The Lost Ace

Chapter Four

Gracie/Izzy POV

"The last day of Cheer Camp and our final challenge! Zombies, your unique squad would have to crush the course record to win." Bucky exclaimed.

I scoffed. "So not happening."

Addison looked straight into Bucky's eyes. "Yeah, we are different, Bucky, but that's what makes us stronger," The Z-team chimed in agreement. "Way stronger!" After she said this, myself and the A-team performed our routine. After we finished, the wall behind us opened up to reveal a mud pool we had to cross. There were ropes to help us cross, but everyone who got on one met a muddy demise. So, tying my hair up, I began to assess solutions. With an idea, I stepped forward to try my hand. I got down on all fours and grabbing the rope, I crawled across, successfully avoiding the mud beneath. Once on the other side, I ran to the finish line. The bell we had to ring was well out of arm's reach, but there's a perk to styling super long and sturdy accessories in your bangs. I pulled one out of my bangs, tied it to one of my shoes which I then removed, and used that as a grappling hook. Once sure that I wouldn't fall, I started climbing up the accessory grapnel. I made it to the bell and rang it vigorously, and Bucky's voice came over a loudspeaker as I did.

"The course has been finished. Everyone come back. Also, someone help Gracie," Once I had gotten down and retrieved my things, I went to the start of the course, only to hear extremely shocking news. "Gracie wins. Rest of the A-team, disappointing. You can't be scared to get those jazz hands dirty. Gracie, the Cheer Camp Cup is yours!" As he handed me the trophy, I could see that my siblings were upset. I made a funny face at them, and they immediately cheered up.

"Alright, glad you enjoyed it," Bucky said, taking the trophy away from me after like, a minute. "Now let's make this victory about me. I've decided to be school president this year. Now technically, there's an election, but come on. Which means we'll need a new cheer captain while I rule the school. Who's worthy to lead?" My siblings started squabbling about who was 'worthy,' when Bree interrupted.

"No! No, no, no, no. We... We need a captain that's going to build a united squad. Someone like Addison."

"Thanks, Bree. Being cheer captain has always been my dream."

"Addison! Addison! Addison! Addison! Addison!" The Z-team cheered. After a bit, I had enough.

"Excuse me, can I say something? One, I think we should base whoever will be the new captain off whoever will lead us to victory in the Cheer Championships. Two, I don't think we should base the new captain off of a quality that someone suggested because they want their best friend to be captain. I think we should leave it to Bucky to decide, Bree. Who knows? Maybe he'll choose someone with a quality that he has." I looked distastefully at Bree and her friend, aka my mortal enemy, as I walked away to get my stuff. As I retreived my things, went to the bus, and walked up the steps to sit down, Addison stopped me.

"I don't like what you said to my friend."

"I don't freaking care." And that was that. Addison walked to a different seat and saved a spot for Bree. I sat down in the seat closest to the door and rummaged through my backpack for my iPad. Instead, I pulled out an old picture that must have fallen into my pack by accident. It was a picture with me and three others. Addison, a girl with hair like mine, but shorter, and a girl with black hair with a white highlight in it. We must have only been 4 and a half at most, because Addison was in it, and we were only best friends in Pre-K and Kindergarten. I put it away and searched for my iPad some more.

"Yes! I got invited to Prawn!" Someone exclaimed. Everyone started clapping, even me. After the clapping died down, and I still couldn't find my iPad, I decided to put the pieces of my grapnel back in place. I put my shoe back on and started to restyle my bangs. I was almost done when I felt a bit of resistance on the front of the bus and everyone started reciting the same words with a loud volume.

"Addison... will you... go to the Prawn... with...." That was when I saw it. Zed, Addison's boyfriend, was setting up a glowing arrow sign, but he was on the road, so the bus hit him. Addison cried out as Zed swung on the side of the bus. He was okay for a moment, but was swept away into the trees. In the disarray, the bus driver, Shrimpy the mascot(which was already bound to be disastrous), made a wrong turn, so we ended up going into the Forbidden Forest.