I let her continue to lead me down the hall, trying not to come to his defense. I might be mad at him, but he didn’t lose his shine. If anything, he’s sexier than he’s ever been.
“Someone once told me that one day we would graduate from here and the so-called kings of the school would cease to exist for us. I’m glad you see that now instead of waiting.”
She giggles. “That’s very smart. I’m glad you’re on the team. Practices are going to be brutal, but it’s worth it. We’re a sisterhood.”
I barely withhold the eye roll.
These bitches stab each other in the back every chance they get.
“Come on. We are inducting you into the club today, then we have morning and night practices for the next two weeks. Our first competition is going to be rough with having you as a newbie. Let me know if you need any extra help.”
“Thanks.”
Once we enter the gym, I see the rest of the girls gathered. Most of them are in sports bras and athletic shorts already. I hustle with Katie toward the girl’s locker room, changing and reemerging quickly.
The girls now sit in a circle, Tiffany standing in the middle.
“Come join me, Hailee,” Tiffany coaxes me into the circle.
I watch as Katie takes her seat among the others.
Hesitantly, I step around a couple of girls, joining Tiffany in the circle.
“All right. We have our tenth girl. Hailee, this is a temporary position until you prove you can hang. This team is about dedication. Loyalty. Sisterhood. When you join us for good, you will be expected to be here with us. These girls” —she swings her arm out over the group— “will be your ride or die bitches. You will put them first as they will put you first. I don’t know how it was where you came from, but this squad is your family. We may fight, but we take the secrets to the grave.”
I swallow hard. “I understand.”
“Good. Today, show us what you got. Keep proving that you want to be one of us and you will be. Only then will you be initiated in.”
I nod.
She claps her hands. “All right, girls. Let’s start with the opening routine.”
With that, the girls jump up and into position. Katie points to an open area where I need to be.
The practice is long and grueling, but oddly satisfying. As much as I hated that my old squad abandoned me, I missed the routines. I missed the physical aspect. The pride I feel every time I nail a landing or move.
By the end, I’m sweating and exhausted, but I feel good.
“Good job, girls. Not perfect, but not as bad as I thought. Tomorrow morning we will practice our flying and stunts. Hailee, be prepared. Shannon was a flyer, so be prepared to fly, babe. See you tomorrow.”
As the girls filter into the locker room, I stay behind, stretching. Katie notices, sinking to the floor next to me to also stretch.
“You did good. We have a real shot at State with you. We thought it was a bust after Shannon…” She trails off.
“I’m glad I can help. Honestly, I missed it.”
She nods. “Are you going to be able to fly?”
“Yeah. I wasn’t the designated flyer at my last school, but the coach liked us to be able to be versatile. Where is the coach here, anyway?”
She shrugs. “Budget cuts. We have a coach who goes to competitions with us, but it’s on us to make it. It’s our responsibility to cover the fees and do the routines. That’s why Tiffany’s adamant about making the team the best it can be. We don’t have much here. If we can get noticed at State, some of us may have an opportunity to get out of this place.”
I frown, looking over at her.
At my last school, no one cared about using cheer to get a scholarship. They enjoyed the status that came with it. Sure, they worked hard, but it wasn’t that serious. Not as serious as Katie seems to take it.
Maybe I’ve pegged these girls wrong.
