I don’t answer her. Not out loud, at least.
Inside though?
I think I already have.
What are you up to, Comet?
-
Seventeen
Hailee
Every dayI have been spending time with at least one person from the team, but I’m getting nowhere. I don’t want to push too hard, but the little bit I have pushed has gotten me nothing. It seems they all only know the basics. Tiffany is the only one who knows more, except she’s suspicious and as cuddly as a cactus. Getting anything out of her is going to be hell.
Still, I asked her if she wanted to go to the mall with me today with hopes I could get closer to her. I was surprised when she accepted.
“Why did you want to come to the mall, anyway?” she asks as we flip through the clearance rack at one of the department stores.
“I needed to get out of the house. Loraine is driving me nuts. That and I know you still don’t really trust me, so I figured this could be a bonding experience for us.”
She chuckles. “I don’t trust anyone. Don’t hold your breath on this changing anything between us.”
“Fair enough. Still, it’s nice to get out and have someone to hang out with. Even if you’re kind of a bitch.”
“Not kind of. I am a bitch and I’m damn proud.” She’s smiling as she says the words.
“My apologies.” I laugh.
I find a cute crop top in my size, so I pull it out to look at the price. Seven dollars is affordable.
“What do you think of this?” I hold it up for her to see.
She looks it over as she looks at me. After a moment, she smiles. “That would look hot on you. You should get it.”
“I think I will. What about you? Any luck?”
She shrugs. “Not really. Let’s try another store.”
She walks with me to the register, interlocking her arm with mine. It’s something I’ve had to get used to with the cheer squad. That and the kissing of cheeks. They are always touching each other. While with Willow, it was comfortable. I feel like with them it’s wrong. Like I’m not being myself, so their touch is repulsive to me. Still, I manage to hold it together.
“When’s our next party?” I ask, hoping she doesn’t say tonight.
“We have a two-week reprieve. We have qualifiers for State next weekend. I made sure they knew that while we were stuck doing shit for them, that cheer was more important. Thankfully, they agreed to it. This weekend there are no parties, but Saturday and Sunday we will be pulling double practices.”
“That sounds exhausting yet exhilarating at the same time,” I tell her as I place my item on the counter.
After we check out, Tiffany picks our conversation back up. “When was the last time you were in competition?”
I think back to before. My heart aches a little, but not with the usual overwhelming feeling I usually get.
“I didn’t finish out last year with my old squad. The last meet I went to was last March.”
“Why didn’t you join as soon as you got here? We would’ve let you try out. I hate to admit it, but you’re better than most of the girls on the team.”
I smile. “I’ve been doing cheer since I was six. My mom used to be a cheerleader. I guess after she died, I was so caught up in my grief that I didn’t want to have that constant reminder of what this meant to both of us.”
“You don’t feel that way now?”
