TROUBLE AT CHEER PRACTISE

CHAPTER SIXTY SEVEN

I climb down from my car, walking into the school. The hallways are lonely and my footsteps echo in the emptiness. Something’s been on my mind. Kat made the team. She set me up and managed to make the team. We had practice this morning and she was definitely going to show up. So, I texted the team to make practice an hour earlier just so she’d be further behind. Practise was at 8’oclock but I asked everyone to come at 7’oclock. I take out my energy drink, but then put it back again. I was freaking traumatized. I open the gym door, ready to round up everyone, but they are already together and talking and laughing. I turn around to find Katie in their midst, showing something on her phone to them. I grumbled curses as I matched forward to them and pushed Glenda and Maya out of the way and grabbed the phone from Kat.

“What do you think you’re doing instead of practicing?” I round up at everyone

“But we’re done practicing.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Uhhh you’re kind of late. The time was changed to 6’oclock.”

“And I wasn’t informed?”

“Didn’t you check your message?”

“Coach sent us a broadcast message yester night.”

I whip out my phone checking to see, but there was no message. This bitch Kat. She had something to do with this. She one upped me again.

Kat the hood rat – 2

Aaliyah Waters – 0

“You should be more time cautious Aaliyah.”

The door opens and Chloe walks in and frowns when she sees Kat. I’m guessing she too didn’t get the memo.

“I was just showing them some of our teammates your childhood photos. I couldn’t help it. They are too cute.” She clasps her hands and bats her eyelashes at me.

Calm down, don’t hit her. I breathe in deeply and look at the phone.

It was a video of me. I was in my middle school uniform. And a couple of female voices were giggling behind me. Then one hand reaches for me before the video ends.

But I know the video has been cropped because what happened was I was walking to the washroom when Kat and her friends ambushed me and pushed me into the locker repeatedly.

I swipe to see another picture of me on my knees with my head down. This was taken right before they dumped the refuse on my head and laughed in my face.

I swipe again to see me hugging a boy. I was forced to hug and kiss him at that age because he was a homeless kid who had bad body odor and rotting teeth so they thought it was funny.

Fuck restraining myself. I throw the phone hard on the floor as it breaks. The place is earily silent. I drop my stuff advancing on her. I was going to tea out this bitch’s organs and donate them to the zoo.

She was fucking with me. She was threatening that she could expose my past to this people and ruin my perfect image that I’d manage to build for myself here. She was fucking with my mind and I wasn’t going to allow that.

I grab her shirt but the door burst open at that time and a whistle sounds signaling Coach Torrie’s arrival.

“Wow, Katie Jer. You’re really something.” I laugh as I shake my head and push her away. I clutch my stomach as I laugh and laugh. Tears roll down my face.

She was really unbelievable. Everyone looks at me like I’m crazy and Kat bursts into laughter too. We both stand there laughing with huge smiles on our faces. Inside I was boiling with rage and I bet it was the same for her. I could recognize her rage because it mirrored hers.

“You guys are early today. That’s nice.”

Wait, didn’t they say Coach asked us to come early?

Oh Kat! This bitch. No one was questioning it too. It was two things. Either they were too dumb to notice or they were all in on this stupid little rebellious prank. As much as I wish it was the earlier, it was not. They weren’t that dumb. They couldn’t make eye contact and were nervously stealing glances at my reaction.

Was the whole broadcast thing even fake? They decided to come earlier to practice and not inform their captains. Kat was teaming up with the team that I built. They were probably joining her because of the whole bullying thing they were doing a few days ago and I stepped in for that girl. There was no way they’d have teamed up with a hood rat. No matter how much we didn’t like each other we were all elites still, and they would not allow a new girl trying to make it up the hierarchy have it easy like this. They were disrespecting the Hierarchy because I did first. They were the ones who texted Kat to come in early to sabotage my plan. Probably because they knew we have some tense history. If I were report the time schedule thing to Coach Torrie, they’ll have probably say they didn’t receive any broadcast message and it’ll be the team against the Captains which would put Chloe and I at a disadvantage.

Well played. Chloe must have noticed and make the same deductions I did because she didn’t say anything either.

Coach Torrie approaches us.

“Have you warmed up already?” She asks, looking at me but before I can answer, Kat intercepts.

“Yes, we were just waiting on you. Right guys?” She asks and the rest of the team nods

“Oh but the captains are yet to.” Emily chips in and I have to hold myself back by digging my acrylics into my palm.

“Then you both can warm up. The rest of us would start brain storming for new routines. Hurry it up, Aaliyah. You’re our best creative mind.” Coach smiles at me and I calm down a little.

I begin to walk away with Chloe when I hear coach say to Kat.

“I saw you both laughing together. The team doesn’t accept new comers easily and your captain can be well, a bit standoffish so I’m really happy you’re fitting in well.”

“I guess I have the perfect charm.” She says beaming at Coach andi want to throw up from utter disgust.