"What's happened Kaitlyn? Ten minutes ago you were happy."
"I just don't know what I've done wrong. I feel like Krystal and Tiffany don't like me anymore, and I just don't know what I've done to make them feel that way. I hate myself. There must be something really terrible about me to make them be like that."
"NO! Don't ever think that about yourself. Whatever it is, it's their problem. It's the way they think, that is the problem. Don't ever let meanness and bullying make you think it's about you. Because it's actually about them."
"I was walking over to them and Connor came up to me. He asked if he could talk to me later. I said that as long as Chantelle was fine about it, it would be ok. As he walked away he said, 'By the way, you look gorgeous.' I didn't know what to say." Kaitlyn blushed as she continued. "When I went and said hi to the others, they pretty much turned their backs on me. I asked them if they wanted to come and dance with us, but they didn't answer. They just kind of laughed. As I was walking away, Chantelle muttered something, but I'm sure I heard 'boyfriend stealer'. I mean, I was only talking to Connor for ten seconds. I would never try to get him back. He's Chantelle's boyfriend now. I wouldn't do that!" She started to ramble uncontrollably. "And he was the one that came up to me, I didn't go to him. I wish he hadn't now. I wish I hadn't come here. I wish I didn't even try and go for the team. I just wish?.I wish I was dead! I'm going to go home."
"Kaitlyn stop! Get a grip of yourself. These things that keep happening to you are not your fault. Have a think about it. Don't you think it's a little strange that they are all related to Tiffany, and Krystal and Chantelle somehow?"
"But why? Why would they want to hurt me? I must have done something to deserve it."
"I don't know why. But I do know, you have NOT done anything. Don't ever let yourself think that." I didn't know why they were treating her so badly but I could only guess; jealousy, Connor, meanness, spitefulness, jealousy, jealousy, jealousy. Who knew why girls like the princess gang did the things they did? But it infuriated me. There was only one thing I hated more than seeing someone being treated unfairly and that was seeing someone treat someone unfairly, if that makes sense.
Bottled up fury started to escape from somewhere deep inside me. I was so enraged to think that I was helpless to prevent this sort of bullying. I could help Kaitlyn deal with the behavior. I could listen to her and be a friend to her, but with all the powers I had within my being, I was powerless to change the vicious behaviors of those around me. But maybe there was something I could do just to bring out the truth a little.
26. Truth and Lies
"Kaitlyn, you are a really nice girl. If Krystal and Tiffany are making you unhappy all the time, then move on from them. There are plenty of girls who would love to hang out with you."
"Like who?"
"Like me. Like Mishy, Maddy and Sarah for starters. And I see you hang around with Isabelle a bit. And Carrie loves you."
"Sure! You're just saying that to make me feel better."
"I'M NOT! It would be cool to have you hang around us sometimes, hek, all the time if you wanted."
"It would be weird seeing Tiffany and ignoring her."
"No-one says you have to ignore her. Be pleasant, be polite, but don't put yourself in a situation where you are going to get hurt. Friends are supposed to be trustworthy. You need to know that someone is going to be your friend 24/7. Not 'on' one minute, 'off' the next."
Our conversation was interrupted by Mr Gorgeous' voice over the microphone. "Last two dances before the presentation."
My heart became all jittery, nervous for Mishy and Sarah. "Come on, let's go have a dance. It will cheer you up."
"OK." And with a smile, Kaitlyn gave me a quick hug. By trying to save her from her phony friends, I think I'd made a real friend in the process. I know she had.
She followed me through the entrance passed the princess gang who were still surrounded by their boyfriends and other boys. Connor glanced around as we walked past and I'm sure his eyes locked with Kaitlyn's. I couldn't help but notice Josh in a cute black shirt and tight denim jeans that made his butt look?.well, cute. OMG! I was shocked at myself for even looking in that region nevertheless thinking it was cute. What was happening to me? I quickly turned and looked the other way when he glanced over.
I spotted Mishy dancing with Sarah and just as I headed in that direction, I felt an almighty thud in the back of my legs knocking me off balance. Luckily for me, I retained my composure and didn't fall over, but Kaitlyn wasn't so lucky. Something or 'someone' had caused Kaitlyn to trip up and she fell, sprawling to the floor, knocking my legs along the way and ripping her gorgeous dress up the sides.
The darkness of the gym didn't hide the tears welling up in her eyes. I tried to help her up from behind. "Don't let them see it Kaitlyn. Don't let them get to you. Stand up, dust yourself off and let's get on the dance floor as quick as we can." There was a light tap on my shoulder as Connor bent over to help Kaitlyn.
"Need a hand?" he said looking into her terrified eyes.
Kaitlyn looked up and smiled at him. "No I'm ok. Just a big clumsy klutz I am. But thanks anyway," she said as she got up on her own. "Come on Lily, let's dance."
"Sure," I said, relieved Kaitlyn hadn't fallen apart.
I looked around to see what had happened, although I already had my suspicions. The princess gang were all giggling and whispering secretly to each other, looking in our direction. My blood began to boil and the fury contained within me erupted like molten lava escaping from a furious volcano. I had been calm and composed for long enough. It was time to get wicked!
"I'll catch up to you Kaitlyn. Maddy is over there on the dance floor. I'll be there in a minute." I turned around quickly and walked straight up to Tiffany. I looked straight into her evil eyes, psyching myself up to do the unthinkable. As I confronted her, I put my hands behind my back to restrain then from bopping her on the nose.
"Hi Tiffany," I said sweetly. "I just wanted to wish you good luck for the announcement of the team."
"Oh!" She replied, taken aback. I think she thought I was going to accuse her of tripping up Kaitlyn.
"Thanks. Same to you." She glanced at Chantelle and Krystal.
I stared at her hair. "EEWGH! You have something in your hair," I said to her. "I think it's a green boogie," and before she had a chance to protest, I reached up and grabbed the invisible piece of nasal phlegm and a wad of hair as well.
"OW! What did you do that for? You b?"
"TIFFANY! You can't go round looking that gorgeous with snot dripping out of your hair. How would you look going up on stage with boogies hanging off your hair? No thanks needed. It was my pleasure to help." And I left, leaving Tiffany and her groupies speechless. Her jaw was dragging on the ground, she'd dropped it so low. I hoped a big dirty fly might zip in and set up camp in there.
I escaped into the girl's bathroom and found an empty cubicle. Holding onto the hair in front of me, I began yet another chant; this time my target was Tiffany. When I was finished with her, she would say 'the truth, nothing but the truth, the whole truth, so help me Tiffany!'
"Truth and lies, truth and lies
Beholder not to lie
Truth be told, truth be told
Over and over again,
Truth be told, by one so bold
Until the very end."
I repeated the chant until I felt a funny sensation filter throughout my body. I did a quick pee since I was already in the bathroom, went out onto the dance floor and waited for it to happen.
I positioned myself where I could get a good view of Tiffany while I danced. Krystal had just dragged Josh onto the dance floor reluctantly. He still looked cute even though he was a hopeless dancer. For a fleeting moment I wished it was me dancing with him as I remembered his hand lightly touching my skin and his lips sneaking up on mine that day. I kicked myself and reminded myself that he was Krystal's boyfriend.
Tiffany joined them for the last dance which
was "Get the party started" by Pink, and I thought that would be the perfect time to get things going. "Let's get this party started!" I said to myself, laughing. I sauntered over to them coolly, jiving to the song, my confidence building with every step. I was on a mission.
"Hey guys," I said cheerily. "So who do you think is going to get on the team?"
Tiffany sniggered, "Well obviously not you, the way you face planted yourself. Like, what new move was that, dork?" She laughed hysterically. "You looked like a total vegetable out there." Her face looked completely stunned as the cruel words rolled off her tongue rapidly. She looked over at Krystal for back up.
"Well yeah, I guess with your fall, you might be disqualified," Krystal added, looking at her friend curiously.
"TOTALLY!" I agreed. "I am such a clumsy klutz. Total dork, that's me. I'd probably drop the person standing on my shoulders if I got on the team." I laughed and to my surprise Josh was having a little chuckle with me. "But wasn't it nice of Kaitlyn to run out of the routine to get some ice for me. She risked her place on the team just to help me out. Wow, that's so thoughtful."
"She didn't run off to help you. She was going to poop her pants probably," Tiffany blurted.
"TIFFANY!" Krystal nudged her friend. "You don't know what you're talking about."
Tiffany looked stunned as the truth kept spilling forth out of her over made lips.
"Yes I do know what I'm talking about, and so do you Krystal. We saw that brown bit of poop escaping out of her white shorts. Not that it was her fault. She was given a rather large overdose of pooping pills," she laughed nervously.
"WHAT?" Josh scrunched up his face despairingly. "That is gross."
"I know right. She is so gross that girl," chimed Tiffany, "she should wear a diaper if she's not toilet trained."
"No, I mean no-one would do that sort of thing, it's so gross," he snapped back quickly, looking appalled.
"Oh yes they would."
"Who would be so cruel to do something like that?" he asked.
"We did." Tiffany clasped her hand quickly to her mouth in horror but it was too late. Josh looked over at me and I faked a look of confusion and disgust.
"She's your friend Tiffany!" he said.
"Not anymore."
"Why? What has she ever done to you?"
"She stole my best friend's boyfriend."
Josh was shaking his head. "Did you know about this Krystal?"
Krystal looked from Josh to Tiffany. "Of course not. She's out of her tree. She's on another planet."
"Yes you did Krystal! Don't lie. You even suggested the plan to get Connor to drop Kaitlyn," Tiffany revealed.
"What plan?" Josh was getting more and more agitated as the story unfolded. "Connor only dropped Kaitlyn because she two timed him didn't he? Well did she?"
Tiffany burst out laughing. "As if she'd two time Connor with that ugly creep. Even she could do better than that. It was all a setup. Kaitlyn's so pure and innocent, she wouldn't know how to two-time anyone." Tiffany was so shocked with what she was saying.
"MAN! So you mean???" He paused. "I gotta go."
"No need to tell anyone though. It's just our secret Joshie babes," Tiffany called out lightly. She panicked and turned to Krystal. "What am I doing? No-one is supposed to know this stuff. What did I tell Josh for?"
"I KNOW RIGHT! What 'are' you doing?" exclaimed Krystal. "And DON'T call Josh, Joshie. Or babes!" They both looked at me embarrassed. "It's really not what it seems."
"Yes it is," piped in Tiffany.
"Ok girls, no explanations needed, I think I'll just go now," I said to them smiling. My job was done. I could leave satisfied.
"Wait!" Tiffany looked worried. "You're not going to tell anyone are you?"
"I think you'll do a pretty good job of that yourself Tiffany. Have a good night."
Her face went white as I left, but I overheard her saying to Krystal to hit her if she went to say anything stupid.
I couldn't see the others on the dance floor so I went outside to see if I could find them. They weren't there but I noticed Josh talking to Connor. I suspected he was filling him in on the latest gossip. I turned to go back inside but felt a light touch on my shoulder. I turned around to see the cutest eyes looking at me intently.
"Lily, do you know what's going on in there; what's been happening?"
"Ah well, I'm not really sure Josh. I don't like to stir up trouble about other people." Oh I could be so wicked. Inside I was really dying to blurt it out and tell him what a mean girlfriend he had. "Why don't you ask Krystal herself?"
"No, she's been acting really weird lately. A couple of weeks ago I nearly dumped her because she was so bossy, but this past week, she's been like ?like really sweet! And now this. I mean, this is totally unbelievable if Tiffany and Krystal brainstormed an idea like that. NO-ONE could be that cruel. And Connor is gobsmacked that they faked the two timing thing. He's fuming with Chantelle. I don't even think he likes Chantelle that much. She hounds him all the time."
"You told him about that?"
"Of course I did. He's a mate and he's always liked Kaitlyn a lot ever since she moved to this school. He was crushed when he thought she'd done the dirty on him."
I could have stayed and listened to Josh all night. He was such a nice guy. I would have been very happy to let him use my shoulder to have a cry on about his nasty girlfriend, but the music in the gym stopped and Mr Gorgeous came on the microphone again announcing the start of the presentation. In the background, the song "Cheerleader" by Omi played and Mr Gorgeous did an animated move to the line " I think I found myself a cheerleader. She is always right there", and he lip-synced the words hilariously.
Everyone stopped dancing and ran to the front of the stage, laughing at Mr Gorgeous doing his funky manoeuvres, putting his hands to his heart and wiggling his hips. People that were hanging about outside filtered in quickly. Nervous girls giggled in anticipation and admiring jocks jostled their way to the front to applaud the winners.
"I've got my fingers and legs and toes and everything crossed for you and Sarah, Mishy," I said as she grabbed my arm and dragged me inside.
"Come on, let's get closer," she said. "We don't want to miss anything."
I felt like my body had been split into three zones of emotion. Part of me was really nervous for Mishy and Sarah, part of me was still quite sad that I'd missed out, and the other unfamiliar part of me was making my heart beat uncontrollably as I watched Josh casually saunter into the gym.
"Well this year we have twelve lovely, young ladies who have made the cheerleading team, due, not only to their athletic competence and dance skills, but also their ability to take direction, learn new moves, focus and be dedicated, as well as their previous reputation and their ability to be well disciplined." He rambled on about team work and professionalism, but no-one was really listening.
"So the winners are???.. would you like me to keep rambling or would you like to know who they are?" Mr Gordon laughed at his own sick joke as the crowd roared and booed at him.
"They are, in no particular order I might add; they are as follows??.Drum roll please Steven." Steven, a seventh grade music student did a drum roll from the side of the stage, as was the tradition, and my heart started to race wildly again. And it wasn't because Mr Gorgeous was announcing the team either.
27. The Truth Hurts
I was standing up near the front with the others when I heard a familiar voice whisper to me, "Good Luck." I turned around to see Josh again. He'd followed me to the front.
"Oh I think I have as much hope of getting in as you do. You saw my spectacular pirouette onto my nose with a nice right angle ankle twist." He laughed at me.
"Hey, are you saying I can't do the splits and leap into the air like a flying swan?"
"More like a flying rooster," I replied cheekily.
He laughed again. He had such a cute laugh. In fact he had cute eyes, cute dimples, and dare I say it again, a
really cute bum. Everything about this guy was cute.
"You're really funny you know," he said quietly.
"My friends tell me I have a wicked sense of humor." We both glanced up towards Mr Gordon who continued to call out the names. He was half way through when the dreaded sound came out of his mouth?. "Tiffany Jacobs, Chantelle Richards." It was a double whammy disaster. He continued and then finally Mishy's name was called out followed closely by Sarah's. We all squealed with delight. Finally there was one more name to be called out. Krystal hadn't been called so I assumed it was going to be her.
Miss Cranky Pants took the microphone. "We have one special team position to give this year, something we have never done before. This goes to a team member who not only has all the necessary attributes to make a fine cheerleader on our team, she also has one vital characteristic that any aspiring sportswoman should aim for; that is 'selflessness'; being part of a team, not just an individual looking out for herself. Normally if you don't complete the routine for any reason, it is instant disqualification, but today this girl gave up her chances of being in the team to help a fellow team member. Please come and take your place on stage, Kaitlyn Ramsay."
"And there you have the final team for the year of 2015," Mrs Carmichael added. The crowd roared, wolf whistles echoed and there was a lot of yahooing coming from the boys, as the music of Omi with pumped up volume boomed through the speakers, "I think I found myself a cheerleader" again, and then faded just as quickly when Mr Gorgeous took the mike again.
"Our final announcement will be for the honourable position of team captain and that goes to Miss Tiffany Jacobs for her experience and extensive training knowledge." More wolf whistles were heard as Tiffany vainly walked towards Mr Gorgeous to shake his hand.
Krystal, who was now standing next to Josh, was fuming that she didn't get in, and was taking it out on him, giving him an irate earful. I felt sorry for her but I was glad we had been back in our own bodies for the final, so I didn't have to feel guilty that she didn't get in. Apparently the previous year she had missed a lot of training sessions.