12. Who Made it?
The morning after the tryouts was unbearably deadly. Mishy kept sending me messages on my iPad.
Do you think we made it?
Do you think the list will be up?
Who do you think will get in?
How many call backs do you think there will be before the team is announced?
What are you wearing to school today?
My answers were:
I Don't know
IDK
IDK
IDK
IDK GTG BYE
I love my iPad and messaging my BFF's but I hate the way they sometimes let it take over their whole life. It's so uncool. There are so many other things to do. Oh dear, I really was beginning to sound like my mother.
I could hardly stomach any breakfast that morning.
"Why are you stalking that bit of egg around your plate with your fork?" my mother enquired. "Normally you can't get it down fast enough."
"I'm not hungry."
"What! Heavens above! I never thought I'd hear those words pass through your mouth. You're not getting sick are you?"
"No I just have a lot on my mind that's all."
"A LOT ON YOUR MIND! Lily! You're in the seventh grade. How can you possibly have a lot on your mind at your age? You are a funny chook."
"Well I'm nervous about the cheer offs." That was certainly true, but thinking about the tryout's had also made me wonder whether Kaitlyn would get on the team, which lead to me thinking about her situation again. I felt I'd neglected it during the week because I was too preoccupied about myself and my desperate desire to be in the team. I didn't like to think of myself as a self-centred, selfish witch. So I made myself a promise that once the first call backs were out of the way, I would get back onto the job and get to the bottom of Kaitlyn's unexplained melancholy.
On the way to school that morning, I passed Kaitlyn's mom picking up the paper from the front garden. "Morning Mrs Ramsay. Is Kaitlyn excited about the cheerleading call backs today?" She had a surprised look on her face.
"Oh I didn't realise you found out today. Kaitlyn's not well, she won't be going to school today."
'SERIOUSLY! YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING RIGHT!' was what I wanted to say, but I mumbled, "What's wrong with her?"
"I'm not really sure to be honest. She says she has a sore throat. Perhaps you could let us know on the way home who got in."
"Sure," I said eagerly, realising this would be a perfect opportunity to sus a few more things out.
I met the other girls earlier than usual at 8 am at the front gate as we'd arranged. We wanted to be altogether when we looked at the list. "Hurry up," Mishy said as I approached the gates. "I can't contain my pee any longer."
"Eewgh!" said Sarah. "You are so gross."
"Well I'm so nervous I feel like peeing all the time." I guess Mishy gets nervous pees as well.
"Ok well I'm here now, so let's go." I said, and we all began running towards the gym, as fast as our heavy bags would allow us, holding hands like preppies and giggling along the way.
SPLAT!! Our excitement came to a roaring halt as Maddy clipped the edge of the bike racks and tumbled to the ground. It was like a hysterical snowball effect as each of us fell like dominoes on top of one another, laughing and gasping for air. Finally when we were all laughed out, I heard Mishy peep from below. "Ow!"
"Is everyone still alive?" I said from the ground looking up to the hazy blue sky.
"I think so," someone mumbled.
"Yes I'm ok," Maddy piped in.
"Anyone hurt?"
"Yes, my pride is hurt. So embarrassing! Did any-one see us?" Mishy said half joking.
"Who cares?" I answered. "Just think, it will give them their first and maybe only laugh for the day. Wouldn't you like to provide that service to someone who is just about to start a boring and brain numbing day of school work?"
"NO!" came the chorus of girls at me.
We got up and dusted ourselves off. Mishy had a gravel rash on her knee and Maddy's shorts were ripped where the bike rack caught them.
"Now you'll look really trendy with your ripped shorts Mads."
"I'm already trendy thank you very much. But now I'm going to be a trendy dead person. My mom's gonna kill me. These shorts were fifty dollars."
"Seriously! I could buy a whole wardrobe for fifty dollars. Now enough fashion commentary," Sarah said, getting frustrated but laughing at the same time. "Let's go amigos."
Again we discovered a group of girls buzzing around the gym excitedly, and a few boys having a sticky beak. It was obvious the list was up because there were some very happy girls jumping up and down screaming like barbie dolls (that's if barbie dolls could scream of course). There was also a few forlorn faces walking away. One girl even had tears streaking her face.
Mishy started walking backwards as we approached the board.
"What are you doing Mishy?" Maddy asked.
"I can't do it. I'm too nervous. I need to pee first. Can you wait while I go pee?"
"Seriously, you're kidding right?"
"Let's just go look at the list, then you're free to go and spend as much time peeing as you want." Maddy grabbed Mishy's hand and dragged her to the board. Sarah and I followed until we could all see the list without being able to see the names.
"Ok, do you want me to read the names out since I'm not in it?"
"Sure Maddy." That sounded like a good plan. We all closed our eyes.
"Ok, so number one on the list is???."
13. Something's Going Down
"Do you really want to know?" Maddy teased.
"Shoot! Would you tell us the names already?" Sarah demanded.
"OK! OK! Don't get your knickers in a knot." That's such a weird expression. I'd heard my father say it before. It would really be quite interesting to see someone wearing their knickers in a knot. Would be quite uncomfortable I'm guessing. Especially if you were a boy.
"So the first person on the list is?Oh god you're not going to want to know who is first on the list."
"At this rate, we're never going to know who is on the list at all. Come on Mads," Sarah said, getting impatient.
"OK. Number one is Krystal and Number two is Tiffany. Is that rigged or what?"
"Keep going Maddy. We knew they'd get in so it doesn't matter what number they are," Mishy urged.
"Kirsten, Jesse, Kaitlyn." My ears pricked up at the sound of Kaitlyn's name as Maddy continued, "Ella, Mishy, yey Mishy, Ellie, Sarah, yey Sarah." She finally got to the end of the list. "And the final name is Angel."
My heart sank. Actually, it felt like it was stretched up like a slingshot and plummeted through my body onto the ground like a failed bungee jump. I didn't want to look at the others in case I cried.
"And what do we have here?" Maddy began. "One more name squished down at the bottom. Now let me have a lookie, what does it say? M'mmm ??..Could it be Lily?" Maddy teased.
"Yeyyyy," we all screamed and jumped up and down and around and round like we had been transported back to kindergarten.
"MADDY! How can you do that? How can you play a trick on me like that? You nearly killed me."
"I didn't trick you. My glasses were just blurry that's all."
"You don't wear glasses."
"Oh there you go. That's my problem then," and she burst out laughing. "Well done guys. You guys rock. I'm so jealous."
We circled and hugged each other. Nothing could spoil our excitement at that moment. Nothing at all, except??...
"Hi guys. Did you make it through the cheer offs?" came a smooth voice. Krystal, Chantelle and Tiffany were standing behind us. Tiffany spoke so sweetly you could have sworn she had fairy floss dripping out of her mouth.
"Yep," I answered. "What about you?"
"I'm not sure. I'll have a look when the crowd is gone." As if! She wouldn't be acting so coolly if she didn't know already. "Will you be wearing that delightful red number you wore to the first cheer off? It was so?well, so yo
u," Tiffany asked with spite.
"Not sure Tiffany, but if I don't, you can borrow it if you like. Although I think it might be just a bit too small for you."
"I'll be right thanks."
"Are you sure? Cos I guess you've had that blue one for a while. It looked like it was getting a little tight for you in the you know where," I said in my sweetest voice. Tiffany glared at me. "Well good luck for the call backs," I added, as we left and walked excitedly away.
"How do you do that?" asked Mishy.
"Do what?"
"Act so cool towards Tiffany."
"Der! Because I am cool, got it." We all laughed.
"You're wicked," added Sarah.
"Yeah, I know, I'm wickedly cool," I replied laughing.
The week ahead was going to be one crazy time with lots of training as we prepared for the first call back. Later that day we had to meet Cranky Pants and Mrs Carmichael to get the routine sequence and then to a training session on the Friday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The two cheer offs were the following Thursday and Friday. I couldn't wait to let Kaitlyn know she was in. I hoped the good news would cheer up her 'sore throat'.
I knocked loudly on Kaitlyn's door after school but there was no answer. I could hear the song 'Ugly Heart' blaring from one of the windows so I figured someone was home. I tapped again and waited. Eventually the music was turned down and a few minutes later, the front door slowly creaked open. Kaitlyn stood sheltering behind the door. She looked terrible. Her face was blotchy, her eyes were red and she looked as though she'd just got out of bed.
"Wow, you look terrible Kaitlyn. You must be really sick."
"Yes, sort of."
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, just a sore throat."
"Well I've got some good news that might cheer you up a bit."
"Really?"
"About the call backs."
"Did I get in?" Kaitlyn's expression changed momentarily and her eyes began to glisten.
"Yep, you sure did." She gasped with glee and then her face suddenly turned serious again. She looked almost worried. "So who else made the list?"
"Mishy, Sarah and I did."
"Go girl."
"And your best friends. They all made it in, so that's cool."
"Yeah," she said flatly, but not very convincingly.
"Do you want me to give you the moves that you have to learn. I can write them out for you 'cos the first training is tomorrow. If you don't go to all the training, it's an automatic OUT. Cranky Pants said so."
"Sure ok." She hesitated then opened the door slowly to let me in. Anyone would have thought I was some green eyed, double-headed, shaggy monster frothing at the mouth. She looked almost frightened to welcome me in.
"Are you sure it's a good time for you?"
"Yeah sorry, it's just that, it's just that?.my throat's still sore. I don't want you to catch anything from me."
"I'll be alright. Just don't sneeze on me, or blow your nose on me." We laughed.
As I was writing the moves out for her, a message came through on her iPad. She glanced at it and looked up at me bewildered.
"Are you sure I got in the call backs? This is not some sick joke that someone put you up to is it?"
"What? What do you mean Kaitlyn? Why would I play a sick joke like that? That would be cruel."
"Well I just got a message saying I didn't make it in."
"Who sent you the message?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Kaitlyn, who sent you the message?"
"Well?.. Tiffany says she doesn't 'think' I got in. She only had a quick look but she couldn't see my name."
"Seriously?"
"Well I'm not joking."
"Maybe they are. Maybe they're having a light-hearted joke with you," I offered.
"Tiffany doesn't joke???..unless, unless it's a???"
"Unless it's a what?"
She sighed deeply and looked down. "Unless it's a mean joke. She likes playing mean jokes on people. That's her thing."
What was going on for her to say something like that about one of her best friends? And why would her best friend lie to her?
14. And the Meanness begins
Even though Tiffany and Krystal were popular, everyone knew they could be cruel as well if they wanted to. It was just very strange to hear Kaitlyn admitting it about her friends. It was getting more and more frustrating as I searched for the truth.
"Kaitlyn, what do you mean about Tiffany being mean to others? Is she mean to you?"
"Nothing. It doesn't matter. Thanks for coming and showing me the steps. I guess I won't be needing them." She got up to show me out.
"Kaitlyn, trust me, you're in. Learn the steps." As I went to grab my bag, her iPad dinged again. As she glanced at the message, her eyes glazed over and she mumbled something under her breath that I couldn't understand.
"Are you OK?" She didn't answer me. She just kept staring into the screen, a tear rolling down her cheek.
"Kaitlyn, what is wrong?" I demanded.
With that final demand, Kaitlyn's emotions crumbled and a slow stream of tears began trickling down her sad face. She passed me the iPad without speaking.
The message said:
If you're still sick, stay home tomorrow so you can get yourself better.
I'll get any work for you. Sending you hugs ??? Krissie.
I was puzzled at Krissie's sentiment.
"Ok, and that would make you cry because??.?"
"Because the cheerleading training session is tomorrow you said. Don't you see? For some reason they don't want me there."
"No way. They wouldn't be that mean." But it was all starting to click. Krystal and Tiffany were trying to keep Kaitlyn from going to school so she'd miss out on the first training session. But why?
"Maybe she's jealous because you're so good and they might miss out if you get in."
"So if Mishy and Sarah got in and you thought they were better than you, would you try and sabotage their chances?"
"Hek no. That would be so mean. No way would I do that. That would be cheating anyway. Who would want to win something if you knew in your heart that you didn't win fairly, or you had to hurt someone to win?"
"You don't have to tell me. I agree completely."
"But I thought you, Tiffany and Krystal were great friends."
"Yeah, me too."
"Do you want to talk about it?" There was no answer from Kaitlyn.
"Kaitlyn, tell me what's been going on. I might be able to help you."
"How can you help me?" she replied as the tears began to flow uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, I feel like such an idiot crying in front of a seventh grader. What a baby I am."
"Don't worry, I'm old for my age. And I have many years of wisdom and a lot of life experience," I said with a laugh. "Common Kait, maybe I can help."
This was it. FINALLY! Kaitlyn was about to open up to me and all my questions were going to be answered. I would finally have the facts to be able to help her solve the problem.
"Talk to me Kaitlyn."
Kaitlyn put her iPad down and was just about to utter her first words in confidence when the front door swung open and Kaitlyn's Mom came in, her arms laden with groceries.
"Hi love, give us a hand if you're up to it will you? Oh hello Lily. How are you? Would you mind helping an old lady?"
"Mom, you can't just ask people to help with your shopping."
"Of course I can. I just did."
"I don't mind helping Kaitlyn. And you're not exactly old Mrs Ramsay believe me. I know thousands heaps older than you."
"Oh you're too kind. I feel about eighty some days."
"Tell her the news Kaitlyn," I urged.
"Oh yes, how did you go love?"
"I got in. We both got in," Kaitlyn said quietly.
"That's wonderful." We chatted a bit to her Mom who wasn't doing a disappearing act anytime quickly. Kaitlyn didn't appear to want to continue the bleak conversation so I regretfully made my exit
.
"Oh well, thanks again Lily??.for everything," she said as I stood at the front door.
"No probs, anytime and for anything. I'm only up the road remember, if you want to talk or ?. practice the moves or whatever. Make sure you're there tomorrow Kaitlyn. Seeya."
Thursday 6th November 8.30pm
Debbie
DAMN! What is going on in the princess gang? I am going to have to take some desperate measures to find out I think. Maybe some truth potion might be in order for Kaitlyn. Or perhaps I could use a spell to switch with one of her friends and go under cover. Now there's an idea!
I'm not sure how serious this is, but I've narrowed it down to something between Kaitlyn and Krystal and Tiffany, and maybe Chantelle. I don't think it's boyfriend troubles. Connor seems to have moved on anyway, he's back with Chantelle- God knows why!
But if these girls are bullying Kaitlyn, then its ON!! Bullying stinks.
I was half way through my diary entry when my iPad dinged. I'm not really allowed to use it after 8.30. That's one of Mom's dumb rules. She has some really stupid rules like, 'no biscuits before tea, no candy during the week, no iPad after 8.30 except on weekends, no TV after 8pm'. One day she'll tell us we're not allowed to poo before breakfast or something like that. She's so weird at times.
I had a look in the lounge room to see what Mom was doing. Dad was asleep on the couch as usual with the remote control in his hand and the newspaper covering his face. Mom was engrossed in a TV show; something about a single guy with all these fake barbie dolls parading around him doing and saying fake things trying to compete to become his wife. I think it's called 'the Bachelor'. Mom was probably dreaming that she was twenty years younger and could fit into one of the skimpy little bikinis they were wearing.
I grabbed my iPad from my desk to look at who would be messaging me after 8.30. All my friends knew it was pointless at that time. It was from Kaitlyn. If I messaged her back, I would risk losing the iPad for a whole week. But I didn't want her to think I was ignoring her. I had to read it. I had to answer. I smuggled it under my doona and prayed my mom wouldn't see the little ray of light escaping out the corner of the bed if she came down.