Chapter Twenty-One
Cheerleading Tryouts
Time seemed trapped that day; trapped by a madman with an hourglass, allowing the sand out at strange intervals. Parts of the day took so long and then suddenly it was time for lunch.
I had a hard time concentrating on eating. I let Rodney sit with me, which invited the rest of the pack, but I felt safer with them near me. At least this way we would all be together if we needed to make a fast get away. Carlie watched us the entire time, which didn't help my concentration any.
"Are you still going to the tryouts tonight?" Rodney asked nervously.
"Of course she is," Aubrey answered before I could say anything.
I nodded to Rodney. "Yeah. I'm a little sore but I'm ok."
"Sore from what?"
"I fell."
"You're such a clumsy person, Willow," Lindsey laughed.
I couldn't manage even a forced laugh. I looked again at Carlie, but for once she wasn't looking at me. There had to be something I could do about her. Besides running and besides murder.
"I saw you talking to her this morning," Steven spoke low so that only I could hear him.
"She was talking to me."
"About?"
"About what she saw. She was spying on us … you know … after everything happened."
"Why?"
"I don't know." I shifted uncomfortably.
"Did she say what she wanted?"
"She wants to talk." I shifted the food around on my plate. "Today after school."
"Are you going?"
"I don't know." My voice rose with my irritation.
"Is he bugging you, Willow?" Rueben asked.
"No." I looked around, suddenly realizing that everyone was looking at me. "I just … I think I probably flunked my English quiz this morning. It's just … bugging me," I finished lamely.
"You've only been here a week," Aubrey pointed out, "don't sweat it."
Only a week? So much had happened in only a week. "Yeah," I bobbed my head obediently, "you're right."
"Don't let them see that you're nervous," Carlie whispered to me later that afternoon.
I was in the gym and it was like one of my nightmares had become a reality. A dozen girls all sat around staring expectantly at me. I felt like I was going to pass out.
"I'm not nervous," I lied.
"Good."
"Well maybe a little."
She laughed quietly. "You have nothing to worry about. With Aubrey and Lindsey behind you - you could probably fall flat on your face and still make the squad."
"But I'd rather not." I wiped my damp palms on my shorts. "Fall on my face that is."
"Then don't." She bounced away to join the other spectators. Some help she was.
I shouldn't have been surprised when coach Klinger said I had made the squad. She smiled her prom queen smile and put her hand lightly on my back.
"You were a little nervous, but I have it on good authority that you belong here." She winked at Lindsey, who had a tight grip on my arm.
"Thanks," I mumbled. My face was still way too hot and entirely too flushed. There were so many other things I could be doing - like skinning a cactus or squeezing lemons.
"Yay!" Lindsey squealed when the coach walked away.
"I knew you'd make it," Aubrey gushed.
"I totally messed up." I flung my bag over my shoulder. It was true, the tryout had been a disaster. After almost tripping over my untied lace and having to stop to tie it back up; and then flip-flopping two lines of a four line cheer - it was a miracle that I had made it. Maybe they just felt sorry for me.
"Told you that you had nothing to worry about," Carlie said coming up to our small group.
It took me a while to recognize the awkward silence that fell. I smiled. "Guess you were right."
"You want to go to the Lounge tonight, to celebrate?" Carlie asked before I could safely duck out of the gym.
"Oh … I don't know."
"Of course we have to go to the Lounge," Lindsey whined.
"Is it even open on Monday nights?"
"Yeah."
"I can pick you up," Carlie volunteered.
"We can all ride together," Aubrey seconded.
I looked at Carlie. "But I thought we were going to your house."
"Another time," she said and winked.
"I have no idea how that happened," I commented absently when Rueben was driving us home.
"That you made the squad?" He grinned wide.
"Well that, too, but no."
"What's wrong?" Rodney demanded from the backseat.
"I'm going to the Lounge tonight with Lindsey, Aubrey, and … Carlie."
"Carlie?"
"And you?"
"I know," I widened my eyes for emphasis even though no one could see me, "I'm shocked, too."
"And you're actually going?"
"I think so." I played nervously with a loose piece of skin by my fingernail. "Should I?"
"Yeah," Rueben didn't miss a beat.
"But with Carlie? That might be kind of … "
I turned in my seat to look at Rodney. At least he was thinking. "That's what I was thinking, too."
"Carlie isn't going to say anything," Rueben scoffed.
"But she knows."
"Not everything."
"She knows enough Rueben."
"She didn't freak out."
"But why?" My eyebrows furrowed.
"Now you sound like Gage."
I exhaled loudly. But Gage was right. I needed to figure Carlie out. Maybe we should become friends. I almost scoffed at my own idea. Had it been a full week ago that Carlie had stood with Ivy in our kitchen warning me to stay away from Rueben?
When we pulled into the driveway, the others were already waiting outside. How had they gotten here so fast, I wondered with a frown.
"How did it go?" Gage pounced before my door was fully open.
"Did you make the squad?" Jed was tense with excitement.
"It's just cheerleading, guys," I reminded them.
Jed's face fell. "You didn't make it?"
I couldn't hide the smile that tugged at my lips. "Of course she made it," Gage whooped and circled me in a tight embrace - making my feet raise off the ground.
"You're a cheerleader?"
"Pom-poms and all," I giggled.
"So then what's wrong?" Gage asked close to my ear.
"I'm going to the Lounge tonight."
"On a school night?" His eyes widened in mock alarm.
"You can come if you want."
His lips snarled up. "I think I'll pass."
"Carlie will be there." I watched with satisfaction as his eyes registered surprise then worry.
"Carlie?"
"The one and only."
"I thought you hated Carlie."
"I … I don't hate her." I pushed myself away from him and reached back in the car for my book bag. "But, she did just lay a trap for us. She seems to have just forgotten what happened."
"She didn't forget."
I rolled my eyes at his doomsday tone. "I'm going to shower. Carlie said she'd be here in an hour."
I took a deep breath and ducked my head under the streaming water of the shower. It was too hot but I left it that way - hoping it would help clear my mind. I felt myself relax as the heat seeped into the muscles on my neck and shoulders.
What a mess things had turned out to be. Bella would have never allowed things to get like this. She would have known what to do; and she wouldn't have questioned herself. What would Bella say if she could see me now?
I clenched my eyes closed tightly at the thought. She would have never let Rodney stay, and the pack would have moved on.
"Don't get too attached to places girls," I heard her voice from my memory. Ivy and I didn't want to move again. We had finally been allowed to make a friend only to have her ripped away when Bella was
ready to move on. I couldn't even remember that girl's name, I realized sadly.
"It's a reality of our life," Bella had told us. "You'll get used to it." Her voice had been soft. "At least you have each other, you'll always have each other."
"Guess you were wrong about that," I whispered to no one.
I ground my fists into my eyes, stopping any unwanted tears before they fell. I turned the water off and stepped out into the steam filled bathroom.
"Willow?" I heard a muffled voice just outside the door.
"Yeah?" I croaked.
"You all right in there?"
"Yes," I growled. "Can I have a little privacy?" Stupid wolf senses.
"You've been in there a while."
"I'll be ready in a minute!"
I heard them retreat a few steps but I knew that whoever it was would still be standing there when I came out. I ground my teeth together and prepared to yell again; but I realized it wouldn't do any good. It was a good thing I thought to bring my clothes into the tiny bathroom with me this time.
By the time I finished dressing, put my hair in a pony, and opened the bathroom door all the guys were crowded in the small space in front of the door. "What are you all doing here?" Amusement quickly replaced my annoyance.
"Are you all right?" Rodney asked.
"Yeah." I crunched my eyes together. "Believe it or not, I have taken plenty of showers in my lifetime. And only once was I not fine."
"But this time you are?"
"Yes, Colby. I was only ten then. Soap got in my eyes and I fell."
Rueben smiled wide. "We heard you upset."
"Ugh," I snorted. "You shouldn't have listened."
"Even if we don't listen, we can still hear," Gage said gently.
"You can, too?" My eyes widened in horror.
He nodded, his face still grim. "Carlie's here," he announced before I heard the horn.
I took a deep breath, trying to be normal again. I needed to be normal. "What should I be feeling right now?"
"Excited." Rueben's eyes glowed. "You just made the squad."
"Oh, yeah," I laughed. I was glad that Rueben was there.