In Between Codes

Chapter 11

Sunday morning slipped by in a blur. Tamy didn't have any chores to do, but her mommy still asked her to stay close—watching her carefully, gently correcting her posture, her gestures, even the way she spoke. It was subtle, but constant. A quiet reinforcement of everything she'd been learning.

But Tamy's mind was elsewhere.

Her school—the Dragons—was playing in a crucial soccer match that afternoon, and the stakes were high. A win would mean a spot in the finals, therefore the stands would be packed. Students, teachers, parents. Everyone. And for many of them, it would be the first time seeing her not as Tomy, but as Tamy.

That alone was enough to make her stomach twist. But there was more. Her cheerleading squad was performing during halftime—a trial run for the upcoming competition and a chance to boost the team's morale. The pressure was enormous.

Her mommy's corrections, though well-meaning, only added to the tension. Every reminder to sit straighter, speak softer, move more gracefully felt like another weight on her shoulders.

As the clock ticked closer to the meeting time, Tamy retreated to her room. She laid out her cheerleader uniform, then sat at her vanity and began her makeup routine. The familiar motions—foundation, blush, mascara—helped calm her nerves. When she slipped into her uniform and saw how her new bra gave her a fuller, more feminine silhouette, and how her new packing underwear smoothed out any trace of boy anatomy, gave her a confidence boost as she looked and felt unmistakably female. 

By 3 p.m., she met up with her team as planned. They ran through the choreography one last time, warming up and syncing their movements. The energy was electric, the anticipation thick in the air. Laughter danced nervously among them, but Tamy stood still, heels digging into the grass, unsure if she could face the crowd—as a cheerleader and as a girl.

The stands, that were nearly empty when they arrived, had been getting fuller. every minute that passed more and more students poured in, followed by parents. Soon the bleachers were packed with bodies and buzzing energy. The atmosphere was charged with nerves and excitement.

Then, the Dragons emerged onto the field.

Leading the team was Jake—confident, athletic, magnetic. Tamy watched him stride across the grass, and for a moment, she remembered how she used to want to be just like him. That same swagger, that same ease. But now, she stood on the sidelines in a skirt, pom-poms in hand, preparing to cheer for the boys instead of being one of them.

It was a strange feeling—bittersweet and surreal.

Her thoughts were abruptly cut short by a wave of boos from the crowd. The Wild Cats had arrived, dressed head-to-toe in black, their presence bold and intimidating. They weren't alone either—a small but vocal group of parents and students had come to support them, along with their own cheerleading squad. The tension doubled. This wasn't just a game—it was a battle for a spot in the finals. Everything was on the line.

As the teams warmed up, both cheer squads took turns performing in the center of the field. Tamy's heart pounded in her chest, her nerves threatening to spill over. She moved through the simple tricks with precision, but inside she was a storm of adrenaline and anxiety.

Then the whistle blew. The game began.

The first half of the game had been a relentless clash—both teams fighting tooth and nail for every inch of turf. No pass went uncontested, no opportunity ignored. It was a war of wills, and by the time the whistle blew and the first half ended, the scoreboard still read 0–0. The tension was palpable.

And now, it was Tamy's team's turn to shine.

Stephanie, their captain, gathered the girls in a tight circle. Her voice was steady, her words full of fire. She reminded them of the hours they'd spent rehearsing, the sweat, the stumbles, the triumphs. "This is our moment," she said. "Let's show them who we are."