My eyes scanned the bleachers until I spotted Elliot and Dani, waving frantically, their voices cutting through the noise and anchoring me in the moment. Their energy fueled me.
We formed a tight circle, our backs pressed together, fingers interlocked. As we turned our heads to meet each other’s gazes, I saw doubt written across their faces. Their faith in me had wavered. But leadership wasn’t about status or popularity—it was about trust, about showing them we were stronger together.
“Strength isn’t about standing alone—it’s about lifting each other up. So, if you guys trust me, I’ll trust you too,” I whispered to them.
As the music began, so did our routine—an electrifying fusion of pop and hip-hop. Cheerleaders faced outward in every direction, moving in sync as our arms alternated between high and low V’s. We shifted seamlessly into a staggered line formation. A right-side hurdle flowed into a pike and then a left-side hurdle. My breaths quickened with the rhythm.
Without hesitation, we transitioned into our signature diamonds—three in total. I crouched, cupping my palm as my group launched Kalani into the air, mirrored by Meredith on the right and Kendra on the left. In perfect synchrony, they soared, each executing a flawless kick full twist before descending back into our waiting arms.
“Yes!” I shouted over the music as they hit the stunt.
I caught a glimpse of a smile on Kalani’s face as she landed gracefully.
Andrew and Bella circled the group, flinging themselves into a round off whip back tuck with their movements intersecting effortlessly before they switched sides.
The rest of the team joined with a toe touch backward tuck, our bodies moving together like we were one. Andrew then took center, the rest of us parting in the middle to make way as he smoothly flowed into a standing full twist.
The crowd went wild, their cheers louder than ever.
I bellowed again. “Let’s go, Andrew!”
To the crowd, my words were drowned out by the music, but the team heard my voice loud and clear.
Andrew shot me a quick wink, and instantly, the energy in the room shifted.
With every pose we struck, every move we executed, and every stunt we performed, our usual pep was infused with laughterand genuine excitement. As we powered through the routine, our voices carried on, cheering each other forward.
“You’re killing it, Kendra!”
“We can do this!”
“Fuck, yeah!”
“Let’s go, ladies!”
That last remark came from Meredith—no surprise there—as she tried to downplay Andrew and his role on the team. But I let her words slide off me like water, and so did everyone else.
The music surged as Luna, Kendall, and I were lifted into a liberty pyramid, with me steady in the center, gripping their arms.
Luna’s knees wobbled, her torso tilting slightly, but I tightened my hold on her forearm, helping her regain balance. She glanced at me, a smile spreading across her face just as the music faded.
And just like that, it was over.
For the first time in four years, I felt like I was performing for myself. We exited just as we had entered, the girls buzzing with laughter and excitement as we spilled into the hallway. High fives flew around the group before Luna suddenly tackled me into a hug.
“Thanks for not letting me fall.”
“Anytime.”
She pulled away and dashed into the locker room, with most of the other girls following behind. Then came Andrew and Kendra, piling on top of me in a crushing embrace. The air was squeezed from my lungs, but I didn’t mind—I hugged them back just as tightly. When we finally pulled apart, we locked eyes.
Kendra spoke firmly. “Clarke, you were fucking born to lead.”
“With all the talk about ‘faking it,’ I kind of assumed you hated cheerleading.” Andrew shrugged. “But out there, you actually looked like you were having fun.”
“I love cheerleading. I just hated what it became about.”
“Well, whatever the hell just happened today—I think you just found a new meaning for it.”
