry.
We finish the rest of practice having giggled more than we actually ran, and while that would normally frustrate me, I’m glad for the reprieve. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last.
“Hey,” a perky blonde cheerleader says as a group of them approach. “You’re the one who just moved in with Wes. Sawyer, right?”
“Yeah.” I dart a look toward Hollie to see if she knows what’s happening. She just shrugs.
“Jessie.” The blonde gives a little wave. “Ever think of cheerleading? It might be a nice way to support your stepbrother.”
“Oh. Um, thanks, but I’ve already committed to the cross country team.”
“That’s cool, but running is sort of anti-social. No offense,” she rushes to add. “Cheerleaders are involved in everything. Games, spirit rallies, everything. All year long. It’s a lot of fun. And we get to ride the bus to and from the games with the football team.”
Apparently, this is a big deal, because all the girls have dreamy looks on their faces.
“Thanks, but I’d actually prefer not to be involved in all that. I don’t like football.”
They gasp in unison. I see Hollie try to stifle a laugh.
“You don’t like football? That’s…that’s just wrong. It doesn’t make any sense. Does Wes know that? I mean, he’s like, the best player on the team. He’s got a scholarship next year and everything. Don’t you want to support him?”
They're genuinely mortified, maybe even offended, that I don’t like football. I want to laugh, but I don’t think they’re trying to sound as ignorant as they come across. Evidently, they just really like football. And cheerleading. That’s exactly why I don’t belong in their group. Besides, they never would’ve asked me to join if it weren’t for my connection to Wes, and who wants to be a pawn in that game?
“Yeah, Wes knows I don’t like it. He also knows I don’t have to like the game to support him.”
“Cheerleading isn’t just about cheering for football though,” Jessie says solemnly. “We cheer for lots of games, and we do competitions all over. It’s a tough sport.”
Now she’s backtracking, probably more to stay on my good side in case I tell Wes about this than because she’s worried about offending me.Whatever. I don’t care either way as long as I remain somewhat invisible, something I’ve managed pretty well so far.
All the kids in my grade know who I am and who my dad is, so I’m old news to them. Of course, each time my dad has a new girlfriend I’m the center of attention, but that only lasts for a day or two. The rest of the time I’m just…there.
I’m friendly to people and they’re friendly to me, but we aren’t friends. Not really. The way people talk about my dad makes it hard for me to believe they’ll respect me enough to keep my confidence. As a result, I have more acquaintances than friends, and I’m not desperate enough for acceptance to let myself be used. That said, I’m not bitchy enough to accumulate unnecessary enemies.
“I know cheerleading is really demanding,” I tell Jessie, and I’m not just saying that. The school has won cheering competitions for years, and obviously these girls are all athletic in addition to being pretty. “But I’m the least coordinated person you’ll ever meet. I wouldn’t be doing you any favors as a teammate. Thanks for thinking of me though.”
The girls shrug and make their way back to the patch of grass they were training on. Hollie lets out a low whistle.
“Wow, you put them in their place without putting them in their place. How’d you do that?”
