26
::Kylie's POV::
I trotted downstairs and made my way into the kitchen. Today was the day that I'd find out if I made the cheerleading team and I was extremely anxious. I made sure to dress nicely today though. If I didn't make the team, I didn't want to look pathetic. I wore a white, cross-back lace skater dress with brown wedges and a necklace to match. I even went out of my way to curl my hair.
I walked towards the kitchen counter as Ms. Tompkins cooked on the stove.
"Aw Kylie. You look really nice honey," she spoke.
Levi stood a few steps away from her. "Yeah, you do," he commented before returning his attention to his phone.
I smiled thinking about the conversation we had last night.
"Thanks. We're supposed to be finding out who made the team today, so wish me luck!" I said excitedly before grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl and heading outside to my car.
I dialed Amie on my phone as I got in my car and pulled off.
"Hey I should be there in a couple minutes. I just left my house," I said.
"Okay cool," she stated before we both hung up.
As scheduled, a few minutes later, I was pulling into Amie's mile-long driveway. To say that her house was huge was a major minimization. It was a mansion. She even had maids! Apparently her parents owned some preeminent law firm that defended business owners and celebrities.
Before I had time to beep the horn, signaling I was there, she stepped out of one of the side doors. Like I, she to was wearing a dress. We'd decided on it after leaving tryouts yesterday. Usually, I thought friends dressing alike was pretty lame but that was when my best friend was a guy. Now that I had Amie, we could do all the cute little things girlfriends did together.
I rolled down the passenger's side window, leaned over and whistled jokingly.
As she walked over to the car, she did a quick spin as if she was a model before laughing and hoping into my car. She was carrying her purse and a small paper bag.
"What's that?" I asked her curiously.
"Oh my family's helper, Maria, baked us some blueberry muffins," she stated before taking out two delicacies and handing me one of them.
"Oooo. Well tell Maria I said thank you when you get back home later," I said before pulling out of her driveway to now head to our school.
"I'm going to try not to talk about the tryouts until the list posts," Amie said before taking a deep breath and I became anxious again. I quietly prayed for the best. Hopefully, we would both make it and all would be well.
I turned on the radio and let "Ain't It Fun" by Paramore blast through my speakers. What got rid of jitters more than a little pop rock right?
We both sung until we pulled into the student parking lot.
"Ugh," I exaggerated. "Another wonderful day in high school," I said while getting my book bag out of the trunk.
"Hey hey. When we make the team, you're going to have to put all of that dispiriting, joyless attitude away," Amie said before smiling.
"Oh whatever," I replied back before we headed into the school together.
"You'll probably be a flyer," I stated nonchalantly. Not only was Amie on the short side, she was small.
"Um no, definitely not," she stated.
"Well someone has to do it."
"Okay. Why not you?" She asked me.
I laughed. "Girl, I've grown about two inches since last year. I'm 5'6, almost 5'7 and I weigh about one hundred thirty pounds. I'll definitely be a base." (A/N: PLEASE do not start commenting your weight. I don't want to make any of my BEAUTIFUL followers feel uncomfortable. But no seriously.. You guys are beautiful! :) )
She shrugged. "I'll see you in third period hun," she said before she headed further down the hall to her locker while I stopped at mine.
"Later chica," I replied.
I entered my combination and got out everything I needed for my first few classes. When slamming the door closed, I jumped slightly as Levi appeared.
I punched him in the shoulder. "Don't do that!"
He just laughed as we started to walk to first period together.
"My mom said that the people for the funeral should start coming in this week.. Like our family and stuff," he spoke.
"Has she mentioned anything about Tyler coming?" I asked accidentally. I was thinking it, but it sort of slipped out.
He looked at me suspiciously before looking down the hall. "I don't know," Levi answered.
Hmm.
"So when's the first football game, super star?" I asked, changing the subject.
He chuckled lightly. "I don't know about all of that, but it's in two weeks."
"Ooo. Good luck, though you probably won't need it."
"Not if you're on the sidelines cheering for me," he said slyly just as we slipped into the classroom.
I swallowed and tried to ignore his statement. Luckily, the seats were different today, so I ended up sitting next to Jackie Pullman and Drew Olsen, while Levi took a seat on the opposite side of the classroom just as the bell rang.
*
"Okay, okay. We have to move our hands," I said as Amie and I stood in front of the cheerleading list, blinded. We had our hands covering our eyes and strategically, we'd waited until the others girls left before coming up to see for ourselves if we'd made it. Only problem was, we were too scared, hence the hands covering our eyes. Seeing about forty girls running to the list, then watching all but two of them--so far--burst into tears was pretty deflating when it came to your excitement.
"On three," Amie said. "One... Two... Three!"
Both of our hands went flying forcefully to our thighs and we both screamed as we saw each other's names.
"O-M-G! We made it! We made the team!" We yelled in unison and jumped around sillily.
My heart was nearly beating out of my chest and I couldn't have been more happy. This information had definitely made my day.
Next, we heard someone clear their throat.
When we turned around, we saw Hayden and the returning cheerleaders. Quickly, Amie and I composed ourselves.
Hayden smiled at us as if we were reminding her of when she was once in our position.
"Congratulation girls," she spoke. "Meet us in the parking lot after school, we're going to go get smoothies," she said before winking at us. Shortly after, she walked away and the others followed her.
Amie and I looked at each other once again before squealing and heading to our lunch table.
Then, Jason Morrison walked up to our table and sat. He was a senior, like us, who just so happened to be on the football team also. He was the head running back and for him to always have so many people admiring him for his skills, he always came off as pretty humble.
I ate my Lay's chips and watched him suspiciously and his eyes focused solely on Amie.
"Hi Amie," Jason spoke.
"Hey Jason," Amie said back.
"I saw the list. Congratulations."
"Thanks," Amie replied, so desperately trying to hide her blush.
"So I guess I'll be seeing you at all of our games from now on?" He asked.
"Yeah," was all she managed to squeeze out.
"Good," he said, smiling before standing.
"Good," Amie said and smiled back as Jason walked away.
I watched her as her Kool-Aid smile stayed on her face, watching Jason walk away.
I pushed her shoulder and laughed.
"What was that?!" I asked unbelievably, pushing her shoulder.
She laughed back. "What?" She asked back innocently.
"Don't do that!" I demanded and smiled. "Since when did you and Jason start talking?" I asked nosily.
She looked down bashfully. "We were both junior counselors at this summer camp."
"Aannddd?" I was too amused by this right now. When Amie liked someone, she became a little schoolgirl and it was too intriguing. I couldn't just let it go.
"And nothing," she said before getting up and throwing her trash away. "I know what you're thinking and there's absolutely nothing between us."
"Oh yeah suuureeee. Those definitely weren't googly eyes I saw back there," I said before we headed back into the building to go to class.
::Levi's POV::
I sat at the top of the bleachers as Veronica straddled me, kissing my neck. Don't get me wrong, she was definitely a beauty, but I just wasn't in it. It seemed like for the past few days, this was all we did... make out. She ran her fingers through my hair while my hands relaxed at her waist.
"Is there anything else you like to do?" I asked, but she ignored me. "Other than making out."
She finally looked at me with an oblivious expression. "What do you mean?" She pushed some of the hair that hung in her face behind her ear.
I tapped her thighs, telling her to get up. She sat next to me now. Her dark hair blew in the steady wind and her radiant tan made her blue eyes stand out even more. She sort of reminded me of a pageant queen. For the most part, she just sat and looked pretty.
"Tell me about you," I spoke to her, starting to give up hope. Don't tell me she was an airhead.
"Yourself," she corrected.
"What?" I asked her. "Okay. Tell me about yourself."
She paused for a second, thinking. I hoped what she said next wouldn't be shallow or simplistic. We'd just started hanging out and so far I liked her, but I wanted to know about her personality, not just her looks and exterior.
"You know what," I said and started gathering my things. "Nevermi--"
"I'm fluent in French," she said, cutting me off and I stopped what I was doing.
"Really?" I asked her.
"Oui vraiment. Este-il si difficile de croire?" She said.
I tried wrapping my brain around the fact that she was fluent in another language. Sure we took classes for a foreign language, but for someone so young to be completely fluent in a tongue that wasn't native to them? It was incredible.
"Okay say something else," I said intrigued.
"Je vous aime vraiment," she spoke lowly.
"Wow." I was mesmerized.
"I'm also pretty good at Latin, Italian and German," she said getting up and grabbing her bookbag. She started down the steps of the bleachers.
"How?" I asked, quickly getting my stuff and catching up to her.
She just shrugged and I smiled as we walked back to the building.
::Kylie's POV::
"She's actually not as much of an airhead as people think. She's really smart," Levi spoke and I reached for the salad.
We were at the table, eating dinner with Ms. Tompkins and he was telling us about Veronica. It seemed like he really liked her.
"Really?" I asked as I placed some of the freshly cut lettuce onto my plate.
"Yeah. She's fluent in like four languages. It's crazy," he commented.
"So when will I meet her then?" Ms. Tompkins finally chimed in.
Levi hesitated. "Kylie's first game is in two weeks, she made the cheerleading team," he changed the subject completely, shining the spotlight on me.
My jaw dropped as I looked at him. "Low blow," I mouthed silently.
"Oh my god honey!" Ms. Tompkins squealed in delight. "That's great!"
"Uh, yeah," I said back and chuckled a little, shoving a piece of the eight once steak into my mouth.
"Did Amie make it?" She asked.
"Mhm," I mumbled just as the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" I rushed out, before getting up and heading towards the front door. I chewed my food quickly and checked my hair in a nearby mirror. Mr. Alvaro's family was supposed to be coming in this week and I wanted to make a good impression on the members that I didn't already know.
I cleared my throat before swishing the door open and when I did, my heart nearly stopped. I couldn't breathe... I couldn't even remember HOW to breath. I swallowed hard as the visitor eyed me vigilantly.
"Tyler?" I forced out.